Owen May
About Owen May
Owen A. May serves on the Supervisory Board of Sono Group N.V. (SEVCF) as of July 24, 2025 . He is an investment banker with over three decades of M&A and capital markets experience, founder/CEO of MD Global Partners since 2005, age 65, with an MBA from Duke University (Fuqua) and a B.S. in Biology from the University of Miami .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees / Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| MD Global Partners | Founder & CEO | 2005–present | Led capital raising, restructuring, M&A for small/mid-cap firms across U.S., Europe, Israel, China |
| Various | Investment banker (financial advisory, M&A) | 30+ years | Structured reverse mergers, turnarounds, IPOs; deep institutional relationships |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Committee Assignments |
|---|---|---|
| Sono Group N.V. (SEVCF) | Supervisory Director | Audit Committee member |
| New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NYSPCC) | Director | Audit Committee member |
| Ten North Group, LLC | Director | Chairman, Finance & Audit Committee |
| Syredix Bio | Advisory Board Member | — |
| Duke University (Fuqua) | Board of Visitors, Emeritus | — |
| University of Miami | President’s Council Member | — |
Board Governance
- Supervisory Board composition: David Dodge (Chair), Christopher Schreiber, Owen May .
- Committees framework: The Supervisory Board establishes required committees and sets their rules; Owen May is identified as serving on Sono’s Audit Committee, indicating financial oversight responsibility .
- Auditor oversight: Shareholders vote to appoint Grassi & Co. as independent auditor; audit fees were $0.5M in 2024 and $0.8M in 2023 .
- Control considerations: SVSE LLC (controlled by then-CEO George O’Leary) holds 100% of High Voting Shares (25 votes/share) and 16.4% of Ordinary Shares, equating to 51.1% combined voting power; the SVSE holdings are pledged to Yorkville under a February 5, 2024 agreement, creating potential influence and financing-related constraints .
Fixed Compensation
- Director compensation amounts (cash retainer, committee fees, meeting fees) are not disclosed in the 2025 proxy. Articles state the General Meeting may grant compensation to Supervisory Directors (framework only) .
Performance Compensation
- No director equity grant specifics (RSUs/DSUs), option awards, or performance metrics for directors are disclosed for 2025 in the proxy.
- Company articles provide indemnification for directors under specified conditions (framework), but no performance-linked director pay details are provided .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Owen May’s external roles include audit committee positions at NYSPCC and Ten North Group, suggesting strong financial oversight credentials .
- No related-party transactions involving Owen May and SEVCF are disclosed in 2025 proxy/filings; beneficial ownership and transactions disclosed focus on SVSE/Yorkville and management .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Financial, M&A, capital markets, corporate restructuring expertise from 30+ years of investment banking and MD Global Partners leadership .
- Recognized governance experience via audit committee service and chairman role on finance/audit committees .
- Education: MBA (Duke/Fuqua), BS Biology (University of Miami) .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Ordinary Shares | % of Ordinary | High Voting Shares | % of High Voting | Combined Voting Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owen May | — | — | — | — | — |
Note: As of June 30, 2025, SEVCF reported 1,409,921 Ordinary Shares and 40,000 High Voting Shares outstanding; the table shows the company’s disclosed values, which list “—” for Owen May’s beneficial ownership .
Governance Assessment
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Strengths:
- Audit Committee membership signals financial literacy and oversight focus; external audit committee roles (NYSPCC, Ten North Group) reinforce audit rigor and governance competence .
- No disclosed related-party transactions tied to Owen May at SEVCF, reducing perceived conflict risk .
-
Concerns / RED FLAGS:
- Control risk: A single holder (SVSE LLC, controlled by then-CEO) commands 51.1% combined voting power via High Voting Shares; these holdings are pledged to Yorkville, introducing financing and influence complications that can constrain board independence and investor confidence .
- Compensation opacity: Lack of director compensation detail (cash/equity mix, ownership guidelines, meeting fees) impedes pay-for-performance assessment in 2025 materials .
- Attendance/engagement: No disclosure of meeting attendance rates or engagement metrics for directors in 2025 proxy, limiting board effectiveness evaluation .
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Implications for investors:
- Owen May’s audit roles and banking background support board effectiveness in oversight of financial reporting and controls.
- However, governance quality hinges on how independent directors, including May, counterbalance concentrated voting power and pledged-control dynamics; investors should monitor committee activity, auditor interactions, and any future disclosures on director compensation and attendance for alignment and effectiveness .