UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): April 29, 2024

 

Beneficient

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

Nevada		001-41715		72-1573705
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

325 North St. Paul Street, Suite 4850

Dallas, Texas 75201

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, and Zip Code)

(214) 445-4700

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code

N/A

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

☐

Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

☐

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

☐

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

☐

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share		BENF		Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and one share of Series A convertible preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share		BENFW		Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 

Item 5.02

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On April 29, 2024, James G. Silk resigned as a member of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Beneficient (the “Company” or “Ben”) and from his role as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of the Company effective May 10, 2024. Mr. Silk’s resignation from the Board was not a result of a disagreement with the Company or the Board on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices, or any other matter.

Following his resignation, Mr. Silk has agreed to continue to serve as a consultant to the Company. In connection with such role, Mr. Silk would receive an annual payment of $50,000, with such amount to be paid in the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.001.

 

Item 8.01

Other Events.

Arbitration Award

As previously disclosed, on December 16, 2022, a former member of the Board of Directors of Ben Management, L.L.C. (“Ben Management”) initiated a private arbitration in the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce against the Company, Ben Management, Beneficient Management Partners, L.P., and Beneficient Management Group, L.L.C., challenging the termination of certain equity awards under two incentive plans by the administrator of the incentive plans. The claimant sought total damages of $36.3 million plus attorney’s fees and punitive damages. On April 23, 2024, the sole arbitrator held that in terminating the claimant’s equity awards, the Company had breached its contractual obligations, and as a result, awarded the claimant $55.3 million in compensatory damages, including pre-judgment interest. Post-judgment interest was also awarded to claimant. Neither attorneys’ fees nor punitive damages were awarded to the claimant. The Company was also asked to pay arbitration-related costs in the amount of approximately $128,850. The Company is exploring available options with respect to the award, which, should the Company be unable to negotiate a settlement with the claimant, may include the filing of a petition or motion to vacate the award under applicable law.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.