Proxy Statement (Form DEF 14A)
Filed by the Registrant | ☒ |
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant | ☐ |
☒ | 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 under § 240.14a-12 |
☒ | 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. |
Time | [‧]:[‧] [a.m./p.m.] Central Daylight Time on [‧], [‧], 2025 | |
Place | ||
Items of Business | 1. | To approve the reincorporation of the Company from the |
2. | To approve an adjournment of the meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies if there are not sufficient votes in favor of Proposal 1 ("Proposal 2"). | |
Recommendations | THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" EACH OF PROPOSAL 1 AND PROPOSAL 2. | |
Record Date | You are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Company's Special Meeting of Shareholders to be held on [‧], 2025 (the "Special Meeting") if you were a shareholder of record at the close of business on [‧], 2025. | |
Special Meeting | All shareholders are invited to attend the Special Meeting in person with proof of ownership, such as your last broker or EQ Shareholder Services statement. | |
Voting by Proxy | Even if you plan to attend the Special Meeting, please submit a proxy as soon as possible so that your shares can be voted at the Special Meeting in accordance with your instructions. Shareholders may vote their shares: | |
1. | over the Internet; | |
2. | by written ballot at the Special Meeting; | |
3. | by telephone; or | |
4. | by mail. | |
For specific instructions, refer to the procedural matters section of the proxy statement related to the Special Meeting (the "Proxy Statement") or to the voting instructions on the proxy card for the Special Meeting (the "Proxy Card"), both of which accompany this Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders (this "Notice"). |
By Order of the Board of Directors, | |
Secretary |
Pages | ||
EXHIBITS | ||
Provision | South |
Delaware Law, Delaware Certificate of Incorporation, and Delaware Bylaws | Commentary |
Amendment of Organizational Documents | |
Under The Delaware Certificate of Incorporation and the Delaware Bylaws provide that: (i) the Delaware Certificate of Incorporation may only be amended by the vote of a majority outstanding stock entitled to vote; (ii) except as otherwise provided by applicable law and the Delaware Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors is authorized to adopt, amend, or repeal the bylaws without stockholder approval; and (iii) the stockholders may amend, alter, or repeal any bylaw, whether adopted or amended by Board of Directors or otherwise by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast. |
Consistent with the requirements under The Delaware Bylaws modify the powers granted to the stockholders in the South Dakota Bylaws by explicitly acknowledging the right of stockholders to amend, alter, or repeal the Delaware Bylaws by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast. |
Provision | South |
Delaware Law, Delaware Certificate of Incorporation, and Delaware Bylaws | Commentary |
may be repealed or amended only by shareholders if originally adopted by shareholders, and by shareholders or the board of directors if originally adopted by the board of directors. Such a bylaw may specify that it can only be amended or repealed by a specific vote of shareholders or the board of directors, and any board action to amend or repeal this bylaw must meet the same or greater quorum and voting requirements as those in effect or propose to be adopted, whichever is greater.
Pursuant to the terms of the South Dakota Articles and the South Dakota Bylaws, the existing South Dakota Bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed, and new bylaws may be adopted, by the act of the majority of the Board of Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present and by shareholders by an affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast. Such terms of the South Dakota Bylaws do not limit the shareholders' rights to make amendments in accordance with the SDBCA. |
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Number of Directors | The South Dakota Bylaws provide that the Board of Directors shall consist of seven or more members, subject to increase by resolution of the shareholders or the Board of Directors and subject to decrease only by resolution of the shareholders. |
The Delaware Bylaws provide that the Board of Directors shall consist of a minimum of seven members, with such minimum number subject to increase by resolution of the stockholders or the Board of Directors in accordance with the Bylaws and such minimum number subject to decrease by resolution of the stockholders in accordance with the Bylaws. |
The Delaware Bylaws are consistent with the South Dakota Bylaws with respect to the number of directors. |
Provision | South |
Delaware Law, Delaware Certificate of Incorporation, and Delaware Bylaws | Commentary |
Classified Board of Directors | The South Dakota Articles provide that the Board of Directors shall consist of three classes of Directors (Class A, Class B, and Class C), with each class to be as nearly equal in number as possible. At each annual meeting of the Company's shareholders, Directors chosen to succeed whose terms then expire shall be elected for a full term of three years. |
Under The Delaware Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Board of Directors shall consist of three classes of directors (Class A, Class B, and Class C), with each class to be as nearly equal in number as possible. At each annual meeting of Daktronics-Delaware's stockholders, directors chosen to succeed whose terms then expire shall be elected for a full term of three years. |
The Delaware Certificate of Incorporation and the South Dakota Articles are identical in this regard. |
The South Dakota Bylaws provide that each Director shall hold office in accordance with the classified structure set forth in the South Dakota Articles and until his or her term expires and his or her successor is qualified, unless sooner removed by such Director's earlier death, resignation, removal, or disqualification. | The Delaware Certificate of Incorporation provides that each director shall hold office until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director's earlier death, disability, resignation, disqualification or removal. |
Provision | South |
Delaware Law, Delaware Certificate of Incorporation, and Delaware Bylaws | Commentary |
Cumulative Voting for Directors | Consistent with the requirement under |
Unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise: (i) each stockholder is entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock held; and (ii) cumulative voting is not permitted.
The Delaware Certificate of Incorporation provides that there shall be no cumulative voting in the election of directors of Daktronics-Delaware. |
With respect to the election of directors, cumulative voting, which is required by By eliminating cumulative voting, as discussed below, the Delaware Certificate of Incorporation provides greater protection to Daktronics-Delaware's stockholders because it allows for greater alignment between the voting preferences of the broader stockholder base with respect to director elections. In addition, Daktronics-Delaware's stockholders would gain the protections of a "one share, one vote" framework in director elections. The elimination of cumulative voting will make it more difficult for a minority stockholder, whose interests may be adverse to a majority of the stockholders, to exercise disproportionate voting power, control, or influence over director elections in excess of its actual economic ownership. |
Provision | South |
Delaware Law, Delaware Certificate of Incorporation, and Delaware Bylaws | Commentary |
Voting Standard for the Election of Directors | The Board of Directors believes that cumulative voting is incompatible with a majority voting standard. Therefore, consistent with the cumulative voting standard that is required under |
The Delaware Bylaws provide that directors shall be elected, in an uncontested election, by an affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast with respect to that director's election. The Delaware Bylaws provide that directors shall be elected, in a contested election, by a plurality of votes cast with respect to that director's election. | |
Removal of Directors | The South Dakota Bylaws provide that Directors may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shareholders entitled to vote at a special meeting called for that purpose. A director may not be removed if the number of votes sufficient to elect the director under cumulative voting is voted against removal. |
The Delaware Certificate of Incorporation provides that directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the shareholders holding at least 50% of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote at a stockholder meeting. |
Provision | South |
Delaware Law, Delaware Certificate of Incorporation, and Delaware Bylaws | Commentary |
Filling Vacancies on the Board of Directors | The South Dakota Bylaws provide that vacancies on the Board of Directors, including vacancies created by an increase in the number of directors, may be filled by the affirmative vote of the shareholders, or by a majority of the remaining directors even if the number of directors remaining in office is less than what would be required for a quorum. |
The Delaware Bylaws provide substantially the same appointment rights as the South Dakota Bylaws. |
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Board of Directors Action by Unanimous Consent | Under The South Dakota Articles do not change this statutory provision. The South Dakota Bylaws do not change this statutory provision, except that the consent is effective when signed by all the directors, without reference to its delivery to the Company. |
Under The Delaware Certificate of Incorporation and the Delaware Bylaws do not change this statutory provision. |
The Delaware Bylaws and the South Dakota Bylaws are substantially similar with respect to action by written consent of the Board of Directors. |
Shareholder Voting - Quorum | The South Dakota Articles and the South Dakota Bylaws provide that a majority of the shares entitled to vote on a matter, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of shareholders. |
The Delaware Bylaws provide that, unless applicable law provides otherwise, the holders of a majority of the voting power entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum. |
The Delaware Bylaws and the South Dakota Bylaws are substantially similar in respect to shareholder quorum requirements. |
Provision | South |
Delaware Law, Delaware Certificate of Incorporation, and Delaware Bylaws | Commentary |
Shareholder Action by Written Consent | The South Dakota Bylaws do not change this statutory provision. |
The Delaware Certificate of Incorporation provides that the stockholders may, by unanimous written consent, take any action required or permitted to be taken at an annual or special meeting. |
The Delaware Bylaws provide substantially the same rights as the South Dakota Bylaws with respect to shareholder action without a meeting. |
Limitation on Director Liability | Under Additionally, within the context of taking action that may involve a potential change or change in control of a domestic public corporation, the South Dakota Domestic Public Corporation Takeover Act (the "SD Takeover Act") permits a corporation's directors, without breaching |
Under Directors shall, in the performance of their duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the corporation by officers, employees, or other subject matter experts who have been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the corporation. The Delaware Certificate of Incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by |
Under |
Provision | South |
Delaware Law, Delaware Certificate of Incorporation, and Delaware Bylaws | Commentary |
their fiduciary duty or duty of loyalty, to consider the impact of the action on: (i) the long-term and short-term interests of the corporation and its shareholders, including the possibility that these interests may be best served by the continued independence of the corporation; (ii) employees, customers, creditors, suppliers of goods and services, and community where an office or other facility of the corporation is located; and (iii) state and national economic impacts.
The South Dakota Articles provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by the SDBCA, a director shall not be liable to the Company or its shareholders for monetary damages for action taken, or any failure to take any action, as a director, except for: (i) liability for the amount of a financial benefit received by a director to which the director is not entitled; (ii) an intentional infliction of harm on the corporation or its shareholders; (iii) a violation of the SDBCA restrictions relating to unlawful distributions; or (iv) an intentional violation of criminal law. |
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Declaration and Payment of Cash Dividends | Under The South Dakota Articles and the South Dakota Bylaws do not change this statutory provision. |
Under The Delaware Certificate of Incorporation generally adopts the framework for cash dividends outlined under |
Provision | South |
Delaware Law, Delaware Certificate of Incorporation, and Delaware Bylaws | Commentary |
Taxes and Fees | |
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The change in the state of incorporation from Regardless of where the Company is incorporated, it is subject to state income taxes in the states in which it does business where the level of activity in the state results in nexus to the state. Generally, federal taxable income is apportioned to each state according to each state's income tax apportionment formula. Each state's apportionment formula can include factors related to sales, payroll, and property, with most states over-weighting sales. |
Proxy Access | The South Dakota Bylaws do not provide for proxy access. |
The Delaware Bylaws implement proxy access, which permits stockholders that meet certain requirements to include their own nominee(s) in the Company's proxy materials. |
The Delaware Bylaws provide greater protection to the Daktronics-Delaware's stockholders by including an express stockholder right to include their own nominee(s) in the Daktronics-Delaware's proxy solicitation materials with reasonable and customary eligibility requirements with respect to the holding period, ownership percentage, and scope. |
Provision | South |
Delaware Law, Delaware Certificate of Incorporation, and Delaware Bylaws | Commentary |
Shareholder Proposals | The South Dakota Bylaws provide that shareholders who wish to present an item of business or nominate a director at an annual meeting must provide written notice to the Company's corporate secretary not earlier than 120 days prior and not later than 90 days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting unless the date of the annual meeting of shareholders is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, and in which case, written notice must be submitted not more than 120 days prior to the annual meeting and not less than the later of: (i) 90 days before such annual meeting; or (ii) 10 days after the first public announcement of such annual meeting.
With respect to shareholder director nominees, such notice must contain the information described in Section 1.11(c)(i) of the South Dakota Bylaws, including, without limitation, specific biographical information, beneficial ownership and other information about such nominee, a description of any compensatory arrangement or other |
There are no substantive differences between the Delaware Bylaws and the South Dakota Bylaws. | The Delaware Bylaws provide substantially the same rights as the South Dakota Bylaws with respect to shareholder proposals. |
financial arrangement or understanding between the proposed nominee and the proposing shareholder (and its affiliates) within the last three years, a description of any business or personal interests that could be reasonably be expected to place the nominee in a potential conflict of interest with the Company, and any other information required under applicable law. With respect to other proposals, such notice must contain a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the text of the proposal, the reasons for such proposal, and any other information required under applicable law.
In addition, shareholders must provide certain information with respect to themselves, including, without limitation, biographical information, beneficial ownership, any substantial interest in the proposed nomination, and other information, and must meet certain requirements to be eligible to submit any director nominee(s) or propose matters to be brought before a meeting, including that the shareholder is a shareholder of record at the time of giving notice of that shareholder's nominee or proposal and that the shareholder is a shareholder of record at the time of the annual meeting. |
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Blank Check Preferred Stock | Under |
There are no substantive differences between the South Dakota Articles and the Delaware Certificate of Incorporation in this respect. | The Delaware Certificate of Incorporation provides substantially the same rights as the South Dakota Articles with respect to blank check preferred stock. |
Provision | South |
Delaware Law, Delaware Certificate of Incorporation, and Delaware Bylaws | Commentary |
Anti-Takeover Statute | The SD Takeover Act is intended to do the following with respect to domestic public corporations in A "control share acquisition" refers to acquiring shares, directly or indirectly, within a 90-day period, that would, if added to all other shares of the domestic public corporation beneficially owned by the acquirer, immediately after the acquisition, entitle the acquirer to exercise or direct the exercise of a new range of voting |
Under the DGCL, unless a corporation's certificate of incorporation or bylaws provide otherwise, publicly-traded companies listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by 2,000 or more persons are prohibited from entering into any "business combination" with any "interested stockholder" for a period of three years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder. The DGCL generally defines a "business combination" as (i) certain mergers and consolidations; (ii) sales leases, exchanges, mortgages, pledges, transfers, or other dispositions of assets having an aggregate market value of 10% or more of either the consolidated assets or the outstanding stock of a corporation; (iii) certain transactions that would result in the issuance or transfer of stock of the corporation to an interested stockholder; (iv) certain transactions that have | The SD Takeover Act imposes stricter disclosure requirements and state oversight on takeover bids, whereas the DGCL and other |
Provision | South |
Delaware Law, Delaware Certificate of Incorporation, and Delaware Bylaws | Commentary |
power (e.g., ≤ 20% but ≥ 33.33%, ≤ 33.33 but ≥ 50%, or ≤ over 50%). In the event of or before a "control share acquisition," an acquiring person must, as a step to receiving the full voting rights associated with the acquired or to be acquired shares, deliver an information statement to the corporation detailing their identity (including the identity of each member of any group or entity constituting the acquiring person and the affiliate and associate of the acquiring person), the number and class or series (including the range of voting power that would result from the acquisition) of shares in the company directly or indirectly beneficially owned by the persons whose identities are required to be disclosed under the information statement, and plans (including those under consideration) for the corporation and its future business and direction. Shareholders must then, through a special or annual meeting, approve by proper vote a resolution authorizing shares to have the same voting rights as the other shares of the same class or series the voting rights of shares acquired in a control share acquisition.
The SD Takeover Act also restricts business combinations with an "interested shareholder" as defined in the SD Takeover Act. Unlike the DGCL, shareholders of a Additionally, the SD Takeover Act permits a company's directors, without breaching their fiduciary duty or duty of loyalty, to consider the impact of the action on: (i) the long-term and short-term interests of the company and its shareholders, including the possibility that these interests may be best served by the continued independence of the corporation; (ii) employees, customers, creditors, suppliers of goods and services, and any community where an office or other facility of the corporation is located; and (iii) state and national economic impacts. The board of directors is not obligated to facilitate, remove barriers to, or refrain from impeding the proposal or offer under the SD Takeover Act if it determines that the takeover is not in the corporation's best interest. The above provides a general summary of certain provisions of the SD Takeover Act. It is not a comprehensive analysis and reference should be made to the full text of the SD Takeover Act if a full understanding of its provisions is desired. |
the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of stock of the corporation which is owned by the interested stockholder, subject to exceptions; and (v) any receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit, directly or indirectly, of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges, or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation, subject to certain exceptions.
"Interested stockholder" is generally defined as a person (including the affiliates and associates of such person) that is directly or indirectly a beneficial owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of a The DGCL provides an exception to this prohibition if: (i) the corporation's board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction in which the stockholder became an interested stockholder prior to the date the interested stockholder became an interested stockholder; (ii) the interested stockholder acquired at least 85% of the voting stock of that corporation (excluding shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers, and employee stock plans in which participants do not have the right to determine whether shares will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer) in the transaction in which it became an interested stockholder; or (iii) the business combination is approved by the board of directors and the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by disinterested stockholders at an annual or special meeting. |
Provision | South |
Delaware Law, Delaware Certificate of Incorporation, and Delaware Bylaws | Commentary |
Lead Independent Director | The South Dakota Bylaws do not provide for a lead independent director. However, the Board of Directors has previously adopted corporate governance guidelines providing that a lead independent director shall be elected if the position of the Chairperson and Chief Executive Officers are combined or if the Chairperson is not otherwise independent. |
The Delaware Bylaws include a requirement that an independent director must be elected to the role of Lead Independent Director if the Chairperson of the Board is not an independent director. The duties and responsibilities of such lead independent director will be determined by the independent directors. |
Neither The Delaware Bylaws formalize the requirement for Daktronics-Delaware to elect a lead independent director. |
Note | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership(1) | Percentage of Outstanding Shares(2) | ||
5% Beneficial Owners: | (3) | |||
(4) | 5,933,019 | 12.6 | % | |
(5) | 2,888,718 | 6.1 | % | |
Building One, |
(6) | 2,451,404 | 5.2 | % |
(7) | 2,493,605 | 5.3 | % | |
(8) | 2,439,865 | 5.2 | % | |
Dr. |
(9) | 2,754,538 | 5.8 | % |
Named Executive Officers and Directors: | ||||
(10) | 674,245 | 1.4 | % | |
23,986 | * | |||
87,305 | * | |||
80,413 | * | |||
Dr. |
50,335 | * | ||
36,345 | * | |||
36,345 | * | |||
(11) | 189,931 | * | ||
(12) | 98,059 | * | ||
(13) | 127,401 | * | ||
(14) | 274,518 | * | ||
(15) | 894,757 | 1.9 | % | |
All Directors and Executive Officers as a group (12 persons) | 2,573,640 | 5.5 | % |
(1) | Each person has sole voting and sole dispositive power with respect to all outstanding shares, except as otherwise noted. In computing the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by our Directors, executive officers, and |
(2) |
Applicable percentage ownership is based on 47,091,006 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of
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(3) |
To the Company's knowledge, except as noted in the table above, no person or entity is the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.
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(4) |
Data based on Amendment No. 1 ("Amendment No. 1") to the Schedule 13D filed by Alta Fox named therein with the
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(5) |
Data based on an Amendment to Schedule 13G filed by the shareholder with the
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(6) |
Data based on an Amendment to Schedule 13G/A filed by the shareholder with the
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(7) |
Data based on an Amendment to Schedule 13G filed by the shareholder with the
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(8) | Data based on an Amendment to Schedule 13G/A filed by the shareholder with the |
(9) | Includes 848,488 shares held by his spouse, |
(10) |
Includes 97,281 shares subject to options, 33,483 shares held through the
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(11) |
Includes 163,345 shares owned by
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(12) |
Includes 53,707 shares subject to options and 8,518 shares held through the 401(k) Plan.
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(13) |
Includes 30,207 shares subject to options.
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(14) | Includes 5,000 shares held by trust and 21,000 shares held as custodian for Uniform Transfers to Minors Act. |
(15) |
Includes 51,817 shares subject to options and 181,636 shares held through the 401(k) Plan.
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