INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 0)
Filed by the Registrant ☒
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check the Appropriate Box:
| ☐ | 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 Rule 240.14a-12 |
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
| ☒ | No fee required |
| ☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials: |
| ☐ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
VUZIX CORPORATION
25 Hendrix Road,
West Henrietta, New York 14586
(585) 359-5900
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held on June 16, 2026
Dear Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting (the “Annual Meeting” or the “Meeting”) of stockholders of Vuzix Corporation. The Meeting will be held on June 16, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. (eastern time) at the RIT Inn & Conference Center located at 5257 West Henrietta Road, Henrietta, New York 14467, for the following purposes:
| 1. | To elect five (5) directors to serve until the 2027 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. |
| 2. | To ratify the selection of Withum Smith+Brown, PC as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the year ending December 31, 2026. |
| 3. | To conduct an advisory vote on executive compensation. | |
| 4. | To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
The record date for the annual meeting is April 20, 2026. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on that date may vote at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Our transfer books will not be closed.
| By Order of the Board of Directors | |
| /s/ Eric Black | |
| Eric Black | |
| Corporate Secretary |
| Dated: | April 28, 2026 |
| West Henrietta, New York |
You are cordially invited to attend in person. We are providing proxy materials to some of our stockholders via the Internet and by mailing a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, rather than mailing or emailing copies of those materials. The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials directs stockholders to a website where they can access our proxy materials, including our proxy statement and our annual report, and view instructions on how to vote via the Internet, mobile device, or by telephone. If you received a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and would prefer to receive a paper copy of our proxy materials, please follow the instructions included in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials.
1
Table of Contents
2
VUZIX CORPORATION
25 Hendrix Road
West Henrietta, New York 14586
(585) 359-5900
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR 2026 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
This proxy statement is furnished to stockholders in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Vuzix Corporation (“Vuzix”, the “Company”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) in connection with the Annual Meeting of stockholders of the Company to be held on June 16, 2026 at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time, in person at the RIT Inn & Conference Center, 5257 West Henrietta Road, Henrietta, New York 14467 (the “Annual Meeting” or the “Meeting”). A copy of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") is available without charge upon written request to the Company's Secretary at the Company's corporate offices, or from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
You are entitled to participate in the Annual Meeting only if you were a stockholder of the Company as of the close of business on the record date, or if you hold a valid proxy for the Annual Meeting.
To participate in the Annual Meeting, you will need to review the information included on your Notice, on your proxy card or on the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials. Please note you will need your 16-digit control number included on your proxy card.
If you hold your shares through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker, you must register in advance using the instructions below.
The in-person meeting will begin promptly at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time. We encourage you to attend the meeting prior to the start time leaving ample time for check-in. Please follow the registration instructions as outlined in this proxy statement.
SOLICITATION AND REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES
The enclosed proxy for the Annual Meeting is being solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company. Stockholders of record may vote by mail, telephone, or via the Internet. The toll-free telephone number and Internet website are listed on the enclosed proxy. If you vote by telephone or via the Internet, you do not need to return your proxy card. If you choose to vote by mail, please mark, date, and sign the proxy card, and return it in the enclosed envelope (no postage is necessary if mailed within the United States). Any person giving a proxy may revoke it at any time prior to the exercise thereof by filing with the Secretary of the Company a written revocation or duly executed proxy bearing a later date. The proxy may also be revoked by a stockholder attending the Meeting, withdrawing the proxy, and voting in person.
The expense of preparing, printing, and mailing the form of proxy and the material used in the solicitation thereof will be borne by the Company. In addition to solicitation by mail, proxies may be solicited by the directors, officers, and regular employees of the Company (who will receive no additional compensation therefore) by means of personal interview, e-mail, telephone, or facsimile. It is anticipated that banks, brokerage houses and other institutions, custodians, nominees, fiduciaries or other record holders will be requested to forward the soliciting material to persons for whom they hold shares and to seek authority for the execution of proxies; in such cases, the Company will reimburse such holders for their charges and expenses.
3
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF
The close of business on April 20, 2026, has been fixed as the record date for determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. On that date, there were outstanding and entitled to vote 83,158,258 shares of common stock, each of which is entitled to one vote on each matter at the Annual Meeting.
Pursuant to the Company's bylaws and applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the vote of: (i) holders of a majority of the shares for which votes are cast with respect to each director nominee (not including abstentions), in person, or by properly executed proxy, will be required to elect members to the Board of Directors, (ii) the affirmative vote of a majority of shares of common stock cast on this proposal (including abstentions) will be required to ratify the appointment of the independent auditors, and (iii) the advisory vote on executive compensation will not be binding on either the Board of Directors or the Company; however, the Board of Directors and the Company’s Compensation Committee will take into account the outcome of the stockholder votes on this proposal when considering future executive compensation arrangements. See “How many votes are needed to approve each Proposal?”
The presence in person or by properly executed proxy, of the holders of shares of common stock entitled to cast one-third of all the votes entitled to be cast at the Annual Meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum. Holders of shares of common stock represented by a properly signed, dated and returned proxy will be treated as present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining a quorum. Proxies relating to "street name" shares that are voted by brokers will be counted as shares present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum but will not be treated as votes cast at the Annual Meeting as to any proposal as to which the brokers do not have voting instructions and discretion. These missing votes are known as “broker non-votes.”
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS PROXY MATERIAL AND VOTING
Why am I receiving these materials?
We are sending you this proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card because the Board of Directors of Vuzix Corporation is soliciting your proxy to vote at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. We invite you to attend the Annual Meeting and request that you vote on the proposals described in this proxy statement. The Annual Meeting will be held on June 16, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. However, you do not need to attend the meeting to vote your shares. Instead, you may simply complete, date, sign and return the enclosed proxy card by mail, or follow the instructions on the proxy card to vote by telephone or via the Internet.
We are providing this proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card on or about April 30, 2026, to all stockholders of record entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
Who can vote at the annual meeting?
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 20, 2026, the record date for the Meeting, will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of April 20, 2026, there were 83,158,258 shares of common stock (each entitled to one vote) outstanding.
Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name
If on April 20, 2026, your shares of Vuzix Corporation common stock were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder of record, you may vote in person at the Meeting or vote by proxy. If you plan to attend in person, during the meeting, we urge you to fill out and return the enclosed proxy card to ensure your vote is counted.
4
Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or Bank
If on April 20, 2026, your shares of Vuzix Corporation common stock were held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer, or other similar organization, you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Annual Meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or other agent on how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person at the Meeting unless you request and obtain a signed letter or other valid proxy from your broker or other agent.
What am I voting on?
There are three matters scheduled for a vote: (i) the election of five (5) directors to serve until the 2027 Annual Meeting of stockholders, (ii) the ratification of the selection of Withum Smith+Brown, PC as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026, and (iii) the advisory vote on executive compensation. Our Board of Directors does not intend to bring any other matters before the Meeting and is not aware of anyone else who will submit any other matters for which a vote will be required. However, if any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, the people named on the proxy card, or their substitutes, will be authorized to vote on those matters in their own judgment.
How many votes do I have?
On each matter to be voted upon, you have one vote for each share of common stock you owned as of April 20, 2026.
What is the quorum requirement?
A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be present if at least one-third of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote are present at the meeting. Your shares are counted as present at the meeting if:
| ● | You are present and vote in person at the meeting; |
| ● | You have properly submitted a proxy card; or |
| ● | You have voted via the Internet or by telephone. |
Your shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy card, have voted via the Internet, have voted via telephone, or vote in-person at the meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted towards the quorum requirement. If there is no quorum, a majority of the votes present at the meeting may adjourn the meeting to another date.
How do I vote?
The procedures for voting are set forth below:
Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name
| ● | If you are a stockholder of record, you will be able to vote your shares in person. |
| ● | Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting in person, we urge you to vote by submitting your proxy card, via the Internet or by telephone to ensure your vote is counted. |
| ● | To vote via the Internet or by telephone, follow the instructions on the enclosed proxy card. |
5
Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of Broker or Bank
If your shares are held in street name and you desire to vote in person, you should follow the instructions provided by your bank, broker, or other holder of record to be able to participate in the meeting.
Stockholders as of the close of business on the record date may attend the Annual Meeting in person.
How are votes counted?
You may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST,” OR “ABSTAIN” for each nominee for the Board of Directors. You may vote “FOR”, “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” on the proposal to ratify the selection of Withum Smith+Brown, PC as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the year ending December 31, 2026. You may vote “FOR”, “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” on the advisory vote on executive compensation.
If you submit your proxy, vote via the Internet or by telephone but abstain from voting or withhold authority to vote on one or more matters, your shares will be counted as present at the Annual Meeting for the purpose of determining a quorum.
If you hold your shares in street name and do not provide voting instructions to your brokerage firm, the brokerage firm may still be able to vote your shares with respect to certain “discretionary” (or routine) items, but it will not be allowed to vote your shares with respect to certain “non-discretionary” items. In the case of non-discretionary items, for which no instructions are received, the shares will be treated as “broker non-votes”. Shares that constitute broker non-votes will be counted as present at the Annual Meeting for the purpose of determining a quorum but will not be considered entitled to vote on the proposal in question. Your broker does not have discretionary authority to vote on the election of members to the Board of Directors, or on the advisory vote on executive compensation, but will have discretionary authority to vote on the ratification of the selection of the accounting firm. As a result, if you do not vote your street name shares, your broker has the authority to vote on your behalf with respect to Proposal 2 (the ratification of the selection of the accounting firm).
How many votes are needed to approve each Proposal?
| ● | Proposal 1 - Election of Directors |
Director nominees in uncontested director elections (when the number of director nominees does not exceed the number of board seats) are elected by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes represented by the shares of common stock cast for this proposal (excluding abstentions) in person or by proxy. This means the number of votes cast “For” a director nominee must exceed the number of votes cast “Against” that nominee. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect.
| ● | Proposal 2 – Ratification of the selection of Withum Smith+Brown, PC as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the year ending December 31, 2026. |
To be approved, the ratification of the selection of Withum Smith+Brown, PC as our independent auditors for our 2026 fiscal year, must receive “For” votes from the holders of a majority of shares of common stock cast for this proposal, including abstentions.
| ● | Proposal 3 – Advisory vote on executive compensation. |
The advisory vote on executive compensation (Proposal 3) will not be binding on either the Board of Directors or the Company. However, the Company’s Compensation Committee will take into account the outcome of the stockholder vote on this proposal at the Annual Meeting when considering future executive compensation arrangements. To the extent there is a significant negative vote, we would communicate directly with stockholders to better understand the concerns that influenced the vote. The Board and the Compensation Committee would consider constructive feedback obtained through this process in making future decisions about executive compensation programs. However, your non-binding advisory votes described in Proposal 3 will not be construed (1) as overruling any decision by the Board of Directors, any Board committee or the Company relating to the compensation of the named executive officers or (2) as creating or changing any fiduciary duties or other duties on the part of the Board of Directors, any Board committee or the Company.
6
Can I change my vote after submitting my proxy, voting via the Internet or by telephone?
Yes. You can revoke your proxy at any time before the final vote at the Annual Meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may revoke your proxy in any one of three ways:
| ● | You may submit another properly completed proxy card with a later date. |
| ● | You may send a written notice that you are revoking your proxy to our Corporate Secretary, Vuzix Corporation, 25 Hendrix Road, West Henrietta, New York, 14586. |
| ● | You may attend the Annual Meeting in person. Simply attending the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke your proxy. |
If you hold your shares in street name, contact your broker or other nominee regarding how to revoke your proxy and change your vote.
How can I find out the results of the voting at the Annual Meeting?
Preliminary voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting. Final voting results will be disclosed in our report on Form 8-K that we will file with the SEC within four (4) business days after the Annual Meeting.
What does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card?
If you receive more than one proxy card, your shares are registered in more than one name or are registered in different accounts. Please complete, date, sign and return each proxy card, vote your shares via the Internet or by telephone for each proxy card you received to ensure that all of your shares are voted.
Who is paying for this proxy solicitation?
Vuzix Corporation will pay for the entire cost of soliciting proxies. In addition to the proxy materials being provided, our directors, officers and employees may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone, or by other means of communication. We will not pay our directors, officers and employees any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. We may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners.
When are stockholder proposals due for next year’s annual meeting?
At our annual meeting each year, our Board of Directors submits to stockholders its nominees for election as Directors and its selection of independent auditors for the current fiscal year. In addition, the Board of Directors may submit other matters to the stockholders for action at the Annual Meeting.
Our stockholders also may submit proposals for inclusion in the proxy material. These proposals must meet the stockholder eligibility and other requirements of the SEC, and for these to be considered for inclusion in next year’s proxy materials, you must submit your proposal in writing by December 30, 2026, to our Corporate Secretary, Vuzix Corporation, 25 Hendrix Road, West Henrietta, New York, 14586.
In addition, our bylaws provide that a stockholder may present from the floor a proposal that is not included in the proxy statement if the stockholder delivers written notice to our Corporate Secretary not earlier than 120 days and not later than 90 days before the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. The notice must set forth the stockholder’s name, address and number of shares of stock they hold, a description of the business to be brought before the Meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the Annual Meeting, any material interest they have in the proposal, and such other information regarding the proposal as would be required to be included in a proxy statement. We have received no such notice for the 2026 Annual Meeting. For the 2027 annual meeting of stockholders, written notice must be delivered to our Corporate Secretary at our principal office, 25 Hendrix Road, West Henrietta, New York, 14586, between February 11, 2027 and March 18, 2027.
7
Our bylaws also provide that if a stockholder intends to nominate a candidate for election as a member of the Board of Directors, the stockholder must deliver written notice of such intent to our Corporate Secretary. The notice must be delivered not earlier than 120 days and not later than 90 days before the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. The notice must set forth with the stockholder’s name and address and number of shares of stock they own, the name and address of the person to be nominated, a description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder and each nominee and any other person (naming such person) pursuant to which the nomination is to be made by such stockholder, the nominee’s business address and experience during the past five years, any other directorships held by the nominee, the nominee’s involvement in certain legal proceedings during the past ten years and such other information concerning the nominee as would be required to be included in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of the nominee. In addition, the notice must include the consent of the nominee to serve as a director if elected. We have received no such properly submitted notice for the 2026 Annual Meeting. For the 2027 annual meeting of stockholders, written notice must be delivered to our Corporate Secretary at our principal office, 25 Hendrix Road, West Henrietta, New York 14586, between February 11, 2027 and March 18, 2027.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table shows the amount of our common stock beneficially owned as of April 20, 2026, by (i) each person or group as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), believed by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock, (ii) each of our executive officers and directors, and (iii) all of our directors and executive officers as a group. Except as otherwise noted, each person named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to applicable community property laws.
| Name
and Address of Beneficial Owner (1) | Shares
Beneficially Owned (2) | Percent
of Outstanding Shares Beneficially Owned (3) | ||||||
| Paul Travers | 3,799,263 | (4) | 4.5 | % | ||||
| Grant Russell | 1,647,228 | (5) | 2.0 | % | ||||
| Timothy Harned | 328,158 | * | ||||||
| Paula Whitten-Doolin | 163,072 | * | ||||||
| Chris Parkinson | 131,130 | * | ||||||
| Alasdair MacKinnon | 65,295 | * | ||||||
| Quanta Computer Inc. | 11,891,897 | (6) | 13.6 | % | ||||
| State Street Corporation | 7,226,194 | (7) | 8.7 | % | ||||
| BlackRock, Inc. | 4,462,820 | (8) | 5.4 | % | ||||
| Directors and executive officers as a group (6 people) | 6,134,146 | 7.3 | % | |||||
*less than 1.0%
| (1) | The address for each person, unless otherwise noted, is c/o Vuzix Corporation, 25 Hendrix Road, West Henrietta, New York, 14586. |
| (2) | We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. These rules generally attribute beneficial ownership of securities to persons who possess sole or shared voting power or investment power with respect to those securities. In addition, under the rules, beneficial ownership includes shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the exercise of stock options or warrants, or that are immediately exercisable or convertible, or that will become exercisable within 60 days after April 20, 2026. These shares are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding those options, warrants, convertible notes or convertible preferred stock for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person, but they are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. |
| (3) | The percentage of shares beneficially owned is based on 83,158,258 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding, as of April 20, 2026. |
| (4) | Includes (i) 2,863,770 outstanding shares of common stock held by Mr. Travers, (ii) 924,369 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options, and (iii) 11,124 shares of common stock held by Travers Family Trust LLC. |
| (5) | Represents (i) 1,162,205 shares held by Mr. Russell and his spouse and (ii) 485,023 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options. |
| (6) | Includes 4,199,590 shares issuable upon conversion of 419,959 shares of Series B Preferred Stock (each convertible into 10 shares of common stock). The address of the stockholder is No. 211, Wen Hwa 2nd Rd., Kuei Shan, Tao Yuan 33377, Taiwan, Republic of China. |
| (7) | Based upon Schedule 13G filed on February 9, 2026. The address of the stockholder is One Congress Street, Suite 1, Boston, MA 02114. |
| (8) | Based upon Schedule 13G filed on July 17, 2025. The address of the stockholder is 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001. |
8
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The number of directors is established by the Board of Directors. Our Board consists of five members, all of whom have been nominated by the Board for re-election to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting.
Thus, at this Annual Meeting, five (5) persons, comprising the entire membership of the Board of Directors, are to be elected. Each elected director will serve until the Company's next annual meeting of stockholders and until a successor is qualified and elected.
The Company anticipates that the accompanying proxy will be voted in favor of the five (5) persons listed below to serve as directors unless the stockholder indicates to the contrary on such proxy. All nominees have consented to serve if elected. We expect that each of the nominees will be available for election, but if any of them is not a candidate at the time the election occurs, it is intended that such nomination will be deemed revoked and the director seat will be vacant until filled by the Board of Directors or vote of the stockholders at a meeting.
For the election of directors, only proxies and ballots, Internet votes or telephone votes, marked “FOR” or “AGAINST” one or more designated nominees are counted to determine the total number of votes cast. Abstentions are excluded entirely and will have no effect on the vote for the election of directors. Directors are elected by a majority of the votes cast. This means that the number of votes cast “FOR” a director nominee must exceed the number of votes cast “AGAINST” that nominee.
The term of office of each person elected as a director will continue until the next annual meeting or until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, or until the director’s death, resignation or removal.
The Board of Directors considers the nature and breadth of business experience, professional certification, and education in determining qualifications as candidates.
9
The following table is a matrix of director skills, qualifications and demographic backgrounds. The Nominating and Governance Committee regularly evaluates the skills, qualifications, and demographic backgrounds desirable for our Board to best advance our business strategies and serve the interests of all of our stakeholders.
| P.
Travers |
G.
Russell |
A. MacKinnon | T.
Harned |
P. Whitten-Doolin | |
| Independent | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Senior Leadership Experience (1) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Industry Experience (2) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Board Experience (3) | ✓ | ||||
| Financial Expertise (4) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Age | 64 | 73 | 55 | 60 | 47 |
| Tenure (years) | 27 | 16 | 1 | 8 | 2 |
Notes:
| 1. | Senior Leadership Experience – experience as president, CEO or in similar senior executive positions |
| 2. | Industry Experience – experience in the technology sector, including software and hardware |
| 3. | Board Experience – prior or concurrent service on other U.S. public company boards |
| 4. | Financial Expertise – expertise in accounting, auditing, tax, banking, insurance or investments |
The names of current directors and director nominees, their ages as of April 20, 2026, and certain information about them, including their business experience during the past five years and their directorships of other publicly-held corporations, are set forth below.
Background of Current Directors and Director Nominees
![]() |
Paul Travers, age 64, is a co-founder of Vuzix and has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since 1997 and as a member of our Board of Directors since November 1997. Prior to the formation of Vuzix, Mr. Travers founded both e-Tek Labs, Inc. and Forte Technologies Inc. He has been a driving force behind the development of our products. With more than 30 years’ experience in the consumer electronics field, and 27 years’ experience in the virtual reality and virtual display fields, he is a nationally recognized industry expert. He holds an associate degree in engineering science from Canton, ATC and a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical and computer engineering from Clarkson University. Mr. Travers resides in Honeoye Falls, New York. Mr. Travers’ experience as our founder and Chief Executive Officer qualifies him to serve on our Board of Directors. |
10
![]() |
Grant Russell, age 73, is a co-founder of Vuzix and has served as our Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President since 2000 and as a member of our Board of Directors since April 2009. From 1997 to 2004 Mr. Russell developed and subsequently sold a successful software firm and a new concept computer store and cyber café. In 1984, he co-founded Advanced Gravis Computer (Gravis), which, under his leadership as President, grew to become the world’s largest PC and Macintosh joystick manufacturer with sales of $44 million worldwide and 220 employees. Gravis was listed on NASDAQ and the Toronto Stock Exchange. In September 1996, it was acquired by a US-based Fortune 100 company via a successful public tender offer. Mr. Russell holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in finance from the University of British Columbia and is both a U.S. Certified Public Accountant and a Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant. Mr. Russell resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and has a secondary residence in West Henrietta, New York. Mr. Russell’s business executive and financial experience qualifies him to serve on our Board of Directors. |
![]() |
Alasdair J. MacKinnon, age 55, is a seasoned finance and audit executive with over three decades of international experience across the U.S. and Europe. Currently Managing Director at Acclarity, since 2015, Mr. MacKinnon has led transformative Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) initiatives, regulatory compliance redesigns, and operational audits for a diverse range of organizations—including public companies and higher education institutions. Previously, from 2014 to their acquisition in 2015, Mr. MacKinnon served as Vice President of Internal Audit at Home Properties, where he enhanced data analytics in audit processes, advised on IT and risk initiatives, and contributed to strategic decision-making across multiple committees. During his tenure at Google from 2011 to 2024, he managed global internal audit teams in high-risk areas such as payroll, procurement, and tax, designing controls that significantly reduced compliance risk and improved operational efficiency. Earlier in his career, Mr. MacKinnon held leadership roles at Global Crossing and worked extensively in external audit with Arthur Andersen and PricewaterhouseCoopers in both the U.S. and the UK. A Chartered Accountant (Scotland) and Certified Internal Auditor, he is widely regarded for his collaborative leadership style, mentorship, and ability to drive sustainable improvements in financial governance. Mr. MacKinnon holds a Bachelor of Accountancy from the University of Glasgow. Mr. MacKinnon’s finance and audit experience qualifies him to serve on our Board of Directors. |
11
![]() |
Timothy Harned, age 60, is an investment banking, corporate development, and financial advisory veteran with more than 35 years of experience in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, and related activities. Mr. Harned has been a director of the Company since June 2017. Mr. Harned is also a technology specialist with more than 25 years of experience in various technology fields, including communications, mobility, and software, and another ten years working with consumer and industrial companies. He holds an MBA from The Kenan-Flagler Business School at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Kenyon College. He began his career at Lehman Brothers (1987 to 1992) within the mergers and acquisitions group. Upon receiving his Masters in Business Administration in 1994, Mr. Harned went on to serve as a corporate development executive (1994 to 1996) and later joined Banc of America Securities (1996 to 2000) where he became a Managing Director. Mr. Harned subsequently joined Morgan Stanley & Co. (2000 to 2002) where he served as Executive Director focused on mergers and acquisitions and capital markets advisory for technology companies. From 2003 to 2016, Mr. Harned served in leadership positions at several technology-focused financial and strategic advisory boutiques. In 2016, Mr. Harned founded 8Nineteen Advisory, LLC where he served as Managing Partner and CEO while functioning as a strategic C-suite consultant regarding growth matters and providing financial advisory services, with a specialty in mergers and acquisitions and corporate and business development. He led 8Nineteen Advisory from December 2016 until it was acquired by Progress Partners, Inc. in May 2021. Since that time, he has served as Managing Director at Progress Partners in their Boston headquarters. Over his career, Mr. Harned has led strategic transactions for both Fortune 500 companies as well as earlier stage high growth enterprises. In addition, he has successfully completed multiple cross-border transactions for U.S. acquirers entering the markets of both established and developing countries. Mr. Harned’s capital markets, corporate development, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic and financial advisory experience in the technology and consumer fields qualifies him to serve on our Board of Directors. |
![]() |
Paula Whitten-Doolin, age 47, is a seasoned legal and governance leader who has served as a strategic advisor to executives and boards across multinational organizations. Since February of 2026, she has served as the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Deep Isolation, a company focused on innovative solutions to storing nuclear waste worldwide. She is currently also a board advisor to Cemvita, a privately held company in the renewable fuels space. She was the General Counsel for a government entity in Houston, Texas from 2024 to 2026. Until late 2023, she was the General Counsel of Ideanomics and from 2019 to 2026, the Head of Legal, Americas for Neste, where she led legal, HR, and ESG functions through major transformations, acquisitions, and complex regulatory matters. At Neste, she supported landmark agreements with major U.S. airlines and helped advance the company’s leadership in sustainable aviation fuel. Paula began her career as a litigator at Weil, Gotshal & Manges and holds a JD from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and a BS from Caltech. In addition to her board service at Vuzix, she has previously served on the boards of several charitable organizations in Houston, Texas, where she resides. Ms. Doolin’s securities law and capital markets experience, legal expertise, and corporate governance background qualifies her to serve on our Board of Directors. |
12
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD FOR PROPOSAL NO. 1
Our
Board of Directors recommend A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION
AS DIRECTORS OF THE NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE
Information Regarding the Board and its Committees
Director Meeting and Attendance
During 2025, our Board of Directors held one (1) in-person and five (5) conference call regular meetings, two (2) additional conference-call meetings and acted three (3) times by unanimous written consent. In addition, the directors considered Company matters and had frequent communication with each other apart from the formal meetings. No Board member attended fewer than 75% of the total Board meetings or of meetings held by all committees on which such member served during 2025.
Board Independence
Our Board of Directors has determined that each of our current directors and director nominees, other than Mr. Travers and Mr. Russell, is an independent director as defined by Rule 10A-3 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act and NASDAQ rules. We believe that we are compliant with the independence criteria for boards of directors under applicable laws and regulations and the NASDAQ Stock Market. The Board has met and may continue to meet independently of management as required.
Board Committees
We have an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a Nominating and Governance Committee.
Audit Committee
Our Audit Committee consists of Alasdair MacKinnon, Timothy Harned, and Paula Whitten-Doolin, each of whom is a non-employee director. Our Board of Directors has determined that each member of our Audit Committee is an independent director as defined by Rule 10A-3 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act and meets the requirements of financial literacy under SEC rules and regulations and the NASDAQ Stock Market. Mr. MacKinnon is the chairperson of our Audit Committee and is considered an independent director as defined by Rule 10A-3 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act and meets the requirements of financial literacy under SEC rules and regulations and the NASDAQ Stock Market. Mr. MacKinnon serves as our Audit Committee financial expert, as defined under SEC rules. Our Audit Committee met four (4) times during 2025.
Our Audit Committee is responsible for, among other things:
| ● | selecting and hiring our independent auditors, and approving the audit and non-audit services to be performed by our independent auditors; |
| ● | evaluating the qualifications, performance and independence of our independent auditors; |
| ● | monitoring the integrity of our financial statements and our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements as they relate to financial statements or accounting matters; |
| ● | reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our internal control policies and procedures; |
| ● | reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our cybersecurity, information and technology security, and data privacy programs, procedures, and policies; |
| ● | discussing the scope and results of the audit with the independent auditors and reviewing with management and the independent auditors our interim and year-end operating results; and |
| ● | preparing the Audit Committee report that the SEC requires in our annual proxy statement. |
Our Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for our Audit Committee, which is available on the investor relations section of our website (www.vuzix.com).
13
Compensation Committee
Our Compensation Committee consists of Paula Whitten-Doolin, Alasdair MacKinnon and Timothy Harned, each of whom is a non-employee director. Timothy Harned is the chairperson of our Compensation Committee. Our Board of Directors has determined that each member of our Compensation Committee is an independent director as defined under the current rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market. Our Compensation Committee met seven (7) times in 2025.
Our Compensation Committee is responsible for, among other things:
| ● | reviewing and approving compensation of our executive officers including annual base salary, annual incentive bonuses, specific goals, equity compensation, employment agreements, severance and change-in-control arrangements, and any other benefits, compensation or arrangements; | |
| ● | reviewing and recommending compensation goals, bonus, and stock compensation criteria for our employees; | |
| ● | working with senior management on executive professional development and succession planning; | |
| ● | reviewing and working with management on strategies and policies related to Vuzix’ human capital management function, and talent management; | |
| ● | preparing any Compensation Committee report required by the rules of the SEC to be included in our annual proxy statement; and | |
| ● | administering, reviewing and making recommendations with respect to our equity compensation plans. |
Our Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for our Compensation Committee, which is available on the investor relations section of our website (www.vuzix.com).
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During the year ended December 31, 2025, no member of our Compensation Committee was one of our officers or employees. Moreover, none of our executive officers served as a member of the board of directors, or as a member of the compensation or similar committee, of any entity that has one or more executive officers who served on our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee during 2025.
Nominating and Governance Committee
Our Nominating and Governance Committee consists of Timothy Harned, Paula Whitten-Doolin and Alasdair MacKinnon, each of whom is a non-employee member of our Board of Directors. Paula Whitten-Doolin is the chairperson of our Nominating and Governance Committee. Our Board of Directors has determined that each member of our Nominating and Governance Committee is an independent director as defined under the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market. Our Nominating and Governance Committee met three (3) times in 2025.
Our Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for, among other things:
| ● | presenting a list of individuals recommended for nomination for election to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting of stockholders; |
| ● | reviewing the composition of each committee and present recommendations for committee membership to the Board of Directors as needed; |
| ● | establishing and reviewing on an annual basis the Nominating and Governance Committee’s policy with regard to the consideration of any director candidates recommended by the Company’s stockholders, including the procedures to be followed by the Company’s stockholders in submitting such recommendations; |
14
| ● | evaluating and reporting to the Board on the performance and effectiveness of the Board to facilitate the directors fulfilling their responsibilities in a manner that serves the interests of the Company’s stockholders; and |
| ● | developing and recommending to the Board of Directors a set of corporate governance guidelines applicable to the Company. |
Our Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for our Nominating and Governance Committee, which is available on the investor relations section of our website (www.vuzix.com).
Nominating Process
The process followed by the Nominating and Governance Committee to identify and evaluate candidates includes requests to Board members, the chief executive officer, and others for recommendations, meeting from time to time to evaluate any biographical information and background material relating to potential candidates and their qualifications, and interviews of selected candidates. Nominations of persons for election to our Board of Directors may be made at a meeting of stockholders only (i) by or at the direction of the Board or (ii) by any stockholder who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in our bylaws and in the section entitled “Questions and Answers About This Proxy Material and Voting – When are stockholder proposals due for next year’s annual meeting?” In addition, stockholders who wish to recommend a prospective nominee for the Nominating and Governance Committee’s consideration should submit the candidate’s name and qualifications to our Corporate Secretary, 25 Hendrix Road, West Henrietta, New York 14586.
In evaluating the suitability of candidates to serve on the Board of Directors, including stockholder nominees, the Nominating and Governance Committee seeks candidates who are independent as defined by the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market, and who meet certain selection criteria established by the committee. The committee also considers an individual’s skills, character and professional ethics, judgment, leadership experience, business experience and acumen, familiarity with relevant industry issues, and other relevant criteria that may contribute to our success. This evaluation is performed in light of the skill set and other characteristics that would most complement those of the current directors, including the diversity, maturity, skills and experience of the Board of Directors as a whole. The Board seeks the best director candidates based on the skills and characteristics required without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, disability, marital status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law.
Code of Ethics and Business Conduct
We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics that applies to all of our employees, officers and directors. The full text of our code of business conduct and ethics is posted on the investor relations section of our website (www.vuzix.com).
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
None of our directors or executive officers has been involved in any legal proceeding in the past ten (10) years that would require disclosure under Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K.
Corporate Governance and Related Matters
Board Leadership Structure
Our Board of Directors is responsible for the selection of the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer. Our Board does not have a policy on whether or not the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman should be separate and, if they are to be separate, whether the Chairman should be selected from the non-employee directors or be an employee. Currently, our Chief Executive Officer acts as Chairman. Our Board believes that Paul Travers, our founder and Chief Executive Officer, is best suited to act as Chairman of the Board because he is the director most familiar with the Company’s business and industry and is therefore best able to identify the strategic priorities to be discussed and considered by the Board.
15
Our Board believes that the most effective board structure is one that emphasizes board independence and ensures that the Board’s deliberations are not dominated by management. Three of our five current directors qualify as independent directors as defined under NASDAQ rules and regulations. Each of our standing Board committees is comprised of only independent directors, including our Nominating and Governance Committee, which is charged with evaluating and reporting to the Board on the performance and effectiveness of the Board, as necessary.
Our Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
Our management is responsible for risk management on a day-to-day basis. The role of our Board and its committees includes overseeing the risk management activities of management. Our Board oversees our risk management processes directly and through its committees. The Audit Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to risk management in the areas of financial reporting, internal controls, cybersecurity, and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and discusses policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, including guidelines and policies to govern the process by which our exposure to risk is handled. The Compensation Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to the management of risks arising from our compensation policies and programs and talent management. The Nominating and Governance Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to the management of risks associated with Board organization, membership and structure, and succession planning for our directors.
Communications with the Board of Directors
Stockholders and other parties may communicate directly with the Board of Directors or the relevant board member by addressing communications to:
Vuzix Corporation
c/o Corporate Secretary
25 Hendrix Road,
West Henrietta, New York 14586
All stockholder correspondence will be compiled by our corporate secretary and forwarded as appropriate.
Director Attendance at Annual Meetings
We have scheduled a Board of Directors meeting in conjunction with our Annual Meeting of Stockholders. While we do not have a formal policy regarding attendance at annual meetings, as a general matter, we expect that the directors will attend the annual meeting. All of our directors attended our 2025 Annual Meeting in-person, except for Mr. MacKinnon who joined the Board of Directors in August 2025.
PROPOSAL 2
RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF THE COMPANY’S
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 2026
The Audit Committee has selected the accounting firm of Withum Smith+Brown, PC (“Withum”) to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026.
On August 22, 2025, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors approved the replacement of Freed Maxick P.C. (“Freed Maxick”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, with Withum, due to Freed Maxick joining Withum. Freed Maxick served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm from October 2014 until its merger with Withum.
16
The reports of Freed Maxick on the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2024 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles, except for an explanatory paragraph in its report related to the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 regarding the substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
During the Company’s fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2024, and the subsequent interim period through August 22, 2025, (i) there were no “disagreements,” as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K, with Freed Maxick on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Freed Maxick, would have caused Freed Maxick to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its reports on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for such period, and (ii) there were no “reportable events,” as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K, except for a material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as disclosed in the Company’s Annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, remediated during 2024.
The Company provided Freed Maxick with a copy of the disclosures above as filed in the Company’s 8-K filed with the SEC on August 27, 2025 and requested that Freed Maxick furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether or not it agrees with the Company’s statements herein. A copy of such letter was filed as Exhibit 16.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 27, 2025.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2024, and the subsequent interim period through August 22, 2025, neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf consulted with Withum regarding (i) the application of accounting principles to any specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to the Company that Withum concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing, or financial reporting issue, or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a “disagreement,” as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K, or a “reportable event,” as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
The stockholders are being asked to ratify the Audit Committee’s appointment of Withum for the year ending December 31, 2026. If the stockholders fail to ratify this appointment, the Audit Committee may, but will not be required to, reconsider whether to retain that firm. If the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may direct the appointment of a different accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. A representative of Withum will be present at the Annual Meeting and will be given the opportunity to make a statement if he or she so desires and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
17
Fees Paid to Freed Maxick and Withum
The following table shows the fees that were billed by Freed Maxick and Withum to the Company for professional services rendered in 2025 and 2024.
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Audit Fees - Freed Maxick(1) | $ | 33,750 | $ | 354,600 | ||||
| Audit Fees - Withum(1) | 361,133 | — | ||||||
| Tax Fees - Freed Maxick (2) | 14,285 | 65,485 | ||||||
| Tax Fees - Withum(2) | 39,185 | — | ||||||
| All other Fees - Freed Maxick | — | — | ||||||
| All other Fees - Withum | — | — | ||||||
| Total Fees - Freed Maxick | 48,035 | 420,085 | ||||||
| Total Fees - Withum | 400,318 | — | ||||||
| Total Professional Services Fees | $ | 448,353 | $ | 420,085 | ||||
(1) Audit fees primarily represent amounts billed for the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements for such respective fiscal year, quarterly reviews of our consolidated financial statements, comfort letters related to our ATM offering, and SEC registration statements.
(2) Professional services billed for tax compliance and planning.
Pre-Approval of Fees by Audit Committee
In accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, our Audit Committee charter and pre-approval policies established by the Audit Committee require that the Audit Committee review and approve in advance all audit and permitted non-audit services provided to us by our independent registered public accounting firm. The services performed by, and the fees to be paid to, Freed Maxick and Withum in 2025 and 2024 were approved by the Audit Committee.
Independence Analysis by Audit Committee
The Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of the services described above was compatible with maintaining the independence of Freed Maxick and Withum and determined that the provision of such services was compatible with such firm’s independence. For 2025 and 2024, Freed Maxick and Withum provided no services other than those services described above.
Required Vote
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock cast on the matter is needed to ratify the appointment of Withum Smith+Brown, PC, as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026. An abstention will have the same legal effect as a vote against the ratification of Withum Smith+Brown, PC.
18
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD FOR PROPOSAL NO. 2:
Our Board of Directors recommendS that the
stockholders vote FOR ratification of the appointment of WITHUM
SMITH+BROWN, PC as our independent registered public accounting firm
for the year ending December 31, 2026.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
Membership and Role of Audit Committee
The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors is responsible for providing independent, objective oversight and review of our accounting functions, internal controls and financial reporting process. Currently, the Audit Committee is comprised of Alasdair MacKinnon, Timothy Harned and Paula Whitten-Doolin. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors in December 2009, as subsequently amended, which may be found on the investor relations section of our website (www.vuzix.com) under the “Investors-Corporate Governance” section. We believe that each of the members of the Audit Committee is independent as defined by applicable laws and regulations.
Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including our system of internal controls, cybersecurity, and for the preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our independent accountants are responsible for performing an independent audit of those financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and to issue a report thereon. The Audit Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes on behalf of the Board of Directors. Two of the three members of the Audit Committee are not professional accountants or auditors and their functions are not intended to duplicate or certify the activities of management and the independent auditors. Alasdair MacKinnon, a Chartered Accountant (Scotland), is chair of the Audit Committee.
Review of our Audited Financial Statements
In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed the audited financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K with management and discussed the quality and acceptability of our accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, and the clarity of disclosures in our financial statements.
The Audit Committee reviewed with the independent auditors, who are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles, their judgments as to the quality and acceptability of our accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the committee under the standards of the PCAOB, including Auditing Standard 1301 (Communications with Audit Committees). In addition, the Audit Committee has discussed with the independent auditors the auditors’ independence from management and us, including the matters in the written disclosures required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independent Discussions with Audit Committees), which were submitted to us, and considered the compatibility of non-audit services with the auditors’ independence.
The Audit Committee discussed with our independent auditors the overall scope and plans for their audit. The Audit Committee met with the independent auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examination, their evaluation of our internal controls, and the overall quality of our financial reporting.
In reliance on these reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to our Board of Directors (and our Board has approved) that our audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025 be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Audit Committee selects the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm annually and has submitted such selection for the year ending December 31, 2026 for ratification by stockholders at the Company’s Annual Meeting.
The Audit Committee currently consists of Mr. MacKinnon (Chairperson), Mr. Harned and Ms. Whitten-Doolin.
The material in this report is not deemed to be “soliciting material,” or to be “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is not to be incorporated by reference in any of our filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filings.
19
COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Named Executive Officers
This proxy statement contains information about the compensation paid to our Named Executive Officers (“NEOs”) during 2025. For 2025, we determined that the following officers were our named executive officers for purposes of this proxy statement:
| ● | Paul Travers - Chief Executive Officer and President | |
| ● | Grant Russell - Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President | |
| ● | Peter Jameson – Chief Operating Officer (former) | |
| ● | Chris Parkinson – President Enterprise Solutions (former) |
Biographical information regarding Mr. Travers and Mr. Russell is provided under Proposal No. 1 above.
Dr. Chris Parkinson was appointed President of Enterprise Solutions of Vuzix in September 2025. Dr. Parkinson is a pioneering force in wearable computing and enterprise innovation. He now leads our enterprise smart glasses and related software solutions group along with its global product strategies, focusing on customer and channel expansion across logistics, manufacturing, healthcare, and field service. Prior to joining Vuzix, Dr. Parkinson was a co-founder and CEO of RealWear Inc., where he architected the world’s most deployed industrial AR smart glasses platform, securing over 130 patents and reshaping frontline worker technology. His career blends deep technical expertise with visionary execution, driving scalable solutions that build trust and transform industries. Dr. Parkins’s employment at Vuzix ended by mutual agreement on April 22, 2026.
Clawback Policy
In 2022, we adopted a more comprehensive Clawback policy, which builds upon the policy that we had established in 2018. In 2023, we updated the policy to comply with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the related listing standards of the NASDAQ stock exchange. The updated Clawback policy meets the current SEC and NASDAQ mandatory requirements and provides additional discretionary protections against fraud and misconduct that can result in financial or significant reputational harm to the Company regardless of whether it is in conjunction with a restatement. This enhanced section of the policy applies to all current and former Section 16 Officers and includes potential recovery of any incentive compensation paid or awarded to or earned by such Officers (including annual incentive cash, stock options, restricted stock units, and any other equity awards).
Hedging and Pledging Policy
In 2022, we expanded
elements of our Hedging/Pledging policy to ensure all components meet industry best practices.
Similarly, no Reporting Insider may hold Company securities in a margin account or directly pledge Company securities as collateral for a loan. Margin or foreclosure sales may occur at a time when the Insider is aware of Material Nonpublic Information or otherwise is not permitted to trade in Company securities.
Prohibition Against Speculating and Certain Equity Transactions
Investing in the Company’s securities provides an opportunity to share in its future growth. Investment in the Company and sharing in its growth, however, are inconsistent with speculation based on short-term fluctuations in the market price of the Company’s securities. Such activities may put the personal gain of an Insider in conflict with the interests of the Company and its stockholders.
20
Consequently, no Insider may trade in options, warrants, puts and calls or similar derivative instruments based on the Company’s securities or buy the Company’s securities with the intention of quickly reselling them or sell the Company’s securities “short.” Any sale by a Reporting Insider of the Company’s securities that have not been held for investment for a period of at least 90 days shall be deemed to be speculative for the purpose of this paragraph. In addition, Insiders may not buy the Company’s securities on margin.
The Company also maintains a “blackout period” during which all Reporting Insiders are prohibited from trading in the Company’s securities. This blackout period begins at the close of the market on the 15th day of the third month of each fiscal quarter and ends at the beginning of the third trading days following the date of public disclosure of the financial results for that quarter. The prohibition exists due to the fact that Reporting Insiders often possess Material Nonpublic Information about the expected financial results for the quarter or year during that period. Additionally, the Company may also declare an event-specific blackout period, which would impose a prohibition on trading Company securities for specific Insiders tied to specific material events.
In 2023, the Company updated elements of its Insider Trading Policy, in which our anti-hedging/pledging and other related policies are contained, to comply with the SEC’s new rules on insider trading disclosures and 10b5-1 plans, including by updating the Company’s “blackout period” provision concerning the prohibition of trading Company securities around the release of Material Nonpublic Information.
Other Considerations
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, places a limit of $1.0 million on the amount of compensation that we may deduct as a business expense in any year with respect to certain of our most highly paid executive officers. While the Compensation Committee considers the deductibility of compensation as one factor in determining executive compensation, the Compensation Committee retains the discretion to award compensation that is not deductible as it believes that it is in the best interests of our stockholders to maintain flexibility in our approach to executive compensation in order to structure a program that we consider to be the most effective in attracting, motivating and retaining our executive officers.
Employment and Other Agreements
We typically do not offer employment agreements and the only current employees with such an agreement are our CEO and CFO, both of which were entered into in 2007, and which are still effective, and with Chris Parkinson, PhD., president of the Company’s Enterprise Solutions business unit, which we entered into in September 2025.
21
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth information concerning total compensation earned or paid to our named executive officers for 2025 and 2024. More detailed information is presented in the other tables and in the footnotes to the table.
| Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary | Bonus
or | Option | Stock ($) | All
Other | Total ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Paul Travers, President | 2025 | $ | 471,064 | (1) | $ | 28,750 | $ | — | $ | 919,416 | $ | 30,625 | (9) | $ | 1,449,855 | |||||||||||||
| and Chief Executive Officer | 2024 | 376,761 | (1) | 21,563 | 618,125 | — | 19,979 | (9) | 1,036,428 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Grant Russell, Chief Financial | 2025 | $ | 435,340 | (2) | $ | 18,630 | $ | — | $ | 372,362 | $ | 31,912 | (10) | $ | 858,244 | |||||||||||||
| Officer and Executive Vice President | 2024 | 386,872 | (2) | 13,736 | 306,923 | — | 25,301 | (10) | 732,732 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Peter Jameson, Chief Operating | 2025 | $ | 101,695 | (3) | $ | 21,994 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 7,770 | (11) | $ | 131,459 | |||||||||||||
| Officer (former) | 2024 | 308,076 | (3) | 16,216 | 357,938 | — | 11,289 | (11) | 693,519 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Chris Parkinson, President Enterprise Solutions | 2025 | $ | 103,844 | (4) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,472,500 | $ | 5,525 | (12) | $ | 2,581,869 | |||||||||||||
| (1) | Mr. Travers’s contract provides for an annual salary of $575,000 beginning on January 1, 2021. As part of our one year salary deferral program that began in May 2024, Mr. Travers reduced his cash salary by $287,500 in exchange for stock options with a fair market value of $575,000. The reduction in cash salary was in effect from May 1, 2024 to April 30, 2025. |
| (2) | Mr. Russell’s contract provides for an annual salary of $465,750 beginning on July 1, 2023, and it had previously been $450,000 since January 1, 2021. As part of our one year salary deferral program that began in May 2024, Mr. Russell reduced his cash salary by $139,725 in exchange for stock options with a fair market value of $279,450. The reduction in cash salary was in effect from May 1, 2024 to April 30, 2025. |
| (3) | Mr. Jameson's base salary was $439,871 beginning on July 1, 2023, and it had previously been $425,000 since January 1, 2022. As part of our one year salary deferral program that began in May 2024, Mr. Jameson reduced his cash salary by $162,752 in exchange for stock options with a fair market value of $325,505. The reduction in cash salary was in effect from May 1, 2024 to April 30, 2025. Mr. Jameson resigned as chief operating officer on March 11, 2025. |
| (4) | Mr. Parkinson's base salary was $360,000 beginning on September 3, 2025 upon joining the Company |
| (5) | Messrs. Travers, Russell, and Jameson received cash performance bonuses of $28,750, $18,630, and $21,994, respectively, in 2025 for meeting certain target elements under the management incentive bonus program for 2024. |
Messrs. Travers, Russell, and Jameson received cash performance bonuses of $21,563, $13,736, and $16,216, respectively, in 2024 for meeting certain target elements under the management incentive bonus program for 2023.
| (6) | Messrs. Travers, Russell, and Jameson received 580,808, 282,273, and 328,792, respectively, in stock options in lieu of cash salary for their participation in the Company’s salary deferral program that took effect in May of 2024 and was effective for one year. The fair market value of the stock options issued was $575,000, $279,450, and $325,505, respectively. |
Messers. Travers, Russell, and Jameson received equity performance bonuses of 43,561, 27,751, and 32,761, respectively, in stock options for meeting certain target elements under the management incentive bonus program for 2023. The fair market value of the stock options issued was $43,125, $27,473, and $32,433, respectively.
| (7) | Mr. Travers received 145,939 RSUs and 145,939 PSUs as a replacement for the 3,010,000 stock options that were surrendered under the cancelation of the Company’s former LTIP effective in June 2025. The fair market value per share on the date of award of the RSUs and PSUs was $3.15, resulting in an aggregate fair value of $919,416. |
22
Mr. Russell received 59,105 RSUs and 59,105 PSUs as a replacement for the 1,625,000 stock options that were surrendered under the cancelation of the Company’s former LTIP effective in June 2025. The fair market value per share on the date of award of the RSUs and PSUs was $3.15, resulting in an aggregate fair value of $372,362.
Mr. Parkinson received 150,000 RSUs and 1,000,000 PSUs upon joining the Company as President of its Enterprise Solutions business unit. The fair market value per share on the date of award of the RSUs and PSUs was $2.15, resulting in an aggregate fair value of $2,472,500.
| (8) | The amounts shown represent the aggregate grant date fair value of stock and option awards computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For information regarding assumptions used in calculating these amounts, refer to Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025. |
| (9) | Consists of amounts paid to Mr. Travers as a car allowance (as per his employment contract) and for health and group life insurance. |
| (10) | Consists of amounts paid to Mr. Russell in reimbursement for the rental of an automobile in Rochester, New York, and direct travel to and from his primary residence in Vancouver, Canada to Rochester, New York, and for health and group life insurance. |
| (11) | Consists of amounts paid to Mr. Jameson for health and group life insurance. |
| (12) | Consists of amounts paid to Mr. Parkinson for health and group life insurance. |
PROPOSAL 3
ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) requires that the Company’s stockholders have the opportunity to cast a non-binding advisory vote regarding the approval of the compensation disclosed in this Proxy Statement of the Company’s executive officers who are named in the Summary Compensation Table above (“named executive officers”). The Company has disclosed the compensation of the named executive officers pursuant to rules adopted by the SEC.
We believe that our compensation policies for the named executive officers are designed to attract, motivate and retain talented executive officers and are aligned with the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders.
Statement on Executive Compensation
To recruit and retain talent and to reinforce Vuzix’ strategy, our compensation program is designed to be simple, straightforward, and fair. It is designed as a pay-for-performance compensation program that ensures alignment with Vuzix’ product and technology growth strategy and shareholder value creation. An important element of the program is our equity award program, which we use to motivate long-term performance and strongly align the interests of our executives with those of our shareholders. We strive to create an appropriate balance between our employee retention objectives and our pay-for-performance objectives.
We use the following compensation elements to provide an overall competitive compensation and benefits package that is tied to creating shareholder value and supporting the execution of our short- and long-term business performance and strategies:
| ● | Base salary; |
| ● | Annual performance bonus incentive plan that focuses on objective key financial drivers with upside leverage and strategic drivers of the Company’s long-term success such as the development of new products and/or technologies (cash and/or restricted stock or short-term equity awards); and |
| ● | Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) incentives tied to internal financial metrics, consisting of restricted stock awards (RSUs) and performance stock awards (PSUs). |
Our LTIP consists of a laddered grant program, where the executives receive annual grants of equity that have a 3-year vesting period for the RSUs and PSUs with a 3-year performance window to vest. The annual split is 50% RSUs and 50% PSUs and results in overlapping multi-year performance and vesting cycles and the number of these equity units being determined based as a percentage of the executives’ base salary.
23
The RSUs provide stable, time-based retention value and the PSUs vesting depends on meeting financial targets within a three-year period and include maximum payouts of 150% of the PSUs based on upside outsized performance. We feel this is the most effective mechanism to align executive interests with long-term shareholder value creation.
The combination and allocation of the components, and the target amount of each component, are influenced by the role of the executive officer, individual performance, expected contributions, market practices, and the total value of all compensation and benefits available to the individual executive officers. A significant portion of our NEOs’ compensation and awards are at risk, meaning that unless we achieve certain levels of financial and operational performance, our executives could receive no bonus incentive payouts.
The key financial drivers used for both the annual performance bonus and long-term equity compensation elements include revenues, adjusted EBITDA levels [excludes non-cash items such as depreciation, equity compensation charges, amortization, among other items, and is exclusive of any bonus payouts under this plan], product margins, and objective strategic measures focused on driving the Company’s long-term growth. Each NEO has an established target as a percentage of salary, with a threshold-to-maximum payout equal to +/-33% of target based on performance relative to target. For the financial goals, results are linearly interpolated between threshold and maximum. A maximum opportunity of 150% of target can be achieved only by significantly exceeding targeted performance.
The Compensation Committee regularly reviews peer equivalent and comparable market practices in executive compensation and governance on an ongoing basis with the assistance of compensation consultants.
This advisory stockholder vote, commonly referred to as a “say-on-pay vote,” gives you as a stockholder the opportunity to approve or not approve the compensation of the named executive officers that is disclosed in this Proxy Statement by voting for or against the following resolution (or by abstaining with respect to the resolution):
RESOLVED, that the stockholders of Vuzix Corporation approve all of the compensation of the Company’s executive officers who are named in the Summary Compensation Table of the Company’s 2026 Proxy Statement, as such compensation is disclosed in the Company’s 2026 Proxy Statement pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, which disclosure includes the Proxy Statement’s Summary Compensation Table and other executive compensation tables and related narrative disclosures.
In accordance with the preference expressed by our shareholders at our 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, our Board of Directors determined that the Company will hold an advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers every year. We expect that the next advisory vote on the frequency of stockholder votes on executive compensation will occur at our 2031 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Although the vote is non-binding, our Board and the Compensation Committee will review the voting results. To the extent there is a significant negative vote, we would communicate directly with stockholders to better understand the concerns that influenced the vote. The Board and the Compensation Committee would consider constructive feedback obtained through this process in making future decisions about executive compensation programs. However, your non-binding advisory votes described in this Proposal 3 will not be construed: (1) as overruling any decision by the Board of Directors, any Board committee or the Company relating to the compensation of the named executive officers, or (2) as creating or changing any fiduciary duties or other duties on the part of the Board of Directors, any Board committee or the Company.
24
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD FOR PROPOSAL NO. 3:
Our
Board of Directors recommendS the stockholders vote FOR approval of
the compensation disclosed in this Proxy Statement of the Company’s NAMED
executive officers
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR END
The following table sets forth information concerning exercisable and un-exercisable stock options held by the named executive officers at December 31, 2025.
| Option Awards | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Incentive Plan | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Awards: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of | Number of | Number of | ||||||||||||||||||
| Securities | Securities | Securities | ||||||||||||||||||
| Underlying | Underlying | Underlying | ||||||||||||||||||
| Unexercised | Unexercised | Unexercised | Option | |||||||||||||||||
| Options | Options | Unearned | Exercise | Option | ||||||||||||||||
| (#) | (#) | Options | Price | Expiration | ||||||||||||||||
| Name | Exercisable | Un-exercisable | (#) | ($) | Date | |||||||||||||||
| Paul Travers (1) | 50,000 | — | — | 1.71 | 5/6/2030 | |||||||||||||||
| Paul Travers (2) | 250,000 | — | — | 19.00 | 3/17/2031 | |||||||||||||||
| Paul Travers (3) | 580,808 | — | — | 1.33 | 04/30/2034 | |||||||||||||||
| Paul Travers (4) | 43,561 | — | — | 1.33 | 04/30/2034 | |||||||||||||||
| Grant Russell (1) | 50,000 | — | — | 1.71 | 5/6/2030 | |||||||||||||||
| Grant Russell (2) | 125,000 | — | — | 19.00 | 3/17/2031 | |||||||||||||||
| Grant Russell (3) | 282,273 | — | — | 1.33 | 04/30/2034 | |||||||||||||||
| Grant Russell (4) | 27,751 | — | — | 1.33 | 04/30/2034 | |||||||||||||||
| (1) | These options were granted under our 2014 option plan and became fully vested on May 5, 2024. |
| (2) | These options were granted under our 2014 option plan and under the Company's former LTIP, which was cancelled on June 17, 2025. All unvested options were replaced with RSUs and PSUs included in the below table. |
| (3) | These options were granted under our 2014 option plan and were related to our one year salary deferral program that commenced in May 2024 where each officer’s cash salary was reduced, and cliff vested on April 30, 2025. |
| (4) | These options were granted under our 2014 option plan and were related equity performance bonuses for meeting certain target elements under the management incentive bonus program for 2023 in lieu of cash payments. |
25
| Stock Awards (RSAs, RSUs, and PSUs) | |||||||||||||||||
| Equity | |||||||||||||||||
| Incentive Plan | |||||||||||||||||
| Awards: | |||||||||||||||||
| Name | Number
of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) | Market
Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested($)(1) | Number
of Unearned Shares or Units That have Not Vested(#) | Market
Value of Unearned Shares or Units That Have Not Vested ($)(1) | |||||||||||||
| Paul Travers | 145,939 | $ | 551,649 | 145,939 | $ | 551,649 | |||||||||||
| Grant Russell | 59,105 | 223,417 | 59,105 | 223,417 | |||||||||||||
| Chris Parkinson | 112,500 | 425,250 | 1,000,000 | 3,780,000 | |||||||||||||
| (1) | Market value was determined by multiplying the number of shares by the closing price of our common stock on Nasdaq on the last trading day of 2025 ($3.87 on December 31, 2025). |
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The Company has adopted the Vuzix 2023 Incentive Stock Plan (the “2023 Plan”).
The purpose of the 2023 Plan is to retain executives and selected employees and consultants and reward them for making contributions to our success. These objectives are accomplished by granting long-term incentive awards thereby providing participants with a proprietary interest in our growth and performance. The plan is administered by our Board of Directors.
The following table provides information about our equity compensation plan as of December 31, 2025:
| Number of | Weighted | |||||||||||
| Securities to | Average | |||||||||||
| be Issued | Exercise Price | Number of | ||||||||||
| Upon Exercise | of | Securities | ||||||||||
| of Outstanding | Outstanding | Remaining | ||||||||||
| Options, | Options, | Available for | ||||||||||
| Warrants and | Warrants and | Future | ||||||||||
| Plan Category | Rights | Rights | Issuance | |||||||||
| Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | 6,078,999 | $ | 3.37 | 3,940,295 | ||||||||
| Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | — | — | — | |||||||||
| Total | 6,078,999 | $ | 3.37 | 3,940,295 | ||||||||
Employment Agreements
Paul Travers
On August 1, 2007, we entered into an employment agreement with Paul Travers providing for his continued service as our Chief Executive Officer and President. Effective January 1, 2021, the Compensation Committee increased Mr. Travers’ annual base salary to $575,000; it had previously been $500,000 since May 1, 2017. He is also eligible to receive such periodic, annual or other bonuses as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion shall determine and to participate in all bonus plans established for our senior executives. The agreement also provides that Mr. Travers may be awarded, at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, stock options and other awards under any plan or arrangement for which our senior executives are eligible. The level of his participation in any such plan or arrangement shall be determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion. To the greatest extent permissible under the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) and the regulations thereunder, options granted to Mr. Travers shall be incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. He is also eligible to participate in all employee benefit plans which are generally available to our senior executives and entitled to receive fringe benefits and perquisites comparable to those of our other senior executives.
26
Under his agreement, we are obligated to reimburse Mr. Travers for the costs of an automobile at the rate of $750 per month and for all actual, reasonable and customary expenses incurred in the course of his employment in accordance with our policies as then in effect. Mr. Travers is subject to certain restrictive covenants under the agreement, including a covenant not to compete for twenty-four (24) months after his termination for any reason other than by him for good reason or by us without cause and for forty-eight (48) months after his termination if such termination results in our obligation to pay him the change-of-control payment described below.
Grant Russell
On August 1, 2007, we entered into an employment agreement with Grant Russell providing for his continued service as our Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President. Effective July 1, 2023, the Compensation Committee increased Mr. Russell’s annual base salary to $465,750; it had previously been $450,000 since January 1, 2021, having previously been increased to $425,000 on May 1, 2017. He is also eligible to receive such periodic, annual or other bonuses as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion shall determine and to participate in all bonus plans established for our senior executives. The agreement also provides that Mr. Russell may be awarded, at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, stock options and other awards under any plan or arrangement for which our senior executives are eligible. The level of his participation in any such plan or arrangement shall be determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion. To the greatest extent permissible under the Code and the regulations thereunder, options granted to Mr. Russell shall be incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. He is also eligible to participate in all employee benefit plans which are generally available to our senior executives and entitled to receive fringe benefits and perquisites comparable to those of our other senior executives.
Under his agreement, we are obligated to either reimburse Mr. Russell for the costs of an automobile at the rate of $750 per month or to bear all expenses associated with his lease of an automobile for his use while in Rochester, New York, to reimburse him for the costs of travel between Rochester, New York, and his primary residence in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and to reimburse him for all actual, reasonable and customary expenses incurred in the course of his employment in accordance with our policies as then in effect. We provide Mr. Russell the option to receive a portion of his salary in the form of a housing allowance, at the rate prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service, for the maintenance of a second residence in Rochester, New York. Payment of such allowance is deductible by us for federal income tax purposes in the same manner as cash compensation. Mr. Russell is subject to certain restrictive covenants under the agreement, including a covenant not to compete for twenty-four (24) months after his termination for any reason other than by him for good reason or by us without cause and for forty-eight (48) months after his termination if such termination results in our obligation to pay him the change-of-control payment described below.
Chris Parkinson, PhD
On September 3, 2025, the Company entered into an employment offer letter with Chris Parkinson, PhD., the newly appointed president of the Company’s Enterprise Solutions business unit. Pursuant to the employment offer letter, Dr. Parkinson will receive an annual base salary of $360,000 and will participate in the Company’s management bonus plan and Laddered Long-term Equity Incentive Plan. Mr. Parkinson will also receive 150,000 RSAs, which will vest in equal portions quarterly over 12 months and 1,000,000 PSUs, whose vesting will be subject to the achievement of certain revenue and EBITDA targets of the Company’s Enterprise Solutions business unit by December 31, 2028.
On April 22, 2026, the employment of Chris Parkinson, PhD., as president of the Enterprise Solutions business unit of Vuzix Corporation (the “Company”) ended upon mutual agreement. In connection with this event, 75,000 previously unvested shares of restricted common stock vested, and Dr. Parkinson forfeited 1,000,000 unvested performance stock units.
27
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change-in-Control
This section sets forth information regarding compensation and benefits that our CEO and CFO would receive in the event of a change-in-control (as defined in the applicable employment agreement) or in the event of termination of employment under several different circumstances, including: (1) termination by Vuzix for cause (as defined in the applicable employment agreement); (2) a voluntary termination by the NEO; (3) termination of the NEO for good reason (as defined in the applicable employment agreement); (4) involuntary termination by Vuzix without cause; (5) death; or (6) disability (as defined in the applicable employment agreement).
Under the agreements of both Mr. Travers and Mr. Russell: (a) we shall have “cause” to terminate them as a result of their: (i) willfully engaging in conduct which is materially injurious to us; (ii) willful fraud or material dishonesty in connection with their performance as an employee; (iii) deliberate or intentional failure to substantially perform their duties as employees that results in material harm to us; or (iv) conviction for, or plea of nolo contendere to a charge of, or commission of, a felony; (b) they shall have “good reason” to terminate their employment upon: (i) a material diminution during the term of the agreements in their duties, responsibilities, position, office or title; (ii) a breach by us of the compensation and benefits provisions of their agreements; (iii) a material breach by us of any other terms of their agreements; or (iv) the relocation of their principal place of business at our request beyond 30 miles from its current location; and (c) they shall be deemed to be “disabled” if they shall be rendered incapable of performing their duties to us by reason of any medically determined physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that can reasonably be expected to last for a period of either (i) five or more consecutive months from the first date of their absence due to the disability; or (ii) nine months during any 12-month period. Any termination by us for cause or by them for good reason is subject to a 30-day notice period and opportunity to cure.
Under the two employment agreements for our CEO and CFO, “change-of-control” means: (i) the approval by our stockholders, and the completion of the transaction resulting from such approval, of (A) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets; or (B) our complete liquidation or dissolution; (ii) the sale, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the outstanding shares of our capital stock; (iii) the approval by our stockholders, and the completion of the transaction resulting from such approval, of a merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar corporate transaction, whether or not we are the surviving corporation in such transaction, in which the outstanding shares of common stock are converted into (A) shares of stock of another company, other than a conversion into shares of voting common stock of the successor corporation (or a holding company thereof) representing 50% or more of the voting power of all capital stock thereof outstanding immediately after the merger or consolidation; or (B) other securities (either ours or those of another company) or cash or other property; (iv) pursuant to an affirmative vote of a holder or holders of 75% of our capital stock of the entitled to vote on such a matter, the removal of a majority of the individuals who are at that time members of the Board of Directors; or (v) the acquisition by any entity or individual of 100% of our capital stock.
The actual amounts that would be payable in such circumstances can only be determined at the date of termination or upon the change-in-control. The amounts included below are based on the following:
| ● | We have assumed that the termination event occurred effective as of December 31, 2025, the last day of 2025; |
| ● | We have assumed that the value of our common stock was $3.78 per share, the U.S. dollar closing market price of our common stock on December 31, 2025, the last trading day of our common stock, and that all unvested options were exercised on December 31, 2025; and |
| ● | Health benefits are included at the estimated value of continuation of this benefit. |
28
Paul Travers
If Mr. Travers’ employment is terminated (i) by the Company without cause; or (ii) by Mr. Travers for good reason; or (iii) as a result of disability, Mr. Travers would be entitled to receive:
| ● | two times his annual base salary, payable in twenty-four (24) equal monthly installments | $ | 1,150,000 | ||
| ● | his annual incentive bonus, payable within 60 days of termination | — | |||
| Total cash compensation upon termination | $ | 1,150,000 |
If Mr. Travers’ employment is terminated within one year of a change-of-control for any reason other than by us for cause, or if he elects to terminate his employment (whether or not for good reason) during the period beginning 121 days after a change-of-control and ending on the second anniversary thereof, Mr. Travers would be entitled to receive:
| ● | four times his annual base salary, payable in forty-eight (48) equal monthly installments | $ | 2,300,000 | ||
| ● | his annual incentive bonus, then in effect, payable within 60 days of termination | — | |||
| Total cash compensation upon change-of-control | $ | 2,300,000 |
Additionally, in either case Mr. Travers would also be entitled to:
| ● | continuation of medical benefits throughout the 24- or 48-month period during which severance payments are made or until he becomes eligible to receive medical benefits from subsequent employer | $24,275 (for 24 months) or $48,549 (for 48 months) | |||
| ● | any accrued amounts owing to him | ||||
| ● | additionally, in the event any severance payments under those existing agreements become subject in the future to IRS Section 280G excise taxes that lower the net amounts after tax those officers would otherwise receive, then the Company shall gross-up such payments to these “disqualified individuals” (IRS definition) for the 20 percent excess tax if their currently existing severance arrangements are deemed excess parachute payment amounts |
If Mr. Travers’ employment is terminated for cause or by Mr. Travers voluntarily, he will be entitled to receive only any accrued amounts owing him and will forfeit all unvested equity and unearned incentive payments.
Grant Russell
If Mr. Russell’s employment is terminated (i) by the Company without cause or (ii) by Mr. Russell for good reason; or (iii) as a result of disability, Mr. Russell would be entitled to receive:
| ● | two times his annual base salary, payable in twenty-four (24) equal monthly installments | $ | 931,500 | ||
| ● | his annual incentive bonus, payable within 60 days of termination | — | |||
| Total cash compensation upon termination | $ | 931,500 |
If Mr. Russell’s employment is terminated within one year of a change-of-control for any reason other than by us for cause, or if he elects to terminate his employment (whether or not for good reason) during the period beginning 121 days after a change of control and ending on the second anniversary thereof, Mr. Russell would be entitled to receive:
| ● | four times his annual base salary, payable in forty-eight (48) equal monthly installments | $ | 1,863,000 | ||
| ● | his annual incentive bonus, then in effect, payable within 60 days of termination | — | |||
| Total cash compensation upon change-of-control | $ | 1,863,000 |
29
Additionally, in either case Mr. Russell would also be entitled to:
| ● | continuation of medical benefits throughout the 24- or 48-month period during which severance payments are made or until he becomes eligible to receive medical benefits from subsequent employer | $13,957 (for 24 months) or $27,915 (for 48 months) | |||
| ● | any accrued amounts owing to him | ||||
| ● | additionally, in the event any severance payments under those existing agreements become subject in the future to IRS Section 280G excise taxes that lower the net amounts after tax those officers would otherwise receive, then the Company shall gross-up such payments to these “disqualified individuals” (IRS definition) for the 20 percent excess tax if their currently existing severance arrangements are deemed excess parachute payment amounts |
If Mr. Russell’s employment is terminated for cause or by Mr. Russell voluntarily, he will be entitled to receive only any accrued amounts owing him and will forfeit all unvested equity and unearned incentive payments.
CEO Pay Ratio
We are providing the following information about the ratio of our CEO’s total compensation for 2025 to the total compensation of our median compensated employee for 2025 (our “CEO pay ratio“) pursuant to Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K. The CEO pay ratio disclosed below represents a reasonable, good faith estimate, calculated in a manner consistent with SEC rules, based upon our payroll and employment records and the methodology described below:
| ● | CEO total compensation: $1,449,855 |
| ● | Median Employee total compensation: $121,989 |
| ● | Ratio of CEO to Median Employee: 11.9 to 1 |
All data included in the calculation is prepared in accordance with the requirements of Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K.
Methodology for Selecting the Median Employee
We prepared a list of all 79 U.S. employees, excluding the CEO and, utilizing the amount of annual base pay of all of our U.S. employees, determined the median employee total compensation. We excluded all non-U.S. employees in our foreign locations from our median calculation as they represent less than 5% of our total full-time employee population. We selected December 31, 2025, as our determination date. The pay ratio is a reasonable estimate calculated based upon rules and guidance provided by the SEC. The SEC rules allow for varying methodologies for companies to identify their median employee total compensation; other companies may have different employment and compensation practices and may utilize different methodologies, exclusions, estimates and assumptions in calculating their own pay ratios. Consequently, the pay ratios reported by other companies are unlikely to be relevant or meaningful for purposes of comparison to our pay ratio as reported here.
Pay Versus Performance
Vuzix is committed to a strong pay and performance culture, and we have designed an executive compensation program where awards are aligned with Company performance and stockholder value. To this end, a significant share of executive pay is at risk and delivered in the form of incentive compensation. We have worked to enhance this alignment by implementing a more formalized annual incentive plan focused on achieving key financial objectives and successfully completing various strategic milestones and business model drivers.
The new SEC-required Pay versus Performance disclosure below provides a snapshot perspective on pay and performance alignment by evaluating the link between “Compensation Actually Paid,” herein referred to as CAP, as defined by the SEC, and measures of market and financial performance.
30
Pay versus Performance Table
As a Small Reporting Company (SRC), the following table shows the past two fiscal years’ total compensation for our Named Executive Officers (NEOs) as set forth in the Summary Compensation Table (“SCT”), the CAP paid to our NEOs, the Company’s total stockholder return (TSR), and our net income.
2025 Pay vs. Performance Table
| Year | Summary Compensation Table Total for CEO | Compensation Actually Paid to CEO | Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-CEO NEOs | Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-CEO NEOs | Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based On: TSR | Net Loss | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
(1) In the table above, our CEO
is
(2) The non-CEO NEOs for each applicable year are as follows:
| – | 2025: Grant Russell, Peter Jameson, and Chris Parkinson |
| – | 2024: Grant Russell and Peter Jameson |
(3) The SEC rules require that certain adjustments be made to the Summary Compensation Table totals to determine CAP, as reported in the Pay versus Performance table above. The following table details the applicable adjustments that were made to determine CAP:
Relationship Between Compensation Actually Paid (CAP) and Performance Measures
The Pay versus Performance table above and the charts below illustrate the following:
| Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year | Executives | SCT Total | Deduct SCT Stock Awards & Option Awards | Add Year- End Fair Value of Unvested Equity Granted in the Year | Add Year-over- Year Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Granted in Prior Years | Add Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in the Year | Add Year-over- Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years that Vested in the Year | Compensation Actually Paid | ||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | CEO | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Non-CEO NEOs (average) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
| 2024 | CEO | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Non-CEO NEOs (average) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
31
CAP to our CEO and other NEOs has moved in line with our TSR – i.e., increases in our TSR over 2024 and 2025 were paired with increasing compensation outcomes during those years. The CAP definition of pay reflects changes in the value of unvested and vested equity, so increases in the value of our stock price were similarly reflected in the value of equity (both unvested and vested) as compared to grant-date Summary Compensation Table values of pay. In 2025 and 2024, the value of outstanding equity held by our NEOs was mixed and resulted in negative CAP for our CEO and positive CAP for our average other NEOs. The negative CAP for our CEO was primarily driven by the cancellation of our former LTIP in June 2025. The positive CAP for our other NEOs was primarily driven by new equity awards granted in 2025 that remain unvested as of December 31, 2025. We would expect that as the market value of Vuzix stock increases, CAP values will also increase given both the equity tie to stock price and the potential impact of positive financial results on incentive payouts.
CAP does not move in line with our net loss or income, as the measure can be volatile year-over-year due to accounting requirements, such as the inclusion of changes in the value of inventories, acquisitions, and related metrics. As such, we use other key measures of financial performance for a growing company, such as revenue, gross margin, and EBITDA margin, in our incentive programs.
Reference Charts
Director Compensation
Employee directors do not receive additional compensation for serving on the Board of Directors beyond the compensation they receive for serving as our officers, as described under “Executive Compensation.”
We use a combination of cash and stock-based incentive compensation to attract and retain qualified candidates to serve on the Board of Directors. In setting non-employee director compensation levels, the Board considers the amount of time that directors expend in fulfilling their duties as members of our Board and the skill level we require of members of our Board.
Director Compensation Program for 2025 included:
Director Compensation
| Compensation Element | 2025 | |
| Board Cash Retainer | $60,000(1) | |
Incremental Chair Fees ◾ Audit ◾ All other committees |
$12,000 $10,000 | |
| Equity Grant (shares or RSU FMV) | The equivalent of $100,000 in RSUs | |
| Stock Ownership Requirement | 3x base cash retainer | |
| Total Annual Director Compensation Limit | $300,000 (cash and equity) |
| (1) | Directors can choose to receive RSUs in lieu of cash retainers |
32
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION — YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2025
| Fees Paid in | Stock | |||||||||||
| Cash | Awards | Total | ||||||||||
| Name | ($) | ($)(1)(2) | ($) | |||||||||
| Timothy Harned | 52,500 | 100,000 | 152,500 | |||||||||
| Edward Kay | 21,750 | 100,000 | 121,750 | |||||||||
| Paula Whitten-Doolin | 60,000 | 100,000 | 160,000 | |||||||||
| Alasdair MacKinnon | 28,899 | 129,937 | 158,836 | |||||||||
| (1) | Messrs. Harned, Kay, and Ms. Whitten-Doolin were each awarded 31,746 shares of common stock on June 16, 2025, as part of their annual retainer compensation. The total fair market value of these stock awards was $100,000 each, which was determined by multiplying the number of shares of common stock granted by the closing price of $3.15 of our common stock as listed on NASDAQ on the day prior to grant.
Mr. MacKinnon was awarded 45,295 shares of common stock as part of his annual retainer compensation upon his appointment to the Board of Directors on August 5, 2025 and 20,000 shares of common stock as part of his onboarding as a new director upon the passing of Edward Kay in July 2025. The total fair market value of this stock awards was $129,937, which was determined by multiplying the number of shares of common stock granted by the closing price of $1.99 of our common stock as listed on NASDAQ on the day prior to grant. | |
| (2) | The amounts shown represent the aggregate grant date fair value of stock and option awards computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For information regarding assumptions used in calculating these amounts, refer to Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025. |
TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS
Since January 1, 2024, we have not entered into any transactions in which our directors, executive officers or holders of more than 5% of our capital stock had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. The following transactions do not include compensation, termination and change-in-control arrangements, which are described under “COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.” We believe the terms obtained or consideration that we paid or received, as applicable, in connection with the transactions described below were comparable to terms available or the amounts that would be paid or received, as applicable, in arm’s-length transactions.
Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. Under these agreements we are obligated to indemnify the indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law for all reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements), judgments, fines (including excise taxes and penalties) and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the indemnitee arising out of or connected with the indemnitee’s service as a director or officer and indemnitee’s service in another capacity at our request or direction. We are also obligated to advance all reasonable and actual expenses incurred by the indemnitee in connection with any action, suit, proceeding or appeal with respect to which such indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified upon our receipt of an invoice for such expenses. Our obligation to advance expenses is subject to the indemnitee’s execution, upon our request, of an agreement to repay all such amounts if it is ultimately determined that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by us under applicable law. If a claim for indemnification under this agreement may not be paid to the indemnitee under applicable law, then in any action in which we are jointly liable with the indemnitee, we are obligated to contribute to the amount of reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) actually and reasonably incurred by the indemnitee in proportion to the relative benefits received by us and the indemnitee from the transaction from which such action arose, and our relative fault and that of the indemnitee in connection with the events which resulted in such expenses. The rights of an indemnitee under the form of indemnification agreement are in addition to any other rights that the indemnitee may have under our certificate of incorporation or bylaws, any agreement, or any vote of our stockholders or directors. We are not obligated to make any payment under the form of indemnification agreement to the extent payment is actually made to the indemnitee under an insurance policy or any other method outside of the agreement.
33
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors knows of no other matters that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting, but if other matters properly come before the meeting, the persons named as proxies in the enclosed proxy will vote according to their best judgment. Stockholders are requested to vote by telephone or via the Internet, or date and sign the enclosed proxy and mail it promptly in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. Otherwise, your proxy will be voted for you.
| By Order of the Board of Directors | |
| /s/ Eric Black | |
| Eric Black, | |
| Corporate Secretary |
| Dated: | April 28, 2026 |
| West Henrietta, New York |
34
| SCAN TO VIEW MATERIALS & VOTE VUZIX CORPORATION 25 HENDRIX ROAD WEST HENRIETTA, NY 14586 VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com or scan the QR Barcode above Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 15, 2026. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years. VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 15, 2026. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: V96549-P52145 KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY VUZIX CORPORATION The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR ALL the named nominees as directors and FOR Proposals 2 and 3. 1. To elect five directors to serve until the 2027 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. Nominees: For Against Abstain 1a. Paul Travers 1b. Grant Russell 1c. Timothy Harned 1d. Paula Whitten-Doolin 1e. Alasdair MacKinnon For Against Abstain 2. To ratify the appointment of Withum Smith+Brown, PC as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026. 3. To conduct a non-binding advisory vote for the approval of the compensation disclosed in the Proxy Statement of the Company's executive officers who are named in the Proxy Statement Summary Compensation Table. NOTE: In their discretion, upon any other business that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. NOTE: Please sign EXACTLY as name(s) appear(s) on this proxy. When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by the President or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date Signature (If Joint Owners) Date |
| Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting: The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com. V96550-P52145 Proxy – VUZIX CORPORATION PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON JUNE 16, 2026 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The undersigned stockholder hereby appoints PAUL TRAVERS and GRANT RUSSELL or either of them (each with full power to act alone), as attorneys and proxies for the undersigned, with the power to appoint his substitute, to represent and to vote all the shares of common stock of Vuzix Corporation (the “Company”), which the undersigned would be entitled to vote, at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in person at the RIT Inn & Conference Center, 5257 West Henrietta Road, Henrietta, New York 14467 on June 16, 2026, at 11:00 A.M. Eastern Time and at any adjournments thereof, subject to the directions indicated on the reverse side hereof. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon any other matter that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof. This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed on the reverse side by the undersigned stockholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR the election of the named nominees as directors and FOR Proposals 2 & 3. PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. (IMPORTANT—This Proxy must be signed and dated) |