UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

_________________

SCHEDULE 14A

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Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant		☒
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant		☐

Check the appropriate box:

☐		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 under Rule 14a-12

Genie Energy Ltd.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

☒		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.

GENIE ENERGY LTD.
520 Broad Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
(973) 438-3500

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TIME AND DATE:		11:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.
PLACE:		Genie Energy Ltd.’s offices at 520 Broad Street, 4th Floor, Newark, New Jersey 07102.
ITEMS OF BUSINESS:		1. To elect five directors, each for a term of one year. 2. To approve an amendment to the Genie Energy Ltd. Stock Option and Incentive Plan that will increase the number of shares of the Company’s Class B common stock available for the grant of awards thereunder by 180,000. 3. To conduct an advisory vote on compensation of named executive officers. 4. To vote on the frequency of the advisory vote on executive compensation: once a year, once every two years or once every three years. 5. To transact other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.
RECORD DATE:		You can vote if you were a stockholder of record as of 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on March 11, 2024.
PROXY VOTING:		You can vote either in person at the Annual Meeting or by proxy without attending the meeting. See details under the heading “How do I Vote?”
ANNUAL MEETING IN-PERSON ADMISSION:		If you were a stockholder of record as of March 11, 2024, a form of personal photo identification must be presented in order to be admitted to the Annual Stockholders Meeting. If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other holder of record, you must bring a brokerage statement or other written proof of ownership as of March 11, 2024 with you to the Annual Stockholders Meeting, as well as a form of personal photo identification. The Company requests that any stockholder seeking to attend the Annual Stockholders Meeting in person first email the Company’s investor relations department at invest@genie.com to RSVP.
ANNUAL MEETING DIRECTIONS:		You may request directions to the Annual Meeting via email at invest@genie.com or by calling Genie Investor Relations at (973) 438-3848.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for
the genie energy ltd. Stockholders Meeting to be Held on MAY 8, 2024:

The Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement and the 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at:
https://genie.com/investors/investor-relations/

		BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

		Joyce Mason
		Corporate Secretary

Newark, New Jersey
April 1, 2024

GENIE ENERGY LTD.
520 Broad Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
(973) 438-3500

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PROXY STATEMENT

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GENERAL INFORMATION

Introduction

This Proxy Statement is being furnished to the stockholders of record of Genie Energy Ltd., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “Genie”) as of 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 11, 2024, in connection with the solicitation by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”) of proxies for use in voting at the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). The Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time, at Genie Energy Ltd.’s offices at 520 Broad Street, 4th Floor, Newark, New Jersey 07102. The shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class A Common Stock”) and Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class B Common Stock”) present at the Annual Meeting or represented by the proxies received by Internet or mail (properly marked, dated and executed) and not revoked, will be voted at the Annual Meeting. This Proxy Statement is being mailed to the Company’s stockholders starting on or about April 5, 2024.

Solicitation and Voting Procedures

This solicitation of proxies is being made by the Company. The solicitation is being conducted by mail and by e-mail, and the Company will bear all attendant costs. These costs will include the expense of preparing and mailing proxy materials for the Annual Meeting and any reimbursements paid to brokerage firms and others for their expenses incurred in forwarding the solicitation materials regarding the Annual Meeting to the beneficial owners of the shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. The Company may conduct further solicitations personally, by telephone or by facsimile through its officers, directors and employees, none of whom will receive additional compensation for assisting with the solicitation.

The Board of Directors has fixed 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on Monday, March 11, 2024 as the record date (the “Record Date”) for determining the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. As of the Record Date, the Company had a total of 27,379,992 shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, consisting of 1,574,326 shares of Class A Common Stock and 25,805,666 shares of Class B Common Stock.

Stockholders are entitled to three votes for each share of Class A Common Stock, and one-tenth of one vote for each share of Class B Common Stock held by them. The holders of the shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock will vote as a single body on all matters presented to the stockholders. There are no dissenters’ rights of appraisal in connection with any proposal.

How do I Vote?

You can vote either in person at the Annual Meeting or by proxy without attending the meeting.

Beneficial holders of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, as of the Record Date, whose stock is held of record by another party should receive voting instructions from their bank, broker or other holder of record. If a stockholder’s shares are held through a nominee and the stockholder wants to vote at the meeting, such stockholder must obtain a proxy from the nominee record holder authorizing such stockholder to vote at the Annual Meeting.

Stockholders of record should receive a paper copy of our proxy materials and may vote by following the instructions on the proxy card that is included with the proxy materials. As set forth on the proxy card, there are two convenient methods for holders of record to direct their vote by proxy without attending the Annual Meeting: via

Internet or by mail. To vote by Internet, visit www.voteproxy.com. To vote by mail, mark, date and sign the enclosed proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided. Holders of record may also vote by attending the Annual Meeting and voting by ballot. All shares for which a proxy has been duly executed and delivered (by Internet or mail) and not properly revoked prior to the meeting will be voted at the Annual Meeting. If a stockholder of record signs and returns a proxy card but does not give voting instructions, the shares represented by that proxy will be voted as recommended by the Board of Directors. If any other matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting for consideration and if you have voted your shares by Internet or mail, the persons named as proxies will have the discretion to vote on those matters for you. On the date of filing this Proxy Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the Board of Directors did not know of any other matter to be raised at the Annual Meeting.

How Can I Change My Vote?

A stockholder of record can revoke his, her or its proxy at any time before it is voted at the Annual Meeting by delivering to the Company (to the attention of Joyce J. Mason, Esq., Corporate Secretary) a written notice of revocation or by executing a later-dated proxy by Internet or mail, or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.

If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker, or other nominee, you must obtain a proxy executed in your favor from the holder of record (that is, your bank, broker, or nominee) to be able to vote at the Annual Meeting.

What Constitutes a Quorum for the Meeting and What is the Vote Required for the Proposals?

The presence at the Annual Meeting of a majority of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock (voting together), either in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and any broker non-votes (i.e., votes withheld by brokers on non-routine proposals in the absence of instructions from beneficial owners) will be counted as present or represented at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists.

The affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power present (in person or by proxy) at the Annual Meeting and casting a vote on a Proposal will be required for the approval of the election of any director (Proposal No. 1), the amendment to the Company’s 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (the “2021 Plan”) (Proposal No. 2) and the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our Named Executive Officers (Proposal No. 3). This means that the number of votes cast “for” a director nominee or “for” a Proposal must exceed the number of votes cast “against” that director nominee or that Proposal, respectively. Abstentions are not counted as votes “for” or “against” a director nominee or any of these proposals. Proposal No. 4 asks stockholders to express a preference among three possible choices — as to whether future advisory votes on executive compensation should be held every year, every two years, or every three years. Accordingly, abstentions will not be counted as expressing any preference. This advisory vote is non-binding on the Board, but the Board will give careful consideration to the voting results on this proposal and expects to be guided by the alternative that receives the greatest number of votes, even if that alternative does not receive a majority of the votes cast.

If you are a beneficial owner whose shares are held of record by a broker, you must instruct the broker how to vote your shares. If you do not provide voting instructions, your shares will not be voted on any proposal on which the broker does not have discretionary authority to vote. This is called a “broker non-vote.” In these cases, the broker can register your shares as being present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum but will not be able to vote on those matters for which specific authorization is required under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). In the event of a broker non-vote or an abstention with respect to any proposal coming before the Annual Meeting, the shares represented by the relevant proxy will not be deemed to be present in respect of those proposals for the purpose of determining the total number of shares of which a majority is required for adoption, having the practical effect of reducing the number of affirmative votes required to achieve a majority vote for such matters by reducing the total number of shares from which a majority is calculated.

If you are a beneficial owner whose shares are held of record by a broker, your broker does not have discretionary authority to vote on the election of directors (Proposal No. 1), the adoption of an amendment to the 2021 Plan (Proposal No. 2), the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our Named Executive

Officers (Proposal No. 3), the advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation (Proposal No. 4), or on any stockholder proposal or other matter raised at the Annual Meeting without instructions from you, in which case a broker non-vote will occur and your shares will not be voted on these matters.

How Many Votes Are Required to Approve Other Matters?

Unless otherwise required by law or the Company’s Bylaws, the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power represented at the Annual Meeting and casting a vote on the matter will be required for other matters that may properly come before the meeting.

Stockholders Sharing the Same Address

We are sending only one copy of the Company’s 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and this Proxy Statement to stockholders of record who share the same last name and address, unless they have notified the Company that they want to continue to receive multiple copies. This practice, known as “householding,” is designed to reduce duplicate mailings and printings and postage costs. However, if any stockholder residing at such address wishes to receive a separate Annual Report or Proxy Statement in the future, he or she may contact Joyce J. Mason, Esq., Corporate Secretary, Genie Energy Ltd., 520 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102, or by phone at (973) 438-3500, and we will promptly forward to such stockholder a separate Annual Report or Proxy Statement. The contact information above may also be used by members of the same household currently receiving multiple copies of the 2023 Annual Report and Proxy Statement in order to request that only one set of materials be sent in the future.

Fiscal Year

The Company’s fiscal year ends on December 31st of each calendar year.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Introduction

The Company has in place a comprehensive corporate governance framework that reflects the corporate governance requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the corporate governance-related listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange.

In accordance with Sections 303A.09 and 303A.10 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, the Company has adopted a set of Corporate Governance Guidelines and a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, the full texts of which are available for your review in the Governance section of our website at http://genie.com/governance.php and which also are available in print to any stockholder upon written request to the Corporate Secretary.

Director Independence

The Corporate Governance Guidelines adopted by the Board of Directors provide that a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, and each member of the Audit, Compensation, Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees, must meet the independence requirements set forth therein. The full text of the Corporate Governance Guidelines, including the independence requirements, is available for your review in the Governance section of our website at https://genie.com/investors/governance-documents/. For a director to be considered independent, the Board of Directors must determine that a director meets the Independent Director Qualification Standards set forth in the Corporate Governance Guidelines, which comply with the New York Stock Exchange definition of independent, and is free from any material relationship with the Company and its executive officers. The Board of Directors considers all relevant facts and circumstances known to it in making an independence determination, and not merely from the standpoint of the director, but also from that of persons or organizations with which the director has an affiliation or significant financial interest. In addition to considering all relevant information available to it, the Board of Directors uses the following categorical Independent Director Qualification Standards in determining the “independence” of its directors:

1. During the past three years, the Company shall not have employed the director or, except in a non-officer capacity, any of the director’s immediate family members;

2. During the past three years, the director shall not have received, and shall not have an immediate family member who has received, during any twelve-month period within the last three years, more than $120,000 in direct compensation from the Company, other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service (provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service);

3. (a) The director shall not be a current partner or employee of a firm that is the Company’s internal or external auditor, (b) the director shall not have an immediate family member who is a current partner of such firm, (c) the director shall not have an immediate family member who is a current employee of such firm and personally works on the Company’s audit, and (d) neither the director nor any of his or her immediate family members shall have been, within the last three years, a partner or employee of such firm and personally worked on the Company’s audit within that time;

4. Neither the director, nor any of his or her immediate family members, shall be, or shall have been within the last three years, employed as an executive officer of another company where any of the Company’s present executive officers at the same time serves or served on that company’s compensation (or equivalent) committee; and

5. The director shall not be a current employee and shall not have an immediate family member who is a current executive officer of a company (excluding tax-exempt organizations) that has made payments to, or received payments from, the Company for property or services in an amount which, in any of the last three fiscal years, exceeds the greater of (a) $1 million or (b) two percent of the consolidated gross revenues of such other company. The Corporate Governance Committee will review the materiality of such relationship to tax-exempt organizations to determine if such director qualifies as independent.

Based on the review and recommendation of the Corporate Governance Committee, the Board of Directors has determined that each of W. Wesley Perry (Wes Perry), Alan Rosenthal and Allan Sass is independent in accordance with the Corporate Governance Guidelines and, thus, that a majority of the director nominees, and each member or nominee intended to become a member of the Audit, Compensation, Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees is independent.

As used herein, the term “independent director” shall mean any director who is deemed to be independent by the Board of Directors. Therefore, Howard Jonas and Joyce Mason are not independent directors. None of the other independent directors or director nominees had any relationships with the Company that the Corporate Governance Committee was required to consider when reviewing independence.

Director Selection Process

The Nominating Committee will consider director candidates recommended by the Company’s stockholders. Stockholders may recommend director candidates by contacting the Chairman of the Board as provided under the heading “Director Communications.” The Nominating Committee considers candidates suggested by its members, other directors, senior management and stockholders in anticipation of upcoming elections and actual or expected board vacancies. All candidates, including those recommended by stockholders, are evaluated on the same basis in light of the entirety of their credentials and the needs of the Board of Directors and the Company. Of particular importance is the candidate’s wisdom, integrity, ability to make independent analytical inquiries, understanding of the business environment in which the Company operates, as well as his or her potential contribution to the diversity of the Board of Directors and his or her willingness to devote adequate time to fulfill duties as a director. Under “Proposal No. 1 — Election of Directors” below, we provide an overview of each nominee’s experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led the Nominating Committee and the Board of Directors to determine that each nominee should serve as a Director.

Director Communications

Stockholders and other interested persons seeking to communicate directly with the Board of Directors, with the lead independent director (currently Wes Perry), or the independent directors as a group, should submit their written comments c/o Lead Independent Director at our principal executive offices, Genie Energy Ltd., 520 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102. The lead independent director will review any such communication at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting unless, in his or her judgment, earlier communication to the Board is warranted. If a stockholder communication raises concerns about the ethical conduct of the Company or its management, it should be sent directly to our Corporate Secretary, Joyce J. Mason, Esq., at our principal executive offices, Genie Energy Ltd., 520 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102. The Corporate Secretary will promptly forward a copy of any such communication to the Chairman of the Audit Committee and, if appropriate, our Chairman of the Board, and take such actions as they deem necessary to ensure that the subject matter is addressed by the appropriate committee of the Board of Directors, by management and/or by the full Board of Directors.

The Corporate Secretary may filter out and disregard or re-direct (without providing a copy to the directors or advising them of the communication), or may otherwise handle at his or her discretion, any director communication that falls into any of the following categories:

• Obscene materials;

• Unsolicited marketing or advertising material or mass mailings;

• Unsolicited newsletters, newspapers, magazines, books and publications;

• Surveys and questionnaires;

• Resumes and other forms of job inquiries;

• Requests for business contacts or referrals;

• Material that is threatening or illegal; or

• Any communications or materials that are not in writing.

In addition, the Corporate Secretary may handle, in her discretion, any director communication that can be described as an “ordinary business matter.” Such matters include the following:

• Routine questions, service and product complaints and comments that can be appropriately addressed by management; and

• Routine invoices, bills, account statements and related communications that can be appropriately addressed by management.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors held seven (7) meetings in 2023. In 2023, each of the Company’s directors attended or participated in 75% or more of the aggregate of (i) the total number of regularly scheduled meetings of the Board of Directors held during the period in which each such director served as a director and (ii) the total number of regularly scheduled meetings held by each committee of the Board of Directors during the period in which each such director served on such committees.

Directors are encouraged to attend the Company’s annual meetings of stockholders, and the Company generally schedules a meeting of the Board of Directors on the same date and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders. All of the members constituting the Board of Directors at the time of the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders attended that meeting via video conference.

Board of Directors Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight Role

Howard S. Jonas has served as Chairman of the Board since the Company’s inception. From January 2014 until November 2017, he also served as Chief Executive Officer. On November 1, 2017, Michael Stein, who was then Chief Executive Officer of Genie Retail Energy, Inc. (GRE), was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Howard S. Jonas remains Chairman of the Board, which is not an officer position, and continues to provide overall leadership to the Board of Directors in its oversight function. The risk management oversight roles of the Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance Committees discussed below, each of which are comprised solely of independent directors, provide an appropriate and effective balance to the Chairman of the Board role.

Section 303A.03 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual requires that the independent directors of the Company meet without management at regularly scheduled executive sessions. These executive sessions are held at every regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors. Wes Perry, an independent director and the “Lead Independent Director,” serves as the presiding director of these executive sessions and has served in that capacity since October 24, 2011. The Board of Directors determined that the role of Lead Independent Director was important to maintain a well-functioning Board of Directors that objectively assesses management’s proposals.

The Board of Directors and each of its committees conduct annual self-assessments to review and monitor their respective continued effectiveness.

As stated above, each of the Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance Committees oversees certain aspects of risk management and reports its respective findings to the full Board of Directors on a quarterly basis, and as is otherwise needed. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing risk management of financial matters, financial reporting, the adequacy of the risk-related internal controls, internal investigations, cybersecurity and security risks, generally. Management is responsible for day-to-day assessment and management of cybersecurity risks and reports regularly to the Audit Committee.

The Compensation Committee oversees risks related to compensation policies and practices. The Corporate Governance Committee oversees our Corporate Governance Guidelines and governance-related risks, such as board independence, as well as senior management succession planning.

Board Committees

The Board of Directors established an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Corporate Governance Committee and a Nominating Committee.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee consists of Wes Perry (Chairman), Alan Rosenthal and Allan Sass, and is responsible for, among other things, the appointment, compensation, removal and oversight of the work of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee also oversees management’s performance of its responsibility for the integrity of the Company’s accounting and financial reporting and its systems of internal controls, the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The Audit Committee receives information and updates at least quarterly and engages with

management, with respect to the effectiveness of the Company’s cybersecurity and information security framework, data privacy, and risk management. In addition, the Audit Committee receives timely updates from management on material incidents relating to information systems security, including cybersecurity incidents. The Audit Committee operates under a written Audit Committee charter adopted by the Board of Directors, which can be found in the Governance section of our web site, https://genie.com/investors/governance/, and is also available in print to any stockholder upon request to the Corporate Secretary. The Audit Committee held four (4) meetings during 2023. The Board of Directors, upon recommendation of the Corporate Governance Committee, has determined that (i) all of the members of the Audit Committee are independent within the meaning of the Section 303A.07(b) and Section 303A.02 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual and Rule 10A-3(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and (ii) that Mr. Perry qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K.

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee is responsible for, among other things, reviewing, evaluating and approving all compensation arrangements for the executive officers of the Company, evaluating the performance of executive officers, administering the Compensation Clawback Policy, administering the Company’s 2011 and 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plans, and recommending to the Board of Directors the compensation for Board members, such as retainers, committee and other fees, stock option, restricted stock and other stock awards, and other similar compensation as deemed appropriate. The Compensation Committee confers with the Company’s executive officers when making the above determinations.

The Compensation Committee currently consists of Alan Rosenthal (Chairman) and Wes Perry. The Compensation Committee held six (6) meetings during 2023. The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors, which can be found in the Governance section of our web site, https://genie.com/investors/governance/, and which is also available in print to any stockholder upon request to the Corporate Secretary. The Board of Directors, upon recommendation of the Corporate Governance Committee, has determined that both of the members of the Compensation Committee are independent within the meaning of Section 303A.02 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual and the categorical standards set forth above.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of the members of the Compensation Committee has served as an officer or employee of the Company or has any relationship with the Company that is required to be disclosed under the heading “Related Person Transactions.” No executive officer of the Company served or serves on the compensation committee (or other board committee performing equivalent functions) of any company that employed or employs as an executive officer either member of the Company’s Compensation Committee.

Corporate Governance Committee

The Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for, among other things, reviewing and reporting to the Board of Directors on matters involving relationships among the Board of Directors, the stockholders and senior management. The Corporate Governance Committee (i) reviews the Corporate Governance Guidelines and other policies and governing documents of the Company and recommends revisions as appropriate, (ii) reviews any potential conflicts of interests of independent directors, (iii) reviews and monitors related person transactions, (iv) oversees the self-evaluations of the Board of Directors, the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee and (v) reviews and determines director independence, and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding director independence. The Corporate Governance Committee currently consists of Alan Rosenthal (Chairman), Wes Perry and Allan Sass. The Corporate Governance Committee held seven (7) meetings in 2023. The Corporate Governance Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors, which can be found in the Governance section of our web site, https://genie.com/investors/governance/, and which is also available in print to any stockholder upon request to the Corporate Secretary. The Board of Directors, upon recommendation of the Corporate Governance Committee, has determined that all of the members of the Corporate Governance Committee are independent within the meaning of Section 303A.02 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual and the categorical standards set forth above.

Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee is responsible for overseeing nominations to the Board of Directors, including: (i) developing the criteria and qualifications for membership on the Board of Directors, (ii) recommending candidates to fill new or vacant positions on the Board of Directors, and (iii) conducting appropriate inquiries into the backgrounds of potential candidates. A summary of new director qualifications can be found under the heading “Director Selection Process.” The Nominating Committee currently consists of Wes Perry (Chairman) and Alan Rosenthal. Wes Perry and Alan Rosenthal are independent in accordance with Section 303A.02 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual. The Nominating Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors, which can be found in the Governance section of our web site, https://genie.com/investors/governance/, and which is also available in print to any stockholder upon request to the Corporate Secretary. The Nominating Committee held one (1) meeting during 2023.

2023 COMPENSATION FOR INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

Annual compensation for independent directors for 2023 was comprised of equity compensation, consisting of awards of restricted shares of Class B Common Stock, and cash compensation. Each of these components is described in more detail below.

Director Equity Grants

Pursuant to the Company’s 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, each independent director of the Company will receive, on each January 5th (or the next business day thereafter), an annual grant of 2,920 restricted shares of our Class B Common Stock, which will vest in full immediately upon grant. A new independent director who becomes a member of the Board of Directors during the course of the calendar year receives an automatic grant on the date that he or she becomes a director in the amount specified above, pro-rated based on the calendar quarter of the year in which such person becomes a director. The stock is granted on a going forward basis, before the director completes his or her service for the calendar year. All such grants of stock to directors are subject to certain terms and conditions described in the 2021 Plan, as may be amended and restated from time to time.

Director Board Retainers

Each director of the Company who is deemed to be independent and who attends at least 75% of the regularly scheduled meetings of the Board of Directors and committees of which he or she is a member during a calendar year will receive an annual cash retainer of $50,000 (in addition to the 2,920 restricted shares of Class B Common Stock). Such payment will be made in January of the calendar year following attendance of at least 75% of the regularly scheduled Board of Directors and committee meetings during the preceding year, and is pro-rated, based on the number of quarters in the relevant year that the director serves, for independent directors who join the Board of Directors or depart from the Board of Directors during the prior year, if such director attended 75% of the regularly scheduled Board of Directors and committee meetings for the period when he or she was a director. Each independent director has the option to receive any or all of the $50,000 cash component of the annual retainer in the form of fully vested restricted shares of Class B Common Stock, the value of which shall be based on the average of the high and low price of the Company’s Class B Common Stock on the trading date immediately prior to the grant.

The Company’s Chief Executive Officer may, in his or her discretion, waive the requirement of an independent director attending at least 75% of the regularly scheduled Board of Directors and committee meetings during the preceding year to receive the annual cash retainer, in the case of mitigating circumstances. There is no additional compensation for serving on a committee as a committee chair, or for serving as the Lead Independent Director.

2023 Director Compensation Table

The following table lists the 2023 compensation for each person who served as an independent director during 2023, and for Mr. Courter, who is not an independent director of the Company but serves as a paid consultant to the Company. Mr. Courter, who served as a director through May 12, 2021 and has served as a non-voting ex-officio director since that date, did not receive any compensation for his service as an ex-officio director during 2023. Howard S. Jonas’ compensation is included in the Related Person Transaction section of this Proxy Statement and Howard S. Jonas is compensated as Chairman, which is not an officer position.

Name	Dates of Board Service During 2023	Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)(1)		Fees Earned or Paid in Stock(2) ($)			Stock Awards ($)			All Other Compensation ($)			Total ($)
Wes Perry	01/01/2023 – 12/31/2023	$	—	$	50,000	(3)	$	29,594	(4)	$	—		$	79,594
Alan Rosenthal	01/01/2023 – 12/31/2023	$	50,000	$	—		$	29,594	(4)	$	—		$	79,594
Allan Sass	01/01/2023 – 12/31/2023	$	50,000	$	—		$	29,594	(4)	$	—		$	79,594
James A. Courter	01/01/2023 – 12/31/2023	$	—	$	—		$	—		$	125,000	(5)	$	125,000

____________

(1) Represents the cash portion of the Board of Directors annual retainer paid in 2023.

(2) Represents the annual Class B Common Stock portion of the Board of Directors retainer paid in 2023 in lieu of the $50,000 annual cash retainer.

(3) Mr. Perry chose to receive 4,933 shares of Class B Common Stock at a price of $10.135 per share in lieu of the $50,000 annual cash retainer.

(4) Represents the grant date fair value of an award of 2,920 shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock on January 5, 2023, computed in accordance with FASB ACS Topic 718R.

(5) Reflects $125,000 paid by the Company to Mr. Courter in cash for consulting fees. Mr. Courter did not receive any compensation for his service as an ex-officio director.

Independent directors held the following shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock granted for director service, and the following options to purchase shares of Class B Common Stock of the Company, as of December 31, 2023:

Name	Class B Common Stock	Options to Purchase Class B Common Stock
Wes Perry	86,710	—
Alan Rosenthal	20,780	—
Allan Sass	35,770	—

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

Review of Related Person Transactions

The Board of Directors has adopted a Statement of Policy with respect to Related Person Transactions, which is administered by the Corporate Governance Committee. This policy covers any transaction or series of transactions in which the Company or a subsidiary is a participant, the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and a Related Person has a direct or indirect material interest, as well as transactions which, despite not meeting the quantitative criteria set forth above, might otherwise be material to investors based on qualitative factors, as determined by the Corporate Governance Committee with input from the Company’s management and advisors. Related Persons include directors, director nominees, executive officers, any beneficial holder of more than 5% of any class of the Company’s voting securities, and any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons. Transactions that fall within this definition are considered by the Corporate Governance Committee for approval or other action. Based on its consideration of all of the relevant facts and circumstances, the Corporate Governance Committee is tasked with determining whether or not to approve such transactions and will approve only those transactions that are in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. If the Company becomes aware of an existing Related Person Transaction that has not been approved under this Policy, the matter will be referred to the Corporate Governance Committee. The Corporate Governance Committee will evaluate all options available, including approval, revision or termination of such transaction.

Transactions with Related Persons, Promoters and Certain Control Persons

All of the following Related Person Transactions were approved in accordance with the policy described above:

The Transition Services Agreement between Genie Energy Ltd. and IDT Corporation, dated October 28, 2011 (the “TSA”), pursuant to which IDT, for which Howard Jonas serves as Chairman of the Board, continues to provide certain services, including, but not limited to, relating to human resources, employee benefits administration, finance, accounting, tax, internal audit, facilities, investor relations and legal. Howard Jonas beneficially owns a controlling interest in each of Genie and IDT. Additionally, under the same agreement, Genie provides specified administrative services to certain of IDT’s foreign subsidiaries. Furthermore, IDT granted Genie a license to use the IDT and IDT Energy names for our retail energy provider (REP) business. IDT and its subsidiaries charged Genie a total of $1,263,890 for services provided pursuant to the TSA during 2023. Genie charged IDT for certain payroll allocations in the aggregate amount of $131,690 during 2023. As of December 31, 2023, Genie owed IDT $165,613 and IDT owed Genie $20,256.

Genie receives certain services from Rafael Holdings, Inc. (“Rafael”), a company whose chairman is Howard Jonas, the Company’s Chairman of the Board and controlling stockholder, for which it paid Rafael a total of $20,487 during Fiscal 2023. As of December 31, 2023, Genie owed Rafael $0.

In 2023, the Company entered into a Cooperation Agreement with Rafael, IDT and trusts for the benefit of certain family members of Howard Jonas related to an investment in the equity and derivative instruments of a third-party publicly traded company. Subsequently, the Company and Rafael agreed to share the expenses related to the investment equally and each company retained the returns from its own investments. The Company invested $4.4 million in the third-party company and, after selling its interest, made a profit of $1 million.

On March 9, 2023, the Company granted Michael Stein, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, 2.5% of profit-sharing contractual rights in the net cash flow of Citycom Essential Services Inc. (“Citycom”), a subsidiary of the Company. In February 2024, Michael Stein received $48,750 in connection with such profit-sharing contractual rights for Fiscal 2023. On March 7, 2024, Mr. Stein was again granted a contractual right to receive 2.5% of the net cash flow of Citycom during 2024.

Howard S. Jonas, Chairman of the Board, is the father-in-law of Michael Stein, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Jonas’ total compensation for 2023 was $2,155,926, which included: (i) a base salary of $200,000; (ii) a bonus of $325,000; $1,553,750 representing the value of the grant to Mr. Jonas of 110,000 restricted shares of Class B Common Stock of which 36,667 vested on February 10, 2024 and 36,667 shall vest on February 10, 2025 and 36,666 on February 10, 2026; (iii) $10,849 representing the grant date fair value of 10 restricted shares of Genie Solar, Inc (“Genie Solar”) granted to Mr. Jonas on March 8, 2023, which 3.33 restricted shares vested on March 8,

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock by (i) each person known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Class A Common Stock or the Class B Common Stock of the Company, (ii) each of the Company’s directors, director nominees, and the Named Executive Officers, and (iii) all directors (including the ex-officio director), director nominees, Named Executive Officers and executive officers of the Company as a group. Unless otherwise noted in the footnotes to the table, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investing power with respect to all shares indicated as being beneficially owned by them.

Unless otherwise noted, the security ownership information provided below is given as of March 29, 2024, and all shares are owned directly by the named stockholder. Percentage ownership information is based on the following amount of outstanding shares: 1,574,326 shares of Class A Common Stock and 25,809,444 shares of Class B Common Stock. In computing the number of shares of Class B Common Stock beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, we included (i) shares of Class B Common Stock subject to options held by that person that are currently exercisable or exercisable within sixty days of March 29, 2024, and (ii) shares issuable upon the vesting of deferred stock units held by that person that may vest within sixty days of March 29, 2024.

Name	Number of Shares of Class A Common Stock		Percentage of Ownership of Class A Common Stock		Number of Shares of Class B Common Stock		Percentage of Ownership of Class B Common Stock		Percentage of Aggregate Voting Power δ
Howard S. Jonas 520 Broad Street Newark, NJ 07102	1,377,535	(1)	87.5	%	3,086,396	(2)	12	%	60.8	%
The Miriam Jonas 2020 New Jersey Trust 88 Crescent Avenue Passaic, NJ 07055	196,791		12.5	%	443,631		1.7	%	8.7	%
BlackRock, Inc. 50 Hudson Yards New York, NY 10001					1,537,865	(3)	6.0	%	2.1	%
Avi Goldin					119,647	(4)	*		*
Michael Stein					480,635	(5)	1.9	%	*
James A. Courter					303,632		1.2	%	*
Joyce Mason					21,600	(6)	*		*
W. Wesley Perry					167,533	(7)	*		*
Alan Rosenthal					44,433	(8)	*		*
Allan Sass					38,690		*		*
All directors, Named Executive Officers and executive officers as a group (8 persons)					4,262,566	(9)	16.5	%	5.8	%

____________

* Less than 1%.

δ Voting power represents combined voting power of our Class A Common Stock (three votes per share) and our Class B Common Stock (one-tenth of one vote per share). Excludes shares underlying stock options and unvested deferred stock units.

(1) The shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock are held by Genie A. Partners, L.P. (“Genie Partners”). The sole general partner of Genie Partners is Genie A Capital, LLC, and Mr. Jonas is the sole manager of Genie A Capital, LLC. Accordingly, Mr. Jonas has sole voting and dispositive power over the shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock held by Genie Partners.

(2) Consists of (a) 73,487 shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock held by Mr. Jonas directly, (b) 146,666 restricted shares of Class B Common Stock held by Mr. Jonas directly, (c) 628,640 shares of Class B Common Stock held by the HSJ 2022 Annuity Trust I, (d) 1,085,645 shares of Class B Common Stock held by the HSJ 2019 Remainder Trust, (e) 876,911 shares of Class B common stock held by the HSJ 2024 Genie Annuity Trust and (f) 275,047 shares of Class B Common Stock owned by the Jonas Foundation. Does not include (i) an aggregate of 7,815,465 shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock beneficially owned by trusts for the benefit of the children of Mr. Jonas, as Mr. Jonas does not

exercise or share investment control of these shares, (ii) 375,033 shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock owned by the Howard S. & Deborah Jonas Foundation, as Mr. Jonas does not beneficially own these shares, (iii) 568,088 shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock owned by the 2012 Jonas Family, LLC (Mr. Jonas holds a minority equity interest in such entity), (iv) 1.5% equity interest in Genie Energy Services, LLC (“GES”) held by Mr. Jonas, (v) 1.5% equity interest in Genie Ventures, LLC held by Mr. Jonas, (vi) 10 restricted shares of the common stock of Genie Solar, Inc. held by Mr. Jonas and (vii) 2.5% equity interest in Diversegy, LLC held by Mr. Jonas.

(3) Based on a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 29, 2024.

(4) Consists of (a) 62,767 shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock held by Mr. Goldin directly, (b) 54,580 restricted shares of Class B Common Stock held by Mr. Goldin directly, (c) 1,900 shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock held by Mr. Goldin in his Individual Retirement Account and (d) 400 shares of Class B Common Stock held in Mr. Goldin’s wife’s 401(k) account. Does not include (i) 7.5 shares of restricted Class B common stock of CityCom Essential Services, Inc. (“CityCom”) held by Mr. Goldin, (ii) .5% equity interest in Genie Ventures, LLC held by Mr. Goldin and (iii) 25 restricted shares of the common stock of Genie Solar, Inc. held by Mr. Goldin.

(5) Consists of (a) 359,079 shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock held by Mr. Stein directly, (b) 120,000 of restricted shares of Class B Common Stock, and (c) 1,556 shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock held by Mr. Stein’s wife. Does not include (i) 35 shares of restricted Class B common stock of CityCom held by Mr. Stein, (ii) 1.5% equity interest GES held by Mr. Stein, (iii) 1.5% equity interest in Genie Ventures, LLC held by Mr. Stein, (iv) 10 restricted shares of the common stock of Genie Solar, Inc. held by Mr. Stein and 2.5% equity interest in Diversegy, LLC.

(6) Consists of 16,000 shares of Class B Common Stock held by Ms. Mason directly, 2,800 shares of Class B Common Stock held by Ms. Mason’s husband and 2,800 shares of Class B common stock held by Ms. Mason’s son.

(7) Consists of (a) 71,575 shares of Class B Common Stock held by Mr. Perry directly, (b) 87,625 shares of Class B Common Stock held jointly by Mr. Perry and his wife and (c) 8,333 shares of Class B Common Stock held indirectly in Mr. Perry’s 401(k) account.

(8) Consists of (a) 23,933 shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock held by Mr. Rosenthal directly, (b) 17,500 shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock held in the Endodontic Associates Retirement Account and (c) 3,000 shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock held by Mr. Rosenthal in three accounts (1,000 shares each) for his three children.

(9) Consists of the shares, options and warrants set forth above with respect to the Named Executive Officers, executive officers, and directors and director nominees.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Under the securities laws of the United States, the Company’s directors, executive officers, and any persons holding more than ten percent or more of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities are required to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership, on a timely basis, with the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange. Based on material provided to the Company, the Company believes that all such required reports were filed on a timely basis in 2023, except two Forms 4 that were not filed on a timely basis on behalf of Allan Sass and Avi Goldin related to the redemption by the Company of all the outstanding shares of the Series 2012-A Preferred Stock on June 16, 2023.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS

On February 8, 2024, the Company entered into the Fourth Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (the “Goldin Employment Agreement”) with Mr. Goldin to be effective as of January 1, 2024. Pursuant to the Goldin Employment Agreement, Mr. Goldin is paid an annual base salary of $425,000 to serve as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company and is entitled to receive a guaranteed annual bonus of $150,000. In addition, Mr. Goldin is eligible to receive a discretionary cash bonus with a target of $150,000.

The Goldin Employment Agreement has a three year term and shall be renewed automatically or extended for additional one-year periods unless, not later than ninety (90) days prior to expiration, the Company or Mr. Goldin shall have notified the other party in writing that such renewal extension shall not take effect. During the term of the agreement, Mr. Goldin is eligible to participate in the Company’s benefit plans as well as the Company’s 401(k) savings plan.

Should Mr. Goldin’s employment be terminated due to his death or disability, as defined in the Goldin Employment Agreement, Mr. Goldin (or, in the event of his death, his estate) shall receive any accrued or vested compensation, including salary and bonus(es), reimbursement for unpaid and approved business expenses through the date of termination.

If Mr. Goldin is terminated by the Company for “cause” or if Mr. Goldin resigns without “good reason”, Mr. Goldin shall be entitled to receive accrued or vested compensation, including salary and guaranteed bonus, and to be reimbursed for unpaid and approved business expenses, through the date of termination.

If the Company terminates Mr. Goldin without “cause”, or if Mr. Goldin resigns for “good reason” (which includes, among other things, a “change of control” of the Company, as defined in the agreement), the Company, subject to Mr. Goldin’s execution and delivery of the Company’s standard release agreement, shall pay to Mr. Goldin all accrued or vested compensation, including salary, guaranteed bonus, and discretionary bonus, and reimburse Mr. Goldin for unpaid and approved business expenses, through the date of termination, as well as a severance payment (the “Non-Cause Severance Payment”) equal to Mr. Goldin’s annual base salary plus the greater of (i) the amount Mr. Goldin would be entitled to under Company policy in effect at the time of termination, and (ii) Mr. Goldin’s annual base salary plus his guaranteed bonus plus discretionary bonus for twenty months (the “Minimum Severance Period”). In addition, subject to Mr. Goldin’s execution and delivery of the Company’s standard release agreement, all awards theretofore granted to Mr. Goldin under the Company’s incentive plans shall continue to vest (and the restrictions thereon lapse) on their then existing schedule. These payments shall be paid over the period of time covered thereby on the Company’s regularly scheduled payroll payment dates.

If Mr. Goldin resigns due to a CEO change, subject to Mr. Goldin’s execution and delivery of the Company’s standard release agreement, the Company shall pay to Mr. Goldin a severance payment equal to the greater of (i) the amount Mr. Goldin would be entitled to under Company policy in effect at the time of termination, and (ii) Mr. Goldin’s annual base salary plus his guaranteed bonus for a period of twelve months.

If, upon expiration of the term of the Goldin Employment Agreement, and in the event the Company does not offer to extend the terms on terms that, had such term been implemented by the Company during the Term, would not have given Mr. Goldin the right to terminate his employment for good reason under clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv) of the definition of good reason, and the Company and Mr. Goldin do not agree on terms and conditions for continued employment, subject to Mr. Goldin’s execution and delivery of the Company’s standard release agreement, the Company shall pay to Mr. Goldin all accrued or vested compensation, including salary, commission, guaranteed bonus and discretionary bonus, and reimburse Mr. Goldin for unpaid and approved business expenses, through the date of termination, as well as a severance payment equal to the greater of (i) the amount Mr. Goldin would be entitled to under Company policy applicable to management employees in effect at the time of termination, and (ii) Mr. Goldin’s annual base salary plus his guaranteed bonus and discretionary bonus (at the rates in effect on the date of termination) for the Minimum Severance Period. In addition, subject to Mr. Goldin’s execution and delivery of the Company’s standard release agreement, all awards theretofore granted to Mr. Goldin under the Company’s

incentive plans shall continue to vest (and the restrictions thereon lapse) on their then existing schedule through the end of the Minimum Severance Period. These payments shall be paid over the period of time covered thereby on the Company’s regularly scheduled payroll payment dates.

The agreement defines “cause” as: (i) Mr. Goldin’s indictment or conviction for the commission of an act or acts constituting a felony under the laws of the United States or any State thereof; (ii) Mr. Goldin’s commission of fraud, embezzlement or gross negligence; (iii) Mr. Goldin’s willful or continued failure to perform an act permitted by the Company’s rules, policies or procedures, including without limitation, the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that is within his material duties under the Goldin Employment Agreement (other than by reason of physical or mental illness or disability) or directives of the Board, or material breach of the terms of the Goldin Employment Agreement or of his non-disclosure and non-competition conditions, in each case, after written notice has been delivered to Mr. Goldin by the Company, and Mr. Goldin’s failure to substantially perform his duties or breach is not cured within fifteen (15) business days after such notice has been given to Mr. Goldin; (iv) any misrepresentation by Mr. Goldin of a material fact to or concealment by Mr. Goldin of a material fact from the Company’s Board, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and/or general counsel; or (v) any material violation of the Company’s rules, policies or procedures, including without limitation, the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.

The agreement, defines “good reason” as: (i) the Company’s failure to perform its material duties under the Goldin Employment Agreement, which failure has not been cured by the Company within fifteen (15) days of its receipt of written notice thereof from Mr. Goldin; (ii) a reduction by the Company (without the consent of Mr. Goldin, which consent may be revoked at any time) in Mr. Goldin’s annual base salary, or substantial reduction in the other benefits provided to Mr. Goldin; (iii) the assignment to Mr. Goldin of duties inconsistent with Mr. Goldin’s status as a senior executive officer of the Company or the designation by the Company of Mr. Goldin to any position or capacity other than (A) Chief Financial Officer of the Company, (B) Chief Financial Officer of one of the Company’s subsidiaries, or (C) Chief Operating Officer of the Company; (iv) the relocation of Mr. Goldin’s principal place of employment to a location more than thirty-five (35) miles from its current Newark, New Jersey location or outside of the New York City metropolitan areas; (v) the assignment of duties inconsistent with the Company’s rules, policies or procedures, including without limitation, the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics; (vi) any purported termination of Mr. Goldin s employment not in accordance with the terms of the Goldin Employment Agreement; or (vii) any “Change in Control” of the Company. A “Change in Control” is defined as: if (A) any person or group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), other than Howard Jonas, members of his immediate family, his affiliates, trusts or private foundations established by or on his behalf, and the heirs, executors or administrators of Howard Jonas, shall acquire in one or a series of transactions, whether through sale of stock or merger, voting securities representing more than 50% of the voting power of all outstanding voting securities of the Company or any successor entity of the Company, or (B) the stockholders of the Company shall approve a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

The agreement defines “CEO change” as: the appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the Company any person other than, Michael Stein, Howard Jonas, the Employee or any person that is affiliated with the holders of the Class A Common Stock of the Company.

The Company does not have an employment agreement with Michael Stein.

POTENTIAL POST-EMPLOYMENT PAYMENTS

Avi Goldin, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, is entitled under his employment agreement to payments upon termination. The discussion below is based on the employment agreement in effect as of December 31, 2023.

In the event Mr. Goldin’s employment is terminated due to his death or disability, Mr. Goldin (or, in the event of his death, his estate) shall be entitled to receive any accrued or vested compensation, including salary, commission, bonus(es), reimbursement for unpaid and approved business expenses through the date of termination. If Mr. Goldin is terminated by the Company for cause or if Mr. Goldin resigns without good reason, Mr. Goldin shall be entitled to receive accrued or vested compensation, including salary, commission, and bonus(es), and to be

reimbursed for unpaid and approved business expenses, through the date of termination. If the Company terminates Mr. Goldin without cause, or if Mr. Goldin resigns for good reason, (i) Mr. Goldin shall be paid all accrued or vested compensation, including salary, commission, and bonus(es), and shall be reimbursed for unpaid and approved business expenses, through the date of termination, as well as (ii) a severance payment equal to his Base Salary plus the greater of (x) the amount he would be entitled to under Company policy in effect at that time, and (y) his Base Salary plus Guaranteed Bonus plus Discretionary Bonus for a number of months equal to eighteen (18) plus two (2) weeks for each full year of employment of the Employee with the Company or its affiliates subsequent to January 1, 2021 (the “Minimum Severance Period”). In addition, subject to Mr. Goldin’s execution and delivery of the Company’s standard release agreement, all awards theretofore granted to Mr. Goldin under the Company’s incentive plans shall continue to vest (and the restrictions thereon lapse) on their then existing schedule. These payments shall be paid over the period of time covered thereby on the Company’s regularly scheduled payroll payment dates.

If, upon the expiration of the term of the employment agreement, and in the event the Company does not extend the term on terms that, had such term been implemented by the Company during the Term, would not have given Mr. Goldin the right to terminate his employment for good reason under clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv) of the definition of good reason, and the Company and Mr. Goldin do not agree on terms and conditions for continued employment, (i) Mr. Goldin shall be paid all accrued or vested compensation, including salary, commission, and bonus(es), and shall be reimbursed for unpaid and approved business expenses, through the date of termination, as well as a severance payment equal to the greater of (i) the amount Mr. Goldin would be entitled to under Company policy applicable to management employees in effect at the time of termination, or (ii) Mr. Goldin’s base salary plus guaranteed bonus and discretionary bonus (at the rates in effect on the date of termination) for the Minimum Severance Period. In addition, subject to Mr. Goldin’s execution and delivery of the Company’s standard release agreement, all awards theretofore granted to Mr. Goldin under the Company’s incentive plans shall continue to vest (and the restrictions thereon lapse) on their then existing schedule through the end of the Minimum Severance Period. These payments shall be paid over the period of time covered thereby on the Company’s regularly scheduled payroll payment dates.

Please see the section above entitled “Employment Agreements” for more details on these payments and the employment agreements of these executive officers, generally.

Pursuant to a Restricted Stock Agreement (the “Solar RSA”), dated as of March 8, 2023, between Genie Solar, Inc., a majority owned subsidiary of the Company (“Genie Solar”) and Mr. Goldin, Mr. Goldin was granted 25 shares of common stock of Genie Solar that vested or are to vest as to 8.33 shares on each of March 8, 2024, 2025 and 2026. Under the Solar RSA, in the event that the Company terminates Mr. Goldin’s role as President of Genie Solar without cause (as defined in the Solar RSA), then, in addition to the restricted shares of Genie Solar’s common stock that have already vested, a pro rata portion of the unvested restricted shares shall vest. Also, in the event of a Change of Control, all of the unvested restricted shares of Genie Solar held by Mr. Goldin shall vest in full immediately.

Pursuant to a Solar RSA, dated as of March 8, 2023, between Genie Solar and Mr. Stein, Mr. Stein was granted 10 shares of common stock of Genie Solar that vested or are to vest as to 3.33 shares on each of March 8, 2024, 2025 and 2026. Under the Solar RSA, in the event of a Change of Control, all of the unvested restricted shares of Genie Solar held by Mr. Stein shall vest in full immediately.

Pursuant to a Restricted LLC Interest Agreement (the “Diversegy RIA”), dated as of April 21, 2023, between Diversegy, LLC, a majority owned subsidiary of the Company (“Diversegy”) and Mr. Stein, Mr. Stein was granted a 1% interest in Diversegy (the “Restricted Interest”) that vested or are to vest as to one-third on each of December 22, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Under the Diversegy RIA, in the event of a Change of Control, all of the unvested Restricted Interest held by Mr. Stein shall vest in full immediately.

The following table and related footnote describe and quantify the amount of post-termination payments that would be payable to each of the Named Executive Officers of the Company who have employment agreements in the event of termination of such Named Executive Officer’s employment as of December 31, 2023 under various employment-related scenarios pursuant to the employment agreements entered into with each of the Named

Executive Officers set forth in the table below utilizing a per share stock price of $28.13, the closing market price of the Company’s Class B Common Stock on December 29, 2023, the last trading day of 2023. Due to the number of factors that affect the nature and amount of any benefits provided upon the events discussed below, any actual amounts paid or distributed may be different from those presented in the following table. Factors that could affect these amounts include the timing during the year of any such event, the Company’s stock price and the Named Executive Officer’s age.

Name	Benefit ($)	Death ($)	Disability ($)	By Company w/o Cause ($)	By Company w/ Cause ($)	By NEO w/o Good Reason ($)	By NEO w/ Good Reason ($)	CEO Change ($)
Avi Goldin	Severance	—	—	1,082,308	—	—	1,082,308	540,000
	Restricted Stock	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	Stock Options	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TABLES

The table below summarizes the total compensation paid or awarded to our Named Executive Officers by the Company for services performed during 2023.

Name and Principal Position	Fiscal Year	Salary ($)		Bonus ($)(1)		Stock Awards ($)(2)			Option Awards ($)(2)	All other Compensation ($)			Total ($)
Michael Stein	Fiscal 2023	$	432,829	$	1,375,000	$	1,294,426	(3)	—	$	98,051	(4)	$	3,200,306
Chief Executive Officer	Fiscal 2022	$	450,435	$	975,000	$	922,950	(5)	—	$	53,285	(6)	$	2,401,670

Avi Goldin	Fiscal 2023	$	400,000	$	700,000	$	450,872	(7)	—	$	49,311	(8)	$	1,600,183
Chief Financial Officer	Fiscal 2022	$	400,000	$	450,000	$	307,650	(9)	—	$	23,385	(10)	$	1,181,035

____________

(1) The Company’s executive compensation structure is designed to attract and retain qualified and motivated personnel and align their interests with those of the Company and its stockholders. The Named Executive Officers are awarded bonuses and/or stock awards based on certain accomplishments in respect of the relevant fiscal year. The Company does not target any specific proportion of total compensation in setting annual base salary, bonus compensation and stock awards. Bonuses and stock awards include amounts paid in a subsequent fiscal year for services performed during the fiscal year in question. Executive officers are eligible for bonuses, in the form of cash, equity or other form, as determined by the Compensation Committee. Except as provided for in agreements that the Company may enter into with its executive officers, any bonus compensation to executive officers will be determined by our Compensation Committee based on factors it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, the achievement of specific performance targets and our financial and business performance. The Compensation Committee adopts goals and objectives for the fiscal year to be used as a guide when determining annual bonus payments to executive officers after the end of the fiscal year. Such goals may be Company-wide or targeted at specific segments, business units or corporate departments. The Compensation Committee reviews the performance of the Company relative to those goals and objectives, and the contribution of each executive officer to such performance at the end of the fiscal year and/or otherwise and considers them as some of the factors when determining the amounts of annual and/or other bonuses to be awarded to executive officers.

(2) The amounts shown in these columns reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of stock option, restricted stock awards and deferred stock units computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. In valuing such awards, Genie made certain assumptions. For a discussion of those assumptions, please see Note 13 to Genie’s Consolidated Financial Statements included in Genie’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Year ended December 31, 2023.

(3) Consists of (i) $1,271,250 representing the grant date fair value of 90,000 restricted shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock (“Restricted Stock”) granted to Mr. Stein on May 11, 2023 pursuant to the vesting of Deferred Stock Units (“DSUs”) granted to Mr. Stein on February 11, 2022, as the Company’s Class B Common Stock had a 30-trading day average closing price of $10.84 or greater. 30,000 Restricted Stock vested on February 10, 2024 and the remaining Restricted Stock shall vest as follows: 30,000 on each of February 10, 2025 and February 10, 2026; (ii) $10,849 representing the grant date fair value of 10 restricted shares of common stock Genie Solar, Inc. granted to Mr. Stein on March 8, 2023, which 3.33 restricted shares vested on March 8, 2024 and the remaining restricted shares vest as follows: 3.33 shares on each of March 8, 2025 and March 8, 2026; and (iii) $12,327 representing the grant date fair value of a 1% restricted interest in Diversegy, LLC granted to Mr. Stein on April 21, 2023, which one-third of the restricted interest vested on December 22, 2023 and the remaining restricted interest vest as follows: one-third on each of December 22, 2024 and December 22, 2025.

(4) Consists of the Company’s contribution to Mr. Stein’s account established under the Genie 401(k) plan in the amount of $1,500, $48,750 in connection with Mr. Stein’s 2.5% profit-sharing contractual rights in CityCom Essential Services, Inc.’s net cash flow during 2023 and dividends paid on Restricted Stock in the amount of $47,801.

(5) Represents the grant date fair value of 90,000 Restricted Stock granted to Mr. Stein on August 3, 2022 pursuant to the vesting of Deferred Stock Units (“DSUs”) granted to Mr. Stein on February 11, 2022, as the Company’s Class B Common Stock had a 30-trading day average closing price of $9.04 or greater. 30,000 Restricted Stock vested on August 3, 2023 and the remaining Restricted Stock shall vest as follows: 30,000 on each of August 3, 2024 and August 3, 2025.

(6) Consists of the Company’s contribution to Mr. Stein’s account established under the Genie 401(k) plan in the amount of $1,500, $10,750 in connection with Mr. Stein’s 2.5% profit-sharing contractual rights in CityCom Essential Services, Inc.’s net cash flow during 2022 and dividends paid on Restricted Stock in the amount of $41,035.

(7) Consists of (i) $423,750 representing the grant date fair value of 30,000 Restricted Stock granted to Mr. Goldin on May 11, 2023 pursuant to the vesting of DSUs granted to Mr. Goldin on February 11, 2022, as the Company’s Class B Common Stock had a 30-trading day average closing price of $10.84 or greater. 10,000 Restricted Stock vested on February 10, 2024 and the remaining Restricted Stock shall vest as follows: 10,000 on each of February 10, 2025 and February 10, 2026; and (ii) $27,122 representing the grant date fair value of 25 restricted shares of common stock of Genie Solar, Inc. granted to Mr. Goldin on March 8, 2023, which 8.33 restricted shares vested on March 8, 2024 and the remaining restricted shares vest as follows: 8.33 shares on each of March 8, 2025 and March 8, 2026.

(8) Consists of the Company’s contribution to Mr. Goldin’s account established under the Genie 401(k) plan in the amount of $1,500, $29,250 in connection with Mr. Goldin’s 1.5% profit-sharing contractual rights in CityCom Essential Services, Inc.’s net cash flow during 2023 and dividends paid on shares of Restricted Stock in the amount of $18,561.

(9) Represents the grant date fair value of 30,000 Restricted Stock granted to Mr. Goldin on August 3, 2022 pursuant to the vesting of DSUs granted to Mr. Goldin on February 11, 2022, as the Company’s Class B Common Stock had a 30-trading day average closing price of $9.04 or greater. 10,000 Restricted Stock vested on August 3, 2023 and the remaining Restricted Stock shall vest as follows: 10,000 on each of August 3, 2024 and August 3, 2025.

(10) Consists of the Company’s contribution to Mr. Goldin’s account established under the Genie 401(k) plan in the amount of $1,500, $6,450 in connection with Mr. Goldin’s 1.5% profit-sharing contractual rights in CityCom Essential Services, Inc.’s net cash flow during 2022 and dividends paid on Restricted Stock in the amount of $15,435.

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2023 Fiscal Year-End

The following table provides information on the current holdings of stock options, unvested shares of Restricted Stock by our Named Executive Officers at December 31, 2023.

	Option Awards					Stock Awards
Name	Option Grant Date	Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable	Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable	Option Exercise Price ($)	Option Expiration Date	Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)		Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested(1) ($)
Avi Goldin	—	—	—	—	—	64,580	(2)	1,816,635
Michael Stein	—	—	—	—	—	150,000	(3)	4,219,500

____________

(1) The market value of unvested shares of Restricted Stock is calculated by multiplying the number of unvested shares of stock held by the applicable named executive officer by the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on December 29, 2023 (the last trading day of 2023), which was $28.13.

(2) Represents 10,000 shares of Restricted Stock that vested on February 10, 2024 and the remaining shares of Restricted Stock that shall vest as follows: 24,580 shares on August 3, 2024; and 10,000 shares on each of February 10, 2025, August 3, 2025 and February 10, 2026.

(3) Represents 30,000 shares of Restricted Stock that vested on February 10, 2024 and the remaining shares of Restricted Stock shall vest as follows: 30,000 shares on each of August 3, 2024, February 10, 2025, August 3, 2025, and February 10, 2026.

Pay vs. Performance

The following table presents compensation information for Michael Stein, our chief executive officer, and the average compensation information for the other individuals named in the summary compensation table, as well as certain measures relating to Company performance.

Fiscal Year(1)	Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO(2) ($)		Compensation Actually Paid to PEO ($)			Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs ($)(6)		Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs ($)			Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based On Total Shareholder Return(10) ($)		Net Income ($)
Fiscal 2023	$	3,200,306	$	6,149,014	(3)	$	1,600,183	$	2,716,625	(7)	$	412.84	$	20,278,000
Fiscal 2022	$	2,401,670	$	1,995,549	(4)	$	1,181,035	$	1,071,018	(8)	$	148.92	$	86,930,714
Fiscal 2021	$	919,383	$	663,962	(5)	$	999,261	$	734,461	(9)	$	77.25	$	27,841,867

____________

(1) Information provided for last three fiscal years.

(2) Michael Stein, Chief Executive Officer.

(3) In Fiscal 2023, Mr. Stein’s compensation actually paid was higher than the total amount disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table in the amount of $2,948,708, due to the following:

(a) A reduction in the amount of $1,271,250 relating to the fair market value of the grant on May 23, 2023 of 90,000 restricted shares of our Class B Common Stock as set forth in the Summary Compensation Table;

(b) An increase in the amount of $2,531,700 related to a grant in Fiscal 2023, of 90,000 Restricted Stock having a fair market value at the end of Fiscal 2023 of $2,531,700 based upon the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on December 29, 2023 (the last trading day of 2023) of $28.13; and

(c) An increase in the amount of $1,688,258 related to 60,000 unvested restricted shares of our Class B Common Stock granted prior to Fiscal 2023 that remained outstanding at the end of Fiscal 2023 with a fair market value of

$1,687,800 based upon the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on December 29, 2023 (the last trading day of 2023) of $28.13. In addition, (i) 52,448 unvested restricted shares of our Class B Common Stock vested on November 4, 2023 having a fair market value of $1,064,170 based on the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on November 3, 2023 (as November 4, 2023 was not a trading day) of $20.29; and (ii) 30,000 unvested restricted shares of our Class B Common Stock vested on August 3, 2023 having a fair market value of $409,200 based on the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on August 3, 2023 of $13.64. The fair market value of the unvested shares of our Class B Common Stock remaining outstanding at the end of Fiscal 2023 and the vesting of unvested shares of our Class B Common Stock during Fiscal 2023 relating to awards granted prior to Fiscal 2023 was $3,161,170. Such shares had a fair market value at the end of Fiscal 2022 of $1,472,912 based upon the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on December 30, 2022 (the last trading day of 2022) of $10.34. Therefore, the difference in fair market value was $1,688,258.

(d) The value of the grants to Mr. Stein in Fiscal 2023 of (i) 10 restricted shares of common stock of Genie Solar, which represents 1% of the outstanding common stock of Genie Solar and (ii) a 1% restricted interest in Diversegy, LLC, were valued at the time of the grants and assumed to not have changed value at the end of Fiscal 2023 and as to grant in Diversegy at the time of vesting of one-third of the restricted interest.

(4) In Fiscal 2022, Mr. Stein’s compensation actually paid was lower than the total amount disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table in the amount of $406,121, due to the following:

(a) A reduction in the amount of $930,600, as in Fiscal 2022, Mr. Stein was granted 90,000 restricted shares of our Class B Common Stock having a fair market value at the end of Fiscal 2022 of $930,600 based upon the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on December 30, 2022 (the last trading day of 2022) of $10.34; and

(b) An increase in the amount of $524,479 as 52,448 unvested restricted shares of our Class B Common Stock relating to awards granted prior to Fiscal 2022 remained outstanding at the end of Fiscal 2022 with a fair market value of $542,312 based upon the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on December 30, 2022 (the last trading day of 2022) of $10.34. In addition, 52,448 unvested restricted shares of our Class B Common Stock vested on November 4, 2022 having a fair market value of $566,438 based on the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on November 4, 2022 of $10.80. The fair market value of the unvested shares of our Class B Common Stock remaining outstanding at the end of Fiscal 2022 and the vesting of unvested shares of our Class B Common Stock during Fiscal 2022 relating to awards granted prior to Fiscal 2022 was $1,108,750. Such shares had a fair market value at the end of Fiscal 2021 of $584,271 based upon the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on December 31, 2021 (the last trading day of 2021) of $5.57. Therefore, the difference in fair market value was $524,479.

(5) In Fiscal 2021, Mr. Stein’s compensation actually paid was lower than the total amount disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table in the amount of $255,421, due to the following:

(a) 104,896 unvested restricted shares of our Class B Common Stock relating to awards granted prior to Fiscal 2021 remained outstanding at the end of Fiscal 2021 with a fair market value of $584,271 based upon the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on December 31, 2021 (the last trading day of 2021) of $5.57. In addition, 52,448 unvested restricted shares of our Class B Common Stock vested on November 4, 2021 having a fair market value of $294,758 based on the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on November 4, 2021 of $5.62. The fair market value of the unvested shares of our Class B Common Stock remaining outstanding at the end of Fiscal 2021 and the vesting of unvested shares of our Class B Common Stock during Fiscal 2021 relating to awards granted prior to Fiscal 2021 was $879,029. Such shares had a fair market value at the end of Fiscal 2020 of $1,134,450 based upon the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on December 31, 2020 (the last trading day of 2020) of $7.21. Therefore, the difference in fair market value was a negative $255,421.

(6) Avi Goldin, Chief Financial Officer.

(7) In Fiscal 2023, Mr. Goldin’s compensation actually paid was higher than the total amount disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table in the amount of $1,116,442, due to the following:

(a) A reduction in the amount of $423,750 relating to the fair market value of the grant on May 11, 2023 of 30,000 restricted shares of our Class B Common Stock as set forth in the Summary Compensation Table;

(b) An increase in the amount of $843,900 related to a grant in Fiscal 2023, of 30,000 Restricted Stock having a fair market value at the end of Fiscal 2023 of $843,900 based upon the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on December 29, 2023 (the last trading day of 2023) of $28.13; and

(c) An increase in the amount of $696,292 related to 34,580 unvested restricted shares of our Class B Common Stock granted prior to Fiscal 2023 that remained outstanding at the end of Fiscal 2023 with a fair market value of $972,735 based upon the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on December 29, 2023 (the last trading day of 2023) of $28.13. In addition, 24,580 unvested restricted shares of our Class B Common Stock vested on August 3, 2023 having a fair market value of $335,271 based on the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on August 3, 2023 of $13.64. The fair market value of the unvested shares of our Class B Common Stock remaining outstanding at the end of Fiscal 2023 and the vesting of unvested shares of our Class B Common Stock during Fiscal 2023 relating to awards granted prior to Fiscal 2023 was $1,308,006. Such shares had a fair market value at the end of Fiscal 2022 of $611,714 based upon the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on December 30, 2022 (the last trading day of 2022) of $10.34. Therefore, the difference in fair market value was $696,292.

(d) The value of the grant to Mr. Goldin in Fiscal 2023 of 25 restricted shares of common stock of Genie Solar, which represents 2.5% of the outstanding common stock of Genie Solar was valued at the time of the grant and assumed to not have changed value by the end of Fiscal 2023.

(8) In Fiscal 2022, Mr. Goldin’s compensation actually paid was lower than the total amount disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table in the amount of $110,017, due to the following:

(a) A reduction in the amount of $310,200 as in Fiscal 2022, Mr. Goldin was granted 30,000 restricted shares of our Class B Common Stock having a fair market value at the end of Fiscal 2022 of $310,200 based upon the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on December 30, 2022 (the last trading day of 2022) of $10.34; and

(b) An increase in the amount of $200,183 as 29,160 unvested restricted shares of our Class B Common Stock relating to awards granted prior to Fiscal 2022 remained outstanding at the end of Fiscal 2022 with a fair market value of $301,514 based upon the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on December 30, 2022 (the last trading day of 2022) of $10.34. In addition, 14,580 unvested restricted shares of our Class B Common Stock vested on August 3, 2022 having a fair market value of $142,301 based on the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on August 3, 2022 of $9.76. The fair market value of the unvested shares of our Class B Common Stock remaining outstanding at the end of Fiscal 2022 and the vesting of unvested shares of our Class B Common Stock during Fiscal 2022 relating to awards granted prior to Fiscal 2022 was $443,815. Such shares had a fair market value at the end of Fiscal 2021 of $243,632 based upon the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on December 31, 2021 (the last trading day of 2021) of $5.57. Therefore, the difference in fair market value was $200,183.

(9) In Fiscal 2021, Mr. Goldin’s compensation actually paid was lower than the total amount disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table in the amount of $264,800, due to the following:

(a) A reduction in the amount of $243,632 as in Fiscal 2021, Mr. Goldin was granted 43,740 restricted shares of our Class B Common Stock having a fair market value at the end of Fiscal 2021 of $243,632 based upon the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on December 31, 2021 (the last trading day of 2021) of $5.57; and

(b) A deduction in the amount of $21,168 as 16,036 unvested restricted shares of our Class B Common Stock vested on August 1, 2021 having a fair market value of $94,452 based on the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on July 30, 2021 (August 1, 2021 was a non-trading day) of $5.89. Such shares had a fair market value at the end of Fiscal 2020 of $115,620 based upon the closing price of our Class B Common Stock on December 31, 2020 (the last trading day of 2020) of $7.21. Therefore, the difference in fair market value was a negative $21,168.

(10) Calculated based on a hypothetical $100 investment beginning at market close on December 31, 2020.

As shown by the above table, the compensation actually paid to our Chief Executive Officer for 2023 and 2022 shows a positive correlation to the compensation actually paid to our sole other Named Executive Officer and to the Total Shareholder Return for that period. For 2022, it also shows a positive correlation to our net income, which correlation is not present in 2023. In 2023, our net income declined primarily due to a non-cash charge related to an insurance reserve connected to the operations of the captive insurance subsidiary we formed in December 2023. The compensation actually paid to our Chief Executive Officer in 2023 shows a positive correlation to our financial performance excluding that charge.

The cash components of our executive compensation are based on a number of factors, including, in the case of bonus compensation, goals for the Company and for individual executive officers that are set early in the fiscal year by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors. Those goals typically include specific financial metrics as well as other qualitative and quantitative factors related to operational and other matters. Following the end of each fiscal year, management reports to the Compensation Committee regarding actual performance relative to the goals, the contribution of each executive officer related to the goals set for the Company and the relevant executive and other factors regarding the performance of the executive officers, and makes recommendations regarding various elements of compensation. The Compensation Committee then determines the compensation to be awarded.

Executive officers are also granted from time to time, equity awards in securities of the Company or its subsidiaries to align their interests directly with those of our stockholders. Equity awards may include grants of restricted stock, options to purchase stock and deferred stock units which may have performance-based vesting criteria in addition to time-based vesting criteria. We have also awarded profit-sharing awards in specific operations.

The correlation between Chief Executive Officer compensation and that of our sole other Named Executive Officer is due to the weight placed on Company performance and the contributions of individuals in compensation decisions for our executive officers, as well as the complementary and mutually supportive roles of our executive and senior managerial team. The correlation between executive compensation and Total Shareholder Return is influenced by equity-based elements of compensation and that the performance-based criteria for compensation also have a positive impact on the market price for our common stock.

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

Employee Stock Incentive Program

The Company adopted the 2011 Stock Option and Incentive Plan the (“2011 Plan”), pursuant to which options to purchase shares of Class B Common Stock and restricted shares of Class B Common Stock were awarded. In March 2021, the Company adopted the 2021 Plan, and since stockholder approval of the adoption of the 2021 Plan at the 2021 Annual Stockholders Meeting held on May 12, 2021, the Company no longer awards any further options to purchase shares of Class B Common Stock or restricted shares of Class B Common Stock to employees, officers, directors and consultants under the 2011 Plan, although outstanding awards made under the 2011 Plan were unaffected by the suspension of the 2011 Plan and adoption of the 2021 Plan.

Equity Compensation Plans and Individual Compensation Arrangements

The following chart provides aggregate information regarding grants under all equity compensation plans of the Company through December 31, 2023.

Plan category	Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights	Weighted- average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights		Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders	126,176	$	8.05	255,326
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders	—		—	—
Total	126,176	$	8.05	255,326

We adopted our 2021 Plan to provide equity compensation to our Board of Directors, our management and our employees and consultants. Except as described above, we have not committed to effectuate any grants under such plan. In conjunction with the spin-off, approximately 2.4 million shares of our Class B Common Stock were distributed to holders of unvested restricted shares of Class B Common Stock of IDT, which were similarly restricted. In addition, we issued options to purchase 50,000 shares of our Class B Common Stock in respect of outstanding options to purchase shares of Class B Common Stock of IDT. Such restricted shares and options were issued pursuant to the 2011 Plan.

PROPOSALS REQUIRING YOUR VOTE

PROPOSAL NO. 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Pursuant to the Company’s Fourth Amended and Restated By-Laws, the authorized number of directors on the Board of Directors is between three and seventeen, with the actual number to be set, within that range, by the Board of Directors from time to time. There are currently five directors on the Board of Directors. The current terms of all of the directors expire at the Annual Meeting. All of the five directors are standing for re-election at the Annual Meeting.

The nominees to the Board of Directors are Howard S. Jonas, Joyce Mason, W. Wesley Perry, Alan Rosenthal and Allan Sass, each of whom has consented to be named in this proxy statement and to serve if elected. Each of the nominees is currently serving as a director of the Company. The Board of Directors has appointed Mr. Courter to serve as an ex-officio (non-voting) member of the Board of Directors in accordance with the Company’s Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws. Brief biographical information about the nominees for directors and the ex-officio member is furnished below.

Each of these director nominees is standing for election for a term of one year until the 2025 Annual Meeting, or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his earlier resignation or removal. A majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders shall elect each director. Stockholders may not vote for more than five persons, which is the number of nominees identified herein. Below contains biographical information and other information about the nominees. Following each nominee’s biographical information, we have provided information concerning particular experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills that the Nominating Committee and the Board of Directors considered when determining that each nominee should serve as a director.

Howard S. Jonas has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company since January 2011, when it was spun off from IDT, and served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company from January 2014 to November 2017. He has served as Co-Vice Chairman of the Board of the Company subsidiary, Genie Energy International Corporation, since September 2009. Mr. Jonas founded IDT in August 1990, and has served as Chairman of its Board of Directors since its inception and its Chairman since September 2022. Mr. Jonas served as member of the Board of Directors of IDT from inception to December 2020, when he was appointed as an ex-officio (non-voting) member of the Board of Directors. In March 2021, Mr. Jonas was reappointed as a voting member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Jonas served as Chief Executive Officer of IDT from October 2009 through December 2013 and from December 1991 until July 2001. Mr. Jonas served as the Chairman of the Board of Zedge, Inc., a former subsidiary of IDT that was spun off to stockholders in June 2016, from June 2016 to November 2016, and has served as the Vice Chairman of Zedge since November 2016. Mr. Jonas also serves as Chairman of the Board of IDW Media Holdings, Inc., a former subsidiary of IDT that was spun off to stockholders in September 2009, has been its Chairman since June 2022 and served as Chief Executive Officer from February 2019 through April 2020. Mr. Jonas also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rafael Holdings, Inc., a former subsidiary of IDT that was spun off to stockholders in March 2018, since August 17, 2017 and as Executive Chairman since June 13, 2022 and served as Chief Executive Officer from March 8, 2018 through April 30, 2021. Mr. Jonas has been a director of Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals since April 2013 and was appointed Chairman of the Board of Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals in April 2016. Mr. Jonas is also the founder and has been President of Jonas Media Group (f/k/a Jonas Publishing) since its inception in 1979. Mr. Jonas received a B.A. in Economics from Harvard University.

Key Attributes, Experience and Skills:

As founder of the Company and Chairman of the Board since its inception, Mr. Jonas brings to the Board extensive and detailed knowledge of all aspects of our Company and each industry in which it is involved. In addition, having Mr. Jonas on the Board provides our Company with effective leadership.

Joyce J. Mason has served as a director since May 2021. Ms. Mason has also served as the Company’s Corporate Secretary since 2011, when it was spun off from IDT. Ms. Mason has served as an Executive Vice President of IDT Corporation since December 1998 and as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of IDT from its inception. Ms. Mason also served as a director of the IDT from its inception until December 2006. In addition, Ms. Mason serves as the Corporate Secretary of Zedge, Inc., a former subsidiary of the Company that was spun off to stockholders in June 2016 and was a director from September 2008 until May 2016. Ms. Mason also served as a director of IDT Telecom from December 1999 until May 2001 and as a director of Net2Phone from October 2001 until October 2004. Ms. Mason has served as the Corporate Secretary of Rafael Holdings, Inc., a former subsidiary of the Company that was spun off to stockholders in March 2018, from its inception in July 2017. Ms. Mason also serves as the Assistant Corporate Secretary of IDW Media Holdings, Inc., a former subsidiary of the Company that was spun off to stockholders in September 2009, since November 2019. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Mason had been in private legal practice. Ms. Mason received a B.A. from the City University of New York and a J.D. from New York Law School.

Key Attributes, Experience and Skills:

Ms. Mason brings a different perspective to the Board than the other current members. While not a member of the core management team of the Company, Ms. Mason brings to the Board her extensive knowledge of the Company. Further, as an experienced attorney who has served in key positions related to the governance of public companies, Ms. Mason adds comprehensive knowledge and perspectives on governance, oversight and other matters.

W. Wesley Perry has served as a director and the Lead Independent Director of Genie since October 2011. He has also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Genie Energy International Corporation since September 2009. Mr. Perry served as a director of IDT Corporation from September 2010 to October 2011. Mr. Perry has owned and operated S.E.S. Investments, Ltd., an oil and gas investment company, since 1993. He has served as CEO of E.G.L. Resources, Inc. since July 2008 and served as its President from 2003 to July 2008. Mr. Perry was a director of United Trust Group (OTC:UTGN) from June 2001 to December 2014 and has served on its Audit Committee. He served as a director of Western National Bank from 2005 to 2009. Mr. Perry is a director and board member of First Southern National Bank and Viper Energy Partners, LP. Mr. Perry served as an at-large councilperson on the Midland City Council from 2002 to 2008 and Mayor of Midland, Texas from 2008 through 2014. He is currently the President of the Milagros Foundation and a board member of the Abel-Hangar Foundation. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from University of Oklahoma.

Key Attributes, Experience and Skills:

Mr. Perry’s history in the oil and gas industry demonstrates his significant experience in and knowledge of our unconventional oil and gas business. Mr. Perry’s strong financial background, including his service as chairman of the audit committee of United Trust Group, also provides financial expertise to the Board, including an understanding of financial statements, corporate finance and accounting.

Alan B. Rosenthal has served as a director of Genie since October 2011. Dr. Rosenthal is the founding and managing partner of ABR Capital Financial Group LLC, an investment fund, founding partner and owner of NorthStar Travel, founding partner of Alaska Business Monthly and founding partner and owner of Master Dental Alliance. Dr. Rosenthal is an assistant clinical professor of Micro-Neurosurgical Treatment of Oral Pathology at New York University. Dr. Rosenthal is a board member of Yeshiva University and served on the board of directors of IDT Corporation from 1994 through 1996. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Rutgers University and a DMD degree from University of Pennsylvania.

Key Attributes, Experience and Skills:

Dr. Rosenthal’s strong financial background as founding partner and owner of various businesses provides financial expertise to the Board, including an understanding of financial statements, corporate finance and accounting.

Allan Sass, PhD has served as a director of Genie since October 2011. Mr. Sass is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Occidental Oil Shale Corporation, a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the technical journal, In-Situ. Mr. Sass has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Cooper Union and a Master of Science and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Yale University.

Key Attributes, Experience and Skills:

Mr. Sass’ history in the oil shale industry demonstrates his significant experience in and knowledge of our unconventional oil and gas business. His extensive scientific background and significant experience in the oil shale industry provides assistance in the oversight of the Company’s oil shale business, in particular the Company’s research and development efforts.

The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any of the persons named above will be unable or unwilling to serve as a director, if elected.

Ex-Officio Director

James A. Courter has served as an ex-officio director of the Company since May 2021 and served as Vice Chairman of the Board and director of Genie from August 2011 to May 2021. Mr. Courter has also served as Co-Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Genie Energy International Corporation since September 2009. Mr. Courter previously served as President of IDT from October 1996 until July 2001, and as IDT’s Chief Executive Officer from August 2001 to October 2009. Mr. Courter served as a director of IDT from March 1996 to October 2011 and served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of IDT from March 1999 to October 2011. Mr. Courter was a senior partner in the New Jersey law firm of Courter, Kobert & Cohen for forty years. He was also a partner in the Washington, D.C. law firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson & Hand from January 1994 to September 1996. Mr. Courter was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for twelve years, retiring in January 1991. From 1991 to 1994, Mr. Courter was Chairman of the President’s Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission. He received a B.A. from Colgate University and a J.D. from Duke University Law School.

Relationships among Directors or Executive Officers

Howard S. Jonas and Joyce Mason are brother and sister and Michael Stein is Howard S. Jonas’ son-in-law and is married to Ms. Mason’s niece. There are no other familial relationships among any of the directors, director nominees or executive officers of the Company.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR
THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES NAMED ABOVE.

Directors, Director Nominees, Executive Officers and Key Personnel

The executive officers, directors, director nominees and certain key personnel of the Company are as follows:

Name	Age	Position
Howard S. Jonas	67	Chairman of the Board of Directors, Director and Director Nominee
Michael Stein	40	Chief Executive Officer and Named Executive Officer
Avi Goldin	46	Chief Financial Officer and Named Executive Officer
Joyce Mason	64	Director and Director Nominee
W. Wesley Perry	67	Director and Director Nominee
Alan B. Rosenthal	70	Director and Director Nominee
Alan Sass	84	Director and Director Nominee
James A. Courter	82	Ex-Officio Director

Set forth below is biographical information with respect to the Company’s current executive officers:

Michael Stein has served as Chief Executive Officer of Genie since November 2017 and had served as Chief Operating Officer from March 2017 to November 2017 and as Executive Vice President of Genie from May 2014 to March 2017. Mr. Stein has served as Chief Executive Officer of Genie Retail Energy, Inc. since May 2015. In addition, Mr. Stein serves as Chief Executive Officer of Diversegy LLC, Genie Solar, Inc. and Executive Chairman of Genie Retail International and Retail Energy Holdings, the operating entity of Town Square Energy. Mr. Stein served as Senior Vice President of Operations from January 2014 to May 2014. From July 2012

to January 2014, Mr. Stein was Senior Vice President of Business Development of IDT Telecom. From June 2007 to January 2009, Mr. Stein was an analyst at Belstar Investment Management. Mr. Stein received his B.A. in Psychology from Yeshiva University.

Avi Goldin has served as Chief Financial Officer of Genie since August 2011, Chief Financial Officer of GRE since May 2015 and serves as President of Genie Solar Energy, Inc. Mr. Goldin also served as Vice President of Corporate Development of IDT Corporation from May 2009 through October 2011. Mr. Goldin originally joined IDT in January 2004 and held several positions within IDT and its affiliates before leaving in January 2008 to join CayComm Media Holdings, a telecommunications acquisition fund, where he served as Vice President, Finance. Mr. Goldin rejoined IDT in May 2009 as Vice President of Corporate Development. Prior to joining IDT, Mr. Goldin served as Investment Analyst at Dreman Value Management, a $7 billion asset management firm and as an Associate in the Satellite Communications group at Morgan Stanley & Co. Mr. Goldin holds an MBA from the Stern School of Business of New York University, a B.A. in Finance from the Syms School of Business of Yeshiva University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

PROPOSAL NO. 2

APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY’S
2021 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN

The Company’s stockholders are being asked to approve an amendment to the Company’s 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan that will increase the number of shares of the Company’s Class B common stock available for the grant of awards thereunder by 180,000. The Compensation Committee approved the proposed amendment to the 2021 Plan on March 7, 2024, and the Board of Directors adopted the proposed amendment to the 2021 Plan on March 7, 2024, subject to stockholder approval at the Annual Stockholders Meeting.

The proposed amendment has been approved by the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors, and is being submitted for a stockholder vote in order to enable the Company to grant, among other equity grants permitted pursuant to the 2021 Plan, options which are incentive stock options (“ISOs”) within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); and because such approval may be required or advisable in connection with (i) the provisions set forth in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and (ii) the rules and regulations applicable to New York Stock Exchange-listed companies.

The following description of the 2021 Plan, as proposed to be amended by this Proposal, is a summary, does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the 2021 Plan, as proposed to be amended. A copy of the 2021 Plan, as proposed to be amended by this Proposal, is attached hereto as Exhibit A and has been filed with the SEC with this Proxy Statement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE 2021 PLAN

Pursuant to the 2021 Plan, officers, employees, directors and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries are eligible to receive awards of options to purchase shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock and restricted shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock. There are approximately 200 employees and directors eligible for grants under the 2021 Plan. Options granted under the 2021 Plan may be ISOs or non-qualified stock options (“NQSOs”). Stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) and limited stock appreciation rights (“LSARs”) may be granted either alone or simultaneously with the grant of an option. Restricted shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock and deferred stock units may be granted in addition to or in lieu of any other award made under the 2021 Plan.

The maximum number of shares reserved for the grant of awards under the 2021 Plan is 1,680,000 shares of Class B Common Stock. Such share reserves are subject to further adjustment in the event of specified changes to the capital structure of the Company. The shares may be made available either from the Company’s authorized but unissued shares of capital stock or from shares of capital stock reacquired by the Company.

The Compensation Committee administers the 2021 Plan. Subject to the provisions of the 2021 Plan, the Compensation Committee determines the type of awards, when and to whom awards will be granted, the number and class of shares covered by each award and the terms, provisions and kind of consideration payable (if any), with respect to awards. The Compensation Committee may interpret the 2021 Plan and may at any time adopt such rules and regulations for the 2021 Plan as it deems advisable, including the delegation of certain of its authority. In determining the persons to whom awards shall be granted and the number of shares covered by each award, the Compensation Committee takes into account the duties of the respective persons, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Company and such other factors as the Compensation Committee deems relevant.

An option to purchase shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock may be granted on such terms and conditions as the Compensation Committee may approve, and generally may be exercised for a period of up to ten years from the date of grant. Generally, ISOs will be granted with an exercise price equal to the “Fair Market Value” (as defined in the 2021 Plan) on the date of grant. In the case of ISOs, certain limitations will apply with respect to the aggregate value of option shares which can become exercisable for the first time during any one calendar year, and certain additional limitations will apply to ISOs granted to “Ten Percent Stockholders” of the Company (as defined in the 2021 Plan). The Compensation Committee may provide for the payment of the option price in the form of cash, by delivery of shares of Class B Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to such option price, by a combination thereof or by any other method. Stock options granted under the 2021 Plan

will become exercisable at such times and under such conditions as the Compensation Committee shall determine, subject to acceleration of the exercisability of options in the event of, among other things, a “Change in Control,” a “Corporate Transaction” or a “Related Entity Disposition” (in each case, as defined in the 2021 Plan).

On each January 5th (or the next business day if January 5th is not a business day), each of the Company’s Independent Directors (as defined in the 2021 Plan) who is determined to be independent shall automatically be awarded 2,920 restricted shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock and, at the sole discretion of the Independent Director, an award of restricted shares of Class B Common Stock equal to up to $50,000 (in lieu of the $50,000 cash compensation component of their annual compensation) based on the average of the high and low trading price of the Class B Common Stock on the trading date prior to the Independent Director grant date. A New Independent Director who first becomes an Independent Director shall receive a pro-rata amount (based on projected quarters of service to the following January 5th) of the annual grant of 2,920 restricted shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock on the date of appointment as an Independent Director. Such awards of restricted shares of Class B Common Stock shall vest in full immediately upon grant.

The 2021 Plan provides for the granting of restricted stock awards, which are awards of shares of Class B Common Stock that may not be disposed of, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, for such period as the Compensation Committee determines (the “restricted period”). The Compensation Committee may also impose such other conditions and restrictions, if any, on the shares as it deems appropriate, including the satisfaction of performance criteria. All restrictions affecting the awarded shares lapse in the event of a Change in Control, a Corporate Transaction or a Related Entity Disposition.

During the restricted period for a restricted stock award, the grantee will be entitled to receive dividends with respect to, and to vote, the shares of restricted stock awarded to him or her. If, during the restricted period, the grantee’s service with the Company terminates, any shares remaining subject to restrictions will be forfeited. The Compensation Committee has the authority to cancel any or all outstanding restrictions prior to the end of the restricted period, including cancellation of restrictions in connection with certain types of termination of service.

The 2021 Plan also permits the Compensation Committee to grant SARs and/or LSARS. Generally, SARs may be exercised at such time or times and only to the extent determined by the Compensation Committee and LSARs may be exercised only (i) during the 90 days immediately following a Change in Control or (ii) immediately prior to the effective date of a Corporate Transaction (as defined in the 2021 Plan). LSARs will be exercisable at such time or times and only to the extent determined by the Compensation Committee. An LSAR granted in connection with an ISO is exercisable only if the Fair Market Value per share of Class B Common Stock on the date of grant exceeds the purchase price specified in the related ISO.

Upon exercise of an SAR, a grantee will receive for each share for which an SAR is exercised, an amount in cash or shares of Class B Common Stock, as determined by the Compensation Committee, equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the Fair Market Value of a share of Class B Common Stock on the date the SAR is exercised, over (ii) the exercise or other base price of the SAR or, if applicable, the exercise price per share of the option to which the SAR relates.

Upon exercise of an LSAR, a grantee will receive for each share for which an LSAR is exercised, an amount in cash equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the greater of (x) the highest Fair Market Value of a share of Class B Common Stock, during the 90-day period ending on the date the LSAR is exercised, and (y) whichever of the following is applicable: (1) the highest per share price paid in any tender or exchange offer which is in effect at any time during the 90 days ending on the date of exercise of the LSAR; (2) the fixed or formula price for the acquisition of shares of Class B Common Stock in a merger in which the Company will not continue as the surviving corporation, or upon a consolidation, or a sale, exchange or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, approved by the Company’s stockholders (if such price is determinable on the date of exercise); and (3) the highest price per share of Class B Common Stock shown on Schedule 13D, or any amendment thereto, filed by the holder of the specified percentage of Class B Common Stock, the acquisition of which gives rise to the exercisability of the LSAR over (ii) the exercise or other base price of the LSAR or, if applicable, the exercise price per share of the option to which the LSAR relates. In no event, however, may the holder of an LSAR granted in connection with an ISO receive an amount in excess of the maximum amount which will enable the option to continue to qualify as an ISO.

When an SAR or LSAR is exercised, the option to which it relates, if any, will cease to be exercisable to the extent of the number of shares with respect to which the SAR or LSAR is exercised, but will be deemed to have been exercised for purposes of determining the number of shares available for the future grant of awards under the 2021 Plan.

The 2021 Plan further provides for the granting of deferred stock units, which are awards providing a right to receive shares of Class B Common Stock on a deferred basis, subject to such restrictions and a restricted period as the Compensation Committee determines. The Compensation Committee may also impose such other conditions and restrictions, if any, on the payment of shares as it deems appropriate, including the satisfaction of performance criteria. All deferred stock awards become fully vested in the event of a Change in Control, a Corporate Transaction or a Related Entity Disposition.

The grantee of a deferred stock unit will not be entitled to receive dividends or vote the underlying shares until the underlying shares are delivered to the grantee. The Compensation Committee has the authority to cancel any or all outstanding restrictions prior to the end of the restricted period, including cancellation of restrictions in connection with certain types of termination of service.

The Board of Directors may, at any time and from time to time, suspend, amend, modify or terminate the 2021 Plan; provided, however, that, to the extent required by any other law, regulation or stock exchange rule, no such change shall be effective without the requisite approval of the Company’s stockholders. In addition, no such change may adversely affect an award previously granted, except with the written consent of the grantee.

No awards may be granted under the 2021 Plan after March 8, 2031, ten years from the Board’s adoption of the 2021 Plan.

ISOs (and any related SARs) are not assignable or transferable except by the laws of descent and distribution. NQSOs (and any SARs or LSARs related thereto) may be transferred to the extent permitted by the Compensation Committee. Holders of NQSOs (and any SARs or LSARs related thereto) are permitted to transfer such NQSOs for no consideration to such holder’s “family members” (as defined in Form S-8) with the prior approval of the Compensation Committee.

Except as set forth in the table below, the Company cannot now determine the number of options to purchase shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock or other awards to be granted in the future under the 2021 Plan to officers, directors, employees and consultants.

New Plan Benefits

Name and Principal Position		Number of Shares of Stock
Independent Directors		8,760	(1)

____________

(1) Each of the three independent directors of the Company will receive an annual grant of 2,920 restricted shares of Class B Common Stock for serving as a director. In 2023, this automatic grant was made on January 5, 2023. Calculation is based upon the number of independent directors nominated for election at the Annual Meeting.

Federal Income Tax Consequences of Awards Granted under the 2021 Plan

The Company believes that, under present law, the following are the U.S. federal income tax consequences generally arising with respect to awards under the 2021 Plan:

Incentive Stock Options. ISOs granted under the 2021 Plan are intended to meet the definitional requirements of Section 422(b) of the Code for “incentive stock options.” A participant who receives an ISO does not recognize any taxable income upon the grant of such ISO. Similarly, the exercise of an ISO generally does not give rise to federal taxable income to the participant, provided that (i) the federal “alternative minimum tax,” which depends on the participant’s particular tax situation, does not apply and (ii) the participant is employed by the Company from the date of grant of the option until three months prior to the exercise thereof, except where such employment or service terminates by reason of disability or death (where the three month period is extended to one year).

Further, if after exercising an ISO, a participant disposes of Class B Common Stock so acquired more than two years from the date of grant and more than one year from the date of transfer of Class B Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of such ISO (the “applicable holding period”), the participant will normally recognize a long-term capital gain or loss equal to the difference, if any, between the amount received for the shares and the exercise price. If, however, the participant does not hold the shares so acquired for the applicable holding period — thereby making a “disqualifying disposition” — the participant would realize ordinary income on the excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time the ISO was exercised over the exercise price, and the balance of income, if any, would be long-term capital gain (provided the holding period for the shares exceeded one year and the participant held such shares as a capital asset at such time).

A participant who exercises an ISO by delivering shares of Class B Common Stock previously acquired pursuant to the exercise of another ISO is treated as making a “disqualifying disposition” of such Class B Common Stock if such shares are delivered before the expiration of their applicable holding period. Upon the exercise of an ISO with previously acquired shares as to which no disqualifying disposition occurs, the participant would not recognize gain or loss with respect to such previously acquired shares. The Company will not be allowed a federal income tax deduction upon the grant or exercise of an ISO or the disposition, after the applicable holding period, of the Class B Common Stock acquired upon exercise of an ISO. In the event of a disqualifying disposition, the Company generally will be entitled to a deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the participant, provided that such amount constitutes an ordinary and necessary business expense to the Company and is reasonable and the limitations of Sections 280G and 162(m) of the Code (discussed below) do not apply.

Non-Qualified Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. Non-qualified stock options granted under the 2021 Plan are options that do not qualify as ISOs. A participant who receives an NQSO or an SAR (including an LSAR) will not recognize any taxable income upon the grant of such NQSO or SAR. However, the participant generally will recognize ordinary income upon exercise of an NQSO in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the fair market value of the shares of Class B Common Stock at the time of exercise over (ii) the exercise price. Similarly, upon the receipt of cash or shares pursuant to the exercise of an SAR, the individual generally will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the sum of the cash and the fair market value of the shares received. The ordinary income recognized with respect to the receipt of shares or cash upon exercise of a NQSO or an SAR will be subject to both wage withholding and other employment taxes. In addition to the customary methods of satisfying the withholding tax liabilities that arise upon the exercise of an SAR for shares or of a NQSO, the Company may satisfy the liability in whole or in part by withholding shares of Class B Common Stock from those that otherwise would be issuable to the participant or by the participant tendering other shares owned by him or her, valued at their fair market value as of the date that the tax withholding obligation arises.

A federal income tax deduction generally will be allowed to the Company in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the individual with respect to his or her NQSO or SAR, provided that such amount constitutes an ordinary and necessary business expense to the Company and is reasonable and the limitations of Sections 280G and 162(m) of the Code do not apply.

If a participant exercises an NQSO by delivering shares of Class B Common Stock to the Company, other than shares previously acquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO which is treated as a “disqualifying disposition” as described above, the participant will not recognize gain or loss with respect to the exchange of such shares, even if their then fair market value is different from the participant’s tax basis. The participant, however, will be taxed as described above with respect to the exercise of the NQSO as if he or she had paid the exercise price in cash, and the Company likewise generally will be entitled to an equivalent tax deduction.

Other Awards. With respect to other awards under the 2021 Plan that are settled either in cash or in shares of Class B Common Stock that are either transferable or not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (as defined in the Code and the regulations thereunder), participants generally will recognize ordinary income equal to the amount of cash or the fair market value of Class B Common Stock received. Thus, Participants generally will not recognize income upon the grant of a deferred stock unit, and will instead recognize ordinary income when shares of Class B Common Stock are delivered in satisfaction of such award.

With respect to restricted stock awards under the 2021 Plan that are restricted to transferability and subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture — absent a written election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code filed with the Internal Revenue Service within 30 days after the date of transfer of such shares pursuant to the award (a “Section 83(b) election”) — a participant will recognize ordinary income at the earlier of the time at which (i) the

shares become transferable or (ii) the restrictions that impose a substantial risk of forfeiture of such shares lapse, in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value (on such date) of such shares over the price paid for the award, if any. If a Section 83(b) election is made, the participant will recognize ordinary income, as of the transfer date, in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of Class B Common Stock as of that date over the price paid for such award, if any.

The ordinary income recognized with respect to the receipt of cash, shares of Class B Common Stock or other property under the 2021 Plan will be subject to both wage withholding and other employment taxes. In addition to the customary methods of satisfying withholding tax liabilities that arise with respect to the delivery of cash or property (or vesting thereof), the Company may satisfy the liability in whole or in part by withholding shares of Class B Common Stock from those that would otherwise be issuable to the participant or by the participant tendering other shares owned by him or her, valued at their fair market value as of the date that the tax withholding obligation arises.

The Company generally will be allowed a deduction for federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the participant, provided that such amount constitutes an ordinary and necessary business expense and is reasonable and the limitations of Sections 280G and 162(m) of the Code do not apply.

Change in Control. In general, if the total amount of payments to a participant that are contingent upon a “change in control” of the Company (as defined in Section 280G of the Code), including awards under the 2021 Plan that vest upon a “change in control,” equals or exceeds three times the individual’s “base amount” (generally, such participant’s average annual compensation for the five calendar years preceding the change in control), then, subject to certain exceptions, the payments may be treated as “parachute payments” under the Code, in which case a portion of such payments would be non-deductible to the Company and the participant would be subject to a 20% excise tax on such portion of the payments.

Certain Limitations on Deductibility of Executive Compensation. With certain limited exceptions, Section 162(m) of the Code denies a deduction to publicly held corporations for compensation paid to certain executive officers in excess of $1 million per executive per taxable year (including any deduction with respect to the exercise of an NQSO or SAR or the disqualifying disposition of stock purchased pursuant to an ISO).

On March 28, 2024, the last reported sale price of Class B Common Stock on the NYSE was $15.08 per share.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR
APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO THE 2021 PLAN AS DESCRIBED ABOVE.

PROPOSAL NO. 3

ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

As required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act, we are asking our stockholders to cast an advisory vote on the compensation of the “Named Executive Officers” identified in the 2024 Summary Compensation Table in the “Executive Compensation” section of this Proxy Statement. This vote is advisory and not binding on the Company; however, this vote will provide feedback concerning our executive compensation program. We hold advisory votes on executive compensation every three years. Our Board decided on such votes every three years and a majority of our stockholders voted for that preference in 2018 and is again being asked to vote for that preference at the Annual Stockholders Meeting.

The Compensation Committee believes that our executive compensation program implements and achieves the goals of our executive compensation philosophy. That philosophy, which is set by the Compensation Committee, is designed to attract and retain qualified and motivated personnel and align their interests with the short-term and long-term goals of the Company and with the best interests of our stockholders. Our compensation philosophy is to provide compensation to attract the individuals necessary for our current needs and growth initiatives, and provide them with the proper incentives to motivate those individuals to achieve our long-term plans.

The three broad components of our executive officer compensation are base salary, annual cash incentive bonuses awards, and long term equity-based incentive awards. The Compensation Committee periodically reviews total compensation levels and the allocation of compensation among these three components for each of the executive officers in the context of our overall compensation policy. Additionally, the Compensation Committee, in conjunction with our board, reviews the relationship of executive compensation to corporate performance generally and with respect to specific enumerated goals that are established by the Compensation Committee early in each fiscal year. The Compensation Committee believes that our current compensation plans are competitive and reasonable.

The compensation of the Named Executive Officers was set by the Company’s Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company after discussions with management about the recommended levels and components of compensation for each of the individuals.

Stockholders are urged to read the “Executive Compensation” section of this Proxy Statement. The Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors believe that the information provided in that section demonstrates that the Company’s executive compensation program aligns our executives’ compensation with the Company’s short-term and long-term performance and provides the compensation and incentives needed to attract, motivate and retain key executives who are crucial to the Company’s long-term success. Accordingly, the following resolution will be submitted for a stockholder vote at the Annual Stockholders Meeting:

“RESOLVED, that the stockholders of Genie Energy Ltd. (the “Company”) approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-K, the compensation tables and narrative disclosures.”

Although the advisory vote is non-binding, the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors will review the results of the vote. The Compensation Committee will consider stockholders’ concerns and take them into account in future determinations concerning our executive compensation program.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL,
ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY’S
NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AS STATED IN THE ABOVE RESOLUTION.

PROPOSAL NO. 4

ADVISORY VOTE ON FREQUENCY OF FUTURE ADVISORY
VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

In addition to seeking a stockholders’ advisory vote on the compensation of the Named Executive Officers, the Company is asking its stockholders to express a preference as to how frequently future advisory votes on executive compensation should take place. As required by Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company is giving stockholders the opportunity to express a preference to cast such advisory votes annually, every two years or every three years; stockholders also have the option to abstain from voting on this matter. For the reasons discussed below, the Board of Directors recommends that advisory votes on executive compensation take place every three years.

The Board believes that a vote every three years provides adequate assurance that the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee remain accountable for executive compensation decisions on a frequent basis.

Accordingly, the Company’s Board believes that an advisory vote every three years is preferable, as it would foster a long-term approach to evaluating the Company’s executive compensation program while maintaining accountability for executive compensation decisions. If a plurality of the votes cast on this matter at the Annual Stockholders Meeting is cast in favor of advisory votes on executive compensation every three years, the Company would adopt this approach. On this basis, the next advisory vote on executive compensation, would take place at the Company’s 2027 annual meeting of stockholders.

Although the frequency vote is non-binding, the Compensation Committee and the Board will review the results of the vote. The Board and the Compensation Committee will consider stockholders’ views and take them into account in determining the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS
SELECT “THREE YEARS” ON THE PROPOSAL CONCERNING THE
FREQUENCY OF FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

Independent Registered Public Accountants

Zwick CPA, LLC (“Zwick”) has served the Company as its independent registered public accounting firm since September 2022. In 2021, the Company retained Zwick to audit the Company’s subsidiary Genie Retail Energy International, LLC for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has not yet appointed the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. Zwick has been retained to review the Company’s financial statements for the first and second quarters of Fiscal 2024.

We expect that representatives for Zwick will be present at the Annual Meeting via video or telephonic conference, will be available to respond to appropriate questions and will have the opportunity to make such statements as they may desire.

Audit and Non-Audit Fees

The following table presents fees billed for professional services rendered by Zwick for Fiscal Years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

Year Ended December 31		2023				2022
Audit Fees		$	550,000	(1)		$

SEC Form DEF 14A filed by Genie Energy Ltd.