ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Directors and Executive Officers
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to our directors and executive officers as of April 27, 2022:
Name
|
Age
|
Current Position
|
David A. Dodd
|
72
|
Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer
|
Mark W. Reynolds, CPA
|
60
|
Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
|
Mark J. Newman, Ph.D.
|
67
|
Chief Scientific Officer
|
Kelly T. McKee M.D.
|
72
|
Chief Medical Officer
|
Randal D. Chase, Ph.D. (1)(2)(3)
|
72
|
Independent Director
|
Dean G. Kollintzas (2)(3)
|
49
|
Independent Director
|
Robert T. McNally Ph.D. (1)(2)
|
74
|
Independent Director
|
John N. Spencer, Jr. (1)(3)
|
81
|
Independent Director
|
______________________
(1)
|
Member of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.
|
(2)
|
Member of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors.
|
(3)
|
Member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
|
David A. Dodd. Mr. Dodd joined the Board of Directors in March 2010, becoming Chairman of our Board of Directors on January 1, 2011. Effective September 5, 2018, Mr. Dodd became our President and Chief Executive Officer, following Dr. McNally’s retirement. His executive management experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries spans more than 40 years. From September 2017 to April 2018, he served as Chief Executive Officer, and as a member of the Board of Directors of Medizone International, Inc. (“Medizone”), a developer and manufacturer of disinfectant systems. On April 20, 2018, Medizone announced that certain of its creditors had commenced an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code against Medizone. The creditors included Medizone’s former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and its former Director of Operations. From April 2013 to July 2017, Mr. Dodd served as President and Chief Executive Officer, and as a member of the Board of Directors, of Aeterna Zentaris Inc., a drug development company. He was Chairman of the Board of Directors of Aeterna Zentaris, Inc. from May 2014 to May 2016, and continued to serve as a member of its Board of Directors until May 2018. From December 2007 to June 2009, Mr. Dodd was President, Chief Executive officer and Chairman of BioReliance Corporation, a leading provider of biological safety and related testing services. From October 2006 to April 2009, he served as non-executive Chairman of Stem Cell Sciences Plc., where he oversaw the development and implementation of a strategic growth plan, implementation of an experienced executive team, and the sale of the company to Stem Cells, Inc. in April 2009. Before that, Mr. Dodd served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Serologicals Corporation before it was sold to Millipore Corporation in July 2006 for $1.5 billion. For five years prior to his employment by Serologicals Corporation, Mr. Dodd served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Chairman of its subsidiary Unimed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of RiversEdge BioVentures, an investment and advisory firm focused on the life sciences and pharmaceuticals industries, which he founded in 2009. Mr. Dodd holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Georgia State University and completed the Harvard Business School of Advanced Management Program. The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Dodd should serve on the Board of Directors due to his experience in the pharmaceutical industry and his involvement as an officer and director of the Company, as well as his background in general management, business transformation, corporate partnering, and mergers and acquisitions.
Mark W. Reynolds, CPA. Mr. Reynolds joined the Company in October 2006 as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary. From 2004 to 2008, Mr. Reynolds served as Chief Financial Officer for HealthWatchSystems, Inc. a privately-held company in the consumer healthcare industry. From 2004 to 2006, he served as Chief Financial Officer for Duska Therapeutics, Inc., a publicly-held biotechnology company. From 1988 to 2002, Mr. Reynolds worked for CytRx Corporation, a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company, where he first served as Controller and then as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Reynolds began his career as an auditor with Arthur Andersen & Co. from 1985 to 1988. He is a certified public accountant and earned a Master of Accountancy degree from the University of Georgia.
Mark J. Newman, Ph.D. Dr. Newman became employed as our Chief Scientific Officer on August 25, 2020. Dr. Newman, who previously served the Company as vice president of research and development from 2010 to 2013, worked for the Company on a half-time basis until March 2022, at which time he became a full-time employee. Prior, he served senior management positions at PaxVax, Pharmexa A/S, Epimmune, Vaxcel, Apollon, and Cambridge Biotech. During his 30-year career he shepherded the development of experimental vaccine and adjuvant products through preclinical research and into Phase 1 & 2 clinical testing. He is widely published in peer review publications and holds 10 U.S. patents. He holds a dual B.Sc/M.Sc. degree in Agriculture and Pre-Veterinary Medicine from the Ohio State University and earned his Ph.D. in Immunology at the John Curtin School for Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra.
Kelly T. McKee, M.D. Dr. McKee was appointed as our Chief Medical Officer effective January 6, 2022 and serves in that role on a part-time basis pursuant to a consulting agreement. Dr. McKee has over 30 years of experience in research and development, with specific expertise in vaccines, emerging diseases, biodefense, and respiratory viral infections. His progressive clinical research experience began in 1981 at Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD., United States, where he held a variety of leadership positions in virology, immunology, preventive medicine, and clinical research and development with the U.S. Army, retiring as a Colonel in 2001. Dr. McKee subsequently served as State Epidemiologist in North Carolina, and as Senior Director of Clinical Research at DynPort Vaccine Company. He then held multiple leadership roles, including Vice President and Managing Director of Public Health and Government Services, and Vice President for Vaccines and Public Health in the Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Center of Excellence, at Quintiles/QuintilesIMS (now IQVIA) for more than 10 years. Since 2017 he has provided contract clinical development and medical advisory services to biopharmaceutical industry in infectious diseases and related areas. Dr. McKee earned an M.D. from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, and a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health in Baltimore, MD. He has authored or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters.
Randal D. Chase, Ph.D. Dr. Chase joined the Board of Directors in March 2015. Dr. Chase is an experienced pharmaceutical and biotechnology executive who currently serves as a business advisor and consultant to companies in the life science sector. He also serves as a director for Mirexus Biotechnologies, Inc., a biomaterials company, and as Chairman of the Board for Glysantis, Inc. a biotechnology company. From February 2017 to April 2018, Dr. Chase was President and Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Proteome Therapeutics Corporation, a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company; he served as a member of that company’s board of directors from 2015 to April 2018. He served as Chairman of the Board for Medicago, Inc. until its sale to Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation in 2013. From 2006 to 2011, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Immunovaccine, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing vaccines against cancer and infectious diseases. Dr. Chase is also a former president of Shire Biologics, North American Vaccine, Pasteur Merieux Connaught, and Quadra Logic Technologies, Inc. His early career was at Bristol Myers and Glaxo Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Chase attended the Senior Executive Program of the London Business School in the United Kingdom, holds a Bachelor of Sciences degree in biochemistry from Bishop’s University and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of British Columbia. Dr. Chase completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the McArdle Cancer Institute of the University of Wisconsin. The Board of Directors has concluded that Dr. Chase should serve on the Board of Directors due to his extensive leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry, and the vaccine industry in particular.
Dean G. Kollintzas. Mr. Kollintzas joined the Board of Directors in September 2006. Since 2001 Mr. Kollintzas has been an intellectual property attorney specializing in biotechnology and pharmaceutical licensing, FDA regulation, and corporate/international transactions. He is a member of the Wisconsin and American Bar Associations. Since 2004, Mr. Kollintzas has been in private practice. In 2014, he founded Procare Clinical, LLC, a clinical trial management company headquartered in Naperville, IL. Mr. Kollintzas received a microbiology degree from the University of Illinois and a J.D. from the University of New Hampshire School of Law. The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Kollintzas should serve on the Board of Directors by virtue of his experience with intellectual property matters, biotechnology and pharmaceutical licensing, and FDA regulation.
Robert T. McNally, Ph.D. Dr. McNally joined the Board of Directors in December 2006 and was appointed as our President and Chief Executive Officer effective April 1, 2008, a position he held until his retirement in September 2018. From 2000 to March 2008, Dr. McNally served as Chief Executive Officer of Cell Dynamics LLC, a cGMP laboratory services company. Previously, Dr. McNally was a co-founder and Senior Vice President of Clinical Research for CryoLife, Inc., a pioneering company in transplantable human tissues. He has over 35 years of experience in academic and corporate clinical investigations, management, research, business, quality and regulatory affairs. Dr. McNally is a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, served on the advisory boards of the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Dupree College of Management at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and is a former Chairman of Georgia Bio, a state trade association. Dr. McNally completed his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. The Board of Directors has concluded that Dr. McNally should serve on its Board of Directors by virtue of his prior business and scientific experience, including his experience as Chief Executive Officer of Cell Dynamics, LLC and as Senior Vice President of Clinical Research for CryoLife, Inc., and due to his involvement with the Company as its former President and Chief Executive Officer.
John N. (Jack) Spencer, Jr., CPA. Mr. Spencer joined the Board of Directors in September 2006. Mr. Spencer is a certified public accountant and was a partner of Ernst & Young LLP where he spent more than 38 years until he retired in 2000. Mr. Spencer received a Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University, and he earned an M.B.A. degree from Babson College. He also attended the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program. The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Spencer should serve on the Board of Directors by virtue of his experience at Ernst & Young LLP where he was the partner in charge of that firm’s life sciences practice for the southeastern United States, and his clients included a large number of publicly-owned and privately-held medical technology companies.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Our Board of Directors has adopted a written Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, a copy of which is available on our website at www.geovax.com. The Company will provide a copy of the Code of Ethics upon request to any person without charge. Such requests may be transmitted by regular mail in the care of the Corporate Secretary. We require all officers, directors and employees to adhere to this code in addressing the legal and ethical issues encountered in conducting their work. The code requires that employees avoid conflicts of interest, comply with all laws and other legal requirements, conduct business in an honest and ethical manner, and otherwise act with integrity and in our best interest. Employees are required to report any conduct that they believe in good faith to be an actual or apparent violation of the code. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires certain companies to have procedures to receive, retain and treat complaints received regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and to allow for the confidential and anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. We have such procedures in place.
The Company will post on its website, www.geovax.com, or will disclose on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC, any amendments to, or waivers from, a provision of the Code of Ethics that applies to the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer, or persons performing similar functions, and that relate to (i) honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; (ii) full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with, or submits to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the Company; (iii) compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations; (iv) the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code of Ethics to an appropriate person or persons identified in the code; or (v) accountability for adherence to the Code of Ethics. Any waiver granted to an executive officer or a director may only be granted by the Board and will be disclosed, along with the reasons therefor, on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC. No such waivers were granted in 2021.
Audit Committee
The separately-designated standing Audit Committee of the Board provides assistance to the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibility relating to: (i) the integrity of the Company’s financial statements; (ii) the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; (iii) the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; and (iv) oversight of the independent registered public accounting firm, including its qualifications, independence and performance, appointment, compensation, and retention. The Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing our policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, and for monitoring our business risk practices. It has appropriate funding, and the authority to engage independent counsel and other advisers. It also prepares the Audit Committee reports that SEC proxy rules require for the Company’s proxy statements. Our Audit Committee is currently comprised of Mr. Spencer (Chairman), Mr. Chase, and Mr. Kollintzas. Our Board of Directors has determined that each member of the committee is independent in accordance with the criteria of independence set forth in Section 301(3)(B) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and Rule 5605(c)(2) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules and that Mr. Spencer qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the SEC’s rules. The Audit Committee has adopted a charter, a current copy of which is available on our website at www.geovax.com.
Director Nomination Process
Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for making recommendations on nominees for election as directors to the Board of Directors. We do not have specific minimum qualifications that a person must meet in order to serve on our Board of Directors, nor do we have a formal policy about the consideration of any director candidates recommended by stockholders. However, our Nominating and Governance Committee, and our Board of Directors, believe that directors should possess the highest personal and professional ethics, integrity and values, and be committed to representing the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders. Each director must also be able to dedicate the time and resources sufficient to ensure the diligent performance of his or her duties. Further, our Board of Directors is intended to encompass a range of talents, experience, skills, backgrounds, and expertise sufficient to provide sound and prudent guidance with respect to the operations and interests of GeoVax and its stockholders. We do not have a formal policy on Board diversity as it relates to race, gender, or national origin.
GeoVax considers persons for nomination for election to the Board of Directors from any source, including stockholder recommendations. The Nominating and Governance Committee does not evaluate candidates differently based on who has made the recommendation. Consideration of nominee candidates typically involves a series of internal discussions, a review of information concerning candidates, and interviews with selected candidates. To date, no third parties have been engaged to assist us in finding suitable candidates to serve as directors. All of our nominees are directors standing for re-election. The nomination of each director was recommended by the Nominating and Governance Committee, and the Board of Directors followed the recommendation.
Our Nominating and Governance Committee will consider stockholder recommendations for directors sent to GeoVax Labs, Inc., 1900 Lake Park Drive, Suite 380, Smyrna, Georgia 30080, Attention: Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee. Any recommendation from a stockholder should include the name, background and qualifications of such candidate and should be accompanied by evidence of such stockholder’s ownership of GeoVax’s common stock. The Nominating and Governance Committee may ask for additional information.
A stockholder making any proposal shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth all compensation awarded or earned for employment services during 2021 and 2020 by (i) each person who served as our chief executive officer during 2021, and (ii) our two other most highly compensated executive officers (collectively referred to as the “Named Executive Officers”).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Other
|
|
|
|
|
Name and
|
|
|
Salary |
|
|
Bonus |
|
|
Option |
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
Total |
|
Principal Position |
Year |
|
|
($) |
|
|
|
($) |
|
|
($)
|
|
|
|
($) |
|
|
|
($) |
|
David A. Dodd
|
2021
|
|
$ |
250,000 |
|
|
$ |
125,000 |
|
|
$ |
295,610 |
(3) |
|
$ |
6,500 |
(9) |
|
$ |
677,110 |
|
President and CEO
|
2020
|
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
162,500 |
|
|
|
305,760 |
(6) |
|
|
8,483 |
(9) |
|
|
726,743 |
|
Mark W. Reynolds
|
2021
|
|
|
234,392 |
|
|
|
94,000 |
|
|
|
138,334 |
(4) |
|
|
11,600 |
(9) |
|
|
478,326 |
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
2020
|
|
|
234,392 |
|
|
|
117,196 |
|
|
|
143,360 |
(7) |
|
|
5,803 |
(9) |
|
|
500,751 |
|
Mark J. Newman, PhD (2)
|
2021
|
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
73,759 |
(5) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
248,759 |
|
Chief Scientific Officer
|
2020
|
|
|
41,667 |
|
|
|
18,750 |
|
|
|
39,200 |
(8) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
99,617 |
|
(1)
|
Represents the grant date fair value of the stock options for financial statement reporting purposes. See footnotes 2 and 7 to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 for a discussion of the assumptions made and methods used for determining stock compensation values.
|
(2) |
Dr. Newman became our Chief Scientific Officer effective August 25, 2020. |
(3) |
Represents the grant date fair value for stock options granted on December 7, 2021 for 103,000 shares with an exercise price of $3.82 per share, vesting over a three-year period. |
(4) |
Represents the grant date fair value for stock options granted on December 7, 2021 for 48,200 shares with an exercise price of $3.82 per share, vesting over a three-year period. |
(5) |
Represents the grant date fair value for stock options granted on December 7, 2021 for 25,700 shares with an exercise price of $3.82 per share, vesting over a three-year period. |
(6) |
Represents the grant date fair value for stock options granted on December 2, 2020 for 273,000 shares with an exercise price of $2.79 per share, vesting over a three-year period. |
(7) |
Represents the grant date fair value for stock options granted on December 2, 2020 for 128,000 shares with an exercise price of $2.79 per share, vesting over a three-year period. |
(8) |
Represents the grant date fair value for stock options granted on December 2, 2020 for 35,000 shares with an exercise price of $2.79 per share, vesting over a three-year period. |
(9) |
Represents employer matching contributions to the Company’s 401(k) retirement plan. |
Employment Agreements
David A. Dodd. Mr. Dodd serves as our President and Chief Executive Officer under an employment agreement dated September 1, 2018. The employment agreement has no specified term. The employment agreement provides for an initial annual salary of $250,000 to Mr. Dodd, subject to periodic increases as determined by the Board. Mr. Dodd is also eligible for an annual bonus, as determined by the Board. Mr. Dodd is eligible for annual grants of additional awards from our equity incentives plans as determined by the Board. Mr. Dodd also is eligible for health insurance and 401(k) benefits at the same level and subject to the same conditions as provided to all other employees.
Our employment agreement with Mr. Dodd provides that we will pay severance compensation to Mr. Dodd in the event his employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by Mr. Dodd with good reason (as defined in the agreement). If we terminate Mr. Dodd’s employment not for cause or he resigns for good reason, then we would pay (a) an amount in cash equal to three times his then base salary and target annual bonus and (b) all stock option grants held by Mr. Dodd will be fully vested. The agreement also addresses his compensation upon termination if there is a change in control (as defined). If we terminate Mr. Dodd’s employment not for cause or he resigns for good reason at any time during the three month period which immediately precedes a change in control (as defined) or during the one year period following a change in control, then we would also pay Mr. Dodd an amount in cash equal to (x) three times the cost to provide 401(k) or other deferred compensation or health and welfare benefits to him, and (y) a tax gross-up payment (if an excise tax is imposed by § 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code or any related interest or penalties are incurred by him).
Mark W. Reynolds. Mr. Reynolds serves as our Chief Financial Officer under an employment agreement dated January 1, 2010 and amended on October 22, 2013. The employment agreement has no specified term. The employment agreement, as amended, provides for an initial annual salary of $212,600 to Mr. Reynolds, subject to periodic increases as determined by the Compensation Committee. The Board of Directors may also approve the payment of a discretionary bonus annually. Mr. Reynolds is eligible for annual grants of additional awards from our equity incentives plans as determined by the Board. Mr. Reynolds is eligible for health insurance and 401(k) benefits at the same level and subject to the same conditions as provided to all other employees.
Our employment agreement with Mr. Reynolds provides that, if we terminate his employment without cause, we will pay a severance payment in the form of monthly payments of base salary for a period equal to one week for each full year of service. Additionally if we terminate Mr. Reynolds’ employment at any time during the three month period which immediately precedes a change in control (as defined in the amended employment agreement) or during the one year period following a change in control, then we would pay an amount in cash equal to (a) two times his then base salary and target annual bonus, (b) two times the cost to provide 401(k) or other deferred compensation or health and welfare benefits to him, (c) full, complete vesting of all stock options, restricted stock grants or other equity or equity-type grants, and (d) a tax gross-up payment (if an excise tax is imposed by §4999 of the Internal Revenue Code or any related interest or penalties are incurred by him). The change of control provision also provides for full and complete vesting of all stock option grants held by him.
Mark J. Newman, PhD. Dr. Newman serves as our Chief Scientific Officer under an employment agreement dated August 25, 2020, which was amended and restated effective March 1, 2022. The employment agreement has no specified term. The employment agreement, as amended, provides for an annual salary of $275,000, subject to periodic increases as determined by the Compensation Committee. The Board of Directors may also approve the payment of a discretionary bonus annually. Dr. Newman is eligible for grants of awards from our equity incentive plans at the same level and subject to the same conditions as provided to all other employees. Dr. Newman is not eligible for health insurance and 401(k) benefits due to his part-time employment status. Our employment agreement with Dr. Newman provides that, if we terminate his employment without cause, we will pay a severance payment in the form of monthly payments of base salary for a period equal to one week for each full year of service.
Outstanding Equity Awards
GeoVax has awarded stock options to its senior management and other employees, pursuant to the GeoVax Labs, Inc. 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”). The 2020 Plan was adopted by the Board on June 19, 2020 to provide equity-based and/or incentive awards to selected employees, directors, and independent contractors of the Company or its affiliates. The terms of these awards typically provide for vesting over a defined period of time and the options expire if not exercised within ten years from the date of grant. The Company does not have a formula for determining stock option awards. Awards are generally based on the subjective judgment of the President and Chief Executive Officer and on the Compensation Committee’s subjective judgment. The following table sets forth certain information with respect to unexercised options previously awarded to our Named Executive Officers that were outstanding as of December 31, 2021. The table also includes warrants, if any, granted to our Named Executive Officers upon payment of deferred compensation.
Option Awards
|
|
|
Number of Securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying Unexercised Options
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
(#) Exercisable |
|
|
|
|
(#) Unexercisable
|
|
|
|
|
Option Exercise
Price ($)
|
|
Option Expiration
Date
|
David Dodd
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
103,000 |
|
(1) |
|
|
$ |
3.82 |
|
12/7/1931
|
|
|
|
91,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
182,000 |
|
(2) |
|
|
|
2.79 |
|
12/2/1930
|
|
|
|
81,870 |
|
(3) |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
5.00 |
|
9/29/2025
|
Mark Reynolds
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
48,200 |
|
(1) |
|
|
|
3.82 |
|
12/7/1931
|
|
|
|
42,666 |
|
|
|
|
|
85,334 |
|
(2) |
|
|
|
2.79 |
|
12/2/1930
|
|
|
|
60,184 |
|
(3) |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
5.00 |
|
9/29/2025
|
Mark Newman, PhD
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
25,700 |
|
(1) |
|
|
|
3.82 |
|
12/7/1931
|
|
|
|
11,666 |
|
|
|
|
|
23,334 |
|
(2) |
|
|
|
2.79 |
|
12/2/1930
|
|
(1)
|
The unexercisable portion of these stock options vest and become exercisable in equal installments on December 7, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
|
|
(2) |
The unexercisable portion of these stock options vest and become exercisable in equal installments on December 2, 2022 and 2023. |
|
(3) |
Warrants granted as partial payment of deferred compensation occurring on September 29, 2020. |
The 2020 Plan contains provisions that could lead to an accelerated vesting of options or other awards. In the event of certain change-in-control transactions described in the 2020 Plan, (i) outstanding options or other awards may be assumed, converted or replaced; (ii) the successor corporation may substitute equivalent options or other awards or provide substantially similar consideration to 2020 Plan participants as were provided to stockholders (after taking into account the existing provisions of the options or other awards); or (iii) the successor corporation may replace options or awards with substantially similar shares or other property. In the event the successor corporation (if any) refuses to assume or substitute options or other awards as described (i) the vesting of any or all options or awards granted pursuant to the 2020 Plan will accelerate upon the change-in-control transaction, and (ii) any or all options granted pursuant to the Plans will become exercisable in full prior to the consummation of the change-in-control transaction at such time and on such conditions as the Compensation Committee determines. If the options are not exercised prior to the consummation of the change-in-control transaction, they shall terminate at such time as determined by the Compensation Committee. Subject to any greater rights granted to 2020 Plan participants under the 2020 Plan, in the event of the occurrence of a change-in-control transaction any outstanding options or other awards will be treated as provided in the applicable agreement or plan of merger, consolidation, dissolution, liquidation, or sale of assets. If the Company had experienced a change-in-control event as described in the 2020 Plan on December 31, 2021, the value of accelerated options the Named Executive Officers, based on the difference between the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market on December 31, 2021, and, if lower, the exercise price per share of each option for which vesting would be accelerated for each Named Executive Officer, would be an aggregate of $241,254.
Director Compensation
The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation earned for service on our Board of Directors during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 by each individual who served as a director at any time during the fiscal year.
Name |
|
Fees
Earned or
Paid in
Cash
($)
|
|
|
Option
Awards
($) (2)(3)
|
|
|
Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Compensation
($)
|
|
|
|
Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings
($)
|
|
|
All
Other Compensation
($)
|
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Randal D. Chase
|
|
|
41,650 |
|
|
|
71,750 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
113,400 |
|
David A. Dodd (1)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Dean G. Kollintzas
|
|
|
35,975 |
|
|
|
71,750 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
107,725 |
|
Robert T. McNally
|
|
|
27,000 |
|
|
|
71,750 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
98,750 |
|
John N. Spencer, Jr.
|
|
|
47,000 |
|
|
|
71,750 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
118,750 |
|
|
(1)
|
As discussed below under “Director Compensation Plan” directors who are employees of the Company receive no compensation for their service as directors. As President and CEO, Mr. Dodd therefore receives no compensation for his service as a director; his compensation for service as President and CEO is shown in the “Summary Compensation” table above.
|
|
(2)
|
Represents the grant date fair value of stock options granted on December 7, 2021 to each non-employee director for 25,000 shares with an exercise price of $3.82 per share, vesting over a one-year period.
|
|
(3)
|
The table below shows the aggregate numbers of warrants and option awards outstanding for each non-employee director as of December 31, 2021. The table includes warrants granted to our directors upon payment of deferred compensation occurring on September 29, 2020.
|
Name
|
|
Aggregate Option Awards
Outstanding
as of December 31, 2021
(#)
|
|
Randal D. Chase
|
|
|
66,613 |
|
Dean G. Kollintzas
|
|
|
61,987 |
|
Robert T. McNally
|
|
|
103,925 |
|
John N. Spencer, Jr.
|
|
|
71,024 |
|
Director Compensation Plan. In December 2020, the Board of Directors approved a recommendation from the Compensation Committee for director compensation, which we refer to as the “Director Compensation Plan.” The Director Compensation Plan applies only to non-employee directors. Directors who are employees of the Company receive no compensation for their service as directors or as members of committees.
Cash Fees – For 2021, each non-employee director earned an annual retainer (paid quarterly) of $10,000 ($30,000 for a non-employee Chairperson) for service as a member of the Board, $5,000 ($9,000 for the Chairperson) for service as a member of the Audit Committee. And $3,300 ($6,000 for the Chairperson) for service as a member of the Compensation Committee or the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Non-employee directors also earned fees for each Board of Directors or Committee meeting attended as follows: $3,000 for in person Board of Directors meetings ($1,500 for telephonic meetings), $1,000 for in person Committee meeting chaired ($750 for telephonic meetings), and $500 for in person Committee meeting attended as a non-chair member ($400 for telephonic meetings).
In December 2021, the Board of Directors approved a recommendation from the Compensation Committee to amend the Director Compensation Plan, effective January 1, 2022, such that each non-employee director will receive an annual retainer (paid quarterly) of $25,000 ($50,000 for a non-employee Chairperson) for service as a member of the Board. In the absence of a non-employee Chairperson of the Board, a non-employee director designated as the Lead Director shall receive an annual cash retainer of $35,000. Each non-employee director will also receive an annual retainer of $7,500 ($15,000 for the Chairperson) for service as a member of the Audit Committee, $5,000 ($10,000 for the Chairperson) for service as a member of the Compensation Committee, and $5,000 ($7,500 for the Chairperson) for service as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. No additional fees will be paid for meetings attended.
Stock Option Grants –We currently do not have a formula for determining stock option grants to directors (upon their election to the Board of Directors, or otherwise). Such option grants are currently determined by the Board of Directors, upon recommendation by the Compensation Committee based on the Compensation Committee’s annual deliberations and review of the director compensation structure of similar companies. At its meeting in December 2021, upon a recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors approved an annual stock option grant of 25,000 shares to each of its non-employee members for ongoing service as members of the Board of Directors.
Expense Reimbursement – All directors are reimbursed for expenses incurred in connection with attending meetings of the Board of Directors and committees.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Other than compensation arrangements for our Named Executive Officers and directors, we describe below each transaction since January 1, 2021, to which we were a party or will be a party, in which the amount exceeds $120,000 and in which any “related person” (as defined in paragraph (a) of Item 404 of Regulation S-K) had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. Compensation arrangements for our named executive officers and directors are described above under “Executive Compensation.”
Series I Warrants
On February 25, 2019, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with the Sabby Healthcare Master Fund, Ltd. and Sabby Volatility Warrant Master Fund, Ltd. (collectively, “Sabby”) providing for the issuance and sale to Sabby of an aggregate of up to 1,000 shares of our Series G Convertible Preferred Stock and related warrants (“Series I Warrants”) for gross proceeds of up to $1.0 million. In January 2021, all of the remaining Series I Warrants were converted into 20,196 shares of our common stock pursuant to the cashless exercise provisions of the warrants.
June 2020 Bridge Financing
On June 26, 2020, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with Cavalry Fund I LP and Cavalry Special Ops Fund, LLC, pursuant to which the Company received aggregate gross proceeds of $1,050,000 in exchange for the issuance of 5% Original Issue Senior Secured Convertible Debentures in the aggregate principal amount of $1,200,000 and five-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 2,400,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.50 per share, subject to adjustment. On September 29, 2020, the June 26, 2020 5% Original Issue Senior Secured Convertible Debentures mandatorily converted into 303,667 conversion units, of which 177,625 include shares of common stock and 126,042 include pre-funded warrants (the “Conversion Units”). The Conversion Units provide substantially the same terms as the Units issued in September 2020. The pre-funded warrants provide the holder the right to purchase one share of common stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per share, are immediately exercisable and will not expire until exercised in full. These pre-funded warrants were exercised on January 13, 2021. The Company also issued these investors five-year warrants to acquire an additional 303,668 shares of common stock, in the aggregate, at $5.00 per share.
Director Independence
The Board of Directors has determined that Messrs. Chase, Kollintzas, McNally and Spencer are the members of our Board of Directors who are “independent,” as that term is defined by Section 301(3)(B) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Board of Directors has also determined that these individuals meet the definition of “independent director” set forth in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules and that Mr. Spencer is the qualified “financial expert” on the Audit Committee. As independent directors, Messrs. Chase, Kollintzas, McNally and Spencer serve as members of our Audit Committee, our Compensation Committee, and our Nominating and Governance Committee.