Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and
15d-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report, have concluded that as of December 31, 2025, our disclosure controls
and procedures were adequate and effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit
with the Securities and Exchange Commission is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the
Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial
Reporting.
There has been no change in our internal control
over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(d) and 15d-15(e) that occurred
during the fourth quarter period covered by this Annual Report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect,
our internal control over financial reporting.
Management ’ s Annual Report on
Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
We, as management, are responsible for establishing
and maintaining adequate “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)). Our internal
control system was designed by or is under the supervision of management and our board of directors to provide reasonable assurance regarding
the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of published financial statements.
All internal control systems, no matter how well
designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with
respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.
Our management, including our Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31,
2025. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission (COSO) in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013). We believe that, as of December 31, 2025, our
internal control over financial reporting was effective based upon those criteria.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Shareholders and Board of Directors
JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
Santa Monica, California
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited JAKKS Pacific, Inc.’s (the “Company’s”)
internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated
Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the “COSO criteria”).
In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December
31, 2025, based on the COSO criteria .
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December
31, 2025 and 2024, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows
for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2025, and the related notes and our report dated March 2, 2026, expressed
an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective
internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included
in the accompanying Item 9A, Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm
registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws
and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit of internal control over financial reporting
in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance
about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining
an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating
the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other
procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process
designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements
for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial
reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately
and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions
are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of
the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition
of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial
reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject
to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies
or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ BDO USA, P.C.
Los Angeles, California
March 2, 2026
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Item 9B. Other Information
Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans
On February 24, 2026 , John Kimble , our
Chief Financial Officer , for tax planning purposes, adopted a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement that is intended to satisfy the
affirmative defense of Rule 10b5-1(c) with respect to the sale of up to 85,015 shares of our common stock from time to time, in accordance
with the terms specified in the trading arrangement. The term of Mr. Kimble’s Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement expires on June 30,
2027 . The first date that any transactions under Mr. Kimble’s Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement can occur is August 25, 2026.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent
Inspections
None.
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PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Directors and Executive Officers
Our directors and executive officers are as follows:
Name
Age
Positions with the Company
Stephen G. Berman
61
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President, Secretary and Class I Director
John L. Kimble
56
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Neilwantie Mahabir
61
Class I Director
Alexander Shoghi
44
Class II Director
Jonathan R. Liebman
66
Class II Director
Jordan Moelis
38
Class II Director
Lori MacPherson
58
Class III Director
Stephen G. Berman has been our Chief Operating
Officer (until August 23, 2011) and Secretary and one of our directors since co-founding JAKKS in January 1995. From February 17, 2009
through March 31, 2010 he was also our Co-Chief Executive Officer and has been our Chief Executive Officer since April 1, 2010. Since
January 1, 1999, he has also served as our President, and since October 23, 2015 he has also served as our Chairman. From the Company’s
inception until December 31, 1998, Mr. Berman was also our Executive Vice President. From October 1991 to August 1995, Mr. Berman was
a Vice President and Managing Director of THQ International, Inc., a subsidiary of THQ. From 1988 to 1991, he was President and an owner
of Balanced Approach, Inc., a distributor of personal fitness products and services.
Neilwantie Mahabir, has been a Director
since December 6, 2024. Ms. Mahabir is Chief Executive Officer of LaRose Industries LLC, which manufactures toy, activity, art and stationery
products including under the brands RoseArt and Cra-Z-Art. From 2006 until 2008 she was Chief Operating Officer of Barton’s Confectionary,
which manufactured chocolate products. Ms. Mahabir joined RoseArt Industries, Corp, a toy and stationery company, in 1988 as a customer
service manager, then became head of sales and marketing, and was appointed executive vice president of RoseArt Industries in 2000. She
served in that capacity until RoseArt Industries’ sale in 2005 and joined LaRose Industries on its formation in 2008. She graduated
from the New Amsterdam Multilateral School in Guyana, South America and received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the American
Business Institute.
Alexander Shoghi has been a Director since
December 18, 2015. Mr. Shoghi is a Portfolio Manager at Oasis Management, a private investment management firm headquartered in Hong
Kong. Mr. Shoghi joined Oasis in 2005, first based in Hong Kong, and subsequently relocating to the U.S. as the founder and manager of
Oasis Capital in Austin, Texas in early 2012. From 2004 to 2005, Mr. Shoghi worked at Lehman Brothers in New York City. Mr. Shoghi holds
a Bachelor of Science of Business Administration in Finance and International Business degree from Georgetown University.
Jonathan R. Liebman has been a Director
since June 20, 2025. Mr. Liebman is the co-CEO and chair of Los Angeles, CA-based production and management company Brillstein Entertainment
Partners, and is also part of the leadership team at Los Angeles, CA-based talent representation and marketing firm Wasserman Media Group
LLC. After he graduated with a BA in history, summa cum laude, from Yale University in 1981, and a JD from Yale Law School in 1985, Mr.
Liebman served as a law clerk for Judge Leonard B. Sand in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, from 1986 to
1987. He then served as an attorney in the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, ending as deputy chief
of the Criminal Division. In 1992 he became a partner in the law firm of Parcher & Hayes, PC, until 1998 when he joined the predecessor
of Brillstein Entertainment Partners.
Jordan Moelis has been a Director
since June 20, 2025. Mr. Moelis is the Managing Partner of Deep Field Asset Management LLC, a private investment firm he founded in 2014.
Additionally, he is Co-President of Brindle Capital LLC. Previously, from 2010-2014 he was a Research Analyst at Serengeti Asset Management
LP, a multi-strategy investment firm. Mr. Moelis attended the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where he received a Bachelor
of Science in Economics summa cum laude before receiving his M.B.A. from the same school.
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Lori MacPherson has been a Director since
September 27, 2021. Ms. MacPherson was an entertainment and consumer products executive with over two decades of experience at the Walt
Disney Company, a multinational media and entertainment conglomerate. From 2010-2014 she served as Executive Vice President, Global Product
Management for The Walt Disney Studios. Prior thereto she was Executive Vice President and General Manager of the global Walt Disney
Studios Home Entertainment division (2009-2010), Senior Vice President and General Manager of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
North America (2006-2009) and held a variety of senior Marketing and Product Management positions (1991-2006). Ms. MacPherson currently
sits of the Board of Trustees at Polytechnic School in Pasadena, California. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in French Literature
from Pomona College.
Classification of Directors
In November 2019, our stockholders approved the
Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which divided the Board of Directors into three classes, as nearly
equal in number as possible with one class standing for election each year for a three-year term. At our 2020 Annual Meeting we elected
directors pursuant to a class system, directors in Class I were elected to a one-year term and directors in Class II were elected to
a two-year term. The directors in Class III were initially designated and identified in the Certificate of Designations with their initial
terms expiring at the annual meeting of our stockholders to be held in 2023, and thereafter the directors in Class III were to be elected
to a three-year term solely by the holders of our Series A Senior Preferred Stock and the common stockholders had no right to vote with
respect to the election of such Class III directors. However, pursuant to the terms of an agreement entered into as of August 3, 2022
between us and the holders of our Series A Preferred Stock, special rights granted to the preferred holders with respect to the election
and/or nomination of certain directors have been terminated and the election of all of our directors are now voted on solely by our common
stockholders. At each Annual Meeting of Stockholders following the 2020 Annual Meeting the successors of the class of directors whose
term expires shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in the third year following
the year of their election, with each director in each such class to hold office until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified.
Mr. Berman and Ms. Mahabir are Class I Directors;
Messrs. Shoghi, Liebman, and Moelis are Class II Directors; and Ms. MacPherson is a Class III Director.
Qualifications for All Directors
In considering potential candidates for election
to the Board, the Nominating Committee observes the following guidelines, among other considerations: (i) the Board must include a majority
of independent directors; (ii) each candidate shall be selected without regard to age, sex, race, religion or national origin; (iii)
each candidate should have the highest level of personal and professional ethics and integrity and have the ability to work well with
others; (iv) each candidate should only be involved in activities or interests that do not conflict or interfere with the proper performance
of the responsibilities of a director; (v) each candidate should possess substantial and significant experience that would be of particular
importance to the Company in the performance of the duties of a director; and (vi) each candidate should have sufficient time available,
and a willingness to devote the necessary time, to the affairs of the Company in order to carry out the responsibilities of a director,
including, without limitation, consistent attendance at board and committee meetings and advance review of board and committee materials.
The Chief Executive Officer will then interview such candidate. The Nominating Committee then determines whether to recommend to the
Board that a candidate be nominated for approval by the Company’s stockholders. The manner in which the Nominating Committee evaluates
a potential candidate does not differ based on whether the candidate is recommended by a stockholder of the Company. With respect to
nominating existing directors, the Nominating Committee reviews relevant information available to it, including the most recent individual
director evaluations for such candidates, the number of meetings attended, his or her level of participation, biographical information,
professional qualifications and overall contributions to the Company.
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The Board does not have a specific diversity policy,
but considers diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, age, cultural background and professional experiences in evaluating candidates for
board membership. However, California law required that by the end of 2021 California-headquartered public companies with a board of
directors the size of the Company have at least three female directors on its board and at least one director on its board who is from
an underrepresented community, defined as “an individual who self identifies as Black, African American, Hispanic, Latino, Asian,
Pacific Islander, Native American, Native Hawaiian, or Alaska Native, or who self identifies as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.”
In the event the size of the Company’s board remains the same, the law mandated that by the end of calendar 2022 the number of
directors from underrepresented communities on the Company’s board be increased to have at least two directors from underrepresented
communities. Nasdaq has also adopted board diversity requirements, but the Company believes that by complying with the California diversity
requirements it will be in compliance with the Nasdaq requirements. The California diversity requirements have been found unconstitutional
and are not currently applicable. The Company’s board is currently in compliance with all applicable diversity requirements.
The Board has identified the following qualifications,
attributes, experience and skills that are important to be represented on the Board as a whole: (i) management, leadership and strategic
vision; (ii) financial expertise; (iii) marketing and consumer experience; and (iv) capital management.
The Board has determined that five of six directors
who serve on the Board as of the date hereof (Messrs. Shoghi, Liebman, Moelis and Ms. MacPherson and Ms. Mahabir) are “independent,”
as defined under the applicable rules of Nasdaq. In making this determination, the Board or the Nominating Committee, as applicable,
considered the standards of independence under the applicable rules of Nasdaq and all relevant facts and circumstances (including, without
limitation, commercial, industrial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable and familial relationships) to ascertain whether
any such person had a relationship that, in its opinion, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the
responsibilities of a director.
Our directors serve in accordance with the Third
Amended and Restated By-laws (as amended to date) until their respective successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier death,
disability, retirement, resignation or removal. Our officers are elected annually by the Board and serve at its discretion. Our current
independent directors were selected for their financial management expertise (Messrs. Shoghi and Moelis) and general business and industry-specific
experience (Mr. Liebman, Ms. MacPherson and Ms. Mahabir). We believe that the Board is best served by benefiting from this blend of business
and financial expertise and experience. Our remaining director is our Chief Executive Officer (Mr. Berman), who contributes his general
business and industry specific experience to the Board.
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Committees of the Board of Directors
We have an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee
and a Nominating Committee. In August 2019 the Capital Allocation Committee, which was established as a standing committee in February
2016, was dissolved. In the first quarter of 2024 we formed a Cybersecurity Oversight Committee.
Audit Committee . In addition to risk management
functions, the primary functions of the Audit Committee are to select or to recommend to the Board the selection of outside auditors;
to monitor our relationships with our outside auditors and their interaction with our management in order to ensure their independence
and objectivity; to review and assess the scope and quality of our outside auditor’s services, including the audit of our annual
financial statements; to review our financial management and accounting procedures; to review our financial statements with our management
and outside auditors; and to review the adequacy of our system of internal accounting controls. Effective as of their respective dates
of appointment to the Board, Messrs. Shoghi (Chair) and Liebman and Ms. Mahabir are the members of the Audit Committee. Each member of
the Audit Committee is “independent” (as defined in NASD Rule 4200(a)(14)) and able to read and understand fundamental financial
statements. Mr. Shoghi, our audit committee financial expert, possesses the financial expertise required under Rule 401(h) of Regulation
S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and NASD Rule 4350(d)(2) as a result of his experience
as a portfolio manager at Oasis Management. He is further “independent” as defined under Item 7(d)(3)(iv) of Schedule 14A
under the Exchange Act. We will, in the future, continue to have (i) an Audit Committee of at least three members comprised solely of
independent directors, each of whom will be able to read and understand fundamental financial statements (or will become able to do so
within a reasonable period of time after his or her appointment); and (ii) at least one member of the Audit Committee who will possess
the financial expertise required under NASD Rule 4350(d)(2). The Board has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, which reviews
and reassesses the adequacy of that charter on an annual basis. The full text of the charter is available on our website at www.jakks.com.
Compensation Committee . In addition to risk
oversight functions, the Compensation Committee makes recommendations to the Board regarding compensation of management employees and
administers plans and programs relating to employee benefits, incentives, compensation and awards under the 2002 Stock Award and Incentive
Plan (the “2002 Plan”). Messrs. Shoghi (Chair) and Ms. MacPherson are the members of the Compensation Committee. The Board
has determined that each of them is “independent,” as defined under the applicable rules of Nasdaq. A copy of the Compensation
Committee’s Charter is available on our website at www.jakks.com. Executive officers that are members of the Board make recommendations
to the Compensation Committee with respect to the compensation of other executive officers who are not on the Board. Except as otherwise
prohibited, the Compensation Committee may delegate its responsibilities to subcommittees or individuals. The Compensation Committee has
the authority, in its sole discretion, to retain or obtain advice from a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other advisor and is
directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of such persons. The Company provides the appropriate funding to
such persons as determined by the Compensation Committee, which also conducts an independent assessment of its outside advisors using
the six factors contained in Exchange Act Rule 10C-1. The Compensation Committee receives legal advice from our outside general counsel
and has retained Willis Towers Watson and Lipis Consulting, Inc, compensation consulting firms, to directly advise the Compensation Committee
from time to time. Frederic W. Cook & Co., a compensation consulting firm, was consulted during 2023 and 2024.
The Compensation Committee also annually reviews the
overall company performance, achievement of in-year financial targets and multi-year non-financial goals in conjunction with the compensation
of our executive officers to determine whether discretionary bonuses should be granted. In 2025, Frederic W. Cook & Co. presented
a report to the Compensation Committee comparing our size and executive compensation structure to those of peer group companies in related
industries. Frederic W. Cook & Co. also benchmarked and reviewed with the Compensation Committee the non-employee director cash and
non-cash compensation.
Nominating Committee . In addition to risk
oversight functions, the Nominating Committee develops our corporate governance system and reviews proposed new members of the Board,
including those recommended by our stockholders. Ms. Mahabir (Chair) and Mr. Liebman are the members of the Nominating Committee, which
operates pursuant to a written charter adopted by the Board, the full text of which is available on our website at www.jakks.com. The
Board has determined that each member of the Nominating Committee is “independent,” as defined under the applicable rules
of Nasdaq.
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The Nominating Committee will annually review
the composition of the Board and the ability of its current members to continue effectively as directors for the upcoming fiscal year.
The Nominating Committee established the position of Chairman of the Board in 2015. In the ordinary course, absent special circumstances
or a change in the criteria for Board membership, the Nominating Committee will re-nominate incumbent directors who continue to be qualified
for Board service and are willing to continue as directors. If the Nominating Committee thinks it is in the Company’s best interests
to nominate a new individual for director in connection with an annual meeting of stockholders, or if a vacancy on the Board occurs between
annual stockholder meetings or an incumbent director chooses not to run, the Nominating Committee will seek out potential candidates
for Board appointment who meet the criteria for selection as a nominee and have the specific qualities or skills being sought. Director
candidates will be selected based on input from members of the Board, our senior management and, if the Nominating Committee deems appropriate,
a third-party search firm. The Nominating Committee will evaluate each candidate’s qualifications and check relevant references,
and each candidate will be interviewed by at least one member of the Nominating Committee. Candidates meriting serious consideration
will meet with members of the Board. Based on this input, the Nominating Committee will evaluate whether a prospective candidate is qualified
to serve as a director and whether the Nominating Committee should recommend to the Board that this candidate be appointed to fill a
current vacancy on the Board, or be presented for the approval of the stockholders, as appropriate.
Stockholder recommendations for director nominees
are welcome and should be sent to our Chief Financial Officer, who will forward such recommendations to the Nominating Committee, and
should include the following information: (a) all information relating to each nominee that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Regulation
14A under the Exchange Act (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving
as a director if elected); (b) the names and addresses of the stockholders making the nomination and the number of shares of Common Stock
which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholders; and (c) appropriate biographical information and a statement as to the
qualification of each nominee, all of which must be submitted in the time frame described under the appropriate caption in our proxy
statement. The Nominating Committee will evaluate candidates recommended by stockholders in the same manner as candidates recommended
by other sources, using additional criteria, if any, approved by the Board from time to time. Our stockholder communication policy may
be amended at any time with the Nominating Committee’s consent.
Pursuant to the Director Resignation Policy adopted
by the Board following our 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, if a nominee for director in an uncontested election receives less than
a majority of the votes cast, the director must submit his resignation to the Board. The Nominating Committee then considers such resignation
and makes a recommendation to the Board concerning the acceptance or rejection of such resignation. This procedure was implemented following
our 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Cybersecurity Oversight Committee. The
Cybersecurity Oversight Committee is responsible for oversight of our risk assessment, risk management, disaster recovery procedures
and cybersecurity risks and the processes and procedures related to, and stemming from, cyber-related issues. It is anticipated that
the Committee will meet with management and outside cybersecurity experts to discuss cybersecurity-related news events and discuss any
updates to our cybersecurity risk management and strategy programs. Ms. MacPherson (Chair) and Mr. Moelis are the members of the Committee.
The Board has determined that each of them is “independent,” as defined under the applicable rules of Nasdaq.
Special Committees. In addition to the
above-described standing committees, the Board establishes special committees as it deems warranted.
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Executive Officers
Our executive officers are elected by our Board
of Directors and serve pursuant to the terms of their respective employment agreements. One of our executive officers, Stephen G. Berman,
is also a Director of the Company. See above for biographical information about this officer. The other current executive officer is
John L. Kimble, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
John L. Kimble became our Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer on November 20, 2019. Mr. Kimble worked for over 12 years at various positions at The Walt Disney Company,
ultimately as VP of Finance, Strategy, Operations and Business Development. More recently, Mr. Kimble spent six years at Mattel, Inc.
where he served in various positions and concluded his career there as VP/Head of Corporate Development - Licensing Acquisitions - M&A.
In between his service at Disney and Mattel, he spent two years as an entrepreneur at a start-up mobile gaming company. He began his career
as a consultant for Mars & Co., a global strategy consulting firm. Mr. Kimble received his Bachelor’s Degree in Management Science,
Concentration in Finance, Minor in Economics from the Sloan School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) and has a Master of
Business Administration (MBA) from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Based solely upon a review of Forms 3, 4 and 5
and amendments thereto furnished to us during and for 2025, all Forms 3, 4 and 5 required to be filed during 2025 by our directors and
executive officers were timely filed, except that the new directors filed their Forms 3 late, each director filed a Form 4 one day late
and each executive officer filed a Form 4 two days late.
Stockholder Communications
Stockholders interested in communicating with
the Board may do so by writing to any or all directors, care of our Chief Financial Officer, at our principal executive offices. Our
Chief Financial Officer will log in all stockholder correspondence and forward to the director addressee(s) all communications that,
in his judgment, are appropriate for consideration by the directors. Any director may review the correspondence log and request copies
of any correspondence. Examples of communications that would be considered inappropriate for consideration by the directors include,
but are not limited to, commercial solicitations, trivial, obscene, or profane items, administrative matters, ordinary business matters,
or personal grievances. Correspondence that is not appropriate for Board review will be handled by our Chief Financial Officer. All appropriate
matters pertaining to accounting or internal controls will be brought promptly to the attention of our Audit Committee Chair.
Stockholder recommendations for director nominees are
welcome and should be sent to our Chief Financial Officer, who will forward such recommendations to the Nominating Committee, and should
include the following information: (a) all information relating to each nominee that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Regulation
14A under the Exchange Act (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving
as a director if elected); (b) the names and addresses of the stockholders making the nomination and the number of shares of Common Stock
which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholders; and (c) appropriate biographical information and a statement as to the
qualification of each nominee, and must be submitted in the time frame described under the caption, “Stockholder Proposals for 2026
Annual Meeting,” in our Proxy Statement for the 2025 Annual Meeting. The Nominating Committee will evaluate candidates recommended
by stockholders in the same manner as candidates recommended by other sources, using additional criteria, if any, approved by the Board
from time to time. Our stockholder communication policy may be amended at any time with the consent of the Nominating Committee.
Code of Ethics
We have a Code of Ethics (which we call a Code
of Conduct) that applies to all our employees, officers and directors. This Code was filed as an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003. During 2023 the Code was updated and we have posted on our website, www.jakks.com,
the full text of such updated Code. We will disclose when there have been waivers of, or amendments to, such Code, as required by the
rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC and/or Nasdaq.
Pursuant to our Code of Conduct, all of our employees
are required to disclose to our General Counsel, the Board or any committee established by the Board to receive such information, any
material transaction or relationship that reasonably could be expected to give rise to actual or apparent conflicts of interest between
any of them, personally, and the Company. Our Code of Conduct also directs all employees to avoid any self-interested transactions without
full disclosure. This policy, which applies to all of our employees, is reiterated in our Employee Handbook which states that a violation
of this policy could be grounds for termination. In approving or rejecting a proposed transaction, our General Counsel, the Board or
a designated committee of the Board will consider the facts and circumstances available and deemed relevant, including, but not limited
to, the risks, costs and benefits to us, the terms of the transactions, the availability of other sources for comparable services or
products, and, if applicable, the impact on director independence. Upon concluding their review, they will only approve those agreements
that, in light of known circumstances, are in or are not inconsistent with, our best interests, as they determine in good faith.
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Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
No member of the Compensation Committee during
the last fiscal year was or previously had been an executive officer or employee of ours or was party to any related person transaction
within the meaning of Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act. None of our executive officers has served as a director or
member of a compensation committee (or other board committee performing equivalent functions) of any other entity, one of whose executive
officers served as a director or a member of the Compensation Committee.
Insider Trading Policy
The Company has adopted a Securities Trading and
Insider Information Policy which governs the purchase, sale, and/or other dispositions of the Company’s securities by directors,
officers and employees, that are reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws. In addition, the Policy also prohibits
executive officers and members of the Company’s Board of Directors and their family members from buying or selling market options
or other exchange-traded derivative securities related to the Company and from engaging in short sales of securities of the Company. A
copy of the policy was filed as an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
We believe that a strong management team comprised
of highly talented individuals in key positions is critical to our ability to deliver sustained growth and profitability, and our executive
compensation program is an important tool for attracting and retaining such individuals. We also believe that our people are our most
important resource. While some companies may enjoy an exclusive or limited franchise or are able to exploit unique assets or proprietary
technology, we depend fundamentally on the skills, relationships, energy and dedication of our employees to drive our business. It is
only through their constant efforts that we are able to innovate through the creation of new products and the continual rejuvenation
of our product lines, to maintain operating efficiencies, and to develop and exploit marketing channels. With this in mind, we have consistently
sought to employ the most talented, accomplished and energetic people available in the industry. Therefore, we believe it is vital that
our named executive officers receive an aggregate compensation package that is both highly competitive with the compensation received
by similarly-situated executive officers, and also reflective of each individual named executive officer’s contributions to our
success on both a long-term and short-term basis. As discussed in greater depth below, the objectives of our compensation program are
designed to execute this philosophy by compensating our executives at the top quartile of their peers.
Our executive compensation program is designed
with three main objectives:
●
to offer a competitive total compensation opportunity that will allow
us to continue to retain and motivate highly talented individuals to fill key positions;
●
to align a significant portion of each executive’s total compensation
with our annual performance and the interests of our stockholders; and
●
reflect the qualifications, skills, experience and responsibilities
of our executives.
Our executive compensation program is administered
by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee receives legal advice from our outside general counsel and in previous years
has retained a compensation consulting firm, such as Willis Towers Watson, Frederic W. Cook & Co. and Lipis Consulting, Inc., which
provides advice directly to the Compensation Committee. Historically, the base salary, bonus structure and long-term equity compensation
of our executive officers are governed by the terms of their individual employment agreements (see “Employment Agreements and Termination
of Employment Arrangements”) and we expect that to continue in the future. With respect to our executive officers, the Compensation
Committee establishes target performance levels for incentive bonuses based on factors that are designed to further our executive compensation
objectives.
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Historically, factors given considerable weight
in establishing bonus performance criteria are Net Sales, Adjusted EPS, which is the net income per share of our common stock calculated
on a fully-diluted basis in accordance with GAAP, and Adjusted EBITDA applied on a basis consistent with past periods, as adjusted in
the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee to take account of extraordinary or special items. However, since at least 2019, bonus
performance has been based exclusively upon Adjusted EBITDA. In 2025 an additional performance bonus was established based solely upon
the market performance of our common stock.
In 2021, the Company amended the employment agreements
between the Company and each of its executive officers. The purpose of the amendments was to change the issuance, past and future, of
all restricted stock awards to restricted stock units. All other material terms of the respective employment agreements remained the same,
including without limitation, the terms of all such grants including the timing of all vesting periods and the vesting benchmarks.
The current employment agreements with our named
executive officers also give the Compensation Committee the authority to award additional compensation to each of them as it determines
in the Committee’s sole discretion based upon criteria it establishes.
The Compensation Committee also annually reviews
the overall compensation of our named executive officers for the purpose of determining whether discretionary bonuses should be granted.
The Compensation Committee annually reviews the base salaries, annual bonuses, total cash compensation, long-term compensation and total
compensation of our senior executive officers.
Our executive officers receive base salary pursuant
to the terms of their employment agreements. Mr. Berman has been an executive officer at least since his entry into his employment agreement
in 2010, Mr. McGrath became an executive officer on August 23, 2011 pursuant to the terms of an amendment to his employment agreement,
and Mr. Kimble became an executive officer when he entered into a letter employment agreement on November 20, 2019. Mr. McGrath ceased
being an executive officer effective January 1, 2024 when he assumed the position of President European Operations in our United Kingdom
office.
The Compensation Committee also annually reviews
the overall compensation of our named executive officers for the purpose of determining whether discretionary bonuses should be granted.
The Compensation Committee consulted with a compensation consultant in 2023 and 2024.
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The compensation packages for the Company’s
senior executives have both performance-based and non-performance-based elements. Based on its review of each named executive officer’s
total compensation opportunities and performance, and the Company’s performance, the Compensation Committee determines each year’s
compensation in the manner that it considers to be most likely to achieve the objectives of our executive compensation program. The specific
elements, which include base salary, annual cash incentive compensation and long-term equity compensation, are described below.
The Compensation Committee has negative discretion
to adjust performance results used to determine annual incentive and the vesting schedule of long-term incentive payouts to the named
executive officers and has discretion to grant bonuses even if the performance targets were not met.
Pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement
for Messrs. Berman and Kimble in effect as of January 1, 2024, they each receive a base salary which is increased automatically each
year by at least $25,000 and 4%, respectively. Any further increase in base salary above the contractually required minimum increase
is determined by the Compensation Committee based on the Compensation Committee’s analysis of a combination of two factors: the
salaries paid in peer group companies to executives with similar responsibilities, and evaluation of the executive’s unique role,
job performance and other circumstances. Evaluating both of these factors allows us to offer a competitive total compensation value to
each individual named executive officer that takes into account the unique attributes of and circumstances relating to each individual
and marketplace factors. This approach has allowed us to continue to meet our objective of offering competitive total compensation value
and attracting and retaining key personnel. Based on its review of these factors, the Compensation Committee has generally determined
not to increase the base salary of Messrs. Berman and Kimble above the contractually required minimum increase as unnecessary to maintain
our competitive total compensation position in the marketplace.
The function of the annual cash bonus is to establish
a direct correlation between the annual incentives awarded to the participants and our financial performance. This purpose is in keeping
with our compensation program’s objective of aligning a significant portion of each executive’s total compensation with our
annual performance and the interests of our shareholders. The employment agreements for Messrs. Berman and Kimble contemplate that the
Compensation Committee may grant discretionary bonuses in situations where, in its sole judgment, it believes they are warranted. No
discretionary bonuses were awarded for 2023, 2024 to any executive officer. In 2025, discretionary bonuses were awarded to Messrs. Berman
and Kimble.
Long-term compensation is an area of particular
emphasis in our executive compensation program because we believe that these incentives foster the long-term perspective necessary for
our continued success. This emphasis is in keeping with our compensation program objective of aligning a significant portion of each
executive’s total compensation with our long-term performance and the interests of our shareholders.
Historically, our long-term compensation program
focused on the granting of stock options that vested over time. However, commencing in 2006 we began shifting the emphasis of this element
of compensation, and we currently favor the issuance of restricted stock units. The Compensation Committee believes that the award of
full-value shares that vest over time is consistent with our overall compensation philosophy and objectives, as the value of the restricted
stock units vary based upon the performance of our common stock, thereby aligning the interests of our executives with our shareholders.
The Compensation Committee has also determined that awards of restricted stock units are anti-dilutive as compared to stock options inasmuch
as it feels that less restricted units have to be granted to match the compensation value of stock options.
Mr. Berman’s 2010 amended and restated employment
provided for annual grants of $500,000 of restricted stock which vest in equal annual installments through January 1, 2017, which was
one year following the life of the agreement, subject to meeting the 3% vesting condition, as defined in the agreement. As described
in greater detail below, pursuant to the 2012 amendment, commencing in 2013, this bonus changed to $3,500,000 of restricted stock, part
of which vests over four years and part of which are subject to performance milestones with cliff vesting spread out over three years.
Mr. Kimble’s employment agreement provided for a grant of $250,000 of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) for the initial
year and annual grants of $500,000 of RSUs thereafter subject in part to time vesting over three years and in part to performance milestones
with cliff vesting spread over three years. The milestone targets for each of these employment agreements are established by the Compensation
Committee during the first quarter of each year. The employment agreements for Messrs. Berman and Kimble also provide for an annual performance
bonus based upon net revenue and EBITDA criteria. This bonus, if earned, is payable partially in cash and partially in shares of restricted
common stock. Messrs. Berman and Kimble earned 100% of the bonus based on Total Shareholders Return, EBITDA, and 50% of the bonus based
on Net Revenue in 2022. In 2023 Messrs. Berman and Kimble, earned 100% of the cash-payable bonus based on Total Shareholders Return,
EBITDA, and 50% of the bonus based on Net Revenue in 2023. In 2023 only Mr. Kimble had unvested performance-based RSUs outstanding and
earned 100% of the bonus based on Total Shareholders Return. In 2024 Messrs. Berman and Kimble earned 100% of the cash-payable bonus
based on EBITDA, and Mr. Kimble earned 100% and 50% of the remaining performance-based RSUs outstanding, based on EBITDA and Net Revenue,
respectively.
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Mr. Berman’s and Kimble’s employment
agreements also provide for an additional bonus solely in the discretion of the Compensation Committee. After a review of all of the factors
discussed above, the Compensation Committee determined that, in keeping with our compensation objectives, Messrs. Berman and Kimble were
not awarded any discretionary cash bonuses for 2023, and 2024. For 2025 Messrs. Berman and Kimble were awarded discretionary cash bonuses
of $2,775,000 and $912,489 respectively.
Our executive officers participate in the health
and dental coverage, life insurance, paid vacation and holidays, 401(k) retirement savings plans and other programs that are generally
available to all the Company’s employees.
The provision of any additional perquisites to
each of the named executive officers is subject to review by the Compensation Committee. Historically, these perquisites include payment
of an automobile allowance, matching contributions to a 401(k) defined contribution plan and eligibility to participate in a non-qualified
deferred compensation plan. In 2023 and 2024, the named executive officers were granted the following perquisites: automobile allowance
and 401(k) plan matching contribution for Messrs. Berman and Kimble; and a life insurance benefit for Mr. Berman. In 2025 Messrs. Berman
and Kimble were granted a 401(k) plan matching contribution, and Mr. Kimble was granted an automotive allowance. We value perquisites
at their incremental cost in accordance with SEC regulations.
We believe that the benefits and perquisites we
provide to our named executive officers are within competitive practice and customary for executives in key positions at comparable companies.
Such benefits and perquisites serve our objective of offering competitive compensation that allows us to continue to attract, retain
and motivate highly talented people to these critical positions, ultimately providing a substantial benefit to our shareholders.
We recognize that, as with any public company,
it is possible that a change of control may take place in the future and that the threat or occurrence of a change of control can result
in significant distractions of key management personnel because of the uncertainties inherent in such a situation. We further believe
that it is essential and in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders to retain the services of our key management personnel
in the event of the threat or occurrence of a change of control and to ensure their continued dedication and efforts in such event without
undue concern for their personal financial and employment security. In keeping with this belief and its objective of retaining and motivating
highly talented individuals to fill key positions, which is consistent with our general compensation philosophy, the employment agreement
for named chief executive officers contain provisions which guarantee specific payments and benefits upon a termination of employment
without good reason following a change of control of the Company. In addition, the employment agreements also contain provisions providing
for certain lump-sum payments if the executive is terminated without “cause” or if we materially breach the agreement leading
the affected executive to terminate the agreement for good reason, as applicable.
Compensation Risk Management
As part of its annual review of our executive
compensation program, the Compensation Committee reviews with management the design and operation of our incentive compensation arrangements
for senior management, including executive officers, to determine if such programs might encourage inappropriate risk-taking that could
have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Compensation Committee considers, among other things, the features of the Company’s
compensation program that are designed to mitigate compensation-related risk, such as the performance objectives and target levels for
incentive awards (which are based on overall Company performance), and its compensation recoupment policy. The Compensation Committee
also considers our internal control structure which, among other things, limits the number of persons authorized to execute material
agreements, requires approval of our Board of Directors for matters outside of the ordinary course and its whistle blower program. Based
upon the above, the Compensation Committee concluded that any risks arising from the Company’s compensation plans, policies and
practices are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
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Additional details of the terms of the change
of control agreements and termination provisions outlined above are provided below.
At our 2025 annual meeting, our shareholders approved
our current executive compensation with over a majority of all shares actually voting on the issue affirmatively giving their approval.
Accordingly, we believe that this vote ratifies our executive compensation philosophy and policies, as currently adopted and implemented,
and we intend to continue such philosophy and policies.
Summary Compensation Table – 2023-2025
Name and
Principal
Salary
Bonus
Stock
Awards
Option
Awards
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
Change in
Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
All
Other
Compensation
Total
Position
Year
($)
($)
($)(1)
($)
($)
($)(3)
($)(2)
($)
Stephen G. Berman
2025
1,850,000
2,845,619
5,233,075
—
—
—
29,318
9,958,012
Chief Executive Officer,
2024
1,826,042
2,943,219
3,500,004
—
—
—
30,806
8,300,071
President and Secretary
2023
1,800,000
5,171,940
3,499,994
—
—
—
50,441
10,522,375
John L. Kimble
2025
608,326
870,841
1,518,941
—
—
(15,949 )
67,535
3,049,694
Executive Vice President
2024
584,929
757,018
877,410
—
—
124,289
54,505
2,398,151
and Chief Financial Officer
2023
562,432
1,001,805
843,648
—
—
—
52,550
2,460,435
(1)
For Mr. Berman, the grant-date fair value of the awards assuming 100% achievement of the applicable service conditions totaled the lesser of (a) $3.5 million in value (based on the closing price of a share of Common Stock on the last business day of the prior year), or (b) 2.25% of outstanding shares of Common Stock in 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively and assuming 100% achievement of the applicable performance conditions of a grant of 83,334 restricted stock awards with a grant date fair value of $1,732,792 determined in accordance with ASC718. For Mr. Kimble the grant-date fair value of the awards assuming 100% achievement of the applicable service and performance conditions totaled $1,518,941, $877,410 and $843,648 in 2025, 2024 and 2023.
(2)
Represents automobile allowances paid in the amount of nil, $3,846 and $24,306 for Mr. Berman for 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $18,000, $18,000 and $18,000 for Mr. Kimble for 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The amounts include matching contributions made by us to the Named Executive Officer’s 401(k) defined contribution plan in the amount of $21,333 for Mr. Berman and $30,427 for Mr. Kimble, for 2025, and $18,975 and $18,150 for 2024 and 2023, respectively for both Messrs. Berman and Kimble. The amounts include $7,985, $7,985 and $7,985 related to a life insurance policy for Mr. Berman in 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
(3)
Represents the unrealized gains during the year based on the net changes in fair value in the underlying mutual fund investments offered as part of the Company’s Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation plan.
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The following table sets forth certain information
regarding all equity-based compensation awards outstanding as of December 31, 2025 by the Named Officers:
Outstanding Equity Awards At Fiscal Year-end
Option Awards
Stock Awards / Units
Name
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Exercisable
(#)
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Unexercisable
(#)
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options
(#)
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
Option
Expiration
Date
Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock that
Have Not
Vested
(#)
Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock
that Have
Not Vested
($) (1)
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights that
Have Not
Vested
(#)
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That Have
Not
Vested
($)
Stephen G. Berman
—
—
—
—
—
431,892
7,290,337
—
—
John L. Kimble
—
—
—
—
—
115,108
1,943,023
—
—
(1)
The product of (x) $16.88 (the closing sale price of the
common stock on December 31, 2025) multiplied by (y) the number of unvested restricted shares or units outstanding. The units of
stock with a service condition vest annually until 2028, the units of stock with a service and performance conditions vest by 2029
if the performance conditions are met.
The following table sets forth certain information
regarding amount realized upon the vesting and exercise of any equity-based compensation awards during 2025 by the Named Executive Officers:
Options Exercises And Stock Vested-2025
Option Awards
Stock Awards / Units
Number of
Number of
Shares
Value
Shares
Value
Acquired on
Realized on
Acquired on
Realized on
Name
Exercise
(#)
Exercise
($)
Vesting
(#)
Vesting
($)
Stephen G. Berman
—
—
284,160
7,189,694
John L. Kimble
—
—
63,044
1,589,731
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Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
The following tables describe potential payments
and other benefits that would have been received by each Named Officer at, following or in connection with any termination, including,
without limitation, resignation, severance, retirement or a constructive termination of such Named Officer, or a change in control of
our Company or a change in such Named Officer’s responsibilities on December 31, 2025. The potential payments listed below assume
that there is no earned but unpaid base salary at December 31, 2025.
Stephen G. Berman
Involuntary
Termination
Quits For
Termination
In
Connection
Upon
“Good
Upon
Upon
Termination
Without
For
with
Change of
Retirement
Reason” (3)
Death(4)
“Disability” (5)
“Cause”
“Cause” (6)
Control (7)
Base Salary
$
—
$
6,012,500
$
—
$
—
$
6,012,500
$
—
$
27,884,115
(8)
Restricted Stock Units (1)
—
7,290,337
—
—
7,290,337
—
7,290,337
Annual Cash Incentive Award (2)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(1)
The product of (x) $16.88 (the closing sale price of the common stock on December 31, 2025) multiplied by (y) the number of unvested restricted shares outstanding.
(2)
Assumes that if the Named Officer is terminated on December 31, 2025, they were employed through the end of the incentive period and no bonus was earned and unpaid.
(3)
Defined as (i) our violation or failure to perform or satisfy any material covenant, condition or obligation required to be performed or satisfied by us, or (ii) the material change in the nature, titles or scope of the duties, obligations, rights or powers of the Named Officer’s employment resulting from any action or failure to act by us.
(4)
Under the terms of Mr. Berman’s employment agreement (see “Employment Agreements”), the provision of health care coverage for Mr. Berman’s children will continue until they reach the maximum age at which a child can be covered as a matter of law under a parent’s policy in the event of his death during the term of his employment agreement.
(5)
Defined as the Named Officer’s inability to perform his duties by reason of any disability or incapacity (due to any physical or mental injury, illness or defect) for an aggregate of 180 days in any consecutive 12-month period.
(6)
Defined as (i) the Named Officer’s conviction of, or entering a plea of guilty or nolo contendere (which plea is not withdrawn prior to its approval by the court) to, a felony offense and either the Named Officer’s failure to perfect an appeal of such conviction prior to the expiration of the maximum period of time within which, under applicable law or rules of court, such appeal may be perfected or, if he does perfect such an appeal, the sustaining of his conviction of a felony offense on appeal; or (ii) the determination by our Board of Directors, after due inquiry, based upon convincing evidence, that the Named Officer has:
(A)
committed fraud against, or embezzled or misappropriated funds or other assets of, our Company
(or any subsidiary);
(B)
violated, or caused our Company (or any subsidiary) or any of our officers, employees or other
agents, or any other individual or entity to violate, any material law, rule, regulation or ordinance, or any material written policy,
rule or directive of our Company or our Board of Directors;
(C)
willfully, or because of gross or persistent inaction, failed properly to perform his duties or
acted in a manner detrimental to, or adverse to our interests; or
(D)
violated, or failed to perform or satisfy any material covenant, condition or obligation required
to be performed or satisfied by him under his employment agreement with us; and that, in the case of any violation or failure referred
to in clause (B), (C) or (D), above, such violation or failure has caused, or is reasonably likely to cause, us to suffer or incur
a substantial casualty, loss, penalty, expense or other liability or cost.
(7)
Section 280G of the Code disallows a company’s tax deduction for what are defined as “excess
parachute payments” and Section 4999 of the Code imposes a 20% excise tax on any person who receives excess parachute
payments. As discussed above, Mr. Berman is entitled to certain payments upon termination of his employment, including termination
following a change in control of our Company. Under the terms of his employment agreement (see “Employment Agreements”),
Mr. Berman is entitled to the full amount of the payments and benefits payable in the event of a Change in Control (as defined in
the employment agreement) even if it triggers an excise tax imposed by the tax code if the net after-tax amount would still be greater
than reducing the total payments and benefits to avoid such excise tax.
(8)
Under the terms of Mr. Berman’s employment agreement (see “Employment Agreements”),
if a change of control occurs and within two years thereafter Mr. Berman is terminated without “Cause” or quits
for “Good Reason,” then he has the right to receive a payment equal to 2.99 times his then current base amount as
defined in section 280(G) of the Code (which was $9,325,791 in 2025) and continued health care coverage.
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John L. Kimble
Involuntary
Termination
In Connection
Quits For
Termination
Termination
with
Upon
Retirement
“Good
Reason” (3)
Upon
Death
Upon
“Disability”
Without
“Cause”
For
“Cause” (4)
Change of
Control (5)
Base Salary
$
—
$
1,977,061
$
—
$
—
$
1,977,061
$
—
$
1,216,653
Restricted Stock Units (1)
—
1,943,023
—
—
1,943,023
—
1,943,023
Annual Cash Incentive Award (2)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(1)
The product of (x) $16.88 (the closing sale price of the common stock on December 31, 2025) multiplied
by (y) the number of unvested restricted shares outstanding.
(2)
Assumes that if the Named Officer is terminated on December 31, 2025, they were employed through
the end of the incentive period and no bonus was earned and unpaid.
(3)
Defined as (i) any material reduction of the Named Officer’s base salary, (ii) relocation
of the Named Officer’s principal place of employment by more than thirty miles, or (iii) the material change in the nature,
titles or scope of the duties, obligations, rights or powers of the Named Officer’s employment resulting from any action or
failure to act by us.
(4)
Defined as (i) the Named Officer’s conviction of, or entering a plea of guilty or nolo contendere
(which plea is not withdrawn prior to its approval by the court) to, a felony offense and either the Named Officer’s failure
to perfect an appeal of such conviction prior to the expiration of the maximum period of time within which, under applicable law
or rules of court, such appeal may be perfected or, if he does perfect such an appeal, the sustaining of his conviction of a felony
offense on appeal; or (ii) the determination by our Board of Directors, after due inquiry, based on convincing evidence, that the
Named Officer has:
(A)
committed fraud against, or embezzled or misappropriated funds or other assets of, our Company
(or any subsidiary);
(B)
violated, or caused our Company (or any subsidiary) or any of our officers, employees or other
agents, or any other individual or entity to violate, any material law, rule, regulation or ordinance, or any material written
policy, rule or directive of our Company or our Board of Directors;
(C)
willfully, or because of gross or persistent inaction, failed properly to perform his duties or
acted in a manner detrimental to, or adverse to our interests; or
(D)
violated, or failed to perform or satisfy any material covenant, condition or obligation required
to be performed or satisfied by him under his employment agreement with us; and that, in the case of any violation or failure referred
to in clause (B), (C) or (D), above, such violation or failure has caused, or is reasonably likely to cause, us to suffer or incur
a substantial casualty, loss, penalty, expense or other liability or cost.
(5)
Under the terms of Mr. Kimble’s employment agreement (see “Employment Agreements”),
if a change of control occurs and within one year thereafter Mr. Kimble is terminated without “Cause” or quits for
“Good Reason”, then he has the right to receive a payment equal to two times his then current base salary.
Compensation of Directors
Analogous to our executive compensation philosophy,
it is our desire to similarly compensate our non-employee directors for their services in a way that will serve to attract and retain
highly qualified members of the Board. As changes in securities laws require greater involvement by, and places additional burdens on,
a company’s directors, it becomes even more necessary to locate and retain highly qualified directors.
In August 2019, following the Recapitalization,
our Board of Directors changed the compensation payable to non-employee directors to provide that (i) each director receives an annual
cash fee of $100,000 paid quarterly, (ii) each member of a Committee receives an annual cash fee of $5,000, (iii) the chair of the Audit
Committee receives an additional cash fee of $15,000 and (iv) the chair of the other Committees receives an additional $10,000. Mr. Winkler,
pursuant to the internal rules of his employer, did not receive any fees as a director until Q2 of 2024 when his fees began to be paid
to his employer, Benefit Street Partners.
In February 2010 our Board determined the terms
for the minimum shareholding requirements. Pursuant to the new minimum shareholding requirements, each director will be required to hold
shares with a value equal to at least two times the average annual cash stipend paid to the director during the prior two calendar years.
To illustrate: if an average director wishes to sell shares in 2026, he/she will have to hold shares with a market value of at least $188,333
prior to and following any sale of shares calculated as of the date of the sale, such $188,333 minimum calculated by taking the average
cash stipend of $94,167 paid during the prior two years multiplied by two.
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The following table sets forth the compensation
earned by our non-employee directors for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2025:
Director Compensation
Fees
Earned
or Paid in
Cash
Stock
Awards (3)
Option
Awards
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
All Other
Compensation
Total
Name
Year
($)
($)
($)
Incentive ($)
($)
($)
($)
Alexander Shoghi
2025
137,500
85,003
—
—
—
—
222,503
Carole Levine (1)
2025
57,500
—
—
—
—
—
57,500
Lori J. MacPherson
2025
115,000
85,003
—
—
—
—
200,003
Joshua Cascade (1)
2025
50,000
—
—
—
—
—
50,000
Matthew Winkler (1)
2025
55,000
—
—
—
—
—
55,000
Neilwantie Mahabir
2025
112,500
85,003
—
—
—
—
197,503
Jonathan R. Liebman (2)
2025
55,000
85,003
—
—
—
—
140,003
Jordan Moelis (2)
2025
52,500
85,003
—
—
—
—
137,503
(1)
Did not stand for re-election at the 2025 annual meeting.
(2)
Elected at the 2025 annual meeting.
(3)
Amounts shown represent the grant date fair value of $17.61 for restricted
stock units awarded during the fiscal year, calculated in accordance with ASC 718. These awards vest in one installment over twelve
months, subject to continued service.
Employment Agreements and Termination of Employment Arrangements
We entered into an amended and restated employment
agreement with Mr. Berman on November 11, 2010. We entered into a new employment agreement with Mr. Kimble on November 20, 2019 when he
became our Chief Financial Officer.
On June 7, 2016, we amended the employment agreement
between us and Mr. Berman, our Chairman, CEO and President, and entered into Amendment Number Two to Mr. Berman’s Second Amended
and Restated Employment Agreement dated November 11, 2010 (the “Berman Employment Agreement”). The terms of the Berman’s
Employment Agreement have been amended as follows: (i) extension of the term until December 31, 2020; (ii) increase of Mr. Berman’s
Base Salary to $1,450,000 effective June 1, 2016, subject to annual increases thereafter as determined by the Compensation Committee,
with annual minimum increases of $25,000 commencing January 1, 2017; (iii) modification of the performance and vesting standards for
each $3.5 million Annual Restricted Stock Grant (“Annual Stock Grant”) provided for under Section 3(b) of the Employment
Agreement, effective as of January 1, 2017, so that 40% ($1.4 million) of each Annual Stock Grant will be subject to time vesting in
four equal annual installments over four years and 60% ($2.1 million) of each Annual Stock Grant will be subject to three year “cliff
vesting” (i.e. payment is based upon performance at the close of the three year performance period), with vesting of each Annual
Stock Grant determined by the following performance measures: (a) total shareholder return as compared to the Russell 2000 Index (weighted
50%), (b) net revenue growth as compared to our peer group (weighted 25%) and (c) growth in Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation
and Amortization (“EBITDA”) as compared to our peer group (weighted 25%); (iv) modification of the performance measures for
award of the Annual Performance Bonus equal to up to 300% of Base Salary (“Annual Bonus”) provided for under Section 3(d)
of the Berman Employment Agreement, effective as of January 1, 2017, so that the performance measures will be based only upon net revenues
and EBITDA, each performance measure weighted 50%, and with the specific performance criteria applicable to each Annual Bonus determined
by the Compensation Committee during the first quarter of each fiscal year; and (v) provision of health and dental insurance coverage
for Mr. Berman’s children in the event of his death during the term of the Berman Employment Agreement.
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On August 9, 2019, we further amended the Berman
Employment Agreement as follows: (i) increase of Mr. Berman’s Base Salary to $1,700,000, effective immediately; (ii) addition of
a 2020 performance bonus opportunity in a range between twenty-five percent (25%) and three hundred percent (300%) of Base Salary, based
upon the level of EBITDA achieved for the fiscal year, as determined by the Compensation Committee, and subject to additional terms and
conditions as set forth therein; (iii) addition of a special sale transaction bonus equal to $1,000,000 if we enter into and consummate
a Sale Transaction on or before February 15, 2020, subject to additional terms and conditions as set forth therein; (iv) modification
of the Berman Annual Stock Grant provided for under section 3(b) of the Berman Employment Agreement, effective as of January 2020, so
that the number of shares of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the Berman Annual Stock Grant equal the lesser of (a) $3,500,000 in
value (based on the closing price of a share of Common Stock on December 31, 2019), or (b) 1.5% of outstanding shares of Common Stock,
which shall vest in four equal installments on each anniversary of grant; (v) waiver of certain “Change of Control”, Liquidity
Event, and other provisions under the Berman Employment Agreement with respect to certain Specified Transactions; and (vi) modification
of the definition of “Good Reason Event” to include a change in membership of the Board such that following such change,
a majority of the directors are not Continuing Directors. All capitalized terms used but not defined in the previous sentence have the
meanings ascribed thereto in the Berman Employment Agreement, as amended by the third amendment.
On November 18, 2019, we further amended the Berman
Employment Agreement as follows: (i) to extend the term of the Berman Employment Agreement for an additional year through December 31,
2021; (ii) addition of a 2021 performance bonus opportunity in a range between twenty-five percent (25%) and three hundred percent (300%)
of Base Salary, based upon the level of EBITDA achieved for the fiscal year, as determined by the Compensation Committee, which shall
be payable in cash and is subject to additional terms and conditions as set forth therein; (iii) modification of the Berman Annual Stock
Grant provided for under section 3(b) of the Berman Employment Agreement, effective as of January 2020, so that the number of shares
of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the Berman Annual Stock Grant equal the lesser of (a) $3,500,000 in value (based on the closing
price of a share of Common Stock on the last business day of the prior year), or (b) 1.5% of outstanding shares of Common Stock, which
shall vest in four equal installments on each anniversary of grant, provided, that no such award under (a) or (b) above shall be made
to Executive (and no cash substitute shall be provided to Executive) to the extent shares are not available for grant under the Company’s
2002 Plan as of such date; and, provided, further, that we shall not be obligated to amend the 2002 Plan and/or seek shareholder approval
of any amendment to increase the amount of available shares under the 2002 Plan. All capitalized terms used but not defined in the previous
sentence have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Berman Employment Agreement, as amended by the fourth amendment.
On February 18, 2021, we further amended the Berman
Employment Agreement as follows: (i) to extend the Term of the Berman Employment Agreement for an additional three years through December
31, 2024; (ii) addition of a performance bonus opportunity for 2022 – 2024 in a range between twenty-five percent (25%) and three
hundred percent (300%) of Base Salary, based upon the level of EBITDA achieved by the Company for the fiscal year, as determined by the
Compensation Committee, which shall be payable in cash and is subject to additional terms and conditions as set forth therein; and (iii)
modification of the Annual Restricted Stock Grant provided for under section 3(b) of the Berman Employment Agreement, effective as of
January 2022, so that the number of shares of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to such Annual Restricted Stock Grant equal the lesser
of (a) $3,500,000 in value (based on the closing price of a share of Common Stock on the last business day of the prior year), or (b)
2.25% of outstanding shares of Common Stock, which shall vest in three equal installments on each anniversary of grant, provided, that
no such award under (a) or (b) above shall be made to Mr. Berman (and no cash substitute shall be provided to Mr. Berman) to the extent
shares are not available for grant under the Plan as of such date; and, provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated to
amend the Plan and/or seek shareholder approval of any amendment to increase the amount of available shares under the Plan. All capitalized
terms used but not defined in the previous sentence have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Berman Employment Agreement, as amended
by the fifth amendment.
Effective November 20, 2019, we entered into a
letter agreement with John L. Kimble (the “Kimble Employment Agreement”). The Kimble Employment Agreement provides that Mr.
Kimble will be our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer as an at-will employee at an annual salary of $500,000. Mr. Kimble
will also receive a grant of $250,000 restricted stock units (“RSUs”) on the date hereof and annual grants of $250,000 of
RSUs for the initial year and $500,000 annual grants of RSUs for every year thereafter. The number of shares in each annual grant of
RSUs will be determined by the closing price of our common stock on the last trading day prior to the day of each annual grant. 60% ($150,000
for the first year and $300,000 thereafter) of each annual grant of RSUs will be subject to three year “cliff vesting” (i.e.
vesting is based upon performance at the close of the three year performance period), with vesting of each annual grant of RSUs determined
by the following performance measures: (i) Total shareholder return as compared to the Russell 2000 Index (weighted 50%); (ii) Net revenue
growth as compared to the Company’s peer group (weighted 25%), and (iii) EBITDA growth as compared to the Company’s peer
group (weighted 25%). 40% ($100,000 for the first year and $200,000 thereafter) of each annual grant of RSUs will vest in 3 equal annual
installments commencing on the first anniversary of the date of grant and on the second and third anniversaries thereafter. The Kimble
Employment Agreement also contains provisions relating to benefits, change of control, and an annual performance-based bonus award equal
to up to 125% of base salary.
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On February 18, 2021, we amended the Kimble Employment
Agreement as follows: (i) changing Mr. Kimble’s status from an “employee at will” by providing for a term extending
through December 31, 2024; (ii) increase in annual salary to $520,000 effective immediately and annual increases of at least 4% commencing
January 1, 2022; (iii) modification of the cash performance bonus opportunity for 2021 – 2024 in a range between twenty-five percent
(25%) and one hundred twenty five percent (125%) of Base Salary, based upon the level of EBITDA achieved by the Company for the fiscal
year, as determined by the Compensation Committee, which shall be payable in cash and is subject to additional terms and conditions as
set forth therein; (iv) modification of the provision of the Kimble Employment Agreement captioned “Restricted Stock Awards”,
effective as of January 2022, to provide for the annual grant of a number of shares of Restricted Stock equal to the lesser of (a) Mr.
Kimble’s Base Salary in value (based on the closing price of a share of Common Stock on the last business day of the prior year),
or (b) 1.05% of outstanding shares of Common Stock, which shall vest in three equal installments on each anniversary of grant, provided,
that no such award under (a) or (b) above shall be made to Mr. Kimble (and no cash substitute shall be provided to Mr. Kimble) to the
extent shares are not available for grant under the Plan as of such date; and, provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated
to amend the Plan and/or seek shareholder approval of any amendment to increase the amount of available shares under the Plan; and (v)
as described above, inasmuch as this first amendment changes Mr. Kimble’s status as an employee at will, the Kimble Employment
Agreement has also been revised to include provisions regarding minimum stock ownership requirements, “clawback” provisions
and termination provisions for “Cause” and “Good Reason”, all of which new provisions, are similar to the provisions
in the employment agreements of the Company’s other executive officers. All capitalized terms used but not defined in the previous
sentence have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Kimble Employment Agreement, as amended by the first amendment.
On September 27, 2021, the Company amended the
employment agreements between the Company and Mr. Stephen G. Berman, our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. John (a/k/a Jack) McGrath,
our former Chief Operating Officer, and Mr. John Kimble, our Chief Financial Officer. The purpose of the amendments was to change the
issuance, past and future, of all restricted stock awards to restricted stock units. All other material terms of the respective employment
agreements remain the same, including without limitation, the terms of all such grants including the timing of all vesting periods and
the vesting benchmarks.
On October 25, 2022, the Company amended the employment
agreement between the Company and Mr. Stephen G. Berman, Chief Executive Officer and President, and entered into Amendment NO. 7 to the
Berman Employment Agreement. The terms of the Berman’s Employment Agreement have been amended as follows: (i) to extend the terms
of the Berman Employment Agreement for an additional two years through December 31, 2026; (ii) addition of a performance bonus opportunity
for 2025-2026 in a range between twenty-five percent (25%) and three hundred percent (300%) of Base Salary, based upon the level of EBITDA
achieved by the Company for the fiscal year, as determined by the Compensation Committee, which shall be payable in cash and is subject
to additional terms and conditions as set forth herein; (iii) provision of an Annual Restricted Stock Unit Grant as provided for under
section 3(b) of the Berman Employment Agreement, effective as of January 2025, if a number of shares of Restricted Stock Units granted
pursuant to such Annual Restricted Stock Unit Grant equal the lesser of (a) $3,500,000 in value (based on the closing price of a share
of Common Stock on the last business day of the prior year), or (b) 2.25% of outstanding shares of Common Stock, which shall vest in
three equal installments on each anniversary of grant, provided, that no such award under (a) or (b) above shall be made to Mr. Berman
(and no cash substitute shall be provided to Mr. Berman) to the extent shares are not available for grant under the Plan as of such date;
and provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated to amend the Plan and/or seek shareholder approval of any amendment to
increase the amount of available shares under the Plan; and (iv) in consideration of Mr. Berman agreeing to extend the term of his employment
agreement, a grant of 183,748 Restricted Stock Units, which shall vest in two equal installments of 91,874 Restricted Stock Units each
on October 25, 2025 and October 25, 2026 (provided that Executive remains employed by the Company on such date(s), as applicable.) All
capitalized terms used but not defined in the two previous sentences have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Berman Employment Agreement,
as amended by the seventh amendment.
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On October 25, 2022, the Company amended the employment
letter agreement between the Company and Mr. John L. Kimble, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, and entered into Amendment
No. 1 to the Kimble Employment Agreement. The terms of the Kimble Employment Agreement have been amended as follows: (i) ) to extend
the Term of the Kimble Employment Agreement for an additional two years through December 31, 2026; (ii) modification of existing cash
performance bonus opportunity for 2023 – 2026 in a range between twenty-five percent (25%) and two hundred percent (200%) of Base
Salary, based upon the level of EBITDA achieved by the Company for the fiscal year, as determined by the Compensation Committee, which
shall be payable in cash and is subject to additional terms and conditions as set forth therein; (iii) modification of the Kimble Employment
Agreement captioned “Restricted Stock Awards”, effective as of January 2023, to provide for the annual grant of a number
of shares of Restricted Stock Units equal to the lesser of (a) 150% of Base Salary in value (based on the closing price of a share of
Common Stock on the last business day of the prior year), or (b) 1.50% of outstanding shares of Common Stock, which shall vest in three
equal installments on each anniversary of grant, provided, that no such award under (a) or (b) above shall be made to Mr. Kimble (and
no cash substitute shall be provided to Mr. Kimble) to the extent shares are not available for grant under the Plan as of such date;
and, provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated to amend the Plan and/or seek shareholder approval of any amendment to
increase the amount of available shares under the Plan; and (iv) in consideration of Mr. Kimble agreeing to extend the term of his employment
agreement, a grant of 41,988 Restricted Stock Units, which shall vest in two equal installments of 20,994 Restricted Stock Units each
on October 25, 2025 and October 25, 2026 (provided that Executive remains employed by the Company on such date(s), as applicable.) All
capitalized terms used but not defined in the previous sentence have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Kimble Employment Agreement,
as amended by the first amendment.
On March 31, 2023, the Company amended the employment
agreement between the Company and Mr. Stephen G. Berman, Chief Executive Officer and President, and entered into Amendment No. 8 to the
Berman Employment Agreement. The terms of the Berman Employment Agreement have been amended to increase Mr. Berman’s Base Salary
to an annual rate of $1,800,000, effective January 1, 2023, and for each subsequent calendar year during the Term at an annual rate to
be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, but is at least $25,000 more than the annual rate
in the immediately preceding year.
On February 18, 2025, the Company amended the
employment agreements between the Company and Messrs. Berman and Kimble to, among other things, (i) extend the terms of their respective
Employment Agreements for an additional twenty-seven months through March 31, 2029; (ii) provide for the addition of a performance award
consisting of RSUs which will vest in tranches based upon the market price of our common stock, and (iii) under certain circumstances
continue, post-termination, to provide certain health insurance benefits to the executive and his family.
On March 2, 2026, the Company corrected and restated
the employment agreements between the Company and Messrs. Berman and Kimble to provide that the annual issuance of RSU’s will continue
on the same terms for the periods covered by the February 18, 2025 extension, which provision had inadvertently been omitted in such amendment.
The foregoing is only a summary of the material
terms of our employment agreements with the Named Executive Officers. For a complete description, copies of such agreements are annexed
herein in their entirety as exhibits or are otherwise incorporated herein by reference.
On October 19, 2011, our Board of Directors approved
the material terms of and adoption of our Company’s Change in Control Severance Plan (the “Severance Plan”), which
applies to certain of our key employees. None of our named executive officers participate in the Severance Plan. The Severance Plan provides
that if, within the two year period immediately following the “change in control” date (as defined in the Severance Plan),
a participant has a qualifying termination of employment, the participant will be entitled to severance equal to a multiple of monthly
base salary, which multiple is the greater of (i) the number of months remaining in the participant’s term of employment under
his or her employment agreement and (ii) a number ranging between 12 and 18; accelerated vesting of all unvested equity awards; and continued
health care coverage for the number of months equal to the multiple used to determine the severance payment. On February 26, 2020 our
Board of Directors terminated the Severance Plan, but such termination would not be effective as to any employee who was a participant
as of the termination date if a Change In Control were to occur prior to the twelve-month period following the termination date.
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Employee Benefits Plan
We sponsored for our U.S. employees, a defined
contribution plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Plan provided that employees may defer up to 50% of their annual
compensation subject to annual dollar limitations, and that the Company would make a matching contribution equal to 100% of each employee’s
deferral, up to 5% of the employee’s annual compensation. Company-matching contributions, which vest immediately, totaled $2.0 million,
$1.7 million and $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Starting December 2023, we sponsored for certain
of our U.S.-based senior employees, a nonqualified deferred compensation plan which includes provisions for salary deferrals and discretionary
contributions on a deferred tax basis. As of December 31, 2025 we have not made any discretionary matching contributions to the plan.
Employees direct the investment of their account balances, and we invest amounts held in the associated investment trust consistent with
these directions. The value of the assets held in trust by the non-qualified plan was $4.5 million and $1.7 million as of December 31,
2025 and 2024, respectively.
The Company has statutory benefit plans outside
the U.S., which are not material.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our executive officers has served as a
director or member of a compensation committee (or other Board committee performing equivalent functions) of any other entity, one of
whose executive officers served as a director or a member of our Compensation Committee.
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Pay vs. Performance
In accordance with rules adopted by the SEC pursuant
to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, we provide the following information about the relationship
between executive compensation for our principal executive officers (“PEOs”) and non-PEO named executive officers (“NEOs”)
as well as certain financial performance of the Company. The following table sets forth additional compensation information for our principal
executive officer (PEO) and our non-PEO named executive officers (“Non-PEO NEOs”), calculated in accordance with Item 402(v)
of Regulation S-K, for fiscal years 2025, 2024 and 2023.
Year
Summary
Compensation
Table Total
For PEO (1)
Compensation
Actually Paid
To PEO (2)
Average
Summary
Compensation
Table
Total for
Non-PEO
NEOs (3)
Average
Compensation
Actually
Paid to
Non-PEO
NEOs (4)
Value of
Initial
Fixed $100
Investment
Based on
Total
Shareholder Return (5)
Net Income
(in millions)
2025
$ 9,958,012
$ 4,894,240
$ 3,049,694
$ 1,782,034
$ 101.49
$ 9,871
2024 (6)
8,300,071
4,538,126
2,273,861
1,144,099
277.07
34,200
2023 (6)
10,522,375
21,044,059
2,126,995
4,182,165
349.90
38,113
(1)
The dollar amounts reported are the amounts of total compensation reported for our PEO, Stephen G. Berman, in the Summary Compensation Table of our 10-K for fiscal years 2025, 2024 and 2023.
(2)
The dollar amounts reported represent the amount of “compensation actually paid”, as computed in accordance with SEC rules. The dollar amounts reported are the amounts of total compensation reported for Mr. Berman during the applicable year, but also include (i) the year-end value of equity awards granted during the reported year, (ii) the change in the value of equity awards that were unvested at the end of the prior year, measured through the date the awards vested, or through the end of the reported fiscal year, (iii) value of equity awards issued and vested during the reported fiscal year, and (iv) reduced by the value of equity awards granted in prior years that were forfeited in subsequent years.
(3)
The dollar amounts reported are the average of the total compensation reported for our NEOs, other than our PEO, namely Mr. Kimble for fiscal year 2025 and 2024 and Messrs. Kimble and McGrath for fiscal year 2023.
(4)
The dollar amounts reported represent the average amount of “compensation actually paid”, as computed in accordance with SEC rules, for our NEOs, other than our PEO. The dollar amounts reported are the average of the total compensation reported for our NEOs, other than our PEO in the Summary Compensation Table for fiscal years 2025, 2024 and 2023, but also include (i) the year-end value of equity awards granted during the reported year, (ii) the change in the value of equity awards that were unvested at the end of the prior year, measured through the date the awards vested, or through the end of the reported fiscal year, (iii) value of equity awards issued and vested during the reported fiscal year, and (iv) reduced by the value of equity awards granted in prior years that were forfeited in subsequent years.
(5)
Assumes an investment of $100 for the period starting on January 1, 2023 through the end of the listed fiscal year. The closing prices of the Company’s common stock as reported on Nasdaq, as applicable, on the following trading days were: (i) $35.55 on December 31, 2023; (ii) $28.15 on December 31, 2024; and (iii) $16.88 on December 31, 2025.
(6)
Correction of Prior Year Disclosure
In preparing the fiscal 2025 Pay vs. Performance disclosure, the Company identified an error in the previously reported Compensation Actually Paid amounts for fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2023. The error related to the calculation of the change in fair value of certain equity awards granted in a prior year that vested during the applicable year. Specifically, the Company measured the change in fair value using the fiscal year-end stock price rather than the applicable vesting-date stock price, as required under Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. The Pay Versus Performance table and the related table detailing adjustments to Summary Compensation Table total compensation have been revised to reflect the corrected amounts. As a result, Compensation Actually Paid (i) increased by $605,024 for fiscal year 2024 and decreased by $1,409,944 for fiscal year 2023 for the Principal Executive Officer and (ii) increased by $198,594 for fiscal year 2024 and decreased by $604,432 for fiscal year 2023 for the average of the other Named Executive Officers. The Company has concluded that this error did not affect its previously issued consolidated financial statements.
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The following table details the adjustments to
the Summary Compensation Table to determine average “compensation actually paid” for the PEO and NEOs (other than the PEO),
as computed in accordance with SEC Item 402(v). Amounts do not reflect the actual compensation earned by or paid to our PEO and NEOs
during the applicable year.
PEO
NEO
2025
2024
2023
2025
2024
2023
Total Compensation (Per Comp Table)
$ 9,958,012
$ 8,300,071
$ 10,522,375
$ 3,049,694
$ 2,273,861
$ 2,126,995
Less: Grant date FV of RSUs on Summary Compensation Table
(5,233,075 )
(3,500,004 )
(3,499,994 )
(1,518,941 )
(877,410 )
(681,822 )
Add: YE FV of RSUs granted in CY and unvested in CY
3,505,605
2,771,452
7,114,053
1,039,487
694,770
1,385,863
Add: Change in FV of unvested awards granted in PY
(2,526,892 )
(3,033,393 )
6,907,625
(603,249 )
(679,964 )
1,370,420
Add: Change in FV from PY to vesting date of awards granted in PY that vested in CY
(809,410 )
—
—
(184,957 )
—
—
Less: Performance-based shares forfeited in CY (FV @ end of PY YE)
—
—
—
—
(267,158 )
(19,291 )
Average compensation actually paid
$ 4,894,240
$ 4,538,126
$ 21,044,059
$ 1,782,034
$ 1,144,099
$ 4,182,165
Equity awards were remeasured in accordance with
the requirements of Item 402(v).
Option Grant Practices
In recent years, we have not granted stock options,
stock appreciation rights or similar instruments with option-like features to our employees. We therefore (i) do not grant, and have
not granted, such instruments in anticipation of the release of material nonpublic information, (ii) we do not time, and have not timed,
the release of material nonpublic information based on grant dates of such instruments or for the purpose of affecting the value of executive
compensation and (iii) we do not take, and have not taken, material nonpublic information into account when determining the timing and
terms of such instruments. As options, stock appreciation rights or similar instruments with option-like features have not been an element
of employee compensation in recent years, we do not have a formal policy with respect to the timing of grants thereof, and we did not
grant options, stock appreciation rights or similar instruments with option-like features in 2025.
Compensation Recovery Policy
Effective December 1, 2023, our Board of Directors
adopted a policy (commonly known as a “clawback” policy) which provides for the recovery of erroneously awarded incentive
compensation to certain of our officers in the event that we are required to prepare an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance
by us with any financial reporting requirements under the federal securities laws. This policy is designed to comply with Section 10D
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Rule 10D-1 promulgated thereunder, Nasdaq Listing Rule 508, and such other applicable
rules and regulations (the “Listing Standards”). The policy is administered by our Board of Directors or, if so designated
by the Board of Directors, the Compensation Committee (in either case, the “Administrator”). Any determinations made by the
Administrator shall be final and binding on all affected individuals.
The individuals covered by this policy (the “Covered
Executives”) are any current or former executive officers, as determined by the Administrator in accordance with the definition
of executive officer set forth in Rule 10D-1 and the Listing Standards.
The policy covers our recoupment of “Incentive-Based
Compensation” (as defined in the policy) received by a person after beginning service as a Covered Executive and who served as
a Covered Executive at any time during the performance period for that Incentive Compensation. In the event we are required to prepare
an accounting restatement, the policy requires us to recover, reasonably promptly, any erroneously awarded Incentive-Based Compensation
received by any Covered Executive during the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the date on which we are required to
prepare such accounting restatement, all as as determined by the Administrator.
The amount required to be recovered is the excess
of the amount of Incentive-Based Compensation received over the amount that otherwise would have been received had it been determined
based on the restated financial measure.
The foregoing description of our Clawback Policy
does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of such policy, a copy of which is filed
as an exhibit to this Report and is incorporated herein by reference. Capitalized terms used above and not defined shall have the meanings
assigned them in the Policy.
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Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The following table sets forth certain information
as of February 13, 2026 with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock by (1) each person known by us to own beneficially
more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, (2) each of our directors, (3) each of our named executive officers, and
(4) all our directors and executive officers as a group.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner (1)(2)
Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership (3)
Percent of
Outstanding
Shares (4)
Lawrence I. Rosen
1,900,837 (5)
16.6 %
Gate City Capital Management, LLC
782,717 (6)
6.8
BlackRock, Inc.
641,569 (7)
5.6
Stephen G. Berman
300,452 (8)
2.6
John L. Kimble
171,277 (9)
1.5
Alexander Shoghi
12,564 (10)
*
Lori MacPherson
— (11)
—
Neilwantie Mahabir
— (11)
—
Jonathan R. Liebman
— (11)
—
Jordan Moelis
— (11)
—
All directors and executive officers as a group (7 persons)
484,293 (12)
4.2
*
Less than 1% of our outstanding shares.
(1)
Unless otherwise indicated, such person’s address is c/o JAKKS Pacific, Inc., 2951 28th Street, Santa Monica, California 90405.
(2)
The number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by each person or entity is determined under the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Under such rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which the person or entity has sole or shared voting power or investment power. The percentage of our outstanding shares is calculated by including among the shares owned by such person any shares which such person or entity has the right to acquire within 60 days after February 13, 2026. The inclusion herein of any shares deemed beneficially owned does not constitute an admission of beneficial ownership of such shares.
(3)
Except as otherwise indicated, exercises sole voting power and sole investment power with respect to such shares. All share amounts have been adjusted to reflect the 1-10 reverse split effective July 9, 2020.
(4)
Based upon 11,444,411 shares outstanding on February 13, 2026. Does not include, unless noted otherwise, any shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of any Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”).
(5)
The address of Mr. Rosen is 1578 Sussex Turnpike (Bldg. 5), Randolph, NJ 07689. Possesses shared voting and dispositive power with respect to all of such shares. All the information presented in this Item with respect to this beneficial owner was extracted solely from a Schedule 14A filed on May 8, 2025.
(6)
The address of Gate City Capital Management, LLC is 8725 W. Higgins
Road, Suite 530, Chicago, IL 60631. Possesses sole voting power with respect to 782,717 shares and sole dispositive power with respect
to all of such shares. All the information presented in this Item with respect to this beneficial owner was extracted solely from the
Schedule 13G filed on February 17, 2026.
(7)
The address of BlackRock, Inc. is 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001.
Possesses sole voting power with respect to 625,937 shares. All the information presented in this Item with respect to this beneficial
owner was extracted solely from the Schedule 13F filed on February 12, 2026.
(8)
Does not include an aggregate of 498,257 shares of common stock underlying unvested RSUs issued pursuant to the terms of Mr. Berman’s January 1, 2003 Employment Agreement (as amended to date) which RSUs are further subject to the terms of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements with Mr. Berman (the “Berman Agreement”). Certain of these shares may be restricted from transfer pursuant to the minimum stock ownership provisions adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors.
(9)
Does not include 136,127 shares underlying currently unvested RSUs which will vest pursuant to the terms of Mr. Kimble’s November 18, 2019 Employment Agreement (as amended to date), which RSUs are further subject to the terms of our Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements with Mr. Kimble (the “Kimble Agreement”). The Kimble Agreement provides that Mr. Kimble will forfeit his rights to some or all of such RSUs unless certain conditions precedent are met, as described in the Kimble Agreement. Certain of these shares may be restricted from transfer pursuant to the minimum stock ownership provisions adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors.
(10)
Consists of 12,564 shares of common stock issued pursuant to our 2002 Stock Award and Incentive Plan (the “2002 Plan”). Certain of these shares may be restricted from transfer pursuant to the minimum stock ownership provisions adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors. Does not include 4,827 shares underlying currently unvested RSUs which will vest on the first anniversary of the date of the grant, subject to membership on the Board of Directors at the time of vesting.
(11)
Does not include 4,827 shares underlying currently unvested RSUs which will vest on the first anniversary of the date of the grant, subject to membership on the Board of Directors at the time of vesting.
(12)
Does not include any shares underlying RSUs.
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Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and
Director Independence
(a) Transactions with Related Persons
In March 2017, the Company entered into an equity
purchase agreement with Hong Kong Meisheng Cultural Company Limited (“Meisheng”) which provided, among other things, that
as long as Meisheng and its affiliates hold 10% or more of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Company, Meisheng
shall have the right from time to time to designate a nominee for election to the Company’s board of directors. Since such time,
Mr. Xiaoqiang Zhao was Meisheng’s nominee. Meisheng and its affiliates own less than 10% of the Company’s outstanding shares
of common stock. Mr. Zhao did not stand for reelection as director at the Company’s 2024 annual meeting. Since December 6, 2024,
Meisheng is not represented on the Company’s board of directors and thus ceased to be a related party to the company.
Meisheng continues to be a significant manufacturer
of the Company. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company made inventory, molds and tooling related payments to Meisheng
of approximately $98.4 million and $75.7 million respectively. As of December 31, 2024, amounts due to Meisheng for inventory received
by the Company, but not paid totaled $13.5 million. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recorded sales revenues of $0.1
million from Party X People GmbH, a subsidiary of Meisheng.
An immediate family member of our Chief Executive
Officer was employed by the Company in a non-executive role during 2025 and received total compensation of approximately $153,950 which
was consistent with that of employees in similar roles. The employee is well qualified for the position based upon schooling and prior
experience in other roles with the Company.
(b) Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions
with Related Persons
Pursuant to our Ethical Code of Conduct (a copy
of which may be found on our website, www.jakks.com), all of our employees are required to disclose to our General Counsel, the Board
of Directors or any committee established by the Board of Directors to receive such information, any material transaction or relationship
that reasonably could be expected to give rise to actual or apparent conflicts of interest between any of them, personally, and us. In
addition, our Ethical Code of Conduct also directs all employees to avoid any self-interested transactions without full disclosure. This
policy, which applies to all of our employees, is reiterated in our Employee Handbook which states that a violation of this policy could
be grounds for termination. In approving or rejecting a proposed transaction, our General Counsel, Board of Directors or designated committee
will consider the facts and circumstances available and deemed relevant, including but not limited to, the risks, costs and benefits
to us, the terms of the transactions, the availability of other sources for comparable services or products, and, if applicable, the
impact on director independence. Upon concluding their review, they will only approve those agreements that, in light of known circumstances,
are in or are not inconsistent with, our best interests, as they determine in good faith.
(c) Director Independence
For a description of our Board of Directors and
its compliance with the independence requirements therefore as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and Nasdaq, see
“Item 10- Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.”
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Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Before our principal accountant is engaged by
us to render audit or non-audit services, as required by the rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission
and/or Nasdaq, such engagement is approved by the Audit Committee.
The following are the fees of BDO USA, our principal
accountant (PCAOB ID: 243 ), for the two years ended December 31, 2025, for services rendered in connection with the audit for those respective
years (all of which have been pre-approved by the Audit Committee):
2025
2024
Audit Fees
$ 1,752,721
$ 2,192,082
Audit Related Fees
9,000
4,500
$ 1,761,721
$ 2,196,582
Audit Fees consist of the aggregate fees
for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements and the reviews of the financial statements included
in our Forms 10-Q and for any other services that were normally provided by our auditors in connection with our statutory and regulatory
filings or engagements.
Audit Related Fees consist of the aggregate
fees billed for professional services rendered for assurance and related services that were reasonably related to the performance of
the audit or review of our financial statements and were not otherwise included in Audit Fees. These fees primarily relate to audits
of employee benefit plans.
Our Audit Committee has considered whether the
provision of the non-audit services described above is compatible with maintaining our auditors’ independence and determined that
such services are appropriate.
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Table of Contents
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
The following documents are filed as part of this
Annual Report on Form 10-K:
(1)
Financial Statements (included in Item 8):
●
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
●
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2025 and 2024
●
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023
●
Consolidated Statements of Other Comprehensive Loss for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024
and 2023
●
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2025,
2024 and 2023
●
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023
●
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(2)
Financial Statement Schedules (included in Item 8):
(3)
Exhibits:
Exhibit
Number
Description
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (1)
3.1.1
Certificate of Designations of Series A Senior Preferred Stock (21)
3.1.2
Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Designations of Series A Senior Preferred Stock (25)
3.1.3
Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (2)
3.1.4
Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (3)
3.1.5
Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (29)
3.1.6
Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (22)
3.1.7
Amended and Restated Certificate of Designations of Series A Senior Preferred Stock (22)
3.2.1
Second Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company (21)
3.2.2
Third Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company (22)
3.3
Amendment No. 2 to Third Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company (**)
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Table of Contents
10.1.1
Third Amended and Restated 1995 Stock Option Plan (4)
10.1.2
1999 Amendment to Third Amended and Restated 1995 Stock Option Plan (5)
10.1.3
2000 Amendment to Third Amended and Restated 1995 Stock Option Plan (6)
10.1.4
2001 Amendment to Third Amended and Restated 1995 Stock Option Plan (7)
10.2
2002 Stock Award and Incentive Plan (8)
10.2.1
2008 Amendment to 2002 Stock Award and Incentive Plan (9)
10.2.2
2021 Amendment to 2002 Stock Award and Incentive Plan (19)
10.2.3
2023 Amendment to 2002 Stock award and Incentive plan (20)
10.3.1
Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between the Company and Stephen G. Berman dated as of November 11, 2010 (11)
10.3.2
Clarification Letter dated October 20, 2011 with respect to Mr. Berman’s Second Amended and Restated employment agreement (12)
10.3.3
Amendment Number One dated September 21, 2012 to Mr. Berman’s Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (13)
10.3.4
Amendment Number Two dated June 7, 2016 to Mr. Berman’s Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (17)
10.3.5
Amendment Number Three dated August 9, 2019 to Mr. Berman’s Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (21)
10.3.6*
Amendment Number Four dated November 18, 2019 to Mr. Berman’s Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (24)
10.3.7
Amendment Number Five dated February 18, 2021 to Mr. Berman’s Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (28)
10.3.8
Amendment Number Six dated September 27, 2021 to Mr. Berman’s Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (27)
10.3.9
Amendment Number Seven dated October 25, 2022 to Mr. Berman’s Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (23)
10.3.10
Amendment Number Eight dated March 30, 2023 to Mr. Berman’s Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (26)
10.3.11
Amendment Number Nine dated February 18, 2025 to Mr. Berman’s Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (33)
10.3.11.1
Corrected and Restated Amendment Number Nine dated March 2, 2026 to Mr. Berman’s Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (**)
10.4
Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of June 24, 2025, by and among JAKKS Pacific, Inc. and its subsidiaries parties thereto as borrowers and/or Grantors, the lenders party thereto, as lenders, and BMO Bank N.A.as Administrative Agent (34)
10.5
Form of Restricted Stock Agreement (10)
10.5.1
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (27)
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10.6*
Letter Agreement dated November 18, 2019 between the Company and John L. Kimble (24)
10.6.1
First Amendment to Employment Agreement between the Company and John L. Kimble dated February 18, 2021 (28)
10.6.2
Second Amendment to Employment Agreement between the Company and John L. Kimble dated September 27, 2021 (27)
10.6.3
Second Amendment to Employment Agreement between the Company and John L. Kimble dated October 25, 2022 (23)
10.6.4
Third Amendment to Employment Agreement between the Company and John L. Kimble dated February 18, 2025 (33)
10.6.4.1
Corrected and Restated Third Amendment to Employment Agreement between the Company and John L. Kimble dated March 2, 2026 (**)
10.7*
Credit Agreement, dated as of June 2, 2021, by and among JAKKS Pacific, Inc., Disguise, Inc., JAKKS Sales LLC, and Moose Mountain Marketing, Inc., as borrowers, other Loan Parties hereto, the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (18)
10.8*
First Lien Term Loan Facility Credit Agreement, dated as of June 2, 2021, by and among JAKKS Pacific, Inc. and its subsidiaries parties thereto as borrowers, the lenders party thereto, as lenders, and BSP Agency, LLC, as agent (18)
10.8.1*
First Amendment to First Lien Term Loan Facility Credit Agreement, dated as of June 2, 2021, by and among JAKKS Pacific, Inc. and its subsidiaries parties thereto as borrowers, the lenders party thereto, as lenders, and BSP Agency, LLC, as agent (32)
10.9
Termination of Voting Agreement dated August 3, 2022 between the Company and its Preferred Stockholders (31)
10.10
At Market Issuance Sales Agreement between Registrant and B. Riley Securities, Inc. dated October 20, 2022 (30)
10.11
Credit Agreement, dated as of June 24, 2025, among JAKKS Pacific, Inc., JAKKS Sales LLC, Disguise, Inc., and Moose Mountain Marketing, Inc., as borrowers, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, Loan Parties thereto, the Lenders party thereto and BMO Bank N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and Letter of Credit Issuer (34)
14
Code of Ethics (16)
19
Insider Trading Policies and Procedures (35)
21
Subsidiaries of the Company (**)
23.1
Consent of BDO USA, P.C. (**)
31.1
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Stephen G. Berman (**)
31.2
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of John L. Kimble (**)
32.1
Section 1350 Certification of Stephen G. Berman (**)
32.2
Section 1350 Certification of John L. Kimble (**)
97
Policy Relating to Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation (**)
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
(1)
Filed previously as Appendix 2 to the Company’s Schedule 14A Proxy Statement,
filed August 21, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference.
(2)
Filed previously as an annex to the Company’s Schedule 14A filed October 28, 2019 and incorporated
herein by reference.
(3)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 9,
2020 and incorporated herein by reference.
(4)
Filed previously as Appendix A to the Company’s Schedule 14A Proxy Statement, filed June
23, 1998, and incorporated herein by reference.
(5)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Reg.
No. 333-90055), filed November 1, 1999, and incorporated herein by reference.
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Table of Contents
(6)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Reg.
No. 333-40392), filed June 29, 2000, and incorporated herein by reference.
(7)
Filed previously as Appendix B to the Company’s Schedule 14A Proxy Statement, filed June
11, 2001, and incorporated herein by reference.
(8)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Reg.
No. 333-101665), filed December 5, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference.
(9)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Schedule 14A Proxy Statement, filed August
20, 2008, and incorporated herein by reference.
(10)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal
year ended December 31, 2002, filed March 31, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference.
(11)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November
17, 2010, and incorporated herein by reference.
(12)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October
21, 2011, and incorporated herein by reference.
(13)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed September
25, 2012, and incorporated herein by reference.
(14)
Intentionally omitted.
(15)
Intentionally omitted.
(16)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal
year ended December 31, 2003, filed March 15, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference.
(17)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 9,
2016, and incorporated herein by reference.
(18)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 3,
2021, and incorporated herein by reference.
(19)
Filed previously as an annex to the Company’s Schedule 14A filed October 8, 2021 and incorporated
herein by reference.
(20)
Filed previously as an annex to the Company’s Revised Schedule 14A filed November 9, 2023
and incorporated herein by reference.
(21)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 9,
2019 and incorporated herein by reference.
(22)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November
15, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference.
(23)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 28,
2022 and incorporated herein by reference.
(24)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November
20, 2019 and incorporated herein by reference.
(25)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed September
23, 2019 and incorporated herein by reference.
(26)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 31,
2023 and incorporated herein by reference.
(27)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form
8-K filed October 1, 2021 and incorporated herein by reference.
(28)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February
19, 2021 and incorporated herein by reference.
(29)
Filed previously as an annex to the Company’s Schedule 14A filed March 16, 2021 and incorporated
herein by reference.
(30)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S3/A filed
October 27, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference.
(31)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 4,
2022 and incorporated herein by reference.
(32)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 2, 2022
and incorporated herein by reference.
(33)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Current
Report on Form 8-K filed February 20, 2025 and incorporated herein by reference.
(34)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Current
Report on Form 8-K filed June 25, 2025 and incorporated herein by reference.
(35)
Filed previously as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report
on Form 10-K filed March 6, 2025 and incorporated herein by reference.
(*)
Certain schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of
Regulation S-K under the Securities Act. The Company agrees to furnish supplementally any omitted schedules to the Securities and
Exchange Commission upon request.
(**)
Filed herewith.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: March 2, 2026
JAKKS PACIFIC, INC.
By:
/s/ STEPHEN G. BERMAN
Stephen G. Berman
Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and
on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ STEPHEN G.
BERMAN
Director and
March 2, 2026
Stephen G. Berman
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Financial Officer
/s/ JOHN L.
KIMBLE
(Principal Financial Officer and
March 2, 2026
John L. Kimble
Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ NEILWANTIE
MAHABIR
Director
March 2, 2026
Neilwantie Mahabir
/s/ ALEXANDER SHOGHI
Director
March 2, 2026
Alexander Shoghi
/s/ JONATHAN R.
LIEBMAN
Director
March 2, 2026
Jonathan R. Liebman
/s/ JORDAN MOELIS
Director
March 2, 2026
Jordan Moelis
/s/ LORI MACPHERSON
Director
March 2, 2026
Lori MacPherson
101