[8-K] AYRO, Inc. Reports Material Event

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

AYRO, Inc. (AYRO) has implemented a shareholder-rights plan. On 31 Jul 2025 the board declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (“Right”) for every common share, payable 11 Aug 2025 to holders of record.

Each Right lets investors buy 1/1,000th share of new Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock at a $30 exercise price, with customary anti-dilution features. Rights remain attached to common stock until 10 business days after (i) someone acquires ≥10 % of shares (20 % for Schedule 13G passive investors) or (ii) announces a tender offer crossing that threshold. At that “Distribution Date,” Rights trade separately and, if exercised, allow holders other than the acquirer to purchase AYRO common shares having double the exercise price’s market value, significantly diluting a hostile bidder.

Key terms

• Expiration: 31 Jul 2028, or the day after the 2026 AGM if shareholders fail to ratify (“Early Expiration”).
• Redemption: Board may redeem all Rights for $0.01 each any time before a trigger.
• Exchange: After a trigger but before a 50 % change-of-control event, board can exchange each Right for one common share (or equivalent preferred).

The plan, often called a poison pill, is designed to protect shareholders against coercive takeover tactics but may be viewed as entrenching current leadership.

Positive

• Protects shareholders from coercive or undervalued takeover bids by imposing heavy dilution on hostile acquirers.
• Board retains $0.01 redemption option, allowing flexibility to remove the pill if a bona-fide offer emerges.
• Mandatory 2026 shareholder vote places a time limit on the plan, easing some governance concerns.

Negative

• A 10 % trigger is lower than many governance guidelines, potentially viewed as management entrenchment.
• Proxy advisors may recommend against directors if the pill is not promptly ratified or justified, affecting future votes.
• Could deter friendly strategic interest, limiting potential premium transactions for shareholders.

Insights

Corporate Governance Analyst

TL;DR: AYRO adopts poison pill; defensively positive for bargaining power but raises governance concerns.

The board’s low 10 % trigger and three-year term give AYRO strong leverage against opportunistic bidders in a volatile micro-cap EV market. The $30 strike and 2× flip-in mechanism create immediate dilution to a hostile acquirer, encouraging negotiated transactions. Redemption and exchange features preserve board flexibility, while Early Expiration forces shareholder ratification, partially mitigating entrenchment risk. Nevertheless, proxy advisors often penalize poison pills with sub-15 % thresholds, which could pressure AYRO’s governance scores and future proxy voting outcomes. Net impact is strategically useful but only moderately material absent an active takeover approach.

false --12-31 0001086745 0001086745 2025-07-31 2025-07-31 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):

July 31, 2025

AYRO, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		001-34643		98-0204758
(State or other jurisdiction of		(Commission		(IRS Employer
incorporation)		File No.)		Identification No.)

1185 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10036

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

512-994-4917

(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
Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share		AYRO		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 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On July 31, 2024, the Board of Directors of AYRO, Inc. (the “Company”) declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of Company Stock (as defined in the Rights Agreement (as defined below)). The dividend is payable on August 11, 2025, to the stockholders of record at the close of business on August 11, 2025 (the “Record Date”). Each Right initially entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”) at a price of $30 per one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (the “Purchase Price”), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2025, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Rights Agreement”), between the Company and Equiniti Trust Company LLC, as Rights Agent (the “Rights Agent”). The terms of the Preferred Stock are as set forth in the form of Certificate of Designations, attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Certificate of Designations”), which was filed with the Secretary of State for the State of Delaware on August 1, 2025. One hundred thousand (100,000) shares of Preferred Stock have been reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the Rights.

Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 business days following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons has become an Acquiring Person (as defined below) or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors of the Company prior to such time as any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or public announcement of an intention to make, a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becoming an Acquiring Person (the earlier of such dates being called the “Distribution Date”), the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to certificates representing Company Stock (or book entry shares of Company Stock) outstanding as of the Record Date, by such certificates (or such book entry shares).

The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or earlier expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred with and only with the Company Stock. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier expiration of the Rights), new Company Stock certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuances of Company Stock will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for shares of Company Stock (or book entry shares of Company Stock) outstanding as of the Record Date will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the shares of Company Stock represented thereby. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights (“Right Certificates”) will be mailed to holders of record of the Company Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.

The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will expire on July 31, 2028 (the “Final Expiration Date”), unless the Final Expiration Date is advanced or extended, or the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company. In addition, the Rights will expire on the close of business on the first day after the Company’s 2026 annual meeting of stockholders (including any adjournments or postponement thereof) if stockholder approval of the Rights Agreement has not been obtained on or prior to such date (the “Early Expiration Date”), or the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company.

The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights is subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Stock of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Stock at a price, or securities convertible into Preferred Stock with a conversion price, less than the then-current market price of the Preferred Stock or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in Preferred Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

The number of outstanding Rights is subject to adjustment in the event of a stock dividend on the Company Stock payable in shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Company Stock occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.

Shares of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be redeemable. Each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled, when, as and if declared, to a minimum preferential quarterly dividend payment of the greater of (a) $10 per share, and (b) an amount equal to 1,000 times the dividend declared per share of Common Stock. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of the Preferred Stock will be entitled to a minimum preferential payment of the greater of (a) $10 per share (plus any accrued but unpaid dividends), and (b) an amount equal to 1,000 times the payment made per share of Common Stock. Each share of Preferred Stock will have 1,000 votes, voting together with the Company Stock. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which outstanding shares of Company Stock are converted or exchanged, each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 1,000 times the amount received per share of Company Stock. These rights are protected by customary anti-dilution provisions.

Because of the nature of the Preferred Stock’s dividend, liquidation and voting rights, the value of the one one-thousandth interest in a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one share of Common Stock.

In the event that any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereupon become void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise of a Right that number of shares of Common Stock having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right. Except in certain situations, a person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an “Acquiring Person” upon acquiring beneficial ownership of 10% (20% in the case of a Passive Investor (as defined in the Rights Agreement)) or more of the outstanding shares of Company Stock. Under the Rights Agreement, a “Passive Investor” is generally a person who or which has reported or is required to report beneficial ownership of shares of Company Stock on Schedule 13G under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Certain synthetic interests in securities created by derivative positions are treated under the Rights Agreement as beneficial ownership of the number of shares of the Company Stock equivalent to the economic exposure created by the derivative security, to the extent actual shares of Company Stock are directly or indirectly beneficially owned by a counterparty to such derivative security.

In the event that, after a person or group has become an Acquiring Person, the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are sold, proper provisions will be made so that each holder of a Right (other than Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person which will have become void) will thereafter have the right to receive upon the exercise of a Right that number of shares of common stock of the person with whom the Company has engaged in the foregoing transaction (or its parent) that at the time of such transaction have a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.

At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the earlier of one of the events described in the previous paragraph or the acquisition by such Acquiring Person of 50% or more of the outstanding shares of Company Stock, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such Acquiring Person which will have become void), in whole or in part, for shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (or a series of the Company’s preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock, or a fractional share of Preferred Stock (or other preferred stock) equivalent in value thereto, per Right.

With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such Purchase Price. No fractional shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock will be issued (other than fractions of Preferred Stock which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), and in lieu thereof an adjustment in cash will be made based on the current market price of the Preferred Stock or the Common Stock.

At any time prior to the time an Acquiring Person becomes such, the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.01 per Right (the “Redemption Price”) payable, at the option of the Company, in cash, shares of Common Stock or such other form of consideration as the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine. The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors of the Company in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.

For so long as the Rights are then redeemable, the Company may, except with respect to the Redemption Price, amend the Rights Agreement in any manner. After the Rights are no longer redeemable, the Company may, except with respect to the Redemption Price, amend the Rights Agreement in any manner that does not adversely affect the interests of holders of the Rights.

Until a Right is exercised or exchanged, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.

The foregoing descriptions of the Rights Agreement and the Certificate of Designations do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Rights Agreement and Certificate of Designations, forms of which are filed as Exhibits 4.1 and 3.1, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

The information set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated into this Item 3.03 by reference.

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

The information set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated into this Item 5.03 by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit Number		Description
3.1		Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
4.1		Rights Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2025, between AYRO, Inc. and Equiniti Trust Company LLC, as Rights Agent.
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

SIGNATURES

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.

Date: August 1, 2025	AYRO, INC.
	By:	/s/ Joshua Silverman
	Name:	Joshua Silverman
	Title:	Executive Chairman

FAQ

Why did AYRO (AYRO) adopt a shareholder rights plan?

To deter hostile takeovers by diluting any investor that acquires 10 % (20 % passive) of common stock without board approval.

When do the AYRO Rights become exercisable?

10 business days after a party crosses the 10 % ownership threshold or announces an offer that would do so.

What is the purchase price for each Right?

Each Right allows purchase of 1/1,000th share of Series A Preferred Stock at $30, subject to adjustment.

When will the rights plan expire?

Automatically on 31 Jul 2028, or earlier if not approved at the 2026 annual shareholder meeting.

Can the AYRO board cancel the Rights?

Yes. Prior to a trigger, the board may redeem all Rights for $0.01 each or amend the agreement.

What happens if a hostile bidder triggers the plan?

Existing holders (excluding the acquirer) may buy AYRO shares with market value 2× the $30 exercise price, diluting the bidder.