☐ | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
☐ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
☒ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
☐ | Definitive Additional Materials |
☐ | Soliciting Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-12 |
Nxu, Inc. |
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) |
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other than the Registrant) |
☒ | No fee required. |
☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
☐ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
1. | To elect four directors to serve until the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders (Proposal 1); |
2. | To consider and vote on a proposal to adopt and approve the Nxu, Inc. Amended and Restated 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Amended Plan”) (Proposal 2); |
3. | To ratify the appointment of Prager Metis CPAs LLC as Nxu’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2024 (Proposal 3); |
4. | To consider and vote on a proposal to amend Nxu’s Certificate of Incorporation (Proposal 4); |
5. | For the holders of Class B common stock to consider and vote on the authorization of a Series of Preferred Stock (Proposal 5); and |
6. | To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting of any postponement or adjournment thereof. |
| Proposal | | | Vote Required to Approve Proposal | | | Abstentions and Broker Non- Votes | |
| Proposal 1: To elect four directors to serve until the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders (the “Director Election Proposal”) | | | Majority of votes cast | | | Abstentions and broker non-votes are not considered votes cast and will have no effect | |
| Proposal 2: To consider and vote on a proposal to adopt and approve the Amended Plan (the “Plan Proposal”) | | | Majority of votes cast | | | Abstentions and broker non-votes are not considered votes cast and will have no effect | |
| Proposal 3: To ratify the appointment of Prager Metis CPAs LLC as Nxu’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2024 (the “Auditor Ratification Proposal”) | | | Majority of votes cast | | | No broker non-votes. Abstentions are not considered votes cast and will have no effect | |
| Proposal 4: To consider and vote on a proposal to amend Nxu’s Certificate of Incorporation (the “Charter Amendment Proposal”) | | | Majority voting power of issued and outstanding shares | | | Abstentions and broker non-votes will have the effect of a vote against this proposal | |
| Proposal | | | Vote Required to Approve Proposal | | | Abstentions and Broker Non- Votes | |
| Proposal 5: For the holders of Class B common stock to consider and vote on the authorization of a series of Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock Proposal”) | | | Two-thirds of the shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding | | | Abstentions and broker non-votes with respect to Class B common stock will have the effect of a vote against this proposal | |
• | You can submit a proxy to vote your shares by calling the toll-free number shown on your proxy card and voting over the phone. |
• | You can submit a proxy to vote your shares by visiting the website shown on your proxy card and voting via the Internet. |
• | You can submit a proxy to vote your shares by completing, signing, dating, and returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. If you hold your shares of Class A common stock in “street name” through a bank, broker, or other nominee, you will need to follow the instructions provided to you by your bank, broker, or other nominee to ensure that your shares are represented and voted at the Annual Meeting. |
• | If you submit a proxy card, your “proxy,” whose name is listed on the proxy card, will vote your shares as you instruct on the proxy card. If you sign and return the proxy card but do not give instructions on how to vote your shares, your shares of Class A common stock will be voted as recommended by the Board. |
• | You can attend the Annual Meeting and vote virtually even if you have previously voted by submitting a proxy pursuant to any of the methods noted above. However, if your shares of Class A common stock are held in the street name of your broker, bank, or other nominee, you must get a proxy from the broker, bank or other nominee. That is the only way Nxu can be sure that the broker, bank, or nominee has not already voted your shares of Nxu Class A common stock. |
• | you may send another proxy card with a later date or submit a new proxy online or by telephone; |
• | you may notify Nxu in writing before the Annual Meeting that you have revoked your proxy; or |
• | you may attend the Annual Meeting virtually, revoke your proxy and vote online as described above. |
| | Mark Hanchett | | | | | Annie Pratt | | | |||
Britt Ide | | | | | | | | | Jessica Billingsley |
Name | | | Age | | | Position |
Mark Hanchett | | | 43 | | | Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board |
Annie Pratt | | | 32 | | | President and Director |
Sarah Wyant | | | 39 | | | Interim Chief Financial Officer |
Britt Ide | | | 52 | | | Director |
Caryn Nightengale | | | 46 | | | Director |
Jessica Billingsley | | | 46 | | | Director |
• | overseeing the employee compensation policies and practices; |
• | determining and approving the compensation of the chief executive officer and the other executive officers; |
• | reviewing and approving incentive compensation and equity compensation policies and programs and exercising discretion in the administration of such programs; and |
• | producing a report on compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement, as required. |
Total Number of Directors: 4 | | | Female | | | Male | | | Non-Binary | | | Did Not Disclose Gender |
Part I: Gender Identity | | | | | | | | | ||||
Directors | | | 4 | | | 1 | | | — | | | — |
Part II: Demographic Background | | | | | | | | | ||||
African American or Black | | | 1 | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Alaskan Native or Native American | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Asian | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Hispanic or Latinx | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
White | | | 3 | | | 1 | | | — | | | — |
Two or More Races or Ethnicities | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
LGBTQ+ | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Did Not Disclose Demographic Background | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
• | none of the members of the Board’s compensation committee is, or has ever been, one of our officers or employees; |
• | none of the members of the Board’s compensation committee had any relationships with the us requiring disclosure under “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions”; |
• | none of our executive officers served as a member of the compensation committee of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on the Board’s compensation committee; |
• | none of our executive officers served as a director of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on our compensation committee; and |
• | none of our executive officers served as a member of the compensation committee of another entity, one of whose executive officers served as one of our directors. |
Name and Position | | | Dollar Value ($)(1) |
Mark Hanchett Chief Executive Officer | | | 6,696,885 |
Annie Pratt President | | | 5,646,889 |
Sarah Wyant Interim Chief Financial Officer | | | 142,500 |
Apoorv Dwivedi Former Chief Financial Officer | | | — |
Executive Officers as a Group(2) | | | 12,486,274 |
Non-Executive Directors as a Group | | | 140,000 |
Non-Executive Officer Employees as a Group | | | 8,094,784 |
(1) | The amount disclosed for Mr. Hanchett, Ms. Pratt, Ms. Wyant, the Executive Officers as a Group and the Company's Non-Executive Officer Employees as a Group is equal to the total dollar value of their incentive equity awards denominated in Class A common stock that have had their vesting delayed until after the Annual Meeting plus the total dollar value of each individual's or group's outstanding liability-classified equity awards that remain subject to vesting and forfeiture conditions and which were originally granted with the intent to be settled in the form of Class A common stock. The amount disclosed for non-employee directors is equal to the total dollar value of their incentive equity awards that would have settled in early 2024 that have been delayed until after the Annual Meeting. Share figures will be determined by dividing the dollar value by the closing stock price on the date the awards convert into shares or share-based awards. |
(2) | This group includes Mr. Hanchett, Ms. Pratt and Ms. Wyant. |
• | Mark Hanchett, Chief Executive Officer; |
• | Annie Pratt, President; |
• | Sarah Wyant, Interim Chief Financial Officer; and |
• | Apoorv Dwivedi, Former Chief Financial Officer. |
Name and Principal Position | | | Year | | | Salary ($) | | | Stock Awards ($)(1) | | | Option Awards ($) | | | Total ($) |
Mark Hanchett, Chief Executive Officer | | | 2023 | | | 200,000 | | | 2,920,000 | | | — | | | 3,120,000 |
| 2022 | | | 200,000 | | | — | | | — | | | 200,000 | ||
Annie Pratt, President | | | 2023 | | | 200,000 | | | 1,870,000 | | | — | | | 1,890,000 |
| 2022 | | | 200,000 | | | — | | | — | | | 200,000 | ||
Sarah Wyant, Chief Financial Officer(2) | | | 2023 | | | 120,740 | | | 225,267 | | | — | | | 346,007 |
Apoorv Dwivedi, Former Chief Financial Officer(2) | | | 2023 | | | 200,000 | | | 720,000 | | | — | | | 920,000 |
| 2022 | | | 200,000 | | | 770,000 | | | 1,651,190 | | | 2,621,190 |
(1) | The amounts reported in the “Stock Awards” column for 2023 represent the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted share units (“RSUs”) awarded to our Named Executive Officers, calculated in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC Topic 718. The assumptions used in calculating the grant date fair value are incorporated by reference to Notes 2 and 12 to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. |
(2) | On December 4, 2023, Mr. Dwivedi provided notice of his intent to resign from the Company. Mr. Dwivedi’s resignation was accepted, effective December 22, 2023. On December 15, 2023, the Board appointed Ms. Wyant, the Company’s then-current Vice President of Finance, to serve as Interim Chief Financial Officer until the Company completes its search for a new Chief Financial Officer. Because Ms. Wyant was not a Named Executive Officer before 2023, only her 2023 compensation is reported in the table. Ms. Wyant base salary increased to $225,000 per year effective December 15, 2023 in connection with her appointment as Interim Chief Executive Officer. |
• | Base Equity Award Program – Under the program, each Named Executive Officer receives a specified dollar value of base equity compensation (the “Base Equity Value”) each quarter, which is issued in the form of RSUs. The number of RSUs issued shall be calculated by dividing the applicable quarterly Base Equity Value by the closing share price on the business day immediately preceding the 15th day of the last month of each quarter, and will vest on the last business day of such quarter. Our Named Executive Officers’ quarterly Base Equity Values were $75,000 for Mr. Hanchett, Ms. Pratt and Mr. Dwivedi and $2,500 for Ms. Wyant. |
• | High Impact Award Program – Under the program, Mr. Hanchett, Ms. Pratt and Mr. Dwivedi receive a specified dollar value of equity compensation (“High Impact Value”) each month, which is issued in the form of RSUs. The number of RSUs issued shall be calculated by dividing the applicable monthly High Impact Value by the closing share price on the business day immediately preceding the 15th day of the last month of each quarter, and will vest on the last business day of such month. The total High Impact Award value for each of Mr. Hanchett, Ms. Pratt and Mr. Dwivedi is $1,800,000, $1,450,000 and $300,000, respectively. The awards vest ratably over 36 months. Mr. Hanchett’s award vests at $40,277.78 for the first 31 months, and $100,277 for the last five months. Ms. Pratt’s award vests at $40,277.78 and Mr. Dwivedi’s award vests at $8,333, each for all 36 months. |
• | Long-Term Incentive Program (2-year Service Award) – Ms. Wyant received an RSU award with a dollar value of $190,000. The award vests ratably on a quarterly basis starting on the first day of the month following the 1-year anniversary of Ms. Wyant’s hire date. The number of RSUs for each tranche are determined on the 15th day of the month prior to the vesting date. |
• | Short-Term Incentive Program – Under the program, each Named Executive Officer is eligible to earn a specified dollar value of short-term equity compensation (the “STIP Value”) each quarter, which is issued in the form of RSUs. The STIP Value earnable will be determined by the Compensation Committee, which sets quarterly performance goals at each quarterly Board meeting, and then will assess achievement against the goals to determine the percentage of the STIP Value that has been achieved. The number of RSUs eligible to be issued shall be calculated by dividing the applicable quarterly STIP Value by the closing share price on the business day immediately preceding the 15th day of the last month of each quarter. Our Named Executive Officer’s quarterly STIP Value targets were $60,000 for Mr. Hanchett, Ms. Pratt and Mr. Dwivedi and $12,500 for Ms. Wyant. |
Q3 STIP Performance Goals | |||||||||
Performance Metric | | | Decision | | | Weight | | | Outcome |
Battery Packs delivered to JLC and Matbock | | | Y/N | | | 10% | | | 0% |
Charging – revue-generating field trials | | | Y/N | | | 10% | | | 10% |
ESS – 60% phase gate complete | | | Y/N | | | 10% | | | 10% |
Production – hit 90 Q Cells/day by of quarter (minimum 50 cells) | | | Sliding, min 50% | | | 10% | | | 0% |
Revenue of $250,000 in Q3 | | | Y/N | | | 30% | | | 0% |
Raise Capital of $20M in Q3 | | | Sliding, min $15m | | | 30% | | | 0% |
| | | | | | 20% of target |
Q4 STIP Performance Goals | |||||||||
Performance Metric | | | Decision | | | Weight | | | Outcome |
Design & concept phase complete for charging pedestal | | | Y/N | | | 20% | | | 20% |
Two charging boxes built and facilitating public charging | | | Y/N | | | 20% | | | 20% |
Revenue from Charging > $100 | | | Y/N | | | 30% | | | 30% |
Raise Capital of $5M in Q4 | | | Sliding, min $3m | | | 30% | | | 30% |
| | | | | | 100% of target |
○ | Q3 STIP: Mr. Hanchett, Ms. Pratt and Mr. Dwivedi received an STIP Value of $12,000 and Ms. Wyant received an STIP Value of $2,500. |
○ | Q4 STIP: Mr. Hanchett, Ms. Pratt and Mr. Dwivedi are eligible to receive an STIP Value of $60,000 and Ms. Wyant received an STIP Value of $12,500. |
• | Performance-Retention Bonus – Ms. Wyant received a performance RSU award of 1,333 RSUs, that vest based on the following service and performance criteria: (i) 25% for service through September 30, 2023, (ii) 25% for service through October 31, 2023 and the Company completing 500 kwh cumulative charge cycles in revenue-generating field trials, (iii) 25% for service through November 30, 2023 and the Company completing 750 kwh cumulative charge cycles in revenue-generating field trials and (iv) 25% for service through December 31, 2023 and the Company completing 1,000 kwh cumulative charge cycles in revenue-generating field trials. |
• | Long-term Equity Incentive Program – Under Mr. Hanchett, Ms. Pratt and Mr. Dwivedi’s employment agreements, they are eligible to participate in a long-term equity incentive program. Notwithstanding the language in their employment agreements, no awards have been granted under the program as of the date of this filing. |
| | | | Option Awards(1) | | | | | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||
Name | | | | | Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) exercisable | | | Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) unexercisable | | | Option exercise price ($) | | | Option expiration date | | | | | Number of shares or units of stock that have not vested (#) | | | Market value of shares or units of stock that have not vested ($)(2) | ||
Mark Hanchett | | | | | 176,691 | | | 24,000 | | | 1,050 | | | 8/24/2031 | | | (5) | | | 65,217 | | | 150,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | (6) | | | 712,560 | | | 1,638,889 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | (7) | | | 26,087 | | | 60,000 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | (8) | | | 24,000 | | | — | ||||||
Annie Pratt | | | | | 54,811 | | | 24,000 | | | 1,050 | | | 8/24/2031 | | | (5) | | | 65,217 | | | 150,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | (6) | | | 560,386 | | | 1,288,889 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | (7) | | | 26,087 | | | 60,000 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | (8) | | | 12,000 | | | — |
| | | | Option Awards(1) | | | | | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||
Name | | | | | Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) exercisable | | | Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) unexercisable | | | Option exercise price ($) | | | Option expiration date | | | | | Number of shares or units of stock that have not vested (#) | | | Market value of shares or units of stock that have not vested ($)(2) | ||
Sarah Wyant | | | | | | | | | | | | | (5) | | | 2,174 | | | 5,000 | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | (9) | | | 82,609 | | | 190,000 | ||||||
Apoorv Dwivedi | | | (3) | | | 600 | | | — | | | 1,050 | | | 1/17/2032 | | | | | | | |||
| | (4) | | | 667 | | | — | | | 1,050 | | | 6/8/2032 | | | | | | |
(1) | All option awards reflected in this table for Mr. Hanchett and Ms. Pratt were granted on August 24, 2021. For Mr. Hanchett and Ms. Pratt, their option awards vest or vested as follows: (i) 118,691 options and 37,811 options, respectively, on August 24, 2021; (ii) 2,500 options and 1,250 options, respectively, vesting monthly on the first of the month from September 1, 2021 through December 1, 2021; and (iii) 2,000 options and 1,000 options, respectively, vesting monthly on the first of the month starting January 1, 2022 through December 1, 2024. |
(2) | Except as otherwise noted, the amount listed reflects the market value per share of our Class A common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market of $2.30 per share as of the last trading day of the year (December 29, 2023), multiplied by the amount shown in the column for the number of shares underlying unvested awards. |
(3) | The options in this row have a grant date of January 17, 2022. |
(4) | The options in this row have a grant date of January 1, 2022. |
(5) | These represent the dollar values of the Base Equity Award that remains outstanding as of December 31, 2023, with the number of shares determined using the closing share price on the last trading day of the year. Ms. Wyant’s award will settle in two equal installments on March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024. Mr. Hanchett and Ms. Pratt’s awards will settle in full following the Annual Meeting of stockholders. |
(6) | These represent the dollar values of the High Impact Award that remains outstanding as of December 31, 2023, with the number of shares determined using the closing share price on the last trading day of the year. Any amounts that would have vested for Mr. Hanchett and Ms. Pratt’s awards prior to the Annual Meeting of stockholders will settle shortly thereafter, and the rest of the award remain on its regular vesting schedule. |
(7) | These represent the dollar values of the Q4 STIP Award that remains outstanding as of December 31, 2023, with the number of shares determined using the closing share price on the last trading day of the year. Mr. Hanchett and Ms. Pratt’s awards will settle in full following the Annual Meeting of stockholders. |
(8) | All outstanding restricted share units of Class B common stock were granted on August 27, 2021. Mr. Hanchett and Ms. Pratt’s restricted share units of Class B common stock vest or vested as follows: (i) 2,500 units and 1,250 units, respectively, vesting monthly on the first of the month from September 1, 2021 through December 1, 2021; and (ii) 2,000 units and 1,000 units, respectively, vesting monthly on the first of the month starting January 1, 2022 through December 1, 2024. The amount listed for Mr. Hanchett and Ms. Pratt in the market value column reflects the market value per share of our Class B common stock determined by our Board as of December 31, 2023, multiplied by the amount shown in the column for the number of shares underlying unvested awards. For a description of some of the factors the Board used in determining the market value of our Class B common stock, see Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. |
(9) | This represents the dollar value of Ms. Wyant’s 2-year LTIP Service Award that remains outstanding as of December 31, 2023. Ms. Wyant’s award will settle in four equal, quarterly installments starting on May 31, 2024, with 25% on such date, and then 25% vesting on August 31, 2024, November 30, 2024 and February 28, 2025. |
Name(1) | | | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | | | Stock Awards ($)(2) | | | Total ($) |
Caryn Nightengale | | | 60,485 | | | 300,984 | | | 361,469 |
Britt Ide | | | 61,435 | | | 300,984 | | | 362,419 |
Jessica Billingsley | | | 15,000 | | | 140,000 | | | 155,000 |
(1) | Ms. Billingsley joined the Company on July 1, 2023 and her annual compensation was pro-rated for her length of service as a non-employee director in 2023. |
(2) | The amounts reported in the “Stock Awards” column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of RSU awards granted to Mses. Nightengale, Ide and Billingsley as part of their equity retainers for their Board service in 2023. The grant date fair value was computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The assumptions used in calculating the grant date fair value are incorporated by reference to Notes 2 and 12 to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, each of our non-employee directors who were members of the Board on such date held the following outstanding and unvested RSUs (determined by taking the $70,000 remaining in their equity retainer for their 2023 to 2024 Board service and dividing it by $2.30, the closing share price of the Company’s Class A common stock on the last trading day of the year): 30,435 RSUs. |
Plan category | | | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (#)(1) | | | Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights ($)(2) | | | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (#)(3) |
| | (a) | | | (b) | | | (c) | |
Equity compensation plans approved by securityholders | | | 302,998 | | | 7.00 | | | 1,710,672 |
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Total | | | 302,998 | | | 7.00 | | | 1,710,672 |
(1) | Column (a) includes outstanding stock options to acquire 300,097 shares of Company Class A common stock and 2,901 shares of Company Class A common stock issuable pursuant to outstanding RSUs that are accounted for as equity awards in the Company’s financial statements. Column (a) does not include the Company’s outstanding RSUs that are accounted for as liability-classified awards in the Company’s financial statements, as the number of shares for these RSUs that remained outstanding as of December 31, 2023 was not determinable. The total dollar value of outstanding liability-classified RSUs as of December 31, 2023 was $8,259,000. |
(2) | The weighted average exercise price is calculated based solely on the outstanding stock options. It does not take into account outstanding RSUs, which have no exercise price. |
(3) | Column (c) does not include the Company’s outstanding RSUs that are accounted for as liability-classified awards in the Company’s financial statements, as the number of shares for these RSUs that remained outstanding as of December 31, 2023 was not determinable. The total dollar value of outstanding liability-classified RSUs as of December 31, 2023 was $8,259,000. Pursuant to the evergreen provision in the 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan, the number of Class A shares available for issuance increases automatically on January 1 of each calendar year beginning in 2024 in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 5% of the aggregate number of outstanding shares of our Class A common stock on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year and (ii) such smaller number of shares determined by the plan’s administrator. As of January 1, 2024, 15,188 shares of Class A common stock were added to the 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan’s share reserve pursuant to the evergreen provision. |
Plan category | | | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (#)(1) | | | Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights ($)(2) | | | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (#) |
| | (a) | | | (b) | | | (c) | |
Equity compensation plans approved by securityholders | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | | | 36,000 | | | — | | | — |
Total | | | 36,000 | | | — | | | — |
(1) | Column (a) includes 24,000 and 12,000 shares of Class B common stock issuable pursuant to RSUs that were granted on August 27, 2021 to Mr. Hanchett and Ms. Pratt, respectively. The RSUs will vest ratably on the first of the month starting January 1, 2024 and ending December 31, 2024. |
| | YEAR ENDED | ||||
| | DECEMBER 31, 2023 | | | DECEMBER 31, 2022 | |
Audit Fees(1) | | | $275,805 | | | $301,100 |
Tax Fees(2) | | | 24,500 | | | 32,250 |
Total | | | $300,305 | | | $333,350 |
(1) | Includes fees for audits of our annual financial statements, reviews of the related quarterly financial statements, and services that are normally provided by the independent accountants in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements, including comfort letters and consents issued in connection with SEC filings and reviews of documents filed with the SEC. |
(2) | Tax fees relate to professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax return review and preparation and related tax advice. |
Britt Ide | | | Caryn Nightengale (Chair) | | | Jessica Billingsley |
• | The Company currently has approximately 16,959 stockholders of record. |
• | By adopting the Amendment and the accompanying “votes cast” standard, shares held by stockholders who do not vote or return proxies will no longer count as votes against changes to the number of shares of Class A common stock and reverse splits of Class A common stock. However, stockholders may continue to register their dissent against these actions by casting votes “against” any of these actions, if they are taken in the future. |
• | It is possible that one or more reverse splits of the Class A common stock may be necessary to maintain the trading price of Class A Common Stock at or above $1.00, so that the Class A common stock may continue to be listed on the Nasdaq Global Market. An increase to the authorized number of shares of Class A common stock may be advisable at some point in the future if the Company needs to raise funds through the issuance of Class A common stock. The Company is currently authorized to issue 4,000,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, and a total of 32,022,877 shares of Class A common stock are either issued or reserved for issuance on the conversion or exchange of other securities. |
• | The “votes cast” standard that would be enacted as a result of the Amendment may have the practical effect of amplifying the voting power of the Insiders if they support a future share increase or reverse stock split of the Class A common stock, since the new voting standard would result in fewer votes “against” these |
• | Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Designation or required by law, the Series B Preferred Stock shall not entitle the holder thereof to any voting rights on any matter submitted for stockholder action. |
• | The Series B Preferred Stock is entitled to cast one vote on the election of directors. |
• | On any Special Action, the Series B Preferred Stock is entitled to cast a number of votes equal to the total number of votes that could be cast by the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock on such Special Action. The holder of Series B Preferred Stock is entitled to vote with the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock as a single class on all Special Actions. A Special Action is defined as any amendment to the Charter to: (1) increase or decrease the number of shares of Class A Common Stock authorized for issuance; or (2) reclassify by combining the issued shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock into a fewer number of shares of such respective classes, provided that the shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are proportionately combined. |
• | The holder of the Series B Preferred Stock is required to execute a joinder to the Certificate of Designation (the “Joinder”) that requires the holder to vote in a specified manner on a Special Action. Specifically, the holder must vote the voting power of the Series B Preferred Stock by (1) casting a number of votes “for” the Special Action that is determined by multiplying the total voting power of the Series B Preferred Stock by a fraction, where the numerator is the total number of votes cast “for” the Special Action by the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, and the denominator is the total number of votes cast “for” or “against” the Special Action by the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, and (2) casting the balance of the voting power of the Series B Preferred Stock “against” the Special Action. |
• | The Series B Preferred Stock may be redeemed at any time at the option of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (acting in its sole discretion) for $1.00, payable in cash and only out of funds legally available therefor. |
• | The share of Series B Preferred Stock may only be owned by a person or entity who has executed the Joinder, and the holder of the share of Series B Preferred Stock may not directly or indirectly transfer the Series B Preferred Stock to any other person or entity without the prior approval of the Board of Directors (acting in its sole discretion). |
• | The Company currently has approximately 16,959 stockholders of record. |
• | By authorizing and issuing the Series B Preferred Stock, and as a result of the Joinder that requires the holder of Series B Preferred Stock to vote proportionately with the votes cast by holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, the common stockholders who cast votes on a Special Action will have enhanced voting power. For example, a Special Action may be approved if the votes cast “for” the Special Action by the holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock exceed the votes cast “against” the Special Action by such holders. Shares held by holders of Class A common stock or Class B common stock who do not vote or return proxies will a significantly less effect on the outcome of a vote on a Special Action. However, holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock may continue to register their dissent against Special Action by casting votes “against” any of these actions, if they are taken in the future. |
• | It is possible that a Special Action comprised of one or more reverse splits of the Class A common stock may be necessary to maintain the trading price of Class A Common Stock at or above $1.00, so that the |
• | The issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock may have the practical effect of amplifying the voting power of the Class A common stock and Class B common stock held by the Insiders if they support a future share increase or reverse stock split of the Class A common stock. However, no Special Action may be effected under Delaware law unless it is approved by the Board. Accordingly, a Special Action would be effected only if the directors have determined that the action is advisable and advances the best interests of all stockholders. |
• | The Company will monitor voter turnout at future stockholder meetings, and may from time to time consider the issuance of additional series of preferred stock that have the same type of voting provisions as the Series B Preferred Stock, to apply that voting scheme to other actions, in addition to Special Actions. |
• | each person who is known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of any class of the Company’s common stock; |
• | each of the Company’s current named executive officers and directors; and |
• | all current executive officers and directors of the Company, as a group. |
Name of Beneficial Ownership(1) | | | Class A Shares | | | % of Class | | | Class B Shares | | | % of Class | | | Combined Voting Power(2) |
Mark Hanchett | | | 193,564(3) | | | 1.6% | | | 188,692 (4) | | | 72.2% | | | 13.0% |
Annie Pratt | | | 77,654(5) | | | 0.6% | | | 72,812(6) | | | 27.8% | | | 5.0% |
Sarah Wyant | | | 42,533(7) | | | * | | | — | | | — | | | * |
Britt Ide | | | 17,346(8) | | | * | | | — | | | — | | | * |
Caryn Nightengale | | | 17,196(9) | | | * | | | — | | | — | | | * |
Jessica Billingsley | | | 14,455(10) | | | * | | | — | | | — | | | * |
Directors and executive officers as a group (6 individuals) | | | 362,749(11) | | | 3.0% | | | 261,504 | | | 100% | | | 18.4% |
* | Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%. |
(1) | The business address of each of the individuals is c/o Nxu, Inc., 1828 N Higley Rd., Suite 116, Mesa, Arizona 85205. |
(2) | Represents the percentage of voting power with respect to all shares of the Company’s outstanding capital stock voting together as a single class. Does not include shares underlying stock options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 16, 2024. The holders of our Class B common stock are entitled to 10 votes per share and the holders of our Class A common stock are entitled to one vote per share. |
(3) | Includes 4,000 shares of Class A common stock underlying options that are currently exercisable or are exercisable within 60 days. |
(4) | Includes 4,000 restricted stock units that vest within 60 days. |
(5) | Represents 2,000 shares of Class A common stock underlying options that are currently exercisable or are exercisable within 60 days. |
(6) | Includes 2,000 restricted stock units that vest within 60 days. |
(7) | Includes 0 shares of Class A common stock underlying options that are currently exercisable or are exercisable within 60 days. |
(8) | Includes 0 shares of Class A common stock underlying options that are currently exercisable or are exercisable within days. |
(9) | Includes 0 shares of Class A common stock underlying options that are currently exercisable or are exercisable within 60 days. |
(10) | Includes 0 shares of Class A common stock underlying options that are currently exercisable or are exercisable within 60 days. |
(11) | Includes 6,000 shares of Class A common stock underlying options that are currently exercisable or are exercisable within 60 days. |
• | any person serving as a director, director nominee or executive officer of the Company or any person who has served in any of such roles since the beginning of the most recent fiscal year, even if he or she does not currently serve in that role; |
• | a stockholder owning in excess of five percent of the Company’s voting securities or an immediate family member of such a stockholder; |
• | immediate family members of such directors, nominees for director and executive officers, including an individual’s spouse, parents, step-parents, children, step-children, siblings, mothers- and fathers-in law, sons- and daughters-in law, brothers- and sisters-in law and other persons (except tenants or employees) who share such individual’s household; and |
• | any other person who may be a “related person” pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
Nxu, Inc. | | | ||||
| | | | |||
By: | | | /s/ Mark Hanchett | | | |
| | Mark Hanchett | | | ||
| | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | | |
1. | The amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation set forth in this Certificate of Amendment was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 242 and 228 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). |
2. | Article V of the Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:1 |
1 | Additions are shown with underlined text. |
| | NXU, INC. | ||||
| | | | |||
| | By: | | | ||
| | | | Mark Hanchett Chief Executive Officer | ||
| | | | |||
| | DATED: | | |
1. | Designation and Number. This series of Preferred Stock shall be designated as the “Series B Preferred Stock,” and one share is hereby designated as the sole share of Series B Preferred Stock. |
2. | Defined Terms. |
(a) | Capitalized terms that are not defined in this Certificate of Designations have the meaning given those terms in the Certificate of Incorporation. |
(b) | “Holder” means the person or entity then holding the Series B Preferred Stock. |
(c) | “Joinder” means the joinder to this Certificate of Designations in the form approved by the Board of Directors, by which the holder of the Series B Preferred Stock agrees to be bound by the obligations set forth herein. |
3. | Dividends. The Holder shall not be entitled to receive dividends of any kind by reason of his or her ownership of Series B Preferred Stock. |
4. | Liquidation, Dissolution and Winding Up. Following the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the Holder shall be entitled to receive $1.00, payable in cash and only out of funds legally available therefor, by reason of his or her ownership of Series B Preferred Stock, which shall be paid prior to the payment of any amounts to the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock in connection with such liquidation, dissolution or winding up. The Series B Preferred Stock shall rank junior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to distributions paid on a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation. Any series of Preferred Stock authorized and issued by the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Certificate of Designations may rank senior or junior to, or on a parity with, the Series B Preferred Stock, as determined by the terms of such series of Preferred Stock. |
5. | Voting Rights. |
(a) | Except as otherwise provided in this Certificate of Designations or required by law, the Series B Preferred Stock shall not entitle the holder thereof to any voting rights on any matter submitted for stockholder action. |
(b) | The Series B Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to cast one vote “for” (or, if permitted by the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Corporation, “against”) the election of valid nominees for director, up to the number of directorships to be elected. |
(c) | Whenever a record date is fixed to determine the stockholders entitled to vote on a Special Action, the Series B Preferred Stock shall entitle the Holder to cast a number of votes on the Special Action equal to the total number of votes that could be cast by the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock on such Special Action. The Holder shall be entitled to vote with the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock as a single class on all Special Actions. |
(d) | “Special Action” means any amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to: (1) increase or decrease the number of shares of Class A Common Stock authorized for issuance; or (2) reclassify by combining the issued shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock into a less number of shares of such respective classes, provided that the shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are proportionately combined. |
(e) | By executing the Joinder, the Holder agrees that, with respect to each Special Action submitted for adoption or approval by the stockholders of the Corporation: |
(i) | The Holder shall cast all of the votes to which he or she is entitled by reason of holding the Series B Preferred Stock on such Special Action; |
(ii) | Solely with respect to the voting power of the Series B Preferred Stock held by the Holder, the Holder shall cast a number of votes “for” the Special Action that is determined by multiplying the total voting power of the Series B Preferred Stock by a fraction, where the numerator is the total number of votes cast “for” the Special Action by the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, and the denominator is the total number of votes cast “for” or “against” the Special Action by the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock; and |
(iii) | The Holder shall cast the balance of the votes entitled to be cast with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock “against” the Special Action. |
(f) | If the Holder purports to fail at any time to vote as required herein, the Holder hereby irrevocably grants to, and appoints, each director of the Corporation (each of whom may act alone) as such Holder’s proxy and attorney-in-fact (with full power of substitution), for and in the name, place and stead of the Holder to vote the Series B Preferred Stock as required herein. By executing the Joinder, the Holder acknowledges that the proxy granted herein is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable. |
(g) | The voting covenants and irrevocable proxy set forth in this Certificate of Designations shall be effective until the redemption of the Series B Preferred Stock, even if such covenants and proxy remain effective for more than three years. |
(h) | For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the foregoing paragraphs (e) through (g) shall apply solely with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock and the voting power associated therewith and shall not apply to any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation held by the Holder. |
6. | Redemption. The Series B Preferred Stock may be redeemed at any time at the option of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (acting in its sole discretion) for $1.00, payable in cash and only out of funds legally available therefor. |
7. | Ownership and Transfer. The Series B Preferred Stock shall be uncertificated. The share of Series B Preferred Stock may only be owned by a person or entity who has executed the Joinder. The Holder may not directly or indirectly transfer the Series B Preferred Stock to any other person or entity without the prior approval of the Board of Directors (acting in its sole discretion). Any attempted transfer in violation of this paragraph shall be void and of no force or effect. |
8. | Amendments. No amendment to this Certificate of Designations shall be effected without the approval of the Holder. |
9. | Governing Law. This Certificate of Designations shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of any laws or legal principles that might otherwise govern under the applicable principles of conflicts of law thereof. |
10. | Severability. The provisions of this Certificate of Designations are severable, so that the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Certificate of Designations shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Certificate of Designations. |
11. | Forum. By executing the Joinder, the Holder irrevocably consents to the personal jurisdiction of the Delaware Court of Chancery with respect to any dispute arising out of, relating to, or in connection with this Certificate of Designations and the Joinder and HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY SUCH DISPUTE. The Holder agrees to mailing of process or other papers to the Holder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. |
| | NXU, INC. | ||||
| | | | |||
| | By: | | | ||
| | | | Mark Hanchett Chief Executive Officer | ||
| | | | |||
| | DATED: | | |