Phoenix Motor Forms Special Committee to Probe CEO Xiaofeng Denton Peng's Alleged Misconduct, Former CFO J. Mark Hastings Tapped as Interim Chief
On May 17, 2024, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Phoenix Motor Inc. (the “Company”) established a special committee to investigate various allegations against Mr. Xiaofeng Denton Peng, the current Chief Executive Officer of the Company (“CEO”), including but not limited to a breach of his fiduciary duty as the CEO of the Company, Chairman and Director of the Board, and as a majority shareholder of the Company by causing the Company to enter into related party transactions, including that certain guarantee, dated March 6, 2024, in favor of Streeterville Capital, LLC. Pursuant to the guaranty, the Company is obligated to guarantee repayment of a debt of $14.98 million incurred by SPI Energy Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ:SPI) where Mr. Peng is currently serving as CEO. The Board believes that this is an unauthorized related party transaction that harms the Company and its minority shareholders. In light of the foregoing, the Board has suspended Mr. Peng from his position and responsibilities as the CEO of the Company with immediate effect, pending the outcome of the investigation. The Company's former Chief Financial Officer, J. Mark Hastings, has been appointed by the Board to assume the role of interim CEO until the conclusion of the investigation. A further statement will be made when the investigation is complete.