QMCO Quantum Corporation

A Message from our Chairman and CEO

Dear Quantum Shareholders,

I sincerely believe in being transparent, so I want to acknowledge that our fiscal year 2024 was not one that any of us expected. We didn’t plan to spend much of the year being off file with our financial statements, and thus unable to share the details and positive impacts of our concentrated work to bolster our balance sheet, improve our operating results, increase our execution efficiencies, and focus on our mission to deliver unique solutions for AI workflows and unstructured data across our customers’ entire data lifecycle.

Now that we have reported on our financial performance, I am truly excited to speak with you about Quantum’s deep capabilities to succeed in the AI era. Our end-to-end software and hardware platforms deploy AI solutions to tag, catalog, and index your data, making it easy to find, recall, and reuse. Thousands of customers rely on our solutions to leverage their unique data to fuel AI, inform decisions, innovate new products, and improve people’s lives.

Our award-winning Quantum MyriadTM all-flash file and object storage platform and ActiveScaleTM multi-tiered, extremely durable software and hardware solutions are well positioned to leverage vastly multiplying AI-driven data workflows and analysis. Our ScalarTM tape libraries continue to operate as backbone infrastructure for the world’s largest hyperscalers and public cloud providers. Our customers don’t just store data with our products, they entertain the world, build homes and communities, secure borders, and save lives. I couldn’t be prouder of what we have helped them achieve, and am awed by the possibilities of how we can help solve our customers’ toughest challenges as we move further into fiscal year 2025, and beyond.

I hope you can feel my enthusiasm for what lies ahead, and join me in it. I look forward to speaking with you in more detail soon.

Jamie

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES

EXHIBITS

Mr. Lerner has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since July 2018. He was appointed to the Board at that time and named Chairman in August 2018.

Some of Quantum’s key accomplishments during Mr. Lerner’s tenure include:

Mr. Lerner previously served in senior leadership positions at Pivot3 Inc., a smart infrastructure solutions company. He held the roles of Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from March 2017 to June 2018 and Chief Revenue Officer from November 2016 to March 2017. Prior to Pivot3, from March 2014 to August 2015, he served as President of Cloud Systems and Solutions at Seagate Technology Public Limited Company, a publicly-traded data storage company.

Before working at Seagate, Mr. Lerner served in various executive roles at Cisco Systems, Inc., a publicly-traded networking hardware and software manufacturing company, including as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Cloud & Systems Management Technology Group. Prior to beginning his career as a technology company executive, he was a Senior Consultant at Andersen Consulting, a financial advisory and consulting firm.

From 2011 to 2022, Mr. Lerner served on the Board of Trustees (including serving as Chair) of Astia, a global not-for-profit organization built on a community of men and women dedicated to the success of women-led, high-growth ventures.

Mr. Lerner earned a Bachelor of Arts in Quantitative Economics and Decision Sciences from the University of California, San Diego.

We believe Mr. Lerner’s extensive history in our industry and unstructured data, his deep understanding of our business given his role as our Chief Executive Officer, and executive-level experience at several publicly-traded companies qualifies him to serve on our Board.

Mr. Lerner does not sit on any Board committees.

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Ms. White was elected to our Board in September 2021.

She has served as Vice President of Enterprise Data and Analytics at NIKE, Inc., a public company that manufactures and sells athletic apparel, since April 2020. Prior to NIKE, from February 2017 to April 2020, Ms. White served as Vice President of Enterprise Data Engineering at Synchrony Financial, a publicly-traded consumer financial services company.

Ms. White previously held multiple positions at General Electric entities. From November 2013 to June 2015, she served as Data Science Director and Global Commercial IT Director at General Electric Healthcare, a company that manufactures and distributes medical imaging modalities. From May 2007 to October 2013, she was Global Enterprise Resource Director and Senior Global Business Intelligence Program Manager for General Electric Transportation, a company that manufactures equipment for energy generation industries.

Ms. White’s education includes a:

We believe Ms. White’s extensive senior management experience, particularly in data science and analytics, brings valuable perspective to our Board and to the oversight of these functions within Quantum.

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Mr. Neumeyer was elected to our Board in August 2022 and previously served as a non-voting Board observer since 2016.

He is an executive vice president and portfolio manager at Pacific Investment Management Company, LLC (PIMCO), a global investment management firm that provides investment solutions to companies, educational institutions, foundations, and endowments across the world. Since joining PIMCO in January 2010, Mr. Neumeyer has held multiple roles and is currently responsible for identifying, originating, and structuring corporate investments across the capital structure in a variety of industries for various PIMCO-managed investment funds.

Mr. Neumeyer’s previous experience includes:

Mr. Neumeyer earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business from Indiana University and is a CFA^® charterholder.

We believe Mr. Neumeyer is qualified to serve on the Board due to his financial expertise. In addition, we have found that his ability to convey shareholder interests to boards and management teams brings valuable shareholder perspectives to our Board oversight and decision-making processes.

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Mr. Jaworski was appointed to our Board in November 2022.

Mr. Jaworski is President and Chief Operating Officer of Lacuna Technologies, Inc., a leader in software that helps municipalities to operationalize digital infrastructure and manage transportation, since March 2021. Mr. Jaworski leads execution and is focused on delivering value to Lacuna’s customers. Prior to joining Lacuna, from January 2015 to March 2020, he was CEO of SwiftStack, Inc., an open-source cloud data management company focused on large scale data applications, which was acquired by NVIDIA Corporation, a publicly-traded multinational technology company, in March 2020.

Mr. Jaworski previously served as:

In addition, Mr. Jaworski’s early career included management positions at Sun Microsystems, Inc. and Amdahl Corporation. He has been an advisor and board member for a number of early-stage companies.

Mr. Jaworski received a B.S. in Computer Science from Bowling Green State University and an MBA from Santa Clara University.

We believe Mr. Jaworski brings strength to our Board through his broad and deep technology and product development and marketing experience.

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Mr. Meyrath was appointed to our Board in November 2022.

Mr. Meyrath has developed an extensive background in various leadership roles at global technology companies, most notably in the networking and data storage segments. Most recently, from January 2017 to December 2021, he served as Chief Product Officer of ServiceChannel Holdings Inc., a provider of SaaS-based multi-site solutions, which was acquired by Fortive Corporation, a publicly-traded provider of connected workflow solutions, in 2021.

From January 2014 to January 2017, Mr. Meyrath was Vice President at Dell Technologies Capital, a venture capital arm of Dell Technologies that invests in enterprise and cloud infrastructure, where he was responsible for driving venture funding, mergers and acquisitions, and other advisory roles for a diverse set of portfolio companies. He also held the role of Vice President of Product Management and Business Development for Dell EMC’s Backup and Recovery Services, which offers data protection and business continuity products.

Mr. Meyrath’s experience also includes executive roles at:

He was previously a Quantum employee from January 2002 to September 2003.

We believe Mr. Meyrath’s extensive work in product portfolio and technology development, and in particular his experience with data storage technologies, provides valuable experience and perspective to our Board.

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Todd W. Arden was appointed to our Board in June 2024.

Mr. Arden brings a long-term foundation in capital management and private equity business development. Most recently, he held the Senior Managing Director and Co-Chief Credit Officer position at Black Diamond Capital Management LLC, an alternative asset management firm, from January 2016 until March 2020.

From October 2012 to November 2014, Mr. Arden served as Chief Investment Officer – Octagon Credit Opportunities at CCMP Capital Advisors, LP, an American private equity investment firm. He was previously a Managing Director at TPG Angelo Gordon (formerly Angelo Gordon & Co. LP), a global alternative investment manager from March 2000 to June 2012. Prior to that, he held roles as:

Mr. Arden received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Northwestern University and a Masters in Business Administration from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

We believe Mr. Arden’s expertise in capital structures and debt management brings important experience to our Board. Mr. Arden does not sit on any Board committees.

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We expect to appoint John R. Tracy to our Board immediately after filing our Form 10-K for Fiscal 2024.

Mr. Tracy has an extensive background in public company financial planning and operations. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Verifone Systems, Inc., a payment system company, from February 2019 until April 2024. Prior to that, from November 2017 to November 2019, Mr. Tracy served as Senior Director at Pine Hill Group, an accounting and transaction advisory firm.

From July 2015 to October 2016, Mr. Tracy held the position of Senior Vice President of Finance for TiVo Inc. (formerly Rovi), a streaming entertainment content delivery service. Prior to that, he was Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer for TE Connectivity Inc., a publicly-traded electronics connector and sensor manufacturer, from June 2013 to June 2015. He also served as Vice President and Corporate Controller at ConvaTec, a publicly-traded medical products and technology company, from October 2012 to June 2013.

Mr. Tracy also held various senior finance roles at Motorola Inc. and its subsidiaries.

Mr. Tracy received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Rider University and a Masters of Science in Taxation from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

We believe Mr. Tracy’s financial expertise, including his experience as a public company chief financial officer, will make him a valuable member of our Board.

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Marc E. Rothman has served as a member of our Board since May 2017.

He has been Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at BMC Software, Inc. (BMC), a company that develops, delivers, and services IT operations management software, since October 2020.

Before joining BMC, Mr. Rothman served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Verifone Systems, Inc., a multinational company providing technology for electronic payment transactions from 2013 to July 2020. Prior to Verifone, Mr. Rothman served in various capacities, including as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Motorola Mobility, Inc., a consumer electronics and telecommunications company, from 2000 to 2012.

From 1995 to 2000, Mr. Rothman served in multiple leadership finance roles at General Instrument Corporation, which developed integrated and interactive broadband access solutions, including as Vice President and Corporate Controller.

From 1987 through 1995, he was with Deloitte & Touche LLP, a professional services company.

Mr. Rothman graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business from Stockton University (formerly Richard Stockton College) with Distinction and is a Certified Public Accountant in California (inactive).

We believe that Mr. Rothman possesses specific attributes that qualify him to serve as a member of the Board, including his executive leadership experience and deep financial expertise in:

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Board Meeting Attendance

The Board met a total of 19 times in Fiscal 2024. All Board members during Fiscal 2024 attended at least 75% of the Board and Committee meetings for which they were eligible to attend, which is the expectation outlined in our Corporate Governance Principles. Each of the directors nominated for election at our 2023 annual meeting of shareholders attended that meeting.

Director Independence

The Board has determined that all current members other than Mr. Lerner are independent directors as defined under the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq). In addition to the listing standards and the SEC’s independence requirements, we are subject to additional independence criteria as defined in the April 2019 Stipulation of Settlement we executed upon settlement of the In re Quantum Corp. Derivative Litigation shareholder derivative action.

This additional independence criteria requires that independent directors:

We also exceed Nasdaq listing standards by requiring approximately 75% of our Board to be comprised of independent directors.

Our independent directors meet in executive session, without employee directors, at least as often as each regularly scheduled quarterly Board meeting. The independent directors are also empowered to request reporting from any employee during the executive session, including audit and compliance personnel.

Leadership Structure

Quantum’s Board is committed to strong, independent Board leadership and oversight of management’s performance. The Board believes it should determine whether the CEO should also serve as Board Chair. The Board determines the Chair assignment, from time to time and in its business judgment after considering relevant factors, including Quantum’s needs and our shareholders’ best interests. Following a thorough evaluation, the Board has determined that Mr. Lerner should continue to serve as both Chairman and CEO. The Board believes this structure promotes aligning strategic development and execution, effectively implementing strategic initiatives, and exercising accountability for the Company’s performance. The Chair focuses on effectively leading and managing the Board. The Board has appointed a Lead Independent Director to help provide robust, independent Board leadership. The roles and responsibilities of the Chair and Lead Independent Director are described in more detail in our Corporate Governance Principles available on the investor relations section of our website at www.investors.quantum.com.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for identifying, evaluating, recruiting, and recommending qualified director candidates to our Board. The Board nominates directors for election at each annual shareholder meeting and appoints new Board members at other times determined to be appropriate. Directors are not permitted to serve on the Board for more than ten years.

General and Specific Considerations

The Board’s evaluation process will generally consider a candidate’s:

The Board will also more specifically weigh:

Identifying and Evaluating Director Nominees

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee uses the following procedures to identify and evaluate potential director nominees:

The Board has not historically maintained a formal diversity policy for its members. However, in evaluating the Board’s composition, the Board and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee consider diversity of:

Knowledge	Culture	Race	Gender	Age

The Board believes that directors with a diverse range of perspectives, skills, and experiences enable it to more effectively oversee all aspects of Quantum’s business. The Board considers underrepresented populations when seeking candidates for future nomination to the Board, and seeks to include women and members of underrepresented groups in each nominee candidate pool.

Shareholder Recommendations

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee’s policy is to consider shareholder recommendations for Board candidates. A shareholder must submit a written recommendation for a Board candidate to the attention of Quantum Corporation, Attn: Corporate Secretary, 224 Airport Parkway, Suite 550, San Jose, CA 95110.

Submissions must include:

Shareholder Nominees

Shareholders may also nominate director candidates for election to the Board. A shareholder that desires to nominate a candidate directly for election must meet the deadlines and other requirements set forth in our Bylaws¹ and SEC rules and regulations (see Shareholder Proposals for Our 2025 Annual Meeting for more information).

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee may require any prospective nominee to furnish other information it reasonably desires to determine the nominee’s independence or eligibility to serve as a director.

We conduct business ethically, honestly, and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Our path through complex AI and unstructured data environments presents new opportunities and as well as new challenges. Our code of conduct is meant to help us successfully navigate this new landscape by enabling effective business processes, relationships, and solutions.

The code applies to anyone conducting business on behalf of Quantum or its subsidiaries, including all directors, officers, and employees, and defines expectations in each of the following key areas:

The Board most recently revised the code in February 2024, and it was distributed to all employees in both English and local languages the following month.

We maintain an internal ethics committee comprised of leaders from our finance, internal audit, human resources, and legal teams. The committee supports the Chief Administrative Officer’s oversight of our compliance program and provides appropriate assistance in reviewing, investigating, and responding to reported concerns. We have also implemented a whistleblower policy and encourage reporting of ethics and compliance concerns, including by providing a confidential and anonymous third-party reporting hotline.

Concerns that may relate to material accounting or auditing matters are communicated promptly to our Audit Committee.

Waivers of the code’s applicability to a Quantum director or executive officer may only be granted by our Board or its committees and must be timely disclosed as required by applicable law.

The code of conduct is available on the investor relations section of our website at www.investors.quantum.com. Copies of the code may be requested from Quantum’s Corporate Secretary at 224 Airport Parkway, Suite 550, San Jose, California, 95110.

Environmental, Social, and Governance Oversight

Our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) sustainability philosophy is deeply ingrained in our core values. We view environmental stewardship as an essential component of our long-term business strategy but recognize that the path to environmental excellence is continuous and evolving. We are committed to adapting, innovating, and leading in this vital endeavor, fully cognizant that our actions today will shape the world of tomorrow.

To that end, in Fiscal 2024 we invested significant time and resources in improving our carbon footprint data, including by calculating product-specific footprints and estimating employee commute impacts. Our Carbon Disclosure Project score continued to keep pace with worldwide and industry-specific benchmarks.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee oversees our ESG initiatives and policies, including communicating with stakeholders. Integral in that is our human capital management strategy, which includes:

Recruiting	Retention	Career Development	Performance Management	Rewards and Recognition	Succession Planning

We also conducted a culture survey in Fiscal 2024, finding that respondents generally have strong relationships with their managers, which they value and find to be one of the best aspects of working at Quantum.

Quantum faces a wide spectrum of financial, strategic, operational, and regulatory risks. The Audit Committee is primarily responsible for overseeing the Company’s management of those risks and providing appropriate updates to the Board. The Audit Committee guides our risk identification, assessment, and management policies and procedures, including discussions of our major risk exposures, associated risk mitigation activities, and risk management practices implemented throughout the Company. It also actively monitors the Company’s product and information technology cybersecurity risks and mitigation procedures.

The Board’s other committees also oversee risks associated with their respective areas of responsibility, including:

The committees update the Board regarding their risk oversight practices through regular reporting and discussion.

While the Board is responsible for risk oversight, risk management accountability lies with our management team. Quantum’s enterprise risk management practices and formal risk assessments are led by our internal audit team, which periodically reports status to the Audit Committee or Board, where appropriate. Our functional teams apply other appropriate risk assessment and mitigation techniques, with the relevant management representatives updating the Board as needed.

Our Board, committees, and individual directors perform annual self-evaluations in accordance with our corporate governance principles. The evaluations ensure our Board is strategic, productive, and effective, and contributes to long-term shareholder value. As part of the evaluation process, the Board, Mr. Lerner, and Mr. Cabrera hold ongoing discussions regarding Board and committee composition, effectiveness, and decision-making, as well as individual director performance.

We annually review our stock ownership guidelines for our CEO, directors, and other officers. We compare our guidelines with those of peer group companies and consider ISS ownership governance best practices. Our Board believes that best aligning with shareholder interests requires our directors to hold common stock amounts on the larger end of our peer group and the ISS guidelines.

In Fiscal 2024, our Board determined it would continue the following stock ownership guidelines, which were last increased in 2020:

Directors	CEO	CFO
5x Annual Retainer	3x Annual Base Salary	2x Annual Base Salary

Our policy does not include vested and unvested outstanding stock options, unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units, and unearned performance stock and performance stock units in share ownership. Eligible stock ownership includes the following elements:

Compliance with our stock ownership guidelines is due on the later of five years from:

If the dollar value of required holdings increases due to base salary or director cash compensation increases, stock ownership must also be increased within five years. We measure compliance with these guidelines at the end of each fiscal year. At the end of Fiscal 2024, all included positions were on track to meet their stock ownership guidelines.

The Board and Leadership and Compensation Committee (Committee) determine the amount and form of non-employee director compensation. Management provides information and recommendations regarding competitive market practices, target compensation levels, and compensation program design. The Committee also retains an independent compensation consultant to provide analysis and advice regarding:

While the Committee carefully considers the information and recommendations it receives, the Board maintains ultimate authority for decisions relating to non-employee director compensation. Mr. Lerner is the only Quantum employee on the Board and receives no additional compensation for his Board service.

The Committee generally conducts a comprehensive periodic review of the Company’s compensation program, most recently in Fiscal 2023. Quantum engaged Compensia as its independent compensation consultant to complete an independent review, which compared the Company’s compensation program, design, and practices to those of our peer group. Our current non-employee director compensation program elements are listed in the chart to the right.

In Fiscal 2024, given the Company’s listing price and potential dilution impacts, the Board voted to delay its refresh equity grant. As a result, no Board members other than Mr. Lerner received equity grants in Fiscal 2024. Board members did not receive any incremental cash compensation to offset the delayed equity grant.

We have executed change of control agreements with each of our non-employee directors other than Mr. Arden. The agreements provide for automatic accelerated vesting of equity-based awards if the director’s service with the Company ends within 12 months following a change of control (other than for termination due to death or disability).

We allow our non-employee directors to defer some or all of their cash fees, which defers federal and state income taxes. Plan participants direct the deemed investment of their deferred accounts among a preselected group of investment funds which excludes Quantum’s common stock. The deemed investment accounts mirror the investment options available under Quantum’s 401(k) Savings Plan. Plan participants’ deferred accounts are credited with interest based on their selected deemed investments. During Fiscal 2024, no non-employee directors elected to participate in the deferred compensation plan.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Mr. Jaworski, Mr. Neumeyer, and Mr. Rothman currently comprise the Leadership and Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors. None is currently, nor has been at any time since Quantum was formed, an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Likewise, no Committee member has entered into any transactions in which they will have a direct or indirect material interest adverse to the Company. No interlocking relationships exist between any Board or Committee members and any other company’s board or compensation committee members, nor have they previously existed.

Quantum has nominated seven directors to be elected to the Board at the Annual Meeting, to serve until the 2025 annual meeting or until their successors are duly qualified and elected. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee recommended all nominees and the Board nominated all for election.

The nominees are:

James J. Lerner	Yue Zhou (Emily) White	Christopher D. Neumeyer

Donald J. Jaworski	Hugues Meyrath	Todd W. Arden	John R. Tracy

Required Vote

This is an uncontested election requiring a majority of votes cast. A majority of votes cast means that the number of shares voted for a director exceeds the number of votes cast against the director. Abstentions will not be counted for or against a nominee. If a director nominee does not receive a majority of votes cast, he or she will not be elected. See Information Concerning Solicitation, Voting, and Communication for more information about majority voting.

Each shareholder voting on Proposal 1 may cumulate their votes as described in Information Concerning Solicitation, Voting, and Communication.

The Board has adopted and recommends that shareholders approve an amendment (the Amendment) to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the Restated Certificate) to effect a reverse stock split of our common stock by combining issued shares of common stock into a lesser number of issued shares of common stock at a ratio ranging from 1 share-for-5 shares up to a ratio of 1 share-for-20 shares, with the exact ratio to be selected by the Board and set forth in a public announcement (the Reverse Stock Split). If the Amendment is approved by shareholders, the Reverse Stock Split may be effected at any time prior to August 15, 2025. The Board may alternatively elect, in its sole discretion, to abandon such proposed Amendment and not effect the Reverse Stock Split authorized by shareholders. Upon the effectiveness of the Amendment effecting the Reverse Stock Split, the issued shares of our common stock will be combined into a lesser number of shares such that one share of our common stock will be issued for a specified number of shares in accordance with the ratio for the Reverse Stock Split. The Reverse Stock Split is not intended as, and will not have the effect of, a “going private transaction” covered by Rule 13e-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

The form of the proposed certificate of amendment to the Company’s Restated Certificate to effect the Reverse Stock Split is attached hereto as Exhibit A (the Certificate of Amendment). The Certificate of Amendment that will be filed to effect the Reverse Stock Split will include the Reverse Stock Split ratio fixed by the Board, within the range approved by our shareholders. If Proposal 2 is approved by our shareholders and the Board elects to effect the Reverse Stock Split, the Certificate of Amendment may be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware at any time prior to August 15, 2025, and the Reverse Stock Split and will become effective upon such filing or on the effective date and time specified in the Certificate of Amendment (the Effective Time).

If the Proposal 2 is approved by our shareholders, the board of directors would have the sole discretion to effect the Reverse Stock Split at any time prior to August 15, 2025, and to fix the specific ratio for the Reverse Stock Split, provided that the ratio would be not less than 1-for-5 and not more than 1-for-20. We believe that enabling our board of directors to fix the specific ratio of the Reverse Stock Split within the stated range will provide us with the flexibility to implement the split in a manner designed to maximize the anticipated benefits to the Company and our shareholders, as described below. The determination of the ratio of the Reverse Stock Split will be based on a number of factors, described further below under Criteria to be Used for Decision to Apply the Reverse Stock Split.

Reverse Stock Split 

The primary purpose for effecting the Reverse Stock Split is to increase the per share trading price of our common stock so as to: 

While the number of authorized shares of our common stock will not change as a result of the Reverse Stock Split, it will cause the number of issued and outstanding shares of our common stock to be reduced in accordance with the selected exchange ratio and will therefore have the effect of increasing the authorized common stock available for future issuance.

In evaluating the Reverse Stock Split, the Board has taken, and will take, into consideration negative factors associated with reverse stock splits. These factors include: 

In recommending approval of the Reverse Stock Split, the Board determined that these potential negative factors were significantly outweighed by the potential benefits.

Criteria to be Used for Decision to Apply the Reverse Stock Split

If the stockholders approve the Reverse Stock Split, the Board will be authorized to proceed with the Reverse Stock Split, although it may determine not to effect a Reverse Stock Split. The exact ratio of the Reverse Stock Split, within the 1-for-5 to 1-for-20 range, would be determined by the Board and set forth in a public announcement. In determining whether to proceed with the Reverse Stock Split and setting the ratio for it, the Board expects to consider, among other things, factors such as:

We believe that granting our board of directors the authority to set the ratio for the Reverse Stock Split is essential because it allows us to take these factors into consideration and to react to changing market conditions.

Reasons for the Reverse Stock Split

The Board is seeking authority to effect the Reverse Stock Split with the primary intent of increasing the price of our common stock in order to meet the price criteria for continued listing on Nasdaq. Our common stock is publicly traded and listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “QMCO.” The Board believes that, in addition to increasing the price of our common stock to meet the price criteria for continued listing on Nasdaq, the Reverse Stock Split would also make our common stock more attractive to a broader range of institutional and other investors. Accordingly, for these and other reasons discussed below, we believe that effecting the Reverse Stock Split is in the Company’s and our shareholders’ best interests.

On September 20, 2023, we received written notice from Nasdaq notifying us that we are not in compliance with the minimum bid price requirements set forth in Nasdaq listing rule 5450(a)(1) for continued listing on Nasdaq (the Minimum Bid Price Requirement). Nasdaq listing rule 5450(a)(1) requires that listed securities maintain a minimum closing bid price of $1.00 per share, and Nasdaq listing rule 5810(c)(3)(A) provides that a failure to meet the minimum closing bid price requirement exists if the deficiency continues for a period of 30 consecutive business days. Based on the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock for the 30 consecutive business days prior to the date of the written notice, the Company did not meet the Minimum Bid Price Requirement. In accordance with Nasdaq listing rule 5810(c)(3)(A), we were provided with a period of 180 calendar days to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement. To regain compliance, the closing bid price of our common stock must have been at least $1.00 per share for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days at any time prior to March 18, 2024.

On March 19, 2024, we received a notice from Nasdaq that we did not meet the Minimum Bid Price Requirement and our common stock would be scheduled for delisting at the opening of business on March 28, 2024, unless the Company timely requested a hearing before the Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the Panel). On March 21, 2024, we timely requested a hearing before the Panel to appeal the delist determination. On the same day, we received written notice from Nasdaq that the delisting action would be stayed until April 5, 2024, and on April 4, 2024, we requested that the stay of delisting be extended until the Panel issued a final decision on the matter. On April 10, 2024, we received written notice from Nasdaq that the Panel granted our request to extend the stay of suspension pending the hearing on May 14, 2024 and the issuance of a final Panel decision.

On May 14, 2024, Messrs. Lerner, Gianella, Cabrera, and Ms. Nash met with the Panel to discuss our plan to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement. On June 6, 2024, the Panel notified us that it had granted an extension of time for the Company to regain Minimum Bid Price Requirement compliance, now due on or before September 16, 2024.

We may regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement if the bid price of our common stock closes at $1.00 per share or more for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days at any time prior to September 16, 2024.

In the event we are delisted from Nasdaq, the only established trading market for our common stock would be eliminated and our common stock may then trade on the OTC Bulletin Board or other small trading markets. As a result, investors would likely find it more difficult to trade, or to obtain accurate price quotations for, our common stock. Delisting would likely also reduce the visibility, liquidity and value of our common stock, including as a result of reduced institutional investor interest in the Company, and may increase the volatility of our common stock. Delisting could also cause a loss of confidence of customers, suppliers, potential industry partners, lenders and employees, which could further harm our business and our future prospects. We believe that effecting the Reverse Stock Split may help us avoid delisting from Nasdaq and any resulting consequences.

In addition, the board of directors believes that an expected increased stock price could encourage investor interest and improve the marketability of our common stock to a broader range of investors. In particular, because of the trading volatility often associated with low-priced stocks, many brokerage firms and institutional investors have internal policies and practices that either prohibit them from investing in low-priced stocks or tend to discourage individual brokers from recommending low-priced stocks. Additionally, because brokers’ commissions on low-priced stocks generally represent a higher percentage of the stock price than commissions on higher-priced stocks, the current share price of our common stock may result in an investor paying transaction costs that represent a higher percentage of total share value than would be the case if our share price were higher. The Board believes that the higher share price that may result from the Reverse Stock Split could enable brokerage firms and institutional investors with such policies and practices to invest in our common stock.

Although we expect that the Reverse Stock Split will result in an increase in the market price of our common stock, it may not result in a long-term increase in the market price of our common stock, which would be dependent on many factors, including general economic, market and industry conditions, our business and other factors detailed from time to time in the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Certain Risks Associated with the Reverse Stock Split

There can be no assurance that the total market capitalization of our common stock after the implementation of the Reverse Stock Split will be equal to or greater than the total market capitalization before it, or that the per share market price of our common stock following the Reverse Stock Split will increase in proportion to the reduction in the number of shares of our issued common stock in connection with it. Also, we cannot assure you that the Reverse Stock Split would lead to a sustained increase in the trading price of our common stock, or that the trading price of our common stock will remain above the Minimum Bid Price Requirement. The trading price of our common stock may change due to a variety of other factors, including our ability to successfully accomplish our business goals, market conditions and the market perception of our business. You should also keep in mind that the implementation of the Reverse Stock Split does not have an effect on the actual or intrinsic value of our business or a stockholder’s proportional ownership in the Company (subject to the treatment of fractional shares). However, should the overall value of our common stock decline after the proposed Reverse Stock Split, then the actual or intrinsic value of the shares of our common stock held by you will also proportionately decrease as a result of the overall decline in value.

While the Board believes that a higher stock price may help generate investor interest, there can be no assurance that the Reverse Stock Split will result in a per-share market price that will attract institutional investors or that such share price will satisfy the investing guidelines of institutional investors.

If the Amendment is approved and effected, the total number of authorized shares of common stock will not be reduced in accordance with the Reverse Stock Split ratio, but rather, the number of outstanding shares of common stock will be reduced in proportion to the selected exchange ratio. Thus, the Reverse Stock Split would have the effect of increasing the number of shares of common stock authorized and available for issuance, relative to the number of issued and outstanding shares of our common stock. Any additional common stock authorized as a result of the Reverse Stock Split will be available for issuance by the Board for raising additional capital, acquisitions, stock dividends or other corporate purposes, and any such issuances may be dilutive to current stockholders.

While the Board has proposed the Reverse Stock Split to bring the price of our common stock back above $1.00 per share in order to meet the requirements for the continued listing of our common stock on Nasdaq, there is no guarantee that the price of our common stock will not decrease in the future, or that our common stock will remain in compliance with Nasdaq listing standards.

Additionally, there can be no guarantee that the closing bid price of our common stock will remain at or above $1.00 for 10 consecutive trading days, whether following the Reverse Stock Split or otherwise, which is required to cure our current Nasdaq listing standard deficiency.

Effect of the Reverse Stock Split

If the Reverse Stock Split is approved by our shareholders and the Board elects to effect it, the number of issued shares of common stock will be reduced in proportion to the ratio of the split chosen by the board of directors. As of the effective time of the Reverse Stock Split, we would also adjust and proportionately decrease the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of, and adjust and proportionately increase the exercise price of, all options and warrants and other rights to acquire our common stock. In addition, as of the effective time of the Reverse Stock Split, we would adjust and proportionately decrease the total number of shares of our common stock that may be the subject of the future grants under our stock plans.

The Reverse Stock Split would be effected simultaneously for all issued shares of our common stock. The Reverse Stock Split would affect all of our shareholders uniformly and would not change any shareholder’s percentage ownership interest in the Company, except to the extent that the Reverse Stock Split results in any of our shareholders owning fractional shares. As a result of the Reverse Stock Split, there will be a reduction of the number of shares of our issued common stock, resulting in an increase in the number of shares of common stock authorized and available for issuance, relative to the number of issued and outstanding shares of our common stock.

The Reverse Stock Split is not intended to modify the rights of existing shareholders in any material respect. Voting rights and other rights and preferences of the holders of common stock will not be affected by the Reverse Stock Split (other than as a result of the treatment of fractional shares). Common stock issued pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split will remain fully paid and nonassessable, and the par value per share of common stock will remain $0.01.

If the Reverse Stock Split is effected, we intend to treat the shares of common stock held by beneficial owners in “street name” through a broker, bank or other nominee in the same manner as shareholders whose shares are registered in their own names. Banks, brokers or other nominees will be instructed to effect the Reverse Stock Split for their customers holding common stock in “street name.” However, these banks, brokers or other nominees may have different procedures than registered shareholders for processing the Reverse Stock Split. If you hold shares of common stock with a broker, bank, or other nominee and have any questions in this regard, you are encouraged to contact that resource for assistance.

If the Board does not implement the Reverse Stock Split prior to August 15, 2025, the authority granted in this proposal to implement the Reverse Stock Split would terminate.

Interested Parties

Our directors and executive officers have no substantial interests, directly or indirectly, in the matters set forth in this proposal, except to the extent of their ownership in shares of our common stock and securities convertible or exercisable for our common stock. In that case, such shares and securities would be subject to the same proportionate adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Reverse Stock Split as all other outstanding shares of our common stock and securities convertible into or exercisable for our common stock.

Procedure for Effecting the Amendment

If the Amendment is approved by our shareholders and the Board elects to effect the Reverse Stock Split, it would take effect upon the filing of the Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or on the effective date and time specified in the Certificate of Amendment. The exact timing of the filing of the Certificate of Amendment and the effectiveness of the Reverse Stock Split will be determined by the Board based on its evaluation as to when such action will be the most advantageous to us and our shareholders, but it will not occur after August 15, 2025. In addition, the Board reserves the right, notwithstanding shareholder approval and without further action by our shareholders, to abandon the Amendment (and therefore the Reverse Stock Split) if, at any time prior to the filing of the Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, the Board, in its sole discretion, determines that it is no longer in the best interest of the Company our shareholders to proceed.

Beginning at the effective time of the Reverse Stock Split, your pre-split shares will be deemed for all corporate purposes to evidence ownership of post-split shares. We expect that our transfer agent will act as exchange agent for purposes of implementing the exchange of stock.

After the effective time of the Reverse Stock Split, our common stock will have a new Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures (CUSIP) number, which is a number used to identify our equity securities.

Holders of common stock may hold some or all of their common stock electronically in book-entry form under the direct registration system for securities. These shareholders will not have stock certificates evidencing their ownership. They are, however, provided with a statement reflecting the number of shares of common stock registered in their accounts. If you hold registered common stock in book-entry form, you do not need to take any action to receive your post-split shares.

Holders of common stock that have certificated shares may be asked to surrender to the exchange agent certificate(s) representing pre-split shares in exchange for certificate(s) representing post-split shares, in accordance with the procedures to be set forth in a letter of transmittal. No new certificates will be issued to a shareholder until such shareholder has surrendered prior certificate(s) together with the properly completed and executed letter of transmittal to the exchange agent.

STOCKHOLDERS WHO HOLD CERTIFICATES SHOULD NOT DESTROY ANY STOCK CERTIFICATES AND SHOULD NOT SUBMIT ANY CERTIFICATES UNTIL REQUESTED TO DO SO.

Fractional Shares

No fractional shares will be issued in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. Instead, shareholders who otherwise would be entitled to receive fractional shares because they hold a number of pre-split shares not evenly divisible by the number of post-split shares to be reclassified, will be entitled (and with respect to holders that have certificated shares, upon surrender to the exchange agent of certificates representing such shares) to have their fractional shares rounded up to the next whole number share quantity.

Regardless of the fractional shares option implemented by the board of directors, if at all, shareholders will not be entitled to receive interest for the period of time between the Effective Time and the date additional shares acquired by rounding up fractional shares to the next whole number quantity are received.

The ownership of a fractional interest will not give the holder thereof any voting, dividend, or other rights except to the extent that interest in a fractional share would be rounded up to the nearest whole share, as described herein.

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Reverse Stock Split

The following summary describes, as of the date of this proxy statement, certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the proposed Reverse Stock Split to U.S. Holders (as defined below) of our common stock. For purposes of this discussion, a U.S. Holder is a beneficial owner of our common stock that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is or is treated as:

Treasury regulations to treat such trust as a United States Person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

This summary is based on the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), U.S. Treasury regulations, administrative rulings, and judicial authority, all as in effect as of the date of this proxy statement. Subsequent developments in U.S. federal income tax law, including changes in law or differing interpretations, which may be applied retroactively, could have a material, and possibly adverse, effect on the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the proposed Reverse Stock Split. We have not sought and will not seek any rulings from the IRS regarding the matters discussed below and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position to that discussed below regarding the tax consequences of the proposed Reverse Stock Split.

This summary does not address all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to any particular investor, including tax considerations that arise from rules of general application to all taxpayers or to certain classes of taxpayers or that are generally assumed to be known by investors. This summary also does not address the tax consequences to (i) persons that may be subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax law, such as banks, insurance companies, thrift institutions, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, tax-exempt organizations, certain former U.S. citizens or residents, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax, persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, partnerships or other pass-through entities, traders in securities that elect to mark to market and dealers in securities or currencies, (ii) persons that hold our common stock as part of a position in a “straddle” or as part of a “hedging transaction,” “conversion transaction,” or other integrated investment transaction for federal income tax purposes, or (iii) persons that do not hold our common stock as “capital assets” (generally, property held for investment). This

summary does not address backup withholding and information reporting or the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income, nor does it address U.S. Holders who beneficially own common stock through a “foreign financial institution” (as defined in Code Section 1471(d)(4)) or certain other non-U.S. entities specified in Code Section 1472. This summary does not address tax considerations arising under any state, local, or foreign laws, or under federal estate or gift tax laws.

If a partnership (or other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is the beneficial owner of our common stock, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships that hold our common stock, and partners in such partnerships, should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the proposed Reverse Stock Split. Each holder should consult its tax advisors concerning the particular U.S. federal tax consequences of the proposed Reverse Stock Split, as well as the consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction, including any foreign, state, or local income tax consequences.

The proposed Reverse Stock Split is intended to be treated as a “recapitalization” pursuant to Section 368(a)(1)(E) of the Code. Assuming the proposed Reverse Stock Split qualifies as such a “recapitalization,” a U.S. Holder generally should not recognize gain or loss upon the proposed Reverse Stock Split for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S. Holder’s aggregate adjusted tax basis in the shares of common stock received pursuant to the proposed Reverse Stock Split should equal the aggregate adjusted tax basis of the shares of common stock exchanged therefor.

U.S. Treasury Regulations provide detailed rules for allocating the tax basis and holding period of shares of common stock surrendered in a recapitalization to shares received in the recapitalization. The U.S. Holder’s holding period in the shares of common stock received pursuant to the proposed Reverse Stock Split should include the holding period in the shares of common stock exchanged therefor. U.S. Holders of shares of common stock acquired on different dates and at different prices should consult their tax advisors regarding the allocation of the tax basis and holding period of such shares.

As noted above, we will not issue fractional shares of common stock in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. In certain circumstances, stockholders who would be entitled to receive fractional shares of common stock because they hold a number of shares not evenly divisible by the Reverse Stock Split ratio will automatically be entitled to receive an additional fraction of a share of common stock to round up to the next whole post-Reverse Stock Split share of common stock. The U.S. federal income tax consequences of the receipt of such an additional fraction of a share of common stock is not clear.

The U.S. federal income tax discussion set forth above does not discuss all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a particular shareholder. Our view regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split is not binding on the IRS or the courts. Accordingly, you should consult with your tax advisors with respect to all of the potential U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign tax consequences to you of the Reverse Stock Split.  

Required Vote

The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required for the approval and adoption of an amendment to the Company’s Restated Certificate to effect a reverse stock split at a ratio ranging from 1 share-for-5 shares up to a ratio of 1 share-for-20 shares, which ratio shall be selected by the Board. Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against Proposal 2.

We are seeking approval to amend our 2023 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the 2023 Plan) to increase the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the 2023 Plan by an additional [_____] shares. Our Board approved the amendment, subject to approval of our shareholders, on June 16, 2024. If the Reverse Stock Split is approved by our shareholders and the Board elects to effect it, this increase will be adjusted accordingly. For example, if the Board determined the Reverse Stock Split ratio to be 1-for-10, [_____] shares would be added to the 2023 Plan instead of [_____].

Background and Purpose of the Share Reserve Increase

As of June 3, 2024, approximately 5.1 million shares of our common stock remained available for future grants under the 2023 Plan. We believe that the current share reserve amount is insufficient to meet our future needs with respect to attracting, motivating and retaining key executives and employees in a competitive market for talent. We consider equity compensation to be a vital element of our employee compensation program and believe that the continued ability to grant equity awards at competitive levels is in the best interest of Quantum and our shareholders. If Proposal 3 is not approved, we may be unable to continue to offer competitive equity packages to attract and retain employees, creating a material retention risk for which we may need to consider other compensation alternatives. For example, if we were required to increase cash compensation, it would reduce capital available for operations, development, and other investment, which could adversely affect business results or strategy.

The remainder of this discussion, when referring to the 2023 Plan, refers to the amended 2023 Plan as if this proposal is approved by our shareholders, unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise references the 2023 Plan prior to the amendment and restatement.

Long-Term Equity is a Key Component of Our Employee Compensation Program

Our employees are our most valuable asset, and we strive to provide them with competitive compensation packages that reward personal and Company performance and help meet our retention needs. Equity awards, whose value depends on our stock performance, and which require continued service over time before any value can be realized, help achieve these objectives and are a key element of our compensation program. Equity awards also incentivize our employees to manage our business as owners, aligning their interests with those of our shareholders. We believe we must continue to use equity compensation on a broad basis to help attract, retain and motivate employees to grow our business, develop new products, increase operating efficiencies, and ultimately increase shareholder value.

As discussed in Compensation Discussion and Analysis, 50% of the long-term equity awards we granted to named executive officers in Fiscal 2024 were based on performance-based restricted stock units which were also subject to time-based vesting requirements and continued employment. While some performance targets have been met, many have not, demonstrating the pay-for-performance alignment of our executive compensation program. As a result, the actual compensation realized by our executive officers has been significantly lower than their target compensation metrics and competitive benchmarking data. We believe it is imperative that we have sufficient shares available to continue to offer equity, including performance-based equity that aligns executive interests with our business performance and shareholder value creation, to ensure there is sufficient retention interest for executive officers and to motivate performance achievement.

The 2023 Plan Incorporates Compensation and Governance Best Practices

The 2023 Plan includes the following important features:

Our typical executive equity grants are comprised of:

50% Time-Based  RSUs, which vest in equal annual installments over three years.		50% Performance-Based  PSUs, which require attainment of defined performance goals as well as continuing employment over additional time-based vesting requirements.

The performance goals we set for equity award certification are designed to be challenging, and require consistent business execution and achievement in order to be earned. Given the challenges presented from the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain constraints, inflationary pressure, Nasdaq listing compliance status, product launch delays, and general macroeconomic concerns, we have not yet achieved the majority of the performance-based metrics associated with equity granted to our executives in Fiscal 2024 or in fiscal years 2023 or 2022.

Peer Group Benchmarking

Benchmarking our Fiscal 2024 equity grant practices to those of our Peer Group shows our moderate equity use. According to our Peer Group’s most recent fiscal year Form 10-K filings at the time Fiscal 2024 grants were approved, our net value-adjusted burn rate for Fiscal 2024 is below the 20^th percentile of our Peer Group. Our Fiscal 2024 issued and total overhang rates each fell below the 25^th percentiles compared to our Peer Group.

Overhang calculations exclude shares available for future issue or grant under the 2021 Inducement Plan or Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

Based on a review of our historical and projected grant practices, and absent unexpected events, we estimate that the requested additional share reserve for the 2023 Plan should meet our equity grant needs for approximately one to two years. This estimate is based on assumptions about our anticipated hiring rate, stock price over time, and historical forfeiture rates.

Material Terms of the Amended 2023 Long-Term Incentive Plan

This section summarizes certain principal features of the 2023 Plan. This summary is not a complete description of all of the provisions of the 2023 Plan and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2023 Plan.

Eligibility and Types of Awards

The 2023 Plan permits the grant of the following types of equity incentive awards:

Employees, consultants and directors of Quantum and any parent, subsidiary or affiliate of Quantum are eligible to participate in and receive awards pursuant to the 2023 Plan. As of June 3, 2024, we had approximately 720 employees, directors, and consultants who would be eligible to participate in the 2023 Plan.

Administration 

The 2023 Plan will be administered by the Board or a committee of individuals satisfying applicable laws appointed by the Board (the Administrator). It currently is expected that the Committee will continue to administer the 2023 Plan, but the Board has the authority to appoint one or more other committees to separately or concurrently administer the 2023 Plan. The Board may require that any committee which administers the 2023 Plan consist of at least two directors who qualify as non-employee directors under Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to qualify transactions under the 2023 Plan as exempt under Rule 16b 3.

Subject to the terms of the 2023 Plan, the Administrator has the sole discretion to select the employees, consultants, and directors who will receive awards, determine the terms and conditions of awards, interpret the provisions of the Plan and outstanding awards, and make all determinations necessary or advisable for administering the 2023 Plan. The Administrator may delegate any part of its authority and powers under the 2023 Plan to a committee of officers to the extent permitted by applicable law, provided that such delegation shall specify the total number of awards that such officers may award. The Administrator’s decisions, determinations, and interpretations will be final and binding on all participants and other holders of awards and will be given maximum deference permitted by law.

Share Reserve and Share Recycling Rules 

Maximum Share Limit. The maximum number of shares that may be issued or transferred pursuant to awards under the 2023 Plan is equal to the sum of:

However, in no event will the number of shares available for issuance exceed [_____] shares (on a pre-Reverse Stock Split basis).

Share Recycling

Administration 

Awards granted under the 2023 Plan upon the assumption of, or in substitution for, awards authorized or outstanding under a qualifying equity plan maintained by an entity with which we enter into a merger or similar corporate transaction will not reduce the shares available for grant under the 2023 Plan, but will count against the maximum number of shares that may be issued upon the exercise of ISOs.

The 2023 Plan also provides that the maximum grant date fair value (calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) of all awards (as a combined limit) granted to an individual non-employee director in any one fiscal year may not exceed an aggregate of $500,000. In the fiscal year in which a non-employee director first joins the Board, this limit is increased to $750,000. Any awards granted to an individual while he or she was an employee or consultant but not a non-employee director shall not count for purposes of this limitation.

No Repricing or Cash Buyouts 

The 2023 Plan prohibits the implementation of any program to exchange awards or reduce the exercise price of options or stock appreciation rights, or otherwise implement certain programs under which participants can transfer awards to a financial institution or other person or entity, except with shareholder approval.

No Reload Options 

No stock option will include terms entitling a participant to a grant of stock options upon exercise of the original stock option.

Stock Options 

The Administrator may grant NSO or ISOs, the latter of which are entitled to potentially favorable tax treatment, under the 2023 Plan. The stock option exercise price is determined at grant by the Administrator and must be at least 100% of the fair market value of a share on the date of grant (110% for incentive stock options granted to shareholders who own more than 10% of the total outstanding shares of Quantum, its parent or any of its subsidiaries).

The term of a stock option shall not exceed 7 years from the date of grant. However, a participant who owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of Quantum or any of its subsidiaries or any Quantum parent may not be granted an incentive stock option that is exercisable after 5 years from the option’s grant date. Dividend equivalents may not be granted on stock options.

Stock Appreciation Rights 

SARs are awards that grant the participant the right to receive an amount (in the form of cash, shares of equal value, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Administrator) equal to the number of shares exercised multiplied by the amount by which Quantum’s stock price exceeds the exercise price.

Quantum may pay the appreciation in cash, in shares or in a combination of both. The exercise price is set by the Administrator but cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of the covered shares on the grant date. A SAR may be exercised only upon satisfying the vesting or other requirements established by the Administrator. SARs expire under the same rules that apply to options, meaning that the Administrator determines the time at which they expire but the expiration may not be later than 7 years after the grant date. Dividend equivalent rights may not be granted on SARs.

Restricted Stock 

Awards of restricted stock are shares that may be subject to vesting conditions in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Administrator. A holder of restricted stock will have full voting rights, unless determined otherwise by the Administrator. Dividends paid on unvested stock grants will be subject to forfeiture if the vesting condition applicable to the stock grant is not satisfied.

Restricted Stock Units 

RSUs represent a right to receive shares (and/or cash of equal value) at a future date determined in accordance with the participant’s award agreement. Participants holding RSUs have no voting rights with respect to the shares represented by the RSUs until the date the underlying shares are issued. The Administrator may provide for dividend equivalent rights on RSUs based on the amount of dividends paid on outstanding shares of our common stock. Any dividend equivalent rights that are awarded will be subject to forfeiture to the same extent as the corresponding RSUs to which the dividend equivalent rights relate.

Performance Awards 

Performance awards are awards that result in a payment to a participant (in the form of cash, shares of equal value, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Administrator) only if performance goals and/or other vesting criteria established by the Administrator are achieved or the awards otherwise vest. The applicable performance goals or vesting criteria will be determined by the Administrator and may be applied based on continued employment or service, the achievement of specific performance objectives (such as company-wide, departmental, divisional, business unit or individual goals), applicable federal or securities laws, or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its discretion. Performance awards that are RSUs may contain dividend equivalent rights.

Limited Transferability of Awards 

Awards granted under the 2023 Plan generally may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution, and may be exercised during a participant’s lifetime only by the participant.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to the terms of the 2023 Plan, the Administrator may make an award transferable on such terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate, such as permitting an individual to transfer an award to an individual or entity if the transfer is for bona fide estate planning purposes.

Merger, Change in Control, or Other Transactions 

In the event of a merger of Quantum with or into another corporation or a change in control (as defined in the 2023 Plan), each outstanding award will be treated as the Administrator determines, including that each award be assumed or substituted by the successor corporation (or its parent or subsidiary). The Administrator is not required to treat all awards similarly.

If there is no assumption or substitution of outstanding awards, the awards will fully vest, all restrictions will lapse, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at 100% of target levels, and the awards will become fully exercisable. In addition, if an option or stock appreciation right is not assumed or substituted in the event of a merger or change in control, the Administrator will notify the participant that the award will be exercisable for a specified period prior to the transaction, and the award will terminate upon the expiration of such period.

With respect to awards granted to a non-employee director that are assumed or substituted for upon a merger or change in control, if the non-employee director’s status as a director is terminated other than upon voluntary resignation (unless resignation was required by the acquirer) on or after the assumption or substitution, then his or her awards will fully vest, all restrictions will lapse, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at 100% of target levels, and the awards will become fully exercisable.

In the event of a proposed dissolution or liquidation of Quantum, the Administrator will notify each participant as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of the proposed transaction. To the extent options and stock appreciation rights are not exercised or other awards are not vested, the awards will terminate immediately prior to the completion of the proposed transaction.

Amendment and Termination 

The Administrator or our Board generally may amend or terminate the 2023 Plan at any time and for any reason. However, no amendment, suspension, or termination may impair the rights of any participant without his or her consent. If not terminated earlier, the 2023 Plan will continue in effect until July 25, 2033.

Clawback Provisions 

Awards granted under the 2023 Plan will be subject to any provisions of applicable law providing for the recoupment or clawback of incentive compensation, such as provisions imposed pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the terms of any Quantum recoupment, clawback or similar policy in effect at the time of grant of the award, and any recoupment, clawback or similar provisions that may be included in the applicable award agreement.

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences 

The following is a general summary under current law of the principal United States federal income tax consequences related to awards under the 2023 Plan. This summary deals with the general federal income tax principles that apply and is provided only for general information.

Some kinds of taxes, such as state, local and foreign income taxes and federal employment taxes, are not discussed. This summary is not intended as tax advice to participants, who should consult their own tax advisors.

Nonqualified Stock Options 

No taxable income is reportable when a nonqualified stock option with an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value of the underlying stock on the date of grant is granted to a participant. Upon exercise, the participant will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value (on the exercise date) of the shares purchased over the exercise price of the portion of the option exercised. Any taxable income recognized in connection with an option exercise by an employee of Quantum is subject to tax withholding by Quantum. Any additional gain or loss recognized upon any later disposition of the shares would be capital gain or loss.

Incentive Stock Options 

No taxable income is reportable when an incentive stock option is granted or exercised (unless the participant is subject to the alternative minimum tax). If the participant exercises the option and then later sells or otherwise disposes of the shares more than two years after the grant date and more than one year after the exercise date, the difference between the sale price and the exercise price will be taxed as capital gain or loss. If the participant exercises the option and then later sells or otherwise disposes of the shares before the end of the two- or one-year holding periods described above, he or she generally will have ordinary income at the time of the sale equal to the fair market value of the exercised shares on the exercise date (or the sale price, if less) minus the exercise price of the portion of the option exercised.

Stock Appreciation Rights 

No taxable income is reportable when a stock appreciation right with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the underlying stock on the date of grant is granted to a participant. Upon exercise, the participant will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the amount of cash received and/or the fair market value of any shares received. Any additional gain or loss recognized upon any later disposition of the shares would be capital gain or loss.

Restricted Stock and RSUs 

A participant generally will not have taxable income at the time an award of restricted stock or RSUs is granted. Instead, he or she will recognize ordinary income in the first taxable year in which his or her interest in the shares underlying the award becomes either freely transferable or no longer subject to substantial risk of forfeiture. However, the recipient of a restricted stock award may elect to recognize income at the time he or she receives the award in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares underlying the award (less any cash paid for the shares) on the date the award is granted.

Tax Effect for Quantum 

Quantum generally will be entitled to a tax deduction in connection with an award under the 2023 Plan in an amount equal to the ordinary income realized by a participant and at the time the participant recognizes such income (for example, the exercise of a nonqualified stock option). However, special rules limit the deductibility of compensation paid to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and to our three other most highly compensated named executive officers (other than our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer). Because the exception for performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) has been repealed, the annual compensation paid to any of these specified executives generally will be deductible only to the extent that it does not exceed $1 million.

Section 409A of the Code 

Certain types of awards under the 2023 Plan may constitute, or provide for, a deferral of compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code. Unless certain requirements set forth in Section 409A of the Code are complied with, holders of such awards may be taxed earlier than would otherwise be the case (e.g., at the time of vesting instead of the time of payment) and may be subject to an additional 20% penalty tax (and, potentially, certain interest, penalties and additional state taxes). To the extent applicable, the 2023 Plan and awards granted under the 2023 Plan are intended to be structured and interpreted in a manner intended to either comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Code and the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance that may be issued under Section 409A of the Code. To the extent determined necessary or appropriate by the Administrator, the 2023 Plan and applicable award agreements may be amended to further comply with Section 409A of the Code or to exempt the applicable awards from Section 409A of the Code.

New Plan Benefits 

Except with respect to grants of RSUs that will be awarded to each non-employee director serving on our Board on the date of this Annual Meeting as discussed above under Non-Employee Director Compensation, the number of awards that our named executive officers, directors, other executive officers and other employees and consultants may receive under the 2023 Plan in the future, will be determined in the discretion of our Board or Committee, and neither our Board nor the Committee has made any determination to make future grants to any persons under the 2023 Plan as of the date of this Annual Meeting. Therefore, it is not possible to determine the future benefits that will be received by these participants under the 2023 Plan.

Summary 

We believe that approving the amendment of the 2023 Plan is essential to our continued ability to attract, reward, and retain our executive and non-executive employees, as well as our Board members. Awards such as those provided under the 2023 Plan constitute an important incentive desired by employees and candidates whose skills and performance are critical to our success. Shareholder approval of the 2023 Plan amendment is vital to achieving our projected operating results in fiscal year 2025 and beyond.

Required Vote 

Approval to amend the 2023 Plan requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against Proposal 3. If shareholders do not approve amending the 2023 Plan, the 2023 Plan and the Inducement Plan will remain in place and will continue to be administered in their current form subject to shares remaining available for grant under such plans.

The amended 2023 Plan is provided for review as Exhibit B to this proxy statement.

We are seeking stockholder approval to amend our Employee Stock Purchase Plan (as amended and restated, the ESPP) to increase the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the ESPP by an additional [_____] shares. Our Board approved the amendment, subject to approval of our shareholders, on June 16, 2024. If the Reverse Stock Split is approved by our shareholders and the Board elects to effect it, this increase will be adjusted accordingly. For example, if the Board determined the Reverse Stock Split ratio to be 1-for-10, [_____] shares would be added to the 2023 Plan instead of [_____].

Background and Purpose of the Share Reserve Increase

Our ESPP allows our employees to purchase shares of Quantum’s common stock at a discount. The ESPP helps us attract, motivate, and retain highly qualified employees and promotes employee stock ownership, which aligns employees’ interests with those of our shareholders.

One hundred sixty-five employees participated in the ESPP in the last regular offering period concluded in February 2023, purchasing a total of 299,911 shares. Following the purchase, only 87,666 shares remained, which the Board determined was not sufficient to support meaningful continued employee participation. As a result, we paused additional employee contributions pending available share replenishment. Shareholders approved increasing the number of shares available for issuance under the ESPP by 4,000,000; however, we have not yet implemented a new offering period due to our Nasdaq listing compliance status.

When we begin a new ESPP offering period later this year, we intend to implement offering terms that are more attractive to employees, including a longer offering period and look-back feature. As a result, we anticipate that ESPP participation will significantly increase from historic levels.

The remaining referrals to ESPP mean the amended ESPP as if this proposal is approved by our shareholders, unless otherwise specified.

Material Terms of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The following paragraphs provide a summary of the principal features of the ESPP and its operation. However, this summary is not a complete description of all of the provisions of the ESPP and is qualified in its entirety by the specific language of the ESPP.

Purpose 

The purpose of the ESPP, a broad-based stock purchase program, is to provide eligible employees of the Company and its participating affiliates with the opportunity to purchase shares of our common stock at a discount through payroll deductions or, if payroll deductions are not permitted under local laws, through other means as specified by the Committee. The ESPP is intended to qualify as an employee stock purchase plan under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Section 423). In addition, the ESPP authorizes the grant of purchase rights that do not qualify under Section 423 pursuant to rules, procedures, or sub-plans adopted by the Company’s Board that are designed to achieve desired tax, securities law or other compliance objectives in particular locations outside of the United States (the Non-Section 423 Plan).

Eligibility to Participate 

Most employees of the Company and its participating affiliates are eligible to participate in the ESPP, excluding employees who have the right to acquire 5% or more of the voting stock of the Company or of any subsidiary of the Company. The Committee has discretion to exclude employees from participating in the ESPP, from the Section 423 portion of the ESPP (the Section 423 Plan) on a uniform and nondiscretionary basis or as otherwise permitted by Section 423, if the employee normally is scheduled to work less than or equal to 20 hours per week or five months per calendar year, has worked for the Company for less than two years, or is an officer or other highly compensated employee, provided that the exclusion of

employees in such categories is not prohibited under applicable local law. As of the June 3, 2024, approximately 725 employees were eligible to participate in the ESPP.

Administration, Amendment, and Termination 

The Board or a committee of the Board administers the ESPP. Currently, the Committee acts as administrator of the ESPP. The members of the Committee serve at the pleasure of the Board. Subject to the terms of the ESPP, the Committee has all of the discretion and authority necessary or appropriate to control the operation and supervise the administration of the ESPP. The Committee also may establish a waiting period (not to exceed two years) before new employees may become eligible for the ESPP. The Committee’s authority under the ESPP includes, among other powers, interpreting and determining the terms and provisions of the ESPP and purchase rights thereunder. The Committee may delegate one or more of the ministerial duties in the administration of the ESPP. All actions, interpretations and decisions of the Committee are conclusive and binding on all persons and will be given the maximum deference permitted by law.

The Committee or the Board may amend or terminate the ESPP at any time and for any reason. However, as required by Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code, certain material amendments must be approved by the Company’s shareholders.

Number of Shares of Common Stock Available under the ESPP 

Currently, a maximum of 13,725,769 shares have been approved for issuance pursuant to the ESPP. If shareholders approve the amended ESPP, the number of shares issuable under the ESPP would be increased by [_____] shares. Shares sold under the ESPP may be newly issued shares or treasury shares. In the event of any stock split, stock dividend, or other change in the capital structure of the Company, appropriate adjustments will be made in the number, kind, and purchase price of

the shares available for purchase under the ESPP. The closing price of our common stock on June 3, 2024 was $0.48.

Enrollment and Contributions 

Eligible employees voluntarily elect whether or not to enroll in the ESPP. Shares may be offered under the ESPP through a series of consecutive and/or overlapping offering periods (not longer than 27 months each) as determined by the Committee. Employees who join the ESPP participate during an initial offering period. Employees who have joined the ESPP automatically are re-enrolled for additional offering periods but cancel his or her enrollment at any time (subject to ESPP rules).

Employees contribute to the ESPP through payroll deductions or, if payroll withholding is not permitted under local laws, through such other means as specified by the Committee. Participating employees generally may contribute up to 10% of their eligible compensation through after-tax payroll deductions. From time to time, the Committee may establish a different maximum permitted contribution percentage, change the definition of eligible compensation, or change the length of the offering periods. An employee later may increase or decrease his or her contribution percentage by following procedures established by the Administrator.

Purchase of Shares 

On the last business day of each offering or purchase period, as applicable, the Company uses each participating employee’s payroll deductions or contribution to purchase shares for the employee. The price of the shares purchased will be determined under a formula established in advance by the Committee. However, in no event may the purchase price be less than 85% of the lower of:

The fair market value of a share on any relevant date will be the closing price of our common stock as quoted on Nasdaq for the date of purchase, and as reported in the Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable.

In any single year, no employee may purchase more than $25,000 of common stock (based on the fair market value on the first day of the offering period). The maximum number of shares that any participant may purchase on any purchase date shall not exceed 10,000 shares.

The Committee has discretion to set a different limit on the number of shares that any participant may purchase on any purchase date, to set a lower (but not higher) limit on the dollar value of shares that may be purchased, and to change the dates on which shares are purchased.

Termination of Participation 

Participation in the ESPP generally terminates when a participating employee’s employment with the Company or an affiliate ceases for any reason, the employee withdraws from the ESPP, or the Company terminates or amends the ESPP such that the employee no longer is eligible to participate. A participating employee may withdraw their participation in the ESPP at any time in accordance with procedures, and prior to the deadline, specified by the Administrator. Upon withdrawal from the ESPP, generally the employee will receive the return of any remaining amounts not used to purchase shares that have been credited to his or her account, without interest (unless otherwise required by applicable law), and their payroll withholdings or contributions under the ESPP will cease.

Certain U.S. Income Tax Consequences

The following brief summary of the effect of U.S. federal income taxation upon the participant and the Company with respect to the shares purchased under the ESPP does not purport to be complete, 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 ESPP is intended to be an employee stock purchase plan within the meaning of Section 423. The ESPP also authorizes the grant of rights to purchase stock that do not qualify under Section 423 pursuant to the Non-Section 423 Plan. Under an employee stock purchase plan that qualifies under Section 423, no taxable income will be recognized by a participant, and no deductions will be allowable to the Company, upon either the grant or the exercise of the purchase rights. Taxable income will not be recognized until there is a sale or other disposition of the shares acquired under the ESPP or in the event the participant should die while still owning the purchased shares.

If the participant sells or otherwise disposes of the purchased shares within two years after the start date of the offering period in which the shares were acquired or within one year after the actual purchase date of those shares, then the participant generally will recognize ordinary income in the year of sale or disposition equal to the amount by which the fair market value of the shares on the purchase date exceeded the purchase price paid for those shares, and the Company will be entitled to an income tax deduction, for the taxable year in which such disposition occurs in an amount equal to such excess. The amount of this ordinary income will be added to the participant’s basis in the shares, and any resulting gain or loss recognized upon the sale or disposition will be a capital gain or loss. If the shares have been held for more than one year since the date of purchase, the gain or loss will be long-term.

If the participant sells or disposes of the purchased shares more than two years after the start date of the offering period in which the shares were acquired and more than one year after the actual purchase date of those shares, then the participant generally will recognize ordinary income in the year of sale or disposition equal to the lesser of the amount by which the fair market value of the shares on the sale or disposition date exceeded the purchase price paid for those shares, or 15% of the fair market value of the shares on the start date of that offering period. Any additional gain upon the disposition will be taxed as a long-term capital gain. Alternatively, if the fair market value of the shares on the date of the sale or disposition is less than the purchase price, there will be no ordinary income and any loss recognized will be a long-term capital loss. The Company will not be entitled to an income tax deduction with respect to such disposition.

If the participant still owns the purchased shares at the time of death, the lesser of the amount by which the fair market value of the shares on the date of death exceeds the purchase price, or 15% of the fair market value of the shares on the start date of the offering period in which those shares were acquired will constitute ordinary income in the year of death.

New Plan Benefits

Participation in the ESPP is voluntary and dependent on each eligible employee’s election to participate and their determination as to the level of payroll deductions. Further, the number of shares that may be purchased under the ESPP is determined, in part, by the price of our common stock on the first and last day of each offering period, as applicable. Accordingly, the actual number of shares that may be purchased by any eligible individual is not determinable. All participants,

however, are subject to the limitations on the amounts that can be invested and the shares that can be purchased as provided in the ESPP and described above.

Required Vote

Approval of the amended ESPP requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against Proposal 4.

The amended ESPP is provided for review as Exhibit C to this proxy statement.

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the Dodd-Frank Act) and Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) require that we provide our shareholders with the opportunity to vote to approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement.

Following approval from a substantial majority of shareholders at our September 12, 2023 annual meeting, the Board adopted a policy providing for annual advisory votes to approve our named executive officer compensation.

We are again asking our shareholders to approve, on an advisory basis, our named executive officers’ compensation as disclosed in Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table, and the related tables, notes, and narrative in this proxy statement. We believe that information demonstrates that our executive compensation program is appropriately designed, performance-based, and aligned with interests of our shareholders.

Required Vote

Adopting a resolution approving, on an advisory basis, our named executive officer compensation requires the affirmative majority of the votes present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. While the advisory vote on Proposal 5 is non-binding, it is required under Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and provides valuable information regarding shareholder sentiment, which the Leadership and Compensation Committee will consider when determining future executive compensation programs. Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against Proposal 5.

Our Audit Committee has appointed Grant Thornton LLP (GT) as our independent registered public accounting firm to audit our consolidated financial statements for our fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. GT was also our independent registered public accounting firm for Fiscal 2024. Armanino LLP served as our independent registered public accounting firm from January 2019 to July 2023.

At the Annual Meeting, we are asking our shareholders to ratify the appointment of GT as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. Our Audit Committee is submitting the appointment of GT to our shareholders because we value our shareholders’ views on our independent registered public accounting firm and as a matter of good corporate governance. Notwithstanding the appointment of GT, and even if our shareholders ratify the appointment, our Audit Committee, in its discretion, may appoint another independent registered public accounting firm at any time during our fiscal year if our Audit Committee believes that such a change would be in the best interests of our Company and our shareholders. Although ratification is not required by our Bylaws or otherwise, in the event GT’s selection is not ratified, the Audit Committee will reconsider its decision. A representative of GT is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, and they will have an opportunity to make a statement and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions from our shareholders.

Changes in Certifying Accountant

As we previously disclosed, Armanino LLP (Armanino), our previous independent public accountant, resigned effective as August 18, 2023. Also on that date, the Audit Committee approved appointing GT as our independent registered public

accounting firm to audit our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024.

Armanino’s audit reports on our consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2022 and 2023 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

During the fiscal years ended March 31, 2022 and 2023, there were no disagreements with Armanino on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to Armanino’s satisfaction, would have caused Armanino to make reference to the subject matter thereof in connection with its reports for such periods. Subsequent to Armanino’s replacement by GT and an extensive review process described in the current report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on May 22, 2024 (8-K), the Board concluded that certain of the Company’s previously-issued audited consolidated financial statements on Form 10-K and unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements on Form 10-Q, as well as its disclosures related to such financial statements, including any reports, earnings releases, and investor presentations, and related communications issued by or on behalf of the Company with respect to the periods described in the 8-K, should no longer be relied upon. The determination by the Board was made upon the recommendation its Audit Committee and after consultation with the Company’s management team. The Company discussed these matters with both GT and Armanino during the relevant periods.

Required Vote

Ratifying Grant Thornton LLP’s appointment requires the affirmative majority of the votes present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against Proposal 6.

As of the date of this proxy statement, Quantum is not aware of:

The Annual Meeting proxy solicited by the Board grants the proxy holders discretionary authority to vote on any matters other than Proposals 1 – 6 that may be properly brought before the Annual Meeting.

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis (CD&A) describes Quantum’s overall philosophy and criteria for determining our executive officer compensation practices. The CD&A disclosures relate to Fiscal 2024 for our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and three other most highly compensated executive officers, as well as our former chief revenue officer.

Our named executive officers for Fiscal 2024 were:

James J. Lerner	Kenneth P. Gianella	Brian E. Cabrera
President & Chief Executive Officer Chairman of the Board	Chief Financial Officer	Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Legal and Compliance Officer
	Since 2023	Since 2021
Since 2018

Laura A. Nash	Henk Jan Spanjaard	John Hurley
Chief Accounting Officer	Chief Revenue Officer	Former Chief Revenue
		Officer
Since 2023	Since 2023	From 2021 to 2023

For much of Fiscal 2024, the Board and management team prioritized completing the accounting reevaluation process explained in various 8-Ks filed throughout the year and regaining compliance with Nasdaq listing standards. However, the Company also concentrated work to bolster our balance sheet through capital structure changes, improve our operating results by implementing significant cost reduction measures, increase our execution efficiencies through improved systems and expanded partnerships, and evolve our mission to deliver unique solutions for AI workflows and unstructured data across our customers’ entire data lifecycle.

Consistent with our philosophy to grow from within, we promoted Laura A. Nash to Chief Accounting Officer and Henk Jan Spanjaard to Chief Revenue Officer in June and November 2023, respectively. In their prior positions at Quantum, Ms. Nash and Mr. Spanjaard contributed greatly to Quantum’s execution and sales reach improvements and we were excited to add their broad experience to our executive leadership team. Lewis W. Moorehead, our former Chief Accounting Officer, transitioned into a new role as Vice President, Finance and Treasurer effective with Ms. Nash’s promotion. Mr. Hurley’s service as Chief Revenue Officer was terminated at the time of Mr. Spanjaard’s appointment.

Listening to Our Shareholders

The Leadership and Compensation Committee of our Board (the Committee) is committed to seeking and listening to our shareholders’ views. We value meeting with our shareholders to hear their feedback, be transparent about our business direction, and ensure our actions are aligned with their expectations. A large majority of shareholders continued to approve our annual executive compensation programs in the non-binding advisory vote at our 2023 annual shareholder meeting.

Each year, the Committee reviews Quantum’s executive compensation philosophy to pay for performance. We focus on maintaining a competitive total compensation program that rewards executives for delivering results and long-term shareholder value. That philosophy is founded on four guiding principles designed to:

Attract and Retain top talent and compete against our peer companies.	Motivate desired behaviors that allow our team to drive Company success.	Reward achieving the Company’s short- and long-term objectives.	Align executive and shareholder interests to drive long-term value.

We believe that our mix of fixed and variable compensation elements, including cash and equity incentives, also: 

Peer Group

Market competitiveness is an important feature of our executive compensation program and helps motivate and retain our executive officers.

We annually evaluate our competitive peer group to identify companies similar in financial scope, size, and industry (Peer Group). Peer Group selection criteria include revenue, market capitalization, industry, and companies with which we compete in recruiting new employee talent. We also consider shareholder perspective by including companies with similar business structures, end markets, and competitors that align with our business. The Committee approves the Peer Group and uses it to guide executive compensation decisions for the associated fiscal year, following compensation assessments, performance evaluations, and potential pay gap resolutions.

In assessing competitiveness, we compare individual elements including base salary, target annual incentive opportunity, annual equity awards, and total aggregate compensation for each executive officer, to those of executive officers holding similar positions or comparable levels of responsibility in our Peer Group and other similarly sized technology companies.

The Company uses applicable compensation data from our Peer Group as well as the Radford Global Compensation Database of technology companies with annual revenue less than $1 billion. However, the Peer Group is only one factor in our executive compensation decision-making, which is also influenced by:

Company and individual performance	Compensation program affordability	Market conditions

We provide a mix of compensation elements that emphasizes annual cash and long-term equity incentives, in a manner that is consistent with our compensation philosophy and objectives. The primary elements of our executive compensation program consist of:

Annual Base Salary	Target Variable Cash	Long-Term Equity Grants
as a fixed compensation element determined in comparison to the Peer Group and intended to competitively attract and retain executive talent.	via annual cash-based incentives structured to reward achieving long-term strategic goals and paid based on Company and individual performance.	consisting of both time- and performance-based restricted stock units used to attract and retain executives while creating long-term shareholder value.

Fiscal 2024 Pay Mix

We offer our named executive officers a total direct compensation package that includes both fixed and variable compensation. Because target variable cash was not paid in Fiscal 2024, the actual compensation earned was reduced from target and actual pay mix was restricted to only base salary and long-term incentives. The charts to the right show the target and actual Fiscal 2024 compensation mixes for our CEO and other named executive officers.

Target Mix

Actual Mix¹

Fiscal 2024 Annual Base Salary

Our executive officers typically receive base salaries approximating the midpoint of our Peer Group. The Committee annually reviews our named executive officers’ base salaries with Compensia. In the third quarter of Fiscal 2024, the Committee reviewed the competitiveness of our executive officers’ compensation against the Peer Group. After considering prior year performance, consulting with Compensia regarding independent compensation recommendations, and considering the Company’s significant interest in ensuring continuity and stability in our executive leadership team while we addressed the accounting reevaluation and Nasdaq listing compliance efforts, the Committee determined that increasing Mr. Gianella’s and Mr. Cabrera’s base salaries was appropriate given their contributions, as well as necessary to remain competitive in the market. In addition, Ms. Nash received a small adjustment to her base salary during the Company’s normal Fiscal 2024 merit adjustment process. No other named executive officer base salaries were adjusted.

Named executive officer base salaries in Fiscal 2024 were:

Fiscal 2024 QIP Performance Metrics

The Committee sets annual QIP performance metrics that incorporate challenging financial targets requiring consistent high performance before any payout is triggered. The Fiscal 2024 QIP financial performance metrics approved by the Committee are detailed below. After review and discussion with Compensia, the Committee determined that a single metric of full year non-GAAP operating expenses was appropriate to align executives’ interests on the Company’s concerted efforts to reduce costs, including discretionary spend, as a lever to increase profitability.

Based on the Company’s achievement of full Fiscal 2024 non-GAAP operating expenses of $136M or below, the Company expects that the Committee will certify attainment of the minimum QIP goal, resulting in an expected payout cash incentive payout of 25% of each named executive officer’s individual bonus target. The Company has not yet paid any such amounts and did not make any QIP payments in Fiscal 2024.

Fiscal 2024 Equity Overview

All of our executive officers are eligible to receive long-term equity awards granted in alignment with our pay-for-performance philosophy, rewarding executives for achieving performance goals resulting in long-term shareholder value.

The Committee oversees all aspects of our equity program, including actual and projected share balances, eligibility to participate in the Company’s long-term incentive plan, the size and mix of equity awards, and the annual structure of performance-based stock unit metrics. Quantum management and Compensia advise the Committee on the appropriate mix of time- and performance-based restricted stock units granted to our officers, senior leaders, and key new hires during the fiscal year. The Committee monitors the use of equity awards throughout the fiscal year, as well as their impact to burn rate, dilution, and the financial accounting for compensation expense.

We offer two types of equity awards:

Time-Based RSUs allow us to:   •     Attract new executive talent.   •     Offer competitive total compensation programs.   •     Provide long-term retention interests to our executive team.   •     Align with our shareholders’ interest in retaining a stable leadership team.		Performance-Based PSUs support:   •     Adhering to industry-wide best practice among our Peer Group and other technology companies.   •     Aligning our executives’ interests with those of our shareholders.   •     Properly linking our executive compensation programs with Quantum’s performance.

Generally speaking, annual refresh equity grants for executive officers have consisted of 50% RSUs and 50% PSUs.

Vesting

Both RSU and PSU grants typically include three-year vesting schedules, subject to satisfying pre-established performance goals and maintaining ongoing employment. Infrequently, certain PSU grants may employ shorter vesting schedules (but not less than one year), depending on performance target and the Committee’s intended incentives for delivering certain results.

Grant Values

The Committee considers the following factors to determine the size of individual equity awards to our executive officers:

We intentionally use rigorous QIP performance targets which result in cash compensation at the lower end of the range compared to peers and the broader market. We have used more meaningful equity awards to supplement this gap and attract, reward, and retain talent. This approach also ties overall executive compensation to Quantum’s common stock price performance over a period of time.

Fiscal 2024 Equity Awards

In Fiscal 2024, the Committee determined appropriate equity awards for our executive officers based on the described criteria. After considering management’s recommendations and Compensia’s advice, the Committee approved the Fiscal 2024 equity awards listed in table to the right.

Given that Mr. Lerner received a substantial equity award in fiscal year 2023, his Fiscal 2024 award was reduced by 300,000 shares (43%) from the equity award he was granted the prior year.

Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units

The Committee received recommendations from Quantum management, outside legal counsel, and Compensia regarding structuring PSU metrics that were challenging but achievable and aligned our long-term executive performance to the Company’s strategic objectives and shareholders’ interests. The Committee approved two Fiscal 2024 PSU metrics, and included separate time-based vesting requirements subject to continued employment on any PSUs deemed earned according to the performance metrics:

40% Full Year Fiscal 2024  non-GAAP gross margin   •     March 31, 2025 performance deadline   •     Three-year vesting requirement   •     Performance target achieved		5 Initial Myriad Customers   •     March 31, 2024 performance deadline   •     Two-year vesting requirement   •     Performance target not achieved

The Committee considered the Company’s fiscal year 2022 and 2023 financial performance and executive compensation plan when setting the Fiscal 2024 PSU metrics, seeking to make them challenging yet achievable. The gross margin and Myriad sales PSU metrics were included in Fiscal 2024 as they reflected key areas of Fiscal 2024 performance growth potential and aligned executive compensation interests with the Company’s performance and shareholder interests. A two-year vesting period for the Myriad PSU metric was determined to be appropriate in recognition of the multi-year development process leading to launch of the Myriad product.

We offer Company-paid tax preparation services to our executive officers and non-executive vice presidents. We believe these perquisites are limited and reasonable given the executive officers' responsibilities.

Except for these items and the non-qualified deferred compensation plan discussed below, we do not provide any other perquisites or personal benefits to our executive officers that are not available to all other full-time employees.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

We offer all eligible employees, including our executive officers, the ability to acquire shares of Quantum’s common stock through the ESPP. The plan allows employees to purchase the Company’s stock twice per year at a 15% discount relative to the market price. The Committee believes that the plan provides a cost-efficient method of encouraging employee stock ownership. ESPP contributions and participation were paused in Fiscal 2024, but we anticipate beginning a new offering period in the second half of Fiscal 2024.

Health and Welfare Benefits

We offer health, welfare, and other benefit programs to substantially all full-time employees. We share the cost of health and welfare benefits with our employees, with amounts depending on the level of coverage elected. Except for Mr. Hurley, the health and welfare benefits offered to our executive officers are identical to those offered to other full-time employees.

As Mr. Hurley received medical, dental, and vision benefits from a third party not associated with Quantum and did not participate in our corresponding benefit plans, we provided him a taxable monthly stipend to cover the premiums associated with those benefits. For his tenure as an employee in Fiscal 2024, the stipend paid was $2,758 per month. In Fiscal 2024, we also provided him with a taxable lump sum stipend of $7,758 to cover the costs of his comprehensive annual medical assessment. The stipends were cancelled with Mr. Hurley’s departure from the Company on December 1, 2023, for which we paid a lump sum payment of $18,000 in January 2024.

Qualified Retirement Benefits

All U.S.-based employees, including our executive officers, are eligible to participate in Quantum’s tax-qualified 401(k) Savings Plan. Participants may defer cash compensation up to statutory IRS limits and may receive a discretionary matching Company contribution. Participants direct their own investments in the plan, which does not include an opportunity to invest in Quantum’s common stock.

Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan

We maintain a non-qualified deferred compensation plan which enables select employees, including our executive officers, to defer a portion of their base salary and annual bonus payouts, and associated federal and state income taxes. Plan participants direct the deemed investment of their deferred accounts among a preselected group of investment funds which excludes shares of Quantum common stock.

The deemed investment accounts mirror the investment options available under Quantum’s 401(k) Savings Plan, including the ability to make daily changes to elected investments. Plan participants’ deferred accounts are credited with interest based on their selected deemed investments. We do not make employer or matching contributions to the non-qualified deferred compensation accounts. None of our executive officers participated in the plan in Fiscal 2024.

401(k) Plan   •     Tax-qualified   •     Discretionary Company match contribution   •     Employee-directed investments   •     No Quantum common stock included		Deferred Compensation Plan   •     Non-qualified   •     No Company contribution   •     Employee-directed investments   •     No Quantum common stock included

Board and Committee Roles

The Committee oversees and approves all compensation and benefits for our executive officers, excluding the CEO. The independent directors review and approve CEO compensation based on the Committee’s recommendations.

The Committee reviews and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to executive officer compensation. It also measures, at least annually, executive officer performance against those goals and objectives and communicates results to the CEO and Board.

Executive Compensation Consultant Role

In Fiscal 2024, the Committee engaged Compensia on a number of matters, including setting executive compensation. Compensia performs services only for the Committee, at its discretion. The Committee regularly reviews its advisors’ independence and determined that no relationship or conflict of interest exists that would preclude Compensia from independently advising the Committee.

Executive Management Role

The Committee reviews recommendations regarding compensation leveling and market trends from our executive management team, including the CEO, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Administrative Officer. The Board and Committee retain final authority over executive compensation decisions. Management also assists the Committee in monitoring compensation related risk by reporting to the Committee on:

Equity Pool Balances	Burn Rate and Dilution	Shareholder Return	Quantum’s Strategic Goals

Peer Group Role

The Committee examines Peer Group pay practices and programs and compares the total target compensation for our CEO and officers to similar roles as market reference points. While it is the Committee’s goal to ensure our compensation practices are competitive, the Committee also considers other factors when making compensation decisions, including Quantum’s financial position and individual and Company performance.

Tax and Accounting Considerations 

Among other factors, the Committee considers the possible tax and accounting consequences applicable to Quantum or its executives when making decisions regarding our executive compensation programs. In particular, section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code limits our ability to deduct remuneration paid to our executives exceeding $1 million. While the Committee considers these factors, including the impact of section 162(m), it maintains maximum flexibility in designing compensation programs and does not limit compensation to those types that are intended to be deductible.

Risks Related to Compensation Policies and Practices 

Our Board and Committee conduct a risk assessment of our employee compensation policies and practices, including those relating to our executive compensation program. We also evaluate our pay-for-performance programs to determine whether they create unnecessary risk to the Company.

Based on our Fiscal 2024 risk assessment, we believe that our compensation programs are unlikely to create excessive risks adversely impacting Quantum.

Our programs contain various mitigation features to ensure our employees, including our executive officers, are not encouraged to take excessive or unnecessary risks in managing Quantum’s business. These features include:

CEO Pay Ratio

To calculate our Fiscal 2024 CEO pay ratio, we identified our median employee in Fiscal 2024 by:

As of June 3, 2024, we employed 741 people globally, with 52% based in North America, 23% in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and 25% in Asia Pacific.

Mr. Lerner’s total Fiscal 2024 as calculated in the Summary Compensation table was $890,261, while the total target cash compensation for the median employee on March 31, 2024 was $122,229. The ratio of these amounts is 7.3 to 1.

This ratio is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Regulation S-K, Item 402(u). SEC rules for identifying the median employee allow companies to apply various methodologies and assumptions, so the pay ratio we report may not be comparable to those reported by other companies.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

The table that follows sets forth as of June 18, 2024, certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock by:

Unless otherwise indicated, the business address for the beneficial owners listed below is 224 Airport Parkway, Suite 550, San Jose, California, 95110.

Pay Versus Performance

As discussed in our Compensation Disclosure and Analysis, our executive compensation program is designed to reflect a strong focus on pay-for-performance to align our executives’ interests with those of our shareholders. As required by Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, we are providing information about the relationship between executive “compensation actually paid” (CAP) computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K and certain financial performance metrics of the Company.

The Committee considered the following pay versus performance disclosure in making its pay decisions for Fiscal 2024.

Tabular List of Performance Measures

While we utilize several performance measures to align executive compensation with our performance, not all of these measures are presented in the Pay Versus Performance table shown below.

We consider achievements related to the following metrics to be the most important links between performance and the compensation paid to our named executive officers for the most recently completed fiscal year:

Revenue	Operating Expenses	Gross Margin	Stock Price

Compensation Committee Report¹

We, the Leadership and Compensation Committee of the Board, have reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis within this proxy statement with Quantum’s management team. Based on such review and discussion, we have recommended to the Board that the CD&A be included as part of this proxy statement.

Submitted by the Leadership and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors:

Donald J. Jaworski		Christopher D. Neumeyer		Marc E. Rothman
Chair

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors oversees Quantum’s financial reporting process and internal control structure on behalf of the Board. Management is responsible for preparing and presenting the financial statements and ensuring their integrity and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Quantum’s independent auditors are responsible for expressing an opinion regarding whether Quantum’s consolidated financial statements conform with generally accepted accounting principles and the effectiveness of the Company’s control over financial reporting.

The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm (the Firm) provided the Audit Committee with the written disclosures and letter from auditors mandated by applicable Public Company Accounting Oversight Board requirements, including the:

Submitted by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors: