[PRE 14A] zSpace, Inc. Common stock Preliminary Proxy Statement
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
zSpace, Inc. will hold its 2025 annual meeting at 9:00 a.m. PT on October 15, 2025 at its San Jose headquarters. Stockholders of record on August 21, 2025 may vote on seven proposals including election of four Class I directors, ratification of UHY LLP as independent auditors for fiscal 2025, approval to issue shares in excess of Nasdaq Rule 5635(d) in connection with a $13,978,495 senior secured convertible promissory note (April 11, 2025) and a $30,000,000 common stock purchase agreement (ELOC, July 7, 2025), an amendment to permit stockholder action by written consent, and an adjournment proposal. The convertible note carries a conversion feature with an initial conversion price of $12.39 per share and certain VWAP-based conversion mechanics; the note is senior secured and accrues 6.0% interest. The proxy discloses BDO USA P.C. was dismissed and that prior BDO reports included a going concern qualification and material weaknesses in internal control. The Board recommends a "FOR" vote on all proposals.
Positive
- $13,978,495 convertible note and $30,000,000 ELOC provide access to financing
- Board recommends votes "FOR" all proposals keeping management alignment
- Audit committee completed a competitive selection process and appointed UHY LLP as independent auditor
Negative
- Potentially significant dilution from conversion of the Note and full utilization of the ELOC that may exceed Nasdaq Rule 5635(d) Exchange Cap
- Prior auditor BDO reported a going concern qualification and disclosed material weaknesses in internal control
- Company is a "controlled company" (certain investors hold majority voting power), which may limit corporate governance protections for minority holders
Insights
TL;DR: Financing secured but conversion features and ELOC may cause material dilution and share overhang.
The Company has obtained near-term capital via a $13.98M convertible note and a potential $30M equity line. These instruments provide liquidity flexibility but include conversion mechanics tied to market VWAP and a low initial conversion price ($12.39), potentially resulting in significant dilution if fully utilized. The proxy discloses prior auditor BDO flagged a going concern and material weaknesses, increasing the importance of adequate capital and remediation of controls. Stockholder approval under Nasdaq Rule 5635(d) is required to permit issuance beyond the 20% exchange cap; failure to approve would force cash repayment at maturity or repeated stockholder votes.
TL;DR: Board seeks greater operational flexibility via written-consent amendment and auditor change; governance implications merit scrutiny.
The Board proposes amending the Certificate of Incorporation to permit stockholder action by written consent, which streamlines stockholder action but can concentrate influence if controlling holders act by consent. The filing also discloses a change in independent auditors to UHY LLP following a competitive process and prior disclosure of a going concern qualification and material weaknesses. Board composition shows a majority of independent directors on committees, though the company notes it is a "controlled company" due to large holders, which may limit certain Nasdaq governance requirements.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Exchange Act of 1934
55 Nicholson Lane
San Jose, California 95134
To Be Held On Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
[•], 2025
| | |
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on October 15, 2025: This notice of meeting and the accompanying proxy statement are available at https:// . This notice of meeting is not a form for voting and presents only an overview of the accompanying proxy statement, which you are encouraged to review before voting. Upon written or oral request, the Company will deliver a separate copy of the proxy statement to any stockholder. Stockholders may notify the Company of their requests by calling 408-498-4050 or writing the Company at the Company’s principal executive offices at 55 Nicholson Ave, San Jose, CA 95134. In order to receive delivery of the requested documents, your request must be received no later than October 8, 2025.
|
| |
PROXY STATEMENT TABLE OF CONTENTS
| |
GENERAL INFORMATION
|
| | | | 1 | | |
| |
Voting Instructions and Information
|
| | | | 1 | | |
| |
Submission of Stockholder Proposals
|
| | | | 3 | | |
| |
Eliminating Duplicative Proxy Materials
|
| | | | 4 | | |
| |
Available Information
|
| | | | 4 | | |
| |
PROPOSAL ONE — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
|
| | | | 5 | | |
| |
Nominees
|
| | | | 5 | | |
| |
Required Vote
|
| | | | 6 | | |
| |
Recommendation
|
| | | | 6 | | |
| |
PROPOSAL TWO — RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
|
| | | | 7 | | |
| |
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fee Information
|
| | | | 8 | | |
| |
Pre-Approval Procedures of Audit and Non-Audit Services by the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
| | | | 8 | | |
| |
Required Vote
|
| | | | 8 | | |
| |
Recommendation
|
| | | | 8 | | |
| |
Report of the Audit Committee
|
| | | | 9 | | |
| |
PROPOSAL THREE — APPROVAL OF THE ISSUANCE OF SHARES IN EXCESS OF NASDAQ
RULE 5635(D) LIMIT IN CONNECTION WITH CONVERTIBLE PROMISSORY NOTE |
| | | | 10 | | |
| |
Background and Reason for the Proposal
|
| | | | 10 | | |
| |
Required Vote
|
| | | | 11 | | |
| |
Recommendation
|
| | | | 11 | | |
| |
PROPOSAL FOUR — APPROVAL OF THE ISSUANCE OF SHARES IN EXCESS OF NASDAQ RULE 5635(D) LIMIT IN CONNECTION WITH THE ELOC
|
| | | | 12 | | |
| |
Background and Reason for the Proposal
|
| | | | 12 | | |
| |
Required Vote
|
| | | | 14 | | |
| |
Recommendation
|
| | | | 14 | | |
| |
PROPOSAL FIVE — AMENDMENT OF AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
|
| | | | 15 | | |
| |
Background and Reason for the Proposal
|
| | | | 15 | | |
| |
Required Vote
|
| | | | 16 | | |
| |
Recommendation
|
| | | | 16 | | |
| |
PROPOSAL SIX — THE ADJOURNMET PROPOSAL
|
| | | | 17 | | |
| |
Background and Reason for the Proposal
|
| | | | 17 | | |
| |
Required Vote
|
| | | | 17 | | |
| |
Recommendation
|
| | | | 17 | | |
| |
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
|
| | | | 18 | | |
| |
Beneficial Ownership of Our Common Stock
|
| | | | 18 | | |
| |
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
|
| | | | 20 | | |
| |
Biographical Information Regarding Directors
|
| | | | 20 | | |
| |
Board Leadership Structure
|
| | | | 21 | | |
| |
Role of Board in Risk Oversight
|
| | | | 21 | | |
| |
Director Independence
|
| | | | 22 | | |
| |
Committees of the Board
|
| | | | 23 | | |
| |
Board Meetings and Executive Sessions
|
| | | | 25 | | |
| |
Director Candidates
|
| | | | 25 | | |
| |
Corporate Governance
|
| | | | 26 | | |
| |
Transactions With Related Persons
|
| | | | 26 | | |
| |
Communication with Directors
|
| | | | 28 | | |
| |
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
|
| | | | 29 | | |
| |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
|
| | | | 30 | | |
| |
Biographical Information Concerning Executive Officers
|
| | | | 30 | | |
| |
Summary Compensation Table
|
| | | | 30 | | |
| |
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
|
| | | | 33 | | |
| |
Executive Employment Agreements
|
| | | | 37 | | |
San Jose, California 95134
FOR THE 2025 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held On Wednesday, October 15, 2025
|
Name
|
| |
Age
|
| |
Position/Office Held with zSpace
|
|
| Joanna Morris | | | 59 | | | Director | |
| Abhay Pande | | | 57 | | | Director | |
| Angela Prince | | | 43 | | | Director | |
| Jane Swift | | | 60 | | | Director | |
Joanna Morris
Angela Prince
|
Assumed Average Purchase Price Per Share
|
| |
Number of
Shares to be Issued if Full Purchase(1) |
| |
Percentage of
Outstanding Shares After Giving Effect to the Issuance to the ELOC Investor(2) |
| |
Gross Proceeds from
the Sale of Shares to the ELOC Investor under the ELOC(3) |
| |||||||||
|
$2.00
|
| | | | 15,000,000 | | | | | | 39.2% | | | | | $ | 30,000,000 | | |
|
$2.50
|
| | | | 12,000,000 | | | | | | 34.0% | | | | | $ | 30,000,000 | | |
| $3.0622(4) | | | | | 9,796,878 | | | | | | 29.6% | | | | | $ | 30,000,000 | | |
|
$3.50
|
| | | | 8,571,429 | | | | | | 26.9% | | | | | $ | 30,000,000 | | |
|
$4.00
|
| | | | 7,500,000 | | | | | | 24.4% | | | | | $ | 30,000,000 | | |
|
$4.50
|
| | | | 6,666,667 | | | | | | 22.3% | | | | | $ | 30,000,000 | | |
|
$5.00
|
| | | | 6,000,000 | | | | | | 20.5% | | | | | $ | 30,000,000 | | |
|
Name of Beneficial Owner
|
| |
Number of
Shares Beneficially Owned |
| |
Percent
of Shares(1) |
| ||||||
| Greater than 5% Stockholders | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
bSpace Investments Limited(2)
|
| | | | 5,506,800 | | | | | | 23.4% | | |
|
dSpace Investments Limited(3)
|
| | | | 11,580,670 | | | | | | 49.3% | | |
|
Fiza Investments Limited(4)
|
| | | | 1,176,470 | | | | | | 5.0% | | |
|
Kuwait Investment authority(5)
|
| | | | 1,616,392 | | | | | | 7.1% | | |
| Named Executive Officers and Directors | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Erick DeOliveira(6)
|
| | | | 49,040 | | | | | | * | | |
|
Michael Harper(7)
|
| | | | 530,581 | | | | | | 2.3% | | |
|
Paul Kellenberger(8)
|
| | | | 2,324,732 | | | | | | 9.9% | | |
|
Ronald Rheinheimer(9)
|
| | | | 378,069 | | | | | | 1.6% | | |
|
Pankaj Gupta(10)
|
| | | | 11,587,390 | | | | | | 49.3% | | |
|
Amit Jain
|
| | | | 6,720 | | | | | | * | | |
|
Joanna Morris
|
| | | | 6,720 | | | | | | * | | |
|
Abhay Pande
|
| | | | 6,720 | | | | | | * | | |
|
Angela Prince
|
| | | | 6,720 | | | | | | * | | |
|
Jane Swift
|
| | | | 6,720 | | | | | | * | | |
|
All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (10 persons)
|
| | | | 14,903,412 | | | | | | 55.7% | | |
|
Name
|
| |
Age
|
| |
Position/Office Held with zSpace
|
|
| Paul Kellenberger | | |
66
|
| | Chief Executive Officer and Chairman | |
| Pankaj Gupta | | |
50
|
| | Director | |
| Amit Jain | | |
45
|
| | Director | |
|
Name
|
| |
Age
|
| |
Position/Office Held with zSpace
|
| |||
| Paul Kellenberger | | | | | 66 | | | | Chief Executive Officer and Chairman | |
| Erick DeOliveira | | | | | 56 | | | | Chief Financial Officer | |
| Michael Harper | | | | | 59 | | | |
Chief Product, Engineering and Marketing Officer
|
|
|
Name and Principal Position
|
| |
Year
|
| |
Base Salary
|
| |
Option Awards(1)
|
| |
Non-equity
Sales Incentive Compensation |
| |
All other
compensation(3) |
| |
Total
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
|
Paul Kellenberger
|
| | | | 2024 | | | | | $ | 400,000 | | | | | $ | 2,994,351 | | | | | $ | 162,311(2) | | | | | $ | 2,900(3) | | | | | $ | 3,559,562 | | |
|
Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
| | | | 2023 | | | | | $ | 400,000 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 2,900(3) | | | | | $ | 402,900 | | |
|
Erick DeOliveira
|
| | | | 2024 | | | | | $ | 300,000 | | | | | $ | 94,497 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 2,900(3) | | | | | $ | 397,397 | | |
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
| | | | 2023 | | | | | $ | 86,538 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 2,150(4) | | | | | $ | 88,688 | | |
|
Mike Harper
|
| | | | 2024 | | | | | $ | 325,000 | | | | | $ | 674,831 | | | | | $ | 131,878(2) | | | | | $ | 2,900(3) | | | | | $ | 1,134,609 | | |
|
Chief Product, Engineering and Marketing Officer
|
| | | | 2023 | | | | | $ | 325,000 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 2,900(3) | | | | | $ | 327,900 | | |
|
Ron Rheinheimer(6)
|
| | | | 2024 | | | | | $ | 250,000 | | | | | $ | 485,535 | | | | | $ | 274,696(2) | | | | | $ | 2,900(3) | | | | | $ | 1,013,131 | | |
|
Former Chief Sales Officer
|
| | | | 2023 | | | | | $ | 250,000 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 190,560(5) | | | | | $ | 2,900(3) | | | | | $ | 443,460 | | |
| | | |
Option Awards(1)
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||
| | | |
Number of
Securities Underlying Unexercised Options |
| |
Number of
Securities Underlying Unexercised Options |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||
|
Name
|
| |
Exercisable
(#) |
| |
Unexercisable
(#) |
| |
Option Exercise
Price ($) |
| |
Option Expiration
Date |
| ||||||||||||
|
Paul Kellenberger*
|
| | | | 199(2) | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 330.00 | | | | | | 04/21/2025 | | |
| | | | | | 92(2) | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 330.00 | | | | | | 07/07/2025 | | |
| | | | | | 1,393(2) | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 330.00 | | | | | | 09/01/2024 | | |
| | | | | | 233(2) | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 720.00 | | | | | | 10/23/2027 | | |
| | | | | | 266(3) | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 720.00 | | | | | | 10/23/2027 | | |
| | | | | | 3,000(3) | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 720.00 | | | | | | 02/27/2028 | | |
| | | | | | 433,760(3) | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 0.53 | | | | | | 04/13/2031 | | |
| | | | | | 1,864,990(3) | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 2.57 | | | | | | 03/04/2034 | | |
|
Erick DeOliveira
|
| | | | 23,500 | | | | | | 32,905(4) | | | | | $ | 2.57 | | | | | | 03/04/2034 | | |
|
Mike Harper
|
| | | | 424(2) | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 330.00 | | | | | | 04/16/2025 | | |
| | | | | | 264(2) | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 330.00 | | | | | | 04/21/2025 | | |
| | | | | | 71(3) | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 720.00 | | | | | | 10/23/2027 | | |
| | | | | | 333(3) | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 720.00 | | | | | | 02/27/2028 | | |
| | | | | | 97,173(3) | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 0.53 | | | | | | 04/13/2031 | | |
| | | | | | 420,309(3) | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 2.57 | | | | | | 03/04/2034 | | |
|
Ron Rheinheimer
|
| | | | 578(2) | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 600.00 | | | | | | 06/23/2026 | | |
| | | | | | 28(3) | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 720.00 | | | | | | 10/23/2027 | | |
| | | | | | 200(3) | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 720.00 | | | | | | 02/27/2028 | | |
| | | | | | 69,906(3) | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 0.53 | | | | | | 04/13/2031 | | |
| | | | | | 302,409(3) | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 2.57 | | | | | | 03/04/2034 | | |
Secretary and General Counsel
OF AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
ZSPACE, INC.