CSP (CSPI) DEF 14ADefinitive proxy

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.)

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CSP INC.

December 27, 2022

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Dear Stockholders:

You are cordially invited to attend the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of CSP Inc. Our Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. local time at our CSP Inc. office located at 1182 East Newport Center Drive, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442.

We describe in detail the actions we expect to take at our Annual Meeting in the attached Notice of 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and proxy statement.

Your vote is very important to us, regardless of the number of shares that you own. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please vote as soon as possible to make sure your shares are represented at the Annual Meeting. To simplify this process, your vote may be cast over the Internet, by telephone or by mail.

We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting.

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NOTICE OF 2023 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

Date:             Tuesday, February 7, 2023

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Time:             9:00 a.m. local time

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Place:            CSP Inc. Office in Deerfield Beach, Florida

1182 East Newport Center Drive

Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442

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At the Annual Meeting you will be asked to:

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Lowell, Massachusetts

December 27, 2022

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

TO ASSURE YOUR REPRESENTATION AT THE ANNUAL MEETING WHETHER OR NOT YOU ATTEND, PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD OR VOTE YOUR PROXY OVER THE INTERNET OR BY TELEPHONE AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE.

ANY STOCKHOLDER ATTENDING THE ANNUAL MEETING MAY VOTE IN PERSON EVEN IF HE OR SHE HAS RETURNED A PROXY. PLEASE NOTE, HOWEVER, THAT IF YOUR SHARES ARE HELD OF RECORD BY A BROKER, BANK OR OTHER NOMINEE AND YOU WISH TO VOTE, YOU MUST FIRST OBTAIN FROM THE RECORD HOLDER A PROXY ISSUED IN YOUR NAME.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on February 7, 2023. The notice of Annual Meeting, proxy statement, proxy card and 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K are also available at www.proxyvote.com

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CSP INC.

(A Massachusetts Corporation)

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PROXY STATEMENT

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

February 7, 2023

Table of Contents

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INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROXY MATERIALS AND THE ANNUAL MEETING

Our Board of Directors is soliciting proxies to be voted at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on February 7, 2023, which is referred to in this proxy statement as the Annual Meeting. Your vote is very important. For this reason, our Board is requesting that you permit your common stock to be represented at the Annual Meeting by the persons named as proxies for the Annual Meeting. This proxy statement contains important information for you to consider when deciding how to vote on the matters brought before the Annual Meeting. Please read it carefully.

Our principal executive offices are located at 175 Cabot St. Suite 210, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854. Our main telephone number is (978) 954-5038. In this proxy statement, CSP Inc. is sometimes referred to as the “Company”, “CSPI”, “we” or “our”.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the

Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be Held on February 7, 2023.

Pursuant to the rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, which is referred to in this proxy statement as the SEC, we have elected to provide access to our proxy materials both by sending you this full set of proxy materials, including a notice of Annual Meeting, proxy statement, proxy card and our 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and by notifying you of the availability of our proxy materials on the Internet. The notice of Annual Meeting, proxy statement, proxy card and 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K are also available at www.proxyvote.com. In accordance with SEC rules, the materials on the site are searchable, readable and printable and the site does not have “cookies” or other tracking devices which identify visitors.

We are mailing this proxy statement and the enclosed form of proxy to stockholders on or about December 27, 2022.

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS REGARDING THE ANNUAL MEETING

Where and when is the Annual Meeting of Stockholders?

Our Annual Meeting of stockholders will be held at our South Florida office, located at 1182 East Newport Center Drive, Deerfield Beach, Florida at 9:00 a.m. local time on February 7, 2023.

Who may attend the annual meeting?

To attend you must be a CSP Inc. shareholder as of the record date. We intend to hold our annual meeting in person. However, we are sensitive to the public health and travel concerns our shareholders may have, and the recommendations that public health and government officials may issue in light of the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) in the community. As a result, shareholders who attend in person may be subject to additional health procedures and screening to comply with local and state public health regulations and government guidelines related to Covid-19. Such procedures and guidelines will be posted at the Annual Meeting.

Who may vote at the Annual Meeting?

You may vote if our records show that you owned your shares on December 19, 2022, which is the record date for our 2023 Annual Meeting (the “record date”). At the close of business on the record date, 4,554,788 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding and eligible to vote. You may cast one vote for each share of common stock held of record by you on the record date on all matters presented.

Why did I receive the proxy materials by e-mail?

You requested that the Company or a broker, bank or other nominee holding your shares deliver proxy materials to you electronically by e-mail.  If you hold your shares through a bank, broker or other nominee, please contact that holder for information about starting or stopping e-mail delivery of proxy materials.  If  your shares are held by the Company and you wish to terminate this request, please contact our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC  by calling (800) 937-5449 or writing to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC at 6201 15^th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219.

What is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and beneficial owner?

Most of our stockholders hold their shares through a broker, bank or other nominee rather than directly in their own name. As summarized below, there are some distinctions between shares held of record and those owned beneficially.

Stockholder of Record.  If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, you are considered the stockholder of record with respect to those shares, and the proxy materials, including your proxy card, were sent directly to you by us. As the stockholder of record, you have the right to grant your voting proxy directly to us via the Internet, by telephone or by mail, or to vote in person at the Annual Meeting.

Beneficial Owner. If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account, or by a bank or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of the shares, which are held in “street name,” and the proxy materials, including your proxy card, are being provided to you by your broker, bank or nominee, who is considered the stockholder of record with respect to those shares. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or nominee on how to vote those shares and are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote these shares in person at the Annual Meeting unless you request, complete and deliver a proxy from your broker, bank or nominee. Your broker, bank or nominee has sent you a voting instruction card for you to use in directing the broker, bank or nominee how to vote your shares.

How many votes can be cast by all stockholders?

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Each share of our common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter presented for a vote at the meeting. There is no cumulative voting. We had 4,554,788 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote on the record date.

How many votes must be present to hold the Annual Meeting?

We must have a quorum in order to hold the Annual Meeting and conduct business. The presence at the meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of our issued and outstanding shares or 2,277,395 shares of common stock as of the record date constitutes a quorum. Each share of our common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter presented for a vote at the meeting shares are counted if you are present at the Annual Meeting or a proxy card has been properly submitted by you or on your behalf. Abstentions are counted as present for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of stockholders. Proxies received from brokers that express a vote on any matter will also be counted as present, even if they show a broker “non-vote” (as described below) on any other matter(s).  The vote on each matter submitted to stockholders is tabulated separately. American Stock Transfer & Trust Company will tabulate the votes.

If on the date scheduled for the Annual Meeting a quorum does not exist for purposes of conducting business at the Annual Meeting, the management persons named as proxies in the proxy card will use the discretionary authority granted to them thereby to adjourn the meeting to a future date for purposes of seeking a quorum.

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I own my shares in “street name.” Will my broker vote ?

If you provide voting instructions to your broker, your broker will vote in accordance with your instructions. The ability of brokers to vote your shares for you without instructions from you is governed by Rule 452 of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), which regulates the behavior of brokers who are “member organizations” of the NYSE (without regard to what exchange the shares are traded on). The NYSE has identified specific types of “Broker May Not Vote” matters, also known as non-routine matters. At our Annual Meeting, the election of directors (Proposal One), the advisory vote on executive compensation (Proposal Two), and the amendment to the Company’s 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan to increase the authorized number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan by 300,000 shares and extend the term of the Plan (Proposal Three) are all “Broker May Not Vote” matters, and therefore your broker will not express a vote on those proposals without instructions from you. If a broker submits a vote on a “Broker May Vote” matter, it will indicate that it does not have authority to vote on other matters, and there will be a broker non-vote with respect to those other matters

The ratification of the appointment of our independent auditors (Proposal Four), is a “Broker May Vote,” or routine matter. Your broker may vote in accordance with management's recommendation on a routine matter, without instructions from you.

How many votes are required to elect directors (Proposal One)?

Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast. This means that the five individuals nominated for election to the Board of Directors who receive the most “FOR” votes (among votes properly cast in person or by proxy) will be elected. A nominee does not need to receive a majority vote of the shares to be elected. If you withhold authority to vote with respect to the election of a nominee, your shares will not be voted with respect to that nominee. However, your shares will be counted for the purpose of determining whether there is a quorum.

Under our Director Resignation Policy, in an uncontested election of directors, any of the nominees standing for election as a director who receives more “Withhold” than “For” votes (a Majority Withhold Vote) is expected to promptly offer the Board his or her resignation as a director for consideration. The resignation will be considered by the Nominating Committee and acted upon by the Board within 90 days following the certification of the stockholder vote.

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Following the Board’s decision, we will promptly publicly disclose the Board’s decision regarding the Director’s offer to resign and, if such an offer is rejected, the rationale behind the Board’s decision.

How many votes are required to approve the advisory vote on the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers (Proposal Two)?

To be approved, Proposal Two requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote and present in person or represented by proxy. You may cast a vote either “FOR” or “AGAINST” the proposal or you may abstain. A vote to abstain is the equivalent of a vote “AGAINST” the proposal. A broker “non-vote” will not be counted as a vote cast and will have no impact on this proposal. Because your vote is advisory, with respect to the “say-on-pay” proposal, it will not be binding on the Board or the Company. However, the Board will review the voting results and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation.

How many votes are required to approve an amendment to the 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan to increase the number of shares available for issuance thereunder by 300,000 shares and extend the term of the plan (Proposal Three)?

To be approved, Proposal Three requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote and present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting. You may cast a vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” the proposal, or you may abstain. Because approval requires a majority of the votes cast, a vote to abstain is equivalent of a vote “AGAINST” the proposal. A broker “non-vote” will not be counted as a vote cast and will have no impact on this proposal.

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How many votes are required to ratify the appointment of the Company’s independent auditors (Proposal Four)?

Ratification of the appointment of RSM US, LLP as the Company’s independent auditors requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares represented and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and present in person or represented by proxy. You may vote either “FOR” or “AGAINST” ratification of the appointment, or you may abstain. A vote to abstain is the equivalent of a vote “AGAINST” the proposal.

How do I vote?

You may vote in one of four ways:

If your shares are registered in your name:  Vote your shares over the Internet by accessing the proxy online voting website at: www.proxyvote.com and following the on-screen instructions. You will need the control numbers that appear on your proxy card when you access the web page.

If your shares are held in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee: Vote your shares over the Internet by following the voting instructions that you receive from such broker, bank or other nominee.

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If your shares are registered in your name: Vote your shares over the telephone by accessing the telephone voting system toll-free at 1-800-690-6903 in the United States and from foreign countries using any touch-tone telephone and following the telephone voting instructions. The telephone instructions will lead you through the voting process. You will need the Company number, account and control numbers that appear on your proxy card.

Vote by signing and dating the proxy card(s) and returning the card(s) in the prepaid envelope.

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What if I submit my proxy but do not vote for one or more of the proposals?

If you submit your proxy via the Internet, by telephone or by returning your signed proxy card, but do not mark or specify selections, then the shares covered by your proxy will be voted as recommended by the Board of Directors in this proxy statement. If you indicate a choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon on your proxy, the shares you hold will be voted in accordance with your instructions.

If you are a beneficial owner and hold your shares through a broker or other nominee and do not submit your selections in accordance with the instructions received from your broker or other nominee, the broker or other nominee will determine if it has discretionary authority to vote on the particular matter. Under the rules that govern brokers who are voting with respect to shares held in street name, brokers have discretion to vote such shares on routine matters, but not on non-routine matters.

Can I change or revoke my vote after submitting it?

Yes.  After you submit your vote via the Internet, by telephone or by mail, you retain the power to revoke your proxy or change your vote. You can revoke your proxy or change your vote at any time before it is exercised by giving written notice to our corporate secretary specifying such revocation. You may change your vote by timely delivery of a valid, later-dated proxy or by voting by ballot at the Annual Meeting if you are a record holder. If you are a beneficial owner and vote your shares through your broker, bank or other nominee and have previously given instructions that you wish to change or revoke, you can provide new, later-dated instructions to your broker, bank or nominee to act as you so instruct.

What should I do if only one set of proxy materials for the Annual Meeting are sent and there are multiple CSPI stockholders in my household?

Some banks, brokers and other nominee record holders may be participating in the practice of “householding” proxy materials and annual reports. This means that only one copy of the proxy materials may have been sent to multiple stockholders in your household. You may promptly obtain an additional copy of the proxy materials and our 2022 Annual Report at no charge by sending a written request to Broadridge Financial Solutions, or by calling Broadridge toll-free at 800-542-1061, or by writing to Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717. Alternatively, if you participate in householding and wish to revoke your consent and receive separate copies of our Proxy Statement and Annual Report, please contact Broadridge, as described above.  As a number of brokerage firms have instituted householding if you hold your shares in street name, please contact your bank, broker or other holder of record to request information about householding.

Who can attend the Annual Meeting?

All stockholders as of the record date, or their duly appointed proxies, may attend. As previously noted, shareholders who wish to attend in person may be subject to additional health procedures and screening to comply with local and state public health regulations and government guidelines related to Covid-19. Such procedures and guidelines will be posted at the Annual Meeting

Where can I find more information?

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC, which is available on our website, www.cspi.com. Our SEC filings are also available to the public, free of charge, on the SEC’s

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website at http://www.sec.gov. Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market (NASDAQ) under the symbol “CSPI.”

Who can help answer my questions?

If you have additional questions about the matters proposed for consideration at the Annual Meeting, you should contact:

CSP Inc.
175 Cabot Street, Suite 210
Lowell, MA 01854
Attn: Gary W. Levine, Chief Financial Officer
Phone: (978) 954-5040

What should I do now?

Carefully read this document and either submit your vote via the Internet or by telephone or, if voting by mail, indicate on the proxy card how you want to vote. If voting by mail, sign, date and mail your proxy card in the enclosed prepaid return envelope as soon as possible. You should submit your vote now even if you expect to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person. Submitting your vote now will not prevent you from later canceling or revoking your proxy up until the meeting and will ensure that your shares are voted if you later find you cannot attend the Annual Meeting.

How do I find out the voting results?

Preliminary voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting, and the final voting results will be published in a Form 8-K filed with the SEC within four (4) business days after the Annual Meeting.

You may obtain a copy of the filed Form 8-K by visiting the investor relations section of our website (www.cspi.com) or the SEC’s website, contacting our Investor Relations department by calling 978-954-5038, or writing to Investor Relations, CSP Inc., 175 Cabot Street, Suite 210, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854.

What if I have questions about lost stock certificates or I need to change my mailing address?

Stockholders may contact our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, by calling the Customer Support Department (800) 937-5449 or writing 6201 15^th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219.

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PROPOSAL ONE:

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

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Our Board of Directors currently consists of five members. The Board, upon recommendation of the Nominating Committee, unanimously nominated the five directors listed below for election to the Board at the Annual Meeting. Each of the five nominees currently serves as a member of the Board. Directors elected at the Annual Meeting will hold office until the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

If you withhold authority to vote with respect to the election of any of our nominees, your shares will not be voted in favor of such nominee’s election. However, your shares will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum

Nominees for Election

Listed below are the nominees with his or her age, the year he or she was first elected as a director of the Company, his or her business experience, as well as the director’s particular experiences, qualifications, attributes and skills that led our Board to conclude that the director should serve as a member of our Board.

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We believe that the qualifications for serving as a director of CSPI include significant accomplishment in a director’s field, together with an ability to make a meaningful contribution to the Board’s oversight of business affairs. Each director must also have an excellent record and reputation for honesty and ethical conduct in both his and her professional and personal activities. We consider Messrs. Azeri, Blackmon, Dellovo, James and Ms. Smith to meet these qualifications, which the Board believes makes each of them well qualified to serve as a director of CSPI.

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Board Diversity Matrix

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Board Diversity Matrix, satisfies the one diverse director requirement as a board of five or fewer.

The Board’s five director-nominees for election at the Annual Meeting − Charles Blackmon, Victor Dellovo, Ismail “Izzy” Azeri, C. Shelton James and Ms. Marilyn T. Smith − have been recommended to the Board by the Nominating Committee and unanimously nominated.

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The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you affirmatively vote “FOR” the election of each of Ms. Smith and Messrs. Azeri, Blackmon, Dellovo and James, to serve as a director of the Company.

Unless marked to the contrary, proxies received will be voted “FOR” the election of each of the nominees listed above.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

We believe that good corporate governance and fair and ethical business practices are crucial to the proper operation of our Company. This section explains some of the things we have done, or are considering, to improve the way we run CSPI.

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Independent Directors

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Rules and regulations of the SEC and NASDAQ require that a majority of our Board be “independent.” The Board has reviewed those rules and regulations and has determined that Messrs. Azeri, Blackmon and James and Ms. Smith are independent directors. As required by NASDAQ rules, the independent directors convene executive sessions at our regularly scheduled board meetings at which only independent directors are present.

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Board Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight

The Board believes that separating the positions of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer offers independent Board leadership and objective oversight of management. The Board believes that this separation will give better clarity of leadership and is in the best interests of CSPI and its stockholders at this time. Mr. James currently serves as chairman. The non-management directors regularly meet alone in executive session at Board meetings.

Management is responsible for the day-to-day management of the risks that we face, while the Board, as a whole and through its committees, has responsibility for the oversight of risk management. In its risk management oversight role, the Board is responsible for satisfying itself that the risk management processes are adequate and functioning as designed. The Board’s involvement in risk oversight includes receiving regular reports from members of senior management and evaluating areas of material risk to the Company, including operational, financial, legal, regulatory, strategic and reputational risks.

The Compensation Committee regularly considers the risks associated with our compensation policies and practices for employees, including those related to executive compensation programs. As part of the risk assessment, the Compensation Committee reviewed our compensation programs for certain design features that have been identified as having the potential to encourage excessive risk-taking, such as compensation mix overly weighted toward annual incentives and unreasonable goals or thresholds. The Compensation Committee determined that, for all employees, our compensation programs encourage our employees to take appropriate risks and encourage behaviors that enhance sustainable value creation in furtherance of the Company’s business, but do not encourage excessive risk and accordingly are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Compensation Committee believes that because we closely link our variable compensation with attaining performance objectives, we are encouraging our employees to make decisions that should result in positive short-term and long-term results for our business and our stockholders without providing an incentive to take unnecessary risks. The Compensation Committee on an on-going basis reviews our compensation policies and programs to ensure that our compensation programs and risk mitigation strategies continue to discourage imprudent risk-taking activities.

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Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors

Our Board met six times during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022. In addition, the Audit Committee met five times, the Compensation Committee met five times, and the Nominating Committee met once. All members attended all the meetings of the Board and of the committees of which they were a member.

Policies and Procedures for the Review and Approval of Transactions with Related Parties

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Our Board has no formal policies and procedures for the review and approval of transactions with related parties.  However, the Audit Committee has the responsibility of reviewing and approving transactions with related parties. In connection with the review of any related party transactions, the Audit Committee considers, among other matters, the nature, timing and duration of the transactions, the relationships of the parties to the transactions, whether the transactions are in the ordinary course of the Company’s business, the dollar value of the transactions and whether the transactions are in the interests of the Company. Mr. Nicholas Monfreda, the brother-in-law of Mr. Dellovo, was hired in June 2014 as the Sales Manager of the US Operations of Modcomp and his current positions is Vice President Managed and Strategic Services. In addition to any Compensation Committee approval, the Audit Committee reviewed and approved Mr. Monfreda’ s current status and compensation, which included an annual salary of $210,000 and a target annual bonus for FY 2022 equal to 50% of his annual salary, with 70% of the bonus based on meeting the net income goal of the MSP operation and 30% of the bonus based on meeting key performance indicators. Anna Monfreda, the sibling of Mr. Dellovo, was hired in January 2013 as a Sr. Client Manager in the US Operations of Modcomp. In FY 2022 her total compensation including salary and commissions was in excess of $120,000. The Audit Committee did not consider any other related party transactions in fiscal year 2022.

Code of Ethics

We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to all our executive officers, directors and employees, and which is available in the Investor Relations section (under Corporate Governance) of our website at www.cspi.com. A copy of the code of ethics can also be obtained, without charge, by written request to Investor Relations, CSP Inc., 175 Cabot Street, Suite 210, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854.

Communications with our Board of Directors

Our stockholders may communicate directly with the members of our Board or the individual chairmen of the standing Board committees by writing directly to those individuals c/o CSP Inc. at the following address: 175 Cabot Street, Suite 210, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854. Our policy is to forward, and not intentionally to screen, any mail received at our corporate office is directed to such director.

Policy Regarding Board Attendance

It is our policy that all members of the Board attend the Annual Meeting of stockholders, although we recognize that our directors occasionally may be unable to attend for personal or professional reasons. We generally hold a meeting of the Board on the same date as the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In 2022, all directors attended the Annual Meeting in person or on the telephone.

Director Resignation Policy

The Board of Directors adopted a Director Resignation Policy which provides that in an uncontested election of Directors of the Company, any nominee standing for election as a Director who receives more “Withhold” than “For” votes (a Majority Withhold Vote) is expected to promptly offer the Board his or her resignation as a director for consideration. The resignation will be considered by the Nominating Committee and acted upon by the Board within 90 days following the certification of the stockholder vote. Following the Board’s decision, we will promptly publicly disclose the Board’s decision regarding the Director’s offer to resign and if such an offer is rejected the rationale behind such decision.  

Director Candidates and Selection Process

Under our by-laws, nominations for election to our Board may be made only by or at the direction of the Board (which has established the Nominating Committee in connection with this process) or by a stockholder who satisfies the substantive and procedural requirements set forth in our by-laws. Candidates nominated by or at the direction of the Board

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will appear as the Company’s nominees in our proxy materials. An eligible stockholder who complies with our by-laws is able to nominate a candidate for election at our Annual Meeting, and stockholders who are present in person or by proxy at the meeting may vote for such a nominee. However, the Company’s proxy materials may not be available for that nominee. That is, any eligible stockholder wishing to nominate a non-Board endorsed candidate for election as a director and solicit proxies for such nominee must prepare and file with the SEC, at his or her or its own expense, proxy materials meeting the applicable requirements of law for a proxy contest.

The Nominating Committee believes that the minimum qualifications for serving as one of our directors are that a nominee demonstrate significant accomplishment in his or her field, have the ability to make a meaningful contribution to the Board’s oversight of our business affairs and have an excellent record and reputation for honesty and ethical conduct in both his or her professional and personal activities. In addition, the Nominating Committee examines a candidate’s specific knowledge, experience and skills, availability in light of other commitments, potential conflicts of interest and independence from our management and CSPI.  Although the Nominating Committee does not have a standalone policy with regard to consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees, it considers diversity in professional background, experience, expertise (including as to financial matters) and perspective (including as to age, gender and ethnicity) with respect to the Board composition as a whole when evaluating a director nominee. In February 2012, we adopted a policy requiring directors to resign at age 75. The Board reserves the right to extend a waiver of this policy when it considers such a waiver to be in the best interests of the Company.  After reviewing Mr. James’ continued service to the Company, the Board waived this policy with respect to Mr. James in connection with this Annual Meeting.

The Nominating Committee may use any number of methods to identify potential nominees, including personal, management, and industry contacts, recruiting firms and as described above, candidates recommended by stockholders.  The Nominating Committee did not engage any third-party recruiting firms to identify nominees in fiscal 2022.

Once a person has been identified by the Nominating Committee as a potential candidate, the Committee may collect and review publicly available information regarding the potential candidate to assess whether that person should be considered further.  If the Nominating Committee determines that the candidate warrants further consideration, the chairman or another member of the Committee will contact the person.  Generally, if the person expresses a willingness to be considered and to serve on the Board, the Nominating Committee will request information from the candidate, review the person’s accomplishments and qualifications, including in light of any other candidates that the Committee might be considering, and conduct one or more interviews with the candidate, other members of the business community or other persons that may have greater first-hand knowledge of the candidate’s accomplishments, and may seek management input on the candidate.  The Nominating Committee’s evaluation process does not vary based on whether or not a candidate is recommended by a stockholder.

The Nominating Committee will consider, for possible Board endorsement, director candidates recommended by stockholders.  In considering candidates submitted by stockholders, the Nominating Committee will take into consideration the needs of the Board and the qualifications of the candidate.  The Nominating Committee may also take into consideration the number of shares held by the recommending stockholder and the length of time that such shares have been held.  To have a candidate considered by the Nominating Committee, a stockholder must submit the recommendation in writing and must include the following information, among other things:

•the name and address of the stockholder and the class and number of shares of our stock beneficially owned by the stockholder and owned of record by the stockholder; and

•all information relating to the candidate that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors or is otherwise required pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other applicable statute, rule or regulation.

Article III, Section 4 of our by-laws requires that notice of  stockholder nominations or recommendations and information described above must be received by our corporate secretary at our executive offices not less than 90 days prior to the date of our Annual Meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that if the Annual Meeting (or a special meeting in lieu of the Annual Meeting) is to be held on a date prior to such specified date, and if less than 100 days’ notice

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or prior public disclosure of the date of such annual or special meeting is given or made, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the 10^th day following the earlier of the day on which notice of the date of the scheduled meeting was mailed or the day on which public disclosure was made of the date of such annual or special meeting.  Therefore, the deadline for submission of notice for our 2024 Annual Meeting will be November 10, 2023.  Our by-laws contain a number of other substantive and procedural requirements, which should be reviewed by any interested stockholder.  This description is qualified in its entirety by the text of our by-laws, to which readers are referred for additional information.

Employee, Officer and Director Hedging

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The Company does not have any current practice or policy regarding the ability of employees (including officers) or directors to engage in hedging transactions.  The Company will continue to evaluate if such a practice or policy is needed.

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COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Audit Committee

Our Audit Committee consists of Messrs. Blackmon (chair) and James and Ms. Smith. The Board determined that the members of our Audit Committee are not only independent, but also are “financially literate” for purposes of NASDAQ listing rules (that is, able to read and understand financial statements). In addition, the Board has concluded that each of Messrs. Blackmon and James qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert.” Mr. Blackmon is a CPA and worked in public accounting for eight years. He was chief financial officer of Interline Brands, Inc. from 2004-2005 and MAGNATRAX Corporation from 1994-2004. Mr. Blackmon also served on the audit committee of Concurrent Computer Corporation, a NASDAQ listed company, including as chairman, through July 2017. Mr. James was a CPA and worked in public accounting from 1962 to 1965. He was chief financial officer of Systems Engineering Laboratories in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida from 1969 to 1980, and has served on numerous audit committees.

Our Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing our accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of our financial statements. The Committee acts in an oversight capacity and relies on the work and assurances of both management, which has primary responsibility for our financial statements, and our independent auditors, who are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of our audited financial statements to generally accepted accounting principles. Our Audit Committee has adopted a written charter, a current copy of which is available in the Investor Relations section (under Corporate Governance) of our web site at www.cspi.com. A copy of the charter is also available to stockholders upon request, addressed to CSP Inc., Attn: Corporate Secretary, 175 Cabot Street, Suite 210, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854.

Nominating Committee

The members of the Nominating Committee are Messrs. Azeri (chair), Blackmon and Ms. Smith, each of whom is an independent director.  In addition to performing the duties and functions set forth above under “Director Candidates and Selection Process,” the functions of our Nominating Committee include the following:

Our Nominating Committee has adopted a written charter, a current copy of which is available in the Investor Relations section (under Corporate Governance) of our web site at www.cspi.com. A copy of the charter is also available to stockholders upon request, addressed to CSP Inc., Attn: Corporate Secretary, 175 Cabot Street, Suite 210, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854.

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Compensation Committee

Our Compensation Committee is composed of Ms. Smith (chair), Messrs. Azeri and James, each of whom is an independent director.  NASDAQ rules require that the compensation of the chief executive officer be determined, or recommended to the Board for its determination, by either a majority of independent directors or a wholly independent Compensation Committee.  NASDAQ rules also prohibit a company’s CEO from being present during voting or deliberations with respect to his compensation.  Our Compensation Committee is charged with reviewing and approving executive officers’ compensation, including the CEO, and administering our stock incentive plans.  The Committee also reviews and determines the compensation to be paid to directors.  Compensation from all other executive officers is required to be determined in the same manner, except that the CEO is permitted to be present during deliberations.  For fiscal 2022, compensation consultants had no role in determining or recommending the amount or form of executive or director compensation.  Our Compensation Committee has adopted a written charter, a current copy of which is available in the Investor Relations section (under Corporate Governance) of our web site at www.cspi.com.  A copy of the charter is also available to stockholders upon request, addressed to CSP Inc., Attn: Corporate Secretary, 175 Cabot Street, Suite 210, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854.

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2022 COMPENSATION OF NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS

The following table and footnotes provide certain information regarding the fiscal year 2022 compensation of CSPI’s non-employee directors.

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OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Background Information about Executive Officers

In addition to Mr. Dellovo, we have three other executive officers, who are listed below with information showing their ages and business affiliations.

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COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The following table provides certain summary information concerning compensation paid or accrued by the Company for services rendered in all capacities for our CEO and our three other highest paid executive officers for the years ended September 30, 2022 and 2021.

2022 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

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Notes:

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Employment Agreements and Arrangements

In addition to the employment arrangements described in the footnotes to the Summary Compensation Table, we have an employment agreement with Mr. Dellovo dated September 4, 2012, under which Mr. Dellovo became one of our

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directors and our President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr.  Dellovo’ s current base salary is $472,500. Mr. Dellovo is eligible to receive a bonus based on the attainment of certain financial objectives, as described above.  If the Company is acquired through an asset sale or merger, all of Mr. Dellovo’ s outstanding restricted stock would be fully vested.  We also provide Mr. Dellovo with the use of an automobile.

Under his employment agreement, in the event Mr. Dellovo’ s employment is terminated other than for cause (as defined in his employment agreement), he will be entitled to 12 months of severance pay at his then effective monthly salary.  However, as discussed below, Mr. Dellovo’ s employment agreement has been supplemented and modified by a change of control agreement with us.

Change of Control Agreements

Messrs. Dellovo, Levine and Newbanks each have change of control agreements with the Company executed in September 2012, January 2008, and January 2008, respectively.  Under these change of control agreements, in exchange for the right to benefits under the circumstances described in the change of control agreements, each executive agrees that for a period of six months after he leaves the Company, he will not solicit customers or employees of the Company, directly or indirectly.  In case of either a change of control (as defined in the change of control agreement, and including a change in the majority of the incumbent directors over a two-year period, except for new directors nominated or selected by a majority of the then incumbent board), or termination of employment without cause (as defined in the change of control agreement) or termination or an adverse change in status of the executive in anticipation of or as required to accomplish a change of control, the executive will be entitled to:

For Mr. Dellovo, the payouts are two times his base compensation and bonus (with the target bonus equal to 50% of annual base pay).  For Mr. Levine the payouts are one times his base compensation and bonus (with the target bonus equal to 30% of annual base pay). For Mr. Newbanks the payouts are one half times his base compensation and bonus (with the target bonus equal to 30% of annual base pay). To receive payment, the executive must deliver to the Company a satisfactory release of claims.

Following a change of control, Messrs. Dellovo, Levine and Newbanks would be entitled to two years, one year and six months, respectively, of comparable health and welfare benefits, by continuing the executive in the Company’s health and welfare plans, paying the executive’s full premium to purchase continuing coverage under COBRA or by payment by the Company of amounts sufficient to purchase equivalent coverage in a lump sum. The executive’s stock options and restricted stock awards would vest, and the executive would be entitled to exercise stock options and satisfy any tax withholding obligations under restricted stock awards by delivering shares of our common stock to the Company, or having shares of common stock withheld by the Company, in each case at the fair market value of the common stock and sufficient to meet the relevant requirement.  In case of a voluntary resignation or termination of employment for cause or by reason of death or disability, then no severance payments would be payable to the executive.

As an illustration of the payments available to Messrs. Dellovo, Levine and Newbanks, if there had been a change of control of the Company as of September 30, 2022, then, based on fiscal year 2022 compensation, Mr. Dellovo would have received $1,417,500 under his employment and change of control agreement, plus the value of health and welfare benefits as described above, plus other vested benefits. In addition, the value of Mr. Dellovo’ s accelerated stock awards would be $605,758 based on the closing price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market ($7.19) as of the close of trading on September 30, 2022. Under the same hypothetical circumstances, Mr. Levine would have received $277,500 under his change of control agreement, plus the value of health and welfare benefits, plus other vested benefits in the form of retirement funds. Mr. Newbanks would receive $116,025 under his change and control agreement.  In

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addition, the value of Messrs. Levine and Newbanks accelerated stock awards would be $118,635 based on the price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market ($7.19) as of the close of trading on September 30, 2022. These illustrations do not take account of tax effects and are intended only as examples.

Clawback and Stock Ownership Guidelines

The Company’s Board of Directors has approved a Clawback policy for executive officers.  The Clawback policy is designed to ensure that incentive-based compensation is paid to executive officers based on accurate financial statements.  In the event that the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance with accounting rules, the policy applies to incentive-based compensation that is granted to current or former executive officers of the company who received incentive-based compensation during the three-year period preceding the date that the Company is required to prepare a  restatement.  

The Company’s Board of Directors has also approved stock ownership guidelines for our executive officers and non-employee members of our Board of Directors. Under our stock ownership guidelines, executive officers and non-employee members of the Board of Directors are required to own shares of the Company’s Common Stock with a value equal to at least the following amounts within five years from the date they are elected or appointed:

For purposes of the guidelines, ownership will not include stock options (whether or not vested) but will include all restricted stock and shares will be valued in each fiscal year based on the closing price of the Company’s stock at the end of the preceding fiscal quarter.  As of the record date of the Annual Meeting, all directors and officers with over five years of service as such are in compliance with the stock ownership’s guidelines.

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OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT 2022 FISCAL YEAR-END

The table below shows outstanding equity awards held by our named executive officers as of the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022.

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Notes:

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PROPOSAL TWO:

ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 enables our stockholders to vote to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with the SEC’s rules. Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding on the Board or the Company.  However, the Board will review the voting results and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation.

Our executive compensation programs are designed to attract, motivate, and retain our named executive officers, who are critical to our success.  Under these programs, our named executive officers are rewarded for the achievement of specific annual corporate goals that are intended to enhance stockholder value.

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Consideration of 2022 “Say-on-Pay” Vote

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At our 2022 Annual Meeting, held in February of 2022, we received a favorable stockholder vote regarding executive compensation.  We believe we have addressed many of the concerns about our compensation practices that stockholders expressed in prior years. In fiscal 2022, we can point to the following:

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target non-equity incentive compensation.

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We believe that we have implemented a number of “best practices” in our governance procedures that affect management compensation. We believe that we demonstrate the commitment of our management and Board to align our results with the stockholders.

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Compensation Appropriately Linked to Performance

In fiscal 2022, Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation for our executive officers is split into two components: 85% of their non-equity compensation was based on EBIT or operating income and revenue when applicable and 15% of their non-equity compensation was based on KPI. Under the EBIT metrics, Messrs. Dellovo, Levine, and Newbanks  did  receive  and Mr. Southwell did not receive non-equity compensation respectively, as the Company did meet its EBIT matrix and HPP didn’t meet its goals.  

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Governance Policies Affecting Compensation

The Company has a Clawback policy and stock ownership guidelines for executives’ officers and non-employee members of the Board of Directors as described above.

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The Compensation Committee has also adopted a policy barring so-called “single triggers” in any future change in control agreements.  In addition, we do not have any agreements with management, including our named executive officers, to pay tax gross ups.

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The Compensation Committee continually reviews the compensation programs for our named executive officers to ensure they achieve the desired goals of aligning our executive compensation structure with our stockholders’ interests and current market practices.

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In light of the changes we have made in prior years in response to stockholder concerns and how we have aligned a significant portion of management’s non-equity compensation with the Company’s financial performance, we are asking stockholders to indicate their support for our named executive officer compensation as described in this proxy statement.  This proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal, gives our stockholders the opportunity to express their views on our named executive officers’ compensation. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers as described pursuant to applicable SEC rules in this proxy statement.  Accordingly, we will ask our stockholders to vote “FOR” the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:

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“RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in the proxy statement for this meeting pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the compensation tables and narrative discussion, is hereby APPROVED.”

Our Board of Directors and Compensation Committee value the opinions of our stockholders and to the extent there is any significant vote against the named executive officer compensation as disclosed in this proxy statement, we will consider our stockholders’ concerns and evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address those concerns.

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The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Unless marked to the contrary, proxies received will be voted “FOR” Proposal Two.

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PROPOSAL THREE:

APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE CSP INC. 2014 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

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The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” Proposal Three, the proposal to approve an amendment to the CSP Inc. 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan to increase the number of shares of our common stock available for issuance by 300,000 shares, as described in this Proxy Statement, and extend the 2014 Plan for an additional ten (10) year period.

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Reasons for the Amendment to 2014 Employee Stock Purchase

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We are asking our stockholders to approve an amendment to the CSP, Inc. 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2014 ESPP Amendment,” and such 2014 Employee Stock  Purchase plan, as amended, the “2014 ESPP ”) to increase the number of shares available for issuance under the 2014 ESPP  by 300,000 shares of common stock, from the original authorized share number of 250,000, and to extend the 2014 ESPP for an additional ten years from the date of shareholder approval at this Annual Meeting.

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As of the December 19, 2022, the record date of our Annual Meeting, an aggregate of 249,580 shares of common Stock has been issued under the 2014 ESPP leaving only 420 shares of our common stock available for issuance upon the exercise of the current offering period with began August 1, 2022, and ends on January 31, 2023. In preparing for the 2023 Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors approved the 2014 ESPP Amendment, subject to stockholder approval, increasing the total number of shares authorized under the 2014 ESPP by 300,000 shares of common stock, and providing that the exercise of options with respect to the current offering period which began on August 1, 2022 and ends on January 31, 2023, is contingent upon the stockholder approval of the 2014 ESPP Amendment to the extent the options outstanding would exceed the maximum number of shares currently available under the 2014 ESPP, absent such increase by the 2014 ESPP Amendment. The average number of shares that have been purchased for each offer periods since the implementation of  2014 ESPP Plan is 14,681shares.  The 2014 ESPP provides for two six month offering periods during the fiscal year. Approval of the 2014 Plan Amendment will increase the number of shares available for issuance under the 2014 ESPP  by 300,000 shares.  If the proposed amendment to increase the number of available shares under the 2014 Plan is approved by our shareholders and extend the life of the 2014 ESPP, the Company currently expects such increase to be sufficient  to fulfill the August 2022 offering in the middle of February 2023, with the remaining availability expected to last until 2032, assuming historical levels of issuances per calendar year. One executive officer is currently participating in the August 2022 Offering Period:  Gary Levine.  This executive officer has generally been participating in the 2014 ESPP.  

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Summary of the 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

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The following is a summary of the principal provisions of the 2014 ESPP and its operation.  This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2014 ESPP, which is attached as Exhibit A to this Proxy Statement, and reflects the increase in the authorized number of shares by 300,000 shares, subject to stockholder approval, increasing the number of shares authorized under the 2014 ESPP from 250,000 to 550,000 shares of common stock, of which 249,580 have been issued.  To the extent that there is a conflict between this summary and the actual terms of the 2014 ESPP, the terms of the 2014 ESPP  will govern.

The 2014 ESPP , including the right of participants to make purchases under the 2014 ESPP, is intended to qualify as an “Employee Stock Purchase Plan” under the provisions of Sections 421 and 423 of the Code.  The provisions of the 2014 ESPP shall accordingly be construed so as to extend and limit participation in a manner consistent with the requirements of those sections of the Internal Revenue Code.  The 2014 ESPP is not a qualified deferred compensation plan under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and is not subject to the provisions of ERISA.  If we offer foreign employees the right to make purchases under the Stock Purchase Plan, we may offer a sub-plan or other option under the 2014 ESPP not intended to satisfy Sections 421 and 423 of the Code.

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Eligibility

Any of the approximately 117 employees (i.e., all persons employed by the Company and its subsidiaries) of the Company and its subsidiaries, and any future employees of the Company and its present and future subsidiaries, if they are eligible employees, may participate under the 2014 ESPP except as noted below.

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Each of our regular U.S.-based (or our designated European-based) employees who have attained the age of majority as determined by the laws of their state of residence and who have completed at least six months employment and have customary employment of a minimum of 20 hours per week are eligible to participate.  Employees who own and/or hold outstanding options to purchase stock, or who would own immediately after a grant under the 2014 ESPP , five percent or more of the Company’s voting stock are not eligible to participate in the 2014 ESPP.  Additionally, no employee may be granted an option under the 2014 ESPP that would entitle such employee to acquire common stock with a fair market value in excess of $25,000 (determined at the time such option is granted) in any calendar year.

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Commencement, Termination and Modification

The 2014 ESPP was originally approved by the Board of Directors on December 27, 2013, and by the Stockholders on February 11, 2014. Subject to stockholder approval at the 2023 Annual Meeting, the shares authorized under the 2014 Plan will increase from 250,000 shares to 550,000 shares authorized under the 2014 ESPP. Currently, only 420 shares are eligible for issuance under the 2014 ESPP. If 2014 ESPP Amendment is approved by stockholders at this Annual Meeting, the additional shares will be eligible for issuance under the current option period that began on August 1, 2022. If the 2014 Plan Amendment is not approved, there will only be 420 shares left for issuance under the 2014 Plan that may be issued in the current offering period, and the 2014 Plan will terminate as there will no longer be shares authorized under the 2014 ESPP. Stockholder approval is required to obtain the benefits mentioned above for participating employees. Each offering period is six months long.

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The 2014 ESPP and all rights of employees under the 2014 ESPP will terminate (a) on the investment date that participating employees would, but the limitation set forth below, become entitled to purchase a number of shares greater than the number of reserved shares remaining available for purchase or (b) at the discretion of the Board of Directors, at any time before that. If the 2014 ESPP terminates because participating employees have become entitled to purchase more shares than are available for purchase, reserved shares remaining available for purchase as of the termination date will be issued to participating employees on a pro rata basis, and any excess funds thereafter remaining in employees’ accounts will be refunded. The 2014 ESPP shall continue in effect for ten (10) years following the date of stockholder approval, unless terminated earlier by the Board or the Committee. Thus, in approving the 2014 ESPP Amendment, the 2014 ESPP will extend for an additional ten (10) years from such date of shareholder approval, unless earlier terminated by the Board.

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The Board of Directors may amend the 2014 ESPP in any respect, except that the 2014 ESPP may not be amended in any way that will cause rights issued under it to fail to meet the requirements for an employee 2014 ESPP as defined in Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code, which, among other things, requires stockholder  approval for an increase in the number of shares issued under the 2014 ESPP except pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of the 2014 ESPP.  In addition, no amendment may make any change which would adversely affect the rights of any participant in the 2014 ESPP with respect to offering a period under the 2014 ESPP that has already commenced.

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The Board of Directors may terminate the 2014 ESPP at any time. No such termination may affect the rights of a participant in the 2014 ESPP with respect to an offering period under the 2014 ESPP that has already commenced (including the August 2022 offering period) except that if the 2014 ESPP Amendment is not approved then the current participants in the August 2022 will be allocated their pro rata amount of the 420 shares remaining and the 2014 Plan will terminate as no further shares will be available under the 2014 ESPP. Additionally, without stockholder approval, current federal tax law provides the discount from the fair market value of the stock will be treated as taxable compensation in the year of purchase by the participating associate, thus negating the advantageous federal tax treatment the 2014 ESPP is expected to provide to employees.

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Administration

The 2014 ESPP is administered, at the Company’s expense, by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.  The Committee may request advice or assistance and employ or direct any other persons necessary for the proper administration of the 2014 ESPP.  Subject to the express provisions of the ESPP, the Committee has the authority to interpret the 2014 ESPP, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the 2014 ESPP, and to make all other determination necessary or advisable in administering the 2014 ESPP, all of which determinations will be final and binding upon all persons, unless otherwise determined by the Boards of Directors.

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Purchase Price and Method of Purchase

Participating employees will authorize the Company or subsidiary employer to make payroll deductions, not exceeding 15% of the salary or wages during the prior 12-month period, divided by the number of pay periods in the following twelve months.  The payroll deductions will be used to purchase shares of stock at the end of each offering period, as determined by the Committee, at a price equal to the “applicable percentage” as defined in the 2014 ESPP (not less than 85% and not more than 95% as determined each year by the Board) multiplied by the lesser of the closing price per share of the common stock on the NASDAQ on the commencement and termination dates of such offering period.  The current  applicable percentage is 95%.  The Company will maintain an investment account for each participating employee and will issue periodic reports to the employee of his or her stockholders, although the 2014 ESPP does not expressly require such reports to be issued.  Participating employees will not pay any brokerage or similar commission in connection with the purchase of stock under the 2014 ESPP.

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As of  December 1, 2022, based on the closing price per share of the Company’s common stock as reported by NASDAQ on that date, the total market value of the 300,000 shares to be added to the 2014 ESPP if approved by stockholders was $ 2,595,000.

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The Company intends to file a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 covering the 300,000 shares subject to the 2014 Plan Amendment prior to the 2023 Annual Meeting.  If the 2014 Plan Amendment is not approved by stockholders at the 2023 Annual Meeting, such registration statement will be withdrawn.

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Withdrawal

Generally, a participant may withdraw all but not less than all of his or her contributions from an offering period at any time by written or electronic notice without affecting his or her eligibility to participate in future offering periods.  Once a participant withdraws from a particular offering period, however, that participant may not participate again in the same offering period. To participate in a subsequent offering period, the participant must deliver a new subscription agreement to us.

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Termination

Upon termination of a participant’s employment for any reason, including disability or death, he or she will be deemed to have elected to withdraw from the 2014 ESPP and the contributions credited to the participant’s account (to the extent not used to make a purchase of our common stock) will be returned to him or her or, in the case of death, to the person or persons entitled thereto as provided in the 2014 ESPP , and such participant’s right to purchase shares under the 2014 ESPP will automatically be terminated.

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Changes in Capitalization

In the event that any dividend, subdivision, combination, repurchase, or other reclassifications of our common stock, or other change in our corporate structure affecting our common stock such that an adjustment is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Stock Purchase Plan, then the Board or the Compensation Committee will adjust the number and class of common stock that may be delivered under the Stock Purchase Plan, the purchase price per share, the number of shares of common stock covered by each right to purchase shares under the 2014 ESPP that has not yet been exercised, and the maximum number of shares a participant can purchase during an offering period.

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Merger or Consolidation

In the event of a merger or consolidation, each right to purchase shares under the 2014 ESPP will be assumed or an equivalent right to purchase shares will be substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation.  In the event the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the options, the Board or the Compensation Committee will shorten the offering period with respect to which such option relates by setting a new exercise date on which such offering period will end.  The new exercise date will be prior to the merger or change in control.  If the Board or the Compensation Committee shortens any offering periods then in progress, the Board or Compensation Committee will notify each participant in writing, prior to the new exercise date, that the exercise date has been changed to the new exercise date and that the right to purchase shares under the Share Purchase Plan will be exercised automatically on the new exercise date, unless the participant has already withdrawn from the offering period.

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Amendment or Termination

The Board or the Committee may at any time terminate or amend the 2014 ESPP in any respect, except that any amendment to increase the aggregate number of shares reserved under the 2014 ESPP shall require approval of the shareholders of the Company.  The Board or the Committee may, at any time, terminate the 2014 ESPP and refund (without interest) amounts in a participant’s accounts or shorten any ongoing or future offering period.

Certain Federal Income Tax Information

The following brief summary of the effect of federal income taxation upon the participant and the Company with respect to the shares purchased under the 2014 ESPP does not purport to discuss all federal income tax consequences of participation in the 2014 ESPP and does not discuss the tax consequences of a participant’s death or the income tax laws of any state or foreign country in which the participant may reside.

The 2014 ESPP, and the right of U.S. participants to make purchases thereunder, is intended to comply with the provisions of Sections 421 and 423 of the Internal Revenue Code.  Under these provisions, generally, a participant in the 2014 ESPP recognizes no taxable income either as a result of participation in the 2014 ESPP or upon exercise of an option to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock. Upon sale or other disposition of the shares, the participant will generally be subject to tax in an amount that depends upon the holding period.  If the shares are sold or otherwise disposed of more than two years from the first day of the applicable offering period and one year from the applicable date of purchase of the shares by the participant, the participant will recognize ordinary income measured as the lesser of (i) the excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time of such sale or disposition over the purchase price paid by the participant under the option, or (ii) the difference between the purchase price paid by the participant under the option and the fair market value of the shares as of the first day of the applicable offering period.  Any additional gain or loss will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss.  If the shares are sold or otherwise disposed of before the expiration of these holding periods, the participant will recognize ordinary income upon such sale or disposition generally measured as the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date the shares are purchased over the purchase price paid by the participant for the shares under the option.  Any additional gain or loss on the sale or disposition will be long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, depending on how long the shares have been held from the date of purchase.  We are generally not entitled to a deduction for amounts taxed as ordinary income or capital gain to a participant except to the extent of ordinary income recognized by participants upon a sale or disposition of shares prior to the expiration of the holding periods described above.

THE FOREGOING IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF THE EFFECT OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION UPON PARTICIPANTS AND CSP UNDER THE 2014 ESPP. IT DOES NOT PURPORT TO DISCUSS ALL FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF PARTICIPATION IN THE 2014 ESPP AND DOES NOT DISCUSS THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF A PARTICIPANT’S DEATH OR THE PROVISIONS OF THE INCOME TAX LAWS OF ANY MUNICIPALITY, STATE OR FOREIGN COUNTRY IN WHICH THE PARTICIPANT MAY RESIDE

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Vote Required

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The affirmative vote of the majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote and present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting is required to approve the 2014 ESPP Amendment.  Since this proposal needs a majority of the votes cast, an abstention is the equivalent of a vote “against” the proposal and a broker/nominee non-vote on this proposal will not be counted as a vote cast.

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The Board unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the proposal to approve the

amendment to the 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock available for issuance by 300,000 and extend the term of the plan for an additional ten years, as described in this proxy statement.

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Unless marked to the contrary, proxies received will be voted “FOR” approval of the amendment to the 2014 ESPP Plan.

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SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY INCENTIVE PLANS

The equity compensation plans approved by our stockholders consist of the CSP, Inc.1997 Incentive Stock Option Plan, the 2003 Stock Incentive Plan, the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, the 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP") and the 2015 Stock Incentive Plan. In fiscal 2022 and 2021, the Company granted certain officers including its Chief Executive Officer and non-employee directors’ shares of non-vested common stock instead of stock options. The vesting periods for the officers', including the Chief Executive Officer, and the directors' non-vested stock awards are four years and one year, respectively. The following table sets forth information as of September 30, 2022 regarding the total number of securities outstanding under these equity compensation plans.

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

Our only issued and outstanding class of voting securities is our common stock.  Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share of such stock held by them of record at the close of business on December 19, 2022, upon each matter which may come before the Annual Meeting.  At the close of business on December 19, 2022, the record date for our 2023 Annual Meeting, there were 4,554,788 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.

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Stock Owned by Directors, Executive Officers and Greater-Than-5% Stockholders

The following table sets forth certain information as of December 19, 2022, the record date for our 2023 Annual Meeting, regarding each person known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of our common stock, each director and nominee for director of the Company, each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table, and all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group.  

*            Director and/or Nominee for Director

**          Owns less than one percent

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(5) Dimensional Fund Advisors LP furnished us with a report on Schedule 13G/A filed on February 8, 2022 in which Dimensional has advised us that it is a registered investment advisor or manager for four investment companies (Funds) registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and in its role as advisor has sole voting power with respect to 263,246 shares of common stock and sole power to dispose with respect to 264,062 shares of our common stock. Dimensional states in the filing that it disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities and all securities are owned by the Funds..

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our officers, directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities (our common stock) to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. Officers, directors and greater-than-10% stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

Based solely upon a review of Forms 3, 4, 5 and amendments thereto furnished to the Company during fiscal 2022, or written representations that no Form 5 was required, the Company believes that all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors and greater-than-10% stockholders were fulfilled in a timely manner.

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INFORMATION ABOUT OUR AUDIT COMMITTEE AND INDEPENDENT

REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Audit Committee Report

The following report of the Audit Committee should not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC, nor should this information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference into such a filing.

The Audit Committee believes that a candid, substantive and focused dialogue with the independent auditors is fundamental to the Audit Committee’s oversight responsibilities. In support of this view, our Audit Committee periodically meets separately with the independent auditors, without management present. In the course of its discussion in these meetings, the Committee addresses a number of questions intended to bring to light any area of potential concern related to our financial reporting and internal controls. These questions include:

The Audit Committee recommended the engagement of RSM US, LLP (RSM) as our independent auditors for fiscal year 2023 and reviewed with the independent auditors their respective overall audit scope and plans. In reaching its recommendation, the Committee considered the qualifications of RSM and discussed with RSM their independence, including a review of any and all audit and non-audit services provided by them to us. The Audit Committee received and discussed with the independent auditors’ (i) the matters required to be disclosed by the applicable requirements of the PCAOB and the SEC and (ii) disclosures and letter from the independent auditors required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding independent accountant’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence.

Management has reviewed the audited financial statements for fiscal year 2022 with the Audit Committee, including a discussion of the quality and acceptability of the financial reporting, the reasonableness of significant accounting judgments and estimates and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements. In connection with this review and discussion, the Audit Committee asked a number of follow-up questions of management and the independent auditors to help give the Audit Committee comfort in connection with its review.

In reliance on the review and discussion referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, for filing with the SEC, and our Board has accepted this recommendation.

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Our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Audit Committee selected RSM US, LLP (RSM) as our principal independent accountants for the fiscal year 2023. Representatives from RSM are expected to be available for the Annual Meeting, to have the opportunity to make a statement if they wish to do so, and to respond to appropriate questions.

The RSM report dated December 8, 2022, on the financial statements of the Company as of and for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and was not modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

The Audit Committee has selected RSM as our principal accountants for fiscal year 2023.

Fees for Professional Services

The following is a summary of the fees billed to us by RSM US, LLP for professional services for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2022 and 2021:

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Audit fees: Audit fees represent fees for professional services performed by our independent auditor for the audit of our annual financial statements and the review of our quarterly financial statements, as well as services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

Audit-related fees: Audit-related fees represent fees for assurance and related attestation services performed by our independent auditor that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements.

Tax fees: Tax fees represent fees billed for professional services performed by our independent auditor with respect to corporate tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.

All other fees: All other fees represent fees billed for products and services provided by our independent auditor, other than those disclosed above.

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Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

At present, the Audit Committee approves each engagement for audit and non-audit services before we engage our accountants to provide those services.

The Audit Committee has not established any pre-approval policies or procedures that would allow our management to engage our accountants to provide any specified services with only an obligation to notify the Audit Committee of the engagement for those services.

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Whistleblower Procedures

Pursuant to our Code of Ethics, the Audit Committee has adopted procedures for the treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, including procedures for the confidential and anonymous submission to our directors, by our officers and employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters.

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PROPOSAL FOUR

RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF OUR INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

RSM US, LLP currently serves as the Company’s independent auditors, and that firm conducted the audit of the Company’s financial statements for fiscal year 2022. The Audit Committee has appointed RSM US, LLP to serve as our independent auditors to conduct an audit of the Company’s financial statements for fiscal year 2023.

Selection of the Company’s independent auditors is not required to be submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company for ratification. However, the Board of Directors is submitting this matter to the stockholders as a matter of good corporate governance. If the stockholders fail to vote in favor of the selection, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether to retain RSM US, LLP and may retain that firm or another without re-submitting the matter to the Company’s stockholders. Even if stockholders vote in favor of the appointment, on an advisory basis, the Audit Committee may, in its discretion, direct the appointment of different independent auditors at any time during the year if the Audit Committee determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and the stockholders.

Representatives of RSM US, LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting. They will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.

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The Board of Directors unanimously recommends an affirmative vote “FOR” ratification of RSM US, LLP as our independent auditors for fiscal year 2023.

Unless marked to the contrary, proxies received will be voted “FOR” Proposal Four

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OTHER MATTERS

Other Business

We do not know of any other matter that may properly come before the Annual Meeting.

Stockholder Proposals for 2024 Annual Meeting

In order for a proposal of one of our stockholders to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement and proxy card for our 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the proposal must comply with SEC Rule 14a-8 and any other applicable rules and must be submitted to our corporate secretary at our executive offices located at 175 Cabot Street Suite 210, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854 at least 120 days prior to the anniversary date of this proxy statement.  This proxy statement is dated December 27, 2022, so the date by which proposals must be received under Rule 14a-8 will be August 30, 2023.

Article II, Section 5 of our by-laws requires that a stockholder who wishes to bring an item of business before the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, even if the item cannot be included in our proxy statement because Rule 14a-8 is not available, must provide written notice of such item of business to our corporate secretary at our executive offices not less than 90 days prior to the date of our Annual Meeting of Stockholders; provided, however, that if the Annual Meeting (or a special meeting in lieu of the Annual Meeting) is to be held on a date prior to such specified date, and if less than 100 days’ notice or prior public disclosure of the date of such annual or special meeting is given or made, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the earlier of the day on which notice of the date of the scheduled meeting was mailed or the day on which public disclosure was made of the date of such annual or special meeting. Therefore, the deadline for submission of notice for the 2024 Annual Meeting is November 10, 2023. Our by-laws contain a number of other substantive and procedural requirements, which should be reviewed by any interested stockholder. This description is qualified in its entirety by the text of our by-laws, to which readers are referred for additional information. For information about nominations of director candidates by stockholders, see “Corporate Governance - Director Candidates and Selection Process” elsewhere in this proxy statement.

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SOLICITATION

We will bear the entire cost of preparing and soliciting proxies. Brokers, banks and other nominees will be reimbursed for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and other reasonable clerical expenses incurred in obtaining instructions from beneficial owners of our common stock. In addition to the solicitation by mail, special solicitation of proxies may, in certain circumstances, be made personally or by telephone by directors, officers and certain of our employees, or by American Stock Transfer & Trust Co., our transfer agent. It is expected that the expense of such special solicitation will be nominal.

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CSP INC.EXHIBIT A

2014 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

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1.Purpose

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The CSP Inc. 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan is intended to provide a method whereby employees of the Company will have an opportunity to acquire an ownership interest (or increase an existing ownership interest) in the Company through the purchase of shares of the Stock of the Company. It is the intention of the Company that the Plan qualifies as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code. The provisions of the Plan shall, accordingly, be construed so as to extend and limit participation in a manner consistent with the requirements of that section of the Code.

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2.Definitions

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(a)“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

(b)“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(c)“Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board.

(d)“Company” shall mean CSP Inc.

(l)“Option Price” shall mean the purchase price of a share of Stock hereunder as provided in Section 7(b) hereof.

(n)“Plan” shall mean the CSP Inc. 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

(o)“Stock” shall mean the common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company

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(q)“Trading Date” shall mean a date on which national stock exchanges are open for trading.

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3.Eligibility

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(a) Any Employee (as defined in Section 2(g)) shall be eligible to participate in the Plan on the first Offering Commencement Date following the commencement of employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Employee shall be granted an option under the Plan: (i) if, immediately after the grant, such employee would own stock, and/or hold outstanding options to purchase stock, possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary; for purposes of this Section the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall apply in determining stock ownership of any employee; or (ii) to the extent that such participant’s rights to purchase stock under all Section 423 employee stock purchase plans of the Company and any Subsidiary accrues at a rate which exceeds $25,000 worth of stock (determined at the time such option is granted) for each calendar year in which such option is outstanding.

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(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Committee may adopt special rules applicable to the employees of a particular Designated Subsidiary, whenever the Committee determines that such rules are necessary or appropriate for the implementation of the Plan in a jurisdiction where such Designated Subsidiary has employees; provided that such rules are consistent with the requirements of Section 423(b) of the Code. Such special rules may include (by way of example, but not by way of limitation) the establishment of a method for employees of a given Designated Subsidiary to fund the purchase of shares other than by payroll deduction, if the payroll deduction method is prohibited by local law or is otherwise impracticable. Any special rules established pursuant to this Section shall, to the extent possible, result in the employees subject to such rules having substantially the same rights as other participants in the Plan. The Committee may also adopt sub-plans applicable to particular Designated Subsidiaries or locations, which sub-plans may be designed to be outside the scope of Section 423. The rules of such sub-plans may take precedence over other provisions of this Plan, with the exception of the number of shares of Common Stock approved and reserved for use under the Plan, but unless otherwise superseded by the terms of such sub-plan, the provisions of this Plan shall govern the operation of such sub-plan.

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4.Offering Periods

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The Plan shall have Offering Periods commencing on or after February 1 and August 1 each year, or on such other dates as the Committee shall determine.

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5.Participation

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An eligible Employee may become a Participant in any offering conducted under the Plan by completing a payroll deduction authorization form provided by the Company and filing it with the office of the Company's payroll office ten days prior to each applicable Offering Commencement Date. Participation in any one or more of the offerings under the Plan shall neither limit, nor require, participation in any other offering.

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6.Payroll Deductions

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(a) At the time a Participant files his or her authorization for a payroll deduction, he or she shall elect to have payroll deductions made on each payday during any Offering Period in which he or she is a Participant at a specified percentage of Compensation, expressed as a whole number percentage, not to exceed 15 percent.

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(b) Payroll deductions for a Participant shall commence with respect to the first Offering Period for which his or her authorization for a payroll deduction becomes effective. Such authorization shall remain in effect for subsequent Offering Periods, unless the Participant notifies the Company in writing to the contrary or withdraws from an Offering Period pursuant to Section 10(a) below.

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(c) All payroll deductions made for a Participant shall be credited to his or her account under the Plan. A Participant may not make any separate cash payment into such account.

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(d) A Participant may not increase or otherwise change his or her deduction percentage during the Offering Period. However, a Participant may change the deduction percentage for any subsequent Offering Period by filing a notice thereof with the Company prior to the Offering Commencement Date of such period. A Participant may withdraw from the Plan at any time during the applicable Offering Period.

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(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 3 hereof, a Participant’s payroll deductions may be decreased to zero percent at any time during an Offering Period. Payroll deductions shall recommence at the rate provided in such Participant’s payroll deduction authorization at the beginning of the next Offering Period for which participation would be permissible under Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 3 hereof, unless terminated by the Participant as provided in Section 10 hereof.

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7.Grant of Option

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(a) On the Exercise Date of each Offering Period, a Participant shall be deemed to have been granted an option (an “Option”) to purchase a maximum number of shares of Stock equal to the lower of (a) a number of shares of Stock determined by dividing the sum of (i) the payroll deductions that have been withheld for the account of the Participant during the applicable Offering Period plus (ii) any amounts in the Participant’s account on the Offering Commencement Date that have been carried forward from prior Offerings pursuant to Section 8(b) hereof by the Option Price (as defined herein), or (b) such maximum number of shares as shall have been established by the Committee in advance of the Offering Period; provided, however, that such Option shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Section 3 above.

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(b) The purchase price for each share purchased under each Option (the “Option Price”) will be the Applicable Percentage as defined in Section 2(r) hereof multiplied by the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the Offering Commencement Date or the Exercise Date, whichever is less.

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8.Exercise of Option

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(a) Unless a Participant withdraws from the Offering Period pursuant to Section 10(a), his or her option for the purchase of Stock with payroll deductions made during any Offering Period will be deemed to have been exercised automatically on the Exercise Date applicable to such Offering Period for the purchase of the number of whole shares of Stock which the accumulated payroll deductions in his or her account at that time will purchase at the applicable Option Price (but not in excess of the number of shares for which options have been granted to the employee pursuant to Section 7(a) hereof), and any excess in his or her account at that time will be returned to the Participant, except as set forth in Section 8(b) below.

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(b) Fractional shares will not be issued under the Plan and any accumulated payroll deductions which would have been used to purchase fractional shares shall be automatically carried forward to the next Offering Period unless the Participant elects, by written notice to the Company, to have the excess cash returned to him or her.

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9.Delivery

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As promptly as practicable after each Exercise Date on which a purchase of shares occurs, the Company shall arrange for the delivery to each Participant, as appropriate, of a certificate representing the shares purchased upon exercise.

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10.Withdrawal

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(a) Prior to the Exercise Date for an Offering Period, a Participant may withdraw all but not less than all of the payroll deductions credited to his or her account under the Plan for such Offering Period by giving written notice to the Company. All of the Participant's payroll deductions credited to such account will be paid to him or her promptly after receipt of notice of withdrawal, without interest, and no further payroll deductions shall be made for such Offering Period.

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(b) If a Participant withdraws from an Offering Period, payroll deductions shall not resume at the beginning of the succeeding Offering Period unless the Participant delivers to the Company a new payroll deduction authorization.

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(c) A Participant's election not to participate in, or to withdraw from, any Offering Period will not have any effect upon such Participant’s eligibility to participate in any succeeding Offering or in any similar plan which may hereafter be adopted by the Company.

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11.Termination of Employment

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Upon a Participant’s ceasing to be an Employee, for any reason, he or she shall be deemed to have elected to withdraw from the Plan and the payroll deductions credited to such Participant’s account during the Offering Period but not yet used to exercise the option shall be returned to such Participant, or, in the case of his or her death, to the person or persons entitled thereto under Section 15 below.

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12.Interest

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No interest shall accrue or be paid on the payroll deductions of a Participant in the Plan.

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13.Stock

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(a) The maximum number of shares of Stock available for issuance and purchase by employees under the Plan, subject to adjustment upon changes in capitalization of the Company as provided in Section 18 hereof, shall be 250,000 550,000 shares.

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(b) If the total number of shares for which options are exercised on any Exercise Date exceeds the maximum number of shares for the applicable Offering, the Company shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares available for delivery and distribution in an equitable manner, and the balances of payroll deductions credited to the account of each Participant under the Plan shall be returned to the Participant.

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(c) The Participant will have no interest in stock covered by his or her option until such option has been exercised.

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14.Administration

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The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The interpretation and construction of any provision of the Plan and adoption of rules and regulations for administering the Plan shall be made by the Committee. Determinations made by the Committee with respect to any matter or provision contained in the Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding upon the Company and upon all Participants, their heirs or legal representatives.

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15.Designation of Beneficiary

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A Participant may file with the Company a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any Stock and/or cash under the Plan in the event of the Participant’s death whether subsequent to an Exercise Date on which the option is exercised but prior to the issuance of shares, or in the event of a Participant’s death prior to exercise of an option. Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the Participant at any time by written notice. In the event of the death of a Participant and in the absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is living at the time of such Participant's death, the Company shall deliver any such Stock and/or cash to the executor or administrator of the estate of the Participant.

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16.Transferability

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Neither payroll deductions credited to a Participant's account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an option or to receive Stock under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged, or otherwise disposed of in any way by the Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Any such attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, or other disposition shall be without effect.

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17.Use of Funds

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All payroll deductions received or held by the Company under this Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose, and the Company shall not be obligated to segregate such payroll deductions.

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18.Effect of Changes in Stock

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If the Company shall subdivide, combine or otherwise reclassify the Stock which has been or may be optioned under this Plan, or shall declare thereon any dividend payable in shares of such Stock, or shall take any other action of a similar nature affecting such Stock, then the number and class of shares of Stock which may thereafter be optioned (in the aggregate and to any Participant) shall be adjusted accordingly and in the case of each option outstanding at the time of any such action, the number and class of shares which may thereafter be purchased pursuant to such option and the Option Price per share shall be adjusted to such extent as shall be determined by the Committee, with the approval of independent public accountants and counsel, to be necessary to preserve the rights of the holder of such option.

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19.Merger or Consolidation

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In the event of a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the merger of the Company with or into another corporation, each outstanding option shall be assumed or an equivalent option substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. In the event that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the option, any Offering Periods then in progress shall be shortened by setting a new Exercise Date (the “New Exercise Date”) which shall be prior to the date of the proposed sale or merger. The Company shall notify each Participant, in writing, at least five days prior to the New Exercise Date, (i) that the Exercise Date has been changed to the New Exercise Date, and (ii) that the Participant’s option shall be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date unless the Participant withdraws from the Offering Period, pursuant to Section 10(a), prior to the New Exercise Date.

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20.Amendment or Termination

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The Board or the Committee may at any time terminate or amend the Plan in any respect, except that any amendment to increase the aggregate number of shares reserved under the Plan (except pursuant to Section 18) shall require approval of the shareholders of the Company. Without limiting the foregoing, the Board or the Committee may, at any time, terminate the Plan and refund (without interest) amounts in Participants’ accounts or shorten any ongoing or future Offering Period.

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21.No Right to Employment

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Neither eligibility to participate in nor participation in the Plan shall be deemed to create any right of continued employment or in any way affect the right of the Company or a Subsidiary to terminate employment of any Employee.

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22.Notices

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All notices or other communications by a Participant to the Company pursuant to the Plan shall be made on forms prescribed by the Committee and shall be effective only when received by the Company.

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23.Effective Date and Term of Plan

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The Plan shall became effective on February 11, 2014, the date the Plan was initially approved by the shareholders of the Company. The Plan shall continue in effect until February 7, 2032, unless earlier terminated by the Board or the Committee, if such extended term is approved by the shareholders of the Company at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholder, otherwise, the Plan shall continue in effect until February 11, 2024, unless terminated earlier by the Board or the Committee. .

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24.Conditions upon Issuance of Shares

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Shares shall not be issued with respect to an option unless the exercise of such option and the issuance and delivery of shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all applicable federal, state and foreign laws, rules and regulations, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the shares may then be listed.

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25.Governing Law

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The Plan shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and any applicable provisions of the Code.

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TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:

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THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED

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CSP INC.

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

February 7, 2023 9:00 AM

This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors

The stockholder(s) hereby appoint(s) Victor Dellovo and Gary Levine, or either of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this ballot, all of the shares of Common Stock of CSP Inc. that the stockholder(s) is/are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 9:00 AM EST on February 7, 2023, at CSP Inc.’s office at 1182 East Newport Center Drive, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442, and any adjournment or postponement thereof.

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This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein. If no such direction is made, this proxy will be voted in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendations.

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Address change:

(If you noted any Address Change above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.)

Continued and to be signed on reverse side**

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