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DEF 14A Filing
AerSale (ASLE) DEF 14ADefinitive proxy
Filed: 23 Apr 24, 4:01pm
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| PROXY STATEMENT | |
| PROXY STATEMENT | |
| QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS | |
| QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS | |
| QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS | |
Proposal | | | Votes required | | | Effect of Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes | |
Proposal 1: Election of Directors | | | The majority of the votes cast. This means that the number of votes cast “FOR” a director’s election must exceed the number of votes cast “AGAINST” that director’s election. | | | Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on this proposal. | |
Proposal 2: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2024 | | | The affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares present at the Annual Meeting online or by proxy and entitled to vote. | | | Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal. We do not expect any broker non-votes on this proposal. | |
| ![]() | | | Recommendation of the Board of Directors The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the election of each of the below director nominees. | |
| PROPOSALS TO BE VOTED ON | |
Name | | | Age | | | Position with AerSale | |
Nicolas Finazzo | | | 67 | | | Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Director | |
Robert B. Nichols | | | 67 | | | Director | |
Jonathan Seiffer | | | 52 | | | Director | |
Peter Nolan | | | 65 | | | Director | |
General C. Robert Kehler | | | 71 | | | Director | |
Lt. General Judith Fedder | | | 66 | | | Director | |
Andrew Levy | | | 54 | | | Director | |
| PROPOSALS TO BE VOTED ON | |
Nicolas Finazzo | | |||
Age: 67 Position: Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Director | | | Nicolas Finazzo has served on our Board since December 2020. Mr. Finazzo co-founded AerSale Corp. in 2008 with Mr. Nichols and has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from inception until January 2019, and again since December 2019. He has also served as Division President, TechOps since December 2019. From January 2019 to December 2019, Mr. Finazzo was Executive Chairman of AerSale Corp. From 1997 to 2008, Mr. Finazzo was Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AeroTurbine, Inc., a supplier of aircraft and engine products and MRO service provider. In 1997, Mr. Finazzo was Vice President and General Counsel of AeroThrust, Inc., parts supplier, MRO service provider and aircraft engine leasing company. From 1991 to 1997, Mr. Finazzo was Vice President and General Counsel of International Air Leases, Inc., a used aircraft leasing company. From 1987 to 1991, Mr. Finazzo was Vice President of Contracts for Greenwich Air Services, a jet engine maintenance, repair and overall (“MRO”) service provider. From 1981 to 1987, Mr. Finazzo was President of Southern Express Airways, Inc., a commuter airline operating in the United States. Mr. Finazzo graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Miami School of Law. Mr. Finazzo is a member in good standing of the Florida Bar and also holds an Federal Aviation Administration Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic’s license. As one of our founders, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Finazzo brings to the Board significant senior leadership and institutional knowledge of the Company with considerable expertise in MRO services, parts distribution and aircraft and engine leasing sectors of the industry. | |
Robert B. Nichols | | |||
Age: 67 Position: Director | | | Robert B. Nichols has served on our Board since December 2020. Mr. Nichols co-founded AerSale Corp. in 2008 with Mr. Finazzo and served as Vice Chairman from January 2019 until his retirement on December 31, 2023. He has also served as Division President, Asset Management Solutions from December 2019 until his retirement on December 31, 2023 . From 2017 to December 2019, Mr. Nichols was Principal of AerSale Corp. From 2008 to 2017, Mr. Nichols also was Chief Operating Officer of AerSale Corp. From 1997 to 2008, prior to founding AerSale, Mr. Nichols was Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of AeroTurbine, Inc. from 1990 to 1997. Prior to AeroTurbine, he was Vice President of Engine Sales and Leasing for AeroThrust, Inc. from 1989 to 1990, and Director of Engine Sales and Leasing for Greenwich Air Services. Mr. Nichols graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and accounting and attended vocation and technical training at Boeing (formerly Aviall Baniff) on a variety of aircraft engines including P&WJT8D, CFMI, CFM56-3, IAE V2500, and RR Tay 650 heavy maintenance. As one of our founders and former Vice Chairman, Mr. Nichols brings to the Board significant senior leadership, marketing, technical, and global experience along with deep institutional knowledge of the Company, its operations and customer relations. | |
Jonathan Seiffer | | |||
Age: 52 Position: Director | | | Jonathan Seiffer has served on our Board since December 2020. Mr. Seiffer currently serves as Senior Partner with Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. (“Leonard Green”), a private equity firm that is one of AerSale Corporation’s significant stockholders, which he joined in 1994. Before joining Leonard Green, he worked in corporate finance at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. Mr. Seiffer currently serves on the boards of Signet Jewelers Limited (NYSE: SIG), Authentic Brands Group, Caliber Collision Centers, Mister Car Wash, Inc. (NYSE: MCW), SRS Distribution, Mariner Wealth Advisors, Parts Town, West Shore Home and Sun Auto. Mr. Seiffer graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania in 1993 with a BSE degree with concentrations in Finance and Management and a BAS degree with a concentration in Systems Engineering. Mr. Seiffer brings particular knowledge and experience in finance, and broad-based experience in the leadership of distribution businesses. Mr. Seiffer also brings to the Board significant strategic leadership, experience in the investment industry and valuable global business perspective. | |
| PROPOSALS TO BE VOTED ON | |
Peter Nolan | | |||
Age: 65 Position: Director | | | Peter Nolan has served on our Board since December 2020 and has served as our lead independent director since June 9, 2023. Mr. Nolan is the Chairman of Nolan Capital, a private investment company, a senior advisor to Leonard Green, and was previously a managing partner of Leonard Green. Mr. Nolan previously served on the board of directors of Activision Blizzard, Inc., until it was acquired by Microsoft Corporation in October 2023, among others. Prior to becoming a partner at Leonard Green in 1997, Mr. Nolan served as a managing director and the Co-Head of Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette’s Los Angeles Investment Banking Division from 1990 to 1997, as a First Vice President in corporate finance at Drexel Burnham Lambert from 1986 to 1990, and as a Vice President at Prudential Securities, Inc. from 1982 to 1986. Prior to 1982, Mr. Nolan was an associate at Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company. Mr. Nolan graduated from the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University and has an MBA from the Johnson College of Business, Cornell University. Mr. Nolan brings to the Board experience in finance, asset management, capital markets and capital management, experience as a senior executive, and perspective as an institutional investor. | |
General C. Robert Kehler | | |||
Age: 71 Position: Director | | | General C. Robert Kehler, USAF (ret), served as a director of Monocle until the business combination merger with AerSale in December 2020. He has 43 years of leadership, strategy and governance experience related to military operations of the United States of America. General Kehler currently serves on the board of directors of Connect Bidco Ltd. (parent of Inmarsat) and is a senior advisor to McKinsey and Company. General Kehler previously served on the board of directors of Maxar Technologies Ltd. until it was acquired in May 2023. In 2022, the governor of Virginia appointed him to the board of the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority. General Kehler retired from the United States Air Force in December 2013 after almost 39 years of distinguished service. From January 2011 until November 2013, he served as the Commander, United States Strategic Command (“USSTRATCOM”), where he was directly responsible to the Secretary of Defense and President for the plans and operations of all U.S. forces conducting strategic deterrence, nuclear alert, global strike, space, cyberspace and associated operations. Prior to commanding USSTRATCOM, General Kehler commanded United States Air Force Space Command (predecessor to the United States Space Force) and two operational space wings conducting space launch, missile warning, and space control missions. He also commanded an intercontinental ballistic missile squadron and group. General Kehler entered the Air Force in 1975 as a Distinguished Graduate of the Pennsylvania State University R.O.T.C. program, has master’s degrees in Public Administration and National Security and Strategic Studies, and completed executive development programs at Carnegie-Mellon, Syracuse, and Harvard Universities. His military awards include the Defense Distinguished and Superior Service Medals, the Distinguished Service Medal (2 awards), Legion of Merit (3 awards), and the French Legion of Honor (Officer). General Kehler is an Affiliate of Stanford’s Center for International Security and Cooperation and a Senior Fellow of the National Defense University. Mr. Kehler brings to the Board over 40 years of leadership and governance experience and extensive involvement serving as a director and member of board committees. | |
| PROPOSALS TO BE VOTED ON | |
Lt. General Judith A. Fedder | | |||
Age: 66 Position: Director | | | General Fedder has served on our Board since July 1, 2022. At the time of her retirement after nearly 35 years of active duty Air Force service, General Fedder served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. In that role, she was responsible to the Air Force Chief of Staff for leadership, management and integration of Air Force logistics readiness, aircraft, munitions, and missile maintenance, with emphasis on combat readiness and weapon system availability. Her portfolio also included setting policy and preparing budget estimates for Air Force civil engineering and security forces functions. Following her military career, General Fedder was a Senior Director at The Boeing Company for Global Sales and Marketing, Integrated Logistics, Boeing Defense. In that role, she secured capture of after-market services for military fighter and helicopter platforms and supply chain. She is currently a Senior Advisor at the Boston Consulting Group. General Fedder is a member of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Defense & Business, a nonprofit education and research institute in Chapel Hill, NC. She also served as a member of the Defense Advisory Committee for Women in the Services and is an Emeritus Member of the Board of Governors for Civil Air Patrol. General Fedder is a former Presidential appointee to the Board of Visitors for the U.S. Air Force Academy as well as recipient of the Michigan State University Distinguished Alumni Award in 2014. General Fedder graduated from Michigan State University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree and holds an MBA from the Florida Institute of Technology. She is also a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program, and her active duty career included leading and commanding aircraft maintenance units. General Fedder served as the Sub-Unified Commander of U.S. Forces Azores and commanded the 76th Maintenance Wing aircraft depot at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, leading over 9,000 employees in the maintenance, repair, and overhaul of military aircraft, engines, and components. General Fedder brings to the Board over 35 years of leadership and governance experience in aeronautical government and defense contracting and logistics. | |
Andrew Levy | | |||
Age: 54 Position: Director | | | Mr. Levy has served on our Board since April 15, 2023. Mr. Levy is the founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Avelo Airlines. Prior to launching Avelo Airlines in 2021, Mr. Levy was a co-founder, President and Chief Financial Officer at Allegiant Travel Company (Nasdaq: ALGT). Following his tenure at Allegiant, Mr. Levy served as Chief Financial Officer for United Airlines (NYSE: UAL) from August 2016 until May 2018. Mr. Levy has been a member of the board of directors at Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE: CPA) since 2016, a leading Latin American airline, and has served on the audit committee. Mr. Levy started his aviation career as the Director of Contracts at ValueJet Airlines and also served as Vice President of Savoy Capital, an aviation focused investment and advisory firm, and Vice President of Network Development and Planning at Mpower Communications, a telecommunications company. Mr. Levy earned a BA degree in Economics from Washington University in St. Louis and a Juris Doctorate degree from Emory University School of Law. Mr. Levy brings to the Board just under three decades of corporate and entrepreneurial experience in the aviation and telecommunications industries as well as leadership and governance experience and extensive involvement serving as a director and member of board committees. | |
| PROPOSALS TO BE VOTED ON | |
| ![]() | | | Recommendation of the Board of Directors The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the Ratification of the Appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. | |
Fee Category | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | | ||||||
Audit Fees | | | | $ | 943,610 | | | | | $ | 912,252 | | |
Audit-Related Fees | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | |
Tax Fees | | | | $ | 71,397 | | | | | $ | 65,469 | | |
All Other Fees | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | |
Total Fees | | | | $ | 1,015,007 | | | | | $ | 977,721 | | |
Name | | | Age | | | Position | |
Nicolas Finazzo(1) | | | 67 | | | Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director | |
Martin Garmendia(2) | | | 49 | | | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | |
Gary Jones(3) | | | 61 | | | Chief Operating Officer and Division President Airframe and Engine Materials | |
Basil Barimo(4) | | | 58 | | | Division President, MRO Services | |
Craig Wright(5) | | | 55 | | | Division President, Aircraft & Engine Management | |
Iso Nezaj(6) | | | 68 | | | Chief Product Development Officer | |
James Fry(7) | | | 62 | | | Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary | |
Ben Tschirhart(8) | | | 47 | | | Division President, Engineered Solutions | |
Enrique Pizzi(9) | | | 52 | | | Chief Information Officer | |
| CURRENT EXECUTIVE OFFICERS | |
| CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | |
| CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | |
| CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | |
| CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | |
| ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE | |
| ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE | |
| ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE | |
Board Diversity Matrix (As of April 23, 2024) | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Number of Directors | | | 7 | | |||||||||||||||||||||
| | | Female | | | Male | | | Non-Binary | | | Did Not Disclose Gender | | ||||||||||||
Part I: Gender Identity | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Directors | | | | | 1 | | | | | | 6 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Part II: Demographic Background | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
African American or Black | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Alaskan Native or Native American | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
South Asian | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Hispanic or Latinx | | | | | — | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
White | | | | | 1 | | | | | | 6 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Two or More Races or Ethnicities | | | | | — | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
LGBTQ+ | | | — | | |||||||||||||||||||||
Did Not Disclose Demographic Background | | | — | |
| ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE | |
Name | | | Audit | | | Compensation | | | Nominating and Corporate Governance | | | Investment(1) | |
Nicolas Finazzo | | | | | | | | | | | | X | |
General C. Robert Kehler | | | | | | X | | | X | | | | |
Peter Nolan | | | X | | | | | | X | | | | |
Jonathan Seiffer | | | | | | Chair | | | Chair | | | X | |
Andrew Levy | | | Chair(2) | | | | | | | | | | |
Lt. General Judith Fedder | | | X | | | X | | | | | | | |
| COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD | |
| COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD | |
| EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION | |
Name and Principal Position | | | Year | | | Salary ($) | | | Bonus ($)(1) | | | Stock Awards ($) | | | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(2) | | | All Other Compensation ($)(3) | | | Total ($) | | |||||||||||||||||||||
Nicolas Finazzo Chairman, Chief Executive Officer | | | | | 2023 | | | | | | 1,000,000 | | | | | | 2,480,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 66,515 | | | | | | 3,546,515 | | |
| | | 2022 | | | | | | 1,000,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | 280,000 | | | | | | 66,568 | | | | | | 1,346,568 | | | ||
Robert Nichols(4) Former Executive Vice Chairman and Division President Asset Management Solutions | | | | | 2023 | | | | | | 500,000 | | | | | | 215,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 71,938 | | | | | | 571,938 | | |
| | | 2022 | | | | | | 500,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 500,000 | | | | | | 54,836 | | | | | | 1,269,836 | | | ||
Martin Garmendia Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer | | | | | 2023 | | | | | | 399,038 | | | | | | 285,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 21,238 | | | | | | 705,276 | | |
| EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION | |
| EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION | |
| EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION | |
| EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION | |
| | | Fees earned or paid in cash(1) | | | Stock awards(2)(3) | | | Total | | |||||||||
Peter Nolan | | | | $ | 129,192 | | | | | $ | 151,301 | | | | | $ | 280,494 | | |
Richard J. Townsend(4) | | | | $ | 84,760 | | | | | $ | 151,301 | | | | | $ | 236,061 | | |
General C. Robert Kehler | | | | $ | 68,962 | | | | | $ | 151,301 | | | | | $ | 220,263 | | |
Lt. General Judith Fedder | | | | $ | 67,846 | | | | | $ | 151,301 | | | | | $ | 219,148 | | |
Andrew Levy(5) | | | | $ | 54,959 | | | | | $ | 133,881 | | | | | $ | 188,840 | | |
Eric J. Zahler(6)(7)(8) | | | | $ | 33,173 | | | | | $ | 133,881 | | | | | $ | 167,054 | | |
Sai S. Devabhaktuni(7)(8) | | | | $ | 22,115 | | | | | $ | 133,881 | | | | | $ | 155,997 | | |
Jonathan Seiffer(9) | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Michael Kirton(8)(9) | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Total | | | | $ | 461,007 | | | | | $ | 1,006,849 | | | | | $ | 1,467,856 | | |
| EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION | |
Committee | | | Chair | | | Member | | ||||||
Audit | | | | $ | 17,500 | | | | | $ | 10,000 | | |
Compensation | | | | $ | 15,000 | | | | | $ | 7,000 | | |
Nominating & Governance | | | | $ | 10,000 | | | | | $ | 5,000 | | |
| | | Beneficial Ownership | | |||||||||
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) | | | Number of Shares | | | Percentage | | ||||||
Directors and Named Executive Officers | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Nicolas Finazzo | | | | | 4,444,204(2) | | | | | | 8.4% | | |
Robert B. Nichols | | | | | 3,449,233(3) | | | | | | 6.5% | | |
Martin Garmendia | | | | | 136,963 | | | | | | * | | |
General C. Robert Kehler | | | | | 28,805 | | | | | | * | | |
Lt. Gen. Judith A. Fedder | | | | | 10,212 | | | | | | * | | |
Peter Nolan(4) | | | | | 13,805 | | | | | | * | | |
Andrew Levy | | | | | 14,000 | | | | | | * | | |
Jonathan Seiffer | | | | | 9,569,821(5) | | | | | | 18.1% | | |
All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (15 individuals) | | | | | 19,763,761 | | | | | | 37.3% | | |
Greater than 5% Stockholders | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Green Equity Investors CF, LP, Green Equity Investors Side CF, LP, LGP Associates CF LLC, GEI Capital CF, LLC, Leonard Green & Partners, L.P., LGP Management, Inc. and Peridot Coinvest Manager, LLC. | | | | | 9,569,821(5) | | | | | | 18.1% | | |
George P. Bauer Revocable Trust, dated 7/20/1990 and Greg P. Bauer | | | | | 3,914,794(6) | | | | | | 7.4% | | |
AltraVue Capital, LLC | | | | | 3,539,618(7) | | | | | | 6.7% | | |
FMR LLC | | | | | 3,182,790(8) | | | | | | 6.0% | | |
| SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT | |
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 | | |||||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders(1) | | | | | 532,399(2) | | | | | $ | 14.82 | | | | | | 3,404,137(3) | | |
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Total | | | | | 532,399 | | | | | $ | 14.82 | | | | | | 3,404,137 | | |