Filed by the Registrant | | | ☒ |
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant | | | ☐ |
☒ | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
☐ | Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
☐ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
☐ | Definitive Additional Materials |
☐ | Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
MOMENTUS INC. |
(Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter) |
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) |
☒ | No fee required |
☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
☐ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6 (i) (1) and 0-11 |
Items of Business 1. To elect to the Board of Directors the four nominees set forth in the accompanying proxy materials each to serve until the next Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of the Company that coincides with the expiration of such members’ applicable terms and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. 2. To ratify the appointment of Frank, Rimerman + Co. LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. 3. To approve, pursuant to Nasdaq listing rules, the repricing of certain existing warrants of the Company (the “Warrant Repricing Proposal”). 4. To transact such other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment of the Annual Meeting. Annual Meeting Details You can vote if you are a stockholder of record as of the close of business on May 17, 2024. The Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held in a virtual format only, via live webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/MNTS2024. We are pleased to take advantage of Securities and Exchange Commission rules that allow us to post these materials on the internet, which enables us to provide stockholders with the information that they need more quickly, while lowering our costs of printing and delivery and reducing the environmental impact of our Annual Meeting. By order of the Board of Directors, Paul Ney Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary [•], 2024 | | | | | Date and Time June 25, 2024 9:00 a.m. pacific time | |
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| | | Where Via livestream webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/MNTS2024 | |||
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| Your Vote is Important Please carefully review the proxy materials and follow the instructions below to cast your vote as soon as possible in advance of the Annual Meeting. We anticipate that the Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials will be mailed to stockholders beginning on or about [•], 2024. | |||||
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| | | VOTE ONLINE By June 24, 2024 www.proxyvote.com | |||
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| | | VOTE BY PHONE By June 24, 2024 1-800-690-6903 | |||
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| | | VOTE BY MAIL By June 24, 2024 Vote Processing c/o Broadridge 51 Mercedes Way Edgewood, NY 11717 | |||
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| | | VOTE DURING THE MEETING Via livestream webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/MNTS2024 |
• | By Internet. If you received the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or a printed copy of the proxy materials, follow the instructions in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or on the proxy card. You may vote via internet website address at www.proxyvote.com. Votes by internet must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on June 24, 2024. |
• | By Telephone. If you received a printed copy of the proxy materials, follow the instructions on the proxy card. You may vote via telephone at 1-800-690-6903. Votes by telephone must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on June 24, 2024. |
• | By Mail. If you received a printed copy of the proxy materials, complete, sign, date and mail your proxy card in the enclosed, postage-prepaid envelope provided or return your proxy card to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717. If you sign and return the enclosed proxy card but do not specify how you want your shares voted, they will be voted FOR the director nominees named herein to the Company’s Board of Directors, FOR the ratification of the appointment of Frank, Rimerman + Co. LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, and FOR the Warrant Repricing Proposal, and will be voted according to the discretion of the proxy holder upon such other matters that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. If you are mailed, or otherwise receive or obtain, a proxy card or voting instruction form, and you choose to vote by internet or by telephone, you do not have to return your proxy card or voting instruction form. Votes submitted by mail must be received by June 24, 2024. |
• | By Internet at the Annual Meeting. You may also vote in person virtually by attending the meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/MNTS2024. To attend the Annual Meeting and vote your shares, you must register in advance at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/MNTS2024 no later than 11:59 p.m. eastern time on June 24, 2024 and provide the control number located on your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or proxy card. |
• | By Internet or By Telephone. You will receive instructions from your broker or other nominee if you are permitted to vote by internet or telephone. |
• | By Mail. You will receive instructions from your broker or other nominee explaining how to vote your shares by mail. |
• | vote FOR all nominees; |
• | vote FOR one or more nominees and WITHHOLD from other nominees; or |
• | WITHHOLD your vote from all nominees. |
| Name | | | Age | | | Class | | | Current Term Expires | | | Position | | | Committee Membership | | ||||||||||||
| Audit | | | Compensation | | | Disclosure | | | Nominating and Corporate Governance | | | Security | | |||||||||||||||
| Chris Hadfield | | | 64 | | | II | | | 2024 | | | Director | | | | | • | | | • | | | • | | | | ||
| Brian Kabot | | | 46 | | | I | | | 2025 | | | Director | | | | | * | | | | | | | | ||||
| Mitchel B. Kugler | | | 63 | | | I | | | 2025 | | | Director | | | • | | | • | | | * | | | | | | ||
| Victorino G. Mercado | | | 63 | | | III | | | 2024 | | | Security Director | | | | | | | | | * | | | * | | |||
| Kimberly A. Reed | | | 53 | | | I | | | 2025 | | | Director | | | • | | | | | | | • | | | | |||
| Linda J. Reiners | | | 64 | | | III | | | 2024 | | | Lead Independent Director | | | * | | | | | | | | | | ||||
| John C. Rood | | | 55 | | | II | | | 2024 | | | Chairperson and CEO | | | | | | | • | | | | | |
• | Class I consists of Brian Kabot, Mitchel B. Kugler and Kimberly A. Reed, whose terms will expire at the Company’s 2025 annual meeting of stockholders; |
• | Class II consists of Chris Hadfield and John C. Rood, whose terms will expire at the Company’s 2024 annual meeting of stockholders; and |
• | Class III consists of Linda J. Reiners and Victorino G. Mercado, whose terms will expire at the Company’s 2024 annual meeting of stockholders. |
| Board Members | | | Five times the individual’s annual cash retainer (not including any chair, lead independent director, committee or committee chair service retainers) | |
| Chief Executive Officer | | | Five times the individual’s annual base salary | |
| All Other Executive Officers | | | Three times the individual’s annual base salary | |
• | Provide timely responses to inquiries from the CFIUS Monitoring Agencies and maintain availability, upon reasonable notice from the CFIUS Monitoring Agencies, for discussions with the CFIUS Monitoring Agencies on matters related to the Company’s governance and compliance with the NSA; |
• | Consult with the CFIUS Monitoring Agencies on nominations to the board and exercise this authority in the Security Director’s sole discretion, subject to such consultation with the CFIUS Monitoring Agencies; and |
• | Serve as the primary liaison between the board and the CFIUS Monitoring Agencies and provide timely responses to inquiries from the CFIUS Monitoring Agencies and maintain availability, upon reasonable notice from the CFIUS Monitoring Agencies, for discussions with the CFIUS Monitoring Agencies on matters relating to the Company’s governance and compliance with the NSA. |
• | appointing, compensating, retaining, evaluating, terminating and overseeing the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm; |
• | reviewing the adequacy of the Company’s system of internal controls and the disclosure regarding such system of internal controls contained in the Company’s periodic filings; |
• | pre-approving all audit and permitted non-audit services and related engagement fees and terms for services provided by the Company’s independent auditors; |
• | reviewing with the Company’s independent auditors their independence from management; |
• | reviewing, recommending and discussing various aspects of the financial statements and reporting of the financial statements with management and the Company’s independent auditors; |
• | overseeing controls governing the Company’s and its management’s public statements regarding the Company, including but not limited to the creation of a disclosure committee; and |
• | establishing procedures for the confidential anonymous submission of concerns regarding questionable accounting, internal controls or auditing matters. |
• | setting the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, reviewing and approving the compensation, and establishing the goals and objectives, of the other executive officers of the Company; |
• | reviewing on a periodic basis and making recommendations regarding non-employee director compensation to the board; |
• | administering the Company’s cash and equity-based incentive plans that are stockholder-approved and/or where participants include the Company’s executive officers and directors; and |
• | providing oversight of and recommending improvements to the Company’s overall compensation and incentive plans and benefit programs. |
• | identifying, evaluating and making recommendations to the board regarding nominees for election to the Board of Directors and its committees; |
• | considering and evaluating stockholder nominees for election to the Board of Directors; |
• | developing and making recommendations to the board regarding corporate governance and environmental, social and governance guidelines and matters; |
• | overseeing the board’s corporate governance practices; |
• | determining the desired qualifications, expertise and characteristics for potential directors, with the goal of developing an experienced and highly qualified board with a diverse background and skillset; |
• | overseeing the evaluation and the performance of the board and each of its committees; and |
• | contributing to succession planning. |
• | coordinating and overseeing the formulation, documentation and evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures; |
• | periodically reviewing and assessing the adequacy of the Company’s disclosure policy and guidelines, including without limitation the Company’s policies regarding public disclosure of material nonpublic information; and |
• | reviewing drafts of certain of the Company’s disclosure documents. |
Name | | | Age | | | Position |
John C. Rood* | | | 55 | | | Chairperson, President and CEO |
Rob Schwarz | | | 55 | | | Chief Technology Officer |
Paul Ney | | | 65 | | | Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary |
Lon Ensler | | | 65 | | | Interim Chief Financial Officer |
* | Mr. Rood is also a director of the Company and his biographical information appears on page 9. |
Summary Compensation Table | |||||||||||||||||||||
Name Principal Position(s) | | | Fiscal Year | | | Salary(1) | | | Bonus(2) | | | Stock Awards(3) | | | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation(4) | | | All Other Compensation(5) | | | Total |
| ($) | | | ($) | | | ($) | | | ($) | | | ($) | | | ($) | |||||
John C. Rood Chief Executive Officer | | | 2023 | | | 800,000 | | | 80,000 | | | 752,094 | | | 800,000 | | | 128,175(6) | | | 2,560,269 |
| 2022 | | | 800,000 | | | 80,000 | | | 567,642 | | | 800,000 | | | 161,779 | | | 2,409,421 | ||
| 2021 | | | 333,333 | | | 633,333 | | | 9,999,997 | | | 166,667 | | | 71,476 | | | 11,204,806 | ||
Paul Ney Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary | | | 2023 | | | 450,000 | | | — | | | 223,838 | | | 247,500 | | | 10,349(7) | | | 931,687 |
| 2022 | | | 450,000 | | | — | | | 36,897 | | | 247,500 | | | 14,000 | | | 748,397 | ||
Rob Schwarz Chief Technology Officer | | | 2023 | | | 350,000 | | | — | | | 196,977 | | | 115,500 | | | 28,870(8) | | | 691,347 |
(1) | Amounts shown are amounts actually earned by the NEO during the applicable fiscal year and reflect, to the extent applicable, any salary adjustments that occurred during the year. Amounts shown are not reduced to reflect the NEO’s contributions, if any, to the Company’s 401(k) Plan. |
(2) | Amounts shown in this column represent discretionary bonus compensation amounts awarded for the applicable year of service. |
(3) | Amounts in this column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock units (“RSUs”), as computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 11 to our financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. These amounts do not reflect the actual economic value that will be realized by our NEOs upon the vesting of such equity awards or the sale of the common stock underlying such awards. |
(4) | Represents an annual fixed bonus amount that was earned by the NEO achieving certain pre-determined, measurable company milestones for the applicable year of service. |
(5) | Includes all perquisites and other personal benefits or property, “gross ups” and other amounts reimbursed during the fiscal year and any amounts paid or accrued to any NEO pursuant to a plan or arrangement in connection with any severance obligation. |
(6) | This amount includes $96,409 paid for housing expenses and $29,554 paid for employee benefits deductions for Mr. Rood. |
(7) | This amount constitutes employee benefits deductions for Mr. Ney. |
(8) | This amount constitutes employee benefits deductions for Mr. Schwarz. |
| | Option Awards | | | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||
Name | | | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable | | | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Unexercisable | | | Option Exercise Price | | | Option Expiration Date | | | Number of Shares or Units That Have Not Vested | | | Market Value of Shares or Units That Have Not Vested(1) |
John C. Rood | | | 4,531(2) | | | 3,240(2) | | | $127.00 | | | March 20, 2032 | | | 25,200(2) | | | $43,596 |
| | | | | | | | | 8,889(3) | | | $15,378 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | 9,167(4) | | | $15,859 | ||||||
Paul Ney | | | 294(5) | | | 211(5) | | | $127.00 | | | March 20, 2032 | | | 7,500(5) | | | $12,975 |
| | | | | | | | | 578(6) | | | $1,000 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | 2,750(7) | | | $4,758 | ||||||
Rob Schwarz | | | 1,132(8) | | | 810(8) | | | $127.00 | | | March 20, 2032 | | | 6,600(8) | | | $11,418 |
| 7,096(10) | | | 309(10) | | | | | | | 2,222(9) | | | $3,955 | ||||
| 73(11) | | | 4(11) | | | | | | | | |
(1) | Amounts in this column are based upon a fair market value of $1.73 per share which was the closing price of our Class A common stock on December 29, 2023. |
(2) | Mr. Rood was granted 7,771 stock options on March 20, 2022, which vest in equal quarterly installments on June 20, September 20th, December 20th and March 20th following the grant date over three years, subject to Mr. Rood’s continued employment through each such vesting date. Mr. Rood was also granted 25,200 RSUs on March 23, 2023, which vest in three equal annual installments from the grant date, subject to Mr. Rood’s continued employment through each such vesting date. |
(3) | Mr. Rood was granted 13,333 RSUs on March 20, 2022, which vest in three equal annual installments from the grant date, subject to Mr. Rood’s continued employment through each such vesting date. |
(4) | Mr. Rood was granted 18,331 RSUs on November 8, 2021, 6.25% of which vested on November 20, 2021, 18.75% of which vested on August 20, 2022, and 25% of which will vest on August 20 in each of 2023, 2024 and 2025, subject to Mr. Rood’s continued employment through each such vesting date. |
(5) | Mr. Ney was granted 505 stock options on March 20, 2022, which vest in equal quarterly installments on June 20th, September 20th, December 20th and March 20th following the grant date over three years, subject to Mr. Ney’s continued employment through each such vesting date. Mr. Ney was also granted 7,500 RSUs on March 20, 2023, which vest in three equal annual installments from the grant date, subject to Mr. Ney’s continued employment through each such vesting date. |
(6) | Mr. Ney was granted 866 RSUs on March 20, 2022, which vest in three equal annual installments from the grant date, subject to Mr. Ney’s continued employment through each such vesting date. |
(7) | Mr. Ney was granted 5,499 RSUs on November 8, 2021, which vest in equal annual installments following the grant date over four years, subject to Mr. Ney’s continued employment through each such vesting date. |
(8) | Mr. Schwarz was granted 1,942 stock options on March 20, 2022, which vest in equal quarterly installments on June 20, September 20th, December 20th and March 20th following the grant date over three years, subject to Mr. Schwarz’s continued employment through each such vesting date. Mr. Schwarz was also granted 6,600 RSUs on March 23, 2023, which vest in three equal annual installments from the grant date, subject to Mr. Schwarz’s continued employment through each such vesting date. |
(9) | Mr. Schwarz was granted 3,333 RSUs on March 20, 2022, which vest in three equal annual installments from the grant date, subject to Mr. Schwarz’s continued employment through each such vesting date. |
(10) | Mr. Schwarz was granted 7,405 stock options on February 22, 2020, 25% of which vested on February 3, 2021 and 75% of which vested on February 3, 2024. |
(11) | Mr. Schwarz was granted 77 stock options on June 15, 2020, 25% of which vested on February 3, 2021 and 75% of which vested on February 3, 2024. |
• | All Outside Directors: $100,000 |
• | Outside Director serving as Chairperson: $60,000 (in addition to above) |
• | Outside Director serving as Lead Independent Director: $30,000 (in addition to above) |
• | Member of the Audit Committee: $20,000 |
• | Member of the Compensation Committee: $15,000 |
• | Member of the Disclosure Committee: $15,000 |
• | Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee: $10,000 |
• | Chairperson of the Audit Committee: $30,000 |
• | Chairperson of the Compensation Committee: $22,500 |
• | Chairperson of the Disclosure Committee: $22,500 |
• | Chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee: $15,000 |
• | RSUs initially valued at $350,000 upon initial election or appointment to board, which will vest in three equal annual installments from the date of grant; and |
• | An additional 120,000 RSUs annually, which will vest upon the earlier of the first anniversary of the date of grant or the day before the next annual stockholder meeting, prorated for partial years of service (including the initial year of service). |
Director Compensation | |||||||||
Name | | | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | | | Stock Awards(1)(2) ($) | | | Total ($) |
Brian Kabot | | | [•] | | | 38,160 | | | [•] |
Chris Hadfield | | | [•] | | | 38,160 | | | [•] |
Kimberly A. Reed | | | [•] | | | 38,160 | | | [•] |
Linda J. Reiners | | | [•] | | | 38,160 | | | [•] |
Mitchel B. Kugler | | | [•] | | | 38,160 | | | [•] |
Victorino G. Mercado | | | [•] | | | 38,160 | | | [•] |
(1) | Amounts in this column reflect compensation earned in 2023 for service as a member of the board and reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of RSUs, as computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 11 to our financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. These amounts do not reflect the actual economic value that will be realized by our directors upon the vesting of such equity awards or the sale of the common stock underlying such awards. |
(2) | As of December 31, 2023, our non-employee directors held 15,732 outstanding RSUs each, which represents (i) 1,332 RSUs granted on October 18, 2021 which vests in three equal installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of August 12, 2021, and (ii) 14,400 RSUs granted on May 31, 2022 which vests in full on May 29, 2023, subject to the director’s continued services as a member of the Board of Directors through such vesting dates. |
Name and Address of Beneficial Owners | | | Number of Shares | | | %(1) |
5% Stockholders: | | | | | ||
None | | | — | | | — |
Directors and Executive Officers: | | | | | ||
John C. Rood | | | 36,573 (2) | | | *% |
Chris Hadfield | | | 7,451 | | | *% |
Brian Kabot | | | 37,457(3) | | | *% |
Mitchel B. Kugler | | | 7,450 | | | *% |
Victorino G. Mercado | | | 6,787 | | | *% |
Kimberly A. Reed | | | 7,451 | | | *% |
Linda J. Reiners | | | 7,451 | | | *% |
Rob Schwarz | | | 27,282(4) | | | *% |
Paul Ney | | | 6,094(5) | | | *% |
Lon Ensler | | | — | | | *% |
Directors and executive officers as a group (10 individuals)(6) | | | 143,996 | | | *% |
* | Less than one percent. |
(1) | The aggregate percentage of shares of Class A common stock reported to be beneficially owned by each person named is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and is based on 16,625,904 shares of Class A common stock of the Company outstanding as of May 9, 2024. |
(2) | Consists of (i) [•] shares of Class A common stock and (ii) [•] shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of options. |
(3) | Represents 3,782 shares of Class A common stock held by Brian Kabot directly. The Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC by SRC-NI Holdings, LLC, the sponsor entity of Stable Road Acquisition Corp. (the “Sponsor”), on February 11, 2022 (the “Sponsor Schedule 13D/A”), indicated that Mr. Kabot, Juan Manuel Quiroga and Edward K. Freedman are the three managing members of the Sponsor, the majority approval of whom is required to approve an action of the Sponsor. As a result, none of the aforementioned individuals are deemed to be beneficial owners of the Sponsor’s securities, which, based on the Sponsor Schedule 13D/A, total 28,750 shares of Class A common stock in sole voting power and sole investment power. The Sponsor Schedule 13D/A specifies that the Sponsor is not a member of a group. |
(4) | Consists of (i) [•] shares of Class A common stock and (ii) [•] shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of options. |
(5) | Consists of (i) [•] shares of Class A common stock and (ii) [•] shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of options. |
(6) | This includes directors, nominees and current executive officers. Eric Williams is not included in this calculation because he resigned from the Company after the 2023 fiscal year but before the date of this proxy statement. |
• | we have been or are to be a participant; |
• | the amounts involved exceeded or exceeds $120,000; and |
• | any of our directors, executive officers or holders of more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock, or any immediate family member of, or person sharing the household with, any of these individuals or entities, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. |
• | Frank, Rimerman’s historical and recent performance, including input from Audit Committee members, other independent directors and our management. |
• | Frank, Rimerman’s expertise and qualifications in serving as independent auditor for our different business operations. |
• | A review of Frank, Rimerman’s known legal risks and any significant legal or regulatory proceedings in which it is involved. |
• | Other information on audit quality and performance including recent Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) reports on Frank, Rimerman and its peer firms. |
• | Frank, Rimerman’s tenure as our independent auditor, periodic rotation of the lead partner and engagement quality review partner, and the benefits of continuity of members of the engagement team. Continuity provides institutional knowledge and experience in performing the audit of the Company. |
• | Frank, Rimerman’s conclusion that they are independent with respect to serving as our independent auditor. |
| | Frank, Rimerman 2023 | | | Armanino 2023 | | | Armanino 2022 | |
Audit Fees | | | $— | | | $358,405 | | | $470,961 |
Audit-Related Fees | | | $— | | | $— | | | $— |
Aggregate Non-Audit Fees: | | | | | | | |||
Tax Fees | | | $— | | | $119,404 | | | $144,417 |
All Other Fees | | | $— | | | $266,174 | | | $83,195 |
Total Aggregate Non-Audit Fees | | | $— | | | $385,578 | | | $227,612 |
Total Fees | | | $ — | | | $743,994 | | | $698,573 |