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
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Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant ¨
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Check
the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy
Statement
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Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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x
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Definitive Proxy
Statement
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Definitive Additional
Materials
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Soliciting Material
under §240.14a-12
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Trevena,
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):
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x
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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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(1)
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Title of each class of securities to
which transaction applies:
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction
applies:
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5)
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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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(1)
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Amount Previously Paid:
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(2)
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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Filing Party:
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Date Filed:
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April 13, 2020
955 Chesterbrook Boulevard, Suite 110
Chesterbrook, PA 19087
Dear Trevena Stockholder:
On behalf of the Trevena, Inc. Board of Directors and our senior
management team, we are pleased to invite you to our 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on May 13, 2020. Due to rising concerns
around the spread of COVID-19 in the United States and globally, the Annual Meeting will be a virtual stockholder meeting through
which you can listen to the meeting, submit questions and vote online. The attached Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
and proxy statement contain important information about the business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting.
Your vote is very important. Whether or not you plan to attend
the Annual Meeting, we hope that you will vote as soon as possible. Please review the instructions on each of your voting options
described in the Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials. Additional instructions on how to vote can be
found on pages 2 through 4 of the proxy statement.
We hope that you can attend the Annual Meeting. As always,
thank you for your continued support of Trevena.
Sincerely,
Carrie L. Bourdow
President and Chief Executive Officer
NOTICE OF 2020 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Date and Time:
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Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time
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Place:
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The Annual Meeting will be held virtually at the following website: www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/TRVN2020, and
can be accessed by entering the 16-digit control number included on the proxy card mailed to you.
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Items of Business:
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Proposal 1: Election of the three director nominees named in the
proxy statement for terms expiring at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Proposal 2: Ratification
of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.
Proposal 3: Approval,
on a non-binding advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’s named executive
officers.
Proposal 4: Approval,
on a non-binding advisory basis, of the frequency of the non-binding advisory
vote on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.
Proposal 5: Approval
of an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation,
as amended, if determined necessary by the Company’s Board of Directors, in its
sole discretion, to implement a reverse stock split of the Company’s common stock,
at a ratio in the range of 1-for-2 to 1-for-15, which ratio shall be determined by the
Company’s Board of Directors in its sole discretion.
Consideration of any other
business properly brought before the Annual Meeting.
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Record Date:
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Monday, March 16, 2020. Only Trevena stockholders of record at the close of business on the record date are entitled to receive
this notice and vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting. A list of stockholders
of the Company entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be available for inspection by any stockholder of record upon request
during the 10-day period immediately prior to the date of the Annual Meeting. The list will be available during the Annual Meeting
for inspection by stockholders of record for any legally valid purpose related to the Annual Meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/TRVN2020.
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Proxy Voting:
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Your vote is very important, regardless of
the number of shares you own. We urge you to promptly vote by telephone, by using the Internet, or, if you received a proxy card
or instruction form, by completing, dating, signing and returning it by mail. For instructions on voting, please see
Questions and Answers about the Annual Meeting and Voting beginning on page 2.
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April 13, 2020
By order of the Board of Directors,
Scott Applebaum
Corporate Secretary
EACH STOCKHOLDER IS URGED TO VOTE BY COMPLETING, SIGNING
AND RETURNING
THE PROXY CARD IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED OR BY VOTING VIA THE INTERNET
OR BY TELEPHONE, IN EACH CASE IN THE MANNER DESCRIBED IN THE NOTICE
REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS. IF A STOCKHOLDER
DECIDES TO VIRTUALLY ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, HE OR SHE MAY, IF SO
DESIRED, REVOKE THE PROXY AND VOTE THE SHARES OVER THE INTERNET DURING THE ANNUAL MEETING.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY
OF PROXY MATERIALS
FOR THE ANNUAL STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 13, 2020
Our 2020 Notice
of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement and 2019 Annual Report to Stockholders are available at www.proxyvote.com.
Please see "Information
About the 2020 Annual Meeting" beginning on page 1 of this proxy statement for the following information:
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Date, time,
and location of the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders;
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How to access
the virtual Annual Meeting;
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How to vote
via the internet during the Annual Meeting;
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An identification
of each separate matter to be acted on at the Annual Meeting; and
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The recommendations
of our Board of Directors regarding those matters.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
and Proxy Statement
INFORMATION ABOUT
THE 2020 ANNUAL MEETING
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
ABOUT THE PROXY MATERIALS
Why
did I receive proxy materials? What is included in the proxy materials?
Our Board of Directors is soliciting your proxy to vote at
the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. You received proxy materials because you owned shares of Trevena common stock at the
close of business on March 16, 2020, the record date, and that entitles you to vote at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Proxy materials include the notice of annual meeting of stockholders,
the proxy statement and our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and, if you received paper copies,
a proxy card or voting instruction form. The proxy statement describes the matters on which the Board of Directors would like
you to vote, and provides information about Trevena that we must disclose under Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations
when we solicit your proxy.
Your proxy will authorize specified persons, each of whom also
is referred to as a proxy, to vote on your behalf at the Annual Meeting. By use of a proxy, you can vote whether or not you attend
the Annual Meeting via the internet. The written document by which you authorize a proxy to vote on your behalf is referred to
as a proxy card.
We intend to mail these proxy materials on or about April 13,
2020 to all stockholders of record entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
How can I get electronic
access to the proxy materials?
The proxy materials are available for viewing at www.proxyvote.com.
On this website, you may:
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vote
your shares after you have viewed the proxy materials; and
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select
a future delivery preference of paper or electronic copies of the proxy materials.
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You may choose to receive proxy materials electronically in
the future. If you choose to do so, you will receive an email with instructions containing an electronic link to the proxy materials
for next year’s annual meeting. You also will receive an electronic link to the proxy voting site.
Rules adopted by the SEC allow companies
to send stockholders a notice of Internet availability of proxy materials only, rather than mail them full sets of proxy materials.
This year, we chose to mail full packages of proxy materials to stockholders. However, in the future we may take advantage of
this alternative “notice only” distribution option. If in the future we choose to send only such notices, they would
contain instructions on how stockholders can access our notice of annual meeting and proxy statement via the Internet. It also
would contain instructions on how stockholders could request to receive their materials electronically or in printed form on a
one-time or ongoing basis.
If you hold your shares through a bank, broker or other custodian,
you also may have the opportunity to receive the proxy materials electronically. Please check the information contained in the
documents provided to you by your bank, broker or other custodian.
We encourage you to
take advantage of the availability of the proxy materials electronically to help reduce the environmental impact of the Annual
Meeting.
Notice
of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 1
INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2020 ANNUAL MEETING (CONTINUED)
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL
MEETING AND VOTING
What am I voting on at the
Annual Meeting?
Proposal
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Description
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Board’s
Vote
Recommendation
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Page
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1
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Election of the three director nominees named in this
proxy statement for terms expiring at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
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Vote
FOR each of the nominees
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13
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2
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Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young
LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020
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Vote
FOR
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23
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3
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Approval, on a non-binding
advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’s
named executive officers
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Vote
FOR
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26
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4
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Approval, on a non-binding
advisory basis, of the frequency of the
advisory vote on compensation of the Company’s named executive officers
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Vote
FOR 1 YEAR
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27
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5
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Approval of an amendment to the Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation (as amended, the Certificate of Incorporation) to effectuate a reverse stock split, if determined
necessary by the Company’s Board of Directors, in its sole discretion
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Vote
FOR
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29
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Could
other matters be decided at the Annual Meeting?
We are not aware of any other matters that will be presented
and voted upon at the Annual Meeting. Our 2019 proxy statement described the requirements under our governance documents for properly
submitting proposals or nominations from the floor at this year’s Annual Meeting. The proxies will have discretionary authority,
to the extent permitted by law, on how to vote on other matters that may come before the Annual Meeting.
How
many votes can be cast by all stockholders?
Each share of Trevena common stock is entitled to one vote
on each of the three directors to be elected and one vote on each of the other matters properly presented at the Annual Meeting.
We had 97,863,990 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote on March 16, 2020.
How
many votes must be present to hold the Annual Meeting?
A majority of the issued and
outstanding shares entitled to vote, or 48,931,996 shares, present or by proxy, are needed for a quorum to hold the Annual Meeting.
Abstentions and broker non-votes (discussed below) are included in determining whether a quorum is present. We urge you
to vote by proxy even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. This will help us know that enough votes will be present to hold
the Annual Meeting.
How
many votes are needed to approve each proposal? How do abstentions or broker non-votes affect the voting results?
The following table summarizes the vote threshold required
for approval of each proposal and the effect on the outcome of the vote of abstentions and uninstructed shares held by brokers
or nominees (referred to as broker non-votes). When a beneficial owner does not provide voting instructions to the institution
that holds the shares in street name, brokers or nominees may not vote those shares in matters deemed non-routine. Proposals 1,
3 and 4 below are deemed to be “non-routine” matters, and as a result, your broker or nominee may not vote your shares
on Proposals 1, 3 and 4 in the absence of your instruction. Proposal 2 is considered to be a “routine” matter, and
as a result, your broker or nominee may vote your shares in its discretion either for or against Proposal 2 even in the absence
of your instruction. If you are a beneficial owner and want to ensure that all of the shares you beneficially own are voted for
or against Proposal 2, you must give your broker or nominee specific instructions to do so. We believe Proposal 5 is a “routine”
matter, in which case your broker or nominee may vote your shares in its discretion either for or against Proposal 5, even in
the absence of your instruction; however, any broker non-votes would be counted “against” Proposal 5 because a majority
of shares outstanding is required for approval.
2 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
Proposal
Number
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Summary Description
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Vote Required for
Approval
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Effect of Abstentions
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Effect of Broker Non-Votes
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1
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Election of directors
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Plurality of votes
cast
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No effect
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Not voted/No effect
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2
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Ratification of the appointment
of independent registered public accounting firm
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Majority of shares present and
entitled to vote
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Counted “against”
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Shares may be voted by brokers
in their discretion, but any non-votes have no effect
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3
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Approval, on a non-binding
advisory basis, of the compensation of Company’s named executive officers
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Non-binding advisory vote of majority
of shares present and entitled to vote
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Counted “against”
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Not voted/No effect
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4
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Approval, on a non-binding
advisory basis, of frequency of advisory vote on compensation of Company’s named executive officers
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Non-binding advisory vote of majority
of shares present and entitled to vote
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Counted “against”
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Not voted/No effect
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5
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Approval of amendment to
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to effectuate reverse stock split if determined necessary by the Company’s
Board of Directors, in its sole discretion
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Majority of shares outstanding
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Counted “against”
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Shares may be voted by brokers
in their discretion, and any broker non-votes would be counted “against”
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Signed but unmarked proxy cards will be voted “for”
each proposal.
How do I attend the Annual Meeting?
The Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 13, 2020
at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Due to rising concerns around the spread of COVID-19 in the United States and globally, the Annual
Meeting will be a virtual stockholder meeting through which you can listen to the meeting, submit questions and vote online. The
Annual Meeting can be accessed by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/TRVN2020 on May 13, 2020, using the 16-digit
control number included on the proxy card mailed to you. We recommend that you log in a few minutes before the Annual Meeting
begins to ensure you are logged in when the meeting starts. Online check-in will begin at 8:25 a.m. Eastern Time.
How do I vote if I own shares as a record holder?
If your name is registered on Trevena’s stockholder records
as the owner of shares, you are the “record holder.” If you hold shares as a record holder on the record date, there
are four ways that you can vote your shares.
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Over
the Internet (before the Annual Meeting). Vote at www.proxyvote.com. The
Internet voting system is available 24 hours a day until 11:59 p.m. Eastern
Time on Tuesday, May 12, 2020. Once you enter the Internet voting system, you can
record and confirm (or change) your voting instructions.
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By telephone.
Use the telephone number shown on your proxy card. The telephone voting system
is available 24 hours a day in the United States until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
on Tuesday, May 12, 2020. Once you enter the telephone voting system, a series of
prompts will tell you how to record and confirm (or change) your voting instructions.
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By mail.
If you received a proxy card, mark your voting instructions on the card and sign,
date and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided. If you received only a notice
of Internet availability but want to vote by mail, the notice includes instructions on
how to request a paper proxy card. For your mailed proxy card to be counted, we must
receive it before 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
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Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 3
INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2020 ANNUAL
MEETING (CONTINUED)
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Over
the Internet (during the Annual Meeting). Attend, or have your personal representative
with a valid legal proxy attend, the virtual Annual Meeting by logging in to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/TRVN2020
on May 13, 2020, using the 16-digit control number included on the proxy card that
was mailed to you.
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How do I vote if my Trevena
shares are held by a bank, broker or custodian?
If your shares are held by a bank, broker or other custodian
(commonly referred to as shares held “in street name”), the holder of your shares will provide you with a copy of
this proxy statement, a voting instruction form and directions on how to provide voting instructions. These directions may allow
you to vote over the Internet or by telephone.
Proposal 2 is deemed be a “routine” matter. Therefore,
if you are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of your broker or other nominee and you fail to provide instructions
to your broker or nominee as to how to vote your shares on this proposal, your broker or nominee will have the discretion to vote
your shares on such proposal. Accordingly, if you fail to provide voting instructions to your broker or nominee, your broker or
nominee can vote your shares on the proposal in a manner that is contrary to what you intend. For example, if you are against
the approval of Proposal 2 but you do not provide any voting instructions to your broker, your broker can nonetheless vote your
shares “For” Proposal 2. Proposal 5 is a “routine” matter, and your broker or nominee may vote your shares
in its discretion either for or against Proposal 5, even in the absence of your instruction; however, any broker non-votes would
be counted “Against” Proposal 5 because a majority of shares outstanding is required for approval. If you are a
beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of your broker or other nominee, we strongly encourage you to provide voting
instructions to the broker or nominee that holds your shares to ensure that your shares are voted in the manner in which you want
them to be voted.
If you hold shares in street name and want to vote over the
internet during the Annual Meeting, you will need to ask your bank, broker or custodian to provide you with a valid legal proxy.
You will need the proxy in hand when attending the Annual Meeting in order to vote. Please note that if you request a legal proxy
from your bank, broker or custodian, any previously executed proxy will be revoked and your vote will not be counted unless you
vote over the Internet during the Annual Meeting or appoint another valid legal proxy to vote on your behalf.
Can I change my vote?
Yes. If you are a record holder, you may:
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Enter new instructions
by telephone or Internet voting before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, May 12,
2020;
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Send a new
proxy card with a later date than the card submitted earlier. We must receive your new
proxy card before 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 13, 2020;
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Write to the
Corporate Secretary at the address listed on page 55. Your letter should contain the
name in which your shares are registered, the date of the proxy you wish to revoke or
change, your new voting instructions, if applicable, and your signature. Your letter
must be received by the Corporate Secretary before 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday,
May 13, 2020; or
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Vote over the
internet during the Annual Meeting (or have a personal representative with a valid proxy
vote). Note that simply attending the Annual Meeting without voting will not, by itself,
revoke your proxy.
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If you hold your shares in street name, you may:
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Submit new
voting instructions in the manner provided by your bank, broker or other custodian; or
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Contact your
bank, broker or other custodian to request a proxy to vote over the internet during the
Annual Meeting.
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4 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2020 ANNUAL
MEETING (CONTINUED)
Who will count the votes?
Is my vote confidential?
Trevena’s Chief Financial Officer, Barry Shin, has been
appointed Inspector of Election for the Annual Meeting. The Inspector of Election will determine the number of shares outstanding,
the shares represented at the Annual Meeting, the existence of a quorum, and the validity of proxies and ballots, and will count
all votes and ballots.
All votes are confidential. Your voting records will not be
disclosed to us, except as required by law, in contested Board elections or certain other limited circumstances.
Can I ask questions at
the Annual Meeting?
If you would like to submit a question, you may do so by joining
the virtual Annual Meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/TRVN2020 and typing your question in the box in the Annual
Meeting portal.
What if I need technical
assistance accessing or participating in the virtual Annual Meeting?
If you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual Annual
Meeting during the check-in or meeting time, please call the technical support number that will be posted on the Virtual Stockholder
Meeting log in page. Technical support will be available starting at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
Who pays for the proxy
solicitation and how will Trevena solicit votes?
We pay the cost of preparing our proxy materials and soliciting
your vote. Proxies may be solicited on our behalf by our directors, officers, employees and agents by telephone, electronic or
facsimile transmission or in person. We may choose to enlist the help of banks and brokerage houses in soliciting proxies from
their customers and, in all cases, will reimburse them for their related out-of-pocket expenses.
Where can I find the voting
results of the Annual Meeting?
We will publish the voting results of the Annual Meeting on
a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC. The Form 8-K will be available online at www.sec.gov within
four business days following the end of our Annual Meeting. If final voting results are not available to us in time to file a
Form 8-K within four business days after the Annual Meeting, we intend to file a Form 8-K to publish preliminary results and,
within four business days after the final results are known to us, file an additional Form 8-K to publish the final results.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
IF YOU PLAN TO VIRTUALLY ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING
You must be able to show that you owned Trevena common stock
on the record date, March 16, 2020, in order to gain admission to the Annual Meeting. When you log in to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/TRVN2020,
you will be required to enter the 16-digit control number contained on your proxy card that evidences that you are a stockholder
of record. Registration for the Annual Meeting will begin at 8:15 a.m. Eastern Time on May 13, 2020.
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 5
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
GOVERNANCE POLICIES
AND PRACTICES
Trevena is committed to ensuring strong corporate governance
practices on behalf of our stockholders. Trevena’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, together with the charters of the Audit,
Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees, establishes a framework of policies and practices for our effective
governance. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines, which are available at www.trevena.com/investors/corporate-governance
, address Board composition, leadership, performance and compensation, director qualifications, director independence, committee
structure and roles, and succession planning, among other things. The Board, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
and the other committees regularly review their governance policies and practices and developments in corporate governance and
update these documents as they deem appropriate for Trevena.
The following describes some of our most significant governance
practices by area.
For more information about our executive compensation governance
policies and practices, see Executive Compensation beginning on page 39.
6 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (CONTINUED)
ROLE OF THE BOARD
AND LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE
The Board’s primary role is the oversight of the management
of Trevena’s business affairs and assets in accordance with the Board’s fiduciary duties to stockholders under Delaware
law. To fulfill its responsibilities to our stockholders, Trevena’s Board, both directly and through its committees, regularly
engages with management, promotes management accountability and reviews the most critical issues that face Trevena. Among other
things, the Board reviews the Company’s strategy and mission, its execution on financial and strategic plans, and succession
planning. The Board also oversees risk management and determines the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), in consultation
with the Compensation Committee. All directors play an active role in overseeing the Company’s business strategy at the
Board and committee levels. The Board is committed to meeting the dynamic needs of the Company and focusing on the interests of
its stockholders and, as a result, regularly evaluates and adapts its composition, role, and relationship with management.
Independent Board Members
Trevena believes in the importance of a board comprised largely
of independent, non-employee directors. Currently, the Board has determined that all Trevena directors, other than the Company’s
CEO, Carrie L. Bourdow, and former CEO, Maxine Gowen, are independent under Nasdaq listing standards and SEC rules. Similarly,
at the committee level, all committee members are independent.
Independent Chairman of
the Board
We separate the roles of the Chairman of the Board and CEO,
and have appointed Leon O. Moulder, Jr., to serve as our independent Chairman. We believe that having a Chairman separate from
the CEO helps to ensure independent oversight of the Company and the management team and contributes to strong governance practices.
The Board regularly assesses the appropriateness of this leadership structure and has concluded that this structure is appropriate
for Trevena at this time. The full Board evaluates the Chairman’s performance on an annual basis.
The following table describes the key responsibilities that
the Board has delegated to the Chairman of the Board:
Risk Oversight
Risk is inherent with every business, and we face a number
of risks, including, but not limited to, strategic, financial, business and operational, legal and compliance and cybersecurity
risks. One of the Board's key functions is informed oversight of our risk management process. The Board does not have a standing
risk management committee, but rather administers this oversight function directly through the Board as a whole, as well as through
various Board standing committees that address risks inherent in their respective areas of oversight. In particular, our Board
is responsible for monitoring and assessing strategic risk exposure, including a determination of the nature and level of risk
appropriate for the Company. Our Audit Committee has the responsibility to consider and discuss our major financial risk exposures
and the steps our management has taken to monitor and control these exposures, including guidelines and policies to govern the
process by which risk assessment and management is undertaken. The Audit Committee also monitors compliance with legal and regulatory
requirements, in addition to oversight of the performance of our internal audit function. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee monitors the effectiveness of our corporate governance guidelines, including whether they are successful in preventing
illegal or improper liability-creating conduct. Our Compensation Committee assesses and monitors whether any of our compensation
policies and programs has the potential to encourage excessive risk-taking. It is the responsibility of the committee chairs to
report findings regarding material risk exposures to the Board as quickly as possible.
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 7
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (CONTINUED)
OTHER BOARD PRACTICES
Trevena employs a number of other practices directed to ensure
the highest level of corporate governance oversight on behalf of its stockholders. The following table describes some of these
practices in more detail.
PRACTICES
DIRECTED TO INDIVIDUAL TREVENA DIRECTORS
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Limits
on Public Company Directorships
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The
Board does not believe that its directors should be prohibited from serving on boards
of other organizations. However, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee takes
into account the nature of and time involved in a director’s service on other boards
in evaluating the suitability of individual directors and making its recommendations
to the Board. The Company expects that each of its directors will be able to dedicate
the time and resources sufficient to ensure the diligent performance of his or her duties
on the Company’s behalf, including attending board and applicable committee meetings.
|
Change
in Director’s Principal Position
|
If
a director changes his or her principal employment position, that director is required
to tender his or her resignation to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
The Committee will then recommend to the Board whether to accept or decline the resignation.
|
Continuing
Education for Directors
|
The
Board is regularly updated on Trevena’s businesses, strategies, operations and
employee matters, as well as external trends and issues that affect the Company. The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee oversees the continuing education process
and it encourages directors to attend continuing education courses relevant to their
service on Trevena’s Board. Trevena reimburses directors for expenses they incur
in connection with continuing education courses.
|
Attendance
at Annual Meeting of Stockholders
|
The
Board encourages and expects directors and nominees for director to attend the Annual Meeting. In 2019, 89% of
the directors attended the annual meeting of stockholders.
|
8 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (CONTINUED)
PRACTICES
DIRECTED TO TREVENA BOARD PROCESSES
|
Board
Executive Sessions
|
As
part of all regularly scheduled Board meetings, the Chairman presides over all executive
sessions of the Board, including those sessions held solely with independent directors.
At each regularly scheduled meeting held in 2019, the independent members of the Board
met in executive session. Each Board committee also met in executive session on a regular
basis in connection with their respective meetings.
|
Director
Access to Management
|
Independent
directors have unfettered access to members of senior management and other key employees.
|
Independent
Advisors
|
The
Board and its committees are able to access and retain independent advisors as and to
the extent they deem necessary or appropriate.
|
Management
Succession Planning
|
At
the direction of the Chairman, the Board oversees management succession planning. As
appropriate, the Board will develop and approve succession plans for the Company’s
CEO and review and approve succession plans for the Company’s senior management
together with the input of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the
CEO.
|
Annual
Board Evaluation
|
Each
year, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee oversees the self-evaluation
of the Board and its committees. Each Board committee also is responsible for conducting
a self-assessment to identify potential areas of improvement. On an ongoing basis, directors
offer suggestions and recommendations intended to further improve Board performance.
|
|
|
PRACTICES
DIRECTED TO TREVENA STOCKHOLDERS
|
Alignment
of Director Compensation
|
Trevena
delivers a significant portion of its non-employee director compensation in the form
of options to purchase Trevena common stock. For more information on non-employee director
compensation, see page 21.
|
No
Stockholder Rights Plan (“Poison Pill”)
|
Trevena
does not have a stockholder rights plan.
|
BOARD MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES
In 2019, there were 9 meetings of the Board, 3 meetings of
the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, 4 meetings of the Compensation Committee and 4 meetings of the Audit Committee,
and 7 meetings of a special purpose committee of the Board. Overall director attendance at Board and committee meetings in 2019
was approximately 95%. Each director attended 83% or more of the aggregate of all meetings of the Board and committees on which
he or she served during 2019. In addition to formal Board meetings, the Board engages with management throughout the year on critical
matters and topics.
The Board has the following three standing committees: Nominating
and Corporate Governance, Compensation, and Audit. In its discretion and subject to Delaware law, the Board and each committee
may delegate all or a portion of its authority to subcommittees of one or more of its members. Additional information can be found
in the committee charters adopted by the Board and available on Trevena’s website at www.trevena.com/investors/corporate-governance.
Each committee member meets the independence standards required for the committee on which he or she serves.
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 9
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (CONTINUED)
NOMINATING AND CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
Chair: Julie H. McHugh
Other Committee Members: Jake R. Nunn, Anne M.
Phillips, M.D.
Meetings Held in 2019: 3
Primary Responsibilities:
·
|
Assisting the Board by identifying qualified
candidates for director, assessing director independence and recommending to the Board
the director nominees.
|
·
|
Making recommendations to the Board regarding the composition, organization
and governance of the Board, including recommendations regarding the membership and chairperson
of each Board committee.
|
·
|
Reviewing, advising and reporting to the Board on the Board’s
membership, structure, organization, governance practices and performance.
|
·
|
Developing, recommending and maintaining a set of Corporate Governance
Guidelines applicable to the Company.
|
·
|
Overseeing, together with the Board Chairman, the review and evaluation
of the Board and its committees.
|
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Chair: Barbara Yanni
Other Committee Members: Leon O. Moulder, Jr.,
Anne M. Phillips, M.D., Scott Braunstein, M.D. (beginning 9/19/2019)
Meetings Held in 2019: 4
Primary Responsibilities:
·
|
Approving the Company’s long-term strategy
of compensation for employees and directors.
|
·
|
Reviewing the corporate goals and objectives applicable to the compensation
of the CEO, evaluating the CEO’s performance in light of these goals and objectives
and, based on this review and evaluation, recommending the compensation of the CEO to
the independent members of the Board for approval.
|
·
|
Reviewing and approving the compensation of the Company’s
executive officers and key senior management, other than the CEO.
|
·
|
Supervising the administration of the Company’s equity incentive
plans and approving equity compensation awards pursuant to these plans.
|
·
|
Overseeing the management of risks related to the Company’s
executive and overall compensation, benefits plans, practices and policies.
|
·
|
Maintaining direct responsibility for the appointment, compensation and
oversight of the work of any compensation consultant, legal counsel or other external adviser retained by the Committee.
|
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Chair: Michael R. Dougherty
Other Committee Members: Barbara Yanni, Scott
Braunstein, M.D. (until 9/19/2019), Jake R. Nunn (beginning 5/1/2019)
Meetings Held in 2019: 4
Primary Responsibilities:
·
|
Evaluating the performance, objectivity, independence
and qualifications of, and retaining or terminating the engagement of, Trevena’s
independent registered public accounting firm.
|
·
|
Representing and assisting the Board in fulfilling its oversight
responsibilities regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls, including
financial and disclosure controls and procedures, and the quality and integrity of the
Company’s financial statements.
|
·
|
Reviewing with management and the independent registered public
accounting firm annual and quarterly financial statements, earnings releases, earnings
guidance and significant accounting policies.
|
·
|
Overseeing compliance with material legal and regulatory requirements.
|
·
|
Overseeing the Company’s enterprise risk management program
and advising the Board on financial and enterprise risks.
|
·
|
Maintaining procedures for and reviewing the receipt, retention
and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing
matters and the confidential, anonymous submissions by employees and others of any concerns
about questionable accounting and auditing matters.
|
Financial Expertise and Financial Literacy:
The Board has determined that Mr. Dougherty is an “audit
committee financial expert” as defined in the SEC rules, and all members of the Audit Committee are financially literate
within the meaning of the Nasdaq listing standards.
10 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (CONTINUED)
DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The current Board includes eight non-employee directors, including
the Company’s former CEO, Maxine Gowen, Ph.D. To be independent under Nasdaq listing standards, the Board must affirmatively
determine that a director has no material relationships with the Company directly, or as an officer, stockholder or partner of
an organization that has a relationship with the Company (a “Material Relationship”). In making its assessment, the
Board considers all relevant facts and circumstances, including whether transactions with such organizations are in the ordinary
course of Trevena's business and/or the amount of such transactions (in aggregate or as a percentage of the organization’s
revenues or assets). The Board also considers that the Company may sell products and services to, and/or purchase products and
services from, organizations affiliated with our directors and may hold investments (generally, debt securities) in organizations
affiliated with our directors. On an annual basis, the Board, through its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, reviews
relevant relationships between directors, their immediate family members and the Company, consistent with Trevena's independence
standards. Trevena's standards, which are detailed in Trevena’s Corporate Governance Guidelines available at www.trevena.com/investors/corporate-governance,
conform to the independence requirements set forth in the Nasdaq’s listing standards.
The Board consults with our counsel to ensure that the Board’s
determinations are consistent with relevant securities and other laws and regulations regarding the definition of “independent,”
including those set forth in pertinent Nasdaq listing standards.
Based on its review of director relationships, the Board has
affirmatively determined that, with the exception of Dr. Gowen, the Company’s former CEO, there are no Material Relationships
between the non-employee directors and the Company and each of the non-employee directors, except for Dr. Gowen, is independent
as defined in both the Nasdaq listing standards (including those applicable to certain board committees) and Trevena’s director
independence standards.
CODE OF CONDUCT AND BUSINESS ETHICS
Trevena is committed to integrity, legal compliance and ethical
conduct. All directors and employees, including our executive officers, must comply with the Company’s Code of Conduct and
Business Ethics. The Code of Conduct and Business Ethics and Trevena's related policies and procedures address major areas of
professional conduct, including, among others, conflicts of interest, protection of private, sensitive or confidential information,
employment practices, insider trading and adherence to laws and regulations affecting the conduct of Trevena's business. The Code
of Conduct and Business Ethics is available on our website at www.trevena.com/investors/corporate-governance.
The Code of Conduct and Business Ethics requires all directors
and employees to avoid any conflict or potential conflict between their personal interests (including those of their significant
others and immediate family) and the best interests of the Company. Any conflict or potential conflict must be brought to the
attention of the Compliance Officer for review and disposition. In addition, directors and officers cannot participate in a personal
transaction with Trevena without first notifying and obtaining the approval of Audit Committee in accordance with the Company
related person transaction policy described below.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Transactions with Related
Persons
Trevena has adopted a written policy that sets forth our procedures
for the identification, review, consideration and approval or ratification of related person transactions. For purposes of our
policy only, a related person transaction is a transaction, arrangement or relationship, or any series of similar transactions,
arrangements or relationships, in which we and any related person are, were or will be participants in which the amount involved
exceeds the lesser of 1% of Trevena’s total assets or $120,000. Transactions involving compensation for services provided
to us as an employee or director are not covered by this policy. A related person is any executive officer, director or beneficial
owner of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities, including any of their immediate family members and any entity owned
or controlled by such persons.
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 11
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (CONTINUED)
Under the policy, if a transaction has been identified as a
related person transaction, including any transaction that was not a related person transaction when originally consummated or
any transaction that was not initially identified as a related person transaction prior to consummation, our management must present
information regarding the transaction to our Audit Committee, or, if Audit Committee approval would be inappropriate, to another
independent body of our Board of Directors, for review, consideration and approval or ratification. The presentation must include
a description of, among other things, the material facts, the interests, direct and indirect, of the related persons, the benefits
to us of the transaction and whether the transaction is on terms that are comparable to the terms available to or from, as the
case may be, an unrelated third party or to or from employees generally. Under the policy, we will collect information that we
deem reasonably necessary from each director, executive officer and, to the extent feasible, significant stockholder to enable
us to identify any existing or potential related-person transactions and to effectuate the terms of the policy. In addition, under
our Code of Conduct and Business Ethics, our employees and directors have an affirmative responsibility to disclose any transaction
or relationship that reasonably could be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest. In considering related person transactions,
our Audit Committee, or other independent body of our Board of Directors, will take into account the relevant available facts
and circumstances including, but not limited to:
|
·
|
the
risks, costs and benefits to us;
|
|
·
|
the
impact on a director's independence in the event that the related person is a director,
immediate family member of a director or an entity with which a director is affiliated;
|
|
·
|
the
availability of other sources for comparable services or products; and
|
|
·
|
the
terms available to or from, as the case may be, unrelated third parties or to or from
employees generally.
|
The policy requires that, in determining whether to approve,
ratify or reject a related person transaction, our Audit Committee, or other independent body of our Board of Directors, must
consider, in light of known circumstances, whether the transaction is in, or is not inconsistent with, our best interests and
those of our stockholders, as our Audit Committee, or other independent body of our Board of Directors, determines in the good
faith exercise of its discretion.
Based on this review, there are no related person transactions
requiring disclosure under SEC rules.
Compensation Committee
Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our directors who currently serve as members of our
Compensation Committee is, or has at any time during the past year been, one of our officers or employees. None of our executive
officers currently serves, or in the past year has served, as a member of the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee of
any other entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.
12 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
PROPOSAL 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors is elected by Trevena's stockholders
and is divided into three classes, each with a three-year term. There are currently nine members of the Board. Vacancies on the
Board may be filled only by persons elected by a majority of the remaining directors. A director elected by the Board to fill
a vacancy in a class, including vacancies created by an increase in the number of directors, shall serve for the remainder of
the full term of that class and until the director’s successor is duly elected and qualified.
At the Annual Meeting, the Board is nominating for election
by stockholders three Class I directors, each of whom currently is a director of the Company. If elected at the Annual Meeting,
each of these nominees would serve until the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until her or his successor has been duly
elected and qualified, or, if sooner, until the director’s death, resignation, or removal.
The role of the Board, its leadership structure and governance
practices are described above in the Corporate Governance section. This section describes the process for director elections and
director nominations, identifies the director responsibilities and qualifications considered by the Board and the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee in selecting and nominating directors, and presents the biographies, skills and qualifications
of the director nominees and those directors continuing in office.
PROCESS FOR SELECTING AND NOMINATING
DIRECTORS
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may retain
a third-party search firm to assist in identifying and evaluating candidates for Board membership. The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee also considers suggestions for Board nominees submitted by stockholders, which are evaluated using the same
criteria as new director candidates and current director nominees. Instructions for how to submit stockholder nominations to the
Board can be found on page 55.
Once a potential candidate has been identified, the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee reviews the background of new director candidates and presents them to the Board for consideration
before selection. When considering director candidates and the current composition of the Board, the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee and the Board consider how each candidate’s background, experiences, skills, prior board and committee
service and/or commitments will contribute to the diversity of the Board. Candidates interview with the Chair of the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee and the Chairman of the Board, as well as other members of the Board, as appropriate. The Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee believes that candidates for director should have certain minimum qualifications, including
the ability to read and understand basic financial statements, being over 21 years of age and having strong personal and professional
ethics, integrity and values. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also intends to consider additional criteria as
follows: relevant expertise upon which to be able to offer advice and guidance to management; sufficient time to devote to the
affairs of the Company; demonstrated excellence in his or her field; the ability to exercise sound business judgment; diversity;
the commitment to rigorously represent the long-term interests of our stockholders; and independence. In addition, the Board and
the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider the talents, ages, skills, diversity, experience, expertise and
such other factors as appropriate given the current needs of the Board and the Company to maintain an appropriate and effective
balance of knowledge, experience and capability on the Board as a whole.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee assesses
the Board’s composition as part of the annual evaluation of the Board. When considering whether to nominate current directors
for re-election, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board review the results of the annual evaluation and
the qualifications, characteristics, skills and experience that it believes are important for representation on the Board. The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board take into consideration these criteria for Trevena directors as part
of the director recruitment, selection, evaluation, and nomination process. While the Board does not have a formal policy with
regard to diversity, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board strive to ensure that the Board is composed
of individuals who together possess a breadth and depth of experience relevant to the Board’s oversight of Trevena's business
and strategy.
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 13
PROPOSAL 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS (CONTINUED)
BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ NOMINEES
Upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee, the Board is nominating the three Class I directors listed below for re-election for terms expiring at the 2023 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders. All nominees have consented to serve, and the Board does not know of any reason why any nominee would
be unable to serve. If a nominee becomes unavailable or unable to serve before the Annual Meeting, the Board may reduce its size
or designate another nominee. If the Board designates a nominee, your proxy will be voted for the substitute nominee.
Below are biographies, skills and qualifications for each of
the nominees and for each of the directors continuing in office. Each of the director nominees currently serves on the Board.
The Board believes that the combination of the various experiences, skills and qualifications represented contributes to an effective
and well-functioning Board and that the nominees and directors continuing in office possess the qualifications, based on the criteria
described above, to provide meaningful oversight of Trevena’s business and strategy.
The Board
of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders vote FOR each of the nominees listed below as set forth in this Proposal
1.
Management
Director Since: 2018
Age: 57
Board Committee(s):
·
None
|
Carrie
L. Bourdow
Ms. Bourdow has served as the President
and Chief Executive Officer of our Company and member of our Board of Directors since October 2018. Prior to her role
as Chief Executive Officer, she joined our company as our Chief Commercial Officer in May 2015 and was appointed Executive
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in January 2018. From May 2013 to May 2015, she was Vice President of Marketing
at Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Prior to joining Cubist in 2013, Ms. Bourdow served for more than 20 years at Merck &
Co., Inc., where she held positions of increasing responsibility across multiple therapeutic areas. Since June 2017 she
has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Nabriva Therapeutics plc, a biopharmaceutical company, and she has
served as a member of the Board of Directors of Sesen Bio, a biopharmaceutical company, since February 2020. Ms. Bourdow
earned her B.A. from Hendrix College and her M.B.A. from Southern Illinois University.
Skills and Qualifications
Our Board believes that Ms. Bourdow’s
knowledge of our Company and her nearly 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including high-level commercial
roles at Merck and Cubist, positions her to make valuable contributions to the Board.
|
14 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
PROPOSAL 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS (CONTINUED)
Independent
Director Since: 2014
Age: 66
Board Committee(s):
·
Nominating and Corporate
Governance
·
Compensation
|
Anne
M. Phillips, M.D.
Dr. Phillips currently is Senior
Vice President of Clinical Development, Medical and Regulatory Affairs at Novo Nordisk Inc. (NVO), a pharmaceutical company,
where she has served since 2011. Previously, she served as a Vice President in various positions at GlaxoSmithKline plc
(GSK), which she joined in 1998, and prior to this Dr. Phillips was Head of the Infectious Diseases Program and Deputy
Physician-in-Chief at Wellesley Central Hospital/St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Canada. Since April 2019, Dr.
Phillips has served on the board of directors of AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMAG), a public biopharmaceutical company.
She is a Fellow of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, earned an M.D. from the University of Toronto
and received a B.Sc. from the University of Western Ontario.
Skills and Qualifications
Our Board believes that Dr. Phillips’
extensive late-stage clinical development experience in well-established pharmaceutical companies, together with her significant
experience and knowledge as a physician, positions her to make valuable contributions to the Board.
|
Independent
Director Since: 2014
Age: 65
Board Committee(s):
·
Audit
·
Compensation (Chair)
|
Barbara Yanni
Ms. Yanni was Vice President and
Chief Licensing Officer at Merck & Co. (MRK), a pharmaceutical company, from November 2001 until her retirement in
March 2014. Prior to this, Ms. Yanni served in various roles at Merck including in corporate development, financial evaluation,
and tax. Ms. Yanni has served on the board of directors of Vaccinex, Inc. (VCNX), a public biotechnology company since
2015. In 2019, she joined the Board of Akcea Therapeutics, Inc. (AKCA), a public biotechnology company. She also previously
served on the board of directors of ABIONYX Pharma (Paris: ABNX) (formerly known as Cerenis Therapeutics, SA), a public
biotechnology company, from 2018-2020. Ms. Yanni earned a J.D. from Stanford Law School and an A.B. from Wellesley College.
She also holds a Masters of Law in Taxation from New York University.
Skills and Qualifications
Our Board believes that Ms. Yanni's
extensive experience in biotechnology and pharmaceutical business evaluation and transaction execution, as well as her
financial and general business knowledge positions her to make valuable contributions to the Board.
|
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 15
PROPOSAL 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS (CONTINUED)
CLASS II DIRECTORS WHO WILL CONTINUE IN
OFFICE UNTIL THE 2021 ANNUAL MEETING
Non-Independent
Director Since: 2007
Age: 62
Board Committee(s):
·
None
|
Maxine
Gowen, Ph.D.
Currently, Dr. Gowen serves as the
Chief Executive Officer of TamuroBio, Inc. a biotechnology company. Prior to this, Dr. Gowen was the founding CEO of Trevena
and served as its President and Chief Executive Officer from 2007 until October 2018. Prior to joining Trevena, Dr. Gowen
held a variety of leadership roles at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) over a period of fifteen years. As Senior Vice President for
the Center of Excellence for External Drug Discovery (CEEDD), she developed an innovative new approach to externalizing
drug discovery in the pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Gowen was previously President and Managing Partner at SR One, the
venture capital subsidiary of GSK, where she led its investments in and served on the board of directors of numerous companies.
Until 2002 Dr. Gowen was Vice President, Drug Discovery, Musculoskeletal Diseases at GSK, responsible for drug discovery
and early development for osteoporosis, arthritis and metastatic bone disease. Dr. Gowen held a tenured academic position
in the School of Pharmacology, University of Bath, UK from 1989 until 1992. She has authored more than 100 refereed scientific
publications. She has served and continues to serve on the boards of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (AKBA), Idera Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. (IDRA), and Aclaris Therapeutics (ACRS), all public biopharmaceutical companies. She also serves on the board and
executive committee of the Pennsylvania biotechnology industry association, Life Sciences PA. Dr. Gowen served on the
board of the national biotechnology industry association, BIO, from 2008 to 2018. Dr. Gowen graduated with a B.Sc. in
biochemistry from the University of Bristol, UK, then received a Ph.D. in cell biology from the University of Sheffield,
UK, and received an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She also was awarded a Doctor of Science
by the University of Bath, UK in 2018.
Skills and Qualifications
Our Board believes that Dr. Gowen's
past leadership of the Company and her over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including her roles
at GSK, positions her to make valuable contributions to the Board.
|
16 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
PROPOSAL 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS (CONTINUED)
Independent
Director Since: 2014
Age: 55
Board Committee(s):
·
Nominating and Corporate Governance
(Chair)
|
Julie
H. McHugh
Ms.
McHugh was Chief Operating Officer of Endo Health Solutions Inc., a global specialty healthcare company, from March 2010
to May 2013, and since May 2013 she has provided consulting services to companies in the pharmaceuticals industry. Prior
to that, from September 2008 to September 2009, she served as Chief Executive Officer of Nora Therapeutics, Inc., a private
biotechnology company. From 2006 to 2008 she was Company Group Chairman for Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ) worldwide
virology business unit and from 2004 to 2006 she was President of Centocor, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary.
Since 2014, Ms. McHugh has been on the board of directors of Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IRWD), a public pharmaceutical
company and has served as the chair of the board since 2019. She has also served as a member of the board of directors
of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AERI), and Lantheus Holdings, Inc. (LNTH) both public pharmaceutical companies, since
June 2015, and January 2017, respectively. Ms. McHugh received her M.B.A degree from St. Joseph’s University
and her B.S. degree from Pennsylvania State University.
Skills and Qualifications
Our Board believes that Ms. McHugh's
deep knowledge of biotechnology strategy, operations, research and development, and sales and marketing positions her
to make valuable contributions to the Board.
|
Independent
Director Since: 2013
Age: 49
Board Committee(s):
·
Nominating and Corporate
Governance
·
Audit (beginning 5/1/2019)
|
Jake
R. Nunn
Mr. Nunn is currently a venture advisor at New Enterprise
Associates, Inc., a venture capital firm, where he was a partner from June 2006 until January 2019. From January 2001
to June 2006, Mr. Nunn served as a Partner and an analyst for the MPM BioEquities Fund, a life sciences fund at MPM Capital,
L.P., a private equity firm. Previously, Mr. Nunn was a healthcare research analyst and portfolio manager at Franklin
Templeton Investments and an investment banker with Alex. Brown & Sons. Mr. Nunn has served on the board of directors
of Addex Therapeutics Ltd. (ADXN), and Regulus Therapeutics Inc. (RGLS), each a public biopharmaceutical company, and
Oventus Medical Ltd. (ASX: OVN), a public medical device company. Mr. Nunn previously was a Director of Dermira, Inc.
(acquired by Eli Lilly and Company), Hyperion Therapeutics, Inc. (Acquired by Horizon Pharma PLC) and TriVascular Technologies,
Inc. (acquired by Endologix, Inc.). Mr. Nunn received his A.B. in economics from Dartmouth College and his M.B.A. from
the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Mr. Nunn holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, is a member of the
C.F.A. Society of San Francisco, and recently completed the Stanford Graduate School of Business Directors’ Consortium
executive education program.
Skills and Qualifications
Our board of directors believes
that Mr. Nunn's experience investing in life sciences, specialty pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and medical device companies,
as well as his business and financial background, positions him to make valuable contributions to the Board.
|
Notice
of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 17
PROPOSAL 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS (CONTINUED)
CLASS III DIRECTORS WHO WILL CONTINUE IN
OFFICE UNTIL THE 2022 ANNUAL MEETING
Independent
Director Since: 2018
Age: 56
Board Committee(s):
·
Audit (until 9/19/2019)
·
Compensation (beginning 9/19/2019)
|
Scott
Braunstein, M.D.
Dr. Braunstein currently is an Operating
Partner at Aisling Capital Management LP, a life sciences private equity firm, where he has served since 2015, and, since
August 2019, is the Chief Executive Officer of Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (MRNS), a biopharmaceutical company where
he previously served as Executive Chairman beginning in February 2019. From 2015 to 2018, Dr. Braunstein also served as
Chief Operating Officer, SVP Of Corporate Strategy, and Chief Strategy Officer at Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (now known
as Pacira BioSciences, Inc.) (PCRX), a specialty pharmaceutical company. From 2014 to 2015, Dr. Braunstein served as a
healthcare portfolio manager at Everpoint Asset Management LLC. For twelve years prior to joining Everpoint, Dr. Braunstein
was a healthcare analyst and managing director in the U.S. Equity team of J.P. Morgan Asset Management as a healthcare
analyst and managing director in the U.S. Equity team and served as the portfolio manager for the J.P. Morgan Global Healthcare
fund. Dr. Braunstein was responsible for managing investments in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical devices.
Dr. Braunstein is currently a member of the board of directors for ArTara Therapeutics, Inc. (ATRA), Marinus, Constellation
Pharma (CNST), and Ziopharm Oncology, Inc. (ZIOP), each a public biotechnology company. Dr. Braunstein served as a member
of the board of directors of Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (ESPR), a public biotechnology company, from June 2015 to March
2020. Dr. Braunstein began his career as a practicing physician at the Summit Medical Group and as Assistant Clinical
Professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Braunstein received his M.D.
from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and his B.S. from Cornell University.
Skills and Qualifications
Our Board believes
that Dr. Braunstein’s strategic insight, extensive experience as both a pharmaceutical company executive and an
investor in healthcare companies, and knowledge as a physician position him to make valuable contributions to the Board.
|
18 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
PROPOSAL 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS (CONTINUED)
Independent Chairman of the Board
Director Since: 2011
Age: 62
Board Committee(s):
·
Compensation
|
Leon
(Lonnie) O. Moulder, Jr.
Mr. Moulder has served as Chairman
of the Board since June 2013. Mr. Moulder is General Partner of Tellus BioVentures, LLC, a life science investment fund
he founded in March 2019. From May 2010 to January 2019, Mr. Moulder was the co-founder, Chief Executive Officer and a
member of the board of directors of TESARO, Inc. (TSRO), a public oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company that was
acquired by GlaxoSmithKline plc. From April 2009 to January 2010, Mr. Moulder served as Vice Chairman of the board of
directors, President and Chief Executive Officer of Abraxis BioScience, Inc., a biotechnology company. Before that, Mr.
Moulder served as Vice Chairman of Eisai Corporation of North America, a pharmaceutical company and wholly owned subsidiary
of Eisai Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS: ESALF), from January 2008 until January 2009, following Eisai Co., Ltd.’s acquisition
of MGI PHARMA, Inc., in January 2008. Mr. Moulder served as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the
board of directors of MGI PHARMA, Inc. from May 2003 to January 2008. In January 2020, Mr. Moulder joined the board of
directors of Zai Lab Ltd. (ZLAB), a biopharmaceutical company. Mr. Moulder earned a B.S. in pharmacy from Temple University
and a M.B.A. from the University of Chicago. Mr. Moulder is a Trustee of Temple University, serves as a board member for
several privately held biotechnology companies and previously served as a director of Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from
February 2010 until January 2015.
Skills and Qualifications
Our Board believes that Mr. Moulder's
significant operational and senior management experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, as well as his extensive experience
as a director on public and private boards in the industry, position him to make valuable contributions to the Board.
|
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 19
PROPOSAL 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS (CONTINUED)
Independent
Director Since: 2013
Age: 62
Board Committee(s):
·
Audit (Chair)
|
Michael
R. Dougherty
Mr. Dougherty was Executive Chairman
of Celator Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company from August 2015 until July 2016; he also served as a director
of Celator from July 2013 to July 2016. Mr. Dougherty has previously served in a variety of senior positions in the bio-pharmaceuticals
industry, including as Chief Executive Officer of Kalidex Pharmaceuticals, Inc; President and Chief Executive Officer
of Adolor Corporation; President and Chief Operating Officer of Genomics Collaborative, Inc.; President and Chief Executive
Officer of Genaera Corporation; and Chief Financial Officer of Centocor, Inc. Mr. Dougherty is currently on the board
of directors at Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (MRNS) and Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IDRA). Mr. Dougherty previously
served as a member of the board of directors of Foundation Medicine, Inc. (acquired by Roche Holding AG), Aviragen Therapeutics,
Inc. (now known as Vaxart, Inc), Cempra, Inc. (now known as Melinta Therapeutics, Inc., and ViroPharma Incorporated (acquired
by Shire Plc). Mr. Dougherty received a B.S. in Accounting from Villanova University.
Skills and Qualifications
Our Board believes that Mr. Dougherty's
deep understanding of biotechnology finance, research and development, sales and marketing, strategy and operations from
his experience as an officer and director of several pharmaceutical companies positions him to make valuable contributions
to the Board.
|
20 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
OVERVIEW
The Compensation Committee reviews
and makes recommendations to the Board about the compensation paid to non-employee directors for service on the Trevena Board
of Directors. A director who also is an employee of the Company does not receive payment for services as a director. The CEO is
the only employee who currently serves as a director.
The Board believes that the current
director compensation program:
|
·
|
aligns
with stockholder interests because it includes a significant equity-based compensation
component, the value of which is tied to Trevena’s stock price; and
|
|
·
|
is
competitive based on the work required of directors serving on the board of an entity
of the Company’s size, complexity and scope.
|
The Compensation Committee’s
charter provides that it will periodically review director compensation and recommend any changes to the Board for its approval.
The Compensation Committee may from time to time engage an independent compensation consultant to assist in its review of director
compensation.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION PROGRAM
In consultation with Trevena’s
independent compensation consultant, the Board has adopted the non-employee director compensation program set forth below, which
provides for compensation of non-employee directors in the form of cash and equity.
Annual
Cash Compensation
The following chart summarizes the retainer compensation provided
to non-employee directors for their ongoing service on the Trevena Board during 2019. Cash payments are made in equal, quarterly
installments.
Retainer
Type
|
|
Annual Amount
|
|
Board
member
|
|
$
|
35,000
|
|
Committee
member
|
|
|
|
·
Audit
|
|
$
|
7,500
|
|
·
Compensation
|
|
$
|
5,000
|
|
·
Nominating and Corporate Governance
|
|
$
|
5,000
|
|
Committee
chair (in lieu of Committee Member fee)
|
|
|
|
·
Audit
|
|
$
|
15,000
|
|
·
Compensation
|
|
$
|
10,000
|
|
·
Nominating and Corporate Governance
|
|
$
|
8,000
|
|
In addition to the Board annual
retainer, the Chairman of the Board receives a $30,000 cash retainer for his service as Chairman.
Equity
Compensation
The equity compensation awards
to non-employee directors are made under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the 2013 Equity Plan). All stock options
granted to non-employee directors are nonstatutory stock options, with an exercise price per share equal to 100% of the fair market
value (as defined in the 2013 Equity Plan) of the underlying common stock on the date of grant, and a term of ten years from the
date of grant (subject to earlier termination in connection with a termination of service as provided in the 2013 Equity Plan).
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 21
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
(CONTINUED)
|
·
|
Initial
Grant. On the date of the non-employee director's initial election or appointment
to the Board, such non-employee director will be granted an option to purchase 60,000
shares of common stock, subject to appropriate adjustment for any stock split, stock
dividend, reverse stock split, stock combination or other change in our capitalization.
Commencing on the first date that is three months after the date of grant, the shares
subject to each stock option will vest in a series of 12 equal quarterly installments,
such that the option is fully vested on the third anniversary of the date of grant, subject
to the non-employee director's continuous service through each such vesting date; provided
that the vesting date for the quarterly period in which our annual stockholders' meeting
occurs shall be the date immediately prior to such annual meeting.
|
|
·
|
Annual
Grant. On the date of the Company's 2019 annual stockholder meeting, each non-employee
director who continued to serve as a non-employee director member of the Board immediately
thereafter was granted a stock option for 30,000 shares, subject to appropriate adjustment
for any stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split, stock combination or other
change in our capitalization. proxy
|
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE
FOR 2019
The table below includes information
about the compensation paid to non-employee directors in 2019.
|
|
Fees Earned
or
Paid in Cash
|
|
|
Option
Awards1
|
|
|
Total
Compensation
|
|
Name
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
Scott Braunstein, M.D.
|
|
|
42,023
|
|
|
|
31,048
|
|
|
|
73,071
|
|
Michael R. Dougherty
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
|
31,048
|
|
|
|
81,048
|
|
Maxine Gowen, Ph.D.
|
|
|
35,000
|
|
|
|
31,048
|
|
|
|
66,048
|
|
Julie H. McHugh
|
|
|
43,000
|
|
|
|
31,048
|
|
|
|
74,048
|
|
Leon O. Moulder, Jr.
|
|
|
70,000
|
|
|
|
31,048
|
|
|
|
101,048
|
|
Jake R. Nunn
|
|
|
45,007
|
|
|
|
31,048
|
|
|
|
76,055
|
|
Anne M. Phillips, M.D.
|
|
|
45,000
|
|
|
|
31,048
|
|
|
|
76,048
|
|
Barbara Yanni
|
|
|
52,500
|
|
|
|
31,048
|
|
|
|
83,548
|
|
|
1
|
At
December 31, 2019, the aggregate number of stock option awards outstanding for each non-employee
director was as follows: Dr. Braunstein, 90,000; Mr. Dougherty, 125,481; Dr. Gowen, 2,699,927;
Ms. McHugh, 116,611; Mr. Moulder, 119,836; Mr. Nunn, 107,740; Dr. Phillips, 116,611;
and Ms. Yanni, 116,611.
|
Fees Earned
or Paid in Cash
|
·
|
Represents
cash compensation for the retainers described above for the period of January 31, 2019
to December 31, 2019.
|
|
·
|
In
2019, Mr. Moulder served as Chairman of the Board, Mr. Dougherty served as Audit Committee
chair, Ms. McHugh served as Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee chair, and
Ms. Yanni served as Compensation Committee chair.
|
Option Awards
This column does
not reflect dollar amounts actually received by our non-employee directors and instead, in accordance with SEC rules, reflects
the aggregate grant date fair value of options awarded to directors pursuant to the non-employee director compensation program,
computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation
– Stock Compensation (ASC Topic 718), applying the same model and assumptions that Trevena applies for financial statement
reporting purposes as described in Note 7 to Trevena’s financial statements contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2019 (disregarding any estimates for forfeitures).
22 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
PROPOSAL 2. RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee is directly
responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the independent registered public accounting firm retained
to audit the Company’s financial statements. The Audit Committee approved the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as Trevena’s
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. Ernst & Young LLP has served as
Trevena’s independent registered public accounting firm since 2007. To assure continuing auditor independence, the Audit
Committee periodically considers whether there should be a regular rotation of the independent registered public accounting firm.
Further, in conjunction with the mandated rotation of the audit firm’s lead engagement partner, the Chair of the Audit Committee
discusses with Ernst & Young LLP the selection of the new lead engagement partner.
The Audit Committee and the Board
believe that the continued retention of Ernst & Young LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting
firm is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. As a matter of good corporate governance, the Board is seeking
stockholder ratification of the appointment even though ratification is not legally required. If stockholders do not ratify this
appointment, the Audit Committee will reconsider Ernst & Young LLP’s appointment. Even if the selection is ratified,
the Audit Committee in its discretion may select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time of the
year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
A representative from Ernst &
Young LLP is expected to attend the Annual Meeting, may make a statement, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Approval of this Proposal 2 requires
“For” votes from the holders of a majority of shares present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the annual
meeting. If you “Abstain” from voting, it will count as a vote AGAINST Proposal 2.
The
Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders vote FOR the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young
LLP as Trevena’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020 as set forth
in this Proposal 2.
Policy
for the Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services
The Audit Committee pre-approves
all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst
& Young LLP, pursuant to a written policy. Under the pre-approval policy, the Audit Committee pre-approves specified services
in the defined categories of audit services, audit-related services, and tax services up to specified amounts. Pre-approval may
also be given as part of the Audit Committee's approval of the scope of the engagement of the independent registered public accounting
firm or on an individual explicit case-by-case basis before the independent registered public accounting firm is engaged to provide
each service. The pre-approval of services may be delegated to one or more of the Audit Committee's members, but the decision
must be reported to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
The Audit Committee has determined
that the rendering of the services below by Ernst & Young LLP is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant's independence.
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 23
PROPOSAL 2. RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM (CONTINUED)
Fees
to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Aggregate fees billed for professional
services rendered by Ernst & Young LLP for the audit of financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31,
2019 and December 31, 2018, and fees billed for other services rendered by Ernst & Young LLP during those periods were
as follows:
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
Audit
Fees
|
|
$
|
722,921
|
|
|
$
|
477,740
|
|
Audit-Related
Fees
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
|
2,000
|
|
Tax Fees
|
|
|
14,000
|
|
|
|
12,000
|
|
All Other Fees
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
|
--
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
$
|
736,921
|
|
|
$
|
491,740
|
|
|
·
|
Audit
fees include fees incurred for: (i) professional services rendered for the audit
of our annual financial statements; (ii) attestation of management’s assessment
of internal controls as required by Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(Sarbanes-Oxley), to which we became subject on January 1, 2020; (iii) the review of
quarterly financial statements, (iv) filing of registration statements; and (v) delivery
of auditor comfort letters.
|
|
·
|
Audit-related
fees include assurance and related services that were reasonably related to the audit
of annual financial statements and reviews of quarterly financial statements, but not
reported under Audit Fees. For 2018, audit-related fees consisted of access to Ernst
& Young LLP’s proprietary accounting database.
|
|
·
|
Tax
fees include fees incurred in connection with tax advice and tax planning. These
services included assistance with tax reporting requirements and audit compliance.
|
24 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
Trevena maintains an independent
Audit Committee that operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee’s charter is
available on our website at www.trevena.com/investors/corporate-governance. All of the members of the Audit Committee are independent
(as defined in the listing standards of Nasdaq and SEC regulations).
Trevena’s management has
primary responsibility for preparing Trevena’s financial statements and establishing and maintaining financial reporting
systems and internal controls. Management also is responsible for reporting on the effectiveness of Trevena’s internal control
over financial reporting. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an independent audit
of Trevena’s financial statements and issuing a report on these financial statements. As provided in the Audit Committee’s
charter, the Audit Committee’s responsibilities include oversight of these processes.
In this context, before Trevena
filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (Form 10-K) with the SEC, the Audit Committee:
|
·
|
Reviewed
and discussed with Trevena’s management the audited financial statements included
in the Form 10-K and considered management’s view that the financial statements
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
of Trevena.
|
|
·
|
Reviewed
and discussed with Trevena’s management and with the independent registered public
accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP, the effectiveness of Trevena’s internal
controls over financial reporting as well as management’s report on the subject
and overall compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404(b).
|
|
·
|
Discussed
with Ernst & Young LLP, matters related to the conduct of its audit that are required
to be communicated by auditors to audit committees and matters related to the fair presentation
of Trevena’s financial condition and results of operations, including critical
accounting estimates and judgments.
|
|
·
|
Received
the required communications from Ernst & Young LLP that disclose all relationships
that may reasonably be thought to bear on its independence and to confirm its independence.
Based on these communications, the Audit Committee discussed with Ernst & Young LLP
its independence from Trevena.
|
|
·
|
Discussed
with each of Trevena’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer their
required certifications contained in Trevena’s Form 10-K.
|
Based on the foregoing, the Audit
Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that such audited financial statements be included in Trevena’s Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 for filing with the SEC.
|
AUDIT COMMITTEE:
|
|
|
|
Michael R. Dougherty, Chair
|
|
Jake R. Nunn
|
|
Barbara Yanni
|
The
material in this report is not “soliciting material,” is not deemed “filed” with the SEC and is not to
be incorporated by reference in any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in
any such filing.
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 25
PROPOSAL 3. APPROVAL ON A
NON-BINDING ADVISORY BASIS OF COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS (“SAY ON PAY”)
Under the
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Dodd-Frank Act) and Section 14A of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), the Company’s stockholders are entitled to vote to approve, on an advisory basis,
the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with SEC rules.
We are seeking an advisory vote from our stockholders to approve the compensation paid to our named executive officers (NEOs),
as disclosed in this proxy statement.
The Compensation
Committee, with assistance from an external compensation consultant, has structured our executive compensation program to emphasize
what it believes to be responsible compensation arrangements that attract, retain, and motivate high-caliber executive officers
to achieve our business strategies and objectives. As described in the “Executive Compensation” section of this proxy
statement, a guiding principle of our compensation philosophy is that compensation should be linked to performance and that the
interests of our executives and stockholders should be aligned. Our compensation program is a mix of short- and long-term components,
cash and equity elements and fixed and contingent payments in proportions we believe will provide the proper incentives, reward
our NEOs and help us achieve our goals and increase stockholder value. For example:
|
|
·
|
Our
NEOs receive a market-based compensation package.
|
·
|
A
significant portion of our NEOs’ cash and equity compensation is based upon our financial performance along with our
assessments of such NEO’s individual performance.
|
You have the
opportunity to vote “For” or “Against” or to “Abstain” from voting to approve, on an advisory
basis, the compensation paid to our NEOs as disclosed below in the “Executive Compensation” section of this proxy
statement. In deciding how to vote on this proposal, we encourage you to consider the Company’s executive compensation philosophy
and objectives, and the design principles and the elements of the Company’s executive compensation program.
This
vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our NEOs and the philosophy,
policies and practices described in this proxy statement. The compensation of our NEOs subject to the vote is disclosed in the
compensation tables and the related narrative disclosure contained in this proxy statement. As discussed in those disclosures,
we believe that our compensation policies and decisions are focused on pay-for-performance principles and strongly aligned with
our stockholders’ interests. Compensation of our NEOs is designed to enable us to attract and retain talented and experienced
executives to lead the Company successfully in a competitive environment.
Accordingly,
the Board is asking the stockholders to indicate their support for the compensation of our NEOs as described in this proxy statement
by casting a non-binding advisory vote “FOR” the following resolution:
“RESOLVED, that the compensation
paid to the Company’s NEOs, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the compensation tables and narrative
discussion is APPROVED.”
While your vote on this proposal
is advisory and will not be binding on the Compensation Committee, the Board or the Company, we value the opinions of our stockholders
on executive compensation matters and will take the results of this advisory vote into consideration when making future decisions
regarding our executive compensation program.
26 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
PROPOSAL 3. APPROVAL ON A NON-BINDING
ADVISORY BASIS OF COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS (“SAY ON PAY”) (continued)
Approval
of this Proposal 3 requires “For” votes from the holders of a majority of shares present or represented by proxy and
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. If you “Abstain” from voting, it will count as a vote AGAINST Proposal 3.
The
Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders vote FOR the approval on a non-binding advisory basis of compensation
of our named executive officers (“say on pay”) as set forth in this Proposal 3.
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 27
PROPOSAL
4. APPROVAL, ON A NON-BINDING ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE FREQUENCY OF ADVISORY VOTE ON COMPENSATION OF COMPANY’S NAMED EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS
The Company is presenting the following proposal, which gives
you as a stockholder the opportunity to inform the Company as to how often you wish the Company to solicit a say on pay vote,
similar to Proposal 3 above, in our proxy statement. This resolution is required pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act and Section
14A of the Exchange Act. The vote on say on pay, as contained above in Proposal 3, can be held every year, every two (2)
years or every three (3) years. Alternatively, stockholders may abstain from casting a vote.
After considering the benefits and consequences
of each alternative, the Board recommends that you vote to hold an advisory vote on executive compensation every year, since stockholder
feedback on an annual basis will help our Board and the Compensation Committee determine the compensation offered to the NEOs.
The Board is asking stockholders to indicate their preferred voting frequency, on an advisory basis, by voting for one, two or
three years or abstaining from voting on this proposal. The alternative among one year, two years or three years that receives
the votes of the holders of a majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter
at the annual meeting will be deemed to be the frequency preferred by the stockholders and will be the alternative selected in
the following resolution to be submitted to the shareholders for a vote at the annual meeting:
“RESOLVED, that the stockholders wish
the Company to solicit from stockholders an advisory vote on the compensation of the NEOs pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act and Section
14A of the Exchange Act every [year] [two years] [three years].”
The Board and the Compensation Committee
value the opinions of the stockholders in this matter, and the Board intends to hold say-on-pay votes in the future in accordance
with the alternative that receives a majority of the stockholder support, even if that alternative does not receive the support
of a majority of the shares present and entitled to vote.
The Board of Directors
unanimously recommends that stockholders vote in favor of ONE YEAR for the advisory vote on frequency of the advisory vote on
named executive officer compensation (“say on pay frequency”) as set forth in this Proposal 4.
28 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
PROPOSAL 5. APPROVAL TO AMEND
THE AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO EFFECTUATE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT
Reasons for the Reverse Stock Split
The Company’s common stock is listed
on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “TRVN.” To maintain a listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market, the Company
must satisfy the applicable listing standards established by the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq). Among other things, the Company
is required to maintain a minimum bid price of $1.00 on The Nasdaq Capital Market. The principal reason for the Reverse Stock
Split is to increase the per share trading price of the Company’s common stock in order to help ensure a share price high
enough to satisfy the $1.00 per share minimum bid price requirement for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market, although
there can be no assurance that the trading price of our common stock would be maintained at such level or that we will be able
to maintain the listing of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market.
On September 3, 2019, the Company
received a letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq indicating that, for the 30 consecutive business days,
the bid price for the Company’s common stock had closed below the minimum $1.00 per share required for continued listing
on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1). In accordance with Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5810(c)(3)(A),
the Company was provided a period of 180 calendar days, or until March 2, 2020, to regain compliance with Nasdaq Listing
Rule 5450(a)(1). The Company did not regain compliance with Rule 5450(a)(1) by March 2, 2020, and, in order to obtain
an additional 180 days to regain compliance, on March 4, 2020, the Company transferred the listing of its common stock to The
Nasdaq Capital Market. The Company has until August 31, 2020 to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement. To regain
compliance with the minimum bid price requirement, the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock must be at least
$1.00 per share for a minimum of ten consecutive business days during this 180-day period. If it is unable to regain compliance
by August 31, 2020, the Company will effectuate a reverse stock split.
Our
Board has unanimously approved, and recommended that our stockholders approve, an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation
(the Certificate of Amendment), to effect a reverse stock split at a ratio of between 1-for-2 and 1-for-15 (the Reverse Stock
Split). Assuming the stockholders approve the proposal, the final decision of whether to proceed with the Reverse Stock Split,
the effective date and time of the Reverse Stock Split (such time, the Effective Time), and the exact ratio of the Reverse Stock
Split will be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion and without further action by the stockholders, in accordance with
Section 242(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law. If
the Board does not decide to implement the Reverse Stock Split within twelve months from the date of the Annual Meeting, the authority
granted in this proposal to implement the Reverse Stock Split will terminate.
General
The Reverse Stock Split will be realized
simultaneously for all outstanding common stock. The Reverse Stock Split will affect all holders of common stock uniformly and
each stockholder will hold the same percentage of common stock outstanding immediately following the Reverse Stock Split as that
stockholder held immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split, except for immaterial adjustments that may result from the treatment
of fractional shares as described below. The Reverse Stock Split will not change the par value of our common stock and will not
reduce the number of authorized shares of common stock. The Reverse Stock Split will also affect outstanding equity awards and
warrants, as described in “Principal Effects of Reverse Stock Split on Outstanding Equity Awards, Warrants, and Equity Plans”
below.
In the event that Nasdaq commences delisting
proceedings, our common stock will trade, if at all, on the over-the-counter market, such as the OTC Bulletin Board or OTCQX or
OTCQB markets, which could adversely impact us and our stockholders by, among other things, reducing the liquidity and market
price of our common stock; reducing the number of investors willing to hold or acquire our common stock; limiting our ability
to issue additional securities in the future; and limiting our ability to fund our operations.
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 29
PROPOSAL 5. APPROVAL OF REVERSE
STOCK SPLIT (CONTINUED)
Given the volatility and fluctuations in
the capital markets, and if our share price does not appreciate prior to these deadlines, we believe that the Company’s
best option to meet Nasdaq’s $1.00 minimum bid price requirement would be to effect the Reverse Stock Split to increase
the per-share trading price of our common stock. By way of illustration, assuming a per share price of $0.60, which represents
the closing price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the Record Date, immediately prior to the filing of the
appropriate Certificate of Amendment, the Board may determine that we should effect a 1-for-2 or 1-for-15 reverse stock split,
with the goal of achieving a bid price of $1.20 or $9.00 per share, respectively. Please refer to the section entitled “Principal
Effects of the Reverse Stock Split” below for more detailed examples of the effects of the range of ratios.
In addition, we believe that the low per
share market price of our common stock impairs its marketability to, and acceptance by, institutional investors and other members
of the investing public and creates a negative impression of the Company. Theoretically, decreasing the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding should not, by itself, affect the marketability of the shares, the type of investor who would be interested
in acquiring them, or our reputation in the financial community. In practice, however, many investors, brokerage firms and market
makers consider low-priced stocks as unduly speculative in nature and, as a matter of policy, avoid investment and trading in
such stocks. Moreover, the analysts at many brokerage firms do not monitor the trading activity or otherwise provide coverage
of lower priced stocks. The presence of these factors may be adversely affecting, and may continue to adversely affect, not only
the pricing of our common stock but also its trading liquidity. In addition, these factors may affect our ability to raise additional
capital through the sale of stock.
We hope that the decrease in the number
of shares of our outstanding common stock as a consequence of the Reverse Stock Split, and the anticipated increase in the price
per share, will encourage greater interest in our common stock by the financial community, business development partners and the
investing public, help us attract and retain employees, help us raise additional capital through the sale of stock in the future
if needed, and possibly promote greater liquidity for our stockholders with respect to those shares presently held by them. However,
the possibility also exists that liquidity may be adversely affected by the reduced number of shares which would be outstanding
if the Reverse Stock Split is implemented, particularly if the price per share of our common stock begins a declining trend after
the Reverse Stock Split is implemented.
The Board believes that stockholder adoption
of a range of reverse stock split ratios (as opposed to adoption of a single reverse stock split ratio or a set of fixed ratios)
provides maximum flexibility to achieve the purposes of a reverse stock split and, therefore, is in the best interests of the
Company. In determining a ratio following the receipt of stockholder adoption, the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board)
may consider, among other things, factors such as:
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the historical trading price and
trading volume of our common stock;
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the number of shares of our common
stock outstanding;
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the then-prevailing trading price and trading volume
of our common stock and the anticipated impact of
the Reverse Stock Split on the trading market for our
common stock;
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the anticipated impact of a particular ratio on our ability to
reduce administrative and transactional costs;
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the continued listing requirements
of Nasdaq; and
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prevailing general market and economic
conditions.
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The Board reserves the right not to elect
to implement the Reverse Stock Split, notwithstanding stockholder adoption thereof, if it determines, in its sole discretion,
that the Reverse Stock Split is no longer needed to regain compliance with Nasdaq’s listing requirements or is no longer
in the best interests of the Company.
30 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
PROPOSAL 5. APPROVAL
OF REVERSE STOCK SPLIT (CONTINUED)
Amendment to the Charter
If the Reverse Stock Split is approved
and the Board decides to effectuate a Reverse Stock Split, subsection (A) of ARTICLE IV of the Certificate of Incorporation shall
be amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
A. The Company is authorized to issue two classes
of stock to be designated, respectively, “Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock.” The total number of shares
of all classes of capital stock which the Company shall have authority to issue is two hundred five million (205,000,000) shares,
of which two hundred million (200,000,000) shares shall be Common Stock (the “Common Stock”), each having a par value
of one-tenth of one cent ($0.001), and five million (5,000,000) shares shall be Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”),
each having a par value of one-tenth of one cent ($0.001). Upon the effectiveness of this Certificate of Amendment to the Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, each [whole number of shares, as determined by the Board] of Common
Stock issued and outstanding at such time shall, automatically and without any further action on the part of the Company or the
holder thereof, be combined into one (1) validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock (the “Reverse
Stock Split”). The par value of the Common Stock following the Reverse Stock Split shall remain $0.001 per share. No fractional
shares shall be issued, and, in lieu thereof, the Company shall pay cash equal to such fraction multiplied by the fair market
value of a share of Common Stock, as determined by the Board of Directors. Each certificate that immediately prior to the effective
time of this Certificate of Amendment represented shares of Common Stock (an “Old Certificate”) shall thereafter represent
that number of shares of Common Stock into which the shares of Common Stock represented by the Old Certificate shall have been
combined, subject to the elimination of fractional share interests as described above.
The Certificate of Amendment attached hereto
as Appendix A reflects the changes that will be implemented to our Certificate of Incorporation if the Reverse Stock Split is
approved.
Principal Effects of the Reverse Stock Split
If the stockholders approve the proposal
to authorize the Board to implement the Reverse Stock Split and the Board implements the Reverse Stock Split, we will amend the
existing provision of Article IV of our Certificate of Incorporation in the manner set forth above.
By approving this amendment, stockholders
will approve the combination of any whole number of shares of Common Stock between and including two (2) and fifteen (15), with
the exact number to be determined by the Board, into one (1) share. Based on 97,863,990 shares of common stock issued and outstanding
as of the Record Date, immediately following the Reverse Stock Split, the Company would have approximately 48,931,995 shares of
common stock issued and outstanding if the ratio for the Reverse Stock Split is 1-for-2, and 6,524,266 shares of common stock
issued and outstanding if the ratio for the Reverse Stock Split is 1-for-15. Any other ratio selected within such range would
result in a number of shares of common stock between this range. The Certificate of Amendment to be filed with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware will include only that number determined by the Board to be in the best interests of the Company
and its stockholders. In accordance with these resolutions, the Board will not implement any amendment providing for a different
split ratio.
As explained above, the Reverse Stock Split
will be effected simultaneously for all issued and outstanding shares of common stock and the exchange ratio will be the same
for all issued and outstanding shares of common stock. The Reverse Stock Split will affect all of our stockholders uniformly and
will not affect any stockholder’s percentage ownership interests in the Company, except to the extent that the Reverse Stock
Split results in any of our stockholders receiving a cash payment in lieu of owning a fractional share, as described in the section
titled “Fractional Shares” below. Common stock issued pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split will remain fully paid and
non-assessable. The Reverse Stock Split will not affect the Company’s continuing obligations under the periodic reporting
requirements of the Exchange Act. Following the Reverse Stock Split, our common stock will continue to be listed on The Nasdaq
Capital Market, under the symbol “TRVN,” although it would receive a new CUSIP number.
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 31
PROPOSAL 5. APPROVAL
OF REVERSE STOCK SPLIT (CONTINUED)
Upon effectiveness of the Reverse Stock
Split, the number of authorized shares of common stock that are not issued or outstanding will increase substantially, because
the proposed amendment will not reduce the number of authorized shares, while it will reduce the number of outstanding shares
by a factor of between and including two and fifteen, depending on the exchange ratio selected by the Board.
The shares that are authorized but unissued
after the Reverse Stock Split will be available for issuance, and, if we issue these shares, the ownership interest of holders
of our common stock may be diluted. We may issue such shares to raise capital and/or as consideration in acquiring other businesses
or establishing strategic relationships with other companies. Such acquisitions or strategic relationships may be effected using
shares of common stock or other securities convertible into common stock and/or by using capital that may need to be raised by
selling such securities. We do not have any agreement, arrangement or understanding at this time with respect to any specific
transaction or acquisition for which the newly unissued authorized shares would be issued.
Procedure for Effecting Reverse Stock Split and Exchange
of Stock Certificates
If the Reverse Stock Split is approved
by the Company’s stockholders, and if at such time the Board still believes that a reverse stock split is in the best interests
of the Company and its stockholders, the Board will determine the ratio of the reverse stock split to be implemented. The Reverse
Stock Split will become effective as of the Effective Time. The Board will determine the exact timing of the filing of the Certificate
of Amendment based on its evaluation as to when the filing would be the most advantageous to the Company and its stockholders.
If the Board does not decide to implement the Reverse Stock Split within twelve months from the date of the Annual Meeting, the
authority granted in this proposal to implement the Reverse Stock Split will terminate.
Except as described below under the section
titled “Fractional Shares,” at the Effective Time, each whole number of issued and outstanding pre-Reverse Stock Split
shares that the Board has determined will be combined into one post-Reverse Stock Split share, will, automatically and without
any further action on the part of our stockholders, be combined into and become one share of Common Stock, and each certificate
which, immediately prior to the effective time represented pre-Reverse Stock Split shares, will be deemed for all corporate purposes
to evidence ownership of post-Reverse Stock Split shares.
Fractional Shares
No fractional shares will be issued in
connection with the Reverse Stock Split. Stockholders of record at the Effective Time of the Reverse Stock Split who otherwise
would be entitled to receive fractional shares because they hold a number of pre-Reverse Stock Split shares not evenly divisible
by the number of pre-Reverse Stock Split shares for which each post-Reverse Stock Split share is to be exchanged, will, in lieu
of a fractional share, be entitled to a cash payment in lieu thereof. The cash payment will equal the fraction to which the stockholder
would otherwise be entitled multiplied by the closing sales price of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market
on the effective date of the Certificate of Amendment.
Stockholders should be aware that, under
the escheat laws of the various jurisdictions where stockholders reside, sums due for fractional interests that are not timely
claimed after the effective time may be required to be paid to the designated agent for each such jurisdiction. Thereafter, stockholders
otherwise entitled to receive such funds may have to seek to obtain them directly from the state to which they were paid.
32 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
PROPOSAL 5. APPROVAL
OF REVERSE STOCK SPLIT (CONTINUED)
Consequences if Stockholder Approval for Proposal Is Not
Obtained
If stockholder approval for Proposal No.
5 is not obtained, we will not be able to file the Certificate of Amendment to effect the Reverse Stock Split. Unless the bid
price for our common stock increases to greater than $1.00 for ten consecutive business days prior to August 31, 2020, then we
will not meet the listing requirements for the Nasdaq Capital Market. If compliance is not achieved by August 31, 2020, and Nasdaq
does not grant us any additional extension, then our stock would be delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market. If we were unable
to qualify for any additional compliance period, or if we were unable to regain compliance during any such period, our common
stock would likely be transferred to the OTC Bulletin Board or OTCQX or OTCQB markets.
If we fail to meet all applicable listing
requirements and Nasdaq determines to delist our common stock, the delisting could adversely affect the market liquidity of our
common stock and the market price of our common stock could decrease. Delisting could also adversely affect our ability to obtain
financing for the continuation of our operations and/or result in the loss of confidence by investors, suppliers, commercial partners
and employees. In addition, the limited number of authorized shares of our common stock that are neither outstanding nor reserved
for issuance could adversely affect the ability of us to raise capital through equity financings.
Risks Associated with the Reverse Stock Split
We cannot predict whether the Reverse Stock
Split will increase the market price for our common stock. Additionally, the market price of our common stock will also be based
on our performance and other factors, some of which are unrelated to the number of shares outstanding. Further, there are a number
of risks associated with the Reverse Stock Split, including:
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(a)
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The market price per share of our shares of common stock post-Reverse
Stock Split may not remain in excess of the $1.00 minimum bid price per share as required
by Nasdaq, or the Company may fail to meet the other requirements for continued listing
on Nasdaq, including the minimum value of listed securities, as described above, resulting
in the delisting of our common stock.
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(b)
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Although the Board believes that a higher stock price may
help generate the interest of new investors, the Reverse Stock Split may not result in
a per-share price that will successfully attract certain types of investors and such
resulting share price may not satisfy the investing guidelines of institutional investors
or investment funds. Further, other factors, such as our financial results, market conditions
and the market perception of our business, may adversely affect the interest of new investors
in the shares of our common stock. As a result, the trading liquidity of the shares of
our common stock may not improve as a result of the Reverse Stock Split and there can
be no assurance that the Reverse Stock Split, if completed, will result in the intended
benefits described above.
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(c)
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A Reverse Stock Split may result in some stockholder owning
“odd lots” of less than 100 shares of common stock on a post-split basis.
These odd lots may be more difficult to sell, or require greater transaction costs per
share to sell, than shares in “round lots” of even multiples of 100 shares.
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(d)
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The Reverse Stock Split could be viewed negatively by the
market and other factors, such as those described above, may adversely affect the market
price of the shares of our common stock. Consequently, the market price per post-Reverse
Stock Split shares may not increase in proportion to the reduction of the number of shares
of our common stock outstanding before the implementation of the Reverse Stock Split.
Accordingly, the total market capitalization of our shares of common stock after the
Reverse Stock Split may be lower than the total market capitalization before the Reverse
Stock Split. Any reduction in total market capitalization as the result of the Reverse
Stock Split may make it more difficult for us to meet the Nasdaq Listing Rule regarding
minimum value of listed securities, which could result in our shares of common stock
being delisted from The Nasdaq Capital Market.
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Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 33
PROPOSAL 5. APPROVAL
OF REVERSE STOCK SPLIT (CONTINUED)
Book-Entry Shares
If the Reverse Stock Split is effectuated,
stockholders who hold uncertificated shares (i.e., shares held in book-entry form and not represented by a physical stock certificate),
either as direct or beneficial owners, will have their holdings electronically adjusted automatically by our transfer agent (and,
for beneficial owners, by their brokers or banks that hold in “street name” for their benefit, as the case may be)
to give effect to the Reverse Stock Split. Stockholders who hold uncertificated shares as direct owners will be sent a statement
of holding from our transfer agent that indicates the number of post-Reverse Stock Split shares of our common stock owned in book-entry
form.
Certificated Shares
As soon as practicable after the effective
time of the Reverse Stock Split, stockholders will be notified that the Reverse Stock Split has been effectuated. We expect that
our transfer agent will act as exchange agent for purposes of implementing the exchange of stock certificates. Holders of pre-Reverse
Stock Split shares will be asked to surrender to the exchange agent certificates representing pre-Reverse Stock Split shares in
exchange for certificates representing post-Reverse Stock Split shares in accordance with the procedures to be set forth in a
letter of transmittal to be sent by us or our exchange agent. No new certificates will be issued to a stockholder until such stockholder
has surrendered such stockholder’s outstanding certificate(s) together with the properly completed and executed letter of
transmittal to the exchange agent. Any pre-Reverse Stock Split shares submitted for transfer, whether pursuant to a sale or other
disposition, or otherwise, will automatically be exchanged for post-Reverse Stock Split shares. STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD NOT DESTROY
ANY STOCK CERTIFICATE(S) AND SHOULD NOT SUBMIT ANY CERTIFICATE(S) UNTIL REQUESTED TO DO SO.
Principal Effects of Reverse Stock Split on Outstanding
Equity Awards, Warrants, and Equity Plans
As of March 16, 2020, there were:
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outstanding stock options to purchase an aggregate
of 7,590,430 shares of our common stock with
a weighted average exercise price of $3.32 per share;
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outstanding restricted stock units to receive an aggregate of
3,077,185 shares of our common stock; and
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warrants to purchase an aggregate of 623,091 shares
of our common stock with a weighted average
exercise price of $2.21 per share.
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When the Reverse Stock Split becomes effective,
the number of shares of common stock covered by such rights will be reduced to between and including one-half and one-fifteenth
the number currently covered, and the exercise or conversion price per share will be increased to between and including two and
fifteen times the current exercise or conversion price, resulting in the same aggregate price being required to be paid therefor
upon exercise or conversion thereof as was required immediately preceding the Reverse Stock Split.
In addition, the number of shares of common
stock and number of shares of common stock subject to stock options or similar rights authorized under the Company’s equity
incentive plan and employee stock purchase plan will automatically be proportionately adjusted for the reverse stock split ratio,
such that fewer shares will be subject to such plans. Further, the per share exercise price under such plans will automatically
be proportionately adjusted for the Reverse Stock Split.
Accounting Matters
The Reverse Stock Split will not affect
the common stock capital account on our balance sheet. However, because the par value of our common stock will remain unchanged
at the effective time of the split, the components that make up the common stock capital account will change by offsetting amounts.
Depending on the size of the Reverse Stock Split the Board decides to implement, the stated capital component will be reduced
proportionately based upon the Reverse Stock Split and the additional paid-in capital component will be increased with the amount
by which the stated capital is reduced. Immediately after the Reverse Stock Split, the per share net income or loss and net book
value of our common stock will be increased because there will be fewer shares of common stock outstanding. All historic share
and per share amounts in our financial statements and related footnotes will be adjusted accordingly for the Reverse Stock Split.
34 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
PROPOSAL 5. APPROVAL OF REVERSE STOCK SPLIT (CONTINUED)
Effect on Par Value
The proposed amendment to our Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation will not affect the par value of our common stock, which will remain at $0.001 per share.
No Going Private Transaction
Notwithstanding the decrease in the number
of outstanding shares following the proposed Reverse Stock Split, our Board does not intend for this transaction to be the first
step in a “going private transaction” within the meaning of Rule 13e-3 of the Exchange Act.
Potential Anti-Takeover Effect
Although the increased proportion of unissued
authorized shares to issued shares could, under certain circumstances, have an anti-takeover effect, the Reverse Stock Split proposal
is not being proposed in response to any effort of which we are aware to accumulate shares of our common stock or obtain control
of the Company, nor is it part of a plan by management to recommend a series of similar amendments to the Board and stockholders.
Other than the Reverse Stock Split proposal, the Board does not currently contemplate recommending the adoption of any other actions
that could be construed to affect the ability of third parties to take over or change control of the Company.
No Dissenters’ Appraisal Rights
Under the Delaware General Corporation
Law, the Company’s stockholders are not entitled to dissenters’ appraisal rights with respect to the Reverse Stock
Split, and the Company will not independently provide stockholders with any such right.
Certain Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
of the Reverse Stock Split to U.S. Holders
The following summary describes
certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split to certain U.S. Holders (as defined below) of
our common stock, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax effects. This discussion is based on provisions
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), Treasury Regulations thereunder and administrative rulings, court
decisions and other legal authorities related thereto, each as in effect as of the date of this proxy statement and all of which
are subject to change or differing interpretations. Any such change or differing interpretation, which may or may not be retroactive,
could alter the tax consequences to the stockholders described herein. This discussion is included for general informational purposes
only and does not purport to consider all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that might be relevant to a U.S. Holder.
The discussion below only addresses
stockholders who hold our common stock as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally property
held for investment). It does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income tax that may be relevant to a stockholder in light
of such stockholder’s particular circumstances or to a stockholder subject to special rules, such as brokers or dealers
in securities or foreign currencies, stockholders that are not U.S. Holders, regulated investment companies, real estate investment
trusts, traders in securities who mark to market, banks, financial institutions or insurance companies, mutual funds, stockholders
holding their stock through individual retirement or other tax-deferred accounts, tax-exempt organizations, stockholders holding
their stock as “qualified small business stock” pursuant to Section 1202 of the Code or as Section 1244
stock for purposes of the Code, stockholders who acquired their stock in connection with the exercise of warrants, stock options
or stock purchase plans or other employee plans or compensatory arrangements, stockholders whose functional currency is not the
U.S. dollar, partnerships or other entities classified as partnerships or disregarded entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes
(or persons holding our common stock through such entities), stockholders who hold their stock as part of an integrated investment
(including a “straddle,” a pledge against currency risk, a hedge or other “constructive” sale or “conversion”
transaction) comprised of shares of our common stock and one or more other positions, stockholders who exercise dissenters’
or appraisal rights, or stockholders who may have acquired their stock in a transaction subject to the gain rollover provisions
of Section 1045 of the Code. In addition, this summary does not address any tax consequences other than certain U.S. federal
income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split, including the tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split under state, local
or non-U.S. tax laws, or under estate, gift, excise or other non-income tax laws, the alternative minimum tax or the Medicare
contribution tax on net investment income, the tax consequences of transactions effectuated prior or subsequent to, or concurrently
with, the Reverse Stock Split (whether or not any such transactions are consummated in connection with the Reverse Stock Split)
including, without limitation, the tax consequences to holders of options, warrants or similar rights to acquire our common stock.
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 35
PROPOSAL 5. APPROVAL
OF REVERSE STOCK SPLIT (CONTINUED)
For purposes of this discussion,
a “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of shares of our common stock that is any of the following:
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an
individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States or someone treated as a
U.S. citizen or resident for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
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a corporation (or other entity treated
as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any
state thereof, or the District of Columbia;
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an
estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of
its source; or
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a
trust if (i) a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s
administration and one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning
of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) are authorized or have the authority to control all
substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) it has a valid election in effect under
applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United States person for U.S.
federal income tax purposes.
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Our view regarding the tax consequences
of the Reverse Stock Split is not binding with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the courts. We have not sought, and do not
intend to seek, any tax opinion from counsel or ruling from the IRS with respect to any of the statements made in this summary.
There can be no assurance that the IRS will not take a position contrary to these statements or that a contrary position taken
by the IRS would not be sustained by a court. Accordingly, each stockholder should consult with such stockholder’s own tax
advisor with respect to all of the potential tax consequences to such stockholder of the Reverse Stock Split.
STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT
THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS WELL
AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT ARISING UNDER U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX LAWS OR UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY
STATE, LOCAL OR NON-U.S. TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATY.
36 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
PROPOSAL 5. APPROVAL
OF REVERSE STOCK SPLIT (CONTINUED)
Tax Consequences of the Reverse Stock Split
We intend to treat the Reverse
Stock Split as a “recapitalization” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, a U.S. Holder generally should
not recognize gain or loss upon the Reverse Stock Split, except with respect to cash received in lieu of a fractional share of
common stock (as described below). A U.S. Holder’s aggregate tax basis in the shares of common stock received pursuant to
the Reverse Stock Split should equal the aggregate tax basis of the shares of common stock surrendered (excluding any portion
of such basis that is allocated to any fractional share of common stock), and such U.S. Holder’s holding period for the
shares of the common stock received should include the holding period for the shares of common stock surrendered. Treasury Regulations
provide detailed rules for allocating the tax basis and holding period of the shares of common stock surrendered to the shares
of common stock received in a recapitalization pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors
as to application of the foregoing rules where shares of common stock were acquired at different times or at different prices.
Cash in Lieu of Fractional Shares
A U.S. Holder who receives cash
in lieu of a fractional share of common stock pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split is expected to recognize capital gain or loss
in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between the amount of cash received and the portion of the U.S. Holder’s tax
basis in the shares of common stock surrendered that is allocated to such fractional share of common stock. Such capital gain
or loss should be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the common stock surrendered in
the Reverse Stock Split exceeds one year at the time of the Reverse Stock Split. Long-term capital gains of non-corporate U.S.
Holders are generally subject to preferential tax rates. There are limitations on the deductibility of capital losses under the
Code.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
A holder of common stock may
be subject to information reporting and backup withholding on cash paid in lieu of fractional shares in connection with the Reverse
Stock Split. To avoid backup withholding, each holder of common stock that does not otherwise establish an exemption should provide
its taxpayer identification number and comply with the applicable certification procedures. Holders of common stock should consult
their tax advisors regarding their qualification for an exemption from backup withholding and the procedures for obtaining such
an exemption, as well as the procedures for obtaining a credit or refund if backup withholding is imposed.
The
preceding discussion is intended only as a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock
Split. It is not a complete analysis or discussion of all potential tax effects that may be important to a particular holder.
All holders of our common stock should consult their own tax advisors as to the specific tax consequences of the Reverse Stock
Split them, including record retention and tax-reporting requirements, and the applicability and effect of any federal, state,
local and non-U.S. tax laws.
Interests of Directors and Executive Officers
Our directors and executive officers have
no substantial interests, directly or indirectly, in the matters set forth in this proposal except to the extent of their ownership
of shares of our common stock.
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 37
PROPOSAL 5. APPROVAL OF REVERSE STOCK SPLIT (CONTINUED)
Reservation of Right to Abandon Reverse Stock Split
We reserve the right to not file the Certificate
of Amendment and to abandon any Reverse Stock Split without further action by our stockholders at any time before the effectiveness
of the filing with the Secretary of the State of Delaware of the Certificate of Amendment, even if the authority to effect these
amendments is approved by our stockholders at the Annual Meeting. By voting in favor of the Reverse Stock Split, you are expressly
also authorizing the Board to delay, not proceed with, and abandon, the Reverse Stock Split and the Certificate of Amendment if
it should so decide, in its sole discretion, that such actions are in the best interests of our stockholders.
Vote Required
The affirmative vote of the holders of
a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote on the matter is required to approve the Certificate
of Amendment to effectuate the Reverse Stock Split. Abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, will count as votes AGAINST the
Reverse Stock Split.
The Board of Directors unanimously
recommends that stockholders vote FOR the approval to amend the Certificate of Incorporation to effectuate a reverse stock as
set forth in this Proposal 5.
38 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
OVERVIEW
Compensation Objectives
and Practices
Trevena’s pay-for-performance compensation philosophy
has the following key objectives:
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Align the interests of the
Company’s executives with those of its stockholders and reward the creation of long-term value for Trevena stockholders.
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·
|
Emphasize performance-based
short-term and long-term compensation over fixed compensation.
|
|
|
·
|
Motivate superior enterprise
results with appropriate consideration of risk and while maintaining commitment to the Company’s ethics and values.
|
|
|
·
|
Reward the achievement of
favorable long-term results more heavily than the achievement of short-term results.
|
|
|
·
|
Provide market competitive
compensation opportunities designed to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified executives.
|
To achieve these key objectives, the Compensation Committee
uses the following compensation practices, processes and instruments:
|
·
|
Annual
pay-for-performance assessment by the Compensation Committee of the achievement of the
Company’s corporate goals and an individual executive officer’s performance.
|
|
|
|
|
·
|
A
regular analysis of relevant market compensation data for each executive officer.
|
|
|
|
|
·
|
Equity-based
incentive plans (the 2013 Equity Plan and the Trevena, Inc. Inducement Plan) focused
on longer-term stockholder value creation.
|
|
|
|
|
·
|
A
cash-based incentive plan (the Trevena, Inc. Incentive Compensation Plan, or ICP) designed
to motivate executive officers to achieve the Company’s annual goals.
|
|
|
|
|
·
|
The
retention by the Compensation Committee of an independent compensation consultant to
assist in the Compensation Committee’s design and implementation of the Company’s
executive compensation programs.
|
In general, the Compensation Committee seeks to position the
Company’s compensation, target total cash compensation and long-term equity incentive compensation at the market 50th
percentile. However, with respect to each component, the Company may choose to target compensation below or above (e.g.,
up to the market 75th percentile) based on an assessment of individual experience, scope of position, performance,
potential and retention concerns, as applicable.
While the Company’s Board of Directors has the ultimate
responsibility for risk oversight, the Compensation Committee oversees compensation-related risks, including with respect to the
Company’s corporate objectives and overall compensation design and awards. Specifically, the Compensation Committee seeks
to ensure that Trevena’s compensation programs and policies do not encourage unnecessary or excessive risk-taking behavior
by executives and do not create unreasonable risks.
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 39
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)
Compensation Governance
and Controls
In implementing the compensation philosophy described above,
the Compensation Committee regularly reviews market data, the composition of Trevena's peer group, as well as other items, in
determining which pay elements to offer, the target pay mix, the design of our short- and long-term incentive plans and each executive
officer’s target total direct compensation.
The Compensation Committee also regularly reviews executive
compensation governance market trends and strives to reflect the views of stockholders when considering the adoption of new practices
or changes to existing programs or policies. Our governance practices and controls include:
|
|
·
|
“Double
trigger” requirement for change of control benefits.
|
·
|
No tax
gross-up of severance pay upon a change of control.
|
·
|
Prohibition
of hedging of Trevena stock by all directors and employees, including the executive officers.
|
·
|
Prudent
management of annual share usage (or burn rate) and total dilution under the 2013 Equity Plan.
|
·
|
No executive
officer perquisites.
|
·
|
The Compensation
Committee’s ongoing review of the general long-term compensation strategy for the Company and assessments of executive
officers and key senior management in connection with compensation decisions, and assistance to the Board of Directors in
CEO and executive officer succession plans.
|
·
|
The Compensation
Committee’s oversight of risk related to compensation programs and policies, including plan design features that mitigate
the risk of incentive compensation having an unintended negative financial impact.
|
40 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)
Process for Executive Compensation
Decisions
Use of External Data
In September 2018, the Compensation Committee approved the
list of comparator companies used to set pay levels and determine pay practices for 2019 (the 2019 peer group). In developing
the 2019 peer group, the Compensation Committee, with the assistance of its independent compensation consultant discussed below,
identified similarly situated biopharmaceutical companies based on market capitalization, stage of development and number of employees,
among other things. The following represents the 2019 peer group:
AcelRx
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
|
DURECT
Corporation
|
Akebia
Therapeutics, Inc.
|
INSYS
Therapeutics, Inc.
|
BioCryst
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
|
La
Jolla Pharmaceutical Company
|
BioDelivery
Sciences International, Inc.
|
Nabriva
Therapeutics plc
|
Cara
Therapeutics, Inc.
|
Paratek
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
|
ChemoCentryx,
Inc.
|
Recro
Pharma, Inc.
|
Collegium
Pharmaceutical, Inc.
|
Rigel
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
|
Cumberland
Pharmaceuticals Inc.
|
Synergy
Pharmaceuticals Inc.
|
Cytokinetics,
Incorporated
|
Verastem,
Inc.
|
For the 2019 year-end compensation decisions, the Compensation
Committee established the Company’s compensation for the executive officers based on a variety of factors, including a mix
of (i) publicly available data from the 2019 peer group and (ii) published survey data for the life sciences industry.
Chief Executive Officer Compensation
The Compensation Committee annually evaluates the CEO’s
performance and Trevena’s performance against its pre-established goals and makes recommendations to the independent members
of the Board of Directors about the CEO’s performance and compensation. The Board then considers the Compensation Committee’s
recommendations as part of its review and approval of the CEO’s compensation. The Chairman of the Board reviews the results
of the evaluation with the CEO.
The CEO is not present when the Compensation Committee and
the Board are making decisions about the CEO’s compensation. The Company’s internal legal counsel, head of human resources,
and/or the independent compensation consultant attend meetings at the request of the Compensation Committee.
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 41
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)
Other Executive Officer Compensation
Generally, the CEO presents recommendations for the other executive
officers’ compensation targets for the Compensation Committee’s consideration and approval. For compensation decisions
involving actual payouts to the executive officers, the CEO presents her recommendations to the Compensation Committee for its
consideration. The CEO discusses Trevena’s performance and the individual officer’s performance. The Company’s
internal legal counsel is generally present for the discussion of compensation for all executive officers other than himself.
Compensation Consultant Role in Executive Compensation
The Compensation Committee engaged Pearl Meyer & Partners
(“Pearl Meyer”) as its independent compensation consultant for 2019.
The Compensation Committee utilized Pearl Meyer to provide
independent, objective analysis, advice and information and to generally assist the Compensation Committee in the performance
of its duties. The Compensation Committee will typically request information and recommendations directly from the compensation
consultant as it deems appropriate to structure and evaluate Trevena’s compensation programs, practices and plans. As part
of its engagement, at the direction of the Compensation Committee, the compensation consultant will work, and exchange information,
with the Company’s management team in their work on the Compensation Committee’s behalf.
At the direction of the Compensation Committee, Pearl Meyer
provided services to the Compensation Committee, including the following items:
|
·
|
conducted an
annual review of the peer group companies for continued appropriateness;
|
|
·
|
presented an
overview of marketplace trends and developments;
|
|
·
|
presented a
comparison of competitive market data to the current compensation of each executive officer
to assist in setting compensation targets for 2019;
|
|
·
|
evaluated the
Company’s overall use of equity, including share usage rates and dilution;
|
|
·
|
reviewed the
compensation program for the Company’s non-employee directors; and
|
|
·
|
reviewed the
Executive Compensation section of the 2019 proxy statement.
|
Independence of the Compensation Consultant
The Compensation Committee assesses the compensation consultant’s
independence each year. In assessing independence, the Compensation Committee considers:
|
·
|
the provision
of other services to the Company by the consultant;
|
|
·
|
the amount
of fees paid to the consultant by the Company as a percentage of consultant’s total
revenue;
|
|
·
|
the policies
and procedures of the consultant’s employer that are designed to prevent conflicts
of interests;
|
|
·
|
any business
or personal relationship between the consultant and a member of the Compensation Committee;
|
|
·
|
any Company
stock owned by the consultant;
|
|
·
|
any business
or personal relationship of the consultant and an executive officer of the Company; and
|
|
·
|
any other factor
deemed relevant to the consultant's independence from management.
|
42 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)
In addition, each year the Compensation Committee receives
a letter from its compensation consultant providing appropriate assurances and confirmation of independence. The Compensation
Committee determined that Pearl Meyer was independent under applicable Nasdaq rules.
At the request of the Compensation Committee, a representative
of Pearl Meyer attended all of the Compensation Committee’s regularly scheduled meetings in 2019. The Compensation Committee
annually reviews and evaluates its compensation consultant’s engagement and performance.
2019 Executive Compensation Program
Trevena’s 2019 executive compensation
program consists of the following elements:
Element
|
|
Description
|
Base
Salary
|
|
Represents the fixed portion of
each executive’s total compensation package.
|
Annual
Cash Incentive
|
|
At-risk compensation based on performance. Annual
incentive awards under the ICP are based on the achievement of corporate results relative to pre-established goals, as adjusted
for individual performance, accomplishments and contributions.
|
Long-Term
Incentives
|
|
At-risk compensation based on individual
performance. Trevena’s long-term equity incentive program also is considered performance-based compensation. In accordance
with Trevena’s compensation strategy, the predominant portion of an executive’s compensation opportunity is tied
to the long-term success of the Company.
|
Retirement
Compensation
|
|
Trevena provides retirement benefits
that are aligned to competitive market practices, including a 401(k) plan for all full-time employees that provides for employee
contributions as well as Company matching contributions of up to 4.0% of eligible pay.
|
No Perquisites;
Other
Benefits
|
|
Our executives do not receive any
perquisites. However, they are eligible for all benefits offered to Trevena employees generally, including medical
benefits, other health and welfare benefits, and other voluntary benefits.
|
2019 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
This table includes information regarding 2018 and 2019 compensation
for each of our CEO and our two other most highly compensated executive officers in 2019, which are referred to as the named executive
officers, or NEOs. Other tables in this proxy statement provide more detail about specific types of compensation with respect
to 2019.
Name
and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
|
Salary
($)
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
($)
|
|
|
Option
Awards
($)
|
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
|
|
|
All
Other
Compensation
($)
|
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Carrie L. Bourdow
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
|
562,500
|
|
|
|
469,755
|
|
|
|
197,838
|
|
|
|
327,375
|
|
|
|
11,200
|
|
|
|
1,568,668
|
|
President and
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
|
418,314
|
|
|
|
162,500
|
|
|
|
1,041,309
|
|
|
|
146,719
|
|
|
|
11,073
|
|
|
|
1,779,915
|
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark A. Demitrack, M.D.
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
|
440,000
|
|
|
|
152,295
|
|
|
|
39,558
|
|
|
|
187,792
|
|
|
|
11,200
|
|
|
|
830,846
|
|
SVP and Chief Medical Officer
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
|
230,573
|
|
|
|
81,250
|
|
|
|
297,270
|
|
|
|
103,950
|
|
|
|
6,764
|
|
|
|
719,807
|
|
Robert
Yoder 1
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
|
345,417
|
|
|
|
119,405
|
|
|
|
79,117
|
|
|
|
134,022
|
|
|
|
11,200
|
|
|
|
689,161
|
|
SVP and Chief Business Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 Mr. Yoder was not an NEO for 2018. As a result,
his compensation for that year has been omitted pursuant to applicable SEC rules and regulations.
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 43
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)
Stock Awards
The amounts in this column do not reflect dollar
amounts actually received by our named executive officers and in accordance with SEC rules, represent the full grant date fair
value as of December 31, 2019 of restricted stock unit awards made under the 2013 Equity Plan, computed in accordance with ASC
Topic 718 applying the same model and assumptions as Trevena applies for financial statement reporting purposes, as described
in Note 7 to Trevena’s financial statements contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2019 (disregarding any estimates for forfeitures).
Option Awards
The amounts in this column do not reflect dollar
amounts actually received by our named executive officers and in accordance with SEC rules, represent the full grant date fair
value of option awards made under the 2013 Equity Plan for 2019 and 2018, computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718 applying the
same model and assumptions as Trevena applies for financial statement reporting purposes, as described in Note 7 to Trevena’s
consolidated financial statements contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (disregarding
any estimates for forfeitures). The value of Trevena stock option awards are determined using a Black-Scholes pricing methodology
that assumes that all stock options are held to full-term (ten years). These amounts do not reflect the actual economic value
that will be realized by the NEO upon the vesting of the stock options, the exercise of the stock options or the sale of the common
stock underlying such stock options.
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation
Amounts in this column reflect awards earned and
paid under the ICP for the 2019 and 2018 fiscal years, as discussed further under “Annual Cash Incentive” below.
All Other Compensation
This column includes Trevena’s matching contributions
to the NEOs’ accounts under its 401(k) plan up to a maximum amount of $11,200 for each Ms. Bourdow, Dr. Demitrack and Mr.
Yoder.
NARRATIVE TO 2019 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Annual Base Salary
Key Features
|
·
|
Base
salary levels are set with reference to both:
|
|
–
|
Competitive market data; and
|
|
–
|
Individual performance.
|
|
·
|
Base salary
levels are reviewed annually during the performance review process and may be adjusted
as a result of updated market data and an assessment of an executive’s skills,
role and performance contributions, including the demonstration of Trevena’s leadership
behaviors and core values. The overall salary budget also is a factor in determining
the extent of base salary adjustments.
|
44 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)
Base Salary
The table below presents the annual base salaries for each
of our NEOs employed by the Company as of December 31, 2019. Ms. Bourdow’s salary was increased to $600,000, effective as
of October 1, 2019. Dr. Demitrack joined Trevena in May 2018 with a base salary of $365,000, which was increased to $440,000,
effective as of December 1, 2018. Dr. Demitrack’s base salary did not change in 2019. Mr. Yoder joined Trevena in June 2018
as Vice President of Commercial Operations and Sales, and was promoted to Senior Vice President, Chief Business Officer, effective
December 6, 2018, with a salary of $335,000. Mr. Yoder’s salary was increased to $360,000 on July 26, 2019. For 2019, the
base salary for each of the NEOs was considered to be within the competitive range of market data provided to the Compensation
Committee by Pearl Meyer.
Name
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2019
|
|
Carrie L. Bourdow
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
$
|
600,000
|
|
Mark A. Demitrack, M.D.
|
|
$
|
440,000
|
|
|
$
|
440,000
|
|
Robert Yoder
|
|
$
|
335,000
|
|
|
$
|
360,000
|
|
Annual Cash Incentive
Effective January 1, 2015, the Board approved the adoption
of the ICP. The ICP is designed to provide participants in the plan, including the Company’s NEOs, with an incentive in
the form of an annual cash incentive (an Award) to achieve specified corporate and individual objectives during a period of time
selected by the Board to which the Award relates.
Key Features of the ICP
Our ICP motivates and rewards our executives for achievements
relative to both corporate and individual goals for each fiscal year. The ICP includes the following key features:
|
·
|
The
Compensation Committee (or, as applicable, the Board) annually approves:
|
|
–
|
Corporate performance measures and goals;
|
|
–
|
Target bonus opportunity for each NEO, defined as a percentage
of his or her annual salary;
|
|
–
|
Funding levels for actual ICP Awards; and
|
|
–
|
Individual Awards for the NEOs, except for the CEO’s
Award, which is approved by the Board.
|
|
·
|
Annual Awards
for each of the NEOs are generally targeted at the 50th percentile of
the primary market reference.
|
|
·
|
Subject to
certain limits described below, the actual Award for an NEO will generally range from
0% to 150% of the individual’s target bonus opportunity and, if applicable, are
paid in the first quarter following the end of the performance year.
|
Target Incentive Award Levels
The Compensation Committee establishes the target cash incentive
opportunity for each executive officer other than the CEO, and the Board establishes the target cash incentive opportunity for
the CEO assuming full achievement against the Corporate Objectives (as defined below) and any individual objectives. For 2019,
the target cash incentive opportunity for each of the NEOs was considered to be within the competitive range of market data provided
to the Compensation Committee by Pearl Meyer. The following table shows the amount of the target incentive for each NEO for the
past two years:
Name
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2019
|
|
Carrie L. Bourdow
|
|
|
60
|
%
|
|
|
60
|
%
|
Mark A. Demitrack, M.D.
|
|
|
40
|
%
|
|
|
40
|
%
|
Robert Yoder
|
|
|
30
|
%
|
|
|
40
|
%
|
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 45
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)
The target incentive opportunity for Ms. Bourdow for 2018 was
increased to 45% of base salary, effective as of February 1, 2018, in connection with her promotion to Executive Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer and to 60% of base salary, effective as of October 1, 2018, in connection with her promotion to President
and Chief Executive Officer.
ICP Corporate Goals, Weightings and Funding
Each year, the Board, upon the recommendation of the Compensation
Committee, establishes major corporate objectives for the coming fiscal year (and the relative weighting of such objectives) (the
Corporate Objectives). The Board believes the Corporate Objectives will contribute to the long-term success of the Company by
aligning with and driving the execution of the Company’s business strategy. A minimum of 60% achievement against the Corporate
Objectives is necessary for any Award payout under the ICP, and the maximum Award to any participant is 150% of the applicable
target Award.
At the end of the fiscal year, the Board, upon the recommendation
of the Compensation Committee, reviews and approves the level of the Company’s achievement against the Corporate Objectives.
In addition to its assessment of achievement against each Corporate Objective, the Board may consider Trevena’s performance
as a whole during the fiscal year, including matters not included in the Corporate Objectives. Following the determination of
the corporate achievement, the Compensation Committee will consider the individual achievement of each executive officer and Vice
President in arriving at the individual Awards, if any, to be made.
The Compensation Committee approves the pool of Award dollars
available for payment to all participants at or below the level of Vice President, as well as the specific individual Awards to
be made to the Company’s executive officers (other than the President and CEO). The Board approves the individual Award
to be made to the President and CEO, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee.
The Board’s determination of the Company’s level
of achievement against the Corporate Objectives is the basis for establishing the funding available for Awards under the ICP.
An Award is then determined for each participant based upon management’s determination of such participant’s performance
against his or her pre-approved individual goals. Notwithstanding these determinations, the Compensation Committee and the Board
each retain the discretion to make individual Awards that are above or below the level of corporate achievement. The Compensation
Committee believes this flexibility is an important tool to aid in the retention of key talent, reward significant achievement
by individual employees, motivate employees and recognize management decision-making focused on generating long-term value for
stockholders over short-term achievement of the Corporate Objectives. The Compensation Committee did not exercise this discretion
in 2018 or 2019.
In January 2018 and February 2019, the Board established the
corporate goals and weightings for 2018 and 2019, respectively, that would be used to determine the range of potential aggregate
funding for awards under the ICP. In early 2019 and early 2020, the Board, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee,
assessed the Company’s actual performance against these previously established goals and approved the Company’s corporate
achievement for 2018 at a level of 70% of target and for 2019 at a level of 97% of target.
In determining the amount of each NEO’s ICP Award, the
Compensation Committee and the Board also considered each NEO’s performance against individual goals and the CEO’s
input with respect to the performance of the Company and the other executive officers. Based on these considerations, for 2018,
the Board approved an ICP Award of $146,719 for Ms. Bourdow and the Compensation Committee approved, and the Board ratified, an
ICP Award of $103,950 for Dr. Demitrack, and for 2019, the Board approved an ICP Award of $327,375 for Ms. Bourdow and the Compensation
Committee approved, and the Board ratified, ICP Awards of $187,792 for Dr. Demitrack and $134,022 for Mr. Yoder.
46 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)
Long-Term Incentives
Key Features
|
·
|
Long-term
incentives (LTI) are administered under the 2013 Equity Plan.
|
|
·
|
Total annual
LTI awards are generally positioned at the 50th percentile of the primary
market reference for each NEO.
|
|
·
|
LTI awards
are delivered through stock options and/or restricted stock units (RSUs).
|
|
–
|
The actual realized value of stock options depends upon
stock price appreciation (if any) until the option is exercised.
|
|
–
|
The actual realized value of RSUs depends on our stock
price upon vesting and settlement of the RSU award.
|
Our 2013 Equity Plan authorizes us to make grants to eligible
recipients of non-qualified stock options, incentive stock options, restricted stock awards, RSUs and stock appreciation rights.
In September 2019, the Company granted stock options to purchase
250,000 shares of common stock to Ms. Bourdow, with a grant date fair value of $197,838, options to purchase 50,000 shares of
common stock to Dr. Demitrack with a grant date fair value of $39,558, and options to purchase 100,000 shares of common stock
to Mr. Yoder with a grant date fair value of $79,117. In each case, 1/16th of the stock options will vest quarterly
over a period of four years, subject to the NEO’s continuous service through each applicable vesting date.
In December 2019, the Company granted RSUs awards covering
657,000 shares to Ms. Bourdow with a grant date fair value of $469,755, 213,000 shares to Dr. Demitrack with a grant date fair
value of $152,295, and 167,000 shares to Mr. Yoder, with a grant date fair value of $119,405. In each case, 50% of the total number
of shares subject to the RSU award shall vest on December 5, 2020, and the remaining 50% of the total number of shares subject
to the RSU award shall vest on December 5, 2021, subject to the NEO’s continuous service through each applicable vesting
date.
We typically grant equity incentive awards at the start of
employment to each executive and our other employees. Beginning in 2014, we began our current practice of granting additional
equity on an annual basis. We also have discretion to provide additional targeted grants in certain circumstances or in association
with promotions.
We award our equity grants on the date the Board or the Compensation
Committee approves the grant. We set the option exercise price and grant date fair value based on our closing sale price on the
date of grant. For grants in connection with initial employment, vesting begins on the initial date of employment. Options have
a term of ten years from the grant date. Option grants to our executives typically vest annually over four years, subject to continuous
service through each applicable vesting date.
The table below provides information regarding stock option
awards made in 2019 to the NEOs.
Name
|
|
Grant
Date
|
|
Approval
Date
|
|
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Options (#)
|
|
|
Exercise
Price of
Option Awards
($/Sh)
|
|
|
Closing
Market
Price on Date of
Grant ($/Sh)
|
|
|
Grant
Date Fair
Market Value of
Option Awards
($)
|
|
Carrie L. Bourdow
|
|
9/19/2019
|
|
9/19/2019
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
|
|
1.00
|
|
|
|
1.00
|
|
|
|
197,838
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark A. Demitrack, M.D.
|
|
9/18/2019
|
|
9/18/2019
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
|
1.00
|
|
|
|
1.00
|
|
|
|
39,558
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert Yoder
|
|
9/18/2019
|
|
9/18/2019
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
1.00
|
|
|
|
1.00
|
|
|
|
79,117
|
|
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 47
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)
The table below provides information regarding RSU awards made
in 2019 to the NEOs.
Name
|
|
Grant
Date
|
|
Approval
Date
|
|
Number
of Securities
Granted (#)
|
|
|
Closing
Market Price
on Date of Grant ($/Sh)
|
|
|
Grant
Date Fair
Market Value of RSU
Awards ($)
|
|
Carrie L. Bourdow
|
|
12/5/2019
|
|
12/5/2019
|
|
|
657,000
|
|
|
|
0.715
|
|
|
|
469,755
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark A. Demitrack, M.D.
|
|
12/5/2019
|
|
12/4/2019
|
|
|
213,000
|
|
|
|
0.715
|
|
|
|
152,295
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert Yoder
|
|
12/5/2019
|
|
12/4/2019
|
|
|
167,000
|
|
|
|
0.715
|
|
|
|
119,405
|
|
Number of Securities Underlying Options
These amounts represent stock option awards granted
under the 2013 Equity Plan and approved by the Board of Directors as part of each NEO’s annual long-term equity incentive
award. Each of the stock option awards granted in 2019 vest on a quarterly basis over four years.
Exercise Price of Option Awards
Pursuant to the 2013 Equity Plan and the Trevena,
Inc. Inducement Plan, the stock option exercise price is the closing sale price of Trevena common stock on the date of the award.
Grant Date Fair Market Value of Options Awards
These amounts represent the grant date fair value
of equity awards computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718, applying the same model and assumptions Trevena uses for financial
statement reporting purposes. The award values represented in the table are theoretical, and may not correspond to the actual
value that will be recognized by the NEO. Trevena stock option awards are determined using a Black-Scholes pricing methodology
that assumes that all stock options are held to full-term (ten years).
48 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT YEAR-END 2019
This table provides information about unexercised stock options
and RSUs held as of December 31, 2019 by each of the NEOs.
|
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
of Securities Underlying
Unexercised Options
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
of Units
of Stock That
|
|
|
Market Value of
Units of Stock
|
|
Name
|
|
Grant Date
|
|
Exercisable
(#)
|
|
|
Unexercisable
(#)(1)
|
|
|
Option
Exercise
Price ($)
|
|
|
Option
Expiration Date
|
|
Have
Not Vested
(#) (2)
|
|
|
That
Have Not
Vested ($)
|
|
Carrie L. Bourdow
|
|
5/4/2015
|
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.94
|
|
|
5/4/2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3/3/2016
|
|
|
71,250
|
|
|
|
23,750
|
|
|
|
8.82
|
|
|
3/3/2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1/6/2017
|
|
|
27,500
|
|
|
|
27,500
|
|
|
|
6.61
|
|
|
1/6/2027
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3/2/2017
|
|
|
45,500
|
|
|
|
45,500
|
|
|
|
4.13
|
|
|
3/2/2027
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8/28/2017
|
|
|
37,125
|
|
|
|
28.875
|
|
|
|
2.37
|
|
|
8/28/2027
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2/28/2018
|
|
|
54,250
|
|
|
|
69,750
|
|
|
|
1.79
|
|
|
2/28/2028
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2/28/2018
|
|
|
56,250
|
|
|
|
56,250
|
|
|
|
1.79
|
|
|
2/28/2028
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2/28/2018
|
|
|
112,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.79
|
|
|
2/28/2028
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9/27/2018
|
|
|
104,688
|
|
|
|
230,312
|
|
|
|
2.25
|
|
|
9/27/2028
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/6/2018
|
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
|
0.65
|
|
|
12/6/2028
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/6/2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
|
105,113
|
|
|
|
9/19/2019
|
|
|
15,625
|
|
|
|
234,375
|
|
|
|
1.00
|
|
|
9/19/2029
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/5/2019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
657,000
|
|
|
|
552,471
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
774,688
|
|
|
|
841,312
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
782.000
|
|
|
|
657,584
|
|
Mark A. Demitrack, M.D.
|
|
5/21/2018
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
|
1.78
|
|
|
5/21/2028
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/6/2018
|
|
|
62,500
|
|
|
|
62,500
|
|
|
|
0.65
|
|
|
12/6/2028
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/6/2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
62,500
|
|
|
|
52,556
|
|
|
|
9/18/2019
|
|
|
3,125
|
|
|
|
46,875
|
|
|
|
1.00
|
|
|
9/18/2029
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/5/2019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
213,000
|
|
|
|
179,112
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
140,625
|
|
|
|
234,375
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
275,500
|
|
|
|
231,668
|
|
Robert Yoder
|
|
6/4/2018
|
|
|
17,813
|
|
|
|
29,687
|
|
|
|
1.79
|
|
|
6/4/2028
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/6/2018
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
|
0.65
|
|
|
12/6/2028
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/6/2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
|
42,045
|
|
|
|
9/18/2019
|
|
|
6,250
|
|
|
|
93,750
|
|
|
|
1.00
|
|
|
9/18/2029
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/5/2019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
167,000
|
|
|
|
140,430
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
74,063
|
|
|
|
173,437
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
217,000
|
|
|
|
182,475
|
|
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 49
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)
(1) The
following table details the vesting schedule of stock options (including performance-based stock options, if any) that have not
vested as of December 31, 2019 for the NEOs, subject in each case to the NEO’s continuous service through each applicable
vesting date. The unvested shares subject to these options may be subject to accelerated vesting upon a qualifying termination
of employment. See “Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment or in Connection with Change in Control” below.
|
|
Grant
Date
|
|
|
Number
of
Stock Options
That Have Not
Vested
|
|
|
Next Vesting
Date from
12/31/2019
|
|
Next
Vesting
Amount
|
|
|
Remaining
Vesting Terms
|
Carrie L. Bourdow
|
|
|
3
/32016
|
|
|
|
23,750
|
|
|
3/3/2020
|
|
|
23,750
|
|
|
1/4th
of total grant every year
|
|
|
|
1/6/2017
|
|
|
|
27,500
|
|
|
1/6/2020
|
|
|
13,750
|
|
|
1/4th
of total grant every year
|
|
|
|
3/2/2017
|
|
|
|
45,500
|
|
|
3/2/2020
|
|
|
22,750
|
|
|
1/4th
of total grant every year
|
|
|
|
8/28/2017
|
|
|
|
28,875
|
|
|
2/28/2020
|
|
|
4,125
|
|
|
1/16th
of total grant every quarter
|
|
|
|
2/28/2017
|
|
|
|
69,750
|
|
|
2/28/2020
|
|
|
7,750
|
|
|
1/16th
of total grant every quarter
|
|
|
|
2/28/2018
|
|
|
|
56,250
|
|
|
2/28/2020
|
|
|
56,250
|
|
|
50% of total grant vests on 2/28/2020
|
|
|
|
9/27/2018
|
|
|
|
230,312
|
|
|
3/27/2020
|
|
|
20,937
|
|
|
1/16th
of total grant every quarter
|
|
|
|
12/6/2018
|
|
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
12/6/2020
|
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
50%
of total grant vests on 12/6/2020
|
|
|
|
9/19/2019
|
|
|
|
234,735
|
|
|
3/19/2020
|
|
|
15,625
|
|
|
1/16th
of total grant every quarter
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark A. Demitrack, M.D.
|
|
|
5/21/2018
|
|
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
2/21/2020
|
|
|
12,500
|
|
|
1/16th
of total grant every quarter
|
|
|
|
12/6/2018
|
|
|
|
62,500
|
|
|
12/6/2020
|
|
|
62,500
|
|
|
50%
of total grant vests on 12/6/2020
|
|
|
|
9/18/2019
|
|
|
|
46,875
|
|
|
3/18/2020
|
|
|
3,125
|
|
|
1/16th
of total grant every quarter
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert Yoder
|
|
|
6/4/2018
|
|
|
|
29,687
|
|
|
3/4/2020
|
|
|
2,968
|
|
|
1/16th
of total grant every quarter
|
|
|
|
12/6/2018
|
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
12/6/2020
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
50% of total grant vests on 12/6/2020
|
|
|
|
9/18/2019
|
|
|
|
93,750
|
|
|
3/18/2020
|
|
|
6,250
|
|
|
1/16th
of total grant every quarter
|
(2) The
following table details the vesting schedule of the RSUs that have not vested as of December 31, 2019 for the NEOs, subject in
each case to the NEO’s continuous service through each applicable vesting date. The unvested shares subject to these RSUs
may be subject to accelerated vesting upon a qualifying termination of employment. See “Potential Payments Upon Termination
of Employment or in Connection with Change in Control” below.
|
|
Grant Date
|
|
Number
of
RSUs That
Have Not
Vested
|
|
|
Next Vesting
Date from
12/31/2019
|
|
Next
Vesting
Amount
|
|
|
Remaining Vesting
Terms
|
Carrie L. Bourdow
|
|
12/6/2018
|
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
12/6/2020
|
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
50% of total grant
vests on 12/6/2020
|
|
|
12/5/2019
|
|
|
657,000
|
|
|
12/5/2020
|
|
|
328,500
|
|
|
50% of total grant vests on 12/5/2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark A. Demitrack, M.D.
|
|
12/6/2018
|
|
|
62,500
|
|
|
12/6/2020
|
|
|
62,500
|
|
|
50% of total grant vests on 12/6/2020
|
|
|
12/5/2019
|
|
|
213,000
|
|
|
12/5/2020
|
|
|
106,500
|
|
|
50%
of total grant vests on 12/5/2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert Yoder
|
|
12/6/2018
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
12/6/2020
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
50% of total grant vests on 12/6/2020
|
|
|
12/5/2019
|
|
|
167,000
|
|
|
12/5/2020
|
|
|
83,500
|
|
|
50% of total grant vests on 12/5/2020
|
NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER AGREEMENTS
Agreements with our Named
Executive Officers
Below are summaries of our employment agreements with our named
executive officers who are employed by the Company as of December 31, 2019. All change of control benefits are “double-trigger,”
which means that they are payable only upon a change of control followed by termination of employment. Additionally, in connection
with any actual termination of employment or change of control transaction, we may decide to enter into an agreement or to establish
an arrangement providing additional benefits or amounts, or altering the terms of the benefits described below, as the Compensation
Committee determines appropriate.
50 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)
Agreement with Ms. Bourdow
We entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Bourdow in
May 2015. This agreement was subsequently amended in January 2017 and amended and restated on February 1, 2018. In connection
with her appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in October 2018, the Company and Ms. Bourdow entered
into a new employment agreement. Pursuant to this agreement, Ms. Bourdow is entitled to an initial annual base salary of $500,000
(subject to review and adjustment) and is eligible to receive an annual target bonus of up to 60% of her current base salary,
as determined by our Board. In September 2019, Ms. Bourdow’s salary was increased to $600,000, effective as of October 1,
2019. Ms. Bourdow is additionally entitled to severance benefits pursuant to her agreement, the terms of which are described below
under "Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment or in Connection with Change of Control."
Agreement with Dr. Demitrack
We entered into an employment agreement with Dr. Demitrack
that became effective in May 2018. Pursuant to the agreement, Dr. Demitrack is entitled to an initial annual base salary of $365,000,
which was increased to $440,000, effective as of December 1, 2018 (subject to review and adjustment) and is eligible to receive
an annual target bonus of up to 40% of his current base salary, as determined by our Board. Dr. Demitrack is additionally entitled
to severance benefits pursuant to his agreement, the terms of which are described below under "Potential Payments Upon Termination
of Employment or in Connection with Change of Control."
Agreement with Mr. Yoder
We entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Yoder in May
2018. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Yoder is entitled to an initial annual base salary of $310,000 (subject to review and adjustment)
and is eligible to receive an annual target bonus of up to 30% of his current base salary, as determined by our Board. On December
6, 2018, Mr. Yoder entered into a new employment agreement to provide for an annual base salary of $335,000 which was subsequently
increased on July 26, 2019 to $360,000 (subject to review and adjustment) and is eligible to receive an annual target bonus of
up to 40% of his current base salary, as determined by our Board. Mr. Yoder is additionally entitled to severance benefits pursuant
to his agreement, the terms of which are described below under “Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment or in
Connection with Change of Control.”
Potential Payments Upon
Termination of Employment or in Connection with Change in Control
Trevena does not provide executive
officers with any “single-trigger” payments (triggered solely by a change of control), golden parachute excise
tax gross-ups or other excise tax reimbursements upon a change of control.
We believe that reasonable severance benefits for our NEOs
are important because it may be difficult for them to find comparable employment within a short period of time. We also believe
that it is important to protect our NEOs in the event of a change of control transaction involving our company, as a result of
which such officers might have their employment terminated. In addition, we believe that the interests of management should be
aligned with those of our stockholders as much as possible, and we believe that providing protection upon a change of control
is an appropriate counter to any disincentive such officers might otherwise perceive in regard to transactions that may be in
the best interest of our stockholders.
As a result of these considerations, we have entered into employment
agreements with Ms. Bourdow, Dr. Demitrack, and Mr. Yoder that provide for specified benefits to be paid if the executives are
terminated under specified conditions or in connection with a change in control of our company. Summaries of these benefits are
set forth above.
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 51
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)
Under the employment agreements between us and Ms. Bourdow,
Dr. Demitrack, and Mr. Yoder, if the executive is terminated by us other than for cause or resigns for good reason, in each case
as defined in the agreement, he or she will receive:
|
·
|
continuing
payments of her salary as severance pay in the amount of fifteen (15) months of her then-current
base salary for Ms. Bourdow, and twelve (12) months of the then-current base salary for
each of Dr. Demitrack and Mr. Yoder, in each case paid in equal installments following
termination on our regularly scheduled payroll dates;
|
|
·
|
an
incentive compensation award for the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of termination,
to the extent not already paid, in an amount determined by the Board or Compensation
Committee in their sole discretion;
|
|
·
|
his
or her target annual incentive compensation for the year of termination, pro-rated for
the period between the beginning of the calendar year and the date of termination, paid
within sixty days following termination;
|
|
·
|
for
Ms. Bourdow only, an additional amount equal to fifteen (15) months of her target incentive
award in effect at the time of termination, payable in equal installments on our regularly
scheduled payroll dates over the period that the severance pay is paid,
|
|
·
|
health
insurance premiums under our group health insurance plans as provided under the Consolidated
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA, until the earlier of (i) fifteen (15) months
after termination of employment for Ms. Bourdow, and twelve (12) months after termination
of employment for Dr. Demitrack and Mr. Yoder, (ii) such time as the executive is eligible
for substantially equivalent health insurance coverage with a subsequent employer and
(iii) such time as the executive is no longer eligible for COBRA coverage; and
|
|
·
|
accelerated
vesting as to that number of unvested shares subject to any outstanding equity awards
held by the executive at the time of termination that would have otherwise vested if
the executive had remained employed by us for twelve (12) months following the date of
termination for Ms. Bourdow, and nine (9) months following the date of termination for
Dr. Demitrack and Mr. Yoder.
|
In addition, under the employment agreements if the executive
is terminated by us other than for cause or resigns for good reason within thirty (30) days prior to a change of control, within
the period between our execution of a letter of intent for a change of control and the date that change of control is later consummated,
or within twelve months following a change of control, in each case as defined in the agreement, he or she will receive the following
payments in lieu of the severance payments listed above:
|
·
|
continuing
payments of his or her salary as severance pay in the amount of twenty-one (21) months
of her then-current base salary for Ms. Bourdow, and fifteen (15) months of the then-current
base salary for Dr. Demitrack and Mr. Yoder, in each case paid in equal installments
following termination on our regularly scheduled payroll dates;
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·
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an
incentive compensation award for the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of termination,
to the extent not already paid, in an amount determined by the Board or Compensation
Committee in their sole discretion;
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·
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his
or her target annual incentive compensation for the year of termination, pro-rated for
the period between the beginning of the calendar year and the date of termination, paid
within sixty days following termination;
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·
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for
Ms. Bourdow, an additional amount equal to twenty-one (21) months of her target bonus
in effect at the time of termination, and for Dr. Demitrack and Mr. Yoder, an additional
amount equal to fifteen (15) months of their respective target bonus in effect at the
time of termination, in each case payable in equal installments on our regularly scheduled
payroll dates over the period that the severance pay is paid;
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·
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health
insurance premiums under our group health insurance plans as provided under the COBRA
until the earlier of (i) twenty-one (21) months after termination of employment for Ms.
Bourdow, and fifteen (15) months after termination of employment for Dr. Demitrack and
Mr. Yoder, (ii) such time as the executive officer is eligible for substantially equivalent
health insurance coverage with a subsequent employer and (iii) such time as the executive
is no longer eligible for COBRA coverage; and
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·
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accelerated
vesting of all unvested shares subject to any outstanding equity awards held by the executive
at the time of termination.
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52 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)
Receipt of the benefits described above upon the officer's
termination of employment is contingent upon his or her signing of a release of claims against us.
Under the employment agreements, a mere change of control itself
(i.e., a “single trigger”) does not trigger benefits. The intent of the plan is to encourage executives to continue
to act in stockholders’ best interests in evaluating potential transactions and ensure management talent will be available
to assist with the transaction and business integration.
401(K)
Plan
Our named executive officers are eligible to participate in
a defined contribution retirement plan that provides eligible U.S. employees with an opportunity to save for retirement on a tax
advantaged basis. Eligible employees may defer eligible compensation on a pre-tax or after-tax (Roth) basis, up to the statutorily
prescribed annual limits on contributions under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code). Contributions are allocated
to each participant’s individual account and are then invested in selected investment alternatives according to the participants’
directions. Employees are immediately and fully vested in their contributions. The 401(k) plan is intended to be qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Code with the 401(k) plan’s related trust intended to be tax exempt under Section 501(a) of the Code.
As a tax-qualified retirement plan, contributions to the 401(k) plan (except for Roth contributions) and earnings on those contributions
are not taxable to the employees until distributed from the 401(k) plan. During 2018 and 2019, we made matching contributions
on up to 4% of an employee’s eligible deferred compensation, with the first 3% matched 100% and the balance matched at 50%,
subject to established limits.
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 53
OWNERSHIP OF TREVENA COMMON STOCK
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS, DIRECTORS
AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table provides information as of March 16, 2020
about the amount of Trevena common stock beneficially owned by (1) all those known by us to be beneficial owners of more than
five percent of our common stock; (2) each director and nominee for director; (3) each executive officer named in the 2019 Summary
Compensation Table who remains an employee of the Company as of March 16, 2020; and (4) all of the directors, nominees and executive
officers of the Company as of March 16, 2020, as a group. This table is based upon information supplied by officers and directors
as of March 16, 2020. We are not aware of any beneficial owners of more than five percent of our common stock as of March 16,
2020.
“Beneficial ownership” includes those shares a
director, nominee or executive officer has or shares the power to vote or transfer (even if another person is the record owner),
and stock options that are exercisable as of March 16, 2020 or that become exercisable within 60 days of March 16, 2020.
Shares of common stock subject to such options are deemed outstanding for calculating the Percent of Class of the person holding
these options but are not deemed outstanding for any other person. The Percent of Class shown below is based on 97,863,990 shares
outstanding on March 16, 2020.
Unless otherwise noted, the address for each director and executive
officer is c/o Trevena, Inc., 955 Chesterbrook Boulevard, Suite 110, Chesterbrook, PA 19087.
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Amount of Beneficial
Ownership
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Percent of Class
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Principal Stockholders:
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n/a
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Non-employee
Directors and Nominees(1)
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Leon O. Moulder, Jr.(2)
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269,836
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*
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Scott Braunstein, M.D.
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60,000
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|
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*
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Michael R. Dougherty
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132,481
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*
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Maxine Gowen, Ph.D.(3)
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2,891,064
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2.9
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%
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Julie H. McHugh
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116,611
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*
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Jake R. Nunn(4)
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112,011
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*
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Anne M. Phillips, M.D.
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116,611
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*
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Barbara Yanni
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117,861
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*
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Named
Executive Officers(5)
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Carrie L. Bourdow
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1,119,125
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1.1
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%
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Mark A. Demitrack, M.D.
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218,750
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*
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Robert Yoder
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133,281
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*
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All Directors, Nominees and Executive Officers as a group, including those named
above (13 Persons)(6)
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5,351,694
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5.2
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%
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* Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%.
(1)
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Includes shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options exercisable within
60 days after March 16, 2020 in the amount of 119,836 for Mr. Moulder; 125,481 for Mr.
Dougherty; 2,421,052 for Dr. Gowen; 116,611 for Ms. McHugh; 107,740 for Mr. Nunn; 116,611 for
Dr. Phillips; 60,000 for Dr. Braunstein; and 116,611 for Ms. Yanni.
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(2)
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Includes 100,000 shares of common stock held by the Sharon L. Moulder Revocable Trust, for
which Mr. Moulder is a trustee.
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(3)
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Includes (i) 4,000 shares held directly by Dr. Gowen’s spouse, (ii) 216,500 shares
held by the Maxine Gowen Irrevocable Trust, for which Dr. Gowen is the beneficiary and the trustee,
and (iii) 195,512 shares held by the Brian MacDonald Irrevocable Trust, for which Dr. Gowen
is the trustee.
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(4)
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Includes 4,271 shares of common stock held by the Jake & Dana Nunn Living Trust dated
7/7/06, for which Mr. Nunn is a trustee.
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(5)
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Includes shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options exercisable within
60 days after March 16, 2020 in the amount of 939,625 for Ms. Bourdow, 156,250 for Dr.
Demitrack and 83,281 for Mr. Yoder. Also includes shares of common stock vested within the 60
days after March 16, 2020 in the amount of 125,000 shares for Ms. Bourdow, 62,500 shares for
Dr. Demitrack and 50,000 shares for Mr. Yoder.
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(6)
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Includes shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options exercisable within 60 days
after March 16, 2020 in the amount of 5,351,694 for all of the directors, nominees for director
and named executive officers, as a group.
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54 Notice
of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
2021 ANNUAL MEETING AND RELATED MATTERS
When do you expect to
hold the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders?
We currently expect to hold the 2021 Annual Meeting in May
2021, at a time and location to be announced later.
How does a stockholder
submit a proposal or nomination of a director candidate for the 2021 annual meeting?
The following summarizes the requirements for stockholder proposals
to be considered for inclusion in next year’s proxy materials.
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·
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If you intend
to submit a proposal to be included in next year’s proxy materials pursuant to
SEC Rule 14a-8, the Corporate Secretary must receive your proposal on or before
December 3, 2020. Submitting a stockholder proposal does not guarantee that Trevena
will include the proposal in the proxy statement if the proposal does not satisfy the
SEC’s rules.
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·
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If you want
to present your proposal at the 2020 annual meeting but are not proposing it pursuant
to SEC Rule 14a-8, the Corporate Secretary must receive your proposal by the close
of business between January 13, 2021 and February 12, 2021 and it must satisfy the requirements
set forth in Article III, Section 5 of our Amended and Restated Bylaws.
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If you would like to nominate a candidate for director at the
2021 annual meeting, you must notify the Corporate Secretary by the close of business between January 13, 2021 and February 12,
2021. The notice must include certain information specified in our Amended and Restated Bylaws, including (i) your name and address,
(ii) the class and number of shares of our stock which you beneficially own, (iii) the name, age, business address and residence
address of the person, (iv) the principal occupation or employment of the person, (v) the class and number of shares of our stock
which are owned of record and beneficially owned by the person, (vi) the date or dates on which such shares were acquired and
the investment intent of such acquisition and (vii) any other information concerning the person as would be required to be disclosed
in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of that person as a director in an election contest (even if an election
contest is not involved), or that is otherwise required to be disclosed pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder (including the person's written consent to being named as a nominee and to serving as a
director if elected). We may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as we may reasonably require to determine
the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Company or that could be material to a reasonable
stockholder's understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such proposed nominee.
Correspondence to the Corporate Secretary may be addressed
to: Corporate Secretary, Trevena, Inc., 955 Chesterbrook Boulevard, Suite 110, Chesterbrook, PA 19087. For more information, and
for more detailed requirements, please refer to our Amended and Restated Bylaws, filed as Exhibit 3.2 to our Current Report on
Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 5, 2014.
How can I communicate
with the Board of Directors?
Stockholders and interested parties may contact the Board of
Directors, the Chairman, the independent directors, or specific individual directors by sending written correspondence to the
Board, Attention: Corporate Secretary, Trevena, Inc., 955 Chesterbrook Boulevard, Suite 110, Chesterbrook, PA 19087.
The Corporate Secretary will compile all communications other
than routine commercial solicitations and opinion surveys sent to Board members and periodically submit them to the Board. Communications
addressed to individual directors at the director address will be promptly submitted to such individual directors. The Corporate
Secretary also will promptly advise the appropriate member of management of any concerns relating to Trevena’s products
or services, and the Corporate Secretary will notify the Board of the resolution of those concerns.
Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 55
2021 ANNUAL MEETING AND RELATED MATTERS (CONTINUED)
How do I obtain copies of Trevena’s corporate governance
and other company documents?
The
Corporate Governance Guidelines, committee charters and Trevena’s Code of Ethics are posted at www.trevena.com/investors/corporate-governance.
In addition, these documents are available in print to any stockholder who submits a written request to the Corporate Secretary
at the address listed above.
The
Company’s filings with the SEC, including its annual report on Form 10-K, are available through www.trevena.com/investors/financial-information/all-sec-filings.
If you are a stockholder and did not receive an individual
copy of this year’s proxy statement or annual report, we will promptly send a copy to you if you address a written request
to Investor Relations, Trevena, Inc., 955 Chesterbrook Boulevard, Suite 110, Chesterbrook, PA 19087.
What is householding and
how does it affect me?
If you and other residents at your mailing address own shares
of Trevena stock in “street name,” your broker or bank should have notified you that your household will receive only
one proxy statement and annual report or notice of Internet availability of proxy materials, but each stockholder who resides
at your address will receive a separate proxy card or voting instruction form. This practice is known as “householding.”
Unless you responded that you did not want to participate in householding, you were deemed to have consented to the process. Householding
benefits both you and Trevena because it reduces the volume of duplicate information received at your household and helps Trevena
reduce expenses and conserve natural resources.
If you would like to receive your own set of Trevena’s
proxy statement and annual report or, if applicable, your own notice of Internet availability of proxy materials now or in the
future, or if you share an address with another Trevena stockholder and together both of you would like to receive only a single
set of Trevena's proxy materials, please contact Broadridge, Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717 or (800) 542-1061.
The request must be made by each person in the household. Be sure to indicate your name, the name of your brokerage firm or bank,
and your account number. The revocation of your consent to householding will be effective 30 days following its receipt.
56 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
Appendix A
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF
AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
TREVENA, INC.
* * * * *
Trevena, Inc., a corporation organized
and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:
FIRST: The amended and restated Certificate
of Incorporation, as currently in effect, is hereby amended by deleting Article IV.A. and inserting the following in lieu thereof
such that Article IV. A. shall read in its entirety as follows:
A.: ARTICLE IV of the Certificate of Incorporation
shall be amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
A. The Company is authorized to issue two classes
of stock to be designated, respectively, “Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock.” The total number of shares
of all classes of capital stock which the Company shall have authority to issue is two hundred five million (205,000,000) shares,
of which two hundred million (200,000,000) shares shall be Common Stock (the “Common Stock”), each having a par value
of one-tenth of one cent ($0.001), and five million (5,000,000) shares shall be Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”),
each having a par value of one-tenth of one cent ($0.001). Upon the effectiveness of this Certificate of Amendment to the Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, each [whole number of shares, as determined by the Board] of Common
Stock issued and outstanding at such time shall, automatically and without any further action on the part of the Company or the
holder thereof, be combined into one (1) validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock (the “Reverse
Stock Split”). The par value of the Common Stock following the Reverse Stock Split shall remain $0.001 per share. No fractional
shares shall be issued, and, in lieu thereof, the Company shall pay cash equal to such fraction multiplied by the fair market
value of a share of Common Stock, as determined by the Board of Directors. Each certificate that immediately prior to the effective
time of this Certificate of Amendment represented shares of Common Stock (an “Old Certificate”) shall thereafter represent
that number of shares of Common Stock into which the shares of Common Stock represented by the Old Certificate shall have been
combined, subject to the elimination of fractional share interests as described above.
SECOND: That said amendment was duly adopted
and approved in accordance with the provisions of Sections 141 and 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
by the directors and stockholders of the corporation.
[CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE]
2019 Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement 57
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said Trevena, Inc.
has caused this certificate to be signed Scott Applebaum, its Corporate Secretary, this _____ day of ________ 2020.
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TREVENA, INC.
|
|
|
|
By:
|
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Scott Applebaum
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Corporate Secretary
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58 Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
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[C:JMS10992920-14245-1task9659591ex.docx
Page 1 3/31/2020 7:59 PM]
VOTE BY INTERNET
Before The Meeting - Go to www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery
of information up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand
when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction
form. TREVENA, INC. 955 CHESTERBROOK BOULEVARD-SUITE 110 ATTN: SCOTT APPLEBAUM, CORPORATE SECRETARY CHESTERBROOK, PA 19087 During
The Meeting - Go to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/TRVN2020 You may attend the meeting via the Internet and vote during the
meeting. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone
telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time the day before the meeting date. Have your proxy
card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in
the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.
The Company must receive the proxy card before 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the day of the meeting. TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN
BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: D03350-P33927 KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY THIS PROXY
CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. TREVENA, INC. The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR all nominees on Proposal
1: For Withhold For All AllAllExcept To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark "For All Except"
and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below. ! ! ! 1. To elect the Board of Directors' three (3) nominees for
Class I directors named herein to hold office until the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Nominees: 01) Carrie L. Bourdow 02)
Anne M. Phillips, M.D. 03) Barbara Yanni The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR Proposal 2: For Against Abstain Note:
To conduct any other business properly brought before the meeting. ! ! ! 2. Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young
LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for its fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. These items
of business are more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying the Notice. The record date for the Annual Meeting is
March 16, 2020. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on that date may vote at the meeting or any adjournments
or postponements thereof. The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR Proposal 3: For ! Against ! Abstain ! 3. Approval, on
a non-binding advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company's named executive officers as disclosed in the proxy statement.
The shares represented by this proxy, when properly executed, will be voted as directed by the undersigned. Where no direction
is given when a duly executed proxy is returned, such shares will be voted at the meeting "For" all nominees named in
Proposal 1, "For" Proposals 2, 3 and 5 and "1 Year" for Proposal 4 and will grant authority to the proxy holder
to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any postponements or adjournments thereof. The Board
of Directors recommends you vote for 1 YEAR 1 Year for Proposal 4: 2 Years 3 Years Abstain ! ! ! ! 4. Approval, on a non-binding
advisory basis, of the frequency of future voting on the non-binding advisory vote on the compensation of the Company's named
executive officers as disclosed in the proxy statement. THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF THE NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING,
PROXY STATEMENT AND ANNUAL REPORT OF TREVENA, INC. The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR Proposal 5: For ! Against !
Abstain ! 5. Approval of an amendment, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, to the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation, as amended, to implement a reverse stock split of the Company's common stock at a ratio in the range of 1-for-2
to 1-for-15, which ratio shall be determined by the Company's Board of Directors in its sole discretion. Please sign exactly as
your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as
such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate
or partnership name by authorized officer. Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date Signature (Joint Owners) Date
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You
are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Trevena, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). The meeting will be held on Wednesday,
May 13, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. local time, for the proposals given on the reverse side. Important
Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholders’ Annual
Meeting to Be Held on Wednesday, May 13, 2020. The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual
Report to stockholders are available at www.proxyvote.com. D03351-P33927 TREVENA, INC.
Annual Meeting of Stockholders May 13, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time This proxy is solicited
by the Board of Directors The undersigned hereby appoint(s) Barry Shin and Scott Applebaum,
or either one of them acting singly in the absence of the other, with full power of substitution,
the proxy or proxies of the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Trevena,
Inc. to be held on May 13, 2020, and any postponements or adjournments thereof, to vote
all shares of stock that the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present
in the manner indicated on the reverse side and on any other matters properly brought
before the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 13, 2020 at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.
com/TRVN2020 or any postponements or adjournments thereof, all as set forth in the Proxy
Statement dated April , 2020. This proxy/voting instruction card is solicited on behalf
of the Board of Directors of Trevena, Inc. pursuant to a separate Notice of Annual Meeting
and Proxy Statement dated April , 2020 receipt of which is hereby acknowledged. When
properly executed, this proxy will be voted as directed, or if no direction is given,
will be voted "FOR" all nominees named in Proposal 1, "FOR" Proposal
2, "FOR" Proposal 3, "1 YEAR" for Proposal 4, and "FOR"
Proposal 5 and will grant authority to the proxy holder to vote upon such other business
as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any postponements or adjournments thereof.
Continued and to be signed on reverse side
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