Ascend Wellness (AAWH) sets 2026 virtual meeting on directors, auditor and equity plan
Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. is asking stockholders to vote at its virtual-only 2026 annual meeting on April 29, 2026. The meeting will be conducted via live audio webcast on the Lumi/Odyssey Virtual AGM platform, with registered holders able to log in and vote online using a unique control number and password “ascend2026.”
Stockholders are being asked to elect six directors – including Executive Chairman Abner Kurtin, Chief Executive Officer Samuel Brill, President Francis Perullo, and independent directors Julie Francis, Scott Swid, and Josh Gold – each to serve until the next annual meeting. They will also vote on ratifying WithumSmith+Brown, PC as independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026.
The proxy also seeks approval of the amended 2021 Stock Incentive Plan, a 10% rolling equity plan that allows stock options, restricted stock, RSUs, SARs and dividend equivalents for employees, directors and other service providers, and reapproval of any unallocated entitlements. The filing outlines board independence, committee structure, dual‑class voting, non‑GAAP measures such as Adjusted EBITDA, and detailed executive compensation for 2024 and 2025.
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2026
Executive Chairman
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PROXY STATEMENT
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NOTICE-AND-ACCESS
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| | | | 1 | | |
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APPOINTMENT AND REVOCATION OF PROXIES
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VOTING OF SHARES REPRESENTED BY MANAGEMENT PROXIES
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VOTING BY NON-REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS
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BROKER NON-VOTES AND ABSTENTIONS
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| | | | 3 | | |
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DISTRIBUTION OF MEETING MATERIALS TO NON-OBJECTING BENEFICIAL
OWNERS |
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VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SECURITIES
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE MEETING
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INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS OR COMPANIES IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
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OVERVIEW OF MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON AT THE MEETING
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Proposal 1 — Election of Directors
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| | | | 8 | | |
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Proposal 2 — Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
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| | | | 16 | | |
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Proposal 3 — Approval of the Stock Incentive Plan
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| | | | 17 | | |
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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
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| | | | 21 | | |
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
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| | | | 22 | | |
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Summary Compensation Table
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Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table
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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
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| | | | 24 | | |
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Employment Agreements and Termination and Change of Control Benefits
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| | | | 24 | | |
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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
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| | | | 27 | | |
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
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| | | | 28 | | |
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INTEREST OF MANAGEMENT & OTHERS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
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| | | | 30 | | |
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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
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| | | | 31 | | |
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STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
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| | | | 32 | | |
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OTHER MATTERS
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PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE
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Name
|
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Position(s)
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Director Since
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Age
|
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| Abner Kurtin | | | Executive Chairman | | |
2018
|
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59
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| Samuel Brill | | | Chief Executive Officer, Director | | |
2023
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52
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| Julie Francis | | | Director | | |
2024
|
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54
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| Scott Swid | | | Director, Lead Independent Director, Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee Chair | | |
2018
|
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58
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| Josh Gold | | | Director, Audit Committee Chair | | |
2022
|
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55
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Francis Perullo
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| | President, Director | | |
2018
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49
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Name
|
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Audit Committee
|
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Compensation and
Corporate Governance Committee |
|
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Abner Kurtin
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| Samuel Brill | | | | | | | |
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Scott Swid
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Josh Gold
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Julie Francis
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| Francis Perullo | | | | | | | |
| Total Meetings in 2025 | | |
4
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4
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Executive Chairman
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Committee chair
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Lead Independent Director
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Committee member
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Name
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Independent(1)
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Financially Literate(2)
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Audit Committee
Financial Expert(3) |
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Josh Gold (Chair)
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Scott Swid
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Abner Kurtin
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Firm Name
|
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Year Ended
|
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Audit Fees(1)
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Audit-Related Fees(3)
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Tax Fees(2)
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Total Fees
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Withum
|
| |
December 31, 2025
|
| | | $ | 720,274 | | | | | $ | 32,032 | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 752,306 | | |
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December 31, 2024
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | ||
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MGO
|
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December 31, 2025
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| | | | — | | | | | $ | 12,250 | | | | | $ | 5,900 | | | | | $ | 18,150 | | |
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December 31, 2024
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| | | $ | 905,602 | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 22,465 | | | | | $ | 928,067 | | | ||
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Name
|
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Office Held
|
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Officer Since
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Age
|
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| Samuel Brill | | | Chief Executive Officer | | |
2024
|
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52
|
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| Roman Nemchenko | | | Chief Financial Officer | | |
2024
|
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37
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| Francis Perullo | | | President | | |
2019
|
| |
49
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|
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Name
|
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Principal Position
|
|
| Samuel Brill | | | Chief Executive Officer | |
| Francis Perullo | | | President | |
| Roman Nemchenko | | | Chief Financial Officer | |
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Name and Principal Position
|
| |
Year
|
| |
Salary
($) |
| |
Bonus(2)
($) |
| |
Stock
Awards(1) ($) |
| |
Option
Awards(1) ($) |
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Total
($) |
| ||||||||||||||||||
|
Samuel Brill(3)
Chief Executive Officer |
| | | | 2025 | | | | | | 561,423 | | | | | | 283,250 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 844,673 | | |
| | | | 2024 | | | | | | 169,231 | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | | 930,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,149,231 | | | ||
|
Francis Perullo(5)
President(4) |
| | | | 2025 | | | | | | 1,275,365 | | | | | | 283,250 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,558,615 | | |
| | | | 2024 | | | | | | 2,572,116 | | | | | | 90,548 | | | | | | 1,186,866 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 3,849,530 | | | ||
|
Roman Nemchenko(6)
Chief Financial Officer |
| | | | 2025 | | | | | | 459,346 | | | | | | 231,750 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 691,096 | | |
| | | | 2024 | | | | | | 358,868 | | | | | | 175,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 533,868 | | | ||
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Incentive Type
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Reward Element
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Time Horizon
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Rationale
|
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| Fixed compensation | | | Base salary | | | Annual | | |
Base salary provides a fixed level of competitive pay that fairly compensates the executive based on individual levels of responsibilities.
|
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| Variable compensation | | | Annual incentive plan | | | Annual | | |
The annual incentive plan provides cash awards for the attainment of short-term operating, strategic and financial goals.
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| | | | Restricted stock units (“RSUs”) | | | Four years | | |
Time-based restricted stock both retains executives and aligns their long-term interests with those of stockholders.
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Name
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Fiscal 2025 Base Salary ($)
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| |||
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Samuel Brill
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| | | | 550,000 | | |
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Francis Perullo
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| | | | 550,000 | | |
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Roman Nemchenko
|
| | | | 450,000 | | |
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Option Awards
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Stock Awards
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Name
|
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Grant Date
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Number of
Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable |
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Number of
Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable(1) |
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Option
Exercise Price ($) |
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Option
Expiration Date |
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Number of
Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested(2) (#) |
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Market Value
of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested(3) ($) |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
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Samuel Brill
|
| | | | 7/1/2025 | | | | | | 303,483 | | | | | | 910,446 | | | | | | 0.35 | | | | | | 7/1/2027 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Francis Perullo
|
| | | | 3/15/2022 | | | | | | 182,927 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 4.10 | | | | | | 3/15/2027 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
| | | | 5/16/2023 | | | | | | 386,598 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 0.85 | | | | | | 5/16/2028 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | ||
| | | | 7/1/2025 | | | | | | 303,483 | | | | | | 910,446 | | | | | | 0.35 | | | | | | 7/1/2027 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | ||
|
Roman Nemchenko
|
| | | | 3/15/2022 | | | | | | 26,829 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 4.10 | | | | | | 3/15/2027 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
| | | | 5/16/2023 | | | | | | 72,165 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 0.85 | | | | | | 5/16/2028 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | ||
| | | | 8/26/2024 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 262,500 | | | | | | 196,875 | | | ||
| | | | 7/1/2025 | | | | | | 248,304 | | | | | | 744,911 | | | | | | 0.35 | | | | | | 7/1/2027 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | ||
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Name
|
| |
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash(1) ($) |
| |
Stock Awards
($) |
| |
Total
($) |
| |||||||||
|
Scott Swid
|
| | | | 200,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 200,000 | | |
|
Josh Gold
|
| | | | 200,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 200,000 | | |
|
Julie Francis
|
| | | | 200,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 200,000 | | |
| | | |
Class A Common Shares
|
| |
Class B Common Shares(1)
|
| |
Percentage
of Aggregate Voting Power |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Beneficial Owner
|
| |
Number
Beneficially Owned |
| |
Percent
Beneficially Owned |
| |
Number
Beneficially Owned |
| |
Percent
Beneficially Owned |
| ||||||||||||||||||
| Named Executive Officers and Directors | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Abner Kurtin(2)
|
| | | | 25,844,942 | | | | | | 12.8% | | | | | | 50,629 | | | | | | 77.9% | | | | | | 28.6% | | |
|
Francis Perullo(3)
|
| | | | 7,274,023 | | | | | | 3.6% | | | | | | 14,372 | | | | | | 22.1% | | | | | | 8.1% | | |
|
Scott Swid
|
| | | | 4,875,423 | | | | | | 2.4% | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1.8% | | |
|
Josh Gold(4)
|
| | | | 1,333,720 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | * | | |
|
Samuel Brill(5)
|
| | | | 1,983,792 | | | | | | 1.0% | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | * | | |
|
Julie Francis
|
| | | | 1,255,983 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | * | | |
|
Roman Nemchenko(6)
|
| | | | 1,127,242 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | * | | |
|
All current directors and executive officers as a group (7 total)
|
| | | | 43,695,125 | | | | | | 21.6% | | | | | | 65,000 | | | | | | 100% | | | | | | 40.7% | | |
| 5% Stockholders | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
AGP Partners, LLC(7)
|
| | | | 27,578,175 | | | | | | 13.6% | | | | | | 65,000 | | | | | | 100% | | | | | | 34.6% | | |
|
Millstreet Capital Management LLC(8)
|
| | | | 22,363,044 | | | | | | 11.1% | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 8.4% | | |
Scott Swid
Abner Kurtin
FAQ
What key items are Ascend Wellness Holdings (AAWH) stockholders voting on in the 2026 annual meeting?
Stockholders will vote to elect six directors, ratify WithumSmith+Brown, PC as independent auditor for the year ending December 31, 2026, and reapprove the amended 2021 Stock Incentive Plan, including any unallocated stock option entitlements, along with handling any other proper business at the meeting.
How will Ascend Wellness Holdings (AAWH) conduct its 2026 annual meeting and who can vote online?
The 2026 annual meeting is entirely virtual via a live audio webcast on the Lumi/Odyssey Virtual AGM platform. Registered stockholders and duly appointed, registered proxyholders can log in with a 12-digit control number and password “ascend2026” to vote in real time during the meeting.
What is the purpose of Ascend Wellness Holdings’ amended 2021 Stock Incentive Plan?
The amended 2021 Stock Incentive Plan is a 10% rolling equity plan intended to attract and retain employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors. It authorizes stock options, restricted stock, RSUs, SARs and dividend equivalents, aligning participant interests with stockholders through stock-based compensation.
Who are the director nominees for Ascend Wellness Holdings (AAWH) at the 2026 annual meeting?
The board proposes six nominees: Abner Kurtin (Executive Chairman), Samuel Brill (Chief Executive Officer), Francis Perullo (President), and independent directors Julie Francis, Scott Swid (Lead Independent Director) and Josh Gold (Audit Committee Chair). All would serve until the next annual meeting.
What change did Ascend Wellness Holdings make to its independent auditor and how much did it pay in 2025?
In March 2025, Ascend dismissed Macias Gini & O’Connell LLP and appointed WithumSmith+Brown, PC as independent auditor. For 2025, Withum billed audit and related fees totaling $752,306, while MGO billed combined audit-related and tax fees totaling $18,150.
How is voting power structured among Ascend Wellness Holdings’ Class A and Class B common stock?
As of March 2, 2026, Ascend had 202,200,918 Class A shares and 65,000 Class B shares outstanding. Each Class A share carries one vote, while each Class B share carries 1,000 votes and is convertible into one Class A share, creating a dual-class voting structure.
What executive compensation information does Ascend Wellness Holdings disclose for 2025?
The proxy discloses 2025 compensation for CEO Samuel Brill, President Francis Perullo, and CFO Roman Nemchenko, including salary, bonuses, and equity awards. For example, Brill’s 2025 compensation totaled $844,673, while Perullo and Nemchenko received $1,558,615 and $691,096, respectively.