Matteo Ricchebuono
About Matteo Ricchebuono
Independent director at Nuburu, Inc. (BURU), serving since 2025; Class III director with term expiring at the 2027 annual meeting. Age 49. Background in European financial services and capital markets, including roles at Deutsche Bank (Institutional Client Group, Debt Capital Markets), UBS, and Banca IMI; currently President & CEO of SFE Société Financière Européenne SA (since Jan 2024). Holds a Master’s in Economics from Bocconi University (Milan). The Board has determined he is independent under NYSE American rules.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deutsche Bank (London) | Institutional Client Group; Debt Capital Markets | Apr 2006 – Jan 2014 | Capital raising and institutional coverage experience cited as qualification for BURU Board. |
| UBS (London) | Various role | Jul 2005 – Mar 2006 | Investment banking exposure. |
| Banca IMI (Milan) | Retail desk | Prior to 2005 (date not specified) | Developed retail financial products. |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Public Company? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFE Société Financière Européenne SA | President & CEO | Jan 2024 – present | Not disclosed as public | Financial services leadership; capital markets experience. |
| Groupe Financier de Gestion SAM (GFG Funds, Luxembourg SICAV) | Board Monaco MC member | May 2014 – present | SICAV; EU fund complex | Fixed income funds for European distribution. |
| Global Funds Europe (London) | Partner | Mar 2014 – Feb 2020 | Private | Distributor of third‑party funds to Italian institutional investors (sole distributor for Lazard Frères Gestion in Italy). |
Board Governance
- Independence and structure:
- Independent director; as of June 2025 the Board consisted of a majority of independent directors; no Lead Independent Director designated (Board “may do so in the future”).
- Committee memberships (June 9, 2025): Ricchebuono had no committee assignments; Audit: Shawn Taylor (Chair), Dario Barisoni (member); Compensation: Barisoni (Chair), Taylor (member); Nominating & Corporate Governance: Barisoni (Chair), Taylor (member).
- Attendance and engagement:
- In 2024 the Board held 53 meetings; Audit 6; Compensation 1; NCG 1. Each director then serving attended at least 75% of meetings during periods served. (Ricchebuono’s 2024 attendance not applicable; he joined in 2025.)
- Governance developments and risks:
- On Oct 1, 2025, Barisoni became Co‑CEO and ceased to be independent; the Audit Committee fell below required independent membership and the company notified NYSE American of non‑compliance (has until next annual meeting or one year to cure). The Board is seeking additional independent directors.
- Board adopted a formal Board Compensation Program on Oct 1, 2025 (see Compensation sections).
Fixed Compensation (Director Program Terms)
| Component | Amount/Terms | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer (non‑employee directors) | $50,000, payable quarterly | Election available (starting 2026) to receive options in lieu of cash; see below. |
| Audit Committee Chair retainer | Additional $50,000 cash, payable quarterly | For period between annual meetings. |
| 2024 policy (historical) | $50,000 per director; $100,000 for Audit Chair | With option to convert all/50% of cash to options at 75% Black‑Scholes value; unpaid 2024 director comp to be settled in common stock after Jan 13, 2025. |
| Ricchebuono’s 2024 director compensation | $0 | He was not on the Board in 2024. |
Performance Compensation (Equity; Director Program Terms)
| Equity Element | Quantum | Key Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Option Grant (non‑employee directors) | 50,000 options per director | Granted the trading day after annual meeting (Oct 1, 2025 for 2025); exercise price = 5‑day WAP preceding grant date; vests monthly over 12 months; accelerates if next annual meeting is <12 months away; full acceleration on death, disability, or Change in Control; 10‑year term; 3‑year post‑separation exercise for vested options. |
| Board Chair (if other than Co‑CEO) | 80,000 options annually | Same vesting/timing framework as above. |
| Committee Chairs (Compensation; Nominating & Corporate Governance) | 40,000 options annually | As above; Chairs are not eligible for committee member grants for that committee. |
| Committee Members (all committees) | 10,000 options annually | Vests monthly over 12 months (with acceleration if meeting <12 months cycle); prorated mid‑year grants if appointments occur between meetings. |
| Cash retainer option election (from 2026) | Options with notional value of $100,000 (exercise price x # shares) | Election due by Dec 15, 2025 when not in possession of MNPI; vests 25% each on Jan 1/Apr 1/Jul 1/Oct 1; standard acceleration/term. |
Note: The documents describe program terms; individual grant amounts to Mr. Ricchebuono in 2025 are not itemized in filed tables.
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company/Entity | Public Company? | Role | Potential Interlock/Conflict Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| SFE Société Financière Européenne SA | Not disclosed as public | President & CEO | Separate from BURU; no Item 404 related‑party transaction disclosures involving Mr. Ricchebuono were identified in the cited filings. |
| Groupe Financier de Gestion SAM (GFG Funds) | Fund manager for SICAV | Board Monaco MC member | No disclosed related‑party transactions with BURU. |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Finance and capital markets: Extensive debt capital markets and institutional client coverage experience (Deutsche Bank, UBS); partner at a fund distribution platform; CEO of a finance company.
- Board readiness: Company cites “extensive experience in the financial services industry and capital raising” as rationale for his Board role.
- Education: Master’s degree in Economics, Bocconi University (Milan).
Equity Ownership
| As-Of Date | Outstanding Common Shares Beneficially Owned | Options/RSUs Exercisable/Vesting Within 60 Days | Total Beneficial Ownership | Ownership % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 20, 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | <1% |
| Sep 2, 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | <1% |
Governance Assessment
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Strengths
- Independent director with deep capital markets expertise—a useful profile for a company reliant on financing and strategic transactions.
- Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines (including minimum shareholding requirements for officers/directors) and holds executive sessions of non‑employee directors.
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Watch items / Red flags
- Audit Committee independence shortfall disclosed Oct 2025 following a director’s transition to Co‑CEO; company on a cure timeline with NYSE American—committee reconstitution will be a near‑term governance test.
- Director compensation is significantly option‑heavy (50,000 annual options per director, plus committee‑based option grants), which supports alignment but increases dilution risk; cash retainers can be swapped for options starting 2026.
- Ownership alignment: As of Aug/Sep 2025, no beneficial common stock or near‑term exercisable equity was reported for Ricchebuono; monitor progress against the company’s minimum shareholding guidelines as his tenure progresses.
- Potential perception risk: A shareholder named S.F.E. Equity Investments S.a.r.l. holds ~5.7% via a specific agreement; Mr. Ricchebuono is CEO of SFE Société Financière Européenne SA. No related‑party transactions involving Mr. Ricchebuono are disclosed, but investors may monitor for any future affiliations or Item 404 disclosures.
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Committee effectiveness
- As of June 2025, Ricchebuono had no committee assignments; with subsequent leadership changes, rebalancing committees (especially Audit and potentially Compensation/NCG given independence requirements) remains a key governance priority.
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Attendance
- The Board met frequently in 2024 (53 meetings), with directors then serving attending ≥75% of meetings; individual 2025 attendance for Ricchebuono not yet disclosed in the proxy materials reviewed.