DEF: Nocopi Technologies Sets June 17th Annual Meeting

Sentiment:

Proxy Statement


Nocopi Technologies, Inc. announced its 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held virtually on June 17, 2026, with key proposals including director election and auditor ratification.

Summary

  • Nocopi Technologies, Inc. is holding its 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders virtually on June 17, 2026, starting at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
  • Stockholders of record as of April 24, 2026, are eligible to vote.
  • The meeting will cover the election of Matthew C. Winger as a Class II director for a three-year term, the ratification of Stephano Slack LLC as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, and an advisory vote on executive compensation.
  • The company is providing proxy materials electronically via the internet, with a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials being mailed around April 30, 2026.
  • Stockholders can vote via the internet, by mail, or in person at the virtual meeting.
  • The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all three proposals.
  • As of the record date, there were 11,101,789 shares of common stock outstanding.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this filing as neutral, as it is a routine proxy statement for an annual meeting with standard proposals and no significant new financial information or strategic shifts disclosed.

Positives

  • The company is holding its annual meeting to ensure good corporate governance and compliance with applicable law.
  • The virtual meeting format is intended to facilitate stockholder attendance and participation from any location.
  • The Board of Directors is recommending favorable votes for all proposed items, indicating management's confidence in its direction and choices.
  • Matthew C. Winger, the nominee for director, is recognized for his extensive knowledge of the company's operations and market expertise.
  • Stephano Slack LLC has been pre-approved by the Audit Committee for services, indicating a thorough review process.
  • The company has a Code of Ethics and an Insider Trading Policy in place.
  • Directors and officers attended 100% of board and committee meetings in 2025.
  • The company has a designated independent director, Eric Sites, on the Board.

Negatives

  • Kevin Westenburg filed a Form 3 late due to a delay in obtaining EDGAR codes, indicating a minor administrative oversight.
  • The company does not have a formal written policy for related party transactions, relying on Board review in practice.
  • The company does not currently have a policy prohibiting employees, officers, or directors from engaging in hedging transactions.
  • Two of the three directors (Matthew C. Winger and Kevin Westenburg) are not considered independent due to their executive officer status.
  • The Audit Committee did not hold any formal meetings in 2025, acting by unanimous written consent instead.

Risks

  • The company's common stock is traded on the OTC Market (OTCQB), which may have lower liquidity and higher volatility compared to major exchanges.
  • The company has not established a formal policy for related party transactions, which could present potential conflicts of interest if not managed carefully.
  • The absence of an anti-hedging policy could expose the company to risks if insiders engage in transactions that offset the company's stock value.
  • The company's board structure, with two non-independent directors, could potentially limit independent oversight in certain situations.

Future Outlook

The filing does not contain specific forward-looking financial guidance. It outlines the proposals to be voted on at the upcoming annual meeting and the company's commitment to corporate governance.

Management Comments

  • The Board believes that a favorable vote for all the Proposals described in the Proxy Statement is in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders.
  • The Board believes that Mr. Winger's extensive knowledge of the Company's operations as Chief Executive Officer as well as his knowledge of public and private markets makes him well suited to serve as a member of our Board.
  • The Board believes that Mr. Westenburg's auditing and transactional experience makes him well suited to serve as a member of our Board.
  • The Board believes that Mr. Sites' analytical and investment background makes him well suited to serve as a member of our Board.
  • The Board has determined that presently, the leadership structure of combining CEO and Chairman roles is appropriate for the size of the Company.
  • The Board values the opinions of our stockholders and will consider the outcome of the advisory vote on executive compensation when making future compensation decisions.

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that Nocopi Technologies, Inc. is operating in a market where virtual annual meetings are becoming standard practice, offering cost efficiencies and broader accessibility for stockholders. The focus on director election, auditor ratification, and executive compensation aligns with typical corporate governance practices for publicly traded companies, especially those on over-the-counter markets.

Comparison to Industry Standards

  • The company's decision to hold a virtual annual meeting aligns with a growing trend in the industry, particularly post-pandemic, to reduce costs and increase accessibility.
  • The election of a director for a three-year term and the ratification of an independent auditor are standard corporate governance practices across most industries.
  • The advisory vote on executive compensation (say-on-pay) is a requirement mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act, common for all U.S. public companies.
  • The company's board size of three members is on the smaller side compared to larger corporations, but is not uncommon for smaller public companies, especially those on OTC markets.

Management Changes

RolePrevious PersonNew PersonEffective DateReason
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the BoardMichael S. LiebowitzMatthew C. Winger2025-03-04Resignation of Michael S. Liebowitz

Corporate Governance

Change TypeDescriptionEffective DateImpact Assessment
Board StructureThe Board is classified into three classes with staggered three-year terms, a structure adopted on October 28, 2021.2021-10-28Provides continuity and stability in pursuing company policies and strategies.
Director IndependenceEric Sites has been determined to be an independent director based on NASDAQ Listing Rule 5605(a)(2). Matthew C. Winger and Kevin Westenburg are not independent due to their executive officer status.N/A (Ongoing assessment)Ensures at least one independent director is on the board for oversight, though a majority are not independent.
Audit Committee CompositionThe Audit Committee is comprised of Matthew Winger, Kevin Westenburg (Chair), and Eric Sites. Mr. Sites is independent for audit committee purposes and designated as a financial expert.N/A (Ongoing)Ensures financial oversight with an independent expert, though two members are not independent.
Related Party Transaction PolicyNo formal written policy exists; the Board reviews and approves all related party transactions in practice.N/APotential for less structured oversight of related party transactions compared to companies with formal policies.
Anti-Hedging PolicyNo policy currently prohibits employees, officers, or directors from engaging in hedging transactions.N/APotential for insider hedging to offset stock value decreases, which may not align with shareholder interests.

Legal Proceedings

  • To the best of the company's knowledge, there are no material legal proceedings to which any director, director nominee, executive officer, or affiliate of the company, or any owner of record or beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of voting securities, or any associate of such person, is a party adverse to the company or any of its subsidiaries, or has a material interest adverse to the company or any of its subsidiaries.

Related Party Transactions

  • The Company engaged Phillip Frost, trustee of Frost Gamma Investments Trust (a beneficial owner of >5% of outstanding voting securities), as a consultant for advisory services for a three-year period ending September 11, 2026. In consideration, the Company will issue 65,790 shares of Common Stock annually over the three-year period.

Stakeholder Impact

  • Shareholders: Will vote on director elections, auditor ratification, and executive compensation, influencing corporate governance and management alignment.
  • Management and Employees: Executive compensation is subject to advisory shareholder approval, potentially influencing future compensation structures.
  • Auditors: The ratification of Stephano Slack LLC as auditor provides continuity in financial reporting oversight.

Next Steps

  • Stockholders to vote on the election of Matthew C. Winger as a Class II director.
  • Stockholders to ratify the appointment of Stephano Slack LLC as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026.
  • Stockholders to vote on an advisory, non-binding basis, on the compensation of named executive officers.
  • The company will report final voting results on a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days of the 2026 Annual Meeting.

Key Dates

DateDescription
2023-09-11Company engaged Phillip Frost as a consultant for advisory services for a three-year period ending September 11, 2026.
2024-01-01Start of fiscal year for which Stephano Slack LLC is being proposed as auditor.
2024-04-30Approximate date for mailing the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the 2026 Annual Meeting.
2024-09-30Morison Cogen LLP resigned as independent registered public accounting firm.
2024-10-04Company notified Stephano Slack LLC of its selection as independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.
2025-12-31End of fiscal year for which audited financial statements are discussed in the proxy statement.
2026-04-24Record Date for determining stockholders entitled to vote at the 2026 Annual Meeting.
2026-04-30Date of the Proxy Statement.
2026-06-16Deadline for pre-registration to participate in the virtual 2026 Annual Meeting (9:00 a.m. Eastern Time).
2026-06-17Date of the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (9:00 a.m. Eastern Time).
2026-12-31Deadline for stockholder proposals to be included in the proxy statement for the 2027 Annual Meeting.
2027-02-17Latest date for stockholder proposals (other than Rule 14a-8) to be received for the 2027 Annual Meeting.
2029-01-01Term expiration date for the elected Class II director (Matthew C. Winger).

Recommendation

hold

This filing is a routine proxy statement for an annual meeting and does not contain new financial performance data, strategic shifts, or significant corporate events that would warrant a buy or sell recommendation. It outlines standard governance procedures and upcoming votes. Therefore, a 'hold' recommendation is appropriate, pending further operational or financial updates.

Keywords

Nocopi Technologies, DEF 14A, Proxy Statement, Annual Meeting, Stockholders, Director Election, Auditor Ratification, Executive Compensation, Virtual Meeting, Corporate Governance, Matthew C. Winger, Stephano Slack LLC

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