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:
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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. |
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Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11. |
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Title
of each class of securities to which transaction
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number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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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
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Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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Total
fee paid: |
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Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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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: |
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previously paid: |
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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.
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Sincerely, |
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/s/
Vered Caplan |
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Vered
Caplan |
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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:
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To
elect six (6) directors to serve one-year terms expiring in
2021; |
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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; |
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To
approve by an advisory vote the compensation of our named executive
officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement; and |
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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.
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BY
ORDER OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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/s/ Neil Reithinger |
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Chief
Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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.
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.
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.
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:
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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. |
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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. |
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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.
How
Does Our Board of Directors Recommend that I Vote on the
Proposals?
Our
board of directors recommends that you vote as follows:
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“FOR”
the election of the nominees for director; |
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“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 |
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“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:
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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; |
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by
re-voting by Internet or by telephone as instructed
above; |
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by
notifying Orgenesis’ Secretary in writing before the annual meeting
that you have revoked your proxy; or |
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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.
What
Vote is Required to Approve Each Proposal and How are Votes
Counted?
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Proposal
1: Elect Directors |
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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. |
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Proposal
2: Ratify Appointment of
Independent
Registered Public
Accounting
Firm
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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. |
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Proposal
3: Approve an Advisory
Vote on the
Compensation of our
Named Executive
Officers
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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.
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.
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. |
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 |
% |
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. |
(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 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. |
(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.” |
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. |
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.
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.
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 |
|
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.
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 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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