Wheels Up (NYSE: UP) plans 2026 virtual meeting and LTIP share increase
Wheels Up Experience Inc. is soliciting proxies for its 2026 virtual annual meeting on June 9, 2026. Stockholders of record as of April 10, 2026 will vote on four items: electing four Class II directors, an advisory say-on-pay vote for 2025, ratifying Grant Thornton LLP as auditor for 2026, and approving an amendment to the Amended and Restated 2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan (A&R 2021 LTIP).
The LTIP amendment would increase shares authorized for issuance under the plan from 60,149,682 to 135,149,682 and extend the plan’s termination date to March 31, 2036. As of the record date, 724,574,010 common shares were outstanding and 591,214,182 were entitled to vote, with a quorum set at 295,607,092 shares. Certain investors are subject to voting limitations tied to U.S. citizenship rules, and a reverse stock split effective April 24, 2026 will not change vote counts for record holders.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Key Figures
Key Terms
Voting Limitations regulatory
Citizenship Limitation regulatory
Reverse Stock Split financial
broker non-votes regulatory
incentive stock options financial
Say-on-Pay Vote regulatory
Compensation Summary
- Election of four Class II directors
- Advisory vote to approve 2025 named executive officer compensation
- Ratification of Grant Thornton LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for 2026
- Approval of amendment to the Amended and Restated 2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan
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(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) | ||
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) | ||
☒ | No fee required. | |||||||
☐ | 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. | |||||||
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(1) | To elect each of the four Class II director nominees named in the Proxy Statement to serve until the 2029 annual meeting of stockholders or until the election and qualification of their respective successors (“Proposal No. 1”); |
(2) | To provide a non-binding, advisory vote to approve named executive officer compensation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (“Proposal No. 2”); |
(3) | To ratify, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP (“GT”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026 (“Proposal No. 3”); |
(4) | To approve an amendment (the “LTIP Amendment”) to the Wheels Up Experience Inc. 2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated April 1, 2023 (as previously amended by each of Amendment No. 1 thereto and Amendment No. 2 thereto, the “A&R 2021 LTIP”), to increase the aggregate number of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), available for awards made under the A&R 2021 LTIP and extend the termination date of such plan to March 31, 2036 (“Proposal No. 4”); and |
(5) | To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. |
(1) | Proposal No. 1—“FOR” the election of each of the four Class II director nominees named in Proposal No. 1 of the Proxy Statement to serve until the 2029 annual meeting of stockholders or until the election and qualification of their respective successors; |
(2) | Proposal No. 2—“FOR” the non-binding, advisory vote to approve named executive officer compensation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, as described in Proposal No. 2 of the Proxy Statement; |
(3) | Proposal No. 3—“FOR” ratification, on a non-binding, advisory basis, of the appointment of GT as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, as described in Proposal No. 3 of the Proxy Statement; and |
(4) | Proposal No. 4—“FOR” approval of the LTIP Amendment to increase the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for awards made under the A&R 2021 LTIP and extend the termination date of such plan to March 31, 2036, as described in Proposal No. 4 of the Proxy Statement. |
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Page | |||
Information about Wheels Up | 2 | ||
Information about the Proxy Process and Voting | 3 | ||
Proposal No. 1 – Election of Directors | 9 | ||
Nominees for Election | 11 | ||
Directors Continuing in Office Until 2027 | 12 | ||
Directors Continuing in Office Until 2028 | 13 | ||
Proposal No. 2 – Advisory vote TO APPROVE named executive officer compensation | 15 | ||
Proposal No. 3 – Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 16 | ||
Principal Accountant Fees and Services | 16 | ||
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures | 16 | ||
Proposal No. 4 – AMENDMENT TO A&R 2021 LTIP | 17 | ||
Summary of A&R 2021 LTIP & LTIP Amendment | 18 | ||
New Plan Benefits | 21 | ||
Corporate Governance | 22 | ||
Composition of the Board | 22 | ||
Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions | 27 | ||
Director Compensation | 33 | ||
Director Compensation Program | 33 | ||
Director Compensation Table | 34 | ||
Information Regarding Executive Officers | 35 | ||
Executive Compensation | 37 | ||
Executive Compensation Tables | 38 | ||
Summary Compensation Table | 38 | ||
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End | 49 | ||
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control | 51 | ||
Pension Benefits and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation | 53 | ||
Equity Compensation Plan Information | 53 | ||
Pay Versus Performance | 54 | ||
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management | 58 | ||
Additional Information | 60 | ||
Householding of Proxy Materials | 60 | ||
Submission of Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations | 60 | ||
Other Matters | 60 | ||
APPENDIX A: Proposed Text of Amendment No. 3 to Wheels Up Experience Inc. 2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated April 1, 2023 | A-1 | ||
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• | To vote by attending the Annual Meeting, log in to the Annual Meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/UP2026 and cast your vote electronically during the Annual Meeting. To log in, you will need the unique 16-digit control number which appears on the related Notice of Internet Availability or the proxy card (printed in the box and marked by the arrow). |
• | To vote by proxy over the internet, follow the instructions provided on the related Notice of Internet Availability. |
• | To vote by proxy by mail, if you received a printed set of proxy materials, complete, sign and date the proxy card that accompanies this Proxy Statement, and return it promptly in the envelope provided. If you return your signed proxy card to us before the Annual Meeting, we will vote your shares in accordance with the proxy card. |
• | To vote by proxy by telephone, follow the instructions on the related Notice of Internet Availability or the proxy card included in your printed proxy materials. |
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• | CK Wheels owned approximately 35.6% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock as of the Record Date; however, it cannot vote more than 24.9%, less the Whitebox Non-U.S. Voting Percentage (as defined herein), if any, of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock at the Annual Meeting as a result of the Citizenship Limitation, and pursuant to the applicable provisions of our Organizational Documents and the Investor Rights Agreement. The additional shares of Common Stock owned in excess of 24.9%, less the Whitebox Non-U.S. Voting Percentage, if any, by CK Wheels will be considered Excess Shares, will not be counted as issued and outstanding for purposes of counting votes at the Annual Meeting and will not count for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting. |
• | Each of Pandora Select Partners, L.P., Whitebox Multi-Strategy Partners, L.P. and Whitebox Relative Value Partners, L.P. (collectively, the “Whitebox Non-U.S. Entities”) owned approximately 0.1%, 1.8% and 1.1%, respectively, of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock as of the Record Date; however, such entities cannot vote more than 0.043%, 0.595% and 0.362% (collectively, the “Whitebox Non-U.S. Voting Percentage”), respectively, of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock at the Annual Meeting as a result of the Citizenship Limitation, and pursuant to the applicable provisions of our Organizational Documents and the Investor Rights Agreement. The additional shares of Common Stock owned in excess of the applicable Whitebox Non-U.S. Voting Percentage by the applicable Whitebox Non-U.S. Entity will be considered Excess Shares, will not be counted as issued and outstanding for purposes of counting votes at the Annual Meeting and will not count for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting. |
• | Delta owned approximately 36.4% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock as of the Record Date; however, by agreement with Delta, any shares of Common Stock in excess of 29.9% of the shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting that are held by Delta will be neutral shares with respect to voting rights, voted in proportion to all other votes cast (“For”, “Against” or “Abstain”) at the Annual Meeting other than by Delta. |
• | Proposal No. 1—To elect each of the four Class II director nominees named in this Proxy Statement to serve until the 2029 annual meeting of stockholders or until the election and qualification of their respective successors (“Proposal No. 1”); |
• | Proposal No. 2—To provide a non-binding, advisory vote to approve named executive officer (“named executive officer” or “NEO”) compensation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (the “Say-on-Pay Vote” or “Proposal No. 2”); |
• | Proposal No. 3—To ratify, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP (“GT”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026 (“Proposal No. 3”); and |
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• | Proposal No. 4—To approve an amendment (the “LTIP Amendment”) to the Wheels Up Experience Inc. 2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated April 1, 2023 (as previously amended by each of Amendment No. 1 thereto and Amendment No. 2 thereto, the “A&R 2021 LTIP”), to increase the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for awards made under the A&R 2021 LTIP and extend the termination date of such plan to March 31, 2036 (“Proposal No. 4” and, collectively with the foregoing proposals, the “Proposals”). |
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Proposal | Board’s Recommendation | Vote Required to Approve | Effect of Abstentions or Failing to Vote | Effect of Broker Non-Votes | ||||||||||
Proposal No. 1—To elect each of the four Class II director nominees named in this Proxy Statement to serve until the 2029 annual meeting of stockholders or until the election and qualification of their respective successors. | FOR each nominee | Plurality of votes cast by stockholders present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon | None | None | ||||||||||
Proposal No. 2—The Say-on-Pay Vote. | FOR | Majority of votes cast by stockholders present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon(1) | None | None | ||||||||||
Proposal No. 3—To ratify, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the appointment of GT as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026. | FOR | Majority of votes cast by stockholders present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon | None | Not applicable; proposal is a “routine” matter on which brokers may vote | ||||||||||
Proposal No. 4—To approve the LTIP Amendment to increase the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for awards made under the A&R 2021 LTIP and extend the termination date of such plan to March 31, 2036. | FOR | Majority of votes cast by stockholders present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon | None | None | ||||||||||
(1) | The Board and Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) will consider the outcome of the Say-on-Pay Vote when making future NEO compensation decisions, but it will not be binding on the Company, the Board or the Compensation Committee. |
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• | Proposal No. 1—“FOR” the election of each of the four Class II director nominees named in this Proxy Statement to serve until the 2029 annual meeting of stockholders or until the election and qualification of their respective successors; |
• | Proposal No. 2—“FOR” the Say-on-Pay Vote; |
• | Proposal No. 3—“FOR” ratification, on a non-binding, advisory basis, of the appointment of GT as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026; and |
• | Proposal No. 4—“FOR” approval of the LTIP Amendment to increase the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for awards made under the A&R 2021 LTIP and extend the termination date of such plan to March 31, 2036. |
• | submitting another properly completed proxy card with a later date, so long as such later proxy card is submitted prior to the deadline identified on the proxy card; |
• | sending a written notice prior to the Annual Meeting that you are revoking your proxy to the Secretary of the Company at our headquarters located at 2135 American Way, Chamblee, Georgia 30341; or |
• | attending the Annual Meeting online and voting by following the instructions at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/UP2026. You must affirmatively vote online at the Annual Meeting to revoke your proxy; attendance at the Annual Meeting online will not, by itself, revoke your proxy. |
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Name | Age | Audit Committee | Compensation Committee | NESG Committee | Safety & Security Committee | ||||||||||||
Class I Directors whose terms expire at the 2028 Annual Meeting of Stockholders: | |||||||||||||||||
Adam Zirkin(1) | 46 | C | ✔ | ||||||||||||||
Dwight James | 52 | | |||||||||||||||
Thomas Klein | 63 | C | | ||||||||||||||
Erik Snell | 49 | ||||||||||||||||
Class II Directors whose terms expire at, and certain of whom are standing for reelection at, the Annual Meeting: | |||||||||||||||||
Timothy Armstrong(2) | 55 | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||||||||||
Andrew Davis | 48 | C | |||||||||||||||
George Mattson(3) | 60 | ||||||||||||||||
Gregory Summe | 69 | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||||||||||
Class III Directors whose terms expire at the 2027 Annual Meeting of Stockholders: | |||||||||||||||||
Alain Bellemare | 64 | ✔ | |||||||||||||||
Adam Cantor | 41 | ✔ | |||||||||||||||
Zachary Lazar | 35 | ✔ | |||||||||||||||
Lee Moak | 69 | ✔ | C | ||||||||||||||
(1) | Chairperson of the Board |
(2) | Mr. Armstrong will not stand for reelection at the Annual Meeting. The Board has nominated Mr. Farah for election to the Board at the Annual Meeting, to succeed Mr. Armstrong as an independent director and Class II director. |
(3) | Chief Executive Officer of the Company |
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• | Delta designees: Messrs. Bellemare, James, Moak and Snell; |
• | CK Wheels designees: Messrs. Cantor, Klein, Lazar and Zirkin; |
• | CIH designee: Mr. Davis; |
• | Mr. Armstrong, as an independent director; and |
• | Mr. Mattson, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. |
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Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2025 | 2024 | |||||||
Audit Fees(1) | $2,891,561 | $2,699,474 | ||||||
Audit-Related Fees | — | — | ||||||
Tax Fees(2) | — | 32,330 | ||||||
All Other Fees | — | — | ||||||
Total | $2,891,561 | $2,731,804 | ||||||
(1) | Audit fees consisted of fees incurred for professional services rendered for (i) the audit of the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and related services (including the audits of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), (ii) reviews of the interim condensed consolidated financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, (iii) the audit of various subsidiaries for statutory and other reporting requirements and (iv) customary consents and comfort letters related to registration statements filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and securities offerings. |
(2) | For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, tax fees consisted of fees billed by our independent registered public accounting firm in connection with tax advice related to transactions that closed during 2023. |
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• | increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the A&R 2021 LTIP from 60,149,682 to 135,149,682 shares (i.e., an increase of 75,000,000 shares); and |
• | extend the termination date of the A&R 2021 LTIP to March 31, 2036 (i.e., 10 years from the date the Board approved the LTIP Amendment). |
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• | all outstanding options and stock appreciation rights (regardless of whether in tandem) will become fully exercisable; and |
• | all awards (other than options and stock appreciation rights) will become fully vested; provided, however, that any such award that is performance-based will become vested at the target level of performance. |
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Committee | Primary Responsibilities | Role in Risk Management | ||||||
Audit Andrew Davis (Chair)*^ Timothy Armstrong^+(1) Lee Moak^+ Gregory Summe^+ | • assisting the Board with overseeing and monitoring: ○ quality and integrity of financial statements ○ compliance with legal and regulatory requirements ○ qualifications, independence, retention and compensation of our independent auditor ○ internal audit performance ○ cybersecurity programs and risk processes • prepare the Audit Committee report in this Proxy Statement | • reviewing and assessing major financial risk exposures, and directing measures to monitor and control risks for such exposures • meeting periodically with independent auditor, legal counsel and management to review and evaluate design and implementation of controls and procedures to mitigate risks where possible • overseeing and reviewing cybersecurity and data privacy practices, including our policies, controls and procedures for identifying, managing and mitigating related risks | ||||||
Compensation Adam Zirkin (Chair)^+ Zachary Lazar^+ Gregory Summe^+ | • assisting the Board with: ○ establishing general compensation philosophy ○ setting compensation programs, including for directors and executive officers ○ monitoring incentive and equity plans ○ in consultation with senior management, overseeing the development and implementation of compensation programs • reviewing, approving, terminating and recommending to the Board for approval compensation plans and arrangements • determining the qualifications, independence, retention and compensation of our independent compensation consultant (if any) • preparing the Compensation Committee report in this Proxy Statement (to the extent required) | • reviewing and assessing risk related to compensation practices and employee benefit plans for directors, executive officers and employees, and approving or recommending to the Board for approval related risk mitigation measures • assessing compensation of our directors and executive officers relative to peers to attract and retain talented personnel | ||||||
Nominating & ESG Thomas Klein (Chair)^+ Timothy Armstrong^+(1) Adam Cantor^+ | • assisting the Board with certain nominating and governance matters, including: ○ identifying qualified individuals to become directors per Board-approved criteria ○ recommending qualified Board members for committee service to the Board ○ reviewing and recommending corporate governance principles to the Board ○ overseeing the evaluation of the Board and management ○ overseeing, and coordinating with other Board committees regarding the Company’s corporate responsibility strategies, initiatives, practices and policies relating to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) matters(2) | • identifying, evaluating and mitigating risks related to our governance and ESG practices and to promote long-term growth and achievement of operational and financial goals • in consultation with the Board, management and experts, determining succession plans for directors and management • assessing Board composition, experience and expertise relative to our current and future needs | ||||||
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Committee | Primary Responsibilities | Role in Risk Management | ||||||
Safety & Security Lee Moak (Chair)^+ Alain Bellemare# Adam Zirkin^+ | • overseeing, and consulting with management on, member, customer, employee and aircraft operating safety and security • reviewing current and proposed safety and security programs, policies and compliance measures • reviewing matters that may have a material effect on our flight safety operations and security • reviewing with management annual safety and security goals | • together with management, maintaining and strengthening a strong safety culture • identifying, evaluating and recommending processes and measures to mitigate risks related to our operations, safety and asset security, to protect our assets, business, financial condition and reputation | ||||||
* | Determined by the Board to be an “audit committee financial expert” (as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K). |
^ | Independent director under NYSE rules and the independence requirements of Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act, and is financially literate. |
+ | Independent director under NYSE rules and is a non-Company employee director (as defined pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act). |
# | Non-Company employee director (as defined pursuant to Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act). |
(1) | Mr. Armstrong will not stand for reelection at the Annual Meeting. The Board has nominated Mr. Farah for election to the Board at the Annual Meeting, to succeed Mr. Armstrong as an independent director. If Mr. Farah is elected to the Board at the Annual Meeting, it is expected that he will replace Mr. Armstrong on the Board committees on which Mr. Armstrong currently serves. |
(2) | Although not included in their respective charters, other Board committees also assess ESG issues relevant to their respective oversight areas. |
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Practice or Policy | Description | ||||
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics | • Comprehensive code of conduct covering many business and third-party situations to promote best practices and compliance with applicable law • Applies to all directors, officers, employees and contractors, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer • Qualifies as a “code of ethics” under Item 406(b) of Regulation S-K(1) | ||||
Corporate Governance Guidelines | • Provides framework for our governance and to assist the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities • Sets forth requirements for Board meetings, and director and executive succession planning • Requires an annual evaluation of the Board and its committees • Includes practices the Board follows for Board and committee composition and selection, and certain factors the Board should consider when nominating or appointing director candidates • Limits the number of directorships held by our directors to prevent “overboarding”(2) | ||||
| • Governs transactions in our securities by our directors, officers and employees • Reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws and NYSE standards • Prohibits trading in our securities based on material nonpublic information • Describes instances where certain persons, including our directors and executive officers, must obtain prior approval before transacting in our securities • Includes requirements for scheduled and special trading blackout periods for covered persons • Includes guidelines consistent with SEC rules for Rule 10b5-1 trading plans by directors and executive officers • Anti-Hedging & Anti-Pledging: Prohibits officers, directors and certain of our employees from doing the following with respect to our securities: pledging as collateral to secure loans; holding in margin accounts; hedging or monetization transactions; trading in puts, calls or other derivative securities; and short selling(3) | ||||
Executive Compensation Recoupment Policy | • Intended to allow Board to hold officers accountable accounting restatements due to material noncompliance with financial reporting requirements under the U.S. federal securities laws and certain other identified misconduct (as determined by the Compensation Committee) • Permits recovery and forfeiture of all excess incentive compensation to any responsible officer for periods affected by accounting restatement due to material noncompliance or misconduct(4) | ||||
Board Composition Review | • Periodic review by Board and NESG Committee of Board composition and director qualifications • Director skills matrix aims to identify director strengths and opportunities to enhance composition • No formal policies on minimum director qualifications, director tenure or mandatory retirement, subject to the requirements of the Corporate Governance Guidelines • The NESG Committee: ○ assesses director tenure and age, among other factors, when reviewing director succession planning, subject to certain requirements under the Investor Rights Agreement ○ periodically identifies and reviews potential candidates to join the Board, including referrals from other directors, executive officers, stockholders and other key stakeholders ○ continually refines its processes for identifying and evaluating director nominees | ||||
Annual Board and Committee Self-Evaluation Process | • Corporate Governance Guidelines require NESG Committee to design and conduct an annual self-evaluation of the Board and its committees • Designed to provide information about Board practices and identify areas for improvement • Includes in-depth director interviews conducted by the Company’s Chief Legal Officer covering governance practices and other matters; results are compiled and shared with the Chairpersons of the NESG Committee and Board and, as appropriate, executive management • In the first quarters of 2025 and 2026, each director meaningfully participated in annual self-evaluation processes. Several new initiatives were implemented throughout 2025 and additional initiatives are planned for 2026 following director feedback | ||||
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Practice or Policy | Description | ||||
Process for Stockholder and Interested Party Communications to Board | • Stockholders and interested parties may send a written communication to the Board or an individual director to the attention of the Company’s Secretary at 2135 American Way, Chamblee, Georgia 30341 • The Secretary will review each communication and forward to the appropriate person(s) • Communications that contain advertisements or solicitations, or that are hostile, threatening or otherwise inappropriate, will not be sent to members of the Board and will be discarded | ||||
(1) | Wheels Up discloses the information required by Item 5.05 of Form 8-K, “Amendments to the Registrant’s Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics” through its investor relations website, and such information will remain available on such website for at least a 12-month period. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on our investor relations website, www.wheelsup.com/investors. The information on or available through such website is not deemed incorporated in, and does not form a part of, this Proxy Statement. The website address is included as an inactive textual reference only. |
(2) | A copy of our Corporate Governance Guidelines is available on our investor relations website at www.investors.wheelsup.com, under the heading “Governance Documents.” The information on or available through such website is not deemed incorporated in, and does not form a part of, this Proxy Statement. The website address is included as an inactive textual reference only. |
(3) | The Insider Trading Policy has been filed with the SEC as Exhibit 19.1 to the 2025 Form 10-K. |
(4) | The Recoupment Policy has been filed with the SEC as Exhibit 97.1 to the 2025 Form 10-K. |
Respectfully Submitted, | |||||
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors | |||||
Andrew Davis, Chair Timothy Armstrong Lee Moak Gregory Summe | |||||
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• | the scheduled maturity date for the Term Loan is September 20, 2028, and the scheduled maturity date for the Revolving Credit Facility is the earlier of September 20, 2028 and the first date after September 20, 2026 on which all amounts owed with respect to borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility have been repaid pursuant to their terms (as applicable, the “Credit Facility Maturity Date”), subject in each case to earlier termination upon acceleration or termination of any obligations upon an event of default; |
• | interest on the Term Loan and any borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility (each, a “Loan” and collectively, the “Loans”) accrues at a rate of 10% per annum on the unpaid principal balance of the Loans then outstanding; |
• | accrued interest on each Loan is payable in kind as compounded interest and capitalized to the principal amount of the applicable Loan on the last day of each of March, June, September and December, and the applicable Credit Facility Maturity Date; and |
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• | the Company is subject to certain covenants and events of default, in each case customary for credit arrangements of this type. |
• | as of September 20, 2023, the Board will consist of 12 members, as follows: (i) four directors designated by Delta (two Class I directors and two Class III directors); (ii) four directors designated by CK Wheels (two Class I directors and two Class III directors); (iii) one director designated by CIH (a Class II director); and (iv) the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, David Adelman (who resigned from the Board in August 2024 and was replaced by Gregory Summe) and Timothy Armstrong (who will not stand for reelection to the Board at the Annual Meeting) serving as a Class II directors; |
• | the rights of Delta and CK Wheels to each designate and remove four directors to the Board so long as such stockholder continues to hold at least 75% of the shares of Common Stock issued to it pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement, and CIH to designate and remove one director to the Board, so long as it holds at least 30% of the shares of Common Stock issued to it pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement (see the Investor Rights Agreement for additional details on the number of directors that Delta and CK Wheels are each entitled to designate if either Investor ceases to hold the requisite number of shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement); and |
• | certain transfer restrictions and liquidity rights of the Significant Holders, including but not limited to: (i) the inability of the Significant Holders to transfer any of their respective Common Stock issued pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement until certain dates, except to their Permitted Transferees (as defined in the Investor Rights Agreement); (ii) certain transfer restrictions if such a transfer would cause a Change of Control (as defined in the Credit Agreement); (iii) the rights of Delta and CK Wheels to pursue a Sale of the Company (as defined in the Investor Rights Agreement) after September 20, 2028, the maturity date for the Term Loan; and (iv) certain other transfer restrictions and rights if the Company ceases to be a publicly-traded company. |
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• | Delta, CK Wheels and CIH agreed to extend the lock-up restriction applicable to all their shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement through May 22, 2026 (the “Extended Lock-Up Expiration”), subject to limited exceptions for transfers to Permitted Transferees (as defined in the Investor Rights Agreement); and |
• | the Additional Investors agreed to extend the lock-up restriction applicable to 29% of their shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement through January 2, 2026, subject to limited exceptions for transfers to Permitted Transferees; provided, that any transfers or sales of shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement held by the Additional Investors after September 21, 2025 and until the Extended Lock-Up Expiration may not occur during specified periods, are subject to certain volume limitations and may not be at a price less than the minimum price per share, in each case as specified in the Investor Rights Agreement Amendment. |
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• | Agreements between WUPJ and Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. and its affiliates (“Hertz”) entered into in the ordinary course of business, pursuant to which Wheels Up and its employees may rent vehicles from Hertz, and Hertz extends certain benefits and status to Wheels Up members and customers that Wheels Up refers to Hertz for vehicle rentals, in exchange for referral and concession fees and other benefits. Certares and Knighthead serve as co-investment managers of CK Amarillo LLC, an entity that owns a substantial portion of Hertz. Aggregate payments between the Company and its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Hertz, on the other hand, since January 1, 2024 were approximately $1.6 million and the amount of each of Certares’ and Knighthead’s indirect pecuniary interest in these transactions may be deemed to be up to that amount. |
• | Transactions between certain of the Company’s subsidiaries and MAH, related to fixed base operator, fueling and other services provided by MAH to Wheels Up in the ordinary course of business. Certares and Knighthead serve as co-investment managers to an entity that owns a portion of MAH. In addition, Messrs. Cantor and Lazar are members of the board of directors of MAH. Aggregate payments between the Company and its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and MAH, on the other hand, since January 1, 2024 were approximately $0.2 million and the amount of each of Certares’ and Knighthead’s indirect pecuniary interest in these transactions may be deemed to be up to that amount. |
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Annual Cash Retainers | |||||
Compensation-Eligible Director | $50,000 | ||||
Chairperson of the Board and/or Lead Independent Director (if applicable) | $35,000 | ||||
Chairperson of the Audit Committee | $15,000 | ||||
Chairperson of the Compensation Committee, NESG Committee, and Safety and Security Committee | $10,000 | ||||
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Name | Fees earned or paid in cash ($)(1) | Stock awards ($)(2) | All other compensation ($)(3) | Total ($) | ||||||||||
Adam Zirkin (Chairperson of the Board) | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
Timothy Armstrong(4) | 50,000 | 175,001 | 76,116 | 301,117 | ||||||||||
Alain Bellemare | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
Adam Cantor | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
Andrew Davis | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
Dwight James | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
Daniel Janki(5) | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
Thomas Klein | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
Zachary Lazar | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
Lee Moak | 70,000 | 175,001 | 35,786 | 280,786 | ||||||||||
Gregory Summe | 62,500 | 175,001 | 77,054 | 314,554 | ||||||||||
(1) | Fees earned or paid in cash reflect annual cash retainers paid to directors. |
(2) | Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of RSUs granted under the A&R 2021 LTIP, calculated in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). On June 10, 2025, the Board approved grants of 115,132 RSUs under the A&R 2021 LTIP with an aggregate grant date fair value of $175,001 based upon the closing price per share of Common Stock of $1.52 on that date, to each of Messrs. Armstrong, Moak and Summe for the 2025-2026 Board service year, of which 25% vested on each of September 10, 2025, December 10, 2025 and March 10, 2026, and the remainder of which are scheduled to vest on the Annual Meeting date, subject to the director’s continued service to the Company. As disclosed in footnote 1 above, Mr. Summe elected to receive $50,000 of his annual cash retainer in RSUs, which resulted in the grant of an additional 32,894 RSUs to him effective June 10, 2025 based upon the closing price per share of Common Stock of $1.52 on that date. Such additional RSUs granted to Mr. Summe have the same vesting schedule as the other RSUs granted to him and the other Compensation-Eligible Directors on that date. As of December 31, 2025, unvested equity incentive awards granted to (i) each of Messrs. Armstrong and Moak consisted of 57,566 RSUs and (ii) to Mr. Summe consisted of 74,104 RSUs, in each case 50% of which vested on March 10, 2026 and the remaining 50% are scheduled to vest on the Annual Meeting date, subject to continued service through such vesting date. |
(3) | The amount presented above in the “All other compensation” column reflects the incremental cost to us for each Compensation-Eligible Director’s use of flight hours under the FHP. The table below reflects flight hours awarded and used in 2025. In 2025, Mr. Moak received 10 additional flight hours on a King Air 350i aircraft ($33,750 estimated value) under the FHP for his role as the Board’s representative on the board of managers of Tropic Ocean. Such arrangement was approved by the Board and the Compensation Committee, and is expected to continue for so long as Mr. Moak serves in such capacity on behalf of the Board. Non-Compensated Directors did not receive flight hours under the FHP during 2025 and are not listed in the table below. For more information, see “Flight Hours” above. |
Name | Flight Hours Awarded | Flight Hours Used | ||||||
Timothy Armstrong | 25.0 | 16.1 | ||||||
Lee Moak | 35.0 | 10.6 | ||||||
Gregory Summe | 25.0 | 11.8 | ||||||
(4) | Mr. Armstrong will not stand for reelection at the Annual Meeting. |
(5) | Mr. Janki resigned from the Board and all committees thereof effective April 22, 2026 and was replaced by Mr. Snell as of that date. Mr. Snell is not listed in the table above, because he did not serve as a director during year ended December 31, 2025. |
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Name | Age | Position(s) | ||||||
George Mattson | 60 | Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||||||
John Verkamp | 46 | Chief Financial Officer | ||||||
Mark Briffa | 61 | Chief Sales Officer | ||||||
Alexander Chatkewitz | 61 | Chief Accounting Officer | ||||||
David Godsman | 53 | Chief Digital Officer | ||||||
David Holtz | 69 | Chief Operating Officer | ||||||
Brian Kedzior | 45 | Chief People Officer | ||||||
Matthew Knopf | 69 | Chief Legal Officer | ||||||
Kristen Lauria | 57 | Chief Marketing Officer | ||||||
Meaghan Wells | 38 | Chief Growth Officer | ||||||
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• | George Mattson, our Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer since October 2, 2023) and a director; |
• | John Verkamp, our Chief Financial Officer; and |
• | Mark Briffa, our Chief Sales Officer. |
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Name and principal position | Year | Salary ($)(1) | Bonus ($)(2) | Stock awards ($)(3) | Non-equity incentive plan compensation ($)(4) | All other compensation ($)(5) | Total ($) | ||||||||||||||||
George Mattson, Chief Executive Officer & Director | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2025 | 625,000 | 760,000 | — | 490,000 | 199,510 | 2,074,510 | |||||||||||||||||
2024 | 625,000 | — | — | 850,000 | 92,560 | 1,567,560 | |||||||||||||||||
John Verkamp, Chief Financial Officer(6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2025 | 401,923 | 212,104 | 9,720,000(7) | 269,500 | 3,808 | 10,607,335 | |||||||||||||||||
Mark Briffa, Chief Sales Officer(8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2025 | 606,015 | 161,457 | 703,126 | 1,126,290(9) | 100,043 | 2,696,932 | |||||||||||||||||
2024 | 564,800 | — | 1,829,848 | 406,569 | 66,364 | 2,867,580 | |||||||||||||||||
(1) | Reflects 2025 annual base salaries for Messrs. Mattson and Briffa of $625,000 and £450,000 (approximately $606,015), respectively. For Mr. Verkamp, reflects prorated amount of his 2025 annual base salary of $550,000 after he began serving as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer on March 31, 2025. |
(2) | For Mr. Mattson, reflects a discretionary cash bonus award recommended and approved by the Compensation Committee, and for Messrs. Verkamp and Briffa, reflects discretionary cash bonus awards approved by the Compensation Committee upon the recommendation of our Chief Executive Officer, in each case for extraordinary contributions to the Company’s multi-year business transformation plan during 2025. |
(3) | Reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of: (i) the Wheels Up Experience Inc. Performance Award Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2025, granted to Mr. Verkamp (the “CFO Performance Plan”); and (ii) RSUs and PSUs, as applicable, granted under the A&R 2021 LTIP to Mr. Briffa in 2025 and 2024. All amounts were calculated in accordance with ASC 718 and, with respect to the CFO Performance Plan, using the assumptions contained in Note 11, Stockholders’ Equity and Equity-Based Compensation of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in our 2025 Form 10-K. The grant date fair values of the 146,485 and 58,174 PSUs granted to Mr. Briffa on February 26, 2025 and 2024, respectively, were $175,782 and $178,594, respectively. Assuming at the grant date that the highest level of performance conditions (200%) will be achieved for each PSU, the grant date fair values of such PSUs would have been $351,563 and $357,188, respectively. See “—Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End” below for vesting conditions of such stock awards. |
(4) | Reflects amounts earned by our NEOs upon the achievement of certain Company and individual performance objectives approved by the Board for such years under the Bonus Plan (as defined herein), which were paid to the NEOs during the first quarter of the subsequent fiscal year. See “—Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table—Primary Elements of Compensation” below for a description of the Bonus Plan. |
(5) | Reflects aggregate amounts in the “Value of Flight Hours Used,” “Contributions to Retirement Plans” and “Other Perquisites and Benefits” columns in the table below: |
Name | Flight Hours Awarded(a) | Flight Hours Used | Value of Flight Hours Used ($) | Contributions to Retirement Plans ($)(b) | Other Perquisites and Benefits ($)(c) | ||||||||||||
George Mattson | 75.2 | 29.2 | 179,952 | 19,558 | — | ||||||||||||
John Verkamp | 17.5 | — | — | 3,808 | — | ||||||||||||
Mark Briffa | 20.0 | — | — | 72,733 | 27,311 | ||||||||||||
(a) | For Mr. Verkamp, the total number of hours reflected in the table above is prorated for his term of service during 2025 pursuant to the Verkamp Offer Letter (as defined herein). |
(b) | For Messrs. Mattson and Verkamp, reflects aggregate contributions by us on their behalf under our 401(k) plan during 2025. For Mr. Briffa, reflects aggregate payments to Mr. Briffa with respect to contributions under the U.K. Pensions Act of 2008, as required under the Briffa Service Agreement (as defined herein). |
(c) | Messrs. Mattson and Verkamp did not receive other perquisites or personal benefits in excess of the reporting thresholds under SEC rules. For Mr. Briffa, reflects a $20,200 vehicle allowance, $4,971 of employer-paid private health insurance premiums for Mr. Briffa’s family members and $2,140 of technology-related reimbursements. From time to time, the NEOs attend events hosted, produced or sponsored by Wheels Up at no measurable incremental cost to Wheels Up. In addition, certain Wheels Up executives and employees are provided with Delta SkyMiles 360™ and SkyMiles Medallion® benefits pursuant to the Benefits Agreements at no measurable incremental cost to Wheels Up. |
(6) | Mr. Verkamp was hired as Chief Financial Officer on March 31, 2025. |
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(7) | For 2025, reflects the grant-date fair value of the CFO Performance Plan, in accordance with ASC 718 using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The derived service period for the CFO Performance Plan, which is a multi-year, one-time performance award in lieu of future annual equity compensation grants to the recipient, was 3.8 years at the time of grant. Any issuance of shares or cash payment under the CFO Performance Plan is contingent upon both the occurrence of a Repayment Event (as defined in the CFO Performance Plan) and the satisfaction of certain service-based vesting conditions. For purposes of calculating the grant-date fair value of the CFO Performance Plan reflected in the table above, the achievement of the related performance objective was deemed probable of being achieved on September 20, 2028 (the scheduled maturity date for the Term Loan). However, as of December 31, 2025 and the date of this Proxy Statement, the performance- and service-based vesting conditions under the CFO Performance Plan had not been satisfied. There can be no assurance that both the performance- and service-based vesting conditions will be satisfied, or that the CFO Performance Plan will vest or result in the issuance of any shares of Common Stock or cash payments. |
(8) | Mr. Briffa served as the Company’s EVP, Charter and CEO of Air Partner from February 2024 to June 2026, at which time his title changed to Chief Sales Officer. All amounts for Mr. Briffa, who resides in the United Kingdom, for 2025 and 2024 have been converted to U.S. Dollars based on an exchange rate of $1.3467 and $1.2551, respectively, per £1 rounded to the nearest whole United States Dollar, which was the applicable exchange rate selected by the Company as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The actual amounts paid to Mr. Briffa throughout 2025 and 2024 expressed in U.S. Dollars may be different than the amounts reported above depending on the applicable exchange rate at the time each payment was made. |
(9) | Reflects the aggregate of $304,290 for 2025 performance under the Bonus Plan and $822,000 under the Sales Incentive Award (as defined herein) related to Mr. Briffa’s performance during 2025 and 2024 as determined by the Compensation Committee. See “Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table—Employment Arrangements with NEOs—Sales Incentive Award” below for details about the Sales Incentive Award and related amounts paid to Mr. Briffa in 2025. |
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Type | Component | Purpose(s) | Review & Determination Process | ||||||||
Fixed Compensation | Base Salary | • Provide fixed annual pay based on NEO’s role, responsibilities, skills and experience • Cash compensation | • Historically, the base salary in the NEO’s employment agreement or offer letter was based on, among other things, internal pay parity, peer compensation and the specific experience and skills of the individual • Compensation Committee assesses base salary as part of first quarter annual compensation review process and periodically adjusts in its discretion, considering, among other things, individual attributes and peer benchmarks | ||||||||
Performance-based Cash Compensation | Annual Incentive Bonus Plan (the “Bonus Plan”) | • Provide “at-risk,” short-term pay to reward NEOs for meeting objective or subjective annual performance goals • Cash compensation, reported for the year in which performance attributable to such bonus was completed | The Compensation Committee: • Sets performance metrics in the first quarter of each year based on internal financial forecasts • Determines level of achievement in the first quarter following the performance year based on the Company’s fiscal year financial or operating results and individual performance factors • For 2025, based annual incentive bonus decisions on a mix of Company financial and operating performance metrics and individual performance measures intended to reward individual contributions and execution of our business plans and strategic priorities • From time to time, will fix annual incentive bonus for first full or partial year of service for a newly hired executive officer as a hiring incentive | ||||||||
Discretionary or Retention Bonuses | • Provides additional compensation for the achievement of key objectives or extraordinary contributions to the Company’s past or future success outside of Bonus Plan • Periodically granted for retention purposes where in the Company’s best interests | • The Compensation Committee and/or our Chief Executive Officer (subject to approval by the Compensation Committee) may recommend discretionary or retention bonuses from time to time • Historically only used in extraordinary circumstances, with a preference for “at-risk” Bonus Plan compensation | |||||||||
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Type | Component | Purpose(s) | Review & Determination Process | ||||||||
Long-Term Equity Incentives – Performance- and Time-Based | Stock awards | • Provide “at-risk,” long-term incentive compensation to motivate NEOs to contribute to Company performance and align NEO long-term pay outcomes with the interests of the Company’s stockholders • Equity incentive awards are granted under the A&R 2021 LTIP, Executive Performance Plans or other equity incentive plans approved from time to time, reported in the year of grant | The Compensation Committee: • Grants equity incentive awards to NEOs per the terms of the applicable plan • Determines target percentage of total compensation to be allocated to long-term equity incentives as a percentage of base salary • In 2025, allocated total annual grants under the A&R 2021 LTIP 75% in RSUs and 25% in PSUs • Sets objective performance- and/or service-based metrics to determine vesting of long-term equity incentive awards, monitored through time and equitably adjusted as determined by the Compensation Committee, as needed • Approved the Executive Performance Plans (as defined herein) for certain executive officers as multi-year performance awards in lieu of other equity compensation awards • See “—A&R 2021 LTIP” and “—Executive Performance Plans” below for more information. | ||||||||
Perquisites & Other Benefits | Flight Hours | • Given the nature of our business, provide a value-capped perquisite, allowing NEOs to use our aircraft for personal benefit to promote the Wheels Up brand | • Flight hour awards are granted pursuant to and governed by the FHP approved by the Compensation Committee • Certain NEO employment arrangements prescribe a minimum number of flight hours per cabin class per year • See “—Flight Hours & Aircraft Use” below for more information. | ||||||||
401(k) Plan Match & Broad-Based Employee Benefits | • Provide overall competitive benefits package, including a 401(k) plan with employer matching, group life insurance, group health insurance and short- and long-term disability insurance • Generally available to broader employee base | • Compensation Committee annually reviews and periodically approves the Company’s employee benefit plans and other benefits for employees • Reviews include benchmarking against peers to ensure benefits remain competitive • Wheels Up does not have defined benefit plans | |||||||||
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Type | Component | Purpose(s) | Review & Determination Process | ||||||||
Other Benefits & Termination-Related Compensation | • Attract and retain talented individuals by providing, among others, housing or vehicle allowances, hiring incentives and reimbursements for commuting expenses, relocation expenses, specified legal fees or life insurance premiums for policies in addition to those generally provided to all employees • Provide predictability for the Company upon separation of a NEO by offering limited post-separation benefits under the Severance Guidelines (as defined herein) or as otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee | • For other benefits, the Compensation Committee: ○ Periodically evaluates whether to provide as part of total executive compensation program, considering the NEOs’ overall compensation and the relative benefit of providing such other benefits ○ May add or reduce benefits from time to time to attract or retain talented individuals, align with peer practices or reward contributions to the Company • For termination-related compensation: ○ Board and Compensation Committee have approved the Severance Guidelines (as defined herein), but may alter severance arrangements in their discretion or per the terms of the NEO’s employment arrangement ○ See “—Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control” below for more information. | |||||||||
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• | 1/4th of the RSUs vested on February 26, 2026 and the remaining RSUs will vest in 12 equal quarterly installments commencing May 26, 2026; and |
• | the PSUs will vest, if at all, on the last day of the three-year performance period upon achievement of equally weighted performance metrics based on Adjusted EBITDAR excluding asset sales (a non-GAAP financial measure) and Gross Bookings (a key operating metric), with achievement based on three overlapping performance periods that are each equally weighted relative to the total number of PSUs granted: (i) the one-year performance for 2025; (ii) the two-year cumulative performance for 2025-2026; and (iii) the three-year cumulative performance for 2025-2027. No award will vest until the end of the three-year vesting period. The Compensation Committee will approve the level of achievement following the last performance period for the award. Please see Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the 2025 Form 10-K for the definition and reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDAR (a non-GAAP financial measure) to Net income and the definition of Gross Bookings (a key operating metric). |
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• | receive an annual base salary of $625,000, subject to annual review and periodic increase by the Board; |
• | earn an annual incentive bonus with a target amount equal to $1.0 million, based on Wheels Up’s achievement of objective business plan metric and objectively determinable key performance indicator targets established annually by the Compensation Committee in consultation with Mr. Mattson; provided, the actual amount of his annual incentive bonus for any performance period will range from 0% to 200% of the target amount depending on the level of achievement; |
• | receive up to 45 and 30 flight hours per year on Wheels Up’s mid-cabin and light-cabin aircraft, respectively (with any flight hours not used prior to the termination of his employment to be retained for future use, unless he is terminated for “Cause” (as defined herein for the purpose of the Mattson Employment Agreement)); |
• | if any payments or benefits under the Mattson Employment Agreement or otherwise would subject Mr. Mattson to excise taxes pursuant to Sections 280G or 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, receive additional payments directly or made on his behalf to the applicable tax authority to put him in the same after-tax position as if the excise taxes did not apply; |
• | voluntarily participate in the employee benefit plans available to Wheels Up employees, subject to the terms of those plans; and |
• | the award of the one-time CEO Performance Plan (in lieu of future annual equity compensation grants). |
• | by Wheels Up for Cause or by Mr. Mattson without Good Reason, he will be entitled to receive: (i) any accrued but unpaid base salary through the termination date; (ii) unreimbursed business expenses incurred prior to termination; (iii) any accrued but unpaid vacation or other leave; and (iv) any other accrued and vested employment benefits Mr. Mattson is entitled to under the employee benefit plans (collectively, the amounts described in clauses (i) through (iv), the “Accrued Obligations”); |
• | by Wheels Up without Cause or by Mr. Mattson for Good Reason, subject to Mr. Mattson’s timely execution and non-revocation of a release of claims in favor of Wheels Up and compliance with applicable restrictive covenants, he will be entitled to receive: (i) the Accrued Obligations; (ii) 12 months of continued payment of his base salary; (iii) his annual incentive bonus for the year of termination based on Wheels Up’s actual performance for the full performance year and paid at the same time as other similarly situated executives; (iv) any accrued and unpaid annual incentive bonus for the fiscal year prior to the termination date; (v) immediate vesting of a portion of his long-term incentive award as if he had remained employed through the next vesting date and, if the next vesting date is less than three months after the termination date, a portion of his long-term incentive award as if he |
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• | due to death or Disability (as defined herein for purposes of the Mattson Employment Agreement), he or his legal representative, as applicable, will be entitled to the Accrued Obligations and any accrued and unpaid annual incentive bonus for the fiscal year prior to the termination date. |
• | “Cause” means any of the following which is not cured by Mr. Mattson (if capable of cure) within 30 days after his receipt of written notice from Wheels Up: (i) willful material dishonesty in the performance of his duties that results in material harm to the reputation or business of Wheels Up or its subsidiaries; (ii) gross negligence in the performance of his duties that results in material harm to the business of Wheels Up or its subsidiaries; (iii) gross material misconduct in the performance of his duties; (iv) his conviction of, or entering a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony (other than a vehicular-related felony); (v) willful breach of any material covenant contained in the restrictive covenant agreement that he entered into concurrently with the Mattson Employment Agreement; (vi) his intentional, material failure to follow, or intentional conduct that violates, Wheels Up’s or its subsidiaries’ written policies that are generally applicable to all employees or all officers of Wheels Up and its subsidiaries and that results in material harm to the reputation or business of Wheels Up or its subsidiaries; (vii) willful and repeated failure or refusal by him to comply with a written directive from the Board (unless such directive represents an illegal act) other than by reason of Disability (as defined herein); or (viii) a confirmed positive illegal drug test; |
• | “Good Reason” means any of the following which is not cured by Wheels Up (if capable of cure) within 30 days after its receipt of written notice from Mr. Mattson provided within 60 days of the existence of any such event: (i) a material breach by Wheels Up of any material covenant or provision of the Mattson Employment Agreement; (ii) a change in his title, role or reporting relationship (including any requirement to report to any person other than the Board) or any material diminution in his material duties, authorities or responsibilities as Chief Executive Officer; (iii) a material reduction by Wheels Up in his annual base salary or annual incentive bonus, other than a reduction of annual base salary of not more than 15% that is substantially consistent with equivalent reductions in base salary for his direct reports; or (iv) a failure of Wheels Up to obtain the assumption in writing of all of its obligations under the Mattson Employment Agreement by any entity or person, other than a Wheels Up affiliate, if Wheels Up affects a reorganization, consolidation or merger into, any other entity or person or transfer all or substantially all of its properties, stock or assets to any other entity or person; and |
• | “Disability” means any medically determinable physical or mental impairment resulting in Mr. Mattson’s inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity, where such impairment can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, as determined by a physician appointed jointly by the Board and Mr. Mattson. |
• | receive an annual base salary of $550,000; |
• | earn an annual incentive bonus, with a target amount equal to 100% of his base salary beginning in 2026, subject to Company and individual performance and any other factors determined at the sole discretion of the Company (provided, that his 2025 annual bonus target will be prorated for hire date); |
• | receive 20 flight hours per year on King Air 350i aircraft (which for 2025 was prorated and resulted in deposits of 2.5 hours on a King Air 350i for the first quarter and 5 hours for each of the second, third and fourth quarters); and |
• | participate in the employee benefit plans available to Wheels Up employees, subject to the terms of those plans. |
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• | receive an annual base salary of £450,000, subject to annual review and approval by the Compensation Committee; |
• | earn an annual incentive bonus equal to 100% of his annual base salary, in each case on such terms and subject to such conditions as may be decided from time to time by the Board; |
• | receive an annual equity award, subject to approval by the Compensation Committee; |
• | receive an amount equal to not less than 12% of his annual base salary during each year of employment under the UK Pensions Act of 2008; |
• | receive an allocation of flight hours on Wheels Up’s aircraft in accordance with the flight hours plan established by Wheels Up; |
• | participate in the employee benefit plans, including certain insurance plans, available to Air Partner employees, subject to the terms of those plans; |
• | receive certain holiday, vacation, sick pay and other paid leave; and |
• | receive reimbursements for certain home office equipment and a gym membership. |
• | he did not materially comply with any reasonable lawful order or direction given to him by Air Partner; |
• | Air Partner reasonably believes he (i) has committed any serious breach or repeated, after written warning, any breach or are guilty of a continuing breach of any of the terms of the Briffa Service Agreement, (ii) he is guilty of any gross or serious misconduct or, after written warning, willful neglect in the discharge of his duties under the Briffa Service Agreement, (iii) is guilty of any bribery, |
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• | he is declared bankrupt or has a receiving order made against him or he makes any general composition with his creditors or takes advantage of any statute affording relief for insolvent debtors; |
• | he becomes prohibited by law from being or acting as a statutory director of Air Partner; |
• | he refuses or fails to agree to accept employment due to certain reorganizations, reconstructions or amalgamations of Air Partner or its subsidiaries; |
• | he resigns as a director of Air Partner other than at the request of the Board; |
• | the office of director of Air Partner held by him is vacated pursuant to Air Partner’s Articles of Association, save if the vacation shall be caused by illness (including mental disorder) or injury; |
• | he is guilty of a serious breach of any professional conduct rules applicable to him, any regulatory authorities relevant to Air Partner or its subsidiaries or any code of practice or policy issued by Air Partner; |
• | he has committed a serious breach of Air Partner’s policies; or |
• | he is in material breach of Air Partner’s Articles of Association. |
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Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||
Name | Grant Date | Number of shares or units of stock that have not vested (#) | Market value of shares or units of stock that have not vested ($)(1) | Equity incentive plan awards: number of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested (#) | Equity incentive plan awards: market or payout value of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested ($)(2) | ||||||||||||
George Mattson, Chief Executive Officer & Director | |||||||||||||||||
CEO Performance Plan(3) | 11/30/2023 | — | — | 73,000,000 | 48,180,000 | ||||||||||||
John Verkamp, Chief Financial Officer | |||||||||||||||||
CFO Performance Plan(3) | 3/31/2025 | — | — | 12,000,000 | 7,920,000 | ||||||||||||
Mark Briffa, Chief Sales Officer | |||||||||||||||||
A&R 2021 LTIP – PSUs(4) | 2/26/2025 | — | — | 36,622 | 24,171 | ||||||||||||
A&R 2021 LTIP – PSUs(4) | 2/26/2025 | — | — | 36,621 | 24,170 | ||||||||||||
A&R 2021 LTIP – RSUs(5) | 2/26/2025 | 439,454 | 290,040 | — | — | ||||||||||||
A&R 2021 LTIP – RSUs(6) | 10/2/2024 | 327,598 | 216,215 | — | — | ||||||||||||
A&R 2021 LTIP – PSUs(4) | 2/26/2024 | — | — | 14,544 | 9,599 | ||||||||||||
A&R 2021 LTIP – PSUs(4) | 2/26/2024 | — | — | 58,174 | 38,395 | ||||||||||||
A&R 2021 LTIP – RSUs(5) | 2/26/2024 | 98,169 | 64,787 | — | — | ||||||||||||
A&R 2021 LTIP – RSUs(7) | 2/23/2023 | 10,547 | 6,961 | — | — | ||||||||||||
(1) | Represents the market value of RSUs granted under the A&R 2021 LTIP using the closing price per share of our Common Stock on December 31, 2025 of $0.66, as if such RSUs had vested in full on that date. |
(2) | For awards under the A&R 2021 LTIP, represents the market value of PSUs, and for awards under the Executive Performance Plans, represents the market value of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance thereunder, in each case using the closing price per share of our Common Stock on December 31, 2025 of $0.66, as if such PSUs or shares of Common Stock, as applicable, had vested in full on that date. |
(3) | As of December 31, 2025, the performance- and service-based vesting conditions under the Executive Performance Plans had not been satisfied. The Company’s stockholders previously authorized 73.0 million and 12.0 million shares for potential issuance under the CEO Performance Plan and CFO Performance Plan, respectively, upon vesting, if at all. There can be no assurance that both the performance- and service-based vesting conditions will be satisfied, or that any Executive Performance Plan will vest or result in the issuance of any shares of Common Stock or cash payments. See “—Executive Performance Plans” above for details regarding the vesting conditions of the Executive Performance Plans. |
(4) | Reflects unvested PSUs granted under the A&R 2021 LTIP to Mr. Briffa on the grant dates indicated in the table below, each of which has separate performance conditions based on the achievement of thresholds pre-determined by the Compensation Committee for the performance periods indicated. One-third of the original PSU grant is eligible to vest for each performance period. If achievement is above the threshold performance goal (50%) for a given performance period, the applicable PSUs will vest one-for-one into shares of Common Stock, up to a maximum performance goal of 200%. If achievement is below the threshold performance goal (50%) for a given performance period, the applicable PSUs will be forfeited. The Compensation Committee determines the level of achievement for the performance periods for such PSU award in the first quarter of the year following the last completed performance period. No award will vest until the end of the three-year vesting period and vesting is subject to Mr. Briffa’s continued service to the Company through the end of the final performance period. |
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Grant Date | Equity incentive plan awards: number of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested (#) | Performance Condition Criteria | Performance Period | Estimated Level of Achievement | ||||||||||
2/26/2025 | 36,622 | Adjusted EBITDAR excluding asset sales | 2025 Cumulative 2025-2026 Cumulative 2025-2027 | Threshold (50%) Threshold (50%) Threshold (50%) | ||||||||||
2/26/2025 | 36,621 | Gross Bookings | 2025 Cumulative 2025-2026 Cumulative 2025-2027 | Threshold (50%) Threshold (50%) Threshold (50%) | ||||||||||
2/26/2024 | 14,544 | Adjusted EBITDA | 2024 Cumulative 2024-2025 Cumulative 2024-2026 | Threshold (50%) Threshold (50%) Threshold (50%) | ||||||||||
2/26/2024 | 58,174 | Charter Mix | 2024 Cumulative 2024-2025 Cumulative 2024-2026 | Maximum (200%) Maximum (200%) Maximum (200%) | ||||||||||
(5) | Represents the unvested portion of RSUs granted under the A&R 2021 LTIP to Mr. Briffa on February 26, 2025 and 2024, as applicable, which are scheduled to vest as follows: (i) 1/4th of the RSUs vested on the first anniversary of the applicable grant date; and (ii) the remaining RSUs will vest in 12 equal quarterly installments commencing on the 15-month anniversary of the applicable grant date. |
(6) | Represents the unvested portion of RSUs granted under the A&R 2021 LTIP to Mr. Briffa on October 2, 2024, which are scheduled to vest in two equal installments on October 2, 2026 and 2027, subject to continued service through each such vesting date. |
(7) | Represents the unvested portion of RSUs granted under the A&R 2021 LTIP to Mr. Briffa on February 23, 2023, all of which vested on February 23, 2026. |
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Principal Position | Term of Service | Base Salary | Annual Incentive Bonus | COBRA Continuation | Acceleration of Unvested Equity Incentive Awards (including options) | Post- Separation Flight Hours | ||||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer | Any | 52 weeks | 52 weeks | 12 months | Per contractual agreement | Per policy(1) | ||||||||||||||
Other NEOs | ≥ 1 year | 36 weeks | Pro-rated for year of separation and subject to company performance percentage | 6 months | None | Per policy(1) | ||||||||||||||
< 1 year | 26 weeks | Same as ≥ 1 year | 4 months | Same as ≥ 1 year | Same as ≥ 1 year | |||||||||||||||
(1) | Under the FHP, our Chief Executive Officer and other NEOs retain any flight hours granted prior to the separation date, unless the executive officer becomes employed by or affiliated with a competitor to the Company, at which time any remaining flight hours are automatically forfeited. |
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• | if our Chief Executive Officer, (i) has served in that role for more than one (1) year, they will be entitled to receive a lump-sum amount equal to 200% of combined base salary and annual incentive bonus, or (ii) has served in that role for less than one (1) year, they will be entitled to receive a lump-sum amount equal to 100% of combined base salary and annual incentive bonus, and in each case will be subject to accelerated vesting of outstanding, unvested equity incentive awards; and |
• | if any NEO, (i) has served in that role for more than one (1) year, they will be entitled to receive a lump-sum amount equal to 150% of combined base salary and annual incentive bonus, or (ii) has served in that role for less than one (1) year, they will be entitled to receive a lump-sum amount equal to 100% of combined base salary and annual incentive bonus, and in each case will be subject to accelerated vesting of outstanding, unvested equity incentive awards. |
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Plan Category | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights | Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) | ||||||||
(a) | (b) | (c) | |||||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | 120,465,203(1) | $100.00(2) | 33,212,834(3) | ||||||||
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | 783,695(4) | $74.37(5) | — | ||||||||
Total | 121,248,898 | $97.71(6) | 33,212,834 | ||||||||
(1) | Consists of (i) 20,388,471 PSUs and RSUs that may be settled into a maximum of 20,388,471 shares of Common Stock under the A&R 2021 LTIP (assuming vesting at 100% of target for outstanding PSUs), (ii) 76,732 stock options to purchase up to 76,732 shares of Common Stock granted under the A&R 2021 LTIP, and (iii) up to 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate under the Executive Performance Plans that have been authorized by the Company’s stockholders for issuance thereunder, subject to the satisfaction of both the performance- and service-based vesting conditions under such plans, if at all. |
(2) | Reflects the weighted-average exercise price of outstanding stock options under the A&R 2021 LTIP as of December 31, 2025. The calculation of the weighted-average exercise price does not include outstanding equity awards that are received or exercised for no consideration. As of December 31, 2025, the weighted average remaining contractual term of outstanding and exercisable stock options under the A&R 2021 LTIP was approximately 1.9 years. |
(3) | Excludes the additional 75,000,000 shares of Common Stock that the Company’s stockholders are being requested to approve for issuance under the LTIP Amendment at the Annual Meeting. |
(4) | Consists of 783,695 stock options to purchase up to 783,695 shares of Common Stock under the Wheels Up Partners Holdings LLC Option Plan adopted by the board of directors of WUP prior to the Business Combination (as amended, the “WUP Option Plan”). All awards made under the WUP Option Plan were made prior to the closing of, and were assumed by the Company in connection with, the Business Combination. No further awards may be made under the WUP Option Plan. |
(5) | Reflects the weighted-average exercise price of outstanding stock options under the WUP Option Plan as of December 31, 2025. The calculation of the weighted-average exercise price does not include outstanding equity awards that are received or exercised for no consideration. As of December 31, 2025, the weighted average remaining contractual term of outstanding and exercisable stock options under the WUP Option Plan was approximately 3.3 years. |
(6) | As of December 31, 2025, the weighted average remaining contractual term of outstanding and exercisable stock options under both the A&R 2021 LTIP and WUP Option Plan was approximately 3.1 years. |
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Year | Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO (Kenny Dichter)(1) | Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO (Todd Smith)(2) | Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO (George Mattson)(3) | Compensation Actually Paid to PEO (Kenny Dichter)(1)(4) | Compensation Actually Paid to PEO (Todd Smith)(2)(5) | Compensation Actually Paid to PEO (George Mattson)(3)(6) | Average Summary Compensation Table Total for non-PEO NEOs(7) | Average Compensation Actually Paid to non-PEO NEOs(8) | Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on: Total Shareholder Return(9) | Net Income (Loss) (in millions)(10) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(a) | (b) | (b) | (b) | (c) | (c) | (c) | (d) | (e) | (f) | (h) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2025 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $( | $ | $ | $ | $( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2024 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $( | $ | $ | $ | $( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) | No amounts are shown for 2024 and 2025, because |
(2) | No amounts are shown for 2024 and 2025, because |
(3) |
(4) | The tables below reflect adjustments to total compensation for 2023 to determine CAP for Mr. Dichter calculated pursuant to applicable SEC rules and include, among other things, unpaid amounts of equity incentive compensation that were realizable in future periods. |
Year | Summary Compensation Table Total ($) | Grant Date Fair Value of Awards Granted During Year ($)(a) | Fair Value of CAP Calculated Using SEC Methodology ($)(b) | CAP Total ($) | |||||||||||||||||||
2025 | $ | — | $ | + | $ | = | $ | ||||||||||||||||
2024 | $ | — | $ | + | $ | = | $ | ||||||||||||||||
2023 | $ | — | $ | + | $( | = | $ | ||||||||||||||||
(a) | Represents the total of the amounts reported in the “Stock awards” and “Option awards” columns of the Summary Compensation Table for 2023 for Mr. Dichter, as set forth in the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 24, 2024 (the “2024 Proxy Statement”). |
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(b) | Unlike the Summary Compensation Table, which requires us to provide the grant date fair value of equity awards granted during the applicable year, the CAP table above requires us to use a different calculation for the fair value of equity as set forth in the applicable SEC rules and summarized in the table below. |
Year | Year-End Fair Value of Current Year Awards Outstanding and Unvested as of Year- End ($) | Change in Fair Value as of Year-End for Prior Year Awards Outstanding and Unvested as of Year- End ($) | Change in Fair Value as of Vesting Date for Prior Year Awards that Vested During the Year ($) | Change in Actuarial Value of Pension Benefits During Year (Net of Service Costs) ($) | Fair Value as of Vesting Date for Current Year Awards that Vested During the Year ($) | Value as of Vesting Date for Dividend Equivalents that Vested During the Year ($) | Fair Value as of Prior Year-End for Prior Year Awards Forfeited During the Current Year ($) | Fair Value of Equity for CAP ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2025 | $ | + | $ | + | $ | + | $ | + | $ | + | $ | — | $ | = | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2024 | $ | + | $ | + | $ | + | $ | + | $ | + | $ | — | $ | = | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $ | + | $ | + | $( | + | $ | + | $ | + | $ | — | $ | = | $( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(5) | The tables below reflect adjustments to total compensation for 2023 to determine CAP for Mr. Smith calculated pursuant to applicable SEC rules and include, among other things, unpaid amounts of equity incentive compensation that were realizable in future periods. |
Year | Summary Compensation Table Total ($) | Grant Date Fair Value of Awards Granted During Year ($)(a) | Fair Value of CAP Calculated Using SEC Methodology ($)(b) | CAP Total ($) | |||||||||||||||||||
2025 | $ | — | $ | + | $ | = | $ | ||||||||||||||||
2024 | $ | — | $ | + | $ | = | $ | ||||||||||||||||
2023 | $ | — | $ | + | $ | = | $ | ||||||||||||||||
(a) | Represents the total of the amounts reported in the “Stock awards” and “Option awards” columns of the Summary Compensation Table for 2023 for Mr. Smith, as set forth in the 2024 Proxy Statement. |
(b) | Unlike the Summary Compensation Table, which requires us to provide the grant date fair value of equity awards granted during the applicable year, the CAP table above requires us to use a different calculation for the fair value of equity as set forth in the applicable SEC rules and summarized in the table below. |
Year | Year-End Fair Value of Current Year Awards Outstanding and Unvested as of Year- End ($) | Change in Fair Value as of Year-End for Prior Year Awards Outstanding and Unvested as of Year- End ($) | Change in Fair Value as of Vesting Date for Prior Year Awards that Vested During the Year ($) | Change in Actuarial Value of Pension Benefits During Year (Net of Service Costs) ($) | Fair Value as of Vesting Date for Current Year Awards that Vested During the Year ($) | Value as of Vesting Date for Dividend Equivalents that Vested During the Year ($) | Fair Value as of Prior Year-End for Prior Year Awards Forfeited During the Current Year ($) | Fair Value of Equity for CAP ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2025 | $ | + | $ | + | $ | + | $ | + | $ | + | $ | — | $ | = | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2024 | $ | + | $ | + | $ | + | $ | + | $ | + | $ | — | $ | = | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $ | + | $( | + | $( | + | $ | + | $ | + | $ | — | $ | = | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(6) | The tables below reflect adjustments to total compensation for 2023-2025 to determine CAP for Mr. Mattson calculated pursuant to applicable SEC rules and include, among other things, unpaid amounts under the CEO Performance Plan that require the satisfaction of both performance- and service-based vesting conditions, if at all, and had not vested as of the end of the applicable year. The price per share of our Common Stock is a significant driver of fluctuations in the fair value and ultimate payout under the CEO Performance Plan, if any. |
Year | Summary Compensation Table Total ($) | Grant Date Fair Value of Awards Granted During Year ($)(a) | Fair Value of CAP Calculated Using SEC Methodology ($)(b) | CAP Total ($) | |||||||||||||||||||
2025 | $ | — | $ | + | $( | = | $( | ||||||||||||||||
2024 | $ | — | $ | + | $( | = | $( | ||||||||||||||||
2023 | $ | — | $ | + | $ | = | $ | ||||||||||||||||
(a) | Represents the total of the amounts reported in the “Stock awards” and “Option awards” columns of the Summary Compensation Table for Mr. Mattson in this Proxy Statement (2024 and 2025) and the 2024 Proxy Statement (2023). |
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(b) | Unlike the Summary Compensation Table, which requires us to provide the grant date fair value of equity awards granted during the applicable year, the CAP table above requires us to use a different calculation for the fair value of equity as set forth in the applicable SEC rules and summarized in the table below. For the CEO Performance Plan, if realized, to be fully settled in connection with the Final Determination Date at a level consistent with the estimated fair value required to be included in CAP as calculated pursuant to applicable SEC rules in the “Year End Fair Value of Current Year Awards Outstanding and Unvested as of Year End” column below for 2023, the Invested Capital Multiple will need to be greater than |
Year | Year-End Fair Value of Current Year Awards Outstanding and Unvested as of Year-End ($) | Change in Fair Value as of Year-End for Prior Year Awards Outstanding and Unvested as of Year- End ($) | Change in Fair Value as of Vesting Date for Prior Year Awards that Vested During the Year ($) | Change in Actuarial Value of Pension Benefits During Year (Net of Service Costs) ($) | Fair Value as of Vesting Date for Current Year Awards that Vested During the Year ($) | Value as of Vesting Date for Dividend Equivalents that Vested During the Year ($) | Fair Value as of Prior Year-End for Prior Year Awards Forfeited During the Current Year ($) | Fair Value of Equity for CAP ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2025 | $ | + | $( | + | $ | + | $ | + | $ | + | $ | — | $ | = | $( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2024 | $ | + | $( | + | $ | + | $ | + | $ | + | $ | — | $ | = | $( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $ | + | $ | + | $ | + | $ | + | $ | + | $ | — | $ | = | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(7) | Represents average amounts for the following non-PEO NEOs calculated for the purpose of the Summary Compensation Table: (i) for 2025, John Verkamp (current Chief Financial Officer) and Mark Briffa (current Chief Sales Officer); (ii) for 2024, David Harvey (former Chief Commercial Officer), Mark Briffa (current Chief Sales Officer) and Todd Smith (former Chief Financial Officer); and (iii) for 2023, Mark Briffa (current Chief Sales Officer) and Laura Heltebran (former Chief Legal Officer). |
(8) | The tables below reflect adjustments to total compensation for each year to determine CAP for our non-PEO NEOs calculated pursuant to applicable SEC rules and include, among other things, unpaid amounts of equity incentive compensation realizable in future periods. The price per share of our Common Stock is a significant driver of fluctuations in the fair value and ultimate payout under the CFO Performance Plan, if any. We expect that CAP to Mr. Verkamp will continue to be closely tied to variability in the price per share of our Common Stock for so long as the CFO Performance Plan remains outstanding. |
Year | Average Summary Compensation Table Total ($) | Average Grant Date Fair Value of Awards Granted During Year ($)(a) | Average Fair Value of CAP Calculated Using SEC Methodology ($)(b) | Average CAP Total ($) | |||||||||||||||||||
2025 | $ | — | $ | + | $ | = | $ | ||||||||||||||||
2024 | $ | — | $ | + | $ | = | $ | ||||||||||||||||
2023 | $ | — | $ | + | $( | = | $ | ||||||||||||||||
(a) | Represents the average total of the amounts reported in the “Stock awards” and “Option awards” columns of the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable year for our non-PEO NEOs in this Proxy Statement and the 2024 Proxy Statement. |
(b) | Unlike the Summary Compensation Table, which requires us to provide the grant date fair value of equity awards granted during the applicable year, the CAP table above requires us to use a different calculation for the fair value of equity as set forth in the applicable SEC rules and summarized in the table below. |
Year | Year-End Fair Value of Current Year Awards Outstanding and Unvested as of Year-End ($) | Change in Fair Value as of Year-End for Prior Year Awards Outstanding and Unvested as of Year- End ($) | Change in Fair Value as of Vesting Date for Prior Year Awards that Vested During the Year ($) | Change in Actuarial Value of Pension Benefits During Year (Net of Service Costs) ($) | Fair Value as of Vesting Date for Current Year Awards that Vested During the Year ($) | Value as of Vesting Date for Dividend Equivalents that Vested During the Year ($) | Fair Value as of Prior Year-End for Prior Year Awards Forfeited During The Current Year ($) | Fair Value of Equity for CAP ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2025 | $ | + | $( | + | $ | + | $ | + | + | $ | — | $ | = | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2024 | $ | + | $( | + | $( | + | $ | + | + | $ | — | $ | = | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $ | + | $( | + | $( | + | $ | + | + | $ | — | $ | = | $( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(9) | Pursuant to SEC rules, assumes $100 was invested in the Company for the period starting December 31, 2022, through the end of the listed year. Historical stock performance is not necessarily indicative of future stock performance. |
(10) | Reflects Net income (loss) attributable to Wheels Up stockholders prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP as shown in Wheels Up’s consolidated statements of operations for each of the periods reflected in the table as set forth in our 2025 Form 10-K. |
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• | each person who is known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock; |
• | each of Wheels Up’s NEOs and directors; and |
• | all of Wheels Up’s executive officers and directors as a group. |
Name of beneficial owner | Number of Shares of Common Stock(1) | Percentage of Outstanding Common Stock(2) | ||||||
Beneficial Owners of More than 5% of Voting Stock: | ||||||||
Delta Air Lines, Inc.(3) | 263,369,307 | 36.4% | ||||||
CK Wheels LLC(4) | 258,169,208 | 35.6% | ||||||
Cox Investment Holdings LLC(5) | 86,056,403 | 11.9% | ||||||
Whitebox-Kore Group(6) | 38,117,019 | 5.3% | ||||||
NEOs and Directors: | ||||||||
George Mattson | — | — | ||||||
John Verkamp | — | — | ||||||
Mark Briffa(7) | 114,439 | * | ||||||
Timothy Armstrong(8) | 416,014 | * | ||||||
Alain Bellemare | — | — | ||||||
Adam Cantor | — | — | ||||||
Andrew Davis | — | — | ||||||
Roger Farah(9) | — | — | ||||||
Dwight James | — | — | ||||||
Thomas Klein | — | — | ||||||
Zachary Lazar | — | — | ||||||
Lee Moak(10) | 180,431 | * | ||||||
Erik Snell | — | — | ||||||
Gregory Summe(11) | 235,714 | * | ||||||
Adam Zirkin | — | — | ||||||
All directors and executive officers as a group (22 persons) | 2,359,045 | * | ||||||
* | Indicates less than 1% of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock. |
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(1) | For each of Delta, CK Wheels and Whitebox-Kore Group (as defined herein), represents gross ownership of Common Stock and does not represent the number of shares of Common Stock that such parties (or any beneficial owner that may be deemed to be a member of a “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting after applying the Voting Limitations. See “Information about the Proxy Process and Voting—Who can vote at the Annual Meeting, and how do I vote or submit my proxy?” for more information. |
(2) | Based on the shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date plus, with respect to each beneficial owner, the number of shares of Common Stock such person had the right to acquire within 60 days of the Record Date. For purposes of computing the percentage of outstanding shares held by each person or group named below, any shares which that person or persons has or have the right to acquire within 60 days of the Record Date is deemed to be outstanding, but is not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. |
(3) | Based on a Schedule 13D/A filed on November 14, 2024, in which Delta reported that, as of November 13, 2024, it had sole voting power and sole dispositive power over 263,369,307 shares of Common Stock, none of which were subject to shared voting or shared dispositive power. The address of Delta is 1030 Delta Boulevard, Atlanta, Georgia 30354. |
(4) | Based on a Schedule 13D/A filed on November 17, 2023, in which CK Wheels reported that, as of November 15, 2023, it had shared voting power and shared dispositive power over 258,169,208 shares of Common Stock and sole voting power and sole dispositive power over zero shares of Common Stock. CK Wheels identified certain other parties as joint filers of such Schedule 13D/A that reported having the same shared and sole powers as CK Wheels, including: CK Opportunities GP, LLC; Certares Opportunities LLC; and Knighthead Opportunities Capital Management, LLC. The address of CK Wheels is c/o Knighthead Opportunities Capital Management, LLC, 280 Park Avenue, 22nd Floor, New York, New York 10017. |
(5) | Based on a Schedule 13D/A filed on November 20, 2023, in which CIH reported that, as of November 15, 2023, it had sole voting power and sole dispositive power over 86,056,403 shares of Common Stock, none of which were subject to shared voting or shared dispositive power. The address of CIH is 6205 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30328. |
(6) | Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed on November 14, 2025 (the “Whitebox 13G/A”), in which Whitebox Advisors LLC (“Whitebox Advisors”) reported that, as of September 30, 2025, it had shared voting power over 8,905,292 shares of Common Stock, shared dispositive power over 28,365,086 shares of Common Stock and sole voting power and sole dispositive power over zero shares of Common Stock. Whitebox Advisors identified Whitebox General Partner LLC (“Whitebox General Partner”) as a joint filer of such Schedule 13G/A, which reported that, as of September 30, 2025, it had shared voting power over 8,905,292 shares of Common Stock, shared dispositive power over 28,365,086 shares of Common Stock, and sole voting power and sole dispositive power over zero shares of Common Stock. The address of both Whitebox Advisors and Whitebox General Partner is 3033 Excelsior Boulevard, Suite 500, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55416. |
(7) | For Mr. Briffa, includes: (i) 103,531 shares of Common Stock held directly; and (ii) 10,908 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of RSUs scheduled to vest within 60 days of the Record Date. |
(8) | Mr. Armstrong will not stand for reelection at the Annual Meeting. For Mr. Armstrong, includes: (i) 100,771 shares of Common Stock held by Polar Capital Group, LLC, an entity controlled by Mr. Armstrong; (ii) 900 shares of Common Stock held by Armstrong Family Investment, LLC, an entity controlled by Mr. Armstrong; (iii) 274,052 shares of Common Stock held directly; (iv) 28,783 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of RSUs scheduled to vest within 60 days of the Record Date; (v) 6,905 shares of Common Stock representing shares issuable upon the exchange of WUP profits interests eligible to be exchanged within 60 days of the Record Date for shares of Common Stock; and (vi) 4,603 shares of Common Stock underlying stock options under the WUP Option Plan eligible to be exercised within 60 days of the Record Date for shares of Common Stock. The actual number of shares of Common Stock received upon exchange of such WUP profits interests will depend on the trading price per share of Common Stock at the time of such exchange. |
(9) | Mr. Farah has been nominated by the Board for election at the Annual Meeting. |
(10) | For Mr. Moak, includes: (i) 151,648 shares of Common Stock held directly; and (ii) 28,783 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of RSUs scheduled to vest within 60 days of the Record Date. |
(11) | For Mr. Summe, includes: (i) 198,707 shares of Common Stock held directly; and (ii) 37,007 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of RSUs scheduled to vest within 60 days of the Record Date. |
Wheels Up Experience Inc. Proxy Statement & Notice of 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders 59 |
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By Order of the Board of Directors | |||||
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George Mattson | |||||
Chief Executive Officer & Director | |||||
April 24, 2026 | |||||
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1. | Paragraph A of Article III of the Plan is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following: |
A. | The aggregate number of Shares as to which Awards may be granted from time to time shall be 135,149,682 Shares (subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, and other adjustments described in Article XIX hereof). The aggregate number of Shares as to which Incentive Options may be granted from time to time shall not exceed 135,149,682 (subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends and other adjustments described in Article XIX hereof). |
2. | For the avoidance of doubt and without limiting the generality of Paragraph A of Article III of the Plan (as amended by this Amendment), if the Company gives effect to any adjustment described in Article XIX hereof between March 31, 2026 and the date on which Amendment No. 3 to the Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders, the aggregate number of Shares listed in Paragraph A of Article III of the Plan (as amended by this Amendment) shall be automatically adjusted as set forth in Article XIX hereof. |
3. | Article XXI of the Plan is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following: |
XXI. | TERMINATION OF THE PLAN |
4. | This Amendment shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware and construed in accordance therewith. |
Wheels Up Experience Inc. Proxy Statement & Notice of 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders A-1 |
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