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AST SpaceMobile sets CEO severance at twice salary and bonus

The policy ties severance to specified termination windows and requires a general release before payment; equity awards also have separate vesting rules.

(High)

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Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. adopted a change-of-control severance policy for its CEO, president, executive vice presidents and senior vice presidents, including all named executive officers. Benefits apply if the company terminates an eligible employee without “Cause” or the employee leaves for “Constructive Discharge” on or before the first anniversary of a change of control, or in certain circumstances within 180 days before it.

For a qualifying termination, cash severance includes 2.0 times the sum of the CEO’s annual base salary and annual target performance bonus, or 1.5 times that sum for other eligible employees, plus a pro rata target bonus and health-coverage premium support for 24 months for the CEO or 18 months for other eligible employees. Payment requires a general release. Certain post-effective-date performance-based awards convert to time-based awards at a change of control, but may be forfeited if the transaction price is below a share-price vesting condition; eligible post-effective-date time-based awards vest fully upon a qualifying termination. Payments subject to the Section 4999 excise tax may be reduced when that results in a greater after-tax benefit.

Filing Explained

The company adopted the policy; it leaves other severance arrangements unchanged for departures unrelated to a change of control and includes provisions intended to avoid duplicate benefits for a qualifying termination.

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers Governance
Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, or exhibit attachments filed with this report.
CEO severance multiple 2.0 times annual base salary and annual target performance bonus For a qualifying termination
Other eligible employees’ severance multiple 1.5 times annual base salary and annual target performance bonus For a qualifying termination
CEO health-coverage premium support 24 months Following a qualifying termination
Other eligible employees’ health-coverage premium support 18 months Following a qualifying termination
Pre-change-of-control termination period 180 days In certain circumstances before a change of control
Post-change-of-control termination period On or before the first anniversary For a qualifying termination
Qualifying Termination regulatory
"a “Qualifying Termination”"
Constructive Discharge regulatory
"by the Eligible Employee for “Constructive Discharge”"
Change of Control regulatory
"the date of a “Change of Control”"
A change of control occurs when the ownership or management of a company shifts significantly, such as through a sale, merger, or acquisition, resulting in new leadership or ownership structure. This change can impact the company's direction and decision-making, which is important for investors because it may affect the company's stability, strategy, and future prospects.
COBRA regulatory
"the monthly COBRA rate and the active employee premium rate"
COBRA is a U.S. federal law that lets employees and their dependents temporarily keep employer-sponsored health insurance after job loss, reduction in hours, or other qualifying events by paying the premiums themselves. Investors should care because offering COBRA can affect a company’s cash flow, administrative costs and legal disclosures when workforce changes occur—similar to a former club member paying to keep their membership active after leaving the club.
excess parachute payments regulatory
"excise tax imposed on certain so-called “excess parachute payments”"

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What severance does ASTS’s change-of-control policy provide?

For a qualifying termination, the CEO’s cash severance includes 2.0 times annual base salary plus annual target performance bonus, while other eligible employees receive 1.5 times those amounts. The payment also includes a pro rata target bonus and health-coverage premium support for 24 months for the CEO or 18 months for other eligible employees. A general release is required.

When can ASTS executives qualify for change-of-control severance?

An eligible employee qualifies if AST SpaceMobile terminates the employee without “Cause” or the employee leaves for “Constructive Discharge” on or before the first anniversary of a change of control, or in certain circumstances within 180 days before it.

How does ASTS’s policy treat equity awards after a change of control?

Post-effective-date performance-based equity awards convert in their entirety to time-based awards at a change of control, assuming performance goals are achieved at target. Awards subject to a share-price vesting condition are forfeited if the transaction price is below that condition. Eligible post-effective-date time-based awards vest fully upon a qualifying termination.

How does ASTS’s policy address Section 4999 excise taxes?

A payment or benefit subject to the Section 4999 excise tax may be reduced to the maximum amount payable without that tax, but only if the reduced amount provides a greater after-tax benefit than the unreduced amount.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Learn about SEC filing dates
false 0001780312 0001780312 2026-09-25 2026-09-25 iso4217:USD xbrli:shares iso4217:USD xbrli:shares

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 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): September 25, 2026

 

 

 

AST SpaceMobile, Inc.

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-39040   84-2027232

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

Midland International Air & Space Port

2901 Enterprise Lane

Midland, Texas 79706

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

(432) 276-3966

(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:

 

☐ Written communications 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
Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share   ASTS   The 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 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§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 September 25, 2026, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (the “Company”) adopted the Company’s Senior Management Change of Control Severance Policy (the “COC Severance Policy”). The COC Severance Policy is intended to provide eligible employees of the Company with reasonable financial security in their employment and position with the Company, without distraction from uncertainties regarding their employment created by the possibility of a potential or actual change of control of the Company.

 

The COC Severance Policy applies to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, the Company’s President and all Executive Vice Presidents and Senior Vice Presidents (each, an “Eligible Employee”), which includes all of the Company’s named executive officers.

 

An Eligible Employee is entitled to benefits under the COC Severance Policy in the event of a termination of the Eligible Employee’s employment with the Company by the Company without “Cause” or by the Eligible Employee for “Constructive Discharge” either (a) on or before the first anniversary of the date of a “Change of Control” (as such terms are defined in the COC Severance Policy) or (b) in certain circumstances, within 180 days prior to the date that the Change of Control occurs (a “Qualifying Termination”).

 

In the event of a Qualifying Termination, an Eligible Employee will receive a lump sum cash payment equal to: (i) a multiple (which is 2.0 for the Chief Executive Officer and 1.5 for all other Eligible Employees) times the sum of the Eligible Employee’s annual base salary and annual target performance bonus, (ii) a pro rata portion of the Eligible Employee’s annual target performance bonus for the fiscal year in which the termination occurs, and (iii) the difference between the monthly COBRA rate and the active employee premium rate for the applicable group health coverage (i.e., medical, dental and vision) as elected by the Eligible Employee (for the Eligible Employee and his or her eligible dependents) at the time of the Qualifying Termination multiplied by a number of months equal to 24 for the Chief Executive Officer and 18 for each other Eligible Employee. An Eligible Employee’s right to receive this payment and benefits is subject to his or her execution of a general release of claims against the Company.

 

In addition, the COC Severance Policy provides that all outstanding performance-based equity awards granted after the effective date of the COC Severance Policy shall be converted in their entirety to time-based equity awards upon the occurrence of a Change of Control based on the assumption that the performance goals are achieved at target; provided, however, that if the transaction price in a Change of Control transaction is below a share price vesting condition, the performance-based equity awards subject to such share price vesting condition will be forfeited as of the Change of Control. The vesting of performance-based equity awards that are converted to time-based equity awards shall occur upon the same vesting schedule upon which the former performance metrics would have been measured and shall vest in full upon a Qualifying Termination. Additionally, if an Eligible Employee incurs a Qualifying Termination, all outstanding time-based equity awards, including converted performance-based equity awards, that are held by an Eligible Employee and were granted after the effective date of the COC Severance Policy shall become fully vested and all forfeiture restrictions shall lapse.

 

If an Eligible Employee is entitled to a payment or benefit whether payable under the COC Severance Policy or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company that is subject to the excise tax imposed on certain so-called “excess parachute payments” under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, such payment or benefit will be reduced to the maximum amount that may be paid without being subject to such excise tax, but only if the after-tax benefit of the reduced amount is greater than the after-tax benefit of the unreduced amount.

 

The COC Severance Policy does not change the terms of any plans or arrangements that may provide for severance benefits in case of a termination of employment not in connection with a Change of Control. The COC Severance Policy also includes provisions intended to avoid duplication of benefits with the severance benefits that otherwise may be payable under any other plan or arrangement upon a Qualifying Termination.

 

The above summary is qualified by reference to the text of the COC Severance Policy that is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.   Description
10.1   AST SpaceMobile, Inc. Senior Management Change of Control Severance Policy
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) 

 

 
 

 

SIGNATURE

 

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

 

  AST SPACEMOBILE, INC.
     
Date: September 28, 2026 By:  /s/ Andrew M. Johnson
    Andrew M. Johnson
    Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Legal Officer

 

 

 

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

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