UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.   )

 

Filed by the Registrant [X]

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [  ]

 

Check the appropriate box:

 

[  ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[  ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[  ] Definitive Additional Materials
[  ] Soliciting Material Under Rule 14a-12

 

ORGENESIS INC.

 

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

 

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

[X] No fee required.
[  ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

  1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
     
     
  2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
     
     
  3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
     
     
  4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
     
     
  5) Total fee paid:

 

[  ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
   
[  ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing:

 

  1) Amount previously paid:
     
   
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  3) Filing party:
     
   
  4) Date Filed:

 

 

 

 

 

 

ORGENESIS INC.

20271 Goldenrod Lane

Germantown, Maryland 20876

 

September 23, 2020

 

To Our Stockholders:

 

You are cordially invited to attend the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders of Orgenesis Inc. (the “Company”) to be held at November 18, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. EST, at the offices of Pearl Cohen Zedek Latzer Baratz, 1500 Broadway, New York, NY 10036. As a result of public health and travel guidance due to COVID-19, you will also be able to attend the annual meeting, vote and submit your questions during the annual meeting by visiting www.issuerdirect.com/virtual-event/orgs. We may announce alternative arrangements for the meeting, which may include switching to a virtual only meeting format, or changing the time, date or location of the annual meeting. If we take this step, we will announce any changes in advance in a press release available on our website at https://www.orgenesis.com and filed with the Securities Exchange Commission as additional proxy materials, and as otherwise required by applicable state law.

 

Details regarding the meeting, the business to be conducted at the meeting, and information about the Company that you should consider when you vote your shares are described in the accompanying proxy statement.

 

At the annual meeting, six (6) persons will be elected to our Board of Directors. In addition, we will ask stockholders to ratify the appointment of Kesselman & Kesselman C.P.A.s, a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2020 and to approve the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement. Our board of directors recommends the approval of each of the proposals. Such other business will be transacted as may properly come before the annual meeting.

 

Under Securities and Exchange Commission rules that allow companies to furnish proxy materials to stockholders over the Internet, we have elected to deliver our proxy materials to the majority of our stockholders over the Internet. This delivery process allows us to provide stockholders with the information they need, while at the same time conserving natural resources and lowering the cost of delivery. On September 25, 2020, we intend to begin sending to our stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) containing instructions on how to access our proxy statement for our 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and our 2020 annual report to stockholders. The Notice also provides instructions on how to vote online or by telephone, how to access the virtual annual meeting and how to receive a paper copy of the proxy materials by mail.

 

We hope you will be able to attend the annual meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting, we hope you will vote promptly. Information about voting methods is set forth in the accompanying proxy statement. Thank you for your continued support of Orgenesis Inc. We look forward to seeing you at the annual meeting.

 

  Sincerely,
   
  /s/ Vered Caplan
   
  Vered Caplan
  Chairperson of the Board

 

 

 

 

ORGENESIS INC.

20271 Goldenrod Lane

Germantown, Maryland 20876

 

September 23, 2020

 

NOTICE OF 2020 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

TIME: 10:00 AM EST

 

DATE: November 18, 2020

 

PLACE: Pearl Cohen Zedek Latzer Baratz, 1500 Broadway, New York, NY 10036

 

VIRTUAL ACCESS:

 

This year’s annual meeting will also be held via virtual meeting via live webcast on the Internet. You will also be able to attend the annual meeting, vote and submit your questions during the meeting by visiting www.issuerdirect.com/virtual-event/orgs and entering the control number included in the Notice of Internet Availability or proxy card that you receive. For further information about the virtual annual meeting, please see the Questions and Answers about the Meeting beginning on page 3.

 

PURPOSES:

 

  1. To elect six (6) directors to serve one-year terms expiring in 2021;
     
  2. To ratify the appointment of Kesselman & Kesselman C.P.A.s, a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020;
     
  3. To approve by an advisory vote the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement; and
     
  4. To transact such other business that is properly presented at the annual meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

WHO MAY VOTE:

 

You may vote if you were the record owner of Orgenesis Inc. common stock at the close of business on September 21, 2020. A list of stockholders of record will be available at the annual meeting and, during the 10 days prior to the annual meeting, at our principal executive offices located at 20271 Goldenrod Lane, Germantown, MD 20876.

 

All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting. Whether you plan to attend the annual meeting or not, we urge you to vote and submit your proxy by the Internet, telephone or mail by following the instructions in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials that you previously received in order to ensure the presence of a quorum. You may change or revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the annual meeting. If you participate in and vote your shares at the annual meeting, your proxy will not be used.

 

  BY ORDER OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
   
  /s/ Neil Reithinger
  Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    PAGE
     
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING   3
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT   9
MANAGEMENT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE   11
EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION   17
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION   24
REPORT OF AUDIT COMMITTEE   24
DELINQUENT SECTION 16(a) REPORTS   25
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS   26
Proposal No. 1 - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS   27
Proposal No. 2 - ratification of selection of INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM   28
Proposal No. 3 - ADVISORY VOTE ON APPROVAL OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AS DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT   29
CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICS   30
OTHER MATTERS   30
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS FOR DIRECTOR   30

 

i

 

 

ORGENESIS INC.

20271 GOLDENROD LANE

GERMANTOWN, MARYLAND 20876

 

PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE ORGENESIS INC.

2020 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 18, 2020

 

This proxy statement, along with the accompanying notice of 2020 annual meeting of stockholders, contains information about the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders of Orgenesis Inc., including any adjournments or postponements of the annual meeting. We are holding the annual meeting at 10:00 a.m., local time, on Wednesday, November 18, 2020, at the offices of Pearl Cohen Zedek Latzer Baratz located at 1500 Broadway, New York, NY 10036.

 

As a result of public health and travel guidance due to COVID-19, you will also be able to attend the annual meeting, vote and submit your questions during the annual meeting by visiting www.issuerdirect.com/virtual-event/orgs. We may announce alternative arrangements for the meeting, which may include switching to a virtual only meeting format, or changing the time, date or location of the annual meeting. If we take this step, we will announce any changes in advance in a press release available on our website at https://www.orgenesis.com and filed with the Securities Exchange Commission as additional proxy materials, and as otherwise required by applicable state law.

 

In this proxy statement, we refer to Orgenesis Inc. as “Orgenesis,” “the Company,” “we” and “us.”

 

This proxy statement relates to the solicitation of proxies by our board of directors for use at the annual meeting.

 

On or about September 25, 2020, we intend to begin sending to our stockholders the Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials containing instructions on how to access our proxy statement for our 2020 annual meeting of stockholders and our 2020 annual report to stockholders.

 

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IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE
STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 18, 2020

 

This proxy statement, the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, our form of proxy card and our 2020 annual report to stockholders are available for viewing, printing and downloading at www.iproxydirect.com/ORGS. To view these materials please have your control number(s) available that appears on your Notice or proxy card. On this website, you can also elect to receive future distributions of our proxy statements and annual reports to stockholders by electronic delivery.

 

Additionally, you can find a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which includes our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, at www.sec.gov, or in the “SEC Filings” section of the “Investors” section of our website at https://www.orgenesis.com. You may also obtain a printed copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, including our financial statements, free of charge, from us by sending a written request to: Investor Relations, Orgenesis Inc., 20271 Goldenrod Lane, Germantown MD 208176. Exhibits will be provided upon written request and payment of an appropriate processing fee.

 

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING

 

Why is the Company Soliciting My Proxy?

 

Our board of directors is soliciting your proxy to vote at the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders to be held at the offices of Pearl Cohen Zedek Latzer Baratz, 1500 Broadway, New York, NY 10036, on Wednesday, November 18, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. EST and any adjournments or postponements of the meeting, which we refer to as the annual meeting. This proxy statement, along with the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, summarizes the purposes of the meeting and the information you need to know to vote at the annual meeting.

 

We have made available to you on the Internet or have sent you this proxy statement, the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the proxy card and a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 because you owned shares of our common stock on the record date. We intend to commence distribution of the Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials, which we refer to throughout this proxy statement as the Notice, and, if applicable, proxy materials to stockholders on or about September 25, 2020.

 

Why Did I Receive a Notice in the Mail Regarding the Internet Availability of Proxy Materials Instead of a Full Set of Proxy Materials?

 

As permitted by the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, we may furnish our proxy materials to our stockholders by providing access to such documents on the Internet, rather than mailing printed copies of these materials to each stockholder. Most stockholders will not receive printed copies of the proxy materials unless they request them. We believe that this process should expedite stockholders’ receipt of proxy materials, lower the costs of the annual meeting and help to conserve natural resources. If you received the Notice by mail or electronically, you will not receive a printed or email copy of the proxy materials, unless you request one by following the instructions included in the Notice. Instead, the Notice instructs you as to how you may access and review all of the proxy materials and submit your proxy on the Internet. If you requested a paper copy of the proxy materials, you may authorize the voting of your shares by following the instructions on the proxy card, in addition to the other methods of voting described in this proxy statement.

 

Why Are you Holding a Virtual Annual Meeting?

 

Due to the public health impact of COVID-19 and to support the health and well-being of our stockholders, this year’s annual meeting will also be held in a virtual meeting format. We have designed our virtual format to enhance, rather than constrain, stockholder access, participation and communication. For example, the virtual format allows stockholders to communicate with us in advance of, and during, the annual meeting so they can ask questions of our board of directors or management, as time permits.

 

What Happens if There Are Technical Difficulties during the Annual Meeting?

 

We will have technicians ready to assist you with any technical difficulties you may have accessing the virtual annual meeting, voting at the annual meeting or submitting questions at the annual meeting. If you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual annual meeting during the check-in or meeting time, please call 1-866-752-8683.

 

Who May Vote?

 

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on September 21, 2020 will be entitled to vote at the annual meeting. On this record date, there were 22,094,470 shares of our common stock outstanding and entitled to vote. Our common stock is our only class of voting stock.

 

If on September 21, 2020 your shares of our common stock were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Securities Transfer Corporation, then you are a stockholder of record.

 

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If on September 21, 2020 your shares were held, not in your name, but rather in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and the Notice is being forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered to be the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the annual meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or other agent regarding how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the annual meeting. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares at the annual meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent.

 

You do not need to attend the annual meeting to vote your shares. Shares represented by valid proxies, received in time for the annual meeting and not revoked prior to the annual meeting, will be voted at the annual meeting. For instructions on how to change or revoke your proxy, see “May I Change or Revoke My Proxy?” below.

 

How Many Votes Do I Have?

 

Each share of our common stock that you own entitles you to one vote.

 

How Do I Vote?

 

Whether you plan to attend the annual meeting or not, we urge you to vote by proxy. All shares represented by valid proxies that we receive through this solicitation, and that are not revoked, will be voted in accordance with your instructions on the proxy card or as instructed via the Internet or telephone. You may specify whether your shares should be voted FOR or WITHHELD for each nominee for director, and whether your shares should be voted for, against or abstain with respect to each of the other proposals. If you properly submit a proxy without giving specific voting instructions, your shares will be voted in accordance with our board of directors’ recommendations as noted below. Voting by proxy will not affect your right to attend the annual meeting.

 

If your shares are registered directly in your name through our stock transfer agent, Securities Transfer Corporation, or you have stock certificates registered in your name, you may vote:

 

  By Internet or by telephone. Follow the instructions included in the Notice or, if you received printed materials, in the proxy card to vote over the Internet or by telephone.
     
  By mail.  If you received a proxy card by mail, you can vote by mail by completing, signing, dating and returning the proxy card as instructed on the card. If you sign the proxy card but do not specify how you want your shares voted, they will be voted in accordance with our board of directors’ recommendations as noted below.
     
  In person at the meeting.  If you attend the meeting, you may deliver a completed proxy card in person or you may vote by completing a ballot, which will be available at the meeting.  You may also view, print and download the materials at www.iproxydirect.com/ORGS.  To view these materials, please have your control number(s) available that appears on your Notice or proxy card.

 

Telephone and Internet voting facilities for stockholders of record will be available 24 hours a day and will close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 17, 2020.

 

If your shares are held in “street name” (held in the name of a bank, broker or other holder of record), you will receive instructions from the holder of record. You must follow the instructions of the holder of record in order for your shares to be voted. Telephone and Internet voting also will be offered to stockholders owning shares through certain banks and brokers. If your shares are not registered in your own name and you plan to vote your shares in person at the annual meeting, you should contact your broker or agent to obtain a legal proxy or broker’s proxy card and bring it to the annual meeting in order to vote. You will also be able to attend the annual meeting, vote and submit your questions during the annual meeting by visiting www.issuerdirect.com/virtual-event/orgs.

 

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How Does Our Board of Directors Recommend that I Vote on the Proposals?

 

Our board of directors recommends that you vote as follows:

 

  [  ] FOR” the election of the nominees for director;
     
  [  ] FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Kesselman & Kesselman C.P.A.s, a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2020; and
     
  [  ] FOR” the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement; and

 

If any other matter is presented at the annual meeting, your proxy provides that your shares will be voted by the proxy holder listed in the proxy in accordance with his or her best judgment. At the time this proxy statement was first made available, we knew of no matters that needed to be acted on at the annual meeting, other than those discussed in this proxy statement.

 

May I Change or Revoke My Proxy?

 

If you give us your proxy, you may change or revoke it at any time before the annual meeting. You may change or revoke your proxy in any one of the following ways:

 

  [  ] if you received a proxy card, by signing a new proxy card with a date later than your previously delivered proxy and submitting it as instructed above;
     
  [  ] by re-voting by Internet or by telephone as instructed above;
     
  [  ] by notifying Orgenesis’ Secretary in writing before the annual meeting that you have revoked your proxy; or
     
  [  ] by attending the annual meeting and voting at the meeting.  Attending the annual meeting will not in and of itself revoke a previously submitted proxy.  You must specifically request at the annual meeting that it be revoked.

 

Your most current vote, whether by telephone, Internet or proxy card is the one that will be counted.

 

What is a proxy?

 

A proxy is a person you appoint to vote on your behalf. By using any of the methods discussed above, you will be appointing Vered Caplan and Neil Reithinger as your proxies. They may act together or individually on your behalf, and will have the authority to appoint a substitute to act as proxy. If you are unable to attend the Annual Meeting, please use the means available to you to vote by proxy so that your shares of common stock may be voted.

 

What if I Receive More Than One Notice or Proxy Card?

 

You may receive more than one Notice or proxy card if you hold shares of our common stock in more than one account, which may be in registered form or held in street name. Please vote in the manner described above under “How Do I Vote?” for each account to ensure that all of your shares are voted.

 

Will My Shares be Voted if I Do Not Vote?

 

If your shares are registered in your name or if you have stock certificates, they will not be counted if you do not vote as described above under “How Do I Vote?” If your shares are held in street name and you do not provide voting instructions to the bank, broker or other nominee that holds your shares as described above, the bank, broker or other nominee that holds your shares has the authority to vote your unvoted shares only on the ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal 2 of this proxy statement) without receiving instructions from you. Therefore, we encourage you to provide voting instructions to your bank, broker or other nominee. This ensures your shares will be voted at the annual meeting and in the manner you desire. A “broker non-vote” will occur if your broker cannot vote your shares on a particular matter because it has not received instructions from you and does not have discretionary voting authority on that matter or because your broker chooses not to vote on a matter for which it does have discretionary voting authority.

 

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What Vote is Required to Approve Each Proposal and How are Votes Counted?

 

  Proposal 1: Elect Directors   The nominees for director who receive the most votes (also known as a “plurality” of the votes cast) will be elected. You may vote either FOR all of the nominees, WITHHOLD your vote from all of the nominees or WITHHOLD your vote from any one or more of the nominees. Votes that are withheld will not be included in the vote tally for the election of the directors.  Brokerage firms do not have authority to vote customers’ unvoted shares held by the firms in street name for the election of the directors. As a result, any shares not voted by a customer will be treated as a broker non-vote.  Such broker non-votes will have no effect on the results of this vote.
       
 

Proposal 2: Ratify Appointment of

Independent Registered Public

Accounting Firm

  The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the annual meeting is required to ratify the selection of our independent registered public accounting firm. Abstentions will have no effect on the results of this vote. Brokerage firms have authority to vote customers’ unvoted shares held by the firms in street name on this proposal. If a broker does not exercise this authority, such broker non-votes will have no effect on the results of this vote. We are not required to obtain the approval of our stockholders to select our independent registered public accounting firm. However, if our stockholders do not ratify the appointment of Kesselman & Kesselman C.P.A.s as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2020, our Audit Committee of our board of directors will reconsider its selection.
       
 

Proposal 3: Approve an Advisory

Vote on the Compensation of our

Named Executive Officers

  The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the annual meeting is required to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers, as described in this proxy statement. Abstentions will have no effect on the results of this vote. Brokerage firms do not have authority to vote customers’ unvoted shares held by the firms in street name on this proposal. As a result, any shares not voted by a customer will be treated as a broker non-vote. Such broker non-votes will have no effect on the results of this vote. Although the advisory vote is non-binding, the Compensation Committee and our board of directors will review the voting results and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation.

 

Who counts the votes?

 

We have engaged Issuer Direct Corporation (“ISD”) as our independent agent to tabulate stockholder votes. If you are a stockholder of record, and you choose to vote over the Internet, by telephone or fax, ISD will access and tabulate your vote electronically, and if you choose to sign and mail your proxy card, your executed proxy card is returned directly to ISD for tabulation. As noted above, if you hold your shares through a broker, your broker (or its agent for tabulating votes of shares held in street name, as applicable) returns one proxy card to ISD on behalf of all its clients.

 

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Is Voting Confidential?

 

We will keep all the proxies, ballots and voting tabulations private. We only let our Inspectors of Election, Issuer Direct Corporation, examine these documents. Management will not know how you voted on a specific proposal unless it is necessary to meet legal requirements. We will, however, forward to management any written comments you make on the proxy card or that you otherwise provide.

 

Where Can I Find the Voting Results of the Annual Meeting?

 

The preliminary voting results will be announced at the annual meeting, and we will publish preliminary, or final results if available, in a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days of the annual meeting. If final results are unavailable at the time we file the Form 8-K, then we will file an amended report on Form 8-K to disclose the final voting results within four business days after the final voting results are known.

 

What Are the Costs of Soliciting these Proxies?

 

We will pay all of the costs of soliciting these proxies. Our directors and employees may solicit proxies in person or by telephone, fax or email. We will pay these employees and directors no additional compensation for these services. We will ask banks, brokers and other institutions, nominees and fiduciaries to forward these proxy materials to their principals and to obtain authority to execute proxies. We will then reimburse them for their expenses.

 

What Constitutes a Quorum for the Annual Meeting?

 

The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of one-third of the shares of common stock outstanding on the record date entitled to vote at the annual meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum at the annual meeting. Votes of stockholders of record who are present at the annual meeting in person or by proxy, abstentions, and broker non-votes are counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists.

 

What happens if a change to the annual meeting is necessary due to COVID-19?

 

We are sensitive to public health and travel risks and concerns related to COVID-19, and may announce alternative arrangements for the annual meeting, including holding the annual meeting solely by means of remote communication. If we take this step, we will announce the changes in advance by press release, posted on our website (http://www.orgenesis.com) and filed with the SEC as additional proxy materials and as otherwise required by applicable state law. A meeting held solely by remote means will have no impact on stockholders’ ability to provide their proxy by using the internet or telephone or by completing, signing, dating and mailing their proxy card as discussed above. As always, we encourage you to vote your shares prior to the annual meeting.

 

Attending the Annual Meeting

 

We are pleased to offer two options for our 2020 annual meeting: (1) viewing a live Webcast at www.issuerdirect.com/virtual-event/orgs or (2) attending in person. The annual meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. EST, at the offices of Pearl Cohen Zedek Latzer Baratz, 1500 Broadway, New York, NY 10036. When you arrive at 1500 Broadway, New York, NY 10036, signs will direct you to the appropriate meeting rooms. If you choose to view the Webcast, go to www.issuerdirect.com/virtual-event/orgs shortly before the meeting time, and follow the instructions for downloading the Webcast. If you miss the annual meeting, you can view a replay of the Webcast at www.issuerdirect.com/virtual-event/orgs until November 25, 2020. You need not attend the annual meeting in order to vote.

 

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Householding of Annual Disclosure Documents

 

Some brokers or other nominee record holders may be sending you, a single set of our proxy materials if multiple Orgenesis stockholders live in your household. This practice, which has been approved by the SEC, is called “householding.” Once you receive notice from your broker or other nominee record holder that it will be “householding” our proxy materials, the practice will continue until you are otherwise notified or until you notify them that you no longer want to participate in the practice. Stockholders who participate in householding will continue to have access to and utilize separate proxy voting instructions.

 

We will promptly deliver a separate copy of our Notice or if applicable, our proxy materials to you if you write or call our corporate secretary to: Investor Relations, Orgenesis Inc., 20271 Goldenrod Lane, Germantown MD 208176, or call us at (480) 659-6404. If you want to receive your own set of our proxy materials in the future or, if you share an address with another stockholder and together both of you would like to receive only a single set of proxy materials, you should contact your broker or other nominee record holder directly or you may contact us at the above address and phone number.

 

Electronic Delivery of Company Stockholder Communications

 

Most stockholders can elect to view or receive copies of future proxy materials over the Internet instead of receiving paper copies in the mail.

 

You can choose this option and save us the cost of producing and mailing these documents by:

 

  following the instructions provided on your Notice or proxy card;
     
  following the instructions provided when you vote over the Internet; or
     
  going to www.iproxydirect.com/ORGS and following the instructions provided.

 

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of September 17, 2020 for (a) the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table on page 17 of this proxy statement, (b) each of our directors and director nominees, (c) all of our current directors and executive officers as a group and (d) each stockholder known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of our common stock. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities. We deem shares of common stock that may be acquired by an individual or group within 60 days of September 17, 2020 pursuant to the exercise of options or warrants to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of such individual or group, but those shares are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person shown in the table. Except as indicated in footnotes to this table, we believe that the stockholders named in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock shown to be beneficially owned by them based on information provided to us by these stockholders. Percentage of ownership is based on 22,094,470 shares of common stock outstanding on September 17, 2020.

 

Security Ownership of Greater than 5% Beneficial Owners

 

Name and Address of

Beneficial Owner

 

Amount and Nature of

Beneficial Ownership (1)

    Percent(1)  
Image Securities fzc.
2310, 23rd floor, Tiffany
Towers, JLT
Dubai, UAE
    3,665,076 (2)     15.32 %
Yehuda Nir
c/o Orgenesis Inc.
20271 Goldenrod Lane
Germantown, MD 20876
    2,133,170 (3)     8.80 %

 

Security Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers

 

Name and Address of

Beneficial Owner

 

Amount and Nature of

Beneficial Ownership (1)

    Percent(1)  
Vered Caplan
c/o Orgenesis Inc.
20271 Goldenrod Lane
Germantown, MD 20876
    1,072,131 (4)     4.63 %

Neil Reithinger
14201 N. Hayden Road,

Suite A-1
Scottsdale, AZ 85260

    102,709 (5)     <1 %
Dr. Denis Bedoret
c/o Orgenesis Inc.
20271 Goldenrod Lane
Germantown, MD 20876
    - (6)     -  
Guy Yachin
c/o Orgenesis Inc.
20271 Goldenrod Lane
Germantown, MD 20876
    109,684 (7)     <1 %
Dr. David Sidransky
c/o Orgenesis Inc.
20271 Goldenrod Lane
Germantown, MD 20876
    91,701 (8)     <1 %
Yaron Adler
c/o Orgenesis Inc.
20271 Goldenrod Lane
Germantown, MD 20876
    192,629 (9)     1.04 %
Ashish Nanda
c/o Orgenesis Inc.
20271 Goldenrod Lane
Germantown, MD 20876
    27,100 (10)     <1 %
Mario Philips
c/o Orgenesis Inc.
20271 Goldenrod Lane
Germantown, MD 20876
    - (11)     -  
Directors & Executive Officers as a Group (8 persons)     1,595,017       7.22 %

 

  9  
     

 

Notes:

 

(1) Percentage of ownership is based on 22,094,470 shares of our common stock outstanding as of September 17, 2020. Except as otherwise indicated, we believe that the beneficial owners of the common stock listed above, based on information furnished by such owners, have sole investment and voting power with respect to such shares, subject to community property laws where applicable. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Shares of common stock subject to options or warrants currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days, are deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of the person holding such option or warrants but are not deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
   
(2) Consists of (i) 1,832,538 ordinary shares and (ii) 1,832,538 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants at a price of $6.24 per share. The warrants are exercisable over a three-year period from the date of issuance.
   
(3) Consists of (i) 309,464 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants at a price of $6.24 per share, exercisable until June 30, 2021, (ii) 153,846 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants at a price of $6.24 per share, exercisable until July 9, 2021, (iii) 50,000 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants at a price of $7.00 per share, exercisable until October 3, 2022, and (iv) 1,619,860 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of convertible debt at a price of $7.00 per share.
   
(4) Consists of (i) 278,191 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options at a price of $0.012 per share, (ii) 230,189 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options at a price of $0.0012 per share, (iii) 166,667 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options at a price of $4.80 per share, (iv) 83,334 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options at a price of $7.20 per share, (vi) 250,000 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options at a price of $8.36 per share and (v) 42,500 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options at a price of $5.99 per share and (iv) 21,250 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options at a price of $2.99 per share. Does not include (i) options for 42,500 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $5.99 per share that are exercisable quarterly after October 22, 2020 and (ii) options for 63,750 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $2.99 per share that are exercisable quarterly after October 1, 2020.
   
(5) Consists of (i) 83,334 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options at a price of $4.80 per share, (ii) 15,625 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options at a price of $5.07 per share and (iii) 3,750 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options at a price of $2.99 per share. Does not include (i) options for 9,375 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $5.07 per share that are exercisable quarterly after October 1, 2020 and (ii) options for 11,250 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $2.99 per share that are exercisable quarterly after October 1, 2020.

 

  10  
     

 

(6) As of February 10, 2020, the Company sold Masthercell Global and, accordingly, Mr. Bedoret forfeited any existing options and no longer an officer or employee of the Company.
   
(7) Consists of (i) 39,267 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options at a price o$10.2 per share, (ii) 41,667 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options at a price of $4.80 per share and (iii) 28,750 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options at a price of $5.99 per share. Does not include (i) options for 25,000 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $2.99 per share, of which 12,500 are exercisable on December 17, 2020 and 12,500 are exercisable on March 31, 2021, and (ii) options exercisable at a price per share of $7.00 into 70,000 ordinary shares held by Caerus Therapeutics LLC over which Mr. Yachin does not have beneficial control.
   
(8) Consists of (i) 20,834 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options at a price of $9.00 per share, (ii) 41,667 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options at a price of $4.80 per share and (iii) 29,200 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options at a price of $5.99 per share. Does not include options for 25,000 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $2.99 per share, of which 12,500 are exercisable on December 17, 2020 and 12,500 are exercisable on March 31, 2021.
   
(9) Consists of (i) 63,304 ordinary shares, (ii) 58,908 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options at a price of $9.48 per share, (iii) 41,667 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options at a price of $4.80 per share and (iv) 28,750 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options at a price of $5.99 per share. Does not include options for 25,000 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $2.99 per share, of which 12,500 are exercisable on December 17, 2020 and 12,500 are exercisable on March 31, 2021.
   
(10) Consists of 27,100 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options at a price of $5.99 per share. Does not include options for 25,000 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $2.99 per share, of which 12,500 are exercisable on December 17, 2020 and 12,500 are exercisable on March 31, 2021.
   
(11) Does not include (i) options for 6,250 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $4.70 per share that are exercisable in three equal installments over three anniversaries starting on January 9, 2021 and (ii) options for 12,500 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $2.99 per share that are exercisable on March 31, 2021.

 

MANAGEMENT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Our board of directors

 

On September 7, 2020, our Board of Directors accepted the recommendation of the Nominating Committee and voted to nominate Vered Caplan, Guy Yachin, David Sidransky, Yaron Adler, Ashish Nanda and Mario Philips for election at the annual meeting to serve until the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, and until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified.

 

Set forth below are the names of the persons nominated for election as directors, their ages, their offices in the Company, if any, their principal occupations or employment for at least the past five years, the length of their tenure as directors and the names of other public companies in which such persons hold or have held directorships during the past five years. Additionally, information about the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led to our board of directors’ conclusion at the time of filing of this proxy statement that each person listed below should serve as a director is set forth below:

 

Name   Age   Position with the Company   Year Became a Director

Vered Caplan

 

 

52

 

Chief Executive Officer,

Chairperson of the Board and Director

  2012
Guy Yachin   52   Director   2012
David Sidransky   60   Director   2012
Yaron Adler   50   Director   2012
Ashish Nanda   54   Director   2017
Mario Philips   51   Director   2020

 

  11  
     

 

Our Board of Directors has reviewed the materiality of any relationship that each of our directors has with Orgenesis, either directly or indirectly. Based upon this review, our Board has determined that the following members of our board of directors are “independent directors” as defined by The Nasdaq Stock Market: Dr. Sidransky, and Messrs. Yachin, Adler, Nanda and Philips.

 

Vered Caplan – Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Board of Directors

 

Ms. Caplan has served as our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chairperson of the board of directors since August 14, 2014, prior to which she served as Interim President and CEO commencing on December 23, 2013. She joined our board of directors in February 2012. Ms. Caplan holds a M.Sc. in biomedical engineering from Tel Aviv University specializing in signal processing; management for engineers from Tel Aviv University specializing in business development; and a B.Sc. in mechanical engineering from the Technion– Israel Institute of Technology specialized in software and cad systems.

 

We believe that Ms. Caplan’s significant experience relating to our industry and a deep knowledge of our business, based on her many years of involvement with the Company, makes her desirable to serve as a director of the Company.

 

Guy Yachin – Director

 

Mr. Yachin has served as a director since his appointment on April 2, 2012. Mr. Yachin has served as the President and CEO of Serpin Pharma, a clinical stage Virginia-based company focused on the development of anti-inflammatory drugs, since April 2013. Mr. Yachin is the CEO of Oasis Management, a Maryland-based consulting company, since 2010. Mr. Yachin is the CEO of NasVax Ltd., a company focused on the development of improved immunotherapeutics and vaccines. Prior to joining NasVax, Mr. Yachin served as CEO of MultiGene Vascular Systems Ltd., a cell therapy company focused on blood vessels disorders, leading the company through clinical studies in the U.S. and Israel, financial rounds, and a keystone strategic agreement with Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. He was CEO and founder of Chiasma Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the oral delivery of macromolecule drugs, where he built the company’s presence in Israel and the U.S., concluded numerous financial rounds, and guided the company’s strategy and operation for over six years. Earlier, he was CEO of Naiot Technological Center Ltd., and provided seed funding and guidance to more than a dozen biomedical startups such as Remon Medical Technologies Ltd., Enzymotec Ltd. and NanoPass Technologies Ltd. He holds a BSc. in Industrial Engineering and Management and an MBA from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. Mr. Yachin served on the board of Peak Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from March 2014 to April 2016.

 

We believe Mr. Yachin is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his education, experience within the life science industry and his business acumen in the public markets.

 

  12  
     

 

Dr. David Sidransky – Director

 

Dr. Sidransky has served as a director since his appointment on July 18, 2013. Dr. Sidransky is a renowned oncologist and research scientist named and profiled by TIME magazine in 2001 as one of the top physicians and scientists in America, recognized for his work with early detection of cancer. Since 1994, Dr. Sidransky has been the Director of the Head and Neck Cancer Research Division at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine’s Department of Otolaryngology and Professor of Oncology, Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Urology, Genetics, and Pathology at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Sidransky is one of the most highly cited researchers in clinical and medical journals in the world in the field of oncology during the past decade, with over 460 peer reviewed publications. Dr. Sidransky is a founder of a number of biotechnology companies and holds numerous biotechnology patents. Dr. Sidransky has served as Vice Chairman of the board of directors, and was, until the merger with Eli Lilly, a director of ImClone Systems, Inc., a global biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing oncology care. He is serving, or has served on, the scientific advisory boards of MedImmune, LLC, Roche, Amgen Inc. and Veridex, LLC (a Johnson & Johnson diagnostic company), among others and is currently on the board of Directors of Galmed and Rosetta Genomics Ltd. and chairs the board of directors of Advaxis and Champions Oncology, Inc. Dr. Sidransky served as Director from 2005 until 2008 of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). In 2006 and 2007, he was the chairperson of AACR International Conferences on Molecular Diagnostics in Cancer Therapeutic Development: Maximizing Opportunities for Personalized Treatment. Dr. Sidransky is the recipient of a number of awards and honors, including the 1997 Sarstedt International Prize from the German Society of Clinical Chemistry, the 1998 Alton Ochsner Award Relating Smoking and Health by the American College of Chest Physicians, and the 2004 Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Award from the American Association of Cancer Research. Dr. Sidransky received his BS in Chemistry from Brandies University and his medical degree from Baylor College of medicine where he also completed his residency in internal medicine. His specialty in Medical Oncology was completed at Johns Hopkins University and Hospital.

 

We believe Dr. Sidransky is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his education, medical background, experience within the life science industry and his business acumen in the public markets.

 

Yaron Adler – Director

 

Mr. Adler has served as a director since his appointment on April 17, 2012. Mr. Adler is the chairman of ExitValley Ltd., an equity-based crowdfunding platform, since April 2014 and the co-founder of a startup incubator, We Group Ltd. In 1999, Mr. Adler co-founded IncrediMail Ltd. and served as its CEO until 2008 and President until 2009. In 1999, prior to founding IncrediMail, Mr. Adler consulted Israeli startup companies regarding Internet products, services and technologies. Mr. Adler served as a product manager from 1997 to 1999, and as a software engineer from 1994 to 1997, at Tecnomatix Technologies Ltd., a software company that develops and markets production engineering solutions to complex automated manufacturing lines that fill the gap between product design and production, and which was acquired by UGS Corp. in April 2005. In 1993, Mr. Adler held a software engineer position at Intel Israel Ltd. He has a B.A. in computer sciences and economics from Tel Aviv University.

 

We believe Mr. Adler is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his education, success with early-stage enterprises and his business acumen in the public markets.

 

Ashish Nanda – Director

 

Mr. Nanda has served as a director since his appointment on February 22, 2017. Since 1998, Mr. Nanda has been the Managing Director of Innovations Group, one of the largest outsourcing companies in the financial sector that employs close to 14,000 people working across various financial sectors. Since 1992, Mr. Nanda has served as the Managing Partner of Capstone Insurance Brokers LLC and, since 2009, has served as Managing Partner of Dive Tech Marine Engineering Services L.L.C. From 1991 to 1994, Mr. Nanda held the position of Asst. Manager Corporate Banking at Emirates Banking Group where he was involved in establishing relationships with business houses owned by United Arab Emirates nationals and expatriates in order to set up banking limits and also where he managed portfolios of $26 billion. Mr. Nanda holds a Chartered Accountancy from the Institute of Chartered Accountants from India.

 

We believe that Mr. Nanda is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his business experience and strategic understanding of advancing the valuation of companies in emerging industries.

 

Mario Philips – Director

 

Mr. Philips has served as a director since his appointment on January 9, 2020. Since March 2019, Mr. Philips has been Chief Executive Officer of PolyNeuroS, a drug company based in France that has developed a diagnostic platform technology for neurodegenerative diseases in combination with a therapy to cure neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS and Parkinson’s. Mr. Philips also acts as strategic partner for the private equity fund, Archimed, and has been the Chairman of the Board for its portfolio company, Clean Biologics since July 2019.

 

Prior to that Mr. Philips acted as VP/GM for Danaher Pall Biotech business with full P&L responsibility for a $1,3B business unit. Mr. Philips joined Pall in February 2014, as part of the Pall acquisition of ATMI Life Sciences, and was appointed to Vice President and General Manager to lead the Single-Use Technologies BU. In this role he was responsible for leading and executing an aggressive investment and growth strategy.

 

  13  
     

 

Mr. Philips joined ATMI in 1999 with ATMI’s acquisition of MST Analytics, Inc., serving as European Sales Manager for ATMI Analytical Systems. In 2004, Mr. Philips was appointed to General Manager of ATMI Packaging, a role he held through 2010 when he was promoted to the position of Senior Vice President and General Manager, ATMI Life Sciences. In that role, he was responsible for developing and executing all business strategies, including the introduction of new products and service solutions for the Life Sciences industry. A strong leading innovative IP portfolio was created, Pall acquired the business in 2014.

 

Mr. Philips also held in the past several board member positions in the life sciences industry with Austar Life Sciences (China), Disposable Lab (France) and Artelis (Belgium).

 

We believe that Mr. Philips is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors because of his business experience and strategic understanding of advancing the valuation of companies in emerging industries.

 

There are no family relationships between any of the executive officers or directors or any other person nominated or chosen to become an executive officer or a director. Pursuant to an agreement entered into between us and Image Securities fzc. (“Image”), for so long as Image’s ownership of our company is 10% or greater, it was granted the right to nominate a director to our board of directors. Mr. Nanda was nominated for a directorship at the 2017 annual meeting in compliance with our contractual undertakings.

 

Committees of our board of directors and Meetings

 

Meeting Attendance. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 there were 4 meetings of our board of directors, and the various committees of our board of directors met a total of 14 times. No director attended fewer than 75% of the total number of meetings of our board of directors and of committees of our board of directors on which he or she served during fiscal 2019. Our board of directors does not have a formal policy with respect to members of our board of directors’ attendance at annual stockholder meetings, although it encourages directors to attend such meetings. Three directors attended our annual meeting of stockholders held in 2019.

 

Audit Committee. Our Audit Committee (“Audit Committee”) met 6 times during fiscal 2019. This committee currently has three members, Dr. Sidransky and Messrs. Yachin and Philips. Our Audit Committee’s role and responsibilities are set forth in the Audit Committee’s written charter and include the authority to retain and terminate the services of our independent registered public accounting firm. In addition, the Audit Committee reviews annual financial statements, considers matters relating to accounting policy and internal controls and reviews the scope of annual audits. All members of the Audit Committee satisfy the current independence standards promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and by The Nasdaq Stock Market, as such standards apply specifically to members of audit committees. Our board of directors has determined that Dr. Sidransky is an “audit committee financial expert,” as the Securities and Exchange Commission has defined that term in Item 407 of Regulation S-K. Please also see the report of the Audit Committee set forth elsewhere in this proxy statement.

 

A copy of the Audit Committee’s written charter is publicly available on the investor relations section of our website, which is located at http://www.orgenesis.com.

 

Compensation Committee. Our Compensation Committee (“Compensation Committee”) met 5 times during fiscal 2019 and also acted by unanimous written consent from time to time. This committee currently has three members, Dr. Sidransky and Messrs. Adler and Yachin. Our Compensation Committee’s role and responsibilities are set forth in the Compensation Committee’s written charter and includes reviewing, approving and making recommendations regarding our compensation policies, practices and procedures to ensure that legal and fiduciary responsibilities of our board of directors are carried out and that such policies, practices and procedures contribute to our success. Our Compensation Committee also administers our stock and incentive compensation plans. The Compensation Committee is responsible for the determination of the compensation of our chief executive officer, and shall conduct its decision making process with respect to that issue without the chief executive officer present. All members of the Compensation Committee qualify as independent under the definition promulgated by The Nasdaq Stock Market.

 

  14  
     

 

The Compensation Committee is responsible for approving issuances of all compensatory options from the available pool in the amounts and vesting terms that may be presented by the executive officers of the Company from time-to-time. The Compensation Committee does not delegate its authority in such matters.

 

A copy of the Compensation Committee’s written charter is publicly available on the investor relations section of our website, which is located at http://www.orgenesis.com.

 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (“Nominating Committee”) held 4 meetings in fiscal 2019 and has three members, Messrs. Nanda, Adler and Yachin. Our board of directors has determined that Messrs. Nanda, Adler and Yachin qualify as independent under the definition promulgated by The Nasdaq Stock Market. The Nominating Committee’s responsibilities are set forth in the Nominating Committee’s written charter and include assisting our board of directors in:

 

  identifying qualified individuals to become directors,
     
  determining the composition of our board of directors and its committees,
     
  developing succession plans for executive officers,
     
  monitoring a process to assess our board of directors’ effectiveness, and
     
  developing and implementing our corporate governance procedures and policies.

 

While the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has not yet established a formal policy with respect to diversity, our board of directors believes that it is essential that members of our board of directors represent diverse business backgrounds and experience and include individuals with a background in related fields and industries. In considering candidates, our board of directors considers the entirety of each candidate’s credentials in the context of these standards. We believe that the backgrounds and qualifications of our directors, considered as a group, should and do provide a composite mix of experience, knowledge and abilities that will allow our board of directors to fulfill its responsibilities.

 

The Company will consider candidates that are nominated by its stockholders. The name, business experience and other relevant background information of a candidate should be sent to the Chief Executive Officer who will then forward such information to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for their review and consideration. The process for determining whether to nominate a director candidate put forth by a stockholder is the same as that used for reviewing candidates submitted by directors. Other than candidates submitted by its directors and executive officers, the Company has never received a proposed candidate for nomination from any security holder that beneficially owned more than 5% of our common stock.

 

The Company has not, to date, implemented a policy or procedure by which its stockholders can communicate directly with its directors. Due to the small size of the Company and its resources, the Company believes that this is appropriate.

 

A copy of the Nominating Committee’s written charter is publicly available on the investor relations section of our website, which is located at http://www.orgenesis.com.

 

Board Leadership Structure

 

Ms. Caplan has served as our Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson since August 2014. Prior to that time and since December 2013, she was Interim President and Interim Chief Executive Officer. The board of directors believes that its current leadership structure, in which the positions of Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer are held by Ms. Caplan, is appropriate at this time and provides the most effective leadership for the Company in a highly competitive and rapidly changing technology industry. Our board of directors believes that combining the positions of Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer under Ms. Caplan allows for focused leadership of our organization which benefits us in our relationships with investors, customers, suppliers, employees and other constituencies. We believe that any risks inherent in that structure are balanced by the oversight of our independent members of our board of directors. Given Ms. Caplan’s past performance in the roles of Chairperson of the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer, at this time the board of directors believes that combining the positions continues to be the appropriate leadership structure for our Company and does not impair our ability to continue to practice good corporate governance.

 

  15  
     

 

Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

 

Management is responsible for the day-to-day management of risks the Company faces, while the board of directors, as a whole and through its committees, has responsibility for the oversight of material risk management. In its risk oversight role, the board of directors reviews significant individual matters as well as risk management processes designed and implemented by management with respect to risk generally. The board of directors has designated the Audit Committee as the board of directors committee with general risk oversight responsibility. The Audit Committee periodically discusses with management the Company’s major risk exposures and the processes management has implemented to monitor and control those exposures and broader risk categories, including risk assessment and risk management policies.

 

Additionally, members of our senior corporate management and senior executives regularly attend meetings of our board of directors and are available to address inquiries of our board of directors on risk oversight matters. Separate and apart from the periodic risk reviews and other communications between senior executives and the board of directors, many actions that potentially present a higher risk profile, such as acquisitions, material changes to our capital structure, or significant investments, require review or approval of our board of directors or its committees as a matter of oversight and corporate governance.

 

Stockholder Communications to our Board of Directors

 

Generally, stockholders who have questions or concerns should contact our Investor Relations department at (480) 659-6404. The Company has not, to date, implemented a policy or procedure by which its stockholders can communicate directly with its directors. Due to the small size of the Company and its resources, the Company believes that this is appropriate.

 

Executive Officers

 

The following table sets forth certain information as of September 17, 2020 regarding our executive officers who are not also directors.

 

Name   Age   Position
         
Neil Reithinger   50   Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer

 

Neil Reithinger - Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer

 

Mr. Reithinger was appointed Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer on August 1, 2014. Mr. Reithinger is the Founder and President of Eventus Advisory Group, LLC, a private, CFO-services firm incorporated in Arizona, which specializes in capital advisory and SEC compliance for publicly-traded and emerging growth companies. He is also the President of Eventus Consulting, P.C., a registered CPA firm in Arizona. Prior to forming Eventus, Mr. Reithinger was Chief Operating Officer & CFO from March 2009 to December 2009 of New Leaf Brands, Inc., a branded beverage company, CEO of Nutritional Specialties, Inc. from April 2007 to October 2009, a nationally distributed nutritional supplement company that was acquired by Nutraceutical International, Inc., Chairman, CEO, President and director of Baywood International, Inc. from January 1998 to March 2009, a publicly-traded nutraceutical company and Controller of Baywood International, Inc. from December 1994 to January 1998. Mr. Reithinger earned a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Arizona and is a Certified Public Accountant. He is a Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants.

 

  16  
     

 

EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

The following table shows the total compensation paid or accrued during the last two fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and November 30, 2018 and the December 2018 transition period, to our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer and our two next most highly compensated executive officers who earned more than $100,000 during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and were serving as executive officers as of such date (the “named executive officers”).

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and

Principal

Position

  Year  

Salary

($)

   

Bonus

($)

   

Stock

Awards

($)

   

Option

Awards

($) (1)

   

Non-Equity

Incentive

Plan

Compensa-

tion

($)

   

Non-qualified

Deferred

Compensation

Earnings

($)

   

All Other

Compensa-

tion

($) (2)

    Total ($)  
Vered Caplan  CEO (3)   2019     250,000       200,000       -       871,036           -             -       77,020       1,398,056  
    December 2018     25,000       -       -       149,048       -       -       5,554       179,602  
    2018       226,122         350,000             -         1,318,771       -            -       80,697         1,975,590  
Neil Reithinger
CFO, Treasurer & Secretary
  2019     213,653       -       -       22,970       -       -       -       236,623  
    December 2018     21,650       -       -       3,442       -       -       -       25,092  
    2018     266,452 (4)     -       -       139,590       -       -       -       406,042  

Denis Bedoret, President of MaSTherCell Global (5)(6)

  2019     221,954       33,249       -       66,157       -       -       -       321,360  
    December 2018     13,314       6,047       -       5,004       -       -       -       24,365  
    2018     211,847 (6)     56,539       -       20,214       -       -       -       288,600  
Darren Head,
CEO of Masthercell Global (5)
  2019     250,000       112,500       -       9,241       -       -       120,000       491,741  
    December 2018     -       -       -       348,916       -       -       -       348,916  

 

(1) In accordance with SEC rules, the amounts in this column reflect the fair value on the grant date of the option awards granted to the named executive, calculated in accordance with ASC Topic 718. Stock options were valued using the Black-Scholes model. The grant-date fair value does not necessarily reflect the value of shares which may be received in the future with respect to these awards. The grant-date fair value of the stock options in this column is a non-cash expense for the Company that reflects the fair value of the stock options on the grant date and therefore does not affect our cash balance. The fair value of the stock options will likely vary from the actual value the holder receives because the actual value depends on the number of options exercised and the market price of our Common Stock on the date of exercise. For a discussion of the assumptions made in the valuation of the stock options, see Note 16 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

 

  17  
     

 

(2) For 2019 and 2018, represents the compensation as described under the caption “All Other Compensation” below.
   
(3) Due to cash flow considerations, part of the amounts earned have been deferred periodically and, as of November 30, 2018, an aggregate of $195,501 has been deferred by agreement and accrued by the Company. See below under “Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table - Vered Caplan.”
   
(4) As of November 30, 2018, an aggregate of $18,276 has been deferred and accrued by agreement and accrued the Company. See below under “Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table - Neil Reithinger.”
   
(5) As of February 10, 2020, the Company sold Masthercell Global and, accordingly, such officer is no longer an officer or employee of the Company. With respect to Dr. Bedoret, included is (i) the Company compensation option plan of $48,224 and $4,096 for the year ended December 31, 2019 and for the one month ended December 31, 2018 respectively, (ii) the MaSTherCell Global option plan of $17,933 and $908 for the year ended December 31, 2019 and for the one-month ended December 31, 2018, respectively. With respect to Mr. Head, included is MaSTherCell Global compensation option plan of $9,241 and $348,916 for the year ended December 31, 2019 and for the one-month ended December 31, 2018, respectively.
   
(6) On July 6, 2017, MaSTherCell’s Board of Directors appointed Denis Bedoret as General Manager and day-to-day manager of MaSTherCell, effective as of July 11, 2017. On September 5, 2018, Dr. Bedoret was promoted to Managing Director of MaSTherCell. On January 22, 2019, Dr. Bedoret was appointed as President of Masthercell Global. Out of the 2019 amounts earned, $194,550 was paid and $71,123 was deferred by agreement with MaSTherCell.

 

All Other Compensation

 

The following table provides information regarding each component of compensation for fiscal years 2019 and 2018 and the December 2018 transition period included in the All Other Compensation column in the Summary Compensation Table above. Represents amounts paid in New Israeli Shekels (NIS) and converted at average exchange rates for the year.

 

Name   Year    

Automobile and Communication

Related

Expenses

$ (1)

   

Israel-

related

Social

Benefits

$ (2)

   

Total

$

 
    2019       18,876       58,144       77,020  
Vered Caplan     December 2018       1,143       4,411       5,554  
      2018       31,027       49,670       80,697  

 

(1) Represents for Ms. Caplan, a leased automobile and communication expenses.
   
(2) These are comprised of contributions by the Company to savings, severance, pension, disability and insurance plans generally provided in Israel, including education funds and managerial insurance funds. This amount represents Israeli severance fund payments, managerial insurance funds, disability insurance, supplemental education fund contribution, and social securities. See discussion below under “Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table - Vered Caplan.”

 

  18  
     

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2019

 

The following table summarizes the outstanding equity awards held by each named executive officer of our company as of December 31, 2019.

 

Name   Grant Date   Number of Shares Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable     Number of Shares Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable     Option Exercise Price ($)     Option Expiration Date
                           
Vered Caplan   02-Feb-12(1)     278,191       -       0.012     02-Feb-22
    22-Aug-14(1)     230,189       -       0.0012     22-Aug-24
    09-Dec-16(1)     166,667       -       4.80     09-Dec-26
    06-Jun-17(1)     83,334       -       7.20     06-Jun-27
    28-Jun-18(1)     250,000       -       8.36     28-Jun-28
    22-Oct-18(3)     21,250       63,750       5.99     22-Oct-28
Neil Reithinger   09-Dec-16(1)     83,334       -       4.80     09-Dec-26
    08-Mar-19(2)     6,250       18,750       5.07     08-Mar-29
Dr. Denis Bedoret   14-May-18(2)     11,250       3,750       8.43     14-May-28
Darren Head   12-Sep-18(1)     20,000       -       5.30     12-Sep-28

 

(1) The options were fully vested as of December 31, 2019.
   
(2) The options vested on a quarterly basis over a period of two years from the date of grant.
   
(3) The options vest on a quarterly basis over a period of four years from the date of grant.

 

Masthercell Global Option Plan

 

The following table summarizes the outstanding equity awards held by each named executive officer of Masthercell Global as of December 31, 2019.

 

Name   Grant Date   Number of Shares Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable     Number of Shares Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable     Option Exercise Price ($)    

Option

Expiration Date

                           
Dr. Denis Bedoret   12-Dec-18(1)   2,222       14,445       13.52     12-Dec-28
Darren Head   10-Dec-18(2)   44,444       -       13.52     10-Dec-28

 

(1) The options were fully vested as of December 31, 2019.
   
(2) The options vested on a yearly basis over a period of five years from the date of grant.

 

  19  
     

 

Option Exercises in 2019

 

There were no option exercises by our named executive officers during our fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 or the December 2018 transition period.

 

Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table

 

Vered Caplan

 

On August 14, 2014, our Board of Directors confirmed that Ms. Vered Caplan, who has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer on an interim basis since December 23, 2013, was appointed as our President and Chief Executive Officer. In connection with her appointment as our President and Chief Executive Officer, on August 22, 2014, our wholly-owned Israeli Subsidiary, Orgenesis Ltd., entered into a Personal Employment Agreement with Ms. Caplan (the “Caplan Employment Agreement”). The Caplan Employment Agreement replaced a previous employment agreement with Ms. Caplan dated April 1, 2012 pursuant to which she had served as Vice President.

 

On March 30, 2017, we and Ms. Caplan entered into an employment agreement replacing the Caplan Employment Agreement (the “Amended Caplan Employment Agreement”). Under the Amended Caplan Employment Agreement, which took effect April 1, 2017, Ms. Caplan’s annual salary continued at $160,000 per annum, subject to adjustment to $250,000 per annum upon the listing of the Company’s securities on an Exchange. Ms. Caplan is also entitled to an annual cash bonus with a target of 25% of base salary, provided that the actual amount of such bonus may be greater or less than the target amount. Ms. Caplan was entitled to a signing bonus of $150,000 upon execution of the Amended Caplan Employment Agreement. Under the Amended Caplan Employment Agreement, Ms. Caplan is entitled to the following social benefits typically provided to Israeli employees, computed on the basis of her base salary: (i) Manager’s Insurance under Israeli law pursuant to which the Company contributes between 6.5% and 7.5% (and Ms. Caplan contributes an additional 6%), (ii) severance pay under Israeli law pursuant to which the Company contributes 8 1/3% and (iii) Education fund pursuant to which the Company continues to contribute $3,677 a year. In addition, Ms. Caplan is also entitled to paid annual vacation days, annual recreation allowance, sick leave and expenses reimbursement. In addition, we provide Ms. Caplan with a leased company car and a mobile phone.

 

Either we or Ms. Caplan may terminate the employment under the Amended Caplan Employment Agreement upon six months prior written notice. Upon termination by us of Ms. Caplan’s employment without cause (as defined therein) or by Ms. Caplan for any reason whatsoever, in addition to any accrued but unpaid base salary and expense reimbursement, she shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to 12 months of base salary at the highest annualized rate in effect at any time before the employment terminates payable in substantially equal installments. Upon termination by us of Ms. Caplan’s employment without cause (as defined therein) or by Ms. Caplan for any reason following a Change of Control (as defined therein), in addition to any accrued but unpaid base salary and expense reimbursement, she shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to 18 months of one and a half times annual base salary at the highest annualized rate in effect at any time before the employment terminates payable in substantially equal installments.

 

On May 10, 2017, we and Ms. Caplan further amended the Amended Caplan Employment Agreement pursuant to which Ms. Caplan is entitled to a grant under the 2017 of options (the “Initial Option”) to purchase 83,334 shares of the Company’s common stock at a per share exercise price equal to the Fair Market Value (as defined in our 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”)) of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant .The amendment further provides that beginning in fiscal 2018, subject to approval by the compensation committee, Ms. Caplan is entitled to an additional option (the “Additional Option”; together with the Initial Option, the “Options”) under the 2017 Plan for up to 250,000 shares of common stock of the Company to be awarded in such amounts per fiscal year as shall be consistent with the Plan, in each case at a per share exercise price equal to the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan) of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.

 

  20  
     

 

In 2018, following the listing of the Company’s securities on Nasdaq, Ms. Caplan’s annual salary was raised to $250,000. On June 6, 2017 and June 28, 2018 the compensation committee approved a grant of 83,334 and 250,000 stock options, respectively. In October 2018, Ms. Caplan was awarded a further bonus of $200,000 and 85,000 stock options. For additional information, see the Outstanding Equity Awards table above.

 

The employment agreement also contains restrictive covenants for customary protections of the Company’s confidential information and intellectual property.

 

Neil Reithinger

 

Mr. Reithinger was appointed Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary on August 1, 2014. Mr. Reithinger’s employment agreement stipulates a monthly salary of $1,500; payment of an annual bonus as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, participation in the Company’s pension plan; grant of stock options as determined by the Company; and reimbursement of expenses. In addition, on August 1, 2014, the Company entered into a financial consulting agreement with Eventus Consulting, P.C., an Arizona professional corporation, of which Mr. Reithinger is the sole shareholder (“Eventus”), pursuant to which Eventus has agreed to provide financial consulting services to the Company. In consideration for Eventus’ services, the Company agreed to pay Eventus according to its standard hourly rate structure. The term of the consulting agreement was for a period of one year from August 1, 2014 and automatically renews for additional one-year periods upon the expiration of the term unless otherwise terminated. Eventus is owned and controlled by Mr. Reithinger. As of December 31, 2019, Eventus and Mr. Reithinger were owed $37,555 and $2,365 respectively for accrued and unpaid services under the financial consulting agreement.

 

Denis Bedoret

 

Effective October 24, 2017, our subsidiary, MaSTherCell, entered into a management agreement with BM&C SPRL/BVBA, a Belgian company owned by Denis Bedoret, for certain services to be performed by Dr. Bedoret on an exclusive and full-time basis (the “Bedoret Agreement”). The agreement appoints Dr. Bedoret as General Manager of MaSTherCell, requires him to work 220 days annually and stipulates compensation based on revenue with (i) a daily rate of Euro 800 until such time that MaSTherCell’s annual revenue reaches Euro 10 million, (ii) a daily rate of Euro 850 until such time that MaSTherCell’s annual revenue reaches Euro 15 million and (iii) a daily rate of Euro 900 until such time that MaSTherCell’s annual revenue exceeds Euro 15 million. Dr. Bedoret is also entitled to expense reimbursement and a bonus equivalent to up 15% of the annual fees approved by MaSTherCell’s Board of Directors, subject to goals and achievements to be agreed upon by the parties. Dr. Bedoret is also entitled to participation in Orgenesis’ equity incentive plan after six months after the effective date. The Bedoret Agreement also contains customary termination clauses.

 

In May 2018, Dr. Bedoret was awarded 15,000 options. The options shall vest in equal quarterly installments over two years.

 

On September 5, 2018, Dr. Bedoret was promoted to Managing Director of MaSTherCell. On January 22, 2019, Dr. Bedoret was appointed to President of Masthercell Global.

 

Darren Head

 

Darren Head was appointed as President of Masthercell Global on June 28, 2018. He was promoted to the position of CEO of Masthercell Global on January 22, 2019. Mr. Head’s employment contract granted him a base salary from 2019 (the “Base Salary”) of $250,000 per annum provided, that (i) in the event that the U.S. Subsidiary of the Company has achieved revenue of at least $1,000,000 (but less than $3,000,000) for any trailing twelve (12) month period, then Employee’s Base Salary shall thereafter be $325,000 per annum and (ii) in the event that the U.S. Subsidiary of the Company has achieved revenue of at least $3,000,000 for any trailing twelve (12) month period, then Employee’s Base Salary shall thereafter be $400,000 per annum. In addition to the Base Salary, Mr. Head received an annual bonus of $150,000 for each calendar year and 44,444 options as per Masthercell Global’s option plan.

 

  21  
     

 

In September 2018, Darren Head was awarded 20,000 options. The options vested upon grant.

 

Potential Payments upon Change of Control or Termination following a Change of Control

 

Our employment agreements with our named executive officers provide incremental compensation in the event of termination, as described herein. Generally, we currently do not provide any severance specifically upon a change in control nor do we provide for accelerated vesting upon change in control. Termination of employment also impacts outstanding stock options.

 

Due to the factors that may affect the amount of any benefits provided upon the events described below, any actual amounts paid or payable may be different than those shown in this table. Factors that could affect these amounts include the basis for the termination, the date the termination event occurs, the base salary of an executive on the date of termination of employment and the price of our common stock when the termination event occurs.

 

The following table sets forth the compensation that would have been received by each of the Company’s executive officers had they been terminated as of December 31, 2019.

 

    Salary           Accrued     Total  
Name   Continuation     Bonus     Vacation Pay     Value  
Vered Caplan   $             *   $ 62,500     $ 144,298     $ 206,798  

 

(*) Termination by Company without cause: $250,000

 

Termination without cause following a change in control: $375,000

 

Director Compensation

 

The following table sets forth for each non-employee director that served as a director during the year ended December 31, 2019 certain information concerning his or her compensation for the year ended December 31, 2019 and the December 2018 transition period:

 

Year Ended December 31, 2019

 

Name  

Fees

Earned

or

Paid in

Cash

($)

   

Stock

Awards

($)

   

Option

Awards

($) (1)

   

Non-equity

Incentive Plan

Compensation

($)

   

Nonqualified

Deferred

Compensation

Earnings

($)

   

All Other

Compensation

($)

   

Total

($)

 
Guy Yachin     52,500       -       104,498 (2)          -            -              -       156,998  
Yaron Adler     52,500       -       104,498 (3)     -       -       -       156,998  
Dr. David Sidransky     75,000       -       106,118 (4)     -       -       -       181,118  
Ashish Nanda     52,500       -       98,556 (5)     -       -       -       151,056  

 

  22  
     

 

Month Ended December 2018 Transition Period

 

Name  

Fees

Earned

or

Paid in

Cash

($)

   

Stock

Awards

($)

   

Option

Awards

($) (1)

   

Non-equity

Incentive Plan

Compensation

($)

   

Nonqualified

Deferred

Compensation

Earnings

($)

   

All Other

Compensation

($)

   

Total

($)

 
Guy Yachin     4,375       -       12,599            -           -             -       16,974  
Yaron Adler     4,375       -       12,599       -       -       -       16,974  
Dr. David Sidransky     6,250       -       12,770       -       -       -       19,020  
Ashish Nanda     4,375       -       10,254       -       -       -       14,629  

 

(1) In accordance with SEC rules, the amounts in this column reflect the fair value on the grant date of the option awards granted to the named executive, calculated in accordance with ASC Topic 718. Stock options were valued using the Black-Scholes model. The grant-date fair value does not necessarily reflect the value of shares which may be received in the future with respect to these awards. The grant-date fair value of the stock options in this column is a non-cash expense for the Company that reflects the fair value of the stock options on the grant date and therefore does not affect our cash balance. The fair value of the stock options will likely vary from the actual value the holder receives because the actual value depends on the number of options exercised and the market price of our common stock on the date of exercise. For a discussion of the assumptions made in the valuation of the stock options, see Note 16 (Stock Based Compensation) to our financial statements, which are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
   
(2) Aggregate number of option awards outstanding as of December 31, 2019 was 122,184 of which (i) 109,684 options are exercisable as of December 31,2019 and (ii) 12,500 options are exercisable on December 17, 2020. Does not include $192 thousand related to options held by Caerus Therapeutics LLC over which Mr. Yachin does not have beneficial control.
   
(3) Aggregate number of option awards outstanding as of December 31, 2019 was 141,825 of which (i) 129,325 options are exercisable as of December 31,2019 and (ii) 12,500 options are exercisable on December 17, 2020.
   
(4) Aggregate number of option awards outstanding as of December 31, 2019 was 104,201 of which (i) 91,701 options are exercisable as of December 31,2019 and (ii) 12,500 options are exercisable on December 17, 2020.
   
(5) Aggregate number of option awards outstanding as of December 31, 2019 was 39,600 of which (i) 27,100 options are exercisable as of December 31,2019 and (ii) 12,500 options are exercisable on December 17, 2020.

 

All directors receive reimbursement for reasonable out of pocket expenses in attending Board of Directors meetings and for participating in our business.

 

Compensation Policy for Non-Employee Directors.

 

In October 2018, the Board of Directors adopted a compensation policy for non-employee directors which replaced the non-employee director compensation terms discussed above. By its terms, the policy became effective November 2018. Under the adopted policy, each director is to receive an annual cash compensation of $30,000 and the Chairman and Vice Chairman is paid an additional $15,000 per annum. Each committee member will be paid an additional $7,500 per annum and each committee chairman is to receive $15,000 per annum. Cash compensation will be made on a quarterly basis.

 

All newly appointed directors also receive options to purchase up to 6,250 shares of the Company’s common stock. All directors are entitled on an annual bonus of options for 12,500 shares and each committee member is an entitled to a further option to purchase up to 1,250 shares of common stock and each committee chairperson to options for an additional 2,100 shares of common stock. In addition, the Chairman and Vice Chairman shall be granted an option to purchase 4,200 shares of the Company’s ordinary shares. In all cases, the options are granted at a per share exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company’s publicly traded stock on the date of grant and the vesting schedule is determined by the compensation committee at the time of grant.

 

  23  
     

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

None of our executive officers has served as a member of the Board of Directors, or as a member of the compensation or similar committee, of any entity that has one or more executive officers who served on our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

 

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Existing Equity Compensation Plans

 

The following table summarizes certain information regarding our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2019:

 

Plan Category  

Number of Securities

to be Issued Upon

Exercise of

Outstanding Options

   

Weighted-Average

Exercise Price of

Outstanding Options

   

Number of Securities

Remaining Available for

Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation

Plans (Excluding

Securities Reflected in

Column (a))

 
    (a)     (b)     (c)  
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (1)     1,275,034     $ 6.58       1,724,966  
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders     1,788,798     $ 3.35       316,676  
Total     3,063,832     $ 4.69       2,041,642  

 

(1) Consists of the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan and the Global Share Incentive Plan (2012). For a short description of those plans, see Note 16 to our 2019 Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

 

 

REPORT OF AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

The Audit Committee of our board of directors, which consists entirely of directors who meet the independence and experience requirements of The Nasdaq Capital Market, has furnished the following report:

 

The Audit Committee assists our board of directors in overseeing and monitoring the integrity of our financial reporting process, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the quality of internal and external audit processes. This committee’s role and responsibilities are set forth in our charter adopted by our board of directors, which is available on our website at https://www.orgenesis.com. This committee reviews and reassesses our charter annually and recommends any changes to our board of directors for approval. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing our overall financial reporting process, and for the appointment, compensation, retention, and oversight of the work of Kesselman & Kesselman C.P.A.s. In fulfilling its responsibilities for the financial statements for fiscal year December 31, 2019, the Audit Committee took the following actions:

 

  [  ] Reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 with management and Kesselman & Kesselman C.P.A.s, our independent registered public accounting firm;
     
  [  ] Discussed with Kesselman & Kesselman C.P.A.s the matters required to be discussed in accordance with Auditing Standard No. 1301- Communications with Audit committees; and
     
  [  ] Received written disclosures and the letter from Kesselman & Kesselman C.P.A.s regarding its independence as required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding Kesselman & Kesselman C.P.A.s’ communications with the Audit Committee and the Audit Committee further discussed with Kesselman & Kesselman C.P.A.s their independence. The Audit Committee also considered the status of pending litigation, taxation matters and other areas of oversight relating to the financial reporting and audit process that the committee determined appropriate.

 

Based on the Audit Committee’s review of the audited financial statements and discussions with management and Kesselman & Kesselman C.P.A.s, the Audit Committee recommended to our board of directors that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 for filing with the SEC.

 

  Members of the Orgenesis Inc. Audit Committee
   
  David Sidransky
  Guy Yachin
  Mario Philips

 

  24  
     

 

DELINQUENT SECTION 16(a) REPORTS

 

Our records reflect that all reports which were required to be filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, were filed on a timely basis, except that one report, covering an aggregate of three transactions, were filed late by Vered Caplan, two reports, covering an aggregate of two transactions, were filed late by David Sidransky, two reports, covering an aggregate of seven transactions, were filed late by Yaron Adler, two reports, covering an aggregate of three transactions, were filed late by Guy Yachin, one report covering an aggregate of one transaction, was filed late by Denis Bedoret, two reports, covering an aggregate of two transactions, were filed late by Ashish Nanda, one report, covering an aggregate of two transactions, was filed late by Neil Reithinger and an initial report of ownership was filed late by each of Denis Bedoret, Ashish Nanda and Neil Reithinger.

 

  25  
     

 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

 

Our Audit Committee Charter adopted in March 2017 requires all future transactions between us and any director, executive officer, holder of 5% or more of any class of our capital stock or any member of the immediate family of, or entities affiliated with, any of them, or any other related persons, as defined in Item 404 of Regulation S-K, or their affiliates, in which the amount involved is equal to or greater than $120,000, be approved in advance by our Audit Committee. Any request for such a transaction must first be presented to our Audit Committee for review, consideration and approval. In approving or rejecting any such proposal, our Audit Committee is to consider all available information deemed relevant by the Audit Committee, including, but not limited to, the extent of the related person’s interest in the transaction, and whether the transaction is on terms no less favorable to us than terms we could have generally obtained from an unaffiliated third party under the same or similar circumstances.

 

On September 15, 2014, the Company received a loan in the principal amount of $100,000 from Yaron Adler Investments (1999) Ltd., an entity of which Mr. Yaron Adler, one of the Company’s non-employee directors, is the sole shareholder. The loan, with an original interest rate of 6% per annum, was repayable on or before March 15, 2015. The loan currently bears a default interest rate of 24% per annum and, as of November 30, 2017, the outstanding balance on the note was $166,581. The loan was converted into our common stock in 2018.

 

In January 2017, the Company entered into definitive agreements with Image Securities fzc. (“Image”) for the private placement of 2,564,115 units of the Company’s securities for aggregate subscription proceeds to the Company of $16 million at $6.24 price per unit. In July 2018, the Company entered into definitive agreements with assignees of Image whereby these assignees remitted $4.6 million in respect of the units available under the original subscription agreement that have not been subscribed for, entitling such investors to 702,307 units, with each unit being comprised of (i) one share of the Company’s common stock and (ii) one three-year warrant to purchase up to an additional one share of the Company’s common stock at a per share exercise price of $6.24.

 

In July 2018, the Company entered into definitive agreements with assignees of Image whereby these assignees remitted $4.6 million in respect of the units available under the original subscription agreement that have not been subscribed for, entitling such investors to 702,307 units, with each unit being comprised of (i) one share of the Company’s common stock and (ii) one three-year warrant to purchase up to an additional one share of the Company’s common stock at a per share exercise price of $6.24.

 

On July 2018, we entered into a joint venture agreement with Image Securities Ltd., a corporation with its registered office in Grand Cayman, Grand Cayman Islands (“India Partner”), pursuant to which we agreed to collaborate in the development and/or marketing, clinical development and commercialization of cell therapy products in India. The India Partner will collaborate with a network of healthcare facilities and a healthcare infrastructure as well as financial partners to advance the development and commercialization of the cell therapy products in India. Effective January 1, 2019, the Company entered into a master service agreement for the provision of certain POC services. Payments of $1.5 million for these POC services were received during 2019. Total amount of $1,270 thousand was recognized as income during the year ended December 31, 2019. Prior to the establishment of the JV Entity, all activities are being carried out by the India Partner.

 

During 2018, the Company raised $6.9 million from Image entitling it to 1,111,380 shares of Common Stock and three-year warrants for an additional 1,111,380 shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a per share exercise price of $6.24. Following this remittance and those referred to in the previous paragraph, the Company received a total of $16 million out of the committed $16 million subscription proceeds under such agreement

 

Pursuant to an agreement entered into between the Company and Image, so long as Image’s ownership of the company is 10% or greater, it is entitled to nominate a director to the Company’s board of directors. Mr. Nanda was nominated for a directorship at the 2017 annual meeting in compliance with our contractual undertakings.

 

  26  
     

 

Proposal No. 1

 

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

(Notice Item 1)

 

On September 7, 2020, our board of directors nominated Vered Caplan, Guy Yachin, David Sidransky, Yaron Adler, Ashish Nanda and Mario Philips for election at the annual meeting. If they are elected, they will serve on our board of directors until the 2021 annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their respective successors have been elected and qualified.

 

Unless authority to vote for any of these nominees is withheld, the shares represented by the enclosed proxy will be voted FOR the election of Vered Caplan, Guy Yachin, David Sidransky, Yaron Adler, Ashish Nanda and Mario Philips as directors. In the event that any nominee becomes unable or unwilling to serve, the shares represented by the enclosed proxy will be voted for the election of such other person as our board of directors may recommend in that nominee’s place. We have no reason to believe that any nominee will be unable or unwilling to serve as a director.

 

A plurality of the shares voted for each nominee at the Meeting is required to elect each nominee as a director.

 

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THE ELECTION OF VERED CAPLAN, GUY YACHIN, DAVID SIDRANSKY, YARON ADLER, ASHISH NANDA AND MARIO PHILIPS AS DIRECTORS, AND PROXIES SOLICITED BY OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR THEREOF UNLESS A STOCKHOLDER HAS INDICATED OTHERWISE ON THE PROXY.

 

  27  
     

 

Proposal No. 2

 

RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

(Notice Item 2)

 

The Audit Committee has appointed Kesselman & Kesselman C.P.A.s, a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, as our independent registered public accounting firm, to audit our financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. Kesselman & Kesselman C.P.A.s has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since 2012. Our board of directors proposes that the stockholders ratify this appointment. Kesselman & Kesselman C.P.A.s audited our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. We expect that representatives of Kesselman & Kesselman C.P.A.s will be present at the annual meeting, will be able to make a statement if they so desire, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

 

In deciding to appoint Kesselman & Kesselman C.P.A.s, the Audit Committee reviewed auditor independence issues and existing commercial relationships with Kesselman & Kesselman C.P.A.s and concluded that Kesselman & Kesselman C.P.A.s has no commercial relationship with the Company that would impair its independence for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.

 

The following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered by Kesselman & Kesselman C.P.A.s for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2019 and November 30, 2018, and for the one month transition period ended December 2018, and fees billed for other services rendered by Kesselman & Kesselman C.P.A.s during those periods.

 

Services   2019     December 2018     2018  
Audit Fees (1)   $ 426,040       43,882       365,300  
Audit-Related fees (2)     26,900       -       16,475  
Tax fees (3)     18,300       -       31,822  
Other     49,500       -       -  
Total fees   $ 520,740       43,882       413,597  

 

  (1) Audit fees consisted of audit work performed in the preparation of financial statements, as well as work generally only the independent registered public accounting firm can reasonably be expected to provide, such as statutory audits.
     
  (2) Audit related fees consisted principally of audits of employee benefit plans and special procedures related to regulatory filings in 2019.
     
  (3) The tax fees were paid for reviewing various tax related matters.

 

Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Public Accountant

 

Our Audit Committee preapproves all services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. All of the above services and fees were reviewed and approved by our board of directors before the respective services were rendered. Our board of directors has considered the nature and amount of fees billed by Kesselman & Kesselman and believes that the provision of services for activities unrelated to the audit is compatible with maintaining their respective independence.

 

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF KESSELMAN & KESSELMAN C.P.A.S AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM, AND PROXIES SOLICITED BY OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF SUCH RATIFICATION UNLESS A STOCKHOLDER INDICATES OTHERWISE ON THE PROXY.

 

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Proposal No. 3

 

ADVISORY VOTE ON APPROVAL OF EXECUTIVE cOMPENSATION AS DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT

 

(Notice Item 3)

 

We are seeking your advisory vote as required by Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, on the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers as described in the compensation tables and related material contained in this proxy statement. Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding on our Compensation Committee or our Board of Directors. However, the Compensation Committee and our board of directors will review the voting results and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation. We have determined to hold an advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers every three years, and the next such advisory vote will occur at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

Our compensation philosophy is designed to align each executive’s compensation with Orgenesis’ short-term and long-term performance and to provide the compensation and incentives needed to attract, motivate and retain key executives who are crucial to our long-term success. Consistent with this philosophy, a significant portion of the total compensation opportunity for each of our executives is directly related to performance factors that measure our progress against the goals of our strategic and operating plans, as well as our performance against that of our peer companies.

 

In accordance with the rules of the SEC, the following resolution, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” vote, is being submitted for a stockholder vote at the 2020 annual meeting:

 

“RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the named executive officers of Orgenesis Inc., as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the compensation tables and the related material disclosed in this proxy statement, is hereby APPROVED.”

 

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the annual meeting is required to approve, on an advisory basis, this resolution.

 

Our board of directors Recommends A Vote To Approve The Compensation Of Our Named Executive Officers, And Proxies Solicited By Our board of directors Will Be Voted In Favor Of Such Approval Unless A Stockholder Indicates Otherwise On The Proxy.

 

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CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICS

 

We have adopted a code of conduct and ethics that applies to all of our employees, including our chief executive officer and chief financial and accounting officers. The text of the code of conduct and ethics is posted on the investor relations section of our website, which is located at http://www.orgenesis.com, and will be made available to stockholders without charge, upon request, in writing to the Corporate Secretary at Orgenesis Inc., 20271 Goldenrod Lane, Germantown, MD, 20876, Attn: Secretary. We also intend to disclose any amendments to the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, or any waivers of its requirements, on our website.

 

OTHER MATTERS

 

Our board of directors knows of no other business which will be presented to the annual meeting. If any other business is properly brought before the annual meeting, proxies will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the persons named therein.

 

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS FOR DIRECTOR

 

To be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement relating to our 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, we must receive stockholder proposals (other than for director nominations) no later than 120 days prior to the date that is one year from this year’s mailing date. To be considered for presentation at the 2021 Annual Meeting, although not included in the proxy statement, proposals (including director nominations that are not requested to be included in our proxy statement) must be received no earlier than the close of business on the 150th day (June 21, 2021) nor later than the close of business on the 120th day (July 21, 2021) prior to the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s Annual Meeting as first specified in the notice of meeting (without regard to any postponements or adjournments of such meeting after the notice was first given). The notice must include information concerning the nominee or proposal, as the case may be, and information concerning the proposing or nominating stockholder’s ownership of and agreements related to our stock. If the 2021 Annual Meeting is held more than 30 days before or after the first anniversary of the date of the 2020 Annual Meeting, the stockholder must submit notice of any such nomination and of any such proposal that is not made pursuant to Rule 14a-8 by the later of the 90th day prior to the 2021 Annual Meeting or the 10th day following the date on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Proposals that are not received in a timely manner will not be voted on at the 2021 Annual Meeting. If a proposal is received on time, the proxies that management solicits for the meeting may still exercise discretionary voting authority on the proposal under circumstances consistent with the proxy rules of the SEC. All stockholder proposals should be marked for the attention of Corporate Secretary, Orgenesis Inc., 20271 Goldenrod Lane, Germantown, MD, 20876.

 

Germantown, MD

 

September 23, 2020

 

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