Comstock Inc DEF 14A, filed Apr 9, 2025
Comstock Inc. (LODE)
About this DEF 14A
Comstock Inc filed this DEF 14A on April 9, 2025.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No.)
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 § 240.14a-12
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
NOT APPLICABLE
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):
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☐ 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.
COMSTOCK INC.
117 American Flat Road
P.O. Box 1118
Virginia City, Nevada 89440
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of shareholders of Comstock Inc. (“Comstock” or the “Company”) will be held as a virtual meeting on May 22, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (“PDT”), to:
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Elect the seven named nominees to the Board of Directors (our “Board”) for the ensuing year or, if earlier, until their successors are duly elected and qualified; |
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Ratify the appointment of Assure CPA, LLC, as our independent registered public accounting firm, for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025; |
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Approve a non-binding advisory resolution for the compensation of our named executive officers; and |
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Conduct any other business that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. |
Holders of shares of Comstock’s common stock of record at the close of business on March 25, 2025, may vote at the meeting.
The approximate mailing date of this notice, accompanying proxy statement and proxy card is April 9, 2025.
UNLESS YOU PROVIDE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS AS TO HOW TO VOTE, BROKERS MAY NOT VOTE YOUR SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ON THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS OR THE NON-BINDING ADVISORY RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.
This year, we are again making our Annual Meeting materials accessible to our shareholders electronically, as permitted under the “Notice and Access” rules approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Shareholders that do not opt out of Notice and Access will receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials containing instructions on how to access Annual Meeting materials via the internet. The Notice also provides instructions on how to obtain paper copies if preferred.
To ensure your vote is counted, please vote your shares promptly by completing, signing, dating, and returning the Company provided proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided, or by telephone or Internet, regardless of whether you plan on attending the virtual meeting.
If you are present at the virtual meeting, you may supersede your proxy and vote online, even if you have already voted your proxy by mail, telephone, or Internet.
By Order of the Board of Directors
April 9, 2025
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
COMSTOCK INC.
TO BE HELD May 22, 2025
APPROXIMATE DATE OF MAILING – April 9, 2025
This Proxy Statement (“Proxy Statement”) sets forth certain information about the accompanying proxy for the 2025 Annual Meeting of shareholders of Comstock Inc. (the “Meeting”), or any adjournments or postponements thereof, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting. The Meeting will be called to order at 9:00 a.m., PDT, on May 22, 2025.
The Meeting will be held online in a virtual-only format via webcast. The meeting will be accessible at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/LODE2025. Comstock shareholders as of the record date of March 25, 2025, can participate in the online annual meeting, including to vote your shares electronically and/or submit questions during the meeting.
Meeting attendants must be a shareholder on the record date and have previously registered for the Meeting. Shareholders can register for the Meeting by visiting www.proxyvote.com and using your 16-digit control number located in your proxy materials and selecting “Attend a Meeting.” Registered shareholders will receive a confirmation e-mail and Meeting instructions.
Once registered, you can participate in the Meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/LODE2025 and entering the same 16-digit control number used to preregister that is also located in your confirmation e-mail. Beneficial shareholders without a 16-digit control number should follow the instructions provided on the voting instruction form.
Electronic entry to the Meeting will begin at 8:45 a.m. PDT / 11:45 a.m. EDT and the Meeting will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. PDT / 12:00 p.m. EDT.
The Board solicits this proxy and urges immediate voting. You may change or revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the Meeting. For more information on voting, please refer to the “Questions and Answers” section. Unless the context otherwise indicates, references to “Comstock,” “we,” “us,” “our” or “the Company” means Comstock Inc.
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (the “Annual Report”), has been filed and will be accessible together with this Proxy Statement by our shareholders. Our Annual Report is not incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement and shall not be considered a part of this Proxy Statement or soliciting materials, unless otherwise specifically stated herein.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR ANNUAL MEETING
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Who is asking for my vote and why am I receiving this document? |
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Directors ask that you vote on the matters listed in the Notice of Annual Meeting of shareholders that are described in this Proxy Statement. We are providing this Proxy Statement and related proxy materials to our shareholders in connection with the solicitation by the Board of proxies to be voted during the Meeting. A proxy, if duly executed and not revoked, will be voted in accordance with the specific instructions noted on the proxy and, if it does not contain specific instructions, will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the Board set forth in this Proxy Statement. |
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Who is entitled to vote? |
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You may vote if you owned shares of our common stock, par value $0.000666 per share (“Common Stock”) on March 25, 2025, the date established by the Board under Nevada law and our by-laws for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting. On the record date, there were 26,903,872 outstanding shares of Common Stock. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote on each matter properly brought before the Meeting. |
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What is a proxy? |
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A proxy is your legal designation of another person to vote your stock. If you designate someone in writing, that document is also called a proxy or a proxy card. Messrs. William J. Nance and Walter A. Marting Jr. have been designated as proxies or proxy holders for the Meeting. Proxies properly executed and received by our Secretary prior to the Meeting and not revoked will be voted in accordance with the terms thereof. |
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What is a voting instruction form? |
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A voting instruction form is the instruction form you receive from your bank, broker, or its nominee if you hold your shares of Common Stock in street name. Shares are held in “street name” when a bank, brokerage or its nominee holds such shares on behalf of a client. The name that appears on the stock or bond certificate is that of bank, brokerage, or its nominee. The form instructs you on how to direct your bank, broker, or its nominee, as record holder, to vote your shares. |
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What am I voting on at the Meeting? |
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You will be voting on the following matters at the Meeting: |
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Election of the seven named nominees to the Board; |
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Ratification of Assure CPA, LLC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025; |
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Approval of a non-binding advisory resolution relating to the compensation of our named executive officers; and |
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Any other business that may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. |
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How many votes must be present to hold the Meeting? |
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In order for the Meeting to be conducted, one-third of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, as of the record date, must be represented in attendance online or by proxy at the Meeting. This is referred to as a quorum. Abstentions, withheld votes, and shares held of record by a bank, broker, or its nominee (“broker shares”) that are voted on any matter (including an abstention or withheld vote by broker shares) are included in determining the number of votes present. Broker shares that are not voted on any matter will not be included in determining whether a quorum is present. |
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What vote is needed to elect directors? |
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The election of each nominee for director requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the shares of Common Stock voted in the election of directors. To be elected by a “plurality” of the votes cast means that the individuals who receive the largest number of votes are elected as directors. Therefore, any shares not voted, whether by an indication on the proxy card that you withhold to “withhold authority,” by a broker non-vote (which may occur because brokers or other nominees who hold shares for you do not have the discretionary authority to vote your uninstructed shares in the election of directors) or otherwise, have no effect in the election of directors except to the extent that the failure to vote for an individual results in another individual receiving a larger number of votes. |
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What vote is needed to ratify the appointment of Assure CPA, LLC? |
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The ratification of the appointment of Assure CPA, LLC requires that the votes cast in favor exceed the votes cast in opposition. Abstentions will have no effect on approval of this proposal. |
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What vote is needed to approve the non-binding advisory resolution for the compensation of our named executive officers? |
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The approval of the non-binding advisory resolution for the compensation of our named executive officers requires that the votes cast in favor exceed the votes cast in opposition. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on approval of this proposal. Because this resolution is advisory, it will not bind the Company or the Board. However, the Board will review and consider the results of this vote for future executive compensation decisions. |
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What are the voting recommendations of the Board? |
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The Board recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” all of the proposed nominees for director, “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Assure CPA, LLC, and “FOR” a non-binding advisory resolution approving the compensation of our named executive officers. |
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How do I vote? |
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Registered shareholders (shareholders who hold Common Stock in certificated form in their name or book-entry shares directly registered in their name with the Company’s transfer agent, as opposed to through a bank, broker, or other nominee) may vote during the Meeting or by proxy. Registered shareholders may submit their proxies by completing, signing and dating the Company provided proxy card and returning it in the Company provided postage-paid envelope. Shareholders who hold Common Stock through banks, brokers or other nominees (street name shareholders) who wish to vote during the Meeting should be provided voting instructions on the instruction form provided to them from the institution that holds their shares. If this has not occurred, please contact the institution that holds your shares. Street name shareholders may also be eligible to vote their shares electronically by following the voting instructions provided by the bank, broker or other nominee that holds the shares, using either the toll-free telephone number or the Internet address provided on the voting instruction form, or otherwise complete, date and sign the voting instruction form and return it promptly in the provided postage-paid envelope. Shareholders who hold shares in street name are NOT permitted to vote for such shares online during the Meeting, unless the bank, broker, or its nominee has authorized such shareholders to act on behalf of the bank, broker or nominee. To obtain such authorization, street name shareholders will need to obtain a valid “legal proxy.” You can obtain a legal proxy by contacting your account representative at the bank, broker or other similar organization through which you hold your shares. |
The deadline for proxies received by mail is 5:00 p.m., PDT, on May 21, 2025.
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Can I attend the Meeting? |
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The Meeting is open to all holders of our Common Stock as of the record date, March 25, 2025. You may vote by attending the virtual Meeting and voting in person. Even if you plan to attend the virtual Meeting, however, we encourage you to vote your shares by proxy. |
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Can I change or revoke my vote? |
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Any shareholder giving a proxy may change or revoke it at any time before it is voted during the Meeting. A proxy can be changed or revoked by: |
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delivering a later dated proxy, or written notice of revocation, to our Secretary at the address listed under “Shareholder Proposals"; |
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attending the Meeting; or |
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If you decide to vote by completing, signing, dating and returning the Company provided proxy card, you should retain a copy of the proxy card should you decide later to change or revoke your proxy. Your attendance at the Meeting will not itself revoke a proxy.
If you are a shareholder whose stock is held in street name with a bank, broker or other nominee, you must follow the instructions found on the voting instruction form provided by the bank, broker, or other nominee, or contact your bank, broker or other nominee in order to change or revoke your previously given proxy. Shareholders who hold shares in street name are NOT permitted to vote for such shares online during the Meeting, unless the bank, broker or its nominee has authorized such shareholders to act on behalf of the bank, broker, or nominee. To obtain such authorization, street name shareholders will need to have a valid “legal proxy.” You can obtain a legal proxy by contacting your account representative at the bank, broker, or other similar organization through which you hold your shares.
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How will my shares be voted if I sign, date and return my proxy card, but do not complete the proxy card with respect to each proposal? |
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Shareholders should specify their choice for each matter on the Company provided proxy. If no specific instructions are given, it is intended that all proxies that are signed and returned will be voted “FOR” the election of all nominees for director, “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Assure CPA, LLC, and “FOR” a non-binding advisory resolution relating to the compensation of our named executive officers. As to any other business that may properly come before the Meeting, the persons named in the Company provided proxy card will vote the shares of Common Stock represented by the proxy in the manner as the Board may recommend, or otherwise in the proxy holders’ discretion. The Board does not presently know of any other such business. |
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How will my shares be voted if I do not return my proxy card or my voting instruction form? |
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It will depend on how your ownership of shares is registered. If you own your shares as a registered holder (meaning that your shares are registered in your name with Equiniti, our transfer agent), your shares will only be voted if Equiniti receives specific voting instructions from you. Otherwise, your unvoted shares will not be represented at the Meeting and will not count toward the quorum requirement, which is explained under “Questions and Answers For Annual Meeting — How many votes must be present to hold the Meeting?” above, unless you attend the Meeting to vote them online. If you own your shares and they are held in street name (meaning that your shares are registered in the name of your bank, broker or other nominee), your bank, broker or other nominee may not vote your shares in their discretion (with certain limited exceptions), unless you have provided voting instructions to the bank, broker or its nominee. |
Under the rules of the NYSE American LLC (“NYSE American”), your broker may vote your shares in their discretion on “routine matters.” Based on the rules of the NYSE American, we believe that the ratification of the appointment of Assure CPA, LLC as our independent registered public accounting firm is a routine matter for which brokerage firms may vote in their discretion on behalf of their clients if no voting instructions are provided. Therefore, if you are a shareholder whose shares of Common Stock are held in street name with a bank, broker, or other nominee and you do not return your voting instruction form, your bank, broker or other nominee may vote your shares on the ratification of the appointment by the Audit and Finance Committee of Assure CPA, LLC as our independent registered public accounting firm.
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Where can I find the results of the Meeting? |
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We intend to announce preliminary voting results during the Meeting and publish final results through a Current Report on Form 8-K that we will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) within four business days of the Meeting. |
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Who pays for the solicitation of proxies? |
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We pay for the cost of the solicitation of proxies, if any. |
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Could other matters be decided at the Meeting? |
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As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Board did not know of any other business that might be brought before the Meeting. However, if any other matters should properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote on such matters as they, in their discretion, may determine. |
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Where can I find the Company’s corporate governance materials? |
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Our Corporate Governance Guidelines, including our independence standards for members of the Board, our Code of Conduct and Ethics and the charters of our Audit and Finance Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee, are available on our website at https://comstock.inc/investors/leadership-governance/ and are available in print to any shareholder upon request by contacting our investor relations representatives. |
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How do I communicate with the Board? |
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Shareholders and other interested persons may communicate with the full Board, a specified committee of the Board, or a specified individual member of the Board, in writing, by mail addressed to: Comstock Inc., P.O. Box 1118, Virginia City, Nevada 89440, Attention: Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee. The Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee and his duly authorized agents are responsible for collecting and organizing shareholder communications. Absent a conflict of interest, the Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for evaluating the materiality of each shareholder communication and determining whether further distribution is appropriate, and, if so, whether to (1) the full Board, (2) one or more committees of the Board, (3) one or more Board members and/or (4) other individuals or entities. |
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Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Virtual Shareholder Meeting to Be Held on May 22, 2025.
This Proxy Statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K are both available free of charge on our website at https://comstock.inc/investors/sec-filings/. We will provide these documents, without charge, to each person to whom this Proxy Statement has been delivered, and, upon the request of any such person, additional copies of our Annual Report on Form 10-K. Requests should be directed to our Corporate Secretary as described below:
Comstock Inc.
P.O. Box 1118
Virginia City, Nevada 89440
Attention: Mr. Zach Spencer, Corporate Secretary and Treasurer
Telephone: (775) 847-7532
We make available, free of charge, through our website, our prior year’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), as soon as practical after such documents are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The information on our website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this Proxy Statement or incorporated into any of our other SEC filings.
PROPOSAL NO. 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Nominating and Governance Committee has unanimously recommended to the Board, and the Board has unanimously approved, the persons named below as nominees for election to the Board at the Meeting. Each nominee has consented to being named as such and to serve as such if elected. Messrs. De Gasperis, Drozdoff, Kreisler, Marting, Nance and Salinas, and Ms. Slanina, each presently serve as a director. Proxies will be voted for the election of the persons named below (or if for any reason such persons are unavailable, of such substitutes as the Board may designate) as directors for the ensuing year. The Board has no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unavailable. Each nominee who is elected will serve as a director until his or her successor is elected at our 2026 annual meeting of shareholders or until his or her earlier resignation or removal.
Set forth below is information concerning the age, principal occupation, employment and directorships during the past five years and positions with the Company of each nominee and director, and the year in which he first became a director of the Company, including a brief discussion of the current specific and relevant experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that led to the conclusion that each director nominee should serve our Company’s business as a director. The Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board reviews the skills and characteristics of new and existing directors, including diversity, at least annually.
Corrado De Gasperis; age 59; brings more than 37 years of operational systemic management, transformative project management and capital markets experience in material-science based, renewable energy, renewable metals, and mining industries. Mr. De Gasperis has served as Comstock’s chief executive officer since 2010 and executive chairman since 2015. He is also a director of each of the Company’s wholly- and majority-owned subsidiaries, and SSOF, a strategic investee of Comstock since July 2019. From 2006 to 2009, Mr. De Gasperis served as the chief executive officer of Barzel Industries Inc. (“Barzel”) and its predecessors. Barzel operated a network of 15 steel-based manufacturing, processing and distribution facilities in the United States and Canada that offered a wide range of metal solutions to various industries. From 1998 to 2006, Mr. De Gasperis held roles of increasing responsibility at GrafTech International Ltd. (“GrafTech”), a global manufacturer of graphite electrodes and cathodes and other innovative electrification and thermal management solutions. GrafTech reliably commercialized new product innovations, repeatedly winning annual “R&D100” Awards for the successful commercialization of a top 100 new product. From 2001 to 2006, he served as GrafTech’s Chief Financial Officer, in addition to his duties as vice president and chief information officer and a leader of its restructuring, recapitalization and systemic transformation. From mid-1998 to 2000, he served as the Controller of GrafTech. From 1987 to 1998, Mr. De Gasperis was with KPMG LLP, and was a Certified Public Accountant for the international firm and served clients such as General Electric Company and Union Carbide Corporation. KPMG announced his admittance into the partnership, as a Partner, effective July 1, 1998.
Mr. De Gasperis is a director and officer of SSOF, a strategic investee of Comstock and a director of GDR Global LLC, the owner of ROK-On Building systems, a manufacturer of low-carbon building materials. Mr. De Gasperis is also a founding member and the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Comstock Foundation for History and Culture, a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Mr. De Gasperis previously served as a director and as chairman of the Virginia City Tourism Commission. He previously served as a director of GBS Gold International Inc., where he was chairman of the Audit and Compensation Committees and a member of the Nominations and Advisory Committees. Mr. De Gasperis holds a BBA from the Ancell School of Business at Western Connecticut State University, with honors, and has embraced the Theory of Constraints and Theory of Profound Knowledge as the leading enablers for designing, deploying, managing, and governing complex systems.
Leo M. Drozdoff; age 59; director since February 2018, and serves as the Chair of the Compensation and Environmental and Sustainability Governance Committees. Mr. Drozdoff has extensive experience in Nevada's mining industry, including engineering, legislation, environmental regulation, economic development, legislation and historical preservation. Since 2016, Mr. Drozdoff owns and operates The Drozdoff Group, a natural resource consulting firm and in 2018, became a Partner in The Perkins Company, a government affairs and registered lobbying firm in Nevada, representing a variety of mining and other environmental relevant companies. He most recently served as the Director of the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources from 2010 to 2016, and was a Cabinet member reporting to two Nevada Governors, where Mr. Drozdoff oversaw 900 state employees responsible for mining, environmental protection, water resources, forestry, state parks, state lands and the State Historic Preservation Office. Mr. Drozdoff also served as lead Administrator of Nevada’s Division of Environmental Protection from October 2004 to April 2010, and from 1998 to 2001 as Bureau Chief over Water Control and Mining Regulation from 1996 to 1998, two of the most critical Nevada mining regulatory bureaus. He also chaired the Nevada Public Employee Benefits Program Board, overseeing the benefits of more than 30,000 public employees, retirees and their families. Mr. Drozdoff is a graduate of Bucknell University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He also holds an MBA in Management from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Kevin E. Kreisler; age 52; Mr. Kreisler joined Comstock in September 2021. Mr. Kreisler is Comstock’s chief technology officer and a director and member of Comstock’s board of directors. He also serves as the chief executive officer of Comstock Fuels Corporation, Comstock’s renewable fuels commercialization subsidiary, and Comstock IP Holdings, Comstock’s innovation and intellectual property development subsidiary. Mr. Kreisler has a diverse background in agriproducts, renewable fuels, hazardous waste, and intellectual property development, with deep expertise in building and scaling commercial production processes and companies in regulated markets. Mr. Kreisler is also the managing director for Viridis Asset Management LLC (“VAM”), a family-owned investment company focused on the development of scalable technologies that facilitate the more efficient use of natural resources across entire industries and populations to achieve globally meaningful environmental gains. In that capacity, Mr. Kreisler founded GreenShift Corporation (n/k/a CleanTech Alpha Corporation) in 2005 and served as its chairman and chief executive officer through 2021. GreenShift developed and commercialized patented technologies that integrated into corn ethanol plants to extract and recover inedible crude corn oil, for use in the production of advanced carbon-neutral liquid fuels. Today, upwards of 95% of the U.S. corn ethanol industry uses that technology to produce billions in additional income while displacing more than 20 million barrels of fossil fuel, trillions of cubic feet of natural gas, and tens of millions of metric tons of greenhouse gases every year. VAM’s investments also include Triple Point Asset Management LLC, prior owner of Plain Sight Innovations Corporation, and FLUX Photon Corporation, as well as advanced new technologies for producing energy, using energy more efficiently, utilizing carbon dioxide, utilizing low energy thermal emissions, producing water, and terraforming, among others. From 1998 to 2004, Mr. Kreisler served as a director and officer of Veridium Corporation, which developed and commercialized an array of selective metals separation technologies, where he led the design, engineering, and construction of an advanced facility for the recycling and reuse of inorganic hazardous and industrial wastes from thousands of different waste streams from dozens of industrial processes. Mr. Kreisler is a graduate of Rutgers University College of Engineering (B.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1994), Rutgers University Graduate School of Management (M.B.A., 1995), and Rutgers University School of Law (J.D., 1997).
Walter A. “Del” Marting Jr.; age 78; director since April 2018. Mr. Marting serves as the Chair of our Audit & Finance and Risk Management Committees. He is the Founder and Managing Member of CereCare, LLC, D/B/A Brain Health Restoration since March 2017, a firm focused on providing breakthrough rehabilitation treatment for individuals, including numerous veterans, suffering from brain disease, traumatic brain injury and related substance use disorders, most commonly alcoholism and opioid addictions. Mr. Marting is also an experienced mining executive, having started his mining career with Amax Inc., working there from 1975 to 1984. He held positions of increasing responsibility at Amax starting as a shift boss at Amax’s largest underground and open pit molybdenum mine, Climax Molybdenum, and later becoming head of worldwide strategic planning for all of Amax’s new properties. He was appointed Vice President of Finance and Administration for Amax Europe in 1982 and had responsibility for all of Amax’s treasury and financial operations at Amax’s European headquarters in Paris, France. He also consolidated and oversaw all of Amax’s metal trading for molybdenum, tungsten, copper, coal and iron ore in Paris. Amax eventually was acquired by Freeport-McMoRan, the largest molybdenum producer in the world. In 1984, Mr. Marting became the Chairman and CEO of Lucky Chance Mining Co., a Nevada-based junior gold mining firm that successfully restarted production at the famed 16-1 Mine in Allegheny, California. More recently, Mr. Marting served as a as a merchant banker with JFP Holdings, Inc., a US firm based in Beijing, China which has overseen a wide portfolio of cross-border merger and acquisition transactions. Mr. Marting graduated from Yale University in 1969, with a BA in English and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. Mr. Marting is also a Navy veteran, including service as a member of the US Navy SEAL Team Two.
William J. Nance; age 81; director since October 2005 and serves as the Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Executive and Strategic Planning Committee. Mr. Nance is the President and CEO of Century Plaza Printers, Inc., a company he founded in 1979 and has served as a consultant in the acquisition and disposition of commercial real estate. Mr. Nance is a retired Certified Public Accountant and, from 1970 to 1976, was with Kenneth Leventhal & Company where he specialized in REITS, restructurings of real estate companies, mergers and acquisitions, and most phases of real estate development and financing. Mr. Nance has been a Director of InterGroup Corporation since 1984, and of Santa Fe Financial Corporation and Portsmouth Square, Inc. since May 1996. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from California State University in Los Angeles. Mr. Nance has extensive management experience within a wide range of businesses and brings more than 40 years of public company director experience. Mr. Nance is an Air Force veteran who served from 1962 to 1966 during the Vietnam War.
Güez J. Salinas; age 49; was elected to the Company’s Board on April 5, 2023. Mr. Salinas has over 30 years of professional experience in the areas of engineering, business development & strategy, finance, corporate management, and art & design, with a primary focus on cyber-security and artificial intelligence policy. He is an international cyber security expert at the Pacific Council on International Policy. Mr. Salinas founded and serves as the Director Emeritus of The Polymathic Academy for the Teaching of the Humanities & Sciences (“The PATH”) where he mentors and develops students’ multidisciplinary entrepreneurial pursuits and co-founded and serves as the Executive Director for The Law Enforcement Work Inquiry System (“LEWIS Registry”), where, in partnership with Microsoft Corporation, serve as a community touchpoint, effectively connecting community stakeholders with peace officers. Previously, Mr. Salinas worked in private equity with Cardinal Equities and Bank of America, where in both cases, helped grow the asset portfolio, and in the latter case, was instrumental in the systems integration of the banks acquisition of Fleet Bank. Mr. Salinas also co-founded RIDE (Resources Invested for Development Education) which helps provide education resources and curriculum for parents and students working through traditional learning challenges for students on the learning spectrum. Mr. Salinas also co-founded a music technology start-up from which much of its IP is still being used today by tech industry titans Apple Music and Spotify. Mr. Salinas served in the United States Marine Corps. and holds Bachelors degrees in Political Science and Philosophy from Stanford University, a Masters degree in International Relations and an interdisciplinary PhD from the University of Southern California (“USC”) with a cyber-security specialization and certification from USC’s Viterbi School of Engineering. Mr. Salinas completed his tutorial in International Political Economy at Oxford University studying the moral hazard issues contributing to the 2008 financial crisis. Mr. Salinas is also a member of Rolling Stone Magazine's "Culture Council," contributing on the intersection of technology and culture.
Kristin M. Slanina; age 55; was elected to the Company’s Board on May 26, 2022. Ms. Slanina is currently working on sustainable and resilient power and water for the small island, Vieques Puerto Rico. Ms. Slanina was recently the Chief Innovation Officer of Parkmyfleet, creating electric vehicle (EV) mobility hubs. She was the managing director of Charge Across America, leading the documentary of an electric vehicle rally with 5 teams from NY to LA, where she personally drove over 3300 miles in an EV to gain first-hand insights for mass adoption. She was Chief Operating Officer of TrueCar, an online portal for car-buying consumers and a network of over 10,000 certified dealers. Ms. Slanina was also the Chief Transformation Officer of Thirdware, an IT consulting firm, where she led the Emerging Technology group and paved the way to augment Thirdware’s partnership with Ford and other OEMs/Tier 1’s on vehicle software development and machine learning. She was also the Executive Director of Automotive and Transportation Mobility for Ernst and Young’s global mobility practice, advising clients on mobility and smart cities. Ms. Slanina restructured and led Fiat-Chrysler’s fuel economy/greenhouse gas and propulsion strategy after spending over two decades with the Ford Motor Company, including ten years as a core engine engineer and subsequently responsible for architecting Ford’s Future of Mobility. Ford sent her on a 3 year assignment to Cologne Germany where she was also the first female in Ford's all-male German soccer league. She has been and is a champion who supports women at all career levels, having voluntarily mentored hundreds of women throughout her career. In 2024, Ms. Slanina co-authored “The Fast Future Blur” chapter on "MetaMobility" which provides insights and strategic frameworks to navigate the complexity of rapid and radical transformation. Ms. Slanina brings a diverse pedigree and over 30 years of experience to Comstock’s board, including core automotive engine engineering, mobility expert, automotive consumer-fulfillment strategist, and management and board leadership. For three years, she was a board member of Ouster and served on both their Audit and Compensation committees, and is now an advisor to the Ouster Board. She holds both Bachelors and Masters Degrees of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, with a minor in French.
The Board recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” all of the nominees listed above.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES AND BOARD MATTERS
Corporate Governance
We are managed under the direction of the Board, which has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines to set forth certain corporate governance practices. The Corporate Governance Guidelines are available on our website at https://comstock.inc/investors/leadership-governance/. The information contained on our website is not part of this Proxy Statement.
These guidelines cover such matters as purpose and powers, composition, meetings, procedures, required responsibilities and discretionary activities which our Board or the appropriate committee should periodically consider undertaking. Each committee is authorized to exercise all power of our Board with respect to matters within its charter’s scope.
The Corporate Governance Guidelines require, among other things, that:
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a majority of directors shall be independent within the NYSE American listing standards; |
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a director shall advise our Nominating and Governance Committee (and receive written confirmation from Company counsel that there are no legal or regulatory impediments to such service) prior to accepting an invitation to serve on another public company board; |
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if a member of the Audit and Finance Committee simultaneously serves on audit committees of more than three public companies, our Board must determine that such service would not impair such members ability to effectively serve our Audit and Finance Committee; |
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our Board shall meet in regular sessions at least four times annually (including telephonic meetings and the annual retreat described below); and |
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our Board may have an annual retreat with executive officers where there will be a full review of financial statements and financial disclosures, long-term strategies, plans and risks, and current developments in corporate governance. |
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines and committee charters are not intended to, and do not, expand or increase the duties, liabilities or responsibilities of any director under any circumstance beyond those that a director would otherwise have under applicable laws, rules and regulations in the absence of such Governance Guidelines or charters.
Independence of Directors
The Board has determined that Messrs. Drozdoff, Marting, Nance and Salinas and Ms. Slanina are all “independent” directors within the listing standards of the NYSE American and the independence standards of our Corporate Governance Guidelines. Messrs. Drozdoff, Marting Nance and Salinas and Ms. Slanina are also independent within the standards set forth in Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
Generally, in order for a director to be considered “independent” by the Board, he or she must (1) be free of any relationship that, applying the rules of the NYSE American, would preclude a finding of independence and (2) not have any relationship (either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization) with us or any of our affiliates or any executive officer of us or any of our affiliates (exclusive of relationships based solely upon investment) that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. On an annual basis, each director and executive officer is obligated to disclose any transactions with the Company and any of its subsidiaries in which a director or executive officer, or any member of his or her immediate family, have a direct or indirect material interest. In evaluating the materiality of any such relationship, the Board takes into consideration whether disclosure of the relationship would be required by the proxy rules under the Exchange Act. If disclosure of the relationship is required, the Board must make a determination that the relationship is not material as a prerequisite to finding that the director is “independent.”
Board Meetings
The Board meets on a regularly scheduled basis during the year to review significant developments affecting us and to act on matters requiring Board’s approval, and may hold special meetings between scheduled meetings when appropriate. During 2024, the Board and its committees held 13 meetings of the Board that the directors then served. The directors attended 100% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of all committees that the director then served, and the total number of meetings of the Board.
Board Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight
The Company is led by Corrado De Gasperis, who has served as Executive Chairman of the Board since September 2015, and Chief Executive Officer since April 2010.
The Board believes that the current Board leadership structure, in which the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer are held by one person, is appropriate for the Company and its shareholders at this time. The current Board leadership structure is believed to be appropriate because it demonstrates to our shareholders, employees, suppliers, customers, and other stakeholders that the Company is under strong and focused leadership, who facilitates clear, aligned, transparent strategic planning, execution and communication with a single person setting the tone and having accepting full and primary responsibility for managing the Company’s operations ensuring the Company and its systems achieve our stated goals. The Board will continue to reexamine our corporate governance policies and leadership structure on an ongoing basis to ensure that they continue to meet the Company’s stated needs and support and enables our goals. The Company will review these policies and may adopt a different approach in the future if circumstances warrant a change.
The Board is responsible for overseeing strategic planning, organizational design and effectiveness, systemic risk management and progress of our critical projects, and receives frequent, periodic reports from management. Management and the Board are focused on a singular the vision, mission and goal of the Company, and delivering financial, natural and social impacts, that are all designed to enhancing shareholder value, management and strategic planning and oversight of Company operations. We believe that our directors provide independent and effective oversight of the systemic risk management function process, especially through strategic and organization reviews and continuous dialogue between the Board and our management.
The Audit and Finance Committee of the Board is responsible for the primary oversight of our information security programs, including relating to cybersecurity, and are integrated into the Company’s Cybersecurity Incident response process. Our chief operating officer is responsible for reporting to the Audit and Finance Committee on our incident response plan, which includes an evaluation of cyber risks and threats, and notifies the Audit and Finance Committee of a cybersecurity threat. In the event of an incident, the Audit and Finance Committee reviews and approves the material incident disclosure plan and recommendation for determination of materiality using the guidelines approved by the Audit and Finance Committee. The Board and Audit and Finance Committee receive regular updates throughout the year on cybersecurity.
Executive Officers
Mr. De Gasperis, the Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, serves as the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer. Mr. Kreisler serves as the Chief Technology Officer and has been an officer of the Company since September 7, 2021. William McCarthy serves as the Company’s chief operating officer and has been an officer of the Company since July 23, 2021. David Winsness serves as president of Comstock Fuels Corporation and has been an officer of the Company since September 7, 2021. Rahul Bobbili serves as the Company’s chief engineering officer and has been an officer since June 23, 2021. Matthew Bieberly serves as the Company’s chief accounting officer of the Company and has been an officer of the Company since November 9, 2023.
Corrado De Gasperis; age 59; brings more than 37 years of operational systemic management, transformative project management and capital markets experience in material-science based, renewable energy, renewable metals, and mining industries. Mr. De Gasperis has served as Comstock’s chief executive officer since 2010 and executive chairman since 2015. He is also a director of each of the Company’s wholly- and majority-owned subsidiaries, and SSOF, a strategic investee of Comstock since July 2019. From 2006 to 2009, Mr. De Gasperis served as the chief executive officer of Barzel Industries Inc. (“Barzel”) and its predecessors. Barzel operated a network of 15 steel-based manufacturing, processing and distribution facilities in the United States and Canada that offered a wide range of metal solutions to various industries. From 1998 to 2006, Mr. De Gasperis held roles of increasing responsibility at GrafTech International Ltd. (“GrafTech”), a global manufacturer of graphite electrodes and cathodes and other innovative electrification and thermal management solutions. GrafTech reliably commercialized new product innovations, repeatedly winning annual “R&D100” Awards for the successful commercialization of a top 100 new product. From 2001 to 2006, he served as GrafTech’s Chief Financial Officer, in addition to his duties as vice president and chief information officer and a leader of its restructuring, recapitalization and systemic transformation. From mid-1998 to 2000, he served as the Controller of GrafTech. From 1987 to 1998, Mr. De Gasperis was with KPMG LLP, and was a Certified Public Accountant for the international firm and served clients such as General Electric Company and Union Carbide Corporation. KPMG announced his admittance into the partnership, as a Partner, effective July 1, 1998.
Mr. De Gasperis is a director and officer of SSOF, a strategic investee of Comstock and a director of GDR Global LLC, the owner of ROK-On Building systems, a manufacturer of low-carbon building materials. Mr. De Gasperis is also a founding member and the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Comstock Foundation for History and Culture, a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Mr. De Gasperis previously served as a director and as chairman of the Virginia City Tourism Commission. He previously served as a director of GBS Gold International Inc., where he was chairman of the Audit and Compensation Committees and a member of the Nominations and Advisory Committees. Mr. De Gasperis holds a BBA from the Ancell School of Business at Western Connecticut State University, with honors, and has embraced the Theory of Constraints and Theory of Profound Knowledge as the leading enablers for designing, deploying, managing, and governing complex systems.
Kevin E. Kreisler; age 52; Mr. Kreisler joined Comstock in September 2021. Mr. Kreisler is Comstock’s chief technology officer and a director and member of Comstock’s board of directors. He also serves as the chief executive officer of Comstock Fuels Corporation, Comstock’s renewable fuels commercialization subsidiary, and Comstock IP Holdings, Comstock’s innovation and intellectual property development subsidiary. Mr. Kreisler has a diverse background in agriproducts, renewable fuels, hazardous waste, and intellectual property development, with deep expertise in building and scaling commercial production processes and companies in regulated markets. Mr. Kreisler is also the managing director for Viridis Asset Management LLC (“VAM”), a family-owned investment company focused on the development of scalable technologies that facilitate the more efficient use of natural resources across entire industries and populations to achieve globally meaningful environmental gains. In that capacity, Mr. Kreisler founded GreenShift Corporation (n/k/a CleanTech Alpha Corporation) in 2005 and served as its chairman and chief executive officer through 2021. GreenShift developed and commercialized patented technologies that integrated into corn ethanol plants to extract and recover inedible crude corn oil, for use in the production of advanced carbon-neutral liquid fuels. Today, upwards of 95% of the U.S. corn ethanol industry uses that technology to produce billions in additional income while displacing more than 20 million barrels of fossil fuel, trillions of cubic feet of natural gas, and tens of millions of metric tons of greenhouse gases every year. VAM’s investments also include Triple Point Asset Management LLC, prior owner of Plain Sight Innovations Corporation, and FLUX Photon Corporation, as well as advanced new technologies for producing energy, using energy more efficiently, utilizing carbon dioxide, utilizing low energy thermal emissions, producing water, and terraforming, among others. From 1998 to 2004, Mr. Kreisler served as a director and officer of Veridium Corporation, which developed and commercialized an array of selective metals separation technologies, where he led the design, engineering, and construction of an advanced facility for the recycling and reuse of inorganic hazardous and industrial wastes from thousands of different waste streams from dozens of industrial processes. Mr. Kreisler is a graduate of Rutgers University College of Engineering (B.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1994), Rutgers University Graduate School of Management (M.B.A., 1995), and Rutgers University School of Law (J.D., 1997).
William J. McCarthy, Chief Operating Officer; age 45; Mr. McCarthy is the Chief Operating Officer of Comstock Inc., a position he has held since joining the firm in July 2021, and a member of the Executive Management Committee. In this role, he is responsible for the operations of Comstock Inc and works closely with the Executive Chairman and CEO on strategic initiatives across the organization to advance the capabilities and effectiveness of the system. Mr. McCarthy brings over 20 years of strategic management experience focused on the development and implementation of value creating business strategies across diverse industries. Before joining Comstock, Mr. McCarthy co-founded Mana Corporation, serving as its Chief Executive Officer until its sale to Comstock. Since 2017, he has been the founder and principal consultant at Normandy Road Partners, a boutique advisory firm dedicated to helping CEO’s drive sustainable growth in emerging companies. Mr. McCarthy’s early career includes over a decade of global private equity and financial markets experience. From 2005 to 2016, he held roles of increasing responsibility in the US and Europe at Strategic Value Partners, a multi-billion-dollar AUM investment manager focused on distressed debt, special situations, and private equity, ultimately serving as Director of Risk Management. During this time, Mr. McCarthy was responsible for the risk analysis and hedging strategies for over 200 portfolio companies concentrated in the energy, transportation, manufacturing, and industrial sectors. Additionally, his team developed and managed portfolio hedging products to mitigate the risk of unusual geopolitical and macroeconomic events for some of the largest asset managers in the world. Prior to this, from 2003 to 2005, Mr. McCarthy was an Associate at Resurgence Asset Management, a distressed situations focused private equity manager. He started his career as an Analyst at the Principal Financial Group. Mr. McCarthy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Tufts University.
David J. Winsness, President, Comstock Fuels Corporation; age 56; Mr. Winsness joined Comstock in September 2021. Mr. Winsness is currently the president of the Comstock Fuels subsidiary. Mr. Winsness has spent his professional career targeting the extraction and recovery of materials from byproduct streams and repurposing those recovered materials into high value markets. Mr. Winsness previously served as GreenShift’s chief technology officer from 2006 to 2018 where he invented, developed, and commercialized patented technologies that integrated into corn ethanol plants to extract and recover inedible crude corn oil, for use in the production of advanced carbon-neutral liquid fuels. Today, upwards of 95% of the U.S. corn ethanol industry uses that technology to produce billions in additional income while displacing more than 20 million barrels of fossil fuel, trillions of cubic feet of natural gas, and tens of millions of metric tons of greenhouse gases every year. Mr. Winsness subsequently served as chief executive officer of Plain Sight Innovations Corporation, where he led the development of a technology portfolio for lignocellulosic fuels and other clean technologies, focusing on advanced carbon- neutral fuels and alternatives to fossil fuels. Mr. Winsness is also the beneficial owner of Global Catalytic Disruptor Fund LLC, a prior owner of Plain Sight Innovations Corporation. Mr. Winsness graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Rahul Bobbili, Chief Engineering Officer; age 48; Mr. Bobbili joined Comstock as its chief engineering officer in June 2021. He has nearly 23 years of experience in process design, patent licensing, equipment manufacturing, commissioning, project management, and start-up. From 2006 to 2021, Mr. Bobbili served as the chief executive officer of Comstock Engineering (formerly Renewable Process Solutions, Inc.), a wholly owned subsidiary of Comstock. Mr. Bobbili invented multiple chemical processes in the renewable industry and built twenty- one biofuel refineries in the last seventeen years. Mr. Bobbili has managed multiple industrial-scale projects from construction phases, commissioning, and operations. Mr. Bobbili received a B.S. in Production Engineering from Osmania University, India, a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Old Dominion University, Virginia, and an Executive Finance certification from Stanford University, California.
Matthew Bieberly, Chief Accounting Officer: age 45; Mr. Bieberly joined Comstock as its Director of SEC Reporting & Disclosure in January 2023 and was promoted to Chief Accounting Officer in November 2023. Prior to joining the Company, he held roles of increasing responsibility, ultimately servicing as Director of Corporate Accounting and SEC Reporting at ONE Gas, Inc. Mr. Bieberly is a graduate of Kansas State University (B.S., Accounting and Finance and Masters of Accountancy). Mr. Bieberly is a certified public accountant.
Code of Conduct and Ethics
The Code of Conduct and Ethics applies to all employees, including senior executives, and all directors. It is intended, at a minimum, to comply with the listing standards of the NYSE American, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the SEC rules adopted thereunder. Only our Board or the Audit and Finance Committee may waive the provisions of our Code of Conduct and Ethics for executive officers and directors. Our Code of Conduct and Ethics constitutes a code of ethics for purposes of Item 406 of Regulation S-K, and is posted on our website at www.comstock.inc.
No Hedging or Short Selling
Our securities trading policy applies to all of our directors, officers and employees and restricts trading in our securities while in possession of material nonpublic information. The policy also prohibits our directors, officers, employees and their designees from engaging in hedging, short sales and other trading techniques that offset any decrease in market value of our equity securities.
Board Committees
The Board has established five standing committees (the Audit and Finance Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Environmental and Sustainability Governance Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Strategic Planning Committee) and periodically establishes other committees, in each case so that certain important matters can be addressed in greater depth than may be possible in a meeting of the entire Board. Under the committee charters described below, members of the three standing committees must be independent directors within the meaning of the listing standards of the NYSE American. Further, members of the Audit and Finance Committee must be independent directors within the meaning of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, must satisfy the expertise requirements of the listing standards of the NYSE American and must include at least one “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of SEC rules. Our Board has determined that the three standing committees currently consist of members who satisfy such requirements.
Audit and Finance Committee
The Audit and Finance Committee assists our Board in discharging and performing its duties and responsibilities with respect to the financial affairs of the Company.
Without limiting the scope of such activities, the Audit and Finance Committee has responsibility to, among other things:
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select, retain, determine appropriate compensation of (and provide for payment of such compensation), evaluate and, as appropriate, terminate and replace the independent registered public accounting firm; |
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review and, as appropriate, approve, prior to commencement, all audit and non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm; |
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review regularly with management, the director of internal audits, where applicable, and the independent registered public accounting firm any audit problems or difficulties and management’s responses thereto; |
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resolve or direct the resolution of all material disagreements between management and the independent registered public accounting firm regarding accounting and financial reporting; |
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review with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, among other things, all reports delivered by the independent registered public accounting firm with respect to critical accounting policies and practices used or to be used, alternative treatments of financial information available under generally accepted accounting principles and other material written communications between the independent registered public accounting firm and management; |
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review with management major issues regarding auditing, accounting, internal control and financial reporting principles, policies and practices and regulatory and accounting initiatives, and presentation of financial statements, and major issues as to the adequacy of the internal controls and any special audit steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies; |
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meet at least once annually with management and the independent registered public accounting firm in separate sessions; |
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review, prior to filing with the SEC, all annual and quarterly reports (and all interim reports on Form 8-K to be filed that contain financial disclosures of similar scope and magnitude as annual reports and quarterly reports); |
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assess at least annually the adequacy of codes of conduct, including codes relating to ethics, integrity, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, public disclosure and insider trading and, as appropriate, adopt changes thereto; |
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direct the establishment and maintenance of procedures for the receipt and retention of, and the treatment of, complaints received regarding accounting, internal control or auditing matters; and |
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direct the establishment and maintenance of procedures for the confidential and anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. |
Members of the Audit and Finance Committee are Walter Marting Jr. (Chair), William Nance and Kristin Slanina. The Board has determined that each member of the Audit and Finance Committee meets the financial literacy requirements of the NYSE American and SEC, and that no members of the Audit and Finance Committee violate the prohibition on serving as an Audit and Finance Committee member due to having participated in the preparation of our financial statements at any time during the past three years. William Nance qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as that term is defined in the rules and regulations of the SEC, and therefore meets the NYSE American financial sophistication requirement for at least one Audit and Finance Committee member. The designation of William Nance as an “audit committee financial expert” does not impose on him any duties, obligations or liability that are greater than those that are generally imposed on him as a member of our Audit and Finance Committee and the Board, and his designation as an “audit committee financial expert” pursuant to this SEC requirement does not affect the duties, obligations or liability of any other member of our Audit and Finance Committee or the Board.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee assists our Board in discharging and performing its duties with respect to management compensation, succession planning, employee relations and employee benefits, plan administration and director compensation.
Without limiting the scope of such activities, the Compensation Committee shall, among other things:
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review and approve annually the goals and objectives relating to the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer, evaluate the performance of the Chief Executive Officer in light of such goals and objectives and annually determine the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluation; |
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review and approve, as appropriate, annually the compensation of the other executive officers and directors and review compensation of other members of senior management and other employees generally; |
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assess organizational systems and plans, including those relating to management development and succession planning; |
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administer stock-based compensation plans and assess compensation arrangements, plans, policies and programs and benefit and welfare plans and programs; and |
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review the Compensation Discussion and Analysis for inclusion in either the annual proxy statements or annual report. |
Members of the Compensation Committee are Leo Drozdoff (Chair), William Nance and Kristin Slanina, each of whom satisfies the independence requirements of NYSE American and SEC rules and regulations. Each member of our Compensation Committee is a non-employee director, as defined pursuant to Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, and an outside director, as defined pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
No member of the Compensation Committee was at any time an officer or employee of the Company, nor is any member of the Compensation Committee related to any other member of the Compensation Committee, any other member of the Board or any executive officer of the Company. No executive officer of the Company served as a director or member of the compensation committee of another entity, one of whose executive officers is a member of the Company’s Compensation Committee.
Environmental and Sustainability Governance Committee
We are an emerging leader in the global shift to a circular economy. Our systemic management methodology, corporate social responsibility (“CSR”) and environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) policies and framework defines, seeks, and accounts for benefits in ways that align all of our stakeholder interests with sustainability objectives that are designed to rise to the realities of our time; where benefits are defined in terms of three different interdependent forms of capital – financial, natural, and social, that we generate while making a positive impact on the economy, the environment, and our local and global communities.
The members of the Environmental and Sustainability Governance Committee are Leo Drozdoff (Chair) and Kristin Slanina.
Nominating and Governance Committee
The Nominating and Governance Committee assists our Board in discharging and performing its duties and responsibilities with respect to nomination of directors, selection of committee members, assessment of performance of our Board and other corporate governance matters. Without limiting the scope of such activities, the Nominating and Governance Committee shall, among other things:
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review candidates for nomination for election as directors submitted by directors, officers, employees and shareholders; and |
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review at least annually the current directors of our Board to determine whether such individuals are independent under the listing standards of the NYSE American and the SEC rules under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (and non-employee directors (as defined under Exchange Act Rule 16b-3) and outside directors (as defined under Internal Revenue Code Section 162 (m))). |
The charter of the Nominating and Governance Committee sets for the minimum qualifications to serve as a director. As set forth in such charter, each director and nominee should have the following skills and characteristics:
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Have high personal standards: |
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Integrity; |
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Honesty; and |
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Desire to make full disclosure of all present and future conflicts of interest |
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Have the ability to make informed business judgments; |
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Have literacy in financial and business matters; |
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Have the ability to be an effective team member; |
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Have a commitment to active involvement and an ability to give priority to the Company; a member of the Audit and Finance Committee should serve on no more than three public company audit committees; |
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Have no affiliations with competitors; |
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Have achieved high levels of accountability and success in his or her given fields; |
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Have no geographic travel restrictions; |
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Have an ability and willingness to learn the Company’s business; |
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Preferably have experience in the Company’s business (energy, metals, mining, real estate, innovations, etc.) or in professional fields (i.e., finance, engineering, material sciences, business systems) or in other industries and international businesses so as to have the ability to bring new insight, experience or contacts and resources to the Company; |
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Preferably have a willingness to make a personal substantive investment in the Company; |
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Preferably have no direct affiliations with major suppliers or vendors; and |
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Preferably have previous public company board experience together with good references. |
Shareholders and other interested persons may communicate with the full Board (including shareholder nominations), a specified committee of the Board or a specified individual member of the Board in writing by mail addressed to Comstock Inc., P.O. Box 1118, Virginia City, Nevada 89440, Attention: Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee. The Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee and his or her duly authorized agents are responsible for collecting and organizing shareholder communications. Absent a conflict of interest, the Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for evaluating the materiality of each shareholder communication and determining whether further distribution is appropriate, and, if so, whether to (1) the full Board, (2) one or more committee members, (3) one or more Board members and/or (4) other individuals or entities. There will not be any difference between the manner in which the committee evaluates a nominee recommended by a shareholder and the manner in which the committee evaluates any other nominee. Please note that Mr. De Gasperis was elected as a director of the Company in 2011, pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement and Mr. Kreisler was nominated pursuant to the terms of the Securities Exchange Agreement entered into in connection with the acquisition of Comstock Innovations on September 7, 2021, and was initially elected as a director of the Company on May 26, 2022.
Executive and Strategic Planning Committee
The Executive and Strategic Planning Committee oversee the development of the ongoing strategic planning process and initiatives for the Company. Without limiting the scope of such activities, the Executive and Strategic Planning Committee shall, among other things:
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Assist the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and senior executive officers (the “Responsible Officers”) in identifying significant issues and opportunities facing the Company, including, but not limited to, potential acquisitions, joint ventures, dispositions of capital assets, equity and debt funding and modifications of existing capital structure, dividend policy and stock repurchase programs; |
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Assist the Responsible Officers in developing and refining a strategic plan (the “Strategic Plan”) that identifies specific long-term goals and business objectives relating to each opportunity determined to be in the Company’s best interests to pursue and approaches or strategies for reaching each goal or objective; |
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Assist the Responsible Officers in developing and refining an annual business plan (the “Annual Plan,” and together with the Strategic Plan, the “Plans”) that identifies specific short-term goals and business objectives for the Company’s annual performance that are in line with the Strategic Plan; |
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Advise the Board regarding its approval of the Plans; |
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Assist the Responsible Officers in determining the resources that are necessary for implementation of the Plans; |
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Monitor the progress in the implementation of the Plans; |
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Review the Company’s performance on a periodic basis against the Annual Plan; |
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Meet periodically to (i) evaluate the effectiveness of the existing Plans, (ii) make changes to the Plans where necessary or advisable, and (iii) explore additional significant issues or opportunities facing the Company not included in the Plans that might be in the best interests of the Company to pursue. |
In addition, the Committee shall have such other responsibilities as the Board may assign it from time to time. The responsibilities assigned to the Committee are not intended to diminish or eliminate the responsibilities of the Responsible Officers because such Responsible Officers bear express responsibility for the Company’s strategic development and operational results.
The Responsible Officers shall use their good faith best efforts to ensure that the Company’s employees and agents cooperate with the Committee in discharging its duties.
Members of the Executive and Strategic Planning Committee are William Nance (Chair), Walter Marting Jr. and Leo Drozdoff, each of whom satisfies the independence requirements of NYSE American and SEC rules and regulations.
Attendance at Annual Meeting
We expect all directors and nominees to attend the annual meeting of shareholders each year. All directors then serving attended the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
The Board has adopted a written related person transaction policy that governs the review and approval of covered related person transactions. The Audit and Finance Committee manages this policy. The policy generally provides that we may enter into a related person transaction only if:
|
• |
the Audit and Finance Committee approves such transaction in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the policy and the transaction is on terms comparable to those that could be obtained in arm’s length dealings with an unrelated third party; or |
|
• |
the transaction is approved by the disinterested members of the Board; or |
|
• |
the transaction involves compensation and is approved by the Compensation Committee. |
These related party transactions occurred during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING SIERRA SPRINGS OPPORTUNITY FUND INC. (“SSOF”)
At December 31, 2024, the Company’s total investment in SSOF has a carrying value of $19,575,000, representing 10,875,000 shares of common stock, or 17.27% of the total SSOF outstanding shares of common stock on a fully diluted, if converted basis. SSOF is a qualified opportunity zone fund, which owns 100% of SSE, a qualified opportunity zone business. SSE and its subsidiaries own or control approximately 2,500 acres of land, a manufacturing facility, significant senior, junior and effluent water rights, sewer rights and also owns and operates the Silver Springs Regional Airport LLC.
The Company's executive chairman and chief executive officer co-founded SSOF and Sierra Springs Enterprises Inc. (“SSE”), and serves as the chief executive officer of SSOF and as an executive of SSE along with a diverse team of qualified financial, capital markets, real estate and operational professionals that together govern, lead and manage SSOF and SSE. Our CEO and two of our directors have invested $525,000 into SSOF consistent of 8,671,000 voting shares of SSOF which represents 13.77% of total as converted SSOF shares of common stock. The Company's chief executive officer has not received compensation from either SSOF or SSE. On December 29, 2023, the Company and SSOF agreed to convert total advances into 3,880,556 shares of SSOF common stock.
TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING FLUX PHOTON CORPORATION (“FPC”)
On September 7, 2021, the Company entered into the FPC Asset Purchase Agreement with FPC to acquire the FPC Assets. The purchase price payable for the FPC Assets was $18,000,000 payable in cash to FPC at a rate equal to 20% of the future monthly consolidated sales, less total variable costs, less operating expenses, maintenance, tax payments, and debt service payments of the Company and its now and hereafter-existing subsidiaries, until the purchase price of $18,000,000 has been fully paid. The Company assigned the FPC Assets to the Company immediately after closing. On December 10, 2021, the FPC Asset Purchase Agreement was amended to provide for the payment by the Company of a $350,000 down payment against the purchase price, with a remaining performance-based cash payment of $17,650,000 required under the FPC Asset Purchase Agreement. The Company’s chief technology officer and the president of Comstock Fuels are indirect beneficiaries of all payments made to FPC under the FPC Asset Purchase Agreement. The Company additionally agreed to appoint the Company's chief technology officer to the Company’s Board of Directors in connection with the Company’s acquisition of Comstock Innovations Corporation on September 7, 2021.
On December 28, 2023, the Company entered into an amendment (the “2023 FPC Asset Purchase Agreement Amendment”) with Flux Photon Corporation (“FPC”) to amend that certain Asset Purchase Agreement, dated on September 7, 2021, and amended on December 10, 2021 (as amended, the “FPC Asset Purchase Agreement”). Pursuant to the 2021 FPC Asset Purchase Agreement, the Company acquired certain intellectual property and related photocatalysis laboratory equipment (the “FPC Assets”). The original purchase price included a payable for the FPC Assets of $17,650,000, payable only from 20% of future cash flows defined as the future monthly consolidated sales, less total variable costs, less operating expenses, maintenance, tax payments, and debt service payments of the Company and its now and hereafter-existing subsidiaries until the purchase prices has been fully paid. The 2023 FPC Asset Purchase Agreement Amendment reduced the purchase price payable to FPC to $16,850,000. On December 28, 2023, the Company paid $200,000 on this payable which was accounted for as an acquisition of intellectual property. The remaining balance of $16,650,000 will be paid to FPC from future cash flows. During 2024, the Company paid an additional $275,000 to FPC reducing the remaining payable from future cash flows to $16,375,000. The Company’s chief technology officer and a member of the Company's board of directors, is also the owner of 100% of the outstanding common stock of FPC and as such was the indirect beneficiary of all payments made to FPC pursuant to the FPC Asset Purchase Agreement.
PURCHASE OF METAL RECYCLING FURNACE
On December 15, 2023, the Company and Mr. Fortunato Villamagna, president of Comstock Metals LLC, signed an agreement in which Mr. Villamagna agreed to contribute a metal recycling furnace to the Company. The Company agreed to make payments for the metal recycling furnace totaling $375,000 from an amount not exceeding 20% of excess cash flow generated by Comstock Metals LLC, defined as excess cash available after the satisfaction of all planned growth capital for Comstock Metals LLC and the repayment of intercompany loans. At December 31, 2024 and 2023, the metal recycling furnace is included in Properties, plant and equipment, net and the corresponding liability is included in other liabilities (long- term) on the consolidated balance sheet. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recognized depreciation expense on the metal recycling furnace of $18,750.
On March 1, 2023, the Company entered into a separate employment agreement with Mr. Villamagna which provides that he receive 20% of the interest of Comstock Metals LLC vesting evenly over a five-year period. On December 30, 2024, Comstock Metals and Mr. Fortunato Villamagna entered into a Rescission Agreement to rescind the Employment Agreement and cancel Mr. Villamagna's vesting of equity in Comstock Metals.
LEASING OF MANUFACTURING FACILITY
Sierra Clean Processing LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of SSOF, owns the building at 600 Lake Avenue, Silver Springs, Nevada which the Company entered into the Building Lease on August 15, 2023 and a Real Estate and Building Lease on July 1, 2024. The Company's chief executive officer is an executive and director of Sierra Clean Processing LLC.
OTHER
The Company is currently assessing an agreement with an affiliate company of Kevin Kreisler, the Company’s director and chief technology officer, pursuant to which the Company would agree to acquire the majority of the issued and outstanding equity of a publicly traded entity in connection with the Company’s ongoing evaluation of various alternatives to monetize certain non-strategic assets. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Kreisler agreed to contribute his beneficial ownership interest in the entity to the Company for no additional consideration, and the Company agreed to reimburse certain transaction expenses of approximately $142,000 incurred by Mr. Kreisler. As of the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had paid $41,860 and $0, respectively to Mr. Kreisler. As of the year ended December 31, 2024, no agreement has been determined between the Company and the affiliated company of Mr. Kreisler. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recognized expense of $14,000 and $42,000, respectively, that was paid to Mr. Kreisler for rental of office space.
On May 17, 2024, the chief executive officer purchased 125,000 restricted shares of the Company's common stock at a price of $4.00 per share, or $500,000 in net proceeds. Separately, the chief executive officer entered into a personal promissory note with Alvin Fund LLC (“Alvin”), who is separately a creditor and shareholder of the Company. The promissory note has a principal of $1,100,000 and accrues interest at 6% per annum for one year and 8% per annum thereafter and matures three years from the date of issuance. The obligations under the chief executive officer's personal promissory note are secured by a security interest in SSOF shares owned by the chief executive officer. The chief executive officer assigned 500,000 shares of SSOF owned by him to Alvin as partial consideration for the extension of credit. The Company is not a party to the chief executive officer's arrangements with the Alvin.
DELINQUENT SECTION 16(A) REPORTS
Based solely on our review of the forms required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, we believe there has been compliance with all filing requirements applicable to our officers, directors, and beneficial owners of greater than 10% of our Common Stock.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners And Management
The following table sets forth, as of March 25, 2025, the total number of shares owned beneficially by each of our directors, executive officers, all current directors and executive officers as a group, and each person or entity known to us to be the beneficial owner of 5% or more of any class of our common stock.
|
Directors and Named Executive Officers(1) |
Amount of Beneficial Ownership |
Percentage of Class(2) |
||||||
|
Kevin E. Kreisler(3) |
500,000 |
1.9 | % | |||||
|
David J. Winsness(4) |
200,000 | 0.7 | % | |||||
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William J. McCarthy |
154,200 | 0.6 | % | |||||
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Rahul Bobbili |
110,000 | 0.4 | % | |||||
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Leo M. Drozdoff |
60,000 | 0.2 | % | |||||
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William J. Nance |
23,200 | 0.1 | % | |||||
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Walter A. Marting Jr |
22,500 | 0.1 | % | |||||
|
Corrado De Gasperis |
135,818 | 0.5 | % | |||||
|
Güez J. Salinas |
444 | — | % | |||||
|
Kristin M. Slanina |
— | — | % | |||||
|
All directors and executive officers as a group |
1,206,162 | 4.5 | % | |||||
|
(1) |
The address of each shareholder is c/o Comstock Inc., 117 American Flat Road, Virginia City, Nevada 89440. |
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|
(2) |
Applicable percentage of ownership is based on 26,903,872 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 25, 2025, together with all applicable options and warrants for such stockholder. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and includes voting and investment power with respect to shares. Shares of our common stock subject to options, warrants or other convertible securities are deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of the person holding such options, warrants or other convertible securities. Except as otherwise noted, the named beneficial owner has the sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of common stock shown. |
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|
(3) |
All shares listed for Mr. Kreisler are owned of record by Triple Point Asset Management LLC, an entity owned by Mr. Kreisler. |
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|
|
|
(4) |
All shares listed for Mr. Winsness are owned of record by Global Catalytic Disruptor Fund LLC, an entity owned by Mr. Winsness. |
THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit and Finance Committee of the Board is composed of three independent directors and operates under a written charter adopted by the Board. The Audit and Finance Committee approves the selection of our independent registered public accounting firm.
Management is responsible for our disclosure controls, internal controls, and the financial reporting process. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an independent audit of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and for issuing a report thereon. The Audit and Finance Committee’s primary responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes and to report thereon to the Board. In this context, the Audit and Finance Committee routinely meets privately with management and Assure CPA, LLC (“Assure CPA”), our independent registered public accounting firm. Assure has unrestricted access to the Audit and Finance Committee.
The Audit and Finance Committee has discussed all matters with Assure CPA required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s Auditing Standard 1301 Communications with Audit Committees and the SEC, including the scope of the auditor’s responsibilities and whether there are any significant accounting adjustments or any disagreements with management.
The Audit and Finance Committee has discussed with and also has received the written disclosures from Assure CPA required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent registered public accounting firm's communications on independence.
The Audit and Finance Committee has reviewed and discussed the consolidated financial statements with management and Assure CPA. Based on this review and these discussions, the representation of management that the consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and the report of Assure CPA to the Audit and Finance Committee, the Audit and Finance Committee recommended that the Board include the audited consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and filed with the SEC on March 6, 2025.
The Audit and Finance Committee also reviews with management and the independent registered public accounting firm the results of the firm’s review of the unaudited financial statements that are included in each of our quarterly reports filed with the SEC on Form 10-Q.
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR FEES
The Company’s Audit and Finance Committee reviews the fees charged by our independent registered public accounting firm. The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the years ended 2024 and 2023 was Assure CPA. For the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, the fees set forth below were incurred in connection with services provided by those firms.
|
2024 |
2023 |
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Assure CPA, LLC |
Assure CPA, LLC |
|||||
|
Audit Fees |
$ |
275,887 | $ | 252,209 | ||
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Audit-Related Fees |
— | — | ||||
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Tax Fees |
406 | 13,880 | ||||
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All Other Fees |
2,800 | 5,730 | ||||
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Total fees |
$ | 279,093 | $ | 271,819 |
Audit Fees
Audit fees represent fees and expenses for professional services rendered by the independent registered public accounting firms for the audit of the financial statements included in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and the reviews of the financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. This category also includes fees for audits provided in connection with statutory filings, or services that generally only the independent registered public accounting firm can reasonably provide to a client, including implementation of new financial and accounting reporting standards and audit consents.
All Other Fees
Other fees and expenses include fees for professional services not deemed to be audit, audit related or tax fees, including fees related to assistance with review of Registration Statements on Forms S-3 and S-8 and related consents, and expenses associated with all fee categories.
The charter of our Audit and Finance Committee provides that the duties and responsibilities of our Audit and Finance Committee include the pre-approval of all audits, audit-related, tax, and other services permitted by law or applicable SEC regulations (including fee and cost ranges) to be performed by our independent auditor. Any pre-approved services that will involve fees or costs exceeding pre-approved levels will also require specific pre-approval by the Audit and Finance Committee. Unless otherwise specified by the Audit and Finance Committee in pre-approving a service, the pre-approval will be effective for the 12-month period following pre-approval. The Audit and Finance Committee will not approve any non-audit services prohibited by applicable SEC regulations or any services in connection with a transaction initially recommended by the independent auditor, the purpose of which may be tax avoidance and the tax treatment of which may not be supported by the Internal Revenue Code and related regulations.
To the extent appropriate, the Audit and Finance Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to the Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee or any one or more other members of the Audit and Finance Committee provided that any member of the Audit and Finance Committee who has exercised any such delegation must report any such pre-approval decision to the Audit and Finance Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The Audit and Finance Committee will not delegate to management the pre-approval of services to be performed by the independent auditor.
Our Audit and Finance Committee requires that our independent auditor, in conjunction with our Chief Executive Officer who is also our Principal Financial Officer, be responsible for seeking pre-approval for providing services to us and that any request for pre-approval must inform the Audit and Finance Committee about each service to be provided and must provide detail as to the particular service to be provided. Our Audit and Finance Committee Chair is Walter A. Marting Jr. and our Audit and Finance Committee financial expert is William J. Nance.
THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
Walter A. Marting Jr., Chair
William J. Nance
Kristin M. Slanina
March 25, 2025
PROPOSAL NO. 2
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit and Finance Committee has appointed Assure CPA, LLC, an independent registered public accounting firm, as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. A representative of Assure CPA, LLC is expected to be present at the Meeting and available to make statements and respond to appropriate questions.
Assure CPA, LLC’s principal function is to audit the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries included in our annual reports filed on Form 10-K and, in connection with that audit, to review certain related filings with the SEC and to conduct limited reviews of the financial statements included in each of our quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q.
Appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm is not required to be submitted to a vote of the shareholders of the Company for ratification by our by-laws or otherwise. However, the Board is submitting the appointment of Assure CPA, LLC to the shareholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the shareholders do not ratify the appointment, the Audit and Finance Committee will reconsider whether to retain the firm. In such event, the Audit and Finance Committee may still retain Assure CPA, LLC, notwithstanding the fact that the shareholders did not ratify the appointment or may select another qualified, independent accounting firm without resubmitting the matter to shareholders. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit and Finance Committee reserves the right, in its discretion, to select a different accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules of the SEC promulgated thereunder, the Audit and Finance Committee is solely responsible for the appointment, compensation, and oversight of the work of our independent registered public accounting firm.
The Board and Audit and Finance Committee recommend that shareholders vote “FOR” ratification of the appointment of Assure CPA, LLC as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following summary compensation table sets forth all compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid by the Company and its subsidiaries (or by third parties as compensation for services to the Company or its subsidiaries) to its executive officers, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer during 2024 and 2023.
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Name and Principal Position |
Year (6) |
Salary (6) |
Bonus (6) |
Stock Awards |
Option Awards |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation |
Non- qualified deferred compensation earnings |
All Other Compensation (7) |
Total |
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|
Corrado De Gasperis(1) |
2024 |
$ | 495,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 6,900 | $ | 501,900 | |||||||||||||||||
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Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
2023 |
$ | 495,000 | $ | 30,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 25,784 | $ | 550,784 | |||||||||||||||||
|
Kevin E. Kreisler(2) |
2024 | $ | 495,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 495,000 | |||||||||||||||||
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Chief Technology Officer |
2023 | $ | 495,000 | $ | 215,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 710,000 | |||||||||||||||||
|
William J. McCarthy(3) |
2024 | $ | 495,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 6,900 | $ | 501,900 | |||||||||||||||||
|
Chief Operating Officer |
2023 | $ | 495,000 | $ | 325,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 6,600 | $ | 826,600 | |||||||||||||||||
|
David J. Winsness(4) |
2024 | $ | 495,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 6,900 | $ | 501,900 | |||||||||||||||||
|
President, Comstock Fuels Corporation |
2023 | $ | 495,000 | $ | 215,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 6,600 | $ | 716,600 | |||||||||||||||||
|
Rahul Bobbili(5) |
2024 | $ | 495,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 4,724 | $ | 499,724 | |||||||||||||||||
|
Chief Engineering Officer |
2023 | $ | 495,000 | $ | 215,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 4,792 | $ | 714,792 | |||||||||||||||||
|
(1) |
Mr. De Gasperis was hired as the chief executive officer and president of the Company effective April 21, 2010 and was appointed executive chairman in September 2015. Mr. De Gasperis currently serves as the principal financial officer. All Other Compensation reflects amounts paid for personal time off (“PTO”) not taken and 2% for 401(k) Company match for the period. In 2023, Mr. De Gasperis was awarded a $30,000 incentive bonus approved by the Board on September 29, 2023. No bonuses were paid in 2024. |
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(2) |
Mr. Kreisler was hired to serve as the Company’s president and chief financial officer effective September 7, 2021, before becoming the Company's chief technology officer effective July 1, 2022. In 2023, Mr. Kreisler was awarded a $215,000 incentive bonus approved by the Board on April 28, 2023. No bonuses were paid in 2024. |
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(3) |
Mr. McCarthy was hired to serve as the Company’s chief operating officer effective July 23, 2021. On January 20, 2022, the compensation committee authorized a special cash award of $150,000 to Mr. McCarthy. In 2023, Mr. McCarthy was awarded a $325,000 incentive bonus approved by the Board on April 28, 2023. No bonuses were paid in 2024. |
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(4) |
Mr. Winsness was hired as the Company's chief technology officer effective September 7, 2021. In 2023, Mr. Winsness was awarded a $215,000 incentive bonus approved by the Board on April 28, 2023. No bonuses were paid in 2024. |
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(5) |
Mr. Bobbili was hired to serve as the Company’s chief engineering officer effective June 23, 2021. In 2023, Mr. Bobbili was awarded a $215,000 incentive bonus approved by the Board on April 28, 2023. No bonuses were paid in 2024. |
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(6) |
On July 1, 2022, the Board approved a 2022-2024 business plan and performance objectives. This approval included base salaries for executives of $495,000 with opportunity for up to 100% of salary in performance-based incentive bonuses. |
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(7) |
All Other Compensation reflects amounts paid as 401(k) Plan match contributions and for personal time off paid and not taken. The Company matches 100% of employee 401(k) Plan contributions up to the first 2% of compensation for the period. |
On July 1, 2022, the Board of the Company reviewed and ratified company-wide compensation programs, including new compensation for the named executive officers and independent directors of the Company, which were recommended by the Compensation Committee of the Board. The Board also modified the roles of certain named executives.
On July 1, 2022, the Board approved a performance objective based, cash incentive bonus for executives of the Company, with the potential to earn an annual performance bonus of up to 100% of base salary. The bonuses are discretionary and based on the progress and achievement of performance objectives as depicted in the strategic plan approved by the Board. The final assessment of progress and achievement requires the Compensation Committee’s approval.
The Company philosophy is to align total compensation of its employees, including the named executive officers, with performance-based incentives that are fully aligned with the Company’s goals for delivering value for the Company’s shareholders. These company-wide programs will include market-based salaries, profit sharing and stock-based compensation. The adoption and implementation of compensation programs are intended to support that philosophy and the interest of the Company and its shareholders by providing appropriate forms of performance-based cash and stock-based compensation alternatives that strengthen the ability of the Company to attract and retain employees and others who focus their efforts and abilities on realizing the Company’s specific objectives, and in particular, at a time when the Company is implementing aggressive development and growth plans. The roles of the Company’s named executive officers are currently as follows:
Corrado De Gasperis – Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
William McCarthy – Chief Operating Officer;
Kevin Kreisler – Chief Technology Officer;
David Winsness – President Comstock Fuels; and
Rahul Bobbili – Chief Engineer, Comstock Fuels
Mr. De Gasperis is also the Company’s acting principal financial officer.
Under the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, Mr. De Gasperis was awarded 25,000 performance condition shares and 25,000 market condition shares with a grant date of January 4, 2021 and vesting date of January 4, 2024. The performance shares that vest based on the achievement of performance goals were valued using the Company's common stock price on the grant date, and stock-based compensation was determined based on the probability of achieving each goal. As of December 31, 2023 the unvested 50,000 shares had a market value of $274,000. On January 4, 2024, the Company's Compensation Committee of the Board determined that the share units granted under the 2020 Plan shall be canceled, forfeited and terminated without issuance of any shares of the Company.
EMPLOYMENT, RETIREMENT AND SEVERANCE PLANS AND AGREEMENTS
The Company has entered into employment agreements with its executive officers that provide for an annual salary, periodic bonuses, personal time off (“PTO”), and participation in any employee plans made available to all Company employees.
Employment Agreement with Corrado De Gasperis
Mr. De Gasperis was hired to serve as our Chief Executive Officer effective April 21, 2010. In connection with his employment, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement with Mr. De Gasperis, which also provided for his election as a director upon closing of the recapitalization and the capital raise transactions in 2010 (“De Gasperis Employment Agreement”). The original term of the De Gasperis Employment Agreement ended on April 21, 2014, but is automatically extended for additional one-year periods unless notice of termination is provided. If a “change in control” of the Company (as defined in the agreement) occurs with less than three years remaining, then the term will be extended to three years beyond the date of the change in control. On July 1, 2022, the Board agreed to increase the base salary to $495,000. Mr. De Gasperis is entitled to participate in each of our medical, pension or other employee benefit plans generally available to employees. Mr. De Gasperis is also entitled to participate in any of our incentive or compensation plans. The agreement also requires us to adopt a profit-sharing plan whereby 10% of net cash profits before principal payments of indebtedness and investments in fixed assets will be set aside for semi-annual payments to employees. The profit-sharing plan has not yet been established. If the De Gasperis Employment Agreement is terminated without cause, or due to disability, or if Mr. De Gasperis resigns for good reason (each term as defined therein), subject to execution of a release in the Company’s favor, Mr. De Gasperis shall be entitled to (i) a lump sum payment of all accrued amounts due to him through the date of his termination, (ii) continued base salary for twelve months (or thirty-six months if the termination is during the three year period following a change in control), and (iii) continuation of health and life insurance benefits for the longer of the period during which base salary is payable following termination or 18 months (unless he is entitled to participate in the health plan of a new employer). If Mr. De Gasperis’ employment is terminated due to his death, his estate is entitled to the benefits (other than continued life insurance coverage) outlined above. Upon a termination of Mr. De Gasperis' employment for cause or his resignation without good reason, he shall be entitled to a lump sum payment of all amounts due to him through the date of his termination. The De Gasperis Employment Agreement prohibits Mr. De Gasperis from competing with us during the term of his employment and for one year thereafter.
Other Executive Officer Employment Agreements
Effective September 7, 2021, the Company and Kevin E. Kreisler entered into an employment letter agreement, which shall be deemed binding with regard to the essential business and economic terms thereof, until such time as the Company and Mr. Kreisler execute and deliver more formal definitive agreements, which the parties intended to occur in connection with the approval of Company’s updated Company-wide Annual Profit Sharing Plan and Equity Compensation Plan, which shall be adopted no later than December 31, 2023 under the letter agreement. The letter agreement calls for a $250,000 base salary and an initial term of five years, subject to automatic renewal for consecutive one-year terms until either party provides conforming notice of termination. On July 1, 2022, the Board agreed to increase the base salary to $495,000. The letter agreement additionally includes restrictive covenants protecting the Company’s confidential information and competitive interests, as well as terms providing for the automatic assignment to the Company of intellectual properties developed during the term of the agreement. The Company entered into substantially similar agreements and base salary adjustments with William J. McCarthy, the Company’s chief operating officer, David J. Winsness, the president of the Company’s Comstock Fuels subsidiary, and Rahul Bobbili, the Company’s chief engineering officer, on July 23, 2021, September 7, 2021, and June 23, 2021, respectively.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table sets forth information with respect to equity compensation issued to our directors under the 2020 Equity Compensation Plan at December 31, 2024:
|
(A) Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights |
(B) Weighted Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights |
(C) Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans(1) |
|||||||
|
2020 Equity Compensation Plan (1) (3) |
126,000 | — | 126,000 | ||||||
|
2022 Equity Compensation Plan (2) |
600,000 | — | 600,000 |
|
(1) |
The maximum number of shares of our common stock that may be delivered pursuant to awards granted under the 2020 Plan is 126,000. The 2022 Plan provides for the grant of various types of awards, including but not limited to, restricted stock (including performance and cash awards), incentive and non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights and other equity-based awards. As of December 31, 2024, Comstock has not granted or issued any of the remaining available 2020 Plan securities. |
|
|
|
|
(2) |
The maximum number of shares of our common stock that may be delivered pursuant to awards granted under the 2022 Plan is 600,000. The 2022 Plan provides for the grant of various types of awards, including but not limited to, restricted stock (including performance and cash awards), incentive and non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights and other equity-based awards. As of December 31, 2024, Comstock has not issued any of the available 2022 Plan securities. |
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|
|
|
(3) |
On January 4, 2024, the Company's Compensation Committee of the Board determined that the share units previously granted to management under the 2020 Plan shall be canceled, forfeited and terminated without issuance of any shares of the Company. |
2022 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
In 2022, the Company adopted the Comstock Inc. 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2022 Plan”). The maximum number of shares of our common stock that may be delivered pursuant to awards granted under the 2022 Plan is 600,000. The 2022 Plan provides for the grant of various types of awards, including but not limited to, restricted stock (including performance and cash awards), incentive and non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights and other equity-based awards. As of December 31, 2024, the Company has not granted any options or shares under the 2022 Plan.
During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recognized $0 and $143,100, respectively, for the vesting of stock awards issued in 2020. During the year ended December 31, 2023, 4,500 shares, which were issued in 2021 under the 2020 Plan, were forfeited totaling $11,925 in compensation recaptured. No remaining compensation on these awards were recognized after December 31, 2023. During the year ended December 31, 2024, no grants associated with the 2020 Plan were outstanding.
Starting in 2021, we granted share awards to employees. The performance shares granted would vest based on the achievement of performance goals were valued using the Company's common stock price on the grant date, and stock-based compensation was determined based on the probability of achieving each goal.
On January 4, 2024, the Company's Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors determined that the share units granted under the 2020 Plan shall be canceled, forfeited and terminated without issuance of any shares of the Company because performance goals were not achieved. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recognized net stock based compensation recapture associated with these awards of $289,310 and recognized the amount in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. During the year ended December 31, 2023, 3,000 shares awards were forfeited to do an employee departure and $52,583 in compensation recaptured. During the year ended December 31, 2024, no awards were granted, forfeited, expired, or outstanding and there was no unvested compensation.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management, and based on the review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.
Submitted by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors:
Leo Drozdoff (Chairman)
William Nance
Kristin Slanina
PAY VERSUS PERFORMANCE
In accordance with rules adopted by the SEC, we are providing the following disclosure regarding executive “compensation actually paid” (“CAP”), presented in a manner consistent with the rules applicable to smaller reporting companies. The amounts in the table below are calculated in accordance with SEC rules and do not represent amounts actually earned or realized by our principal executive officer (“PEO”) or other named executive officers (“NEOs”).
|
(a) Year |
(b) Summary compensation table total for PEO(1) |
(c) Compensation actually paid to PEO(2) |
(d) Average summary compensation table total for non-PEO NEOs |
Average compensation actually paid to non-PEO NEOs |
(e) Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on the Total Shareholder Return of the Company (3) |
(f) Net Income (Loss) |
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|
2024 |
$ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||
|
2023 |
$ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
|
2022 |
$ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||
|
(b) |
The principal executive officer (“PEO”) is Corrado De Gasperis for all years (a) shown. |
|
(c) |
Compensation actually paid (“CAP”) to our PEO reflects the respective amounts set forth in column (b) of the table above, adjusted as set forth in the table below. |
|
Year |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|||||||||
|
SCT Total Compensation ($) |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
|
Plus: Fair Value for Stock and Option Awards Granted in the Covered Year that are Outstanding and Unvested at End of Year ($) |
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|
Change in Fair Value of Outstanding Unvested Stock and Option Awards from Prior Years ($) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
|
Compensation Actually Paid ($) |
$ | ( |
) | $ | $ | |||||||
|
(d) |
The following are included in the average figures shown: |
|
2022 |
Kevin E. Kreisler, William J. McCarthy, David Winsness, and Rahul Bobbili |
|
|
2023 |
Kevin E. Kreisler, William J. McCarthy, David Winsness, and Rahul Bobbili |
|
|
2024 |
Kevin E. Kreisler, William J. McCarthy, David Winsness, and Rahul Bobbili |
|
(e) |
Total shareholder return is determined based on the value of an initial fixed investment of $100 in our common stock as of December 31, 2022. |
|
(f) |
Reflects “Net Income” in the company’s audited financial statement included in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K for each of the years ended December 31, 2022, 2023 and 2024. |
Below are graphs showing the relationship of “compensation actually paid” to our PEO and non-PEO NEOs in 2022, 2023 and 2024 to (i) our TSR and (ii) our net income (loss).
We structure our executive incentive compensation program to align the interests of our named executive officers with the interest of our shareholders. We believe a named executive officer's compensation should be tied directly to the achievement of our financial, natural and social goals, which are designed to innovate, develop, engineer and commercialize new, breakthrough technologies that will deliver value to our shareholders. Our current executive compensation structure accounts for base salary, performance-only bonuses and eligibility for stock-based compensation. During the past three years, no new stock based compensation has been granted, so approximately 99% of the total compensation paid to our executives represented base salary and some performance bonuses. Our total shareholder return increased 41.3% in 2024 (the market price of our common stock on December 31, 2024 was $8.00 per share, compared to the closing price of $5.66 on January 2, 2024) and increased 85.8% in 2023 (the market price of our common stock on December 29, 2023 was $5.48 per share, compared to the closing price of $2.95 on January 3, 2023).
COMPENSATION RECOVERY POLICY
During 2023, we adopted a compensation recovery policy (“Clawback Policy”) governing the recovery of erroneously awarded incentive-based compensation consistent with the requirements of the SEC and the NYSE American. The Clawback Policy provides that, if we are required to prepare a qualifying accounting restatement, then, unless an exception applies, we will recover reasonably promptly the excess of (1) the amount of incentive-based compensation received by a person who served as a covered officer at any time during the applicable performance period during the three completed years immediately preceding the date we are required to prepare the accounting restatement over (2) the amount that would have been received had it been determined based on the restated financials. The Clawback Policy applies to incentive-based compensation received by a covered officer on or after October 2, 2023.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
In December 2020, directors were granted a total of 13,500 shares each of common stock, resulting in a total grant of 54,000 shares of common stock for future services, vesting in three equal increments of 4,500 shares for each director, or a total of 18,000 shares on each of January 1, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The fair value of the common shares issued was $10.60 per share, based on the closing price per share of the Company's common stock on December 30, 2020. Compensation cost totaling $572,400 was recognized on a straight-line basis over the three-year vesting period. Compensation costs totaling $143,100 was recorded as a general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023. During the year ended December 31, 2024, no grants or options were outstanding.
Annually, the Company pays each of the independent directors a total of $160,000 in cash or shares of common stock, plus chair and committee meeting fees and each of the independent directors receives an annual cash payment of $60,000. The Chair of each Committee is paid an additional cash payment of $20,000 annually. For years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recognized director fees expenses of $900,000 and $1,117,600, respectively. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, director fee cash compensation included in accounts payable on the consolidated balance sheet was $177,500 and $87,500, respectively. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company accrued $1,000,000 and $500,000, respectively, in director fee compensation associated with the director fees payable expected to be satisfied with shares of the Company's common stock that is expected to be issued in 2025 and paid annually.
The following table summarizes the independent directors’ compensation for 2024:
|
Name |
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash |
Stock Awards |
Total(1) |
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|
Leo M. Drozdoff (2) (3) |
$ | 200,000 | $ | 47,700 | $ | 247,700 | ||||||
|
Walter A. Marting Jr. (2) (4) |
180,000 | 47,700 | 227,700 | |||||||||
|
William J. Nance (2) (5) |
200,000 | 47,700 | 247,700 | |||||||||
|
Guez J. Salinas |
160,000 | — | 160,000 | |||||||||
|
Kristin M. Slanina |
160,000 | — | 160,000 | |||||||||
|
Total directors cash compensation |
$ | 900,000 | $ | 143,100 | $ | 1,043,100 | ||||||
|
(1) |
No payment included interest. |
|
(2) |
Under the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, each member was granted 13,500 shares of common stock under the Plan vesting in three equal installments of 4,500 shares on January 1, 2022, January 1, 2023 and January 1, 2024. The total value on grant date of December 31, 2020 was $143,100 with a stock price of $10.06 on grant date. |
|
|
|
|
(3) |
Includes $40,000 in committee chair fees earned in 2024. |
|
|
|
|
(4) |
Includes $20,000 in committee chair fees earned in 2024. |
|
|
|
|
(5) |
Includes $40,000 in committee chair fees earned in 2024. |
PROPOSAL NO. 3
NON-BINDING PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION OF OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
SEC rules adopted pursuant to the recently enacted Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, or the Dodd-Frank Act, enable our shareholders to vote to approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement in accordance with the SEC’s rules. This proposal, commonly known as “Say on Pay,” gives shareholders the opportunity to approve, reject or abstain from voting on the proposed resolution regarding our fiscal year 2024 executive compensation program. At our 2023 Annual Meeting, a majority of our shareholders voted to annually advise us on a Say on Pay proposal, and the Board determined that the Company will hold an annual shareholder advisory vote on executive compensation.
We are requesting approval of the following non-binding advisory resolution:
“RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion is hereby APPROVED.”
The compensation of our named executive officers and our compensation philosophy policies are comprehensively described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the Compensation of Executive Officers sections, and the accompanying tables (including all footnotes) and narrative of this Proxy Statement.
The Compensation Committee designs our compensation policies for our named executive officers to create executive compensation arrangements that are linked both to the creation of long-term growth, shareholder value and company-wide performance, and are competitive with peer companies of similar complexity and encourage stock ownership by our senior management. Based on its review of the total compensation of our named executive officers for fiscal year 2024, the Compensation Committee believes that the total compensation for each of the named executive officers is reasonable and effectively achieves the designed objectives of driving superior business and financial performance, attracting and motivating our people, aligning our executives with shareholders’ long-term interests and creating balanced program elements that encourage aligned, systemic, throughput-based sustainable performance.
Neither the approval nor the disapproval of this resolution will be binding on us or the Board or will be construed as overruling a decision by us or the Board. Neither the approval nor the disapproval of this resolution will create or imply any change to our fiduciary duties or create or imply any additional fiduciary duties for us or the Board. However, the Compensation Committee values the opinions that our shareholders express in their votes and will consider the outcome of the vote when making future executive compensation decisions, as it deems appropriate.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING NON-BINDING ADVISORY RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.
“RESOLVED, that the Company’s shareholders APPROVE, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to the SEC’s compensation disclosure rules, including the compensation tables and narrative discussion.”
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
A shareholder desiring to make a proposal to be acted upon at the 2026 Annual Meeting must present such proposal to our Secretary at P.O. Box 1118, Virginia City, Nevada 89440. Unless the Company changes the date of its Annual Meeting for next year more than 30 days from this year's meeting, the deadline for submitting shareholder proposals to be considered for inclusion in the Company’s 2026 proxy statement is 120 calendar days before April 9, 2026, which is December 17, 2025. Shareholder proposals submitted after such date will be considered untimely and will not be considered for inclusion in the Company’s 2026 proxy statement. If the Company’s Annual Meeting is changed by more than 30 days from the date of this year's meeting, then the deadline will change to a reasonable time before Comstock prints and sends its proxy materials.
In addition, our bylaws provide that a shareholder desiring to submit a proposal to be voted on at next year’s annual meeting, including nominating persons for election as directors, may submit such proposals by delivering written notice to our Corporate Secretary. Such notice generally must be delivered within 10 business days of the date on which the Company sends to the shareholders written notice of the Company’s Annual Meeting.
The shareholder’s notice must include:
|
• |
the shareholder’s name and mailing address; |
|
• |
the date, time and place of the meeting (and type) to which the notice applies; |
|
• |
the nature of the matter (and for an election of director(s), the identity and qualifications of said director(s)); and |
|
• |
any other information required to ensure that shareholders entitled to vote on such matter have a clear understanding of the ramifications thereof. |
The requirements found in our bylaws are separate from, and in addition to, the SEC requirements that a shareholder must meet to have a proposal included in our Proxy Statement. In addition to satisfying the foregoing requirements under our bylaws, to comply with the universal proxy rules, stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than our director nominees must provide notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act not later than March 25, 2026.
CERTAIN MATTERS RELATING TO PROXY MATERIALS AND
ANNUAL REPORTS
Notice and Access
We are providing access to our proxy materials over the internet under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s “notice and access” rules. We believe that providing our proxy materials over the internet increases the ability of our shareholders to connect with the information they need, while reducing the environmental impact associated with the printing and delivery of materials.
Electronic Access of Proxy Materials and Annual Reports
This Proxy Statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K are available on our website at www.comstock.inc. Shareholders can elect to access future proxy statements and annual reports over the Internet instead of receiving paper copies in the mail. Providing these documents over the Internet will reduce our printing and postage costs and the number of paper documents shareholders would otherwise receive. We will notify shareholders who consent to accessing these documents over the Internet when such documents are available. Once given, a shareholder’s consent will remain in effect until such shareholder revokes it by notifying us otherwise at Secretary, Comstock Inc., P.O. Box 1118, Virginia City, Nevada 89440. Shareholders of record voting by mail can choose this option by marking the appropriate box on the proxy card included with this Proxy Statement and shareholders of record voting by telephone or over the Internet can choose this option by following the instructions provided by telephone or over the Internet, as applicable. Beneficial owners whose shares are held in street name should refer to the information provided by the institution that holds such beneficial owner’s shares and follow the instructions on how to elect to access future proxy statements and annual reports over the Internet, if this option is provided by such institution. Paper copies of these documents may be requested in writing from Comstock Inc., P.O. Box 1118, Virginia City, Nevada 89440, ATTN: Corporate Secretary, Zach Spencer or telephone: (775) 847-7532.
“Householding” of Proxy Materials and Annual Reports for Record Owners
The SEC rules permit us, with your permission, to deliver a single proxy statement and annual report to any household at which two or more shareholders of record reside at the same address. Each shareholder will continue to receive a separate proxy card. This procedure, known as “householding,” reduces the volume of duplicate information you receive and helps to reduce our expenses. Shareholders of record voting by mail can choose this option by marking the appropriate box on the proxy card included with this Proxy Statement and shareholders of record voting by telephone or over the Internet can choose this option by following the instructions provided by telephone or over the Internet, as applicable. Once given, a shareholder’s consent will remain in effect until such shareholder revokes it by notifying our Secretary as described above. If you revoke your consent, we will begin sending you individual copies of future mailings of these documents within 30 days after we receive your revocation notice. Shareholders of record who elect to participate in householding may also request a separate copy of future proxy statements and annual reports by contacting our investor relations department as described above.
Separate Copies for Beneficial Owners
Institutions that hold shares in street name for two or more beneficial owners with the same address are permitted to deliver a single proxy statement and annual report to that address. Any such beneficial owner can request a separate copy of this Proxy Statement or the Annual Report on Form 10-K by contacting our investor relations department as described above. Beneficial owners with the same address who receive more than one proxy statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K may request delivery of a single proxy statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K by contacting our investor relations department as described above.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board is not aware of any other matters for presentation or action at the Meeting other than as set forth in this Proxy Statement. If any other matters properly come before the Meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof, the person or persons voting the proxies will vote them in accordance with their best judgment.
By Order of the Board of Directors