Sypris Solutions (SYPR) DEF 14ADefinitive proxy

Notice of 2022 Annual Meeting

and

Proxy Statement

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Sypris Solutions, Inc. 101 Bullitt Lane, Suite 450 Louisville, Kentucky 40222

PROXY STATEMENT

We are providing this Proxy Statement to you in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of Sypris Solutions, Inc. (the “Board”) of proxies to be voted at our 2022 annual meeting of stockholders and at any postponement or adjournment thereof. In this Proxy Statement, we refer to Sypris Solutions, Inc. as “Sypris,” “Sypris Solutions,” “we,” “our” or “the Company.” We refer to our 2022 annual meeting of stockholders as the “Annual Meeting.”

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting on May 10, 2022, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The Annual Meeting will be held at the Residence Inn by Marriott, 401 Bullitt Lane, Rock Bridge Room, Louisville, Kentucky 40222.

We are first mailing or giving this Proxy Statement on or about April 1, 2022, to holders of our common stock (“Common Stock”) at the close of business on March 16, 2022, which is the “Record Date” for the Annual Meeting.

Proxies, Quorum and Voting Procedures

Proxies

Stockholders of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name

Your vote is important. If you are a stockholder of record, you may (a) vote in person at the meeting, (b) vote by proxy using the enclosed proxy card, (c) vote by proxy over the telephone, or (d) vote by proxy on the Internet, in each case as described below. You may still attend the annual meeting and vote in person even if you have already voted by proxy. In order to vote over the Internet or by telephone, please call the number or go to the website identified on the enclosed proxy card and follow the instructions. The internet and telephone voting facilities will close at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on May 10, 2022.

You can revoke your proxy at any time before it is exercised by timely delivery of a properly executed, later dated proxy (including an Internet or telephone vote before the deadline) or by voting by ballot at the Annual Meeting. Simply attending the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke your proxy.

Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of Broker, Bank or Other Nominee

If you are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of your broker, bank or other nominee, you should have received a voting instructions card with these proxy materials from that organization rather than from us. Simply complete and mail the voting instructions card to your broker, bank or other nominee to ensure that your vote is counted. Alternatively, you may vote by telephone or over the Internet as instructed by your broker, bank or other nominee. To vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other nominee. Follow the instructions from your broker, bank or other nominee included with these proxy materials, or contact your broker, bank or other nominee to request a legal proxy.

Quorum

The Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company provide that the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting

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are necessary to constitute a quorum. Abstentions are counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists, but shares held by a broker, bank or other nominee and not voted on any matter will not be counted for such purpose. Therefore, if you hold shares through a broker, bank or other nominee it is important that you contact your broker, bank or other nominee with your voting instructions. If there is no quorum, the holders of a majority of shares present at the meeting in person or represented by proxy may adjourn the meeting to another date.

Required Vote

All shares entitled to vote and represented by proxies received prior to the Annual Meeting, and not revoked, will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions provided. If you hold shares through an account with a broker, bank or other nominee, and you fail to provide voting instructions to your broker, bank or other nominee either using your voting instruction card or by telephone or over the Internet in accordance with the instructions provided, then your shares will not be voted with respect to any of the proposals being considered at the Annual Meeting. Therefore, if you hold shares through a broker, bank or other nominee it is important that you provide your broker, bank or other nominee with your voting instructions.

Election of Directors

Under Delaware law and our Amended and Restated Bylaws, the three nominees who receive the greatest number of votes cast by stockholders, entitled to vote at the meeting, for the election of Class II directors will be elected at the conclusion of the tabulation of votes. A “withhold” vote with respect to the election of one or more directors will not affect the outcome of the election of directors.

Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter is required for the advisory approval of the Company’s named executive officer compensation. In determining whether the proposal has received the requisite number of affirmative votes, abstentions will not be counted and will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal. This proposal is advisory in nature, which means that it is not binding on the Board or the Compensation Committee. However, the Board and the Compensation Committee will review the voting results and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation.

If you submit a proxy card but do not indicate how your shares should be voted on a matter, the shares represented by your proxy will be voted as the Board recommends. If any other matters are properly presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting, including, among other things, consideration of a motion to adjourn the meeting to another time and/or place in order to solicit additional proxies in favor of the recommendations of the Board of Directors, the persons named as proxies and acting thereunder will have discretion to vote on those matters according to their best judgement to the same extent as the person delivering the proxy. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, we did not anticipate that any other matters would be raised at the Annual Meeting.

Stockholders Entitled to Vote

Holders of Common Stock at the close of business on March 16, 2022, the Record Date, are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote on each matter properly brought before the meeting. Stockholders do not have the right to cumulate their votes in the election of directors.

At the close of business on the Record Date, there were 21,879,724 shares of Common Stock outstanding. A list of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be available at the Annual Meeting and for

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10 days prior to the Annual Meeting at the Company’s offices at 101 Bullitt Lane, Suite 450, Louisville, Kentucky 40222, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. local time.

Gill Family

As of the Record Date, the Gill family beneficially owned an aggregate of 9,154,184 shares or approximately 41% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock. For additional information on ownership of Common Stock by the Gill family, see the heading Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.

Multiple Stockholders Sharing the Same Address

Multiple stockholders who share a single address will receive only one Annual Report on Form 10-K and Proxy Statement at that address. This practice, known as “householding,” reduces printing and postage costs. However, if you wish to receive a separate copy of the Annual Report on Form 10-K or Proxy Statement in the future, you may contact your broker, bank or other nominee directly or contact Sypris at 101 Bullitt Lane, Suite 450, Louisville, Kentucky 40222 or at 502-329-2000. If you are receiving multiple copies of our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Proxy Statement, you can request householding by contacting your bank, broker or other nominee directly or by contacting Sypris in the same manner described above.

Cost of Proxy Solicitation

Sypris will pay the cost of soliciting proxies. Sypris may reimburse brokerage firms and other persons representing beneficial owners of shares for expenses incurred in forwarding solicitation materials to such beneficial owners. Proxies may be solicited on behalf of the Company by directors, officers or employees of the Company, without additional compensation, in person or by telephone, facsimile or other electronic means.

Notice Regarding Availability of Proxy Materials

In accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), we are advising our stockholders of the availability on the Internet of our proxy materials related to the Annual Meeting described above. These rules allow companies to provide access to proxy materials in one of two ways – by either providing stockholders notice of the availability of the materials via the Internet or by delivering a full set of the materials to stockholders. Because we have elected to utilize the “full set delivery” option, we are delivering to all stockholders paper copies of all the proxy materials, as well as providing access to those proxy materials on a publicly accessible website. The notice of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Proxy Statement, form of proxy card and 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at www.sypris.com/proxy-materials.

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GOVERNANCE OF THE COMPANY

Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors has adopted the Sypris Solutions, Inc. Guidelines on Corporate Governance (the “Guidelines”). The Guidelines provide a framework for the Company’s corporate governance initiatives and cover topics including, but not limited to, Board and committee composition and operations, director compensation, related person transactions and risk management. The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for overseeing and reviewing the Guidelines on an annual basis and reporting any recommended changes to the Board. A copy of the Guidelines is available on the Company’s website at www.sypris.com.

During 2021, the Board held five regular meetings and one special meeting, the Audit and Finance Committee held four regular meetings and two special meetings, the Compensation Committee held four regular meetings and one special meeting, and the Nominating and Governance Committee held three meetings. All directors attended 100% of the Board meetings and meetings of the committees of which they are members. Although the Company does not have a policy regarding attendance by directors at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders, all non-employee directors attended the 2021 Annual Meeting by teleconference and Jeffrey T. Gill attended in person.

Independence

The Board has determined that John F. Brinkley, Gary L. Convis, William G. Ferko, William L. Healey and Robert Sroka are “independent” as defined by Nasdaq’s listing standards. Each of our Audit and Finance, Compensation, and Nominating and Governance Committees is composed only of independent directors as identified below under the heading “Committees of the Board of Directors.”

In December 2021, the independent directors selected Robert Sroka to serve an additional consecutive one-year term as Lead Independent Director. Mr. Sroka, as Lead Independent Director, presides over independent sessions of the Board in which only independent directors participate. Additional information regarding the role of the Lead Independent Director is provided below under the heading “Board Leadership and Risk Oversight.” Stockholders and other parties interested in communicating directly with the Lead Independent Director or with the independent directors as a group, may do so by writing to the Lead Independent Director, c/o Sypris Solutions, Inc. 101 Bullitt Lane, Suite 450, Louisville, Kentucky 40222.

Communications with Stockholders

Our Board welcomes communications from our stockholders. Stockholders may send communications to the Board or to any director in particular, c/o Sypris Solutions, Inc., Corporate Secretary, 101 Bullitt Lane, Suite 450, Louisville, Kentucky 40222. The Secretary will review each stockholder communication. The Secretary will forward to the entire Board (or to members of a Board committee, if the communication relates to a subject matter clearly within the committee’s area of responsibility) each communication that (a) relates to the Company’s business or governance, (b) is not offensive and is legible in form and reasonably understandable in content, and (c) does not merely relate to a personal grievance against the Company or a team member or further a personal interest not shared by the other stockholders generally.

Committees of the Board of Directors

During 2021, the Board had three standing committees comprised of entirely independent directors: the Audit and Finance Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee.

Audit and Finance Committee

The current members of the Audit and Finance Committee are Gary L. Convis, William G. Ferko, William L. Healey, and Robert Sroka (Chairman). Each member of the Audit and Finance Committee satisfies the

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additional requirements of the SEC and Nasdaq for audit committee membership, including the heightened independence requirements and the financial literacy requirements. The Board of Directors has also determined that Gary L. Convis, William G. Ferko, William L. Healey, and Robert Sroka each qualify as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by SEC rules. During 2021, the Audit and Finance Committee met six times. The Audit and Finance Committee is responsible for the appointment of independent auditors, discussing the scope of the auditor’s examination, reviewing financial statements and consulting with the independent auditors on the adequacy of internal controls. The Audit and Finance Committee also provides oversight with regard to the Company’s debt and credit arrangements, acquisitions, divestitures and proposals for changes in the Company’s capitalization and financing strategies. The functions of the Audit and Finance Committee are more fully described below under the heading Audit and Finance Committee Report. The Audit and Finance Committee operates pursuant to a formal written charter that sets out the committee’s duties and responsibilities. The Audit and Finance Committee reviews and reassesses the adequacy of the Audit and Finance Committee Charter on an annual basis. The Audit and Finance Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website at www.sypris.com.

Compensation Committee

The current members of the Compensation Committee are John F. Brinkley, Gary L. Convis, William G. Ferko and William L. Healey (Chairman). During 2021, the Compensation Committee met five times. Each member of the Compensation Committee satisfies the heightened independence requirements of the Nasdaq for compensation committee membership. The functions of the Compensation Committee include administering management incentive compensation plans, establishing the compensation of executive officers and reviewing the compensation of directors. The Compensation Committee generally approves equity awards for the Company’s other employees and non-equity compensation for the Company’s executive officers. However, the Compensation Committee has delegated to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer the discretion to award to non-executive employees in any one calendar year up to 100,000 stock options in the aggregate, with a maximum individual award of 10,000 stock options. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer, with assistance from the Corporate Director of Human Resources and his support staff, provides recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding compensation for those employees reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer. However, the Compensation Committee retains full authority to modify any compensation recommendations by the Chief Executive Officer or other members of management.

In 2021, the Company’s management engaged Pearl Meyer & Partners (“Pearl Meyer”), a compensation consulting firm, to assist the Compensation Committee in reviewing total compensation for the Company’s named executive officers, other key employees and directors. Pearl Meyer provided the Compensation Committee with market data and other relevant information to consider when making compensation decisions regarding the Chief Executive Officer, the Company’s other executives and the directors. The Compensation Committee, with or without management in attendance, has direct access to Pearl Meyer at its request for reviews of various issues related to executive compensation or director compensation. The Company’s management has also engaged Pearl Meyer from time to time for assistance with general trends in employee compensation and requested clarification on the appropriate compensation benchmarks for unique or “hybrid” job descriptions. Pearl Meyer’s work in this area did not raise any conflict of interest concerns for the fiscal year 2021 or prior years based on a review of fees paid and disclosures provided by Pearl Meyer in an annual written questionnaire delivered to the Company. For compensation decisions affecting 2022, the Company and the Compensation Committee intend to continue to utilize the assistance of Pearl Meyer.

The Compensation Committee operates pursuant to a formal written charter that sets out the functions that it is to perform. The Compensation Committee reviews and reassesses the adequacy of the Compensation Committee Charter on an annual basis. A copy of the Compensation Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website at www.sypris.com.

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Nominating and Governance Committee

The current members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are John F. Brinkley (Chairman), William G. Ferko and Robert Sroka. During 2021, the Nominating and Governance Committee met three times. The functions of the Nominating and Governance Committee include reviewing and recommending nominees to the Board for election as directors of the Company and evaluating the performance and effectiveness of the Board. The Nominating and Governance Committee also makes recommendations to the Board from time to time as to matters of corporate governance.

The Nominating and Governance Committee employs a basic selection criteria to assess candidates for inclusion in the Company’s recommended slate of independent director nominees. The Nominating and Governance Committee expects qualified candidates will have high personal and professional integrity and ability and will be able to contribute to the Board’s effectiveness in serving the interests of the Company��s stockholders. The Nominating and Governance Committee takes a number of attributes into account during the nomination process, including an individual’s demonstrated leadership, maturity and public company experience. The Nominating and Governance Committee also takes into account developing a diversity of religion, races, gender, nationality, educational backgrounds, and experiences on the Board, which can have a positive impact on the business. A mix of talents, backgrounds, experiences and geographic locations of the individual Board members is also important and is considered in the evaluation of potential candidates. In addition, the Nominating and Governance Committee will consider a candidate’s experience in our core market industries, certain targeted knowledge areas, complex multi-industry and/or technological areas and manufacturing or service operations.

Each of the three nominees for election at the Annual Meeting, Gary L. Convis, R. Scott Gill and Robert Sroka, are currently serving as directors and were previously elected by stockholders. To date, the Nominating and Governance Committee has not engaged third parties to identify or evaluate potential director candidates. Currently, subject to any rights stockholders have to nominate director candidates under our Amended and Restated Bylaws, the Company’s policy is not to seek or accept director nominations recommended by security holders (other than those directors who are also security holders, acting in their capacity as directors), and has not received any such nominations by any non-director security holders to date. Due to the Company’s current size, market position and historically low rates of director turnover, the policy of the Nominating and Governance Committee has been to develop and maintain contacts with potential candidates for future membership on the Board of Directors, primarily through the business relationships of the Company’s current and former officers and directors. The Board and the Nominating and Governance Committee understand the value of cognitive diversity and will ensure that the pool of candidates from which a nominee is chosen consists of a diverse group of qualified candidates, including candidates who would bring gender, racial and/or ethnic diversity to the Board. In light of recent efforts to streamline and refocus the Company, the Board will consider whether to fill any vacancy, which develops in connection with any director’s resignation, retirement or death, on a case-by-case basis.

The Nominating and Governance Committee operates pursuant to a formal written charter that sets out the committee’s functions. The Nominating and Governance Committee reviews and reassesses the adequacy of the Nominating and Governance Committee Charter on an annual basis. A copy of the Nominating and Governance Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website at www.sypris.com.

Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging Policies

The Board has adopted, as part of the Company’s insider trading and securities compliance policy, prohibitions against directors, officers and other employees from purchasing financial instruments (including prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars, and exchange funds), or otherwise engaging in transactions, that hedge or offset, or are designed to hedge or offset, any decrease in the market value of the Company’s equity securities.

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The Board has also adopted, as part of the Company’s insider trading and securities compliance policy, a prohibition against officers, directors and certain designated employees from pledging Company securities as collateral for a loan or other financing arrangement including, in a margin account, without first seeking the pre-approval of the Audit and Finance Committee.

Board Leadership and Risk Oversight

The Board consists of our Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jeffrey T. Gill, R. Scott Gill and five independent directors. The independent directors annually select a Lead Independent Director. Our independent directors meet in executive session, chaired by our Lead Independent Director, several weeks in advance of each regularly scheduled Board meeting. During 2021, the Lead Independent Director presided over six such meetings, reported to the Board on the results of such meetings and periodically inquired of the independent directors with any ongoing changes in their respective biographies, any related person transactions and any potential conflicts of interest. The Board has three standing committees – Audit and Finance, Compensation, and Nominating and Governance, each of which is comprised solely of independent directors.

The Board with and through its committees is actively involved in oversight of risks that could affect the Company. While the oversight of certain risks related to compensation, financial or governance matters are conducted primarily through designated committees of the Board, as disclosed more fully in the charters of each of such committees, the full Board has retained responsibility for general oversight of risks. The Board satisfies this responsibility through reports by each committee chair regarding the committee’s considerations and actions, as well as through regular reports directly from officers responsible for oversight of particular risks within the Company. The Board also has direct access to the Company’s officers to further inquire about risks between meetings with such reports.

The Audit and Finance Committee is generally responsible for oversight of the Company’s relationship with its independent public accountants, financial reporting and internal controls, debt and credit agreements, privacy and cybersecurity and other financial compliance matters, including the risk associated with such areas and the Company’s risk mitigation strategies. The Compensation Committee is generally responsible for oversight of the recruitment, retention and motivation of the Company’s executive management and other employees, including compensation and incentive compensation plans, performance evaluation processes and succession planning matters for officers and other key personnel, including associated risks with such areas. The Nominating and Governance Committee is generally responsible for succession planning matters for directors, oversight of the nominating and self-evaluative processes with respect to service on the Board, oversight of the Company’s activities relating to environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters, and the external reporting thereof, and for oversight of other corporate governance matters, including the associated risks with such areas.

The Board reviews and determines the best board leadership structure for the Company at least annually. As part of the Board’s periodic self-evaluation process, the Board evaluates its leadership structure to confirm that the Board continues to believe that it provides an effective and efficient structure for overseeing management and serving the best interests of the Company and stockholders.

The Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Jeffrey T. Gill, has served as the Chairman of the Board since October 2016. We believe this board leadership structure to be effective in providing continuity, oversight and strategic direction to the Company. By serving as Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, respectively, Jeffrey T. Gill is positioned to contribute his extensive knowledge of Sypris’ business operations and market environment to the Board. Further, by having independent chairs and independent membership for each of the Audit and Finance, Compensation and Nominating and Governance Committees, as well as a Lead Independent Director, the Board also has a structure to provide significant independent and objective oversight in key areas. Together with regular executive planning, analysis and reporting, we believe that this structure will continue to provide the Company with both strong leadership and effective Board oversight of the material risks and opportunities facing the Company on an ongoing basis.

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Code of Conduct

We have a corporate responsibility and compliance program which includes a written code of conduct. We require all employees, including all officers and senior level executives, to adhere to our code of conduct in addressing the legal and ethical issues encountered in conducting their work. The code of conduct requires each of our employees to avoid conflicts of interest, comply with all laws and other legal requirements, conduct business in an honest, fair and ethical manner and otherwise act with integrity. Employees are required to report any conduct they believe to be an actual violation of the code of conduct or other Company policies and procedures. The code of conduct details the procedures for confidential and anonymous reporting by employees and emphasizes our policy of non-retaliation. Our code of conduct can be found on our corporate website at www.sypris.com. We intend to post amendments to or waivers from our code of conduct (to the extent applicable to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller) on our website.

Transactions with Related Persons

The Company’s code of conduct requires all directors, executive officers and other employees of the Company to disclose and seek prior approval, generally from their supervisor, of any transaction with a related person. The Company’s directors, including the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, must report any potential conflict of interest to the Audit and Finance Committee in accordance with the Guidelines and the Audit and Finance Committee Charter. The other executive officers must report any potential conflict of interest to the President and Chief Executive Officer. The Audit and Finance Committee, in its discretion, may approve, ratify or reject the transaction or refer the transaction to the full Board or other appropriate committee of the Board. In addition, the Company requires each director, director nominee and executive officer to disclose any transactions involving related parties, or other potential conflicts of interest, in an annual written questionnaire. For 2021, with the exception of the information reported below, no related person transactions (as defined in Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K) were reported or otherwise discovered by the Company.

We have described below certain transactions that involve directors and executive officers of the Company and their affiliates, which were reported and reviewed following the procedures described above.

On March 12, 2015, the Company issued a subordinated promissory note (as amended, the “Note”) to Gill Family Capital Management, Inc. (“Gill Family Capital”) in the principal amount of $4,000,000. Mr. Jeffrey T. Gill and Mr. R. Scott Gill are the principal shareholders of Gill Family Capital, and serve as its Co-Presidents and Treasurer and Secretary, respectively. The principal amount of the Note and the proceeds received in connection therewith have each been increased twice from the original amount of $4,000,000, by an additional $1,500,000 on June 11, 2015, and by an additional $1,000,000 on February 26, 2016. The Promissory Note was amended and restated on December 29, 2021, which further extended the maturity date for $2,500,000 of the obligation from April 1, 2022 to April 1, 2023 and extended the allowance for up to an 18-month deferral of payment for up to 60% of the interest due on the note maturing in April of 2023. All other terms of the promissory note, as amended, remain in place.

As of the record date, the total interest paid under the Note was $3,489,807 and the total outstanding principal and accrued interest was $6,608,333. Interest paid on the Note in 2021 was $699,273, which included the payment of $173,496 related to deferred interest due for 2020. During the first quarter of 2020, the Company provided notice to Gill Family Capital of its intention to elect to defer the specified portion of the interest payments due beginning on April 6, 2020. All accrued but unpaid interest was paid on January 4, 2021. The Note contains no pre-payment penalties.

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RELATIONSHIP WITH INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

Crowe LLP has served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm since and including 2014. Although the Audit and Finance Committee has not yet completed its process for selecting the independent public accountant for the Company with respect to its 2022 financial statements, the Audit and Finance Committee has approved the interim engagement of Crowe LLP to perform audit and audit-related services with respect to the first quarter of 2022. The Audit and Finance Committee’s selection process includes consideration of the following factors: continuity of experience with the Company’s business, internal controls and technical accounting experience; independence; history of and reputation for thoroughness, accuracy, excellence and integrity; and reasonableness of fees. The Audit and Finance Committee has approved the fees described below. The Audit and Finance Committee believes that the fees paid for non-audit services are compatible with the independence of Crowe LLP.

Representatives of Crowe LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting. They will be given an opportunity to make a statement, if they desire to do so, and they will be available to respond to appropriate questions after the meeting.

Fees Billed by Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for Fiscal Years 2021 and 2020

Audit and Non-Audit Fees

The following table presents fees billed for professional audit services rendered by Crowe LLP for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2020, and reviews of the consolidated quarterly financial statements included in the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and fees billed for other services rendered by Crowe LLP for the years ended December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2020.

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Policy on Audit and Finance Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services of Independent Public Accountants

The Audit and Finance Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by the independent public accountants, either by a majority vote at any meeting of the committee at which a quorum is present or by the committee’s authorized delegate for approvals between meetings, all of which are reported to the committee at its next meeting. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. With some exceptions for certain longer-term projects, pre-approval is generally provided for up to one year and is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and is generally subject to a specific budget. The independent public accountants and management are required to periodically report to the Audit and Finance Committee regarding the extent of services provided by the independent public accountants in accordance with this pre-approval, and the fees for the services performed to date.

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AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT

The Audit and Finance Committee met with management periodically during the year to consider the adequacy of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and the objectivity of its financial reporting. The Audit and Finance Committee discussed these matters with the Company’s independent public accountants and with appropriate Company financial personnel. The Audit and Finance Committee also discussed with the Company’s senior management, and independent public accountants and auditors, the processes used to support the certifications by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, which are required by the SEC and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of the Company’s periodic reports filed with the SEC.

The Audit and Finance Committee met privately with both the independent public accountants and Company financial personnel, each of whom has unrestricted access to the Audit and Finance Committee.

Management has primary responsibility for the Company’s financial statements and the overall reporting process, including the Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting. The Company’s independent public accounting firm is responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company’s financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted auditing standards and expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The Audit and Finance Committee is responsible for monitoring and overseeing these processes.

The Audit and Finance Committee reviewed with management and Crowe LLP the Company’s draft of Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, including the Company’s audited financial statements, and met separately with both management and Crowe LLP to discuss and review those materials prior to issuance and filing with the SEC. Management has represented, and Crowe LLP has confirmed, to the Audit and Finance Committee that the financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

The Audit and Finance Committee also discussed with Crowe LLP the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the United States Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”).

In addition, the Audit and Finance Committee has received from the independent public accountants the written disclosures and the letters required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent public accountant communications with the Audit and Finance Committee concerning independence, has discussed with the independent public accountants their independence from the Company and its management, and has considered whether the independent public accountants’ provision of non-audit services to the Company is compatible with maintaining the auditor’s independence. Crowe LLP has confirmed by letter that, in their professional judgment, they are independent of the Company. The Audit and Finance Committee is not aware of any issues which could impair the independence of Crowe LLP.

The Audit and Finance Committee reviewed and pre-approved Crowe LLP’s proposed audit plans, audit scope, identification of audit risks and fees, either by vote of the committee or by approval of the committee’s authorized delegate acting between meetings. The Audit and Finance Committee also reviewed and pre-approved all non-audit services performed by Crowe LLP.

In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit and Finance Committee recommended to the Board of Directors (and the Board of Directors has approved) that the Company’s audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Robert Sroka (Chairman)

Gary L. Convis

William G. Ferko

William L. Healey

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PROPOSAL ONE

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that the Board will consist of three Classes, serving three-year terms, and that the Board will maintain as equal a number of directors in each Class as possible. Currently, the Board consists of two Class I Directors, three Class II Directors, and two Class III Directors. The Board has nominated three Class II Directors: Gary L. Convis, R. Scott Gill and Robert Sroka to be elected at the Annual Meeting as Class II directors whose terms will expire in 2025. We expect each nominee for election as a director at the Annual Meeting to be able to serve if elected.

If any nominee is unable to serve, proxies will be voted in favor of the remainder of those nominees and for such substitute nominee as may be selected by the Board. Set forth below are the principal occupations of and certain other information regarding the nominees and the other directors whose terms of office will continue after the Annual Meeting. The biographies of each of the nominees and continuing directors that follow contain information regarding the person’s service as a director, business experience, director positions held currently or at any time during the last five years, information regarding involvement in certain legal or administrative proceedings, if applicable, and the experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that caused the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Board to determine that the person should continue to serve as a director for the Company.

Vote Required and Recommendation of the Board of Directors

Nominees receiving the greatest number of votes duly cast for the election of directors will be elected. Abstentions and shares held by a broker as nominee and not voted are not counted as votes cast for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists, and therefore will have no impact as to the election of directors. The Board recommends a vote FOR the election of the above-named nominees as Class II directors.

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CLASS II DIRECTOR NOMINEES FOR TERMS EXPIRING IN 2025

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CLASS III DIRECTORS WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE IN 2023

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CLASS I DIRECTORS WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE IN 2024

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STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth information concerning the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock as of March 16, 2022, for (a) each continuing director and nominee for director of the Company; (b) each person who is known by us to own 5% or more of our Common Stock; (c) the person who in 2021 served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company; (d) the two other most highly compensated named executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table; and (e) the directors and executive officers as a group. Except as otherwise noted, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to such securities.

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DELINQUENT SECTION 16(A) REPORTS

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our directors, executive officers and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of Sypris Common Stock to file reports of holdings and transactions in Sypris stock with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as noted below, based on our information, we believe that all Section 16(a) filings required to be made with the Securities and Exchange Commission by our directors, officers and other beneficial owners for the fiscal year 2021 were timely made.

The reports covering one transaction each, effective November 15, 2021, for Mr. Brinkley, Mr. Ferko, Mr. R. Scott Gill, Mr. Healey, and Mr. Sroka were filed late due to administrative error, but were subsequently filed on Form 4 during the 2021 fiscal year.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Executive officers of the Company are appointed by the Board and serve at the Board’s discretion. Set forth below are the ages, positions and certain other information regarding current executive officers of the Company, as applicable.

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SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation of the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and the two other most highly compensated executive officers who served in such capacities as of December 31, 2021 (the “named executive officers” or “NEOs”), for services rendered to the Company during the past fiscal year.

Compensation Overview

The fundamental objectives of the Company’s executive compensation program are: to attract, retain and motivate highly competent executives necessary for Sypris’ growth and leadership and to foster the creation of stockholder value through close alignment of the financial interests of executives with those of Sypris’ stockholders. The main components of the Company’s executive compensation program for 2021 were annual salaries and long-term incentives consisting of restricted stock awards.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant global economic disruption which adversely affected our business in the automotive and energy markets. During the second quarter of 2020, the Company’s management and Board took steps to implement modifications to preserve adequate liquidity and ensure that the business could continue to operate during an uncertain time, including implementing a 30% reduction in base salary for Mr. J. T. Gill, and a 20% reduction for both Mr. Allen and Mr. Davis. In June 2021 the Company’s Compensation Committee and Board determined to restore those salary reductions previously implemented. The salary restorations began in the third quarter of 2021 and are structured to gradually be restored over four quarters. All compensation restorations for executive officers are intended to be fully restored in the second quarter of 2022.

As of the date of this proxy statement, the Compensation Committee has not determined if it will recommend additional adjustments to base salaries during 2022 for executive officers. The Compensation Committee has determined it will continue to forego annual cash bonus awards in light of the continuing fluctuations in overall market conditions. In addition, for 2022 the Compensation Committee has approved

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awards of 25,000 shares of restricted stock for each of Mr. Allen and Mr. Davis and 200,000 stock options to Mr. J. T. Gill. The Company and the Compensation Committee will continue to evaluate the Company’s compensation structure to assure that it remains competitive for the size and scope of the organization.

401(k) Program

All employees in the United States not covered by a collective bargaining agreement, including the NEOs, are automatically enrolled in the Company’s 401(k) retirement savings plan (“401(k) Plan”), a tax-qualified plan. Employees may opt out of the plan or may elect to change their contribution in increments of 1% of pre-tax salary. Those employees who are covered by a collective bargaining agreement are also automatically enrolled in the Company’s 401(k) Plan in accordance with the terms of each such respective agreement. Under the plan, the Company generally will match 50% of each employee’s contributions, up to a maximum Company discretionary contribution of 3% of eligible salary.

Annual Bonus Plan and Equity Awards

The Board did not approve an annual cash bonus plan for 2020 or 2021 nor does the Board intend to approve a bonus plan for 2022 as of the date of this proxy statement.

On an annual basis, over the past several years, grants of time-based equity or stock options have been issued to executive officers and other key employees under the 2020 Sypris Omnibus Plan. When considering grants, the Compensation Committee exercises judgment and discretion, looking at each executive’s scope of responsibility and individual performance as well as the performance of the Company, and also considers previous stock award grants to align generally with its overall compensation philosophy. The estimated long-term economic value of each grant is targeted in bands of share award levels, to be approximately equal to the 25^th percentile of comparable equity awards, as indicated by market survey information provided by Pearl Meyer. In 2021, Compensation Committee determined to utilize time-based equity grants in the form of restricted stock awards and stock options. The Compensation Committee believes that the use of time-based equity and stock options better aligns our executives with our goals of successfully transitioning through our current business challenges and expanding the business in our targeted markets. The value of the restricted stock awards and stock option grants to Mr. Allen and Mr. Davis during 2020 and 2021 were below the 25^th percentile of peer equity compensation targets due to the Company’s view of the long-term value of our Common Stock. With respect to Mr. J. T. Gill, the Compensation Committee determined to forego a stock option award during 2021 at his request in support of the continued preservation of liquidity. During 2020, the Compensation Committee also determined to grant an additional equity award of 50% of the targeted equity award level to each of the executive officers and other key employees, including Mr. J. T. Gill, Mr. Allen and Mr. Davis as an incentive due to the operational challenges anticipated for the fiscal year 2020. The initial recommendations for these equity awards are developed by the Company’s Corporate Director of Human Resources and the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. All awards to executive officers of equity, as well as cash bonuses, are at the discretion of and subject to the final review and approval of the Compensation Committee, or in the case of the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, are subject to the recommendation of the Compensation Committee with the final review and approval of the full Board.

The Role of Stockholder Say-on-Pay Votes

The Company provides its stockholders with the opportunity to cast an annual advisory vote on executive compensation (a “say-on-pay proposal”). At the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders held in May 2021, approximately 98% of the votes cast on the say-on-pay proposal at that meeting were voted in favor of the proposal. The Compensation Committee believes this affirms stockholders’ support of the Company’s approach to executive compensation and, therefore, did not change its overall approach in 2021. The Compensation Committee will continue to consider the outcome of the Company’s say-on-pay votes when making future compensation decisions for the NEOs.

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Change of Control of the Company – Termination and Potential Payments

Unvested stock options and restricted stock awards granted under the 2015 Sypris Omnibus Plan (the “2015 Plan”) and 2020 Sypris Omnibus Plan (the “2020 Plan”) are subject to accelerated vesting upon any change-in-control of the Company, pursuant to the terms of each plan.

Under the 2015 Plan, in the event of a Change of Control (as defined in the 2015 Plan) of the Company, the vesting date for all unvested or forfeitable rights in any award are accelerated to the earlier of the date of the Change of Control or any other date set by the Compensation Committee in its discretion to allow participants to effectively enjoy such rights under their awards.

Under the 2020 Plan, in the event of a Change of Control (as defined in the 2020 Plan) of the Company unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee, the treatment of outstanding awards will depend on whether awards are being assumed, continued or substituted for in the transaction. If awards are being assumed, continued or substituted for in the transaction, the awards will continue in accordance with their terms with appropriate adjustments as to the number of shares and option and appreciation right exercise prices. In addition, if a participant’s awards are assumed, continued or substituted for and his employment is terminated within one year of the Change of Control without cause (as defined in the 2020 Plan), all of his awards will be credited with an additional 12 months of service from such date of termination.

In the event of a Change of Control in which awards are not being assumed, continued or substituted for in the transaction, the vesting date for all unvested or forfeitable rights in any award will be accelerated to the date of the Change of Control. In addition, the Compensation Committee may elect to cancel outstanding awards and pay to the grantee an amount having a value equal to the number of shares subject to the award multiplied by the price per share paid to holders of shares in the Change of Control, less, in the case of options or appreciation rights, the aggregate exercise price of such options and appreciation rights.

The respective values of the outstanding restricted stock awards and unvested non-qualified stock options calculated as of December 31, 2021, which would have become vested for the named executive officers in the event of a change of control of the Company would have been as follows: $262,500 for Mr. Allen, $770,000 for Mr. J. T. Gill, and $254,000 for Mr. Davis. For restricted stock, the valuation was calculated using (i) the number of each such individual’s unvested shares of restricted stock on December 31, 2021, multiplied by (ii) the Company’s stock price on December 31, 2021. For stock options, the valuation was calculated using (i) the number of each such individual’s unvested stock options on December 31, 2021, multiplied by (ii) the amount, if any, by which the Company’s stock price on December 31, 2021, exceeded the strike price of such options.

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OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END 2021

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2021 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The following table sets forth our compensation of non-employee directors in 2021. Our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Jeffrey T. Gill, receives no additional compensation for his services as a director.

As of the 2021 fiscal year-end, there were no unvested stock awards outstanding.

In accordance with the Directors Compensation Program, non-employee directors are paid a cash retainer on a quarterly basis in arrears. On April 6, 2020, the Board determined that, effective as of such date, in recognition of the uncertainty created by the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic, each non-employee director serving on the Board would forgo 100% of the cash-based portion of the 2020 annual retainer indefinitely. In June 2021, the Company’s Compensation Committee and Board determined to restore the suspended annual cash retainer for non-employee directors for service during 2021. Payments of the cash retainer would be made beginning with the third quarter of 2021, and for each subsequent quarter, in increments of 25%, 50%, and 75%, of the $10,000 quarterly retainer, respectively. All compensation restorations for directors are intended to be fully restored to 100% in the second quarter of 2022. Additionally, under the Directors Compensation Program, each director receives awards of our Common Stock for continued service following the date of the Annual Meeting. These awards totaling 10,000 shares of Common Stock are granted in four equal tranches on the 15th calendar day of May, August, and November and February unless such calendar day is a weekend or holiday.

As of the date of this proxy statement, the compensation payable in 2022 is expected to consist of a cash retainer in quarterly installments and awards of our Common Stock in four equal installments.

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All directors are reimbursed for travel and related expenses for attending Board and committee meetings. In 2021, the Board held six meetings, only one of which required Board members to travel. We also provide non-employee directors with travel accident insurance when on Company business. Directors who are employees of Sypris or its affiliates are not eligible to receive compensation for services as a director.

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PROPOSAL TWO

ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

We are providing our stockholders with an opportunity to vote to approve, on an advisory, non-binding basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with the SEC’s rules. This proposal, which may be referred to as a “say-on-pay” proposal, is required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”).

Our executive compensation program is designed to attract, motivate, and retain our executive officers, who are critical to our success. As described in the “Summary Compensation” and “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2021” tables above, as well as our accompanying narrative disclosure to such tables, our executive compensation program contains elements of cash and equity-based compensation. We believe our compensation program is modest, balanced, and structured to align the interests of our named executive officers with those of our stockholders and rewards our named executive officers for the achievement of our near-term and longer-term financial and strategic goals.

The Board is asking our stockholders to approve a non-binding advisory vote on the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the headings “Summary Compensation Table” and “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2021,” including the related footnotes and accompanying narrative disclosure, is hereby approved.

Though this proposal calls for a non-binding advisory vote, our Board and Compensation Committee value the opinions of our stockholders and will consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions for our named executive officers.

Vote Required and Recommendation of the Board of Directors

The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter is required to approve this Proposal Two. In determining whether this proposal has received the requisite number of affirmative votes, abstentions will not be counted and will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal. The Board recommends a vote FOR the resolution approving the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.

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AVAILABILITY OF ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

A copy of our 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K has been mailed concurrently with this Proxy Statement to stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Such Annual Report on Form 10-K is not incorporated into this Proxy Statement and shall not be considered proxy solicitation material. Stockholders may also request a copy of the Company’s 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which may be obtained without charge, by writing to Andrea J. Luescher, Secretary, Sypris Solutions, Inc., 101 Bullitt Lane, Suite 450, Louisville, Kentucky 40222.

OTHER MATTERS

The Board does not intend to bring any other matter before the Annual Meeting and has not been informed that any other matter is to be presented by others. If any other matter properly comes before the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted with the discretion of the person or persons voting the proxies.

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please vote your shares over the Internet or by telephone, or mark, sign, date and promptly return the proxy card sent to you in the envelope provided. No postage is required for mailing in the United States.

SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

Any stockholder who intends to present a proposal or nominate a director at the Annual Meeting in the year 2023 (the “2023 Annual Meeting”) must deliver a notice to the Company’s corporate Secretary at 101 Bullitt Lane, Suite 450, Louisville, Kentucky 40222 in compliance with the following deadlines and procedures:

In addition to satisfying the foregoing advance notice requirements under our Amended and Restated Bylaws, to comply with the universal proxy rules under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees, other than the Company’s nominees, must provide notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, no later than March 11, 2023.

To the extent any proposals are presented for consideration at the 2023 Annual Meeting but are not described in our proxy materials for that meeting, the proxies solicited by Sypris for the 2023 Annual Meeting may confer discretionary authority to the persons named as proxy holders to vote on any such proposals.

Jeffrey T. Gill

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

April 1, 2022

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001CSN4DFE

 

 

Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas.

Your vote matters – here’s how to vote!

You may vote online or by phone instead of mailing this card.

 

		Votes submitted electronically must be received by 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time, on May 10, 2022
		Online Go to www.investorvote.com/SYPR or scan the QR code – login details are located in the shaded bar below.
		Phone Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within the USA, US territories and Canada
		Save paper, time and money! Sign up for electronic delivery at www.investorvote.com/SYPR

q IF VOTING BY MAIL, SIGN, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q

1. Election of Class II Directors for a term of three (3) years:

For

Against

Abstain

For

Against

Abstain

For

Against

Abstain

01 - Gary L. Convis

☐

☐

☐

02 - R. Scott Gill

☐

☐

☐

03 - Robert Sroka

☐

☐

☐

For

Against

Abstain

2. To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement.

☐

☐

☐

Please sign exactly as name(s) appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, corporate officer, trustee, guardian, or custodian, please give full title. If corporation, please sign full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.

		1 U P X

            03L42C

2022 Annual Meeting

2022 Annual Meeting of Sypris Solutions, Inc. Stockholders

Tuesday, May 10, 2022, 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time

Residence Inn by Marriott, Rock Bridge Room, 401 Bullitt Lane

Louisville, KY 40222

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

If you do not vote by telephone or Internet, please sign and date this proxy card and return it promptly in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. If you vote by telephone or Internet, it is not necessary to return this card.

Important notice regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials for the Annual Meeting to be held on May 10, 2022:

The notice of the annual meeting of stockholders, proxy statement, form of proxy card and the

Sypris Solutions 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at: www.sypris.com/proxy-materials.

q IF VOTING BY MAIL, SIGN, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.  q

Notice of 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Residence Inn by Marriott, Rock Bridge Room, 401 Bullitt Lane, Louisville, KY 40222

Proxy Solicited by Board of Directors for Annual Meeting – May 10, 2022

The undersigned appoints R. Scott Gill and Jeffrey T. Gill, and each of them, as Proxies for the undersigned, or any of them, each with the power of substitution. The Proxies are hereby authorized to represent and vote the shares of the undersigned, with all the powers which the undersigned would possess if personally present, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Sypris Solutions to be held on May 10, 2022 or at any postponement or adjournment thereof.

Shares represented by this proxy will be voted by the Proxies as directed. If no such directions are indicated, the Proxies will have authority to vote FOR all nominees in the election of the Board of Directors and FOR Proposal 2.

In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

(Items to be voted appear on reverse side)