FLYEXCLUSIVE INC.
For the period ended Dec 31, 2024. Filed Mar 24, 2025.
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FY2024 · Filed Mar 24, 2025
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Item 11. Executive Compensation
This section discusses the material components of the executive compensation program for our principal executive officer and our three other most highly compensated persons serving as executive officers as of December 31, 2024. These executives, who continue to serve in these positions, are referred to as the “named executive officers.” We paid no compensation to our directors in 2023 or 2024. EGA paid no compensation to its executive officers or its directors in 2023.
In fiscal year 2024, flyExclusive’s “named executive officers” and their positions were as follows:
Thomas James (“Jim”) Segrave, Jr., Founder, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”);
Matthew Lesmeister, Chief Operating Officer;
Bradley ("Brad") G. Garner, Chief Financial Officer; and
Michael (“Mike”) Guina, Chief Commercial Officer.
Summary Compensation Table
The table below shows compensation of flyExclusive’s named executive officers for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
| Name and principal position | Year | Salary($) | Bonus($) | All other compensation | Total($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Segrave, Founder, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer | 2024 | $8,500,000 | — | 244,699 (1) | $8,744,699 |
| 2023 | — | — | 8,770,917 (2) | $8,770,917 | |
| Matthew Lesmeister, Chief Operating Officer(3) | 2024 | $258,676 | — | 16,816 (4) | $275,492 |
| Brad Garner, Chief Financial Officer (5) | 2024 | $135,418 | — | 9 (6) | $135,427 |
| Mike Guina, Chief Commercial Officer | 2024 | $397,919 | — | 632 (7) | $398,551 |
| 2023 | $342,500 | $1,210 | 21,111 (8) | $343,710 |
(1) Reflects $172,749 incremental cost to LGM with respect to Mr. Segrave’s use of 86.2 hours of flight time on LGM’s aircraft in fiscal year 2024 and $71,950 for health and life insurance related benefits.
(2) Reflects $8,500,000 in distributions from LGM to Mr. Segrave in lieu of salary for his service as CEO in 2023, $25,684 in tuition payments for Mr. Segrave’s children, $220,139 incremental cost to LGM with respect to Mr. Segrave’s use of 120.4 hours of flight time on LGM’s aircraft in fiscal year 2023 and $25,094 for health and life insurance related benefits.
(3) Mr. Lesmeister began employment as Executive Vice President in May 2024, became Chief Financial Officer in June 2024 and became Chief Operating Officer on September 26, 2024.
(4) Includes payments for Mr. Lesmeister's moving expenses of $16,730 and health and life insurance related benefits.
(5) Mr. Garner began employment on September 9, 2024 and became Chief Financial Officer on September 26, 2024.
(6) Includes payments related to Mr. Garner’s health and life insurance related benefits.
(7) Includes payments and per diems related to Mr. Guina's service as a pilot for LGM from time to time and health and life insurance related benefits.
(8) Reflects $6,089 in payments and per diems related to Mr. Guina’s service as a pilot for LGM from time to time and $13,049 in health and life insurance related benefits.
Narrative to Summary Compensation Table
Base Salaries.
The named executive officers receive their respective base salaries to compensate them for services rendered to LGM (other than in 2023 and 2024 with respect to Mr. Segrave Jr., who received distributions from LGM in lieu of a base salary). The base salary payable to each named executive officer is intended to provide a fixed component of compensation reflecting the executive’s skill set, experience, role and responsibilities.
The 2024 base salaries for Messrs. Lesmeister, Garner, and Guina were each $500,000 per the terms of their respective employment agreements. Under the terms of Mr. Segrave’s employment agreement, he is entitled to receive distributions from LGM in the amount of $8,500,000, which are recorded as salary expense.
Annual Incentive Cash Bonuses.
Pursuant to the terms of their employment agreements, Messrs. Segrave, Lesmeister, Garner, and Guina have the opportunity to earn annual a discretionary non-equity incentive bonus, equal to 100%, in the case of Mr. Segrave, and equal to 50%, in the case of Messrs. Lesmeister, Garner, and Guina, of their base salary, based upon the achievement of certain objectives set each year, half of which objectives are for the Company and the other half are objectives set for the officer. The extent to which these goals are met will determine the amount of the non-equity bonus that each named executive officer receives.
Long-Term Equity Incentives.
In September 2024, pursuant to the terms of their employment agreements, we granted to each of Mr. Lesmeister, Mr. Garner, and Mr. Guina an option to purchase 1,600,00 shares of our Class A Common Stock with an exercise price of $2.78 per share. Thereafter, pursuant to the terms of their employment agreements and provided that they remain on our employment, we will grant them each an option to purchase 800,000 shares of Class A Common Stock on each of September 26, 2025 and 2026, the first and second anniversaries of their employment, subject to approval by our Board.
Pursuant to the terms of their employment agreements, Mr. Lesmeister, Mr Garner, and Mr. Guina will each be entitled to receive up to $250,000 in each calendar year through a long-term incentive plan (the “LTIP”), subject to the Board’s approval of the LTIP .
Other Elements of Compensation
Retirement Plan
The named executive officers are eligible to participate in a 401(k) retirement savings plan maintained by LGM. The Code allows eligible employees to defer a portion of their compensation, within prescribed limits, on a pre-tax basis through contributions to the 401(k) plan. In 2023, contributions made by participants, including the named executive officers, in the 401(k) plan were 50% matched by LGM up to 8% of the employee’s compensation. These matching contributions are generally unvested as of the date on which the contribution is made, and vest 20% over a five-year period, subject to continued service.
Employee Benefits
LGM provides benefits to its named executive officers on the same basis as provided to all of its employees, including health, dental and vision insurance; life insurance; accidental death insurance, and dismemberment insurance; and disability insurance.
Aircraft Use
LGM’s executive officers use its aircraft for flights directly related to their business duties. LGM also allows some executive officers to use its aircraft for personal benefit. Certain executive officers are allocated a specific number of flight hours on an annual basis while other executive officers are granted flight hours from time to time at the discretion of Mr. Segrave Jr. Flight hours granted to executives may be used by the executive and their immediate family members. The aggregate incremental cost to LGM of Mr. Segrave Jr.’s personal use of its aircraft was $220,139 and $172,749 for 2023 and 2024, respectively. LGM determines the incremental cost of the personal use of its aircraft based on the variable operating costs to LGM, which includes (i) landing, ramp and parking fees and expenses, (ii) crew travel expenses, (iii) aircraft fuel expenses per hour of flight and (iv) incidental expenses. Primarily, LGM’s aircraft are used for business purposes; therefore, fixed costs that do not change based on each usage, such as pilot and crew salaries, lease or purchase costs of aircraft and maintenance costs, are not included in the formula for determining incremental cost. The executive officers incur taxable income for the usage of their granted flight time, calculated in accordance with the tax Standard Industry Fare Level. LGM does not grant bonuses to its executive officers to cover or “gross-up” any income tax owed for use of flight hours for personal benefit. Certain executive officers may also pay for additional flight time in excess of the flight hours allocated to them, based on discounted hourly rates that cover the incremental costs to LGM. Executive officers’ use of personal flight hours is also subject to certain conditions and restrictions, such as minimum notice periods, peak days and minimum daily flight times.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table contains certain information concerning unexercised options for our named executive officers as of December 31, 2024.
| Name and principal position | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable | Option Exercise Price | Option Expiration Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Segrave, Founder, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer | — | — | — | — |
| Matthew Lesmeister, Chief Operating Officer | — | 1,600,000 | $2.78 | 9/25/2034 |
| Brad Garner, Chief Financial Officer | — | 1,600,000 | $2.78 | 9/25/2034 |
| Mike Guina, Chief Commercial Officer | — | 1,600,000 | $2.78 | 9/25/2034 |
Option Repricings
We did not engage in any repricings or other modifications to any of our named executive officers’ outstanding options during the year ended December 31, 2024.
Employment Agreements with Our Named Executive Officers
LGM entered into an executive employment agreement with Mr. Segrave, Jr., effective April 1, 2023, with an initial term of five years. Pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Segrave, Jr. receives an annual base salary of $8,500,000, which is subject to annual review by the PubCo board of directors (the “PubCo Board”) to determine whether an increase (but not decrease) is warranted. Mr. Segrave, Jr. is eligible to receive an annual cash bonus of up to 100% of his base salary, as determined by the PubCo Board in its sole discretion, based on the achievement during the applicable year of (i) objectives for LGM as a whole established by the PubCo Board at the beginning of the applicable year and (ii) objectives for Mr. Segrave, Jr. agreed by the PubCo Board and Mr. Segrave, Jr. at the beginning of the applicable year. Mr. Segrave, Jr. must be employed by LGM through December 31 of the applicable year to earn the annual bonus for such year, which bonus (if any) will be paid no later than the following March 15. Mr. Segrave, Jr. is also eligible to participate in all employee benefit plans that LGM makes available to its senior executives from time to time.
If the employment of Mr. Segrave Jr. is terminated (A) by LGM other than by reason of death, disability or “Cause” (including LGM’s non-renewal of the employment agreement), or (B) by Mr. Segrave Jr. for “Good Reason” (as each such term is defined in the employment agreement), LGM shall provide Mr. Segrave Jr. with the following separation benefits: (i) continued payment of Mr. Segrave Jr.’s base salary for a period of 24 months, (ii) an amount equal to two times his target bonus for the year of termination (to be not less than 100% of his base salary), (iii) subject to Mr. Segrave Jr.’s timely election of continued health insurance coverage under COBRA, fully subsidized premiums for such continuation coverage for Mr. Segrave Jr. and his eligible dependents until the earlier of (x) the end of the salary continuation period and (y) the date Mr. Segrave Jr. becomes eligible for group health insurance coverage under another employer’s plan, and (iv) such other or additional benefits, if any, as may be provided under the applicable employee benefit plans, programs and arrangements of LGM. All separation benefits are subject to Mr. Segrave Jr. timely entering into and not revoking a separation and release of claims agreement in favor of LGM and its affiliates. “Good Reason” is defined in the agreement as any material breach of this Agreement by the Company, any material reduction by the Company of Mr. Segrave Jr.’s duties, responsibilities, or authority, a relocation of the Company’s principal place of business to which Mr. Segrave Jr. reports more than 25 miles from its immediately preceding location, or a material reduction in Mr. Segrave Jr.’s annual base salary unless all officers and/or members of the Company’s executive management team experience an equal or greater percentage reduction in annual base salary and/or total compensation.
We entered into employment agreements with each of Mr. Lesmeister, Mr. Garner, and Mr. Guina, effective September 26, 2024, on substantially identical terms. Pursuant to the employment agreements, we will provide each officer with (i) a base salary of $500,000, (ii) a discretionary annual bonus of up to 50% of the base salary, based upon the achievement of certain objectives set each year, half of which objectives for the Company and the other half will objectives set for the officer, (iii) eligibility to receive up to $250,000 in each calendar year through any LTIP that the Board approves, and (iv) the following stock options to purchase shares of Company Class A Common Stock, which vest over three years: 1,600,000 stock options on September 26, 2024, 800,000 stock options on September 26, 2025, and 800,000 stock options on September 26, 2026, in each case subject to Board approval.
Each employment agreement is terminable at any time. The Company may terminate the employee for “Cause” or for “Disability,” each as defined in the employment agreement. The offer may terminate employment for “Good Reason,” as defined in the employment agreement, and which includes a material reduction by the Company of the officer’s duties, responsibilities or authority, a relocation of the Company’s principal place of business to which the officer reports more than 25 miles from its immediately preceding location, and a material reduction in the officer’s annual base salary unless all officers experience an equal or greater percentage reduction in annual salary and/or total compensation.
In the event of the officer’s termination other than for death or Disability or for Cause, (i) the Company will continue to pay to officer his base salary for a period of six months unless the termination occurs at the time of or within the 12 months immediately following a Change in Control (as defined in the Company’s 2023 Equity Incentive Plan) in which case the Company will continue to pay to officer his base salary for a period of 12 months, (ii) if officer timely elects continued health insurance coverage under COBRA, the Company will pay the entire premium necessary to continue such coverage for officer and officer's eligible dependents until the conclusion of the time when officer is receiving continuation of base salary payments or until officer becomes eligible for group health insurance coverage under another employer's plan, whichever occurs first, provided however that the Company has the right to terminate such payment of COBRA premiums on behalf of officer and instead pay officer a lump sum amount equal to the COBRA premium times the number of months remaining in the specified period if the Company determines in its discretion that continued payment of the COBRA premiums is or may be discriminatory under Section 105(h) of the Code, and (iii) the Company will provide such other or additional benefits, if any, as may be provided under applicable employee benefit plans, programs and/or arrangements of the Company.
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