| |
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to Be Held on August [3], 2023: The 2023 Proxy Statement and the Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 are available at www.proxyvote.com
|
| |
| | | | By order of the Board of Directors | |
| | | |
David Michery
|
|
| Date: , 2023 | | | Chief Executive Officer | |
Class
|
| |
Number of Shares
|
| |
Votes/Share
|
| |
Number of Votes
|
|
Common Stock
|
| | [263,279,263] | | | One/share | | | [263,279,263] | |
Series A Preferred Stock
|
| | [1,037] | | | 1,000/share | | | [1,037,000] | |
Series B Preferred Stock
|
| | 0 | | | One/share voting on an as-converted basis | | | 0 | |
Series C Preferred Stock
|
| | [1,210,056] | | | One/share voting on an as-converted basis | | | [48,403] | |
Series D Preferred Stock
|
| | [363,097] | | | One/share only on the Conversion Proposal | | | [363,097] votes only on the Conversion Proposal | |
Name
|
| |
Age
|
| |
Title
|
|
Kent Puckett | | |
59
|
| | Director | |
Mark Betor | | |
67
|
| | Director | |
| Class I Directors: David Michery, Ignacio Novoa and Mary Winter | | | Term expires at our 2025 annual meeting of stockholders. | |
| Class II Directors : Kent Puckett and Mark Betor | | | Term expires at our 2026 annual meeting of stockholders. | |
| Class III Directors: William Miltner and John Andersen | | | Term expires at our 2024 annual meeting of stockholders. | |
| |
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” ALL NOMINEES FOR CLASS II DIRECTORS.
|
| |
|
Shares authorized for issuance under the 2022 Plan following an 1:25 reverse stock split of the
Company’s Common Stock that was implemented in May 2023, as of June 22, 2023 |
| | | | 7,000,000 | | |
|
Shares issued and/or subject to awards granted under the 2022 Plan, as of June 22, 2023
|
| | | | [6,626,518] | | |
| |
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR APPROVAL
OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE MULLEN AUTOMOTIVE INC. 2022 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN |
| |
| |
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT OF THE COMPANY’S SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO EFFECT A REVERSE STOCK SPLIT OF THE COMPANY’S OUTSTANDING COMMON STOCK AT AN EXCHANGE RATIO BETWEEN 1-for-2 TO 1-FOR-10, AS DETERMINED BY THE COMPANY’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS
|
| |
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
|
| | The Company is a Delaware corporation. The rights of our stockholders are governed by the DGCL, the Delaware Charter and the Delaware Bylaws. | | | The Company will be a Maryland corporation. The rights of our stockholders will be governed by the MGCL, the Maryland Charter and Maryland Bylaws. | |
AUTHORIZED CAPITAL STOCK
|
| |
The Delaware Charter authorizes 5,500,000,000 shares, of which 5,000,000,000 shares are designated as a class of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 500,000,000 shares are designated as a class of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share.
200,000 shares of the preferred stock are designated as Series A Preferred Stock, 12,000,000 shares of the preferred stock are designated as Series B Preferred Stock, 40,000,000 of the preferred stock are designated as
|
| |
The Maryland Charter will authorize 5,500,000,000 shares, of which 5,000,000,000 shares will be designated as a class of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 500,000,000 shares will be designated as a class of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share.
A number of shares of preferred stock will be designated as shares of Series A Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock and Series D Convertible Preferred Stock, and as shares of any other
|
|
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
| | | Series C Preferred Stock, and 437,500,001 of the preferred stock are designated as Series D Preferred Stock. | | | series of preferred stock designated under the Delaware Charter immediately before the Conversion, equal to the number of shares of each such class or series outstanding immediately before the completion of the Conversion. | |
BLANK CHECK PREFERRED STOCK
|
| | The Delaware Charter authorizes the Company’s Board to establish one or more series of preferred stock and to fix, with respect to any series of preferred stock, the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each such series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon. | | |
The Maryland Charter will authorize the Board to, subject to the rights of holders of any class or series of our stock, classify and reclassify unissued shares of common or preferred stock into other classes or series of stock, including additional classes or series of common stock or classes or series of preferred stock, and to establish the designation and number of shares of each such class or series and to set the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption of each such class or series.
The approval of holders of shares of our preferred stock may be required in connection with the creation of new classes or series of stock. See “Preferred Stock” in Appendix F for a description of the voting rights of holders of our preferred stock after the Conversion. The provisions relating to dividends and distributions payable on the shares of each series of preferred stock, including in connection with a Liquidation Event (as defined in the Maryland Charter), will provide the Company with the flexibility to, subject to the requisite vote of holders of outstanding shares of preferred stock, if any, create new senior or parity series of preferred stock without requiring amendments to the terms of the existing preferred stock.
|
|
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
REACQUIRED SHARES
|
| | Shares of preferred stock that are converted to common stock are cancelled and may not be reissued by the Company. | | | Pursuant to the Maryland Charter, unless the terms of a class or series of preferred stock provide otherwise (and the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock will not), shares of preferred stock that are redeemed, converted, repurchased or otherwise acquired in any other manner by the Company will revert to the status of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock without further designation as to class or series, until such shares are once more classified by the Board in accordance with the Maryland Charter. | |
VOTING
|
| | The Delaware Charter provides that: (i) each holder of record of the Company’s common stock is entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders; (ii) the holders of shares of the Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record by such holder on all matters submitted to a vote of the common stock holders, and as set forth in the Delaware Charter, holders of shares Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to vote separately and have protective voting rights relating to certain matters that are submitted to a vote of the stockholders; (iii) the holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock have the right to one thousand (1,000) votes for each share of Series A Preferred Stock per share held of record by such holder, on all matters submitted to a vote of the common stock holders, and as set forth in the Delaware Charter, holders of shares Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to vote separately and have protective voting rights relating to certain matters that are submitted to a vote of the stockholders; and (iv) holders of | | | No change | |
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
| | | shares of Series D Preferred Stock are not entitled to any voting powers (including with respect to any class votes taken in accordance with the terms of the Delaware Charter), except for certain protective voting rights set forth in the Company’s Certificate of Designation for Series D Preferred Stock or otherwise as required by Delaware law. | | | | |
CUMULATIVE VOTING
|
| | The Delaware Charter specifically provides that there shall be no cumulative voting in the election of directors. | | | No change | |
NUMBER AND QUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS
|
| | The Delaware Charter provides that the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted a majority of the total number of authorized directors, and the Delaware Bylaws provide that the number of directors fixed by the Board of Directors will be not less than three and not more than eleven. | | | The Maryland Charter and Maryland Bylaws will provide that the number of directors of the Company may be established, increased or decreased only by a majority of the entire Board, but may not be fewer than the minimum number required under the MGCL (which is one) nor, unless the Maryland Bylaws are amended, more than 15. | |
CLASSIFICATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
|
| | Under the Delaware Charter, the Company’s Board is classified into three classes of directors with staggered terms of office, other than with respect to directors who may be elected by holders of any then-outstanding preferred stock (of which there are none). | | | No change. | |
REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS
|
| | The Delaware Charter provides that, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock, directors may be removed from office only for cause, and then only upon the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. The term “cause” is not defined in the Delaware Charter and is interpreted in | | | The Maryland Charter will provide that, except as may be provided in the terms of any future class or series of our stock entitled to elect or remove one or more directors, any director, or the entire board of directors, may be removed at any time, but only for cause, and then only by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors. “Cause” will be defined to mean, with respect to any particular | |
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
| | | accordance with Delaware common law. | | | director, conviction of a felony or a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction holding that such director caused demonstrable, material harm to the Company through bad faith or active and deliberate dishonesty. | |
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
|
| | The Delaware Bylaws provide that, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock, at any meeting duly called and held for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. | | | The Maryland Bylaws will provide that, except as may be provided in the terms of any future class or series of our stock entitled to elect one or more directors, a plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to elect a director. | |
VACANCIES ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
|
| | The Delaware Charter and Delaware Bylaws provide that, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock, vacancies on our Board resulting from death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cause, and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors on the Board, will be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office (even though less than a quorum) or by the sole remaining director. Each director so elected shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the term of the class to which such director shall have been elected. | | | No change. | |
STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT
|
| | The DGCL provides that, unless prohibited by the certificate of incorporation, the stockholders may take action by consent without a meeting. The Delaware Charter does not prohibit stockholder action by consent. | | | The Maryland Charter will provide that any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting if: (i) a unanimous consent setting forth the action is given in writing or by electronic transmission by each stockholder entitled to vote on the matter and filed with the | |
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
| | | | | | minutes of proceedings of the stockholders; or (ii) the action is advised and submitted to the stockholders for approval by the Board and a consent in writing or by electronic transmission of holders of shares entitled to cast not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take the action at a meeting of stockholders at which all stockholders entitled to vote on the matter are present and voted is delivered to the Company in accordance with the MGCL. | |
AMENDMENT OF THE CHARTER
|
| | The DGCL provides that amendments to the certificate of incorporation must be approved and declared advisable by the board of directors and, except in certain limited circumstances, adopted by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the corporation entitled to vote thereon. Pursuant to the DGCL, holders of a class of outstanding shares have the right to vote separately as a class on an amendment to the certificate of incorporation if such amendment (i) increases or decreases the number of authorized shares of such class (subject to an exception as may be included in the certificate of incorporation), (ii) increases or decreases the par value of the shares of such class, or (iii) alters or changes the powers, preferences, or special rights of the shares of such class so as to affect them adversely. If any proposed amendment would alter or change the powers, preferences, or special rights of one or more series of any class so as to affect them adversely, but shall not so affect the entire class, then only the shares of the series so affected by the amendment shall be considered a separate class for purposes of this right to | | | Under the MGCL and the Maryland Charter, we generally cannot amend the Maryland Charter unless declared advisable by our Board and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, provided that certain amendments to the Maryland Charter may, in addition, require the approval of holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of one or more series of our preferred stock, each voting as a separate class. Further, unless the terms of any future class or series of our preferred stock provide otherwise, the holders of one or more classes or series of our preferred stock will have the exclusive right to vote (voting as separate classes or voting together as a single class, as may be set forth in the terms of such classes or series of preferred stock) on any amendment to the Maryland Charter on which the holders of such specified classes or series of preferred stock are entitled to vote and that would alter only the contract rights, as expressly set forth in the Maryland Charter, of preferred stock of such specified classes or series; and the holders of any other classes and series of our | |
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
| | |
vote. The DGCL provides that the number of authorized shares of any such class or classes of stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the corporation entitled to vote if so provided in the original certificate of incorporation, in any amendment thereto which created such class or classes of stock or which was adopted prior to the issuance of any shares of such class or classes of stock, or in any amendment thereto which was authorized by a resolution or resolutions adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of such class or classes of stock (the “Class Vote Exception”).
The Delaware Charter provides that, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock, the Delaware Charter may be amended if approved by the affirmative vote of the holders a majority of the total voting power of the then outstanding capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, except that the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2∕3% of the total voting power of the then outstanding capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend or repeal ARTICLE XI or ARTICLE VII of the Delaware Charter.
|
| |
stock, including our common stock, will not be entitled to vote on such an amendment. Our Board, with the approval of a majority of the entire Board, and, except as set forth in the terms of any class or series of our stock, including our Series A Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock, without any action by our stockholders, may also amend the Maryland Charter to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we are authorized to issue. Our Board, without stockholder approval, may also amend the Maryland Charter to change our name or change the name or other designation or par value of any class or series of our stock or the aggregate par value of our stock. See “Preferred Stock” in Appendix F for a description of the voting rights of holders of our preferred stock after the Conversion.
The MGCL does not contain separate class voting rights. As a result, holders of preferred stock will no longer be entitled to the benefit of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL, which would require the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of any class or series of stock to increase or decrease the par value of the shares of such class or series.
Further, under the Maryland Charter, holders of Series A Preferred Stock will no longer be entitled to the benefit of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL, which requires the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock to approve amendments to the certificate of incorporation that would alter or
|
|
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
| | | | | | change the powers, preferences, or special rights of the shares of such class so as to affect them adversely. As set forth in the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock, however, any amendment to the Maryland Charter or the Maryland Bylaws to materially and adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock, including any increase in the number of authorized shares of Series A Preferred Stock, will require the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class. | |
AMENDMENT OF THE BYLAWS
|
| | The Delaware Charter provides that the Delaware Bylaws may be amended, altered or repealed, either by: (A) an affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2∕3% of the total voting power of the then outstanding capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, in order for the stockholders to adopt, amend, or repeal any provision of the Delaware Bylaws, or (B) by a majority of the Board. | | | The Maryland Charter and Maryland Bylaws will provide that subject to the rights of holders of any class or series of our stock, including the Series A Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock, described under the caption “Preferred Stock” in Appendix F, the Board has the exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of the Maryland Bylaws and to make new bylaws. Other than limited voting rights of holders of the preferred stock, stockholders do not have the power to amend the Maryland Bylaws.. | |
QUORUM
|
| |
Board of Directors. A majority of the total number of members of the Board of Directors as constituted from time to time constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business with respect to the Board.
Stockholders. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock and except as otherwise provided by law or in the Delaware Charter or Delaware Bylaws, at any meeting of stockholders, the holders of at least 33-1/3% in total voting
|
| | No change. | |
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
| | | power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote at the meeting shall be present or represented by proxy in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business. | | | | |
SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
|
| | The Delaware Charter provides that, except as otherwise provided by the terms of any series of preferred stock or unless otherwise prescribed by law or any other provision of the Delaware Charter, special meetings of stockholders will only be called by the Company’s Board, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President (in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer). | | | The Maryland Bylaws will provide that special meetings of stockholders may be called by the Board, the chair of the Board, the chief executive officer or the president. Additionally, special meetings of stockholders to act on any matter must be called by the secretary upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting who have requested the special meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in, and provided the information and certifications required by, the Maryland Bylaws. Only matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting may be considered and acted upon at such a meeting. | |
ADJOURNMENT
|
| | Under the DGCL and Delaware Bylaws, if a meeting of stockholders is adjourned and the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting must be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. At the adjourned meeting the Company may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. | | | Under the MGCL and the Maryland Bylaws, if a quorum is not established at any meeting of stockholders, the chair of the meeting may adjourn to a date which is not more than 120 days after the original record date for the meeting without notice other than announcement at the meeting. At the adjourned meeting, the Company may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. | |
NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER MEETINGS
|
| | In accordance with the DGCL, the Delaware Bylaws provide that, unless otherwise provided by the DGCL or the Delaware Charter, notice of any stockholders meeting shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder | | | In accordance with the MGCL, the Maryland Bylaws will provide that. notice of any stockholders meeting shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 90 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to notice of such meeting as of the record date for determining the | |
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
| | | entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. | | | stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. | |
ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE STOCKHOLDERS
|
| | An annual meeting of the Company stockholders must be held at the date, time and place, or may instead be held solely by means of remote communication, as may be designated by our Board. Pursuant to Section 211 of the DGCL, if a corporation does not hold an annual meeting of stockholders within 13 months of the date of the previous year’s annual meeting of stockholders, the Delaware Court of Chancery may summarily order a meeting to be held upon application of any stockholder or director. | | | The MGCL requires a meeting of stockholders to be held each year but does not contain a 13-month requirement similar to Section 211 of the DGCL. | |
ACTIONS REQUIRING SUPERMAJORITY STOCKHOLDER VOTE
|
| | Except as set forth in the Delaware Charter with respect to certain amendments to the Delaware Charter, the Delaware Charter and Delaware Bylaws do not contain any additional enhanced voting thresholds with respect to such extraordinary corporate actions. | | | No matters will require a supermajority vote of stockholders under the MGCL, the Maryland Charter or the Maryland Bylaws. | |
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
|
| | The DGCL does not have a statutory requirement with regard to advance notice procedures required of stockholders in order to properly bring business or director nominations before a meeting of stockholders, but a corporation is permitted to include such requirements in its bylaws. The Delaware Bylaws provide that, at an annual meeting of the stockholders, to be properly brought before the meeting, nominations for persons for election to our Board and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders must be either (i) properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (ii) otherwise properly requested to be brought before the meeting by a | | |
The Maryland Bylaws will provide that, with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, nominations of individuals for election to the Board and the proposal of business to be considered by stockholders at the meeting may be made only:
•
pursuant to the Company’s notice of the meeting;
•
by or at the direction of the Board; or
•
by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record at the record date set by the board of directors for the meeting, at the time of giving of the notice required by the Maryland Bylaws and at the time of the meeting (and any postponement or adjustment thereof), who is entitled to vote
|
|
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
| | |
stockholder of the Company who was a stockholder of record on the date that notice was provided in accordance with the Delaware Bylaws, who is entitled to vote and who complied with the advance notice procedures set forth in the Delaware Bylaws.
The Delaware Bylaws provide requirements for both substance and timeliness. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Company (a) in the case of an annual meeting that is called for a date that is within 30 days before or after the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders, not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting, and (b) in the case of an annual meeting that is called for a date that is not within 30 days before or 60 days after the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting, not later than the later of 70 days prior to the date of the meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the meeting was made. To satisfy the substantive advance notice requirements, the stockholder’s notice must contain specific information concerning the person to be nominated or matters to be brought before the meeting, as well as specific information concerning the stockholder submitting the proposal or making the nomination, as more particularly described in the Delaware Bylaws.
|
| |
at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated or on such other business and who has complied with the advance notice procedures set forth in, and provided the information and certifications required by, the Maryland Bylaws.
The Maryland Bylaws require the stockholder giving such notice to provide notice to the secretary containing the information required by the Maryland Bylaws not earlier than the 150th day nor later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement (as defined in the Maryland Bylaws) for the preceding year’s annual meeting (which, in the case of the annual meeting held in 2024, means the date of the annual meeting of stockholders held in 2023 by the Company before the completion of the Conversion), unless the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, in which case, in order for notice by the stockholder to be timely, the notice must be so delivered not earlier than the 150th day before the date of the annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120th day before the date of the annual meeting, as originally convened, or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the meeting is first made.
With respect to special meetings of stockholders, the Maryland Bylaws will provide that only the business specified in the Company’s notice of meeting may be brought before the special meeting of stockholders, and
|
|
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
| | | | | |
nominations of individuals for election to Board may be made only:
•
by or at the direction of the Board or
•
provided that the meeting has been called in accordance with the Maryland Bylaws for the purpose of electing directors, by a stockholder who is a stockholder of record at the record date set by the board of directors for the meeting, at the time of giving of the notice required by the Maryland Bylaws and at the time of the meeting (and any postponement or adjustment thereof), who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated and who has complied with the advance notice provisions set forth in, and provided the information and certifications required by, the Maryland Bylaws.
Any stockholder may nominate one or more individuals for election as a director if the stockholder’s notice containing the information required by the Maryland Bylaws is delivered to the secretary not earlier than the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting.
|
|
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
|
| | The DGCL permits limiting or eliminating the monetary liability of directors and certain officers to a corporation or its stockholders, except with regard to breaches of the duty of loyalty; acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing | | | Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision eliminating the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages except for liability resulting from actual receipt of an improper benefit or | |
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
| | |
violation of law; in the case of directors, unlawful repurchases, redemptions or dividends; transactions from which the director or officer derived an improper personal benefit; or, in the case of such officers, in actions by or in the right of the corporation.
The Delaware Charter provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, the Company’s directors are not liable to the Company or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of fiduciary duties as a director.
|
| | profit in money, property or services or active and deliberate dishonesty that is established by a final judgment and is material to the cause of action. The Maryland Charter will contain such a provision that eliminates such liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law. | |
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS
|
| | The DGCL generally permits a corporation to indemnify any current or former director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation (or any person who is or was serving, at the request of the corporation, in one or more of such capacities with respect to another entity, trust or enterprise) against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection with civil, criminal, administrative or investigative actions or proceedings, other than an action by or in the right of the corporation (in which case such persons may only be indemnified against expenses, and only with court approval if such indemnitee has been adjudged liable to the corporation), if the indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner such indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to a criminal action or proceeding, if such indemnitee had no reasonable cause to believe his/her conduct was unlawful. In addition if a current or former director or “officer” (as defined in Section 145(c)(1) of the DGCL) is successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of | | |
The MGCL requires a Maryland corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which the Maryland Charter will not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made or threatened to be made a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. The MGCL permits a Maryland corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made or threatened to be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that:
•
the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;
•
the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or
|
|
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
| | |
any claim, issue or matter therein, the corporation shall indemnify such indemnitee against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection therewith.
The Delaware Charter provides that the Company will indemnify any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he, or a person for whom he is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or other enterprise, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses incurred by such person, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware and the Delaware Charter. The Delaware Charter also provides that the Company is required to pay the expenses incurred by such persons in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition.
|
| |
services; or
•
in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.
Under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify a director or officer for an adverse judgment in a suit by or on behalf of the corporation or if the director or officer was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received unless, in either case, a court orders indemnification, and then only for expenses. A court may order indemnification if it determines that the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, even though the director or officer did not meet the prescribed standard of conduct or was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received. In addition, the MGCL permits a Maryland corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation’s receipt of:
•
a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation; and
•
a written undertaking, which may be unsecured, by the director or officer or on the director’s or officer’s behalf to repay the amount paid if it shall ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct has not been met.
The Maryland Charter will obligate us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to indemnify and to pay or
|
|
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
| | | | | |
reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding without requiring a preliminary determination of the director’s or officer’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification to:
•
any present or former director or officer (including former directors or officers of the Company before the completion of the Conversion (“Mullen Delaware”)) who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity; or
•
any individual who, while a director or officer of our company or Mullen Delaware and, at our request, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, member, manager, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity.
|
|
DIVIDENDS / DISTRIBUTIONS
|
| | Unless further restricted in the certificate of incorporation, the DGCL permits a corporation to declare and pay dividends out of either (i) surplus, or (ii) if no surplus exists, out of net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year (provided that the amount of capital of the corporation following the declaration and payment of dividend is not less than the aggregate amount of the capital represented by the issued and outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of assets). The DGCL defines surplus as the | | | Pursuant to Section 2-311 of the MGCL and the Maryland Charter, and subject to the preferential rights of any outstanding shares of preferred stock, the Company will be permitted make distributions, which include dividends (other than dividends payable in shares of the Company’s stock), redemptions, repurchases, the incurrence or forgiveness of indebtedness to or for the benefit of the Company’s stockholders or any other direct or indirect transfers of money or other property of the Company in respect of any of its shares, when, as and if authorized by the | |
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
| | |
excess, at any time, of the net assets of a corporation over its stated capital. In addition, the DGCL provides that a corporation may redeem or repurchase its shares only when the capital of the corporation is not impaired and only if such redemption or repurchase would not cause any impairment of the capital of the corporation.
As described in further detail below, subject to the preferential rights of the Company’s preferred stock, holders of the Company’s common stock and Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, and Series C Preferred Stock, are entitled to dividends if, as and when declared by our Board out of the assets legally available for such distribution.
|
| |
Board, unless, after the distribution, the Company would not be able to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of business or the Company’s total assets would be less than the sum of its total liabilities, plus, if required by the terms of any future class or series of our stock senior to the shares receiving such distribution (but the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock do not so provide), the aggregate liquidation preference of such class or series of stock.
Alternatively, the Company may make distributions out of (i) the net earnings of the Company for the fiscal year in which the distribution is made; (ii) its net earnings for the preceding fiscal year; or (iii) the sum of its net earnings for the preceding eight fiscal quarters, so long as, after giving effect to the distribution, the Company will be able to pay its debts as they become due in the ordinary course of its business.
In determining whether a distribution is permitted, the board of directors may rely either on (i) financial statements prepared on the basis of accounting practices and principles that are reasonable under the circumstances; or (ii) a fair valuation or other method that is reasonable under the circumstances.
|
|
BUSINESS COMBINATION STATUTE
|
| | Section 203 of the DGCL generally prohibits “business combinations,” including certain mergers, sales and leases of assets, issuances of securities and certain other transactions, by a corporation or certain of its subsidiaries with an “interested stockholder” (as defined under | | | Under the MGCL, certain “business combinations” (including a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or, in certain circumstances specified under the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities) between a | |
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
| | |
Section 203 of the DGCL), for a period of three years after the person or entity becomes an interested stockholder unless: (i) the Board of Directors of the corporation has approved, before such person or entity became an interested stockholder, either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the person becoming an interested stockholder, (ii) upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the person becoming an interested stockholder, the person owns at least 85% of the “voting stock” of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced (excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding, but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder, shares owned by directors who are officers and shares owned by employee stock plans in which participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer), or (iii) at or subsequent to the person or entity becoming an interested stockholder, the business combination is approved by the Board of Directors and authorized at a meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least 66-2∕3% of the outstanding voting stock not owned by the interested stockholder.
The Company has not opted out of the protections of Section 203 of the DGCL. As a result, the statute applies to the Company; however, the Board previously approved each of Gregory B. Maffei and certain of his related persons as an “interested stockholder” and the acquisition by such persons of shares of the
|
| |
Maryland corporation and any interested stockholder, or an affiliate of such an interested stockholder, are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Maryland law defines an interested stockholder as:
•
any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock; or
•
an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock of the corporation.
A person is not an interested stockholder under the MGCL if the board of directors approved in advance the transaction by which the person otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. In approving a transaction, the board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of the approval, with any terms and conditions determined by it.
After such five-year period, any such business combination must be recommended by the board of directors of the corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:
•
80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation, voting together as a single voting group; and
•
two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of the corporation other
|
|
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
| | | company’s common stock, in each case, for purposes of Section 203 of the DGCL. | | |
than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom (or with whose affiliate) the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder, voting together as a single voting group.
These supermajority approval requirements do not apply if, among other conditions, the corporation’s common stockholders receive a minimum price (as defined in the MGCL) for their shares and the consideration is received in cash or in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares.
These provisions of the MGCL do not apply, however, to business combinations that are approved or exempted by a corporation’s board of directors prior to the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Pursuant to the statute, the board of directors will adopt a resolution exempting any business combination with any other person, provided that such business combination is first approved by the board of directors, including a majority of our directors who are not affiliates or associates of such person.
|
|
CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION ACT
|
| | There is no equivalent statutory provision to Control Share Acquisition Act under Delaware law. | | | The MGCL provides that a holder of “control shares” of a Maryland corporation acquired in a “control share acquisition” has no voting rights with respect to those shares except to the extent approved by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by stockholders entitled to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power in the election of directors generally, but excluding: | |
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
| | | | | |
(1) the person who has made or proposes to make the control share acquisition; (2) any officer of the corporation; or (3) any employee of the corporation who is also a director of the corporation. “Control shares” are voting shares of stock that, if aggregated with all other such shares of stock previously acquired by the acquirer or in respect of which the acquirer is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquirer to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges:
•
one-tenth or more but less than one-third;
•
one-third or more but less than a majority; or
•
a majority or more of all voting power.
Control shares do not include shares that the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A “control share acquisition” means the acquisition, directly or indirectly, of ownership of, or the power to direct the exercise of voting power with respect to, issued and outstanding control shares, subject to certain exceptions.
A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition, upon satisfaction of certain conditions (including an undertaking to pay expenses and making an “acquiring person statement” as described in the MGCL), may compel the board of directors of the Maryland corporation to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the control shares. If no request for a
|
|
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
| | | | | |
special meeting is made, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders meeting.
If voting rights of control shares are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an “acquiring person statement” as required by the statute, then, subject to certain conditions and limitations, the corporation may redeem any or all of the control shares (except those for which voting rights have previously been approved) for fair value determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquirer or, if a meeting of stockholders is held at which the voting rights of such shares are considered and not approved, as of the date of such meeting. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders meeting and the acquirer becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of such appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquirer in the control share acquisition statute does not apply (1) to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or statutory share exchange if the corporation is a party to the transaction or (2) to acquisitions approved or exempted by the charter or bylaws of the corporation.
The Maryland Bylaws will contain a provision exempting from the control share acquisition statute any and all control share acquisitions by any person of shares of our stock. There can be no assurance that this provision
|
|
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
| | | | | | will not be amended or eliminated at any time in the future. | |
DUTIES OF DIRECTORS
|
| | Under Delaware law, the standards of conduct for directors have developed through Delaware case law. Generally, directors must exercise a duty of care and duty of loyalty to the company and its stockholders. Members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof designated by the Board of Directors are fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports and statements presented to the corporation by corporate officers, employees, committees of the Board of Directors or other persons as to matters such member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the corporation. | | | Under Maryland law, the standard of conduct for directors is governed by statute. The MGCL requires that a director of a Maryland corporation perform his or her duties: (i) in good faith; (ii) in a manner the director reasonably believes to be in the interests of the corporation; and (iii) with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances. | |
SUBTITLE 8
|
| | There is no equivalent statutory provision to Subtitle 8 under Delaware law | | |
Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL (“Subtitle 8”) permits a Maryland corporation with a class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act, and at least three independent directors to elect, by provision in its charter or bylaws or a resolution of its board of directors and notwithstanding any contrary provision in the charter or bylaws, to be subject to any or all of five provisions which provide for:
•
a classified board;
•
a two-thirds vote requirement for removing a director;
•
a requirement that the number of directors be fixed only by vote of the directors;
•
a requirement that a vacancy on the board of directors be filled only by a vote of the
|
|
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
| | | | | |
remaining directors (whether or not they constitute a quorum) and for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies; or
•
a majority requirement for the calling of a special meeting of stockholders.
The Company will elect in the Maryland Charter to be subject to the Subtitle 8 provision which provides that vacancies on our Board may be filled only by the remaining directors (whether or not they constitute a quorum) and that a director elected by the Board to fill a vacancy will serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies.
|
|
APPRAISAL RIGHTS / DISSENTER’S RIGHTS
|
| | Under the DGCL, a stockholder who has neither voted in favor of certain mergers, consolidations or conversions of a corporation to another entity, nor consented thereto in writing, who has properly demanded appraisal of their shares, and who otherwise complies with the requirements for perfecting and preserving their appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL may be entitled to receive payment in cash for the fair value of their shares (exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of such merger, consolidation or conversion) as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery in an appraisal proceeding, together with interest (if any) thereon. Section 262 also permits beneficial owners of stock to demand appraisal in their own names, subject to the requirements of Section 262. However, unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation | | | Pursuant to the MGCL, a Maryland corporation may eliminate appraisal rights in all situations (subject to a limited carve out regarding appraisal rights in connection with the Control Share Acquisitions Act) in its charter. The Maryland Charter will provide that stockholders generally have no appraisal rights unless the Board determines that appraisal rights will apply to one or more transactions in which stockholders would otherwise be entitled to exercise such rights. | |
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
| | | provides otherwise, appraisal rights are not available for shares of capital stock that, at the record date for determination of stockholders entitled to receive notice of the meeting of stockholders (or at the record date for determination of stockholders entitled to consent pursuant to Section 228 of the DGCL) to act upon the merger, consolidation or conversion, are either (i) listed on a national securities exchange or (ii) held of record by more than 2,000 holders. Further, unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation provides otherwise, no appraisal rights are available to stockholders of the surviving corporation if the merger did not require the vote of the stockholders of the surviving corporation as provided in Section 251(f) of the DGCL. Notwithstanding the foregoing, appraisal rights are available if stockholders are required to accept for their shares anything other than (i) shares of capital stock of the surviving or resulting corporation (or of the converted entity if such entity is a corporation), (ii) shares of capital stock of another corporation (or depository receipts in respect thereof) that, at the effective date of the merger, consolidation or conversion, will either be listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than 2,000 holders, (iii) cash in lieu of fractional shares, or (iv) any combination of clauses (i) – (iii). Appraisal rights are also available under the DGCL in certain other circumstances, including in certain parent-subsidiary mergers and in certain circumstances where the certificate of incorporation so provides. Neither the Delaware Charter nor the Delaware Bylaws provide for | | | | |
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
| | | appraisal rights in any additional circumstance other than as required by applicable law. See Section 262 of the DGCL. | | | | |
EXCLUSIVE FORUM
|
| | The Delaware Charter contains an exclusive forum provision, which provides that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any (1) derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (2) action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director or officer or stockholder of the Company to the Company or our stockholders, (3) action asserting a claim against the Company arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, Delaware Charter or Delaware Bylaws, or (4) action asserting a claim against the Company governed by the internal affairs doctrine. | | | The Maryland Bylaws will provide that, unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or, if that court does not have jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, will be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any Internal Corporate Claim, as such term is defined in the MGCL, and any action or proceeding asserting any Internal Corporate Claim, including without limitation: (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on the Company’s behalf (other than any action arising under federal securities laws), (ii) any claim, or any action or proceeding asserting a claim, based on an alleged breach of any duty owed by any of the Company’s directors or officers or other employees to the Company or to its stockholders; or (iii) any claim, or any action or proceeding asserting a claim, against the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers or other employees arising under or pursuant to any provision of the MGCL, the Maryland Charter or the Maryland Bylaws; or (b) any action or proceeding asserting a claim against the Company or any of the Company’s directors, officers or other employees that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. These choice of forum provisions will not apply to any action or proceeding under federal securities laws or claims arising under the Securities Act, or the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. | |
RIGHT
|
| |
DELAWARE
|
| |
MARYLAND
|
|
| | | | | |
Further, these choice of forum provisions will not apply to any claim or cause of action, or any action or proceeding asserting a claim or cause of action, that arose solely as a result of actions and events that occurred before the completion of the Conversion.
Furthermore, the Maryland Bylaws will provide that, unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America will be, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any claim arising under the Securities Act.
|
|
| |
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE CONVERSION OF THE COMPANY FROM A DELAWARE CORPORATION TO A MARYLAND CORPORATION.
|
| |
| |
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL, ON A NON-BINDING ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.
|
| |
| |
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE TO HOLD FUTURE STOCKHOLDER ADVISORY VOTES ON THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS EVERY “3 YEAR.”
|
| |
| |
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR APPROVAL FOR PURPOSES OF COMPLYING WITH NASDAQ LISTING RULE 5635(C), OF THE ISSUANCE OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK TO OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO A PERFORMANCE STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT
|
| |
| |
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL, FOR PURPOSES OF COMPLYING WITH NASDAQ LISTING RULE 5635(D), OF THE ISSUANCE OF $30 MILLION IN SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AND WARRANTS EXERCISABLE INTO SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AND ANY FUTURE ADJUSTMENTS OF THE EXERCISE PRICE OF THE WARRANTS
|
| |
| |
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE TO RATIFY
THE APPOINTMENT OF RBSM LLP |
| |
| June , 2023 | | | Respectfully submitted, | |
| | | |
Audit Committee
Kent Puckett, Chair Mark Betor John Andersen |
|
| |
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE TO APPROVE THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL
|
| |
Name
|
| |
Age
|
| |
Position
|
| |
Director Class
|
|
David Michery | | |
56
|
| | Chief Executive Officer, President, and Chairman of the Board | | |
Class I
|
|
Mary Winter(3) | | |
32
|
| | Secretary and Director | | |
Class I
|
|
Ignacio Novoa | | |
40
|
| | Director | | |
Class I
|
|
Kent Puckett(2) | | |
59
|
| | Director | | |
Class II
|
|
Mark Betor(1) | | |
67
|
| | Director | | |
Class II
|
|
William Miltner | | |
61
|
| | Director | | |
Class III
|
|
John Andersen(1) | | |
69
|
| | Director | | |
Class III
|
|
NAME
|
| |
AGE
|
| |
POSITION
|
|
Jonathan New | | |
63
|
| | Chief Financial Officer | |
Calin Popa | | |
61
|
| | President — Mullen Automotive | |
Name of Director
|
| |
Fees earned
or paid in cash ($) |
| |
Stock
Awards ($)(1) |
| |
Total ($)
|
| |||||||||
John Andersen(2)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Mark Betor
|
| | | $ | 35,870 | | | | | $ | 137,002 | | | | | $ | 172,872 | | |
William Miltner
|
| | | $ | 24,212 | | | | | $ | 137,002 | | | | | $ | 161,214 | | |
Jonathan New(3)
|
| | | $ | 62,413 | | | | | $ | 75,002 | | | | | $ | 137,415 | | |
Ignacio Novoa(4)
|
| | | $ | 6,250 | | | | | $ | 62,000 | | | | | $ | 68,250 | | |
Kent Puckett
|
| | | $ | 35,870 | | | | | $ | 137,002 | | | | | $ | 172,872 | | |
Name and Principal Position
|
| |
Year
|
| |
Salary
($) |
| |
Bonus
($) |
| |
Stock Award ($)
Common Shares(1) |
| |
All Other
Compensation |
| |
Total ($)
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
David Michery
Chief Executive Officer |
| | | | 2022 | | | | | $ | 721,154 | | | | | $ | 750,000 | | | | | $ | 4,643,583 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 6,114,737 | | |
| | | 2021 | | | | | $ | 409,485 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 1,972,603 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 2,382,088 | | | ||
Kerri Sadler
Former Chief Financial Officer(2) |
| | | | 2022 | | | | | $ | 348,539 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 198,000 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 546,539 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
Jerry Alban
Former Chief Operating Officer(3) |
| | | | 2022 | | | | | $ | 202,340 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 280,500 | | | | | $ | 53,846 | | | | | $ | 536,686 | | |
| | | 2021 | | | | | $ | 283,835 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 25,000 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 308,835 | | | ||
Calin Popa
President – Mullen Automotive |
| | | | 2022 | | | | | $ | 295,815 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 171,555 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 467,370 | | |
| | | 2021 | | | | | $ | 296,969 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 87,500 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 384,469 | | |
Date
|
| |
Tranche
|
| |
% of
O/S Shares |
| |
Shares O/S
|
| |
Shares Issued
|
| |
Stock
Price |
| |
Stock
Compensation ($) |
| |||||||||||||||
9/21/2022
|
| |
Russell Index Tranche
|
| | | | 2% | | | | | | 19,247,780 | | | | | | 384,956 | | | | | $ | 0.41 | | | | | $ | 3,945,795 | | |
10/12/2022
|
| |
Features Milestone
|
| | | | 5% | | | | | | 35,907,476 | | | | | | 1,795,374 | | | | | $ | 0.25 | | | | | $ | 11,221,087 | | |
11/9/2022
|
| |
Non-USA Distribution
|
| | | | 2% | | | | | | 49,246,006 | | | | | | 984,921 | | | | | $ | 0.27 | | | | | $ | 6,648,211 | | |
11/30/2022
|
| |
Capital Benchmark
|
| | | | 2% | | | | | | 57,530,852 | | | | | | 1,150,618 | | | | | $ | 0.19 | | | | | $ | 5,465,431 | | |
Total Shares Awarded
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4,315,869 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 27,280,524 | | |
Plan Category
|
| |
(a)
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
| |
(b)
Weighted-average exercise price per share of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
| |
(c)
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities) |
| |||||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders
|
| | | | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | 6,779,092 | | |
Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders
|
| | | | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | — | | |
Total
|
| | | | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | 6,779,092(1) | | |
Class
|
| |
Number of Shares
|
| |||
Common Stock
|
| | | | [263,279,263] | | |
Series A Preferred Stock
|
| | | | [1,037] | | |
Series B Preferred Stock
|
| | | | 0 | | |
Series C Preferred Stock
|
| | | | [1,210,056] | | |
Series D Preferred Stock
|
| | | | [363,097] | | |
Name of Beneficial Owners
|
| |
Common Stock(1)
|
| |
Total Voting
Power(2) |
| ||||||||||||
| | |
Shares
|
| |
%
|
| |
%
|
| |||||||||
Named Executive Officers and Directors | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
David Michery(3)
|
| | | | [4,409,340] | | | | | | [1.67]% | | | | | | [2.06]% | | |
Jonathan New
|
| | | | 345 | | | | | | * | | | | | | * | | |
Calin Popa
|
| | | | 12,390 | | | | | | * | | | | | | * | | |
Mary Winter
|
| | | | 3,499 | | | | | | * | | | | | | * | | |
Jonathan K. Andersen
|
| | | | 20,000 | | | | | | * | | | | | | * | | |
Mark Betor
|
| | | | 6,395 | | | | | | * | | | | | | * | | |
William Miltner
|
| | | | 745 | | | | | | * | | | | | | * | | |
Ignacio Novoa
|
| | | | 16,320 | | | | | | * | | | | | | * | | |
Kent Puckett
|
| | | | 0 | | | | | | * | | | | | | * | | |
Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (9 Persons)(3)
|
| | | | [4,469,034] | | | | | | [1.7]% | | | | | | [2.1]% | | |
5% Beneficial Owners:** | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acuitas Capital LLC(4)
|
| | | | [26,142,829] | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Michael Wachs 2022 Dynasty Trust(5)
|
| | | | [13,016,019] | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Esousa Holdings LLC(5)
|
| | | | [13,016,037] | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Ault Lending, LLC f/k/a Digital Power Lending, LLC(6)
|
| | | | [5,744,726] | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Jess Mogul(7)
|
| | | | [1,895,541] | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Davis-Rice Pty Limited(8)
|
| | | | [18,939,392] | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
| Year 1 | | | No Redemption | |
| Year 2 | | | Redemption at 120% of the Series C Redemption Price | |
| Year 3 | | | Redemption at 115% of the Series C Redemption Price | |
| Year 4 | | | Redemption at 110% of the Series C Redemption Price | |
| Year 5 | | | Redemption at 105% of the Series C Redemption Price | |
|
Year 6 and thereafter
|
| | Redemption at 100% of the Series C Redemption Price | |
| Year 1 | | | No Redemption | |
| Year 2 | | | Redemption at 120% of the Series D Redemption Price | |
| Year 3 | | | Redemption at 115% of the Series D Redemption Price | |
| Year 4 | | | Redemption at 110% of the Series D Redemption Price | |
| Year 5 | | | Redemption at 105% of the Series D Redemption Price | |
|
Year 6 and thereafter
|
| | Redemption at 100% of the Series D Redemption Price | |
| Class I | | | 3 Directors | | | Expires 2025 | |
| Class II | | | 2 Directors | | | Expires 2026 | |
| Class III | | | 2 Directors | | | Expires 2024 | |