Company: AAOI
Filing Date: 2025-04-18
Form Type: PRE 14A
Source: 0001104659-25-036344
Chunk: 20

Company: APPLIED OPTOELECTRONICS, INC.
Filing Date: 2025-04-18
Form: PRE 14A
Chunk 20
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 generally considers the diversity of nominees in terms of knowledge, experience, background, skills, expertise, and other demographic factors, as well as with respect to gender, racial and ethnic diversity. When considering nominees for election as directors, the nominating and corporate governance committee reviews the needs of the Board for various skills, background, experience and expected contributions and the qualification standards established from time to time by the nominating and corporate governance committee. The nominating and corporate governance committee believes that directors must also have an inquisitive and objective outlook and mature judgment. Director candidates must have sufficient time available in the judgment of the nominating and 11 TABLE OF CONTENTS corporate governance committee to perform all Board and committee responsibilities. Members of the Board are expected to rigorously prepare for, attend and participate in all meetings of the Board and applicable committee meetings. Other than the foregoing and the applicable rules regarding director qualification, there are no stated minimum criteria for director nominees. The nominating and corporate governance committee evaluates annually the current members of the Board whose terms are expiring and who are willing to continue in service against the criteria set forth above in determining whether to recommend these directors for election. The nominating and corporate governance committee regularly assesses the optimum size of the Board and its committees and the needs of the Board for various skills, background, and business experience in determining if the Board requires additional candidates for nomination. Candidates for director nominations come to our attention from time to time through incumbent directors, management, stockholders or third parties. These candidates may be considered at meetings of the nominating and corporate governance committee at any point during the year. Such candidates are to be evaluated against the criteria set forth above. If the nominating and corporate governance committee believes at any time that it is desirable that the Board consider additional candidates for nomination, the committee may poll directors and management for suggestions or conduct research to identify possible candidates and may engage, if the nominating and corporate governance committee believes it is appropriate, a third party search firm to assist in identifying qualified candidates. The nominating and corporate governance committee will consider director candidates validly recommended by stockholders. The process for evaluating stockholder-recommended nominees is no different than the process for evaluating nominees identified by the nominating and corporate governance committee. If, rather than recommending a candidate to the nominating and corporate governance committee for consideration, a stockholder wishes to formally nominate a director, such stockholder must comply with the applicable procedural requirements in our Amended and Restated By-laws, as amended (the “By-laws”),