10-K/A: Amesite Amends 10-K for Governance, Compensation Details
Annual Report Amendment
Amesite Inc. filed an Amendment No. 1 to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, to include detailed information on directors, executive compensation, and corporate governance previously omitted.
Summary
- The filing is an Amendment No. 1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, primarily amending and restating Part III, Items 10 through 14, and adding Item 15 (certifications).
- The amendment provides detailed information on Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance, Executive Compensation, Security Ownership, Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
- The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates on December 31, 2024, was approximately $15,375,000, based on a closing price of $4.75.
- As of October 24, 2025, there were 4,572,713 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.
- Four directors (J. Michael Losh, George Parmer, Barbie Brewer, and Dr. Gilbert Omenn) each filed one late Form 4 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025.
- Sarah Berman was appointed Principal Financial and Accounting Officer effective December 15, 2024, with her fixed monthly fee increasing from $4,000 to $7,000 on October 14, 2025.
- Sherlyn W. Farrell resigned as Chief Financial Officer effective December 16, 2024.
- Total compensation for CEO Ann Marie Sastry was $550,000 in FY2025, a decrease from $571,153 in FY2024.
- Total compensation for Principal Financial and Accounting Officer Sarah Berman was $35,580 in FY2025 (partial year).
- Total compensation for Senior Manager, Engineering Kalie Wortinger was $255,500 in FY2025, an increase from $178,400 in FY2024.
- Total compensation for Vice President of Sales Brandon Owens was $235,464 in FY2025, an increase from $176,500 in FY2024.
- The company's 2018 Equity Incentive Plan had 371,568 shares available for future issuance as of June 30, 2025.
- Total shares subject to outstanding options, RSUs, and deferred stock units under the 2018 plan were 527,772 with a weighted-average exercise price of $21.08 as of June 30, 2025.
- Dr. Ann Marie Sastry beneficially owns 20.1% of common stock (919,181 shares) as of October 27, 2025.
- All executive officers and directors as a group beneficially own 32.4% of common stock (1,479,438 shares) as of October 27, 2025.
- Audit fees for Novogradac & Company LLP were $96,600 for FY2025, and for Turner, Stone & Company, L.L.P. were $57,005 for FY2024.
Sentiment
Score: 5
Explanation: The filing is neutral, primarily providing legally required corporate governance and compensation details. The late Section 16(a) filings by directors are a minor negative, while strong insider ownership and established governance structures are positive. The mention of 'going concern' risk is a notable concern, but it's a standard disclosure for companies facing such conditions.
Positives
- Strong beneficial ownership by the CEO (20.1%) and management/directors as a group (32.4%), indicating alignment of interests with shareholders.
- Established corporate governance committees (Audit, Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance) with independent directors, enhancing oversight.
- The board determined that a majority of its directors (Barbie Brewer, J. Michael Losh, Gilbert S. Omenn) are independent, meeting Nasdaq requirements.
- The Audit Committee includes a designated financial expert (J. Michael Losh), which strengthens financial oversight.
- A Clawback Policy for incentive compensation is in place, allowing for recoupment in the event of accounting restatements, promoting accountability.
- Policies are in place to prevent the timing of equity grants around the release of material nonpublic information, reducing potential for insider trading concerns.
Negatives
- Four directors (J. Michael Losh, George Parmer, Barbie Brewer, and Dr. Gilbert Omenn) filed late Section 16(a) reports (Form 4s) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, indicating minor compliance lapses.
- The company has not yet adopted a formal related person transaction policy, though one is expected, which could pose governance risks until implemented.
- The company's ability to continue as a going concern is explicitly listed as a risk factor, highlighting fundamental operational challenges.
Risks
- Planned expansions and improvements to the Site, and the ability to deliver solutions that demonstrably offer meaningful return on investment (ROI) to customers.
- The ability to deliver the Site to customers at a price point that enables sufficient revenue generation to become profitable.
- The ability to continue as a going concern.
- The ability to obtain additional funds for operations.
- The ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for technologies and the ability to operate the business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others.
- Reliance on third parties to conduct business and studies.
- Reliance on third-party designers, suppliers, and partners to provide and maintain the Site.
- The ability to attract and retain qualified key management and technical personnel.
- Financial performance.
- The impact of government regulation and developments relating to competitors or the industry.
Future Outlook
The filing contains forward-looking statements regarding future events, financial performance, strategies, and the competitive environment, but these statements have not been revised to reflect events or facts known after the original filing date of September 29, 2025. Actual performance or results could differ materially due to various risks, including the ability to achieve profitability, obtain additional funds, protect intellectual property, and attract key personnel.
Management Comments
- "We believe that this structure [CEO also Chairman] is the most effective governance framework for us and our stockholders at this time because it allows our Company to benefit from Dr. Sastry’s talent, knowledge, and leadership as the founder of Amesite, and allows her to use the in-depth focus and perspective gained in running the Company to effectively and efficiently lead our board of directors."
- "Management is responsible for managing the risks that we face. The board of directors is responsible for overseeing management’s approach to risk management that is designed to support the achievement of organizational objectives, including strategic objectives, to improve long-term organizational performance and enhance stockholder value."
Industry Context
The filing primarily addresses internal corporate governance and compensation structures, which are standard disclosures for publicly traded companies. It does not provide specific details on broader industry trends or competitive positioning beyond general risk factors related to the company's ability to deliver solutions and achieve profitability in its market.
Management Changes
| Role | Previous Person | New Person | Effective Date | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal Financial and Accounting Officer | NA | Sarah Berman | December 15, 2024 | Appointment to the role. |
| Chief Financial Officer | Sherlyn W. Farrell | NA | December 16, 2024 | Resignation for personal reasons. |
| Director | Anthony M. Barkett | NA | December 23, 2024 | Resignation for personal reasons. |
| Director | Richard T. Ogawa | NA | December 23, 2024 | Resignation for personal reasons. |
Corporate Governance
| Change Type | Description | Effective Date | Impact Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Board Leadership Structure | Dr. Ann Marie Sastry serves as CEO, President, and Chairman of the Board, a structure the company believes is most effective due to her talent and leadership as founder. | November 2017 (since incorporation) | Maintains continuity and leverages founder's expertise, but concentrates power. |
| Director Independence | Board determined Barbie Brewer, J. Michael Losh, and Gilbert S. Omenn are independent, comprising three of five directors, meeting Nasdaq requirements. | Ongoing assessment as of October 28, 2025 | Ensures compliance with Nasdaq listing rules and promotes objective oversight. |
| Committee Establishment | Established Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance committees in September 2020, each with written charters. | September 2020 | Enhances corporate oversight and specialized focus on key governance areas. |
| Clawback Policy | Adopted a compensation recovery policy to comply with Rule 10D-1 of the Exchange Act and Nasdaq Listing Rule 5608, allowing recoupment of incentive compensation in case of accounting restatements. | Prior to September 30, 2024 | Strengthens accountability for executive compensation and financial reporting integrity. |
| Equity Award Grant Policy | Company does not grant stock options or similar awards to Section 16 Insiders or direct CEO reports in anticipation of material nonpublic information, nor during specific blackout periods around periodic reports or 8-K filings. | Ongoing policy | Mitigates risks of insider trading and ensures fairness in equity compensation practices. |
| Related Person Transaction Policy | Company expects to adopt a formal policy for identification, review, consideration, and approval/ratification of related person transactions exceeding $120,000 or 1% of total assets. | Future (expected) | Aims to enhance transparency and prevent conflicts of interest, improving governance. |
| Code of Business Conduct and Ethics | Board adopted a code applicable to employees, directors, and officers, publicly available on the company's website. | Prior to September 30, 2024 | Establishes ethical standards and promotes a culture of compliance. |
| Corporate Governance Guidelines | Board adopted corporate governance guidelines in accordance with Nasdaq rules. | Ongoing | Provides a framework for effective board functioning and oversight. |
Related Party Transactions
- Consulting agreement with Richard Ogawa (former director) for intellectual property and general business advice, with payment of $1,000 per filed patent application and $1,000 per issued/granted patent, plus a nonqualified stock option to purchase 291,666 shares at $1.50 per share.
Stakeholder Impact
- Shareholders: Provided detailed information on executive compensation, director independence, and beneficial ownership, enhancing transparency. The late Form 4 filings by directors could be a minor concern regarding compliance. Potential dilution from equity incentive plans.
- Employees: Details on executive and key employee compensation, including salary increases and equity grants for some.
- Management: Clear definitions of roles, responsibilities, and compensation structures.
Next Steps
- The company plans to enter into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers.
- The company expects to adopt a formal related person transaction policy.
- The board of directors will continue to re-examine corporate governance policies and leadership structures on an ongoing basis.
- Management is required to periodically report to the board of directors regarding services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm.
Key Dates
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 1964 | J. Michael Losh started with General Motors. |
| 1973-1974 | Dr. Gilbert S. Omenn served as a White House Fellow at the Atomic Energy Commission. |
| 1977-1981 | Dr. Gilbert S. Omenn served as Associate Director of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy and the Office of Management and Budget. |
| 1982-1997 | Dr. Gilbert S. Omenn was Dean of the University of Washington School of Public Health & Community Medicine. |
| 1984-1989 | Sherlyn W. Farrell was an audit manager at KPMG. |
| 1986-1996 | Dr. Gilbert S. Omenn was on the advisory council for the AAAS Project 2061: Science for all Americans. |
| 1994-07 | J. Michael Losh became CFO and Executive VP of General Motors Corp. |
| 1994-1997 | Dr. Gilbert S. Omenn chaired the Presidential/Congressional Commission on Risk Assessment & Risk Management. |
| 1996-2009 | J. Michael Losh served as a Director at Cardinal Health Inc. |
| 1997 | Dr. Ann Marie Sastry received NSF's Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. |
| 1997-2002 | Dr. Gilbert S. Omenn was Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs at the University of Michigan and CEO of the UM Health System. |
| 1999-2000 | Sherlyn W. Farrell served as Partner / Senior Consultant at RiskCap. |
| 2000 | J. Michael Losh left General Motors. |
| 2000-2005 | Sherlyn W. Farrell served as CEO of RGL Forensics. |
| 2000-2007 | Barbie Brewer worked at Cisco as Human Resources Manager. |
| 2003 | J. Michael Losh became a Director at Aon PLC. |
| 2004-07 | J. Michael Losh became CFO at Cardinal Health. |
| 2005 | J. Michael Losh left Cardinal Health. |
| 2005 | Sherlyn W. Farrell founded Seven Kites Strategic Consulting, Inc. |
| 2006 | Dr. Gilbert S. Omenn was President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). |
| 2008 | Dr. Ann Marie Sastry was named an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor at the University of Michigan. |
| 2008-2011 | Sarah Berman served as a member of the Audit Staff at Turner, Stone & Company, L.L.P. |
| 2008-04 | Dr. Ann Marie Sastry co-founded Sakti3. |
| 2008-04 | Barbie Brewer worked as VP of Human Resources at Sportvision. |
| 2011-2017 | Barbie Brewer served as VP of Human Resources at Netflix. |
| 2012-2015 | Sarah Berman served as Audit Manager at Turner, Stone & Company, L.L.P. |
| 2015 | Sakti3 was sold to Dyson Ltd. for $90 million. |
| 2015-2017 | Sarah Berman served as Senior Audit Manager at Turner, Stone & Company, L.L.P. |
| 2015-10 | Dr. Ann Marie Sastry continued with Dyson as head of the global solid state battery team. |
| 2015-2017 | Dr. Gilbert S. Omenn was a member of the Council of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). |
| 2017-05 | Barbie Brewer founded and became CEO of TNT Consulting LLC. |
| 2017-09 | Barbie Brewer was Chief Culture Officer of GitLab Inc. |
| 2017-11 | Amesite Inc. incorporated; Dr. Ann Marie Sastry became CEO, President, and Chairman. |
| 2017-11 | Dr. Ann Marie Sastry left Dyson. |
| 2018-01 | Sarah Berman served as Senior Accountant at Big Reds Equipment. |
| 2018-02 | J. Michael Losh joined Amesite's board of directors. |
| 2018-03-29 | Amesite Parent approved a consulting agreement with Richard Ogawa. |
| 2018-04-18 | Amesite entered into an employment agreement with Kalie Wortinger. |
| 2018-04-27 | Amesite Parent entered into an Executive Employment Agreement with Dr. Sastry. |
| 2018-08-27 | Kalie Wortinger promoted to Senior Software Engineer with salary increase to $90,000. |
| 2018-11-07 | Kalie Wortinger promoted to Team Lead, Gen 2 Platform with salary increase to $100,000. |
| 2018-2021 | J. Michael Losh served as a Director at Cardinal Health Inc. |
| 2019-02 | Barbie Brewer became Chief People Officer of Marqeta, Inc. |
| 2019-06 | Sarah Berman founded Better Books Consulting. |
| 2019-07 | Barbie Brewer joined Amesite's board of directors. |
| 2020-03 | Dr. Gilbert S. Omenn joined Amesite's board of directors. |
| 2020-06-01 | Executive Agreement with Dr. Sastry became effective, replacing previous agreement. |
| 2020-09 | Board of directors established audit, compensation, and nominating and corporate governance committees. |
| 2020-10-12 | Amesite entered into an employment agreement with Brandon Owens. |
| 2020-11 | George Parmer joined Amesite's board of directors. |
| 2021-05-22 | Board of directors adopted a director compensation program for independent directors. |
| 2021-09-29 | Board of directors approved changes to director compensation program for fiscal year 2022 and beyond. |
| 2021-11-24 | Brandon Owens promoted to Senior Sales Director with salary increase to $150,000. |
| 2022-12 | Sherlyn W. Farrell appointed Chief Financial Officer. |
| 2023-01-13 | Brandon Owens' employment agreement amended. |
| 2023-04-28 | Kalie Wortinger's employment agreement amended; promoted to Sr. Manager, Engineering with salary increase to $178,400. |
| 2024-11-20 | Company entered into CFO Agreement with Sarah Berman. |
| 2024-12-15 | Sarah Berman's appointment as Principal Financial and Accounting Officer became effective. |
| 2024-12-16 | Sherlyn W. Farrell's resignation as CFO became effective. |
| 2024-12-23 | Anthony Barkett and Richard Ogawa resigned from the Board. |
| 2024-12-31 | Aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates was $15,375,000, based on closing price of $4.75. |
| 2025-01 | Barbie Brewer elected to defer future compensation as stock units. |
| 2025-03-07 | Annual restricted stock unit grant for calendar year 2023 issued as a catch-up grant. |
| 2025-05-23 | Last stock option granted by the Compensation Committee. |
| 2025-06-30 | Fiscal year end for the report. |
| 2025-09-29 | Original Form 10-K filed with the SEC. |
| 2025-10-14 | Sarah Berman's CFO agreement amended to increase monthly fee to $7,000. |
| 2025-10-24 | 4,572,713 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. |
| 2025-10-27 | Date for beneficial ownership calculation. |
| 2025-10-28 | Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A filed. |
Recommendation
holdThe filing is an amendment to provide standard corporate governance and compensation disclosures, which were previously omitted. It does not contain new financial performance data or strategic updates that would significantly alter the investment thesis. While the late Section 16(a) filings are a minor compliance issue, the overall governance structure appears sound with independent directors and established committees. The beneficial ownership by management is a positive. However, the mention of 'going concern' risk in the forward-looking statements section, though a standard disclosure for some companies, warrants caution. Without new operational or financial performance data, a 'hold' recommendation is appropriate as the filing primarily provides transparency on existing structures rather than new catalysts for significant price movement.
Keywords
Amesite Inc., AMST, SEC Filing, 10-K/A, Corporate Governance, Executive Compensation, Director Independence, Equity Incentive Plan, Financial Reporting, Risk Factors, Nasdaq, Software Engineer, Sales Director, Principal Financial Officer
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