Sec Form 4 Filing - Ferguson Justin K. @ DZS INC. - 2021-06-10

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Ferguson Justin K. 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol DZS INC. [ DZSI] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Chief Legal Officer (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O DZS INC., 5700 TENNYSON PKWY, 4TH FLOOR 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 06/10/2021 (Street) PLANO, TX75024 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 06/10/2021 M 12,500 A $ 0 ( 1 ) 12,500 D Common Stock ( 2 ) 06/10/2021 F 4,038 D $ 19.97 8,462 D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Restricted Stock Units ( 1 ) 06/10/2021 M 12,500 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) Common Stock 12,500 ( 1 ) 25,000 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Ferguson Justin K. C/O DZS INC. 5700 TENNYSON PKWY, 4TH FLOOR PLANO, TX75024 Chief Legal Officer Signatures /s/Laura Larsen-Misunas as Power of Attorney 06/14/2021 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )This is the first vesting of the restricted stock units issued on October 5, 2020. Two remaining equal vestings will occur on June 10, 2022 and 2023, subject to the reporting person's continued employment with the issuer on each such vesting date. Each restricted stock unit represents the right to receive on share of the issuer's common stock upon vesting. ( 2 )Shares withheld by DZS to satisfy tax withholding requirements on vesting of restricted stock units.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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