<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001437749-19-010737.txt : 20190523
<SEC-HEADER>0001437749-19-010737.hdr.sgml : 20190523
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20190523145409
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001437749-19-010737
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	DEFA14A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20190523
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20190523
EFFECTIVENESS DATE:		20190523

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PDF SOLUTIONS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001120914
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SERVICES [7371]
		IRS NUMBER:				251701361
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		DEFA14A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-31311
		FILM NUMBER:		19849726

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2858 DE LA CRUZ BOULEVARD
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95050
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4082807900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2858 DE LA CRUZ BOULEVARD
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95050
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>DEFA14A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>pdfs20190523_defa14a.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM DEFA14A
<TEXT>
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<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>UNITED STATES</b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>Washington, D.C. 20549</b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>SCHEDULE 14A</b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;">Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(A) of the</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;">Securities Exchange Act of 1934</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">Filed by the Registrant&nbsp;&nbsp;&#9745;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">Filed by a Party other than the Registrant&nbsp;&nbsp;&#9744;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">Check the appropriate box:</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>

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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&#9744;</p>
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			<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 95%;">
			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">Preliminary Proxy Statement</p>
			</td>
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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&#9744;</p>
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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;"><b>Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))</b></p>
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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&#9744;</p>
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 95%;">
			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">Definitive Proxy Statement</p>
			</td>
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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&#9745;</p>
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 95%;">
			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">Definitive Additional Materials</p>
			</td>
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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&#9744;</p>
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 95%;">
			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">Soliciting Material Under Rule &sect; 240.14a-12</p>
			</td>
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<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>PDF SOLUTIONS, INC.</b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;">(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;">(Name of Person(s) Filing proxy statement, if other than the Registrant)</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>

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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&#9745;</p>
			</td>
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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">No fee required.</p>
			</td>
		</tr>
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			<td style="vertical-align: middle; width: 5%;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="vertical-align: middle; width: 95%;">&nbsp;</td>
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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&#9744;</p>
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 95%;">
			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.</p>
			</td>
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<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">(1)&nbsp;&nbsp;Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">(2)&nbsp;&nbsp;Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">(3)&nbsp;&nbsp;Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule&nbsp;0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">(4)&nbsp;&nbsp;Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">(5)&nbsp;&nbsp;Total fee paid:</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&#9744;</p>
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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.</p>
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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&#9744;</p>
			</td>
			<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 95%;">
			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously.&nbsp;Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.</p>
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<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">(1)&nbsp;&nbsp;Amount Previously Paid:</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">(2)&nbsp;&nbsp;Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">(3)&nbsp;&nbsp;Filing Party:</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">(4)&nbsp;&nbsp;Date Filed:</p>

<p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

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<p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0pt; text-align: left">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify;"><i>Commencing on or about May 23, 2019, PDF Solutions, Inc. will send the following communication to employees:</i></p>

<p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify;"><b>From: </b><u>HR@pdf.com</u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>
<b>Date: </b>May 23, 2019<br>
<b>Subject: </b>Your vote matters: Voting on PDF&rsquo;s annual meeting proposals</p>

<p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify;">With PDF&rsquo;s 2019 annual meeting of stockholders only days away, we want to remind all employee stockholders how important it is to use your voice and vote your PDF shares to help influence our corporate governance. If you held shares on April 3, 2019, on about May 8<sup>th</sup>, you should have already received the Notice of 2019 Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and the 2018 Annual Report, which was sent to the email address associated with the brokerage account(s) where you hold your shares (MSSB or E*Trade for most people). If you have not received it, please contact Inga in PDF&rsquo;s legal department at <u>inga.lysaya@pdf.com</u>.</p>

<p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify;">We want you to understand the matters up for vote and feel comfortable with the voting process. This year, stockholders are being asked to consider and vote on the following issues:</p>

<p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify;">(1)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Election of two directors.</p>

<p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify;">(2)&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Approval of the appointment of BPM LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2019.</p>

<p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify;">(3)&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Approval of the Fifth Amended and Restated 2011 Stock Incentive Plan.</p>

<p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify;">(4)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Say-on-pay: approval of the compensation of our named executives.</p>

<p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify;">The proxy statement provides the vote recommendation of the PDF board of directors. These recommendations are based on the board&rsquo;s view of what is best for stockholders and PDF. The board recommends you vote &ldquo;FOR&rdquo; each director and Proposals 2, 3, and 4.</p>

<p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:justify;">In particular, we are writing this email to ask you to vote &ldquo;<b>FOR</b>&rdquo; Proposal 3 to approve PDF&rsquo;s Fifth Amended and Restated 2011 Stock Incentive Plan, which amends and restates the previously amended and restated 2011 Stock Incentive Plan. The stock plan is an important part of our merit/refresh equity program each year. The board of directors considers equity compensation to be a significant component of total compensation for PDF&rsquo;s employees. Among other changes, all of which are summarized in the proxy statement, the amendment to the equity plan this year increases the number of shares of common stock authorized under the plan. We believe increasing the authorized shares under the plan is beneficial to employees &ndash; it means shares will be available for merit/refresh awards, for example, for another three to four years in the future &ndash; and as employee stockholders, voting is your way of exercising your influence over our benefits plans. We will use the available shares responsibly: the PDF board of directors has committed the Company to a &ldquo;burn rate&rdquo; (total shares awarded each year) of no more than 7% on average over the 3-year period from 2019 to 2021. The PDF board of directors has also approved a Share Repurchase Program that allows us to buy shares back on the open market, which we do each year to manage overall dilution. This helps to maintain your ownership percentage in PDF. To read more about the proposed plan, including a description of all the changes in the amended and restated 2011 Stock Incentive Plan, please see the 2019 proxy statement.</p>

<p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">You can vote up until 3:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on May 27<sup>th</sup> using the toll-free telephone number on your proxy card, if you are in Canada or the United States; or from anywhere via Internet by following the instructions on your proxy card. If you vote by telephone or Internet, you do not need to return your proxy card. We encourage you to take the time to vote.</p>

<p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">John &amp; Kimon<br>
Co-founders and fellow stockholders</p>

<p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>
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