Employment Agreements, Offer Letters and Other Compensatory Agreements
Matthias Aydt
Mr. Aydt entered into an offer letter with Faraday&Future, Inc., a California corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of FF (“FF U.S.”), dated March 31, 2016, that provided for his employment as Vehicle Line Executive. The offer letter provided for Mr. Aydt to receive an annual base salary of $240,000. The offer letter also provided that Mr. Aydt would be paid a signing bonus of $40,000 within 30 days of his start date of July 1, 2016 (the “Employment Date”), as well as a settling in allowance of $6,000. Pursuant to the offer letter, Mr. Aydt is entitled to receive a discretionary annual performance bonus (with a target amount of $40,000). Mr. Aydt is also entitled to participate in FF U.S.’s health insurance, 401(k) plan, paid time off and paid holidays. Pursuant to the offer letter, Mr. Aydt was entitled to receive an employee stock option grant equal to 250,000 stock options. The stock option grant vested 25% on the first anniversary of the Employment Date and 1/36th on each of the following 36 months, subject to Mr. Aydt's continued employment. Pursuant to the offer letter, Mr. Aydt's employment constitutes employment at will.
Effective September 29, 2023, Mr. Aydt was appointed to the position of Global Chief Executive Officer of Faraday Future. In connection with his appointment to Global Chief Executive Officer, the Board approved an annual base salary of $400,000, which was consistent with his salary as Senior Vice President of Business Development and Product Definition. Mr. Aydt is also eligible to receive a discretionary annual performance bonus of up to $100,000.
Xuefeng Chen
Effective November 28, 2022 (the “Global CEO Effective Date”), Mr. Chen was appointed to the position of Global CEO. In connection with his appointment as Global CEO, FF and FF U.S., entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Chen, dated as of November 27, 2022 (the “XF Employment Agreement”), setting forth the terms of his employment and compensation. Pursuant to such employment agreement and contingent on continued service as Global CEO, Mr. Chen was entitled to a base salary of $900,000 and was eligible for an annual performance-based bonus of up to $600,000 under the FF’s bonus plan beginning in 2023. Mr. Chen also received a cash signing and retention bonus of $500,000, subject to repayment (i) in full within 15 business days of termination of Mr. Chen for “Cause” (as defined in the employment agreement), or (ii) on a pro-rated basis, within 15 days, if Mr. Chen either resigns or is terminated without Cause within 36 months of the Global CEO Effective Date. In addition, Mr. Chen was eligible to participate in the Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. Amended and Restated 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”). Subject to the terms of the 2021 Plan Mr. Chen has received $250,000 in grant date fair value of restricted stock units (“RSUs”). Additionally, in accordance to the terms of the 2021 Plan and subject to approval by the Board, Mr. Chen (i) received, as of the first anniversary of the Global CEO Effective Date, $300,000 in grant date fair value of RSUs, and (ii) will receive (A) as of the second anniversary of the Global CEO Effective Date, $400,000 in grant date fair value of RSUs, (B) as of the third anniversary of the Global CEO Effective Date, $450,000 in grant date fair value of RSUs, and (C) as of the fourth anniversary of the Global CEO Effective Date, $600,000 in grant date fair value of RSUs. Each RSU grant vest in equal 25% increments on each of the first four anniversaries of the applicable grant date, provided Mr. Chen remains employed with the Company on each such vesting date.
Subject to approval by the Board and the terms of the 2021 Plan, Mr. Chen was eligible based on continued service as Global CEO to receive an additional number of PSUs having a target grant date fair value equal to $2,000,000 if FF reached certain milestones and/or performance goals on certain dates, as specified by the Board (each a “Milestone”), and would be granted as follows: (i) $250,000 in value after FF achieves the first Milestone; (ii) $300,000 in value after FF achieves the second Milestone; (iii) $400,000 in value after FF achieves the third Milestone; (iv) $450,000 in value after FF achieves the fourth Milestone; and (v) $600,000 in value after FF achieves the fifth Milestone. Should FF reach any such Milestone, the PSUs associated with such Milestone were to be issued on the date(s) such Milestone was reached and were to vest in equal one-third increments on each of the first three annual Milestone anniversary dates following the applicable grant date, provided Mr. Chen remains employed with FF on each such vesting date. On February 3, 2023, the Board granted Mr. Chen an additional $650,000 of PSUs, which vest in equal one-fourth increments on each of the first four annual Milestone anniversary dates.
Pursuant to Mr. Chen’s employment agreement, on February 3, 2023, Mr. Chen received an option to purchase 2,000,000 shares of the Class A Common Stock (the “Standard Grant”) 50% of which vests in equal 25% increments on each of the first four anniversaries of the Global CEO Effective Date, and the other 50% commences vesting on the fourth anniversary of the Global CEO Effective Date, and vests in equal 25% increments on each of the next four anniversaries of the Global CEO Effective Date following such date, in each case, subject to Mr. Chen’s continued