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
Filed
by the Registrant ☒
Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check
the appropriate box:
☐ |
Preliminary
Proxy Statement |
☐ |
Confidential,
For Use of the Commission Only(as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
☒ |
Definitive
Proxy Statement |
☐ |
Definitive
Additional Materials |
☐ |
Soliciting
Materials Pursuant to Rule 14a-12 |
MATINAS
BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS, 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): |
|
☒ |
No
fee required. |
☐ |
Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
|
|
|
(1) |
Title
of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
|
|
|
|
(2) |
Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies: |
|
|
|
|
(3) |
Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): |
|
|
|
|
(4) |
Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
|
|
|
|
(5) |
Total
fee paid: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
☐ |
Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials: |
☐ |
Check
box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting
fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its
filing. |
|
|
|
(1) |
Amount
Previously Paid: |
|
|
|
|
(2) |
Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
|
|
|
|
(3) |
Filing
Party: |
|
|
|
|
(4) |
Date
Filed: |
|
|
|
MATINAS
BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.
1545
ROUTE 206 SOUTH
SUITE
302
BEDMINSTER
NJ 07921
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To
be held on November 14, 2022
To
the Stockholders of
Matinas
BioPharma Holdings, Inc.
NOTICE
IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Matinas BioPharma Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held
via the internet on November 14, 2022, beginning at 9 a.m. local time. Shareholders will be able
to listen, vote and ask questions regardless of location via the internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/MTNB2022 by using the
control number included on your notice regarding the availability of proxy materials, proxy card (printed in the box and marked by the
arrow) and the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person.
At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will act on the following matters:
|
● |
To
elect seven directors to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their respective successors shall have been
duly elected and qualified; |
|
|
|
|
● |
To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s
named executive officers; |
|
|
|
|
● |
To ratify the appointment of EisnerAmper LLP as our independent registered
public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2022; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
To
consider any other matters that may properly come before the Annual Meeting. |
Only
stockholders of record of our common stock at the close of business on September 16, 2022 are entitled to receive notice of and to vote
at the Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof.
Your
vote is important. Whether you plan to attend the meeting virtually or not, you may vote your shares online or by marking, signing,
dating and mailing the enclosed proxy card in the envelope provided. If you attend the meeting virtually and prefer to vote during the
meeting, you may do so even if you have already voted your shares. You may revoke your proxy in the manner described in the proxy statement
at any time before it has been voted at the meeting.
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors |
|
|
|
/s/
Jerome D. Jabbour |
|
Jerome
D. Jabbour
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer |
September
22, 2022
Bedminster,
New Jersey
MATINAS
BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.
1545
ROUTE 206 SOUTH
SUITE
302
BEDMINSTER
NJ 07921
PROXY
STATEMENT
This
proxy statement contains information related to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on November 14, 2022 at 9 a.m. local time
via the internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/MTNB2022, or at such other time and place to which the Annual Meeting may
be adjourned or postponed. The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of Matinas BioPharma Holdings, Inc. (the “Board”).
The proxy materials relating to the Annual Meeting are being mailed to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting on or about September
22, 2022.
Important
Notice of Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on November 14, 2022.
Our
proxy materials, including our Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting, our Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2021 and proxy card are available on the Internet at www.proxyvote.com. Under Securities and Exchange Commission rules,
we are providing access to our proxy materials by notifying you of the availability of our proxy materials on the Internet.
ABOUT
THE MEETING
Why
are we calling this Annual Meeting?
We
are calling the Annual Meeting to seek the approval of our stockholders:
|
● |
To
elect seven directors to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their respective successors shall have been
duly elected and qualified; |
|
|
|
|
● |
To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s
named executive officers; |
|
|
|
|
● |
To ratify the appointment of EisnerAmper LLP as our independent registered
public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2022;
and |
|
|
|
|
● |
To
consider any other matters that may properly come before the Annual Meeting. |
What
are the Board’s recommendations?
Our
Board believes that the election of the director nominees identified herein, the approval, on an advisory basis, of the executive compensation
of the Company’s named executive officers, and the appointment of EisnerAmper LLP as our independent registered public accounting
firm for the year ending December 31, 2022, are advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and recommends
that you vote FOR these proposals.
Why
did I receive a notice in the mail regarding the Internet availability of the proxy materials instead of a paper copy of the proxy materials?
In
accordance with rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), we have elected to furnish to
our stockholders this Proxy Statement and our 2021 Annual Report by providing access to these documents on the Internet rather
than mailing printed copies. Accordingly, a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) is being
mailed to our stockholders of record and beneficial owners which will direct stockholders to a website where they can access our proxy
materials and view instructions on how to vote online or by telephone. If you would prefer to receive a paper copy of our proxy materials,
please follow the instructions included in the Notice.
Who
is entitled to vote at the meeting?
Only
stockholders of record of our common stock at the close of business on the record date, September 16, 2022, are entitled to receive notice
of the Annual Meeting and to vote the shares of common stock that they held on that date at the meeting, or any postponement or adjournment
of the meeting. Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on each matter to be voted upon.
As
of the record date, we had 216,864,526 outstanding shares of common stock.
Who
can attend the meeting?
This
year’s Annual Meeting will take place virtually through the Internet. There will not be a physical meeting location and you will
not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. We have designed the format of the Annual Meeting to ensure that our stockholders
have the same rights and opportunities to participate as they would at an in-person meeting. You will be able to attend the Annual
Meeting online, vote your shares online during the Annual Meeting and submit questions online during the Annual Meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/MTNB2022.
You are entitled to attend and participate in the Annual Meeting only if you were a stockholder of record as of the close of business
on September 16, 2022. To be admitted to the Annual Meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/MTNB2022, you must enter the 16-digit
control number found on your proxy card, notice of internet availability or other proxy materials. If you do not have a control number,
please contact the brokerage firm, bank, dealer, or other similar organization that holds your account as soon as possible so that you
can be provided with a control number. The Annual Meeting will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. local time. We encourage you to access the
Annual Meeting before it begins. Online check-in will start 15 minutes before the meeting on November 14, 2022. If you encounter any
difficulties accessing the virtual meeting during the check-in or meeting time, please call the technical support number that will be
posted on the virtual Annual Meeting log-in page.
What
constitutes a quorum?
The
presence at the Annual Meeting, virtually or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of our common stock outstanding on the record date
will constitute a quorum for our meeting. Signed proxies received but not voted and broker non-votes will be included in the calculation
of the number of shares considered to be present at the meeting.
How
do I vote?
You
can vote on matters that come before the Annual Meeting via the Internet, by following the instructions in the Notice at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/MTNB2022,
or by submitting your proxy card by mail. If you would prefer to vote by mail, please follow the instructions included in the Notice
to receive a paper copy of our proxy materials.
Your
shares will be voted as you indicate on your proxy card. If you vote the proxy but do not indicate your voting preferences,
and with respect to any other matter that properly comes before the meeting, the individuals named on the proxy card will vote your shares
FOR the matters submitted at the meeting, or if no recommendation is given, in their own discretion.
If
you are a stockholder of record, to submit your proxy by telephone or via the Internet, follow the instructions on the Notice or proxy
card. If you hold your shares in street name, you may vote by telephone or via the Internet as instructed by your broker, bank or other
nominee.
If
you are a stockholder of record, virtually attend the Annual Meeting and prefer to vote online at the Annual Meeting, you may do so even
if you have already voted your shares by proxy. If you hold shares in “street name,” however, you must provide a legal proxy
executed by your broker or other nominee in order to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting.
What
if I vote and then change my mind?
You
may revoke your proxy at any time before it is exercised by:
|
● |
filing
with the Secretary of the Company a notice of revocation; |
|
|
|
|
● |
sending
in another duly executed proxy by telephone, internet or mail bearing a later date; or |
|
|
|
|
● |
attending
the meeting and casting your vote online. |
Your
latest vote will be the vote that is counted.
What
is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as a beneficial owner?
Many
of our stockholders hold their shares through a stockbroker, bank or other nominee rather than directly in their own name. As summarized
below, there are some distinctions between shares held of record and those owned beneficially.
Stockholder
of Record
If
your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, VStock Transfer, LLC, you are considered, with respect to those
shares, the stockholder of record. As the stockholder of record, you have the right to grant your voting proxy directly to us or to vote
virtually at the Annual Meeting.
Beneficial
Owner
If
your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held
in street name, and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by your broker, bank or nominee which is considered, with respect
to those shares, the stockholder of record. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker as to how to vote and are
also invited to attend the Annual Meeting. However, because you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote these shares online
at the Annual Meeting unless you obtain a signed proxy from the record holder giving you the right to vote the shares. If you do not
vote your shares or otherwise provide the stockholder of record with voting instructions, your shares may constitute broker non-votes.
The effect of broker non-votes is more specifically described in “What vote is required to approve each proposal?”
below.
What
vote is required to approve each proposal?
The
holders of a majority of our shares of common stock outstanding on the record date must be present, virtually or by proxy, at the Annual
Meeting in order to have the required quorum for the transaction of business. Pursuant to Delaware corporate law, abstentions and broker
non-votes will be counted for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present.
Assuming
that a quorum is present, the following votes will be required:
|
● |
With
respect to the election of directors (Proposal No. 1), the seven nominees receiving the highest number of FOR votes (from the holders
of shares present virtually or represented by proxy) will be elected as directors. |
|
|
|
|
● |
With respect to the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation
of the Company’s named executive officers (Proposal No. 2), approval will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes
cast virtually or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting. |
|
|
|
|
● |
With respect to the ratification of the appointment of EisnerAmper LLP
as our independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal No. 3), approval will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the
votes cast virtually or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting. |
|
|
|
|
● |
With
respect to the approval of any other matter that may properly come before the Annual Meeting, approval will require the affirmative
vote of a majority of the votes cast virtually or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting. |
Holders
of common stock will not have any dissenters’ rights of appraisal in connection with any of the matters to be voted on at the meeting.
What
are “broker non-votes”?
Broker
non-votes occur when nominees, such as banks and brokers holding shares on behalf of beneficial owners, do not receive voting instructions
from the beneficial holders at least ten days before the meeting. If that happens, the nominees may vote those shares only on matters
deemed “routine”. Nominees cannot vote on non-routine matters unless they receive voting instructions from beneficial holders,
resulting in so-called “broker non-votes.” The determination of which proposals are deemed “routine” versus “non-routine”
may not be made by the New York Stock Exchange until after the date on which this proxy statement has been mailed to you. As such, it
is important that you provide voting instructions to your bank, broker or other nominee, if you wish to determine the voting of your
shares.
How
are we soliciting this proxy?
We
are soliciting this proxy on behalf of our Board by mail and will pay all expenses associated therewith. We have engaged MacKenzie Partners,
Inc. (“MacKenzie”) as the proxy solicitor for the Annual Meeting for an approximate fee of $3,500 plus fees for additional
services, if needed. We have also agreed to reimburse MacKenzie for its reasonable out of pocket expenses. Some of our officers and other
employees also may, but without compensation other than their regular compensation, solicit proxies by further mailing or personal conversations,
or by telephone, facsimile or other electronic means.
We
will also, upon request, reimburse brokers and other persons holding stock in their names, or in the names of nominees, for their reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy materials to the beneficial owners of the capital stock and to obtain proxies.
PROPOSAL
NO. 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
At
the Annual Meeting, seven directors are to be elected. All directors of the Company will hold office until the next Annual Meeting of
Stockholders or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified or their earlier resignation or removal. The Board has
nominated the following individuals for election as directors to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their
successors have been duly elected and qualified: Eric Ende, Jerome D. Jabbour, Herbert Conrad, Kathryn Corzo, Natasha Giordano, James
Scibetta and Matthew Wikler. Each of these seven director nominees named in the proxy statement is a current member of the Board.
It
is the intention of the persons named in the proxies for the holders of common stock to vote the proxies for the election of the nominees
named below, unless otherwise specified in any particular proxy. Our management does not contemplate that the nominees will become unavailable
for any reason, but if that should occur before the meeting, proxies will be voted for another nominee, or other nominees, to be selected
by our Board of Directors. In accordance with our by-laws and Delaware law, a stockholder entitled to vote for the election of directors
may withhold authority to vote for certain nominees for directors or may withhold authority to vote for all nominees for directors. The
director nominees receiving a plurality of the votes present virtually or by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election
of directors will be elected directors. Broker non-votes will not be treated as a vote for or against any particular director nominee
and will not affect the outcome of the election. Stockholders may not vote, or submit a proxy, for a greater number of nominees than
the seven nominees named below.
Director
Nominees
The
following table sets forth the name, age, position and tenure of each of the director nominees up for election at the 2022 Annual Meeting:
Name |
|
Age |
|
|
Position(s) |
|
Served
as an
Officer
or Director Since |
|
Herbert
Conrad |
|
|
89 |
|
|
Chairman
of the Board* |
|
|
2013 |
|
Jerome
D. Jabbour |
|
|
48 |
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer and Director |
|
|
2013 |
|
Kathryn
Corzo |
|
|
60 |
|
|
Director
|
|
|
2021 |
|
Eric
Ende |
|
|
54 |
|
|
Director |
|
|
2017 |
|
Natasha
Giordano |
|
|
59 |
|
|
Director |
|
|
2020 |
|
James
Scibetta |
|
|
57 |
|
|
Director |
|
|
2013 |
|
Matthew
Wikler |
|
|
72 |
|
|
Director |
|
|
2018 |
|
*
Mr. Conrad will serve as Chairman of the Board until October 1, 2022, at which time Mr. Ende will commence service as our Chairman of
the Board.
The
following biographical descriptions set forth certain information with respect to the director nominees based on information furnished
to the Company by each such individual.
Herbert
Conrad has served as our Chairman of the Board since July 2013 and as Chairman of the Board of Matinas BioPharma, Inc. since
October 2012. He also serves on the board of directors of Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLDX), biopharmaceutical company focused
on the development and commercialization of immunotherapies and other targeted biologics, and as an Advisor to the Seaver Autism Center
at Mount Sinai Hospital. Mr. Conrad was the President of the U.S. Pharmaceuticals Division of Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc. from 1982 until
his retirement in 1993. Prior to that, he held many positions of increasing responsibility at Roche Pharmaceuticals in the United States.
Mr. Conrad previously served on the board of directors of Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (NASDAQ: ABUS), Pharmasset, Inc. (chairman),
Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SVNT), Dura Pharmaceuticals, Inc., UroCor, Inc., GenVec, Inc. (NASDAQ: GNVC) (chairman), Sicor,
Inc., Bone Care International, Inc. (chairman), Sapphire Therapeutics, Inc. (chairman), the medical advisory board of Henry Schein Inc.
(NASDAQ: HSIC), and he was a Director and Co-Founder of Reliant Pharmaceuticals. Pharmasset was acquired by Gilead Sciences, Inc. for
$11 billion in 2011 and Reliant was acquired by GlaxoSmithKline for $1.65 billion in 2007. He received BS and MS degrees from the
Brooklyn College of Pharmacy and an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Long Island University. We believe Mr. Conrad is qualified
to serve on our board of directors due to his extensive expertise and experience in the life sciences industry and his extensive board
experience.
Jerome
D. Jabbour See description under “Management.”
Eric
Ende, MD, MBA has served on our board of directors since April 2017. Dr. Ende will assume the position of Chairman of
the Board effective October 1, 2022. Dr. Ende is president of Ende BioMedical Consulting Group, a privately-held consulting company which
is focused on helping life sciences companies raise capital, identify licensing partners, and optimize corporate structure as well as
analyzing both private and public investment opportunities for clients within the life sciences industry, a position he has held since
2009. In addition, Dr. Ende consulted with Icahn Enterprises in their efforts to appoint board members at Forest Labs, Genzyme, Biogen
IDEC, and Amylin. Dr. Ende served on the board of directors and as a member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee of Genzyme Corp.
(NASDAQ: GENZ) from 2010 until it was acquired by Sanofi (NSYE: SNY) in 2011. Through another activist campaign, Dr. Ende served on the
board of directors of Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an oncology company, from 2019 until it was acquired by Lantheus Holdings, Inc.
in 2020, as Chair of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Audit and Science Committees. Dr. Ende also serves on the board of
directors of Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc, a biopharmaceutical company, as Chair of the Nomination & Corporate Governance Committee
and a member of the Audit and Compensation Committees, and since January 2022, also serves on the board of NeuBase Therapeutics (NASDAQ:
NBSE), a biotech company. Dr. Ende is currently serving on the Technology Transfer Committee of Mount Sinai Innovation Partners and served
as the Chairman of the Unsecured Creditor’s Committee overseeing the bankruptcy of Egenix, Inc. From 2002 through 2008, Dr. Ende
was the senior biotechnology analyst at Merrill Lynch. From 2000 through 2002, Dr. Ende was the senior biotechnology analyst at Banc
of America Securities and, from 1997 to 2000, he was a biotechnology analyst at Lehman Brothers. Dr. Ende received an MBA in Finance
& Accounting from NYU – Stern Business School in 1997, an MD from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 1994, and a BS in Biology
and Psychology from Emory University in 1990. We believe Dr. Ende is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his industry
experience, including as president of Ende BioMedical Consulting Group and as a biotechnology analyst, and his prior public company board
experience.
Kathryn
Corzo, RPh, MBA has served on our board of directors since November 2021. Ms. Corzo is
currently the Chief Operating Officer of bit.bio Ltd, a privately funded company coding human cells to precision engineer the
next generation of medicines, a position she has held since 2021. Prior to bit.bio, Ms. Corzo was
partner at Takeda Ventures, Inc., the corporate investment arm of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, and also served as Head,
Oncology Cell Therapy Development at Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502/NYSE: TAK), a global biopharmaceutical company,
a position she held since 2020. Before Takeda, Ms. Corzo was Vice President, R&D Myeloma Program Leader at Sanofi Genzyme, a specialty
care global business unit of Sanofi, from 2010 to 2019. From 1989-2010, Ms. Corzo worked at Hoffman – La Roche, Roche Molecular
Systems, Eli Lilly and Syndax, during which time she held roles of increasing seniority in operations, global clinical development, medical
affairs, business development, market access and brand management across multiple therapeutic products and indications. Ms. Corzo holds
an MBA from Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management and a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Massachusetts
College of Pharmacy. We believe Ms. Corzo is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors due to her broad experience in the life sciences
industry.
Natasha
Giordano. Ms. Giordano has served as a member of our board of directors since September 2020. Ms. Giordano has been President,
Chief Executive Officer and director of PLx Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: PLXP), a late-stage specialty pharmaceuticals company, since January
2016. Previously, Ms. Giordano served as Chief Executive Officer of ClearPoint Learning, Inc., a privately held learning and training
platform company, from May 2015 through November 2015. She also served on the ClearPoint board of directors from December 2009 through
November 2015. Previously, Ms. Giordano served as the Chief Executive Officer of Healthcare Corporation of America (NYSE: HCA), a leading
healthcare provider, from January 2014 through August 2014. From June 2009 to August 2012, Ms. Giordano served as Chief Operating Officer
and then as Chief Executive Officer, President and a member of the board of directors of Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately-held
a branded specialty pharmaceutical company with development and commercial capabilities focused on pain management and women’s
health. Prior to that, she served as President, Americas, for Cegedim Dendrite (formerly Dendrite International Inc.), a global technology
services company, from 2007 to 2008 and as Senior Vice President of the Global Customer Business Unit of Cegedim Dendrite from 2004 to
2007. Ms. Giordano holds a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Wagner College. We believe Ms. Giordano is qualified to serve as
a director due to her extensive experience in commercialization, general management and knowledge of the pharmaceutical and health care
industries.
James
S. Scibetta, MBA has served as a member of our board of directors since November 2013. Mr. Scibetta is currently the Chief
Executive Officer of ImmuneID, a privately held precision immunology company. Prior to ImmuneID, Mr. Scibetta was Chief Executive Officer
of Maverick Therapeutics, a development stage immune-oncology company, from 2017 until 2021 when it was acquired by Takeda Pharmaceutical
Company Limited. Prior to Maverick, he was President and Chief Financial Officer of Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: PCRX), a specialty
pharmaceutical company, a position he has held since October 2015. Prior to that, Mr. Scibetta was the Chief Financial Officer of Pacira
since 2008. Prior to joining Pacira in August 2008, he served as a consultant to Genzyme Corporation following the sale of Bioenvision
Inc. (NASDAQ: BIVN) to Genzyme in 2007. From 2006 to 2007 Mr. Scibetta was CFO of Bioenvision. From 2001 to 2006, he was Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer of Merrimack Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: MACK). Mr. Scibetta has previously served on the board
of directors at the following life sciences companies: Nephros Inc. (NASDAQ: NEPH), Merrimack Pharmaceuticals and Labopharm Inc. Prior
to his executive management experience, Mr. Scibetta spent over a decade in investment banking where he was responsible for sourcing
and executing transactions for a broad base of public and private healthcare and life sciences companies. Mr. Scibetta received his Bachelor
of Science in Physics from Wake Forest University and an MBA from the University of Michigan. We believe Mr. Scibetta is qualified to
serve on our board of directors because of his extensive management experience in the pharmaceutical industry, his investment banking
experience and his experience as a chief financial officer and audit committee member of several publicly traded companies.
Matthew
A. Wikler, MD, MBA has served as a member of our board of directors since January 2018. Dr. Wikler currently serves as
the Principal of Infectious Disease Technology Development Consulting (IDTD Consulting), a privately-held consulting firm, where he provides
clinical, medical and regulatory strategic insight to companies developing new technologies for the treatment and prevention of infectious
diseases, a position he has held since 2015. Prior to that from 2012 to 2015, Dr. Wikler served at The Medicines Company (NASDAQ: MDCO),
a biopharmaceutical company, as VP, New Business Ventures and VP and Medical Director, Infectious Disease Care. Over the course of his
career Dr. Wikler held senior leaderships positions for a number of pharmaceutical companies, including as Chief Development Officer
of Rib-X Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company developing new antibiotics to provide expanded coverage, safety
and convenience for the treatment of serious and life-threatening infections, President and Chief Executive Officer of IASO Pharma Inc.,
a privately-held clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the development of antibacterial and antifungal therapeutics, the Institute
for One World Health, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit drug development organization, Mpex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately-held company focused
on developing and manufacturing therapies for antibiotic resistance with focus on gram-negative organisms, Peninsula Pharmaceuticals,
Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing antibiotics to treat life-threatening infections
(acquired by Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ)), ViroPharma Incorporated (NASDAQ: VPHM), Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY), and
Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical (a division of Johnson & Johnson). Dr. Wikler began his career at Smith Kline & French/Smith Kline
Beecham where he held positions of increasing responsibilities over ten years. Dr. Wikler held a variety of positions at the FDA, including
the Deputy Director of the Division of Anti-Infective Drug Products. Dr. Wikler earned a BA in Chemistry from Franklin and Marshall
College, an MD degree from Temple University School of Medicine, and his MBA from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School
of Business. He completed his Infectious Diseases Fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and is a Fellow of the
Infectious Diseases Society of America. We believe Dr. Wikler is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his extensive
management experience in the pharmaceutical industry and his clinical, drug development and regulatory experience.
There
are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.
Vote
Required
Directors
will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast virtually or by proxy at the annual meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will each
be counted as present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum but will have no effect on the vote for election of directors.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE
ELECTION
OF THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES.
Corporate
Governance Matters
Board
of Director Composition
Our
board of directors currently consists of seven members. We have no formal policy regarding board diversity. Our priority in selection
of board members is identification of members who will further the interests of our stockholders through his or her established record
of professional accomplishment, the ability to contribute positively to the collaborative culture among board members, knowledge of our
business and understanding of the competitive landscape.
Board
of Director Meetings
Our
Board met four times in 2021. Each of the directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate of (i) the total number of meetings of our
Board (held during the period for which such directors served on the Board) and (ii) the total number of meetings of all committees of
our Board on which the director served (during the periods for which the director served on such committee or committees). The Company
does not have a formal policy requiring members of the Board to attend our annual meetings. Jerome D. Jabbour, Herbert Conrad, Natasha Giordano, James Scibetta and Matthew Wikler attended the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Director
Independence
Our
common stock is listed on the NYSE American. Our board of directors undertook a review of its composition, the composition of
its committees and the independence of each director. Based on information requested from and provided by each of our directors, our
board of directors has determined that Messrs. Herbert Conrad, Eric Ende, James Scibetta, Matthew Wikler and Mss. Natasha Giordano and
Kathryn Corzo are “independent directors” as such term is defined in the rules of the NYSE’s corporate
governance requirements and Rule 10A-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
There
are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.
Board
Committees
Our
board of directors has three standing committees — an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee.
Audit
Committee. The Audit Committee oversees and monitors our financial reporting process and internal control system, reviews and evaluates
the audit performed by our registered independent public accountants and reports to the Board any substantive issues found during the
audit. The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of our registered independent
public accountants. The Audit Committee reviews and approves all transactions with affiliated parties. James Scibetta, Herbert Conrad,
Eric Ende and Natasha Giordano currently serve as members of the Audit Committee, with Mr. Scibetta, serving as its chair. Effective
October 1, 2022, James Scibetta, Herbert Conrad and Natasha Giordano will serve as members of the Audit Committee, with Mr. Scibetta,
serving as its chair. All members of the Audit Committee have been determined to be financially literate and are considered independent
directors as defined under the applicable NYSE listing standards and SEC rules and regulations. Mr. Scibetta
qualifies as an audit committee “financial expert” as that term is defined by SEC rules and regulations. The Audit Committee
met four times during 2021. Our Board has adopted an Audit Committee Charter, which is available for viewing at www.matinasbiopharma.com.
Compensation
Committee. The Compensation Committee provides advice and makes recommendations to the Board in the areas of employee salaries, benefit
programs and director compensation. The Compensation Committee also reviews the compensation of our executive officers, including our
chief executive officer, and makes recommendations in that regard to the Board as a whole. Eric Ende, Kathryn Corzo, James Scibetta and
Matthew Wikler currently serve on the Compensation Committee, with Mr. Ende serving as its chair. Effective October 1, 2022, James Scibetta,
Catherine Corzo and Matthew Wikler will serve as members of the Compensation Committee, with Mr. Scibetta serving as its chair. All members
of the Compensation Committee are considered independent directors as defined under the applicable NYSE listing standards.
The Compensation Committee met four times during 2021. Our Board has adopted a Compensation Committee Charter, which is available for
viewing at www.matinasbiopharma.com.
Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee nominates individuals to be elected to the
full Board by our stockholders. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers recommendations from stockholders if submitted
in a timely manner in accordance with the procedures set forth in our Bylaws and applies the same criteria to all persons being considered.
Herbert Conrad, Eric Ende and James Scibetta currently serve as members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, with Mr.
Conrad serving as its chair. Effective October 1, 2022, Herbert Conrad, Kathryn Corzo, Eric Ende and Natasha Giordano will serve as members
of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, with Natasha Giordano serving as its chair. All members of the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee are considered independent directors as defined under the applicable NYSE listing standards.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met four during 2021. Our Board has adopted a Nominating and Corporate Governance Charter,
which is available for viewing at www.matinasbiopharma.com.
Stockholder
nominations for directorships
Stockholders
may recommend individuals to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for consideration as potential director candidates by
submitting their names and background to the Secretary of the Company at the address set forth below under “Stockholder Communications.”
All such recommendations will be forwarded to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which will review and only consider
such recommendations if appropriate biographical and other information is provided, as described below, on a timely basis. All security
holder recommendations for director candidates must be received by the Company in the timeframe(s) set forth under the heading “Stockholder
Proposals” below.
|
● |
the
name and address of record of the security holder; |
|
|
|
|
● |
a
representation that the security holder is a record holder of the Company’s securities, or if the security holder is not a
record holder, evidence of ownership in accordance with Rule 14a-8(b)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
name, age, business and residential address, educational background, current principal occupation or employment, and principal occupation
or employment for the preceding five (5) full fiscal years of the proposed director candidate; |
|
|
|
|
● |
a
description of the qualifications and background of the proposed director candidate and a representation that the proposed director
candidate meets applicable independence requirements; |
|
|
|
|
● |
a
description of any arrangements or understandings between the security holder and the proposed director candidate; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
consent of the proposed director candidate to be named in the proxy statement relating to the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders
and to serve as a director if elected at such annual meeting. |
Assuming
that appropriate information is provided for candidates recommended by stockholders, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
will evaluate those candidates by following substantially the same process, and applying substantially the same criteria, as for candidates
submitted by members of the Board or other persons, as described above and as set forth in its written charter.
Board
Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight
The
positions of our chairman of the board and chief executive officer are separated. Separating these positions allows our chief executive
officer to focus on our day-to-day business, while allowing the chairman of the board to lead the board of directors in its fundamental
role of providing advice to and independent oversight of management. Our board of directors recognizes the time, effort and energy that
the chief executive officer must devote to his position in the current business environment, as well as the commitment required to serve
as our chairman, particularly as the board of directors’ oversight responsibilities continue to grow. Our board of directors also
believes that this structure ensures a greater role for the independent directors in the oversight of our company and active participation
of the independent directors in setting agendas and establishing priorities and procedures for the work of our board of directors. Our
board of directors believes its administration of its risk oversight function has not affected its leadership structure.
Although
our bylaws do not require our chairman and chief executive officer positions to be separate, our board of directors believes that having
separate positions is the appropriate leadership structure for us at this time and demonstrates our commitment to good corporate governance.
Risk
is inherent with every business, and how well a business manages risk can ultimately determine its success. Our board of directors is
actively involved in oversight of risks that could affect us. This oversight is conducted primarily by our full board of directors, which
has responsibility for general oversight of risks, and our standing board committees.
Our
board of directors satisfies this responsibility through full reports by each committee chair regarding the committee’s considerations
and actions, as well as through regular reports directly from officers responsible for oversight of particular risks within our company.
Our board of directors believes that full and open communication between management and the board of directors is essential for effective
risk management and oversight.
Stockholder
Communications
The
Board will give appropriate attention to written communications that are submitted by stockholders and other interested parties, and
will respond if and as appropriate. Absent unusual circumstances or as contemplated by committee charters, and subject to advice from
legal counsel, the Secretary of the Company is primarily responsible for monitoring communications from stockholders and for providing
copies or summaries of such communications to the Board as he considers appropriate.
Communications
from stockholders and other interested parties will be forwarded to all directors if they relate to important substantive matters or
if they include suggestions or comments that the Secretary considers to be important for the Board to know. Communication relating to
corporate governance and corporate strategy are more likely to be forwarded to the Board than communications regarding personal grievances,
ordinary business matters, and matters as to which the Company tends to receive repetitive or duplicative communications.
Stockholders
and other interested parties who wish to send communications to the Board should address such communications to: The Board of Directors,
Matinas BioPharma Holdings, Inc., 1545 Route 206 South, Suite 302, Bedminster, NJ 07921, Attn.: Secretary.
Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics
We
have adopted a written code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal
executive officer, principal financial and accounting officer, or persons performing similar functions. A copy of the code is posted
on the corporate governance section of our website, which is located at www.matinasbiopharma.com. If we make any substantive amendments
to, or grant waivers from, the code of business conduct and ethics for any officer or director, we will disclose the nature of such amendment
or waiver on our website.
PROPOSAL
NO. 2: ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
We
are asking our stockholders to provide an advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers, including compensation tables and narrative disclosures as described in this Proxy Statement. This proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal, gives our stockholders the opportunity
to express their views on the compensation of our named executive officers.
Please
see the compensation tables and the narrative disclosures that accompany the compensation tables for greater detail about our executive
compensation programs, including information about the fiscal year 2021 and 2020 compensation of our named executive officers.
We
believe that our overall compensation program and philosophy support and help drive the Company’s long-term value creation, business
strategy and operating performance objectives. We are asking our stockholders to indicate their support for our named executive officer
compensation as described in this proxy statement by voting “FOR” the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:
“RESOLVED,
that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including
the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion is hereby APPROVED.”
While
this say-on-pay vote is advisory and does not bind the Company to any particular action, the Board and the Compensation Committee value
your opinion. Accordingly, the Board and the Compensation Committee will consider the outcome of this vote when making future compensation
decisions for the Company’s named executive officers.
Vote
Required
The
affirmative vote of a majority of the total votes cast virtually or by proxy is required to approve this proposal.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL
OF
THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AS DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT.
Executive
Officers
The
following table sets forth certain information regarding our current executive officers:
Name |
|
Age |
|
|
Position(s) |
|
Served
as an
Officer
Since |
|
Jerome
D. Jabbour |
|
|
48 |
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer and Director |
|
|
2013 |
|
James
J. Ferguson |
|
|
69 |
|
|
Chief
Medical Officer |
|
|
2019 |
|
Thomas
J. Hoover |
|
|
53 |
|
|
Chief
Business Officer |
|
|
2021 |
|
Keith
A. Kucinski |
|
|
52 |
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer |
|
|
2019 |
|
Hui
Liu |
|
|
54 |
|
|
Chief
Technology Officer |
|
|
2020 |
|
Raphael
J. Mannino |
|
|
75 |
|
|
Chief
Scientific Officer |
|
|
2015 |
|
Theresa
Matkovits |
|
|
55 |
|
|
Chief
Development Officer |
|
|
2018 |
|
Our
executive officers are elected by, and serve at the discretion of, our board of directors. The business experience for the past five
years, and in some instances, for prior years, of each of our executive officers is as follows:
Management
Jerome
D. Jabbour, JD was appointed Chief Executive Officer in March 2018. He has served as our President since March 2016. Prior
to that he served as our Executive Vice President, Chief Business Officer, General Counsel and Secretary since October 2013 and as
one of our directors from April 2012 until November 2013. Mr. Jabbour is also aCo-founder of Matinas BioPharma. Prior to joining our
management team, he was the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of MediMedia USA, or MediMedia, from2012 to October 2013, a
privately held diversified health care services company. Prior to MediMedia, he was the Senior Vice President, Head of Global Legal
Affairs of Wockhardt Limited (2008-2012), a global pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, and Senior Counsel and Assistant
Secretary at Reliant (2004-2008). Earlier in his career, he held positions as Commercial Counsel at Alpharma, Inc. (2003-2004) and
as a Corporate Associate at Lowenstein Sandler LLP (1999-2003). Mr. Jabbour earned his JD from Seton Hall University School of Law
in New Jersey and a BA in Psychology from Loyola University in Baltimore.
James
J. Ferguson, MD was appointed Chief Medical Officer in February 2019. Prior to joining the Company he served as the Cardiovascular
and Bone Therapeutic Area Head for U.S. Medical Affairs, at Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN), multinational biopharmaceutical company, from 2016
to 2019. Prior to Amgen Dr. Ferguson held a number of senior positions at AstraZeneca, a multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical
company, including Vice President of US Cardiovascular Medical and Scientific External Relations, Therapeutic Area Vice President of
Cardiovascular Global Medical Affairs, U.S. Development Brand Leader for BRILINTA®, and Senior Director, Clinical Research. Before
joining AstraZeneca he was Vice President of Surgical and Critical Care for The Medicines Company. In addition, Dr. Ferguson had more
than 20 years of academic experience as the Associate Director of Clinical Cardiology Research at the Texas Heart Institute, Co-Director
of the Cardiology Fellowship Training Program at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital in Houston, where he was an Associate Professor
of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
Dr. Ferguson has served on the Editorial Board of numerous peer-reviewed journals and has over 400 publications and book chapters. Dr.
Ferguson received his B.A. (cum laude) in Biology from Harvard University, his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
and completed his postgraduate training at the University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan and Beth Israel Hospital, Boston,
Massachusetts.
Thomas
J. Hoover, MBA has served as Chief Business Officer since December 2021. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Hoover was the Chief
Business Officer at Millendo Therapeutics, (now Tempest Therapeutics, Inc.) a clinical stage biotech, from 2016 to 2021. Prior to joining
Millendo, Mr. Hoover was Vice President of New Product Planning and Corporate Development and Licensing at Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.,
a global biopharmaceutical company. Mr. Hoover started his pharmaceutical career at GSK in 2001 working in the Global Commercial Strategy
group. Earlier in his career, Mr. Hoover worked for The Boston Consulting Group. Mr. Hoover holds a M.B.A. from the University of North
Carolina and a B.A. from Harvard College.
Keith
A. Kucinski, MBA, CPA was appointed Chief Financial Officer in January 2019. He most recently served as Chief Financial Officer
at RemedyOne, a privately held healthcare consulting organization, during 2018. Prior to that, he served as Vice President & Treasurer
at Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc., an operating company of Endo International plc, a leading generics and specialty-branded pharmaceutical
company, from 2009 to 2015. In addition, Mr. Kucinski held various roles at Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc., including Senior Director, Finance
& Corporate Development and Assistant Treasurer & Senior Director, Finance. Mr. Kucinski is a Certified Public Accountant. He
received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame and an M.B.A. in Finance & Management
from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University.
Hui
Liu, PhD, MBA has serves as Chief Technology Officer since December 2020. Prior to joining the Company, Dr. Liu was Director
of Formulation and Delivery at Seqirus USA Inc., a privately held global leader in influenza and pandemic response, from 2017 to 2020.
Prior to joining Seqirus, Dr. Liu was Director of CMC at Cellics Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held development stage biopharmaceutical
company, in 2017, and Senior Technical Lead at Alcon Inc. (SIX/NYSE: ALC), a global leader in eye care, from 2015 to 2017. Earlier in
his career, Dr. Liu held positions at Cellics Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held biotech company, and Allergan. Dr. Liu holds a Ph.D.
in polymer chemistry from the University of Michigan, an M.B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a B.S. from The University
of Science and Technology of China.
Raphael
J. Mannino, PhD has served as our Chief Scientific Officer since September 2015. From 1990 until August 2015, Dr. Mannino was
an Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School. Dr. Mannino founded BioDelivery
Sciences, Inc., and served as its President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer and a member of its Board of Directors
from 1995 to 2000, when it was acquired by BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. (NASDAQ: BDSI). Dr. Mannino served as BDSI’s
Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer from 2001 to 2009 and a member of its Board of Directors from 2000 to 2007. Dr.
Mannino’s previous experience includes positions as Assistant, then Associate Professor, Albany Medical College (1980 to 1990),
and Instructor then Assistant Professor, Rutgers Medical School (1977 to 1980). His postdoctoral training was from 1973 to 1976 at the
Biocenter in Basel, Switzerland. Dr. Mannino received his Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry in 1973 from the Johns Hopkins University, School
of Medicine.
Theresa
Matkovits, PhD has served as Chief Development officer since October 2018. She joined the Company after having most recently
served as the Chief Operating Officer of ContraVir Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: CTRV) (now Hepion Pharmaceuticals), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical
company, from 2015 to 2018. From 2013 to 2015, Dr. Matkovits served as Global Program Leader at NPS Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical
company that was purchased by Shire in 2015. Prior to her time at NPS, Dr. Matkovits was Vice President, Innovation Leader at The Medicines
Company. Earlier in her career, Dr. Matkovits held a number of global leadership positions at Novartis across Global Development and
the U.S. Commercial Organization, including as Head, Strategic Planning and Operations, U.S. Medical and Drug Regulatory Affairs. Dr.
Matkovits began her career at the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology and Organon where she held positions in clinical development in
women’s health and research in the area of infertility. Dr. Matkovits serves on the Board of Directors of Appili Therapeutics (TSX:
APLI; OTCQX: APLIF) and GoodCap Pharmaceuticals, a privately held pharmaceutical company. Dr. Matkovits earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry
and Molecular Biology from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
Summary
Compensation Table – 2021
The
following table presents information regarding the total compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to our chief executive officer and
the two most highly-compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers as of December 31, 2021 for services rendered
in all capacities to us for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. These individuals are our named executive officers
for 2021.
Name
and Principal Position | |
Year | | |
Salary
($) | | |
Bonus
($) | | |
Option Awards
($) (1) | | |
All
Other Compensation ($) | | |
Total
($) | |
Jerome D. Jabbour | |
| 2021 | | |
| 545,000 | | |
| 250,000 | | |
| 2,898,314 | | |
| - | | |
| 3,693,314 | |
Chief
Executive Officer | |
| 2020 | | |
| 500,000 | | |
| 250,000 | | |
| 2,180,085 | | |
| - | | |
| 2,930,085 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
James J. Ferguson | |
| 2021 | | |
| 422,300 | | |
| 164,000 | | |
| 1,035,637 | | |
| | | |
| 1,621,937 | |
Chief
Medical Officer | |
| 2020 | | |
| 410,000 | | |
| 150,000 | | |
| 1,090,043 | | |
| - | | |
| 1,650,043 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Theresa Matkovits | |
| 2021 | | |
| 378,525 | | |
| 147,000 | | |
| 812,636 | | |
| - | | |
| 1,338,161 | |
Chief
Development Officer | |
| 2020 | | |
| 367,500 | | |
| 122,500 | | |
| 763,030 | | |
| - | | |
| 1,253,030 | |
(1)
Amounts reflect the grant date fair value of option awards granted in 2021 and 2020 in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification
Topic 718. These amounts do not correspond to the actual value that will be recognized by the named executive officers.
Narrative
Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table
Employment
Agreements with Our Named Executive Officers
Jerome
Jabbour
On
March 22, 2018, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Jabbour. Under the terms of Mr. Jabbour’s employment agreement,
Mr. Jabbour received a signing bonus of $84,000 and a base salary of $350,000 per year. In addition, Mr. Jabbour is eligible to receive
an annual bonus, which is targeted at 50% of his base salary but which may be adjusted by our Compensation Committee based on his individual
performance and our performance as a whole. Mr. Jabbour is also eligible to receive option grants at the discretion of our Compensation
Committee. Mr. Jabbour received an option grant to purchase 1,000,000 shares on March 22, 2018 and is also eligible to receive additional
option grants and equity grants at the discretion of our Compensation Committee. If we terminate Mr. Jabbour’s employment without
cause or Mr. Jabbour resigns with good reason (absent a change of control), we are required to pay him severance of up to twelve months
of his base salary plus COBRA benefits for twelve months. In addition, the vesting of 50% of his outstanding options will be accelerated
in full upon such termination and Mr. Jabbour will be provided with an extension through two years after the separation date of the exercise
period for his vested stock options. If we terminate Mr. Jabbour’s employment without cause during the 24-month period immediately
following a change of control or Mr. Jabbour resigns with good reason during the 24-month period immediately following a change of control,
we are required to pay him severance of up to 24 months of his base salary and his target annual bonus plus 18 months of COBRA benefits.
In addition, his outstanding options will be vested in full and Mr. Jabbour will be provided with an extension through two years after
the separation date of the exercise period for his vested stock options. Mr. Jabbour is also subject to a customary non-disclosure agreement,
pursuant to which Mr. Jabbour has agreed to be subject to a non-compete during the term of his employment and for a period of eighteen
months following termination of his employment.
James
Ferguson
On
February 22, 2019, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Ferguson. Under the terms of Mr. Ferguson’s employment agreement,
Mr. Ferguson receives a base salary of $375,000 per year. In addition, Mr. Ferguson is eligible to receive an annual bonus, which is
targeted at 35% of his base salary but which may be adjusted by our Compensation Committee based on his individual performance and our
performance as a whole. Mr. Ferguson is also eligible to receive option grants at the discretion of our Compensation Committee. If we
terminate Mr. Ferguson’s employment without cause or Mr. Ferguson resigns with good reason, we are required to pay him severance
of up to twelve months of his base salary plus benefits. In addition, the vesting of 50% of his outstanding options will be accelerated
in full upon such termination. Mr. Ferguson is also subject to a customary non-disclosure agreement, pursuant to which Mr. Ferguson has
agreed to be subject to a non-compete during the term of his employment and for a period of eighteen months following termination of
his employment.
Theresa
Matkovits
On
September 25, 2018, we entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Matkovits. Under the terms of Ms. Matkovits’ employment agreement,
Ms. Matkovits receives a base salary of $350,000 per year. In addition, Ms. Matkovits is eligible to receive an annual bonus, which is
targeted at 35% of her base salary but which may be adjusted by our Compensation Committee based on her individual performance and our
performance as a whole. Ms. Matkovits is also eligible to receive option grants at the discretion of our Compensation Committee. If we
terminate Ms. Matkovits’ employment without cause or Ms. Matkovits resigns with good reason, we are required to pay her severance
of up to twelve months of his base salary plus benefits. In addition, the vesting of 50% of her outstanding options will be accelerated
in full upon such termination. Ms. Matkovits is also subject to a customary non-disclosure agreement, pursuant to which Ms. Matkovits
has agreed to be subject to a non-compete during the term of her employment and for a period of eighteen months following termination
of his employment.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table – 2021
The
following table summarizes, for each of the named executive officers, the number of shares of common stock underlying outstanding stock
options held as of December 31, 2021.
| |
Option Awards |
Name | |
Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) exercisable | | |
Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) unexercisable | | |
Option exercise price ($) | | |
Option expiration date |
Jerome D. Jabbour | |
| - | | |
| 1,658,100 | | |
$ | 0.92 | | |
Dec 13, 2031 |
| |
| - | | |
| 1,600,000 | | |
$ | 1.36 | | |
Dec 31, 2030 |
| |
| 479,167 | | |
| 520,833 | | |
$ | 2.27 | | |
Dec 31, 2029 |
| |
| 531,250 | | |
| 218,750 | | |
$ | 1.08 | | |
Feb 10, 2029 |
| |
| 937,500 | | |
| 62,500 | | |
$ | 0.98 | | |
Mar 21, 2028 |
| |
| 400,000 | | |
| - | | |
$ | 3.32 | | |
Feb 20, 2027 |
| |
| 350,000 | | |
| - | | |
$ | 0.43 | | |
Feb 4, 2026 |
| |
| 175,000 | | |
| - | | |
$ | 0.41 | | |
Jan 27, 2025 |
| |
| 350,000 | | |
| - | | |
$ | 1.28 | | |
July 20, 2024 |
| |
| 350,000 | | |
| - | | |
$ | 0.94 | | |
Oct 3, 2023 |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
|
James J. Ferguson | |
| - | | |
| 587,600 | | |
$ | 0.92 | | |
Dec 13, 2031 |
| |
| - | | |
| 575,000 | | |
$ | 1.36 | | |
Dec 31, 2030 |
| |
| 239,584 | | |
| 260,416 | | |
$ | 2.27 | | |
Dec 31, 2029 |
| |
| 247,917 | | |
| 102,083 | | |
$ | 1.09 | | |
Feb 24, 2029 |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
|
Theresa Matkovits | |
| - | | |
| 500,000 | | |
$ | 0.92 | | |
Dec 13, 2031 |
| |
| - | | |
| 425,000 | | |
$ | 1.36 | | |
Dec 31, 2030 |
| |
| 167,709 | | |
| 182,291 | | |
$ | 2.27 | | |
Dec 31, 2029 |
| |
| 247,917 | | |
| 102,083 | | |
$ | 1.08 | | |
Feb 10, 2029 |
| |
| 277,084 | | |
| 72,916 | | |
$ | 0.79 | | |
Oct 14, 2028 |
General
On
August 2, 2013, our Board of Directors adopted the 2013 Equity Compensation Plan pursuant to the terms described herein. The 2013 Equity
Compensation Plan was approved by the stockholders on August 7, 2013. Effective May 8, 2014, upon the approval of our Board of Directors
and our stockholders, we amended and restated our 2013 Equity Compensation Plan, primarily to include “evergreen” provisions,
which provides that the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the Plan is subject to an automatic annual increase
on January 1 of each year beginning in 2015 equal to 4% of the number of shares of common stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding
calendar year or a lesser number of shares of common stock determined by the Board of Directors; to amend the definition of “fair
market value”; and to increase the limits on awards under the Plan. The 2013 Equity Compensation Plan, as amended and restated,
is referred to herein as the “2013 Plan.”
The
general purpose of the 2013 Plan is to provide an incentive to our employees, directors, consultants and advisors by enabling them to
share in the future growth of our business. Our Board of Directors believes that the granting of stock options, restricted stock awards,
unrestricted stock awards and similar kinds of equity-based compensation promotes continuity of management and increases incentive and
personal interest in the welfare of our Company by those who are primarily responsible for shaping and carrying out our long range plans
and securing our growth and financial success.
Our
Board of Directors believes that the 2013 Plan will advance our interests by enhancing our ability to (a) attract and retain employees,
consultants, directors and advisors who are in a position to make significant contributions to our success; (b) reward our employees,
consultants, directors and advisors for these contributions; and (c) encourage employees, consultants, directors and advisors to take
into account our long-term interests through ownership of our shares.
Description
of the 2013 Equity Compensation Plan
The
following description of the principal terms of the 2013 Plan is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the 2013
Plan.
Administration.
The 2013 Plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors, provided that the entire Board of Directors
may act in lieu of the Compensation Committee on any matter, subject to certain requirements set forth in the 2013 Plan. The Compensation
Committee may grant options to purchase shares of our common stock, stock appreciation rights, stock units, restricted shares of our
common stock, performance shares, performance units, incentive bonus awards, other cash-based awards and other stock-based awards. The
Compensation Committee also has broad authority to determine the terms and conditions of each option or other kind of award, and adopt,
amend and rescind rules and regulations for the administration of the 2013 Plan. Subject to applicable law, the Compensation Committee
may authorize one or more reporting persons (as defined in the 2013 Plan) or other officers to make awards (other than awards to reporting
persons, or other officers whom the Compensation Committee has specifically authorized to make awards). No awards may be granted under
the 2013 Plan on or after the ten year anniversary of the adoption of the 2013 Plan by our Board of Directors, but awards granted prior
to such tenth anniversary may extend beyond that date.
Eligibility.
Awards may be granted under the 2013 Plan to any person who is an employee, officer, director, consultant, advisor or other individual
service provider of the Company or any subsidiary, or any person who is determined by the Compensation Committee to be a prospective
employee, officer, director, consultant, advisor or other individual service provider of the Company or any subsidiary. During 2021,
approximately 34 officers and employees, 6 directors, and 50 consultants and advisors were eligible to participate in the 2013 Plan.
Shares
Subject to the 2013 Plan. As of September 22, 2022, the aggregate number of shares of common stock available for issuance in
connection with awards granted under the 2013 Plan is 45,603,238 shares, subject to customary adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends
or similar transactions (the “Initial Limit”). Incentive Stock Options may be granted under the 2013 Plan with respect to
all of those shares. The number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2013 Plan will automatically increase on January
1st of each year for a period of ten years, commencing on January 1, 2015, in an amount equal to four percent (4%) of the total number
of shares of common stock outstanding on December 31st of the preceding calendar year (the “Annual Increase”).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors may act prior to the first day of any calendar year, to provide that there shall
be no increase in the share reserve for such calendar year or that the Annual Increase in the share reserve for such calendar year shall
be a lesser number of shares of common stock than would otherwise occur pursuant to the preceding sentence. The number of shares of common
stock which may be issued in respect of Incentive Stock Options is equal to the Current Limit, and will be increased on each January
1, by the Annual Increase for such calendar year.
To
the extent that any award under the 2013 Plan payable in shares of common stock is forfeited, cancelled, returned to the Company for
failure to satisfy vesting requirements or upon the occurrence of other forfeiture events, or otherwise terminates without payment being
made thereunder, the shares of common stock covered thereby will be available for future grants under the 2013 Plan. Shares of common
stock that otherwise would have been issued upon the exercise of a stock option or in payment with respect to any other form of award,
that are surrendered in payment or partial payment of taxes required to be withheld with respect to the exercise of such stock option
or the making of such payment, will also be available for future grants under the 2013 Plan.
Terms
and Conditions of Options. Options granted under the 2013 Plan may be either “incentive stock options” that are intended
to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) or “nonqualified
stock options” that do not meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. The Compensation Committee will determine the exercise
price of options granted under the 2013 Plan. The exercise price of stock options may not be less than the fair market value, on the
date of grant, per share of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the option (or 110% of fair market value in the case of incentive
options granted to a ten-percent stockholder).
If
on the date of grant the common stock is listed on a stock exchange or national market system, the fair market value shall generally
be the closing sale price as of such date, or if there were no trades recorded on such date, then the most recent date preceding such
date on which trades were recorded. If on the date of grant the common stock is traded in an over-the-counter market, the fair market
will generally be the average of the closing bid and asked prices for the shares of common stock as of such date, or, if there are no
closing bid and asked prices for the shares of common stock on such date, then the average of the bid and asked prices for the shares
of common stock on the most recent date preceding such date on which such closing bid and asked prices are available. If the common stock
is not listed on a national securities exchange or national market system or traded in an over-the-counter market, the fair market value
shall be determined by the Compensation Committee in a manner consistent with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if on the date of grant the common stock is listed on a stock exchange or is quoted on a national market
system, or is traded in an over-the-counter market, then solely for purposes of determining the exercise price of any grant of a stock
option or the base price of any grant of a stock appreciation right, the Compensation Committee may, in its discretion, base fair market
value on the last sale before or the first sale after the grant, the closing price on the trading day before or the trading day of the
grant, the arithmetic mean of the high and low prices on the trading day before or the trading day of the grant, or any other reasonable
method using actual transactions of the common stock as reported by the exchange or market on which the common stock is traded. In addition,
the determination of fair market value also may be made using any other method permitted under Treasury Regulation section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iv).
No
option may be exercisable for more than ten years from the date of grant (five years in the case of an incentive stock option granted
to a ten-percent stockholder). Options granted under the 2013 Plan will be exercisable at such time or times as the Compensation Committee
prescribes at the time of grant. No employee may receive incentive stock options that first become exercisable in any calendar year in
an amount exceeding $100,000. The Compensation Committee may, in its discretion, permit a holder of a nonqualified stock option to exercise
the option before it has otherwise become exercisable, in which case the shares of our common stock issued to the recipient will continue
to be subject to the vesting requirements that applied to the option before exercise.
Generally,
the option price may be paid in cash or by bank check, or such other means as the Compensation Committee may accept. As set forth in
an award agreement or otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion, at or after grant, payment in full
or part of the exercise price of an option may be made (a) in the form of shares of common stock that have been held by the participant
for such period as the Compensation Committee may deem appropriate for accounting purposes or otherwise, valued at the fair market value
of such shares on the date of exercise; (ii) by surrendering to the Company shares of common stock otherwise receivable on exercise of
the option; (iii) by a cashless exercise program implemented by the Compensation Committee in connection with the 2013 Plan; and/or (iv)
by such other method as may be approved by the Compensation Committee and set forth in an award agreement.
No
option may be transferred other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and during a recipient’s lifetime an option
may be exercised only by the recipient or the recipient’s guardian or legal representative. However, the Compensation Committee
may permit the transfer of a nonqualified stock option, share-settled stock appreciation right, restricted stock award, performance share
or share-settled other stock-based award either (a) by instrument to the participant’s immediate family (as defined in the 2013
Plan), (b) by instrument to an inter vivos or testamentary trust (or other entity) in which the award is to be passed to the participant’s
designated beneficiaries, or (c) by gift to charitable institutions. The Compensation Committee will determine the extent to which a
holder of a stock option may exercise the option following termination of service.
Stock
Appreciation Rights. The Compensation Committee may grant stock appreciation rights independent of or in connection with an option.
The Compensation Committee will determine the terms applicable to stock appreciation rights. The base price of a stock appreciation right
will be determined by the Compensation Committee, but will not be less than 100% of the fair market value of a share of our common stock
with respect to the date of grant of such stock appreciation right. The maximum term of any SAR granted under the 2013 Plan is ten years
from the date of grant. Generally, each SAR stock appreciation right will entitle a participant upon exercise to an amount equal to:
● |
the
excess of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of exercise of the stock appreciation right over the base
price of such stock appreciation right, multiplied by |
|
|
● |
the
number of shares as to which such stock appreciation right is exercised. |
Payment
may be made in shares of our common stock, in cash, or partly in common stock and partly in cash, all as determined by the Compensation
Committee.
Restricted
Stock and Stock Units. The Compensation Committee may award restricted common stock and/or stock units under the 2013
Plan. Restricted stock awards consist of shares of stock that are transferred to a participant subject to restrictions that may result
in forfeiture if specified conditions are not satisfied. Stock units confer the right to receive shares of our common stock, cash, or
a combination of shares and cash, at a future date upon or following the attainment of certain conditions specified by the Compensation
Committee. The Compensation Committee will determine the restrictions and conditions applicable to each award of restricted stock or
stock units, which may include performance-based conditions. Dividends with respect to restricted stock may be paid to the holder of
the shares as and when dividends are paid to stockholders or at the times of vesting or other payment of the restricted stock award.
Stock unit awards may be granted with dividend equivalent rights, which may be accumulated and may be deemed reinvested in additional
stock units, as determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion. If any dividend equivalents are paid while a stock unit award
is subject to restrictions, the dividend equivalents shall be subject to the same restrictions on transferability as the underlying stock
units, unless otherwise set forth in an award agreement. Unless the Compensation Committee determines otherwise, holders of restricted
stock will have the right to vote the shares.
Performance
Shares and Performance Units. The Compensation Committee may award performance shares and/or performance units under the
2013 Plan. Performance shares and performance units are awards which are earned during a specified performance period subject to the
attainment of performance criteria, as established by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee will determine the restrictions
and conditions applicable to each award of performance shares and performance units.
Incentive
Bonus Awards. The Compensation Committee may award Incentive Bonus Awards under the 2013 Plan. Incentive Bonus Awards may be
based upon the attainment of specified levels of Company or subsidiary performance as measured by pre-established, objective performance
criteria determined at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. Incentive Bonus Awards will be paid in cash or common stock, as
set forth in an award agreement
Other
Stock-Based and Cash-Based Awards. The Compensation Committee may award other types of equity-based or cash-based awards
under the 2013 Plan, including the grant or offer for sale of unrestricted shares of our common stock and payment in cash or otherwise
of amounts based on the value of shares of common stock.
Effect
of Certain Corporate Transactions. The Compensation Committee may, at the time of the grant of an award, provide for the effect
of a change in control (as defined in the 2013 Plan) on any award, including (i) accelerating or extending the time periods for exercising,
vesting in, or realizing gain from any award, (ii) eliminating or modifying the performance or other conditions of an award, (iii) providing
for the cash settlement of an award for an equivalent cash value, as determined by the Compensation Committee, or (iv) such other modification
or adjustment to an award as the Compensation Committee deems appropriate to maintain and protect the rights and interests of participants
upon or following a change in control. The Compensation Committee may, in its discretion and without the need for the consent of any
recipient of an award, also take one or more of the following actions contingent upon the occurrence of a change in control: (a) cause
any or all outstanding options and stock appreciation rights to become immediately exercisable, in whole or in part; (b) cause any other
awards to become non-forfeitable, in whole or in part; (c) cancel any option or stock appreciation right in exchange for a substitute
option; (d) cancel any award of restricted stock, stock units, performance shares or performance units in exchange for a similar award
of the capital stock of any successor corporation; (e) redeem any restricted stock, stock unit, performance share or performance unit
for cash and/or other substitute consideration with a value equal to the fair market value of an unrestricted share of our common stock
on the date of the change in control; (f) cancel any option or stock appreciation right in exchange for cash and/or other substitute
consideration based on the value of our common stock on the date of the change in control , and cancel any option or stock appreciation
right without any payment if its exercise price exceeds the value of our common stock on the date of the change in control; (g) cancel
any stock unit or performance unit held by a participant affected by the change in control in exchange for cash and/or other substitute
consideration with a value equal to the fair market value per share of common stock on the date of the change in control, or (h) make
such other modifications, adjustments or amendments to outstanding awards as the Compensation Committee deems necessary or appropriate.
Amendment,
Termination. The Compensation Committee may amend the terms of awards in any manner not inconsistent with the 2013 Plan, provided
that no amendment shall adversely affect the rights of a participant with respect to an outstanding award without the participant’s
consent. In addition, our board of directors may at any time amend, suspend, or terminate the 2013 Plan, provided that (i) no such amendment,
suspension or termination shall materially and adversely affect the rights of any participant under any outstanding award without the
consent of such participant and (ii) to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with any applicable law, regulation, or stock exchange
rule, the 2013 Plan requires us to obtain stockholder consent. Stockholder approval is required for any plan amendment that increases
the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2013 Plan or changes the persons or classes of persons eligible
to receive awards.
Tax
Withholding
The
Company has the power and right to deduct or withhold, or require a participant to remit to the Company, the minimum statutory amount
to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes, domestic or foreign, required by law or regulations to be withheld.
Director
Compensation
We
maintain a policy pursuant to which our non-employee directors receive annualized compensation. The policy provides for the following
compensation amounts payable in cash, or upon election by such non-employee director, in shares of unrestricted common stock: (i) each
non-employee director is entitled to receive an annual fee of $50,000; (ii) the chairman of the board is entitled to receive an additional
annual fee of $25,000; (iii) the vice chair, if one is appointed, is entitled to receive an additional annual fee of $20,000; (iv) the
chair of our audit committee is entitled to receive an annual fee of $15,000 and other members of our audit committee are entitled to
receive $7,500; (v) the chair of our compensation committee is entitled to receive an annual fee of $10,000 and other members of our
compensation committee are entitled to receive $6,000; and (vi) the chair of our nominating and corporate governance committee is entitled
to receive an annual fee of $8,000 and other members are entitled to receive $4,000.
As
of the date of each annual meeting of the shareholders, each non-employee director will receive an option grant to purchase shares of
our common stock valued at $80,000 as determined by the Black Scholes method on the date of grant under our existing equity incentive
plan, or any other equity incentive plan we may adopt in the future, which shall vest in twelve equal monthly installments.
All
fees under the director compensation policy are paid on a quarterly basis in arrears and no per meeting fees are paid. All fees may be
paid in unrestricted shares of common stock at the election of the director. We also reimburse non-employee directors for reasonable
expenses incurred in connection with attending board of director and committee meetings.
Director
Compensation Table – 2021
The
following table summarizes the annual compensation for our non-employee directors during 2021.
Name | |
Cash Compensation ($) | | |
Stock Awads
($) (1) | | |
Option Awards ($) (1) | | |
Total ($) | |
Herbert Conrad | |
| 90,000 | | |
| - | | |
| 80,000 | | |
| 170,000 | |
Kathryn Corzo | |
| 9,283 | | |
| - | | |
| 160,000 | | |
| 169,283 | |
Eric Ende | |
| 71,500 | | |
| - | | |
| 80,000 | | |
| 151,500 | |
Natasha Giordano | |
| 57,500 | | |
| - | | |
| 80,000 | | |
| 137,500 | |
Patrick G. LePore | |
| 66,739 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 66,739 | |
James S. Scibetta | |
| 75,000 | | |
| - | | |
| 80,000 | | |
| 155,000 | |
Matthew Wikler | |
| 31,750 | | |
| 31,750 | | |
| 80,000 | | |
| 143,500 | |
(1) |
Amounts
reflect the grant date fair value of stock awards and option awards granted in 2021 in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification
Topic 718. These amounts do not correspond to the actual value that will be recognized by the directors. |
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is currently composed of the following four non-employee directors: Eric Ende, Chair, Kathryn
Corzo, James Scibetta and Matthew Wikler. No member of the Compensation Committee is or was formerly an officer or an employee of the
Company during the last fiscal year. In addition, no executive officer of the Company serves on the Compensation Committee or board of
directors of a company for which any of the Company’s directors serve as an executive officer.
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The
following table sets forth the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned as of September 22, 2022 by:
|
● |
each
of our stockholders who is known by us to beneficially own 5% or more of our common stock; |
|
|
|
|
● |
each
of our named executive officers; |
|
|
|
|
● |
each
of our directors; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
all
of our directors and current executive officers as a group. |
Beneficial
ownership is determined based on the rules and regulations of the SEC. A person has beneficial ownership of shares if such individual
has the power to vote and/or dispose of shares. This power may be sole or shared and direct or indirect. Applicable percentage ownership
in the following table is based on 216,864,526 shares outstanding as of September 22, 2022. In computing the number of shares beneficially
owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, shares of common stock that are subject to options or warrants held by
that person and exercisable as of, or within 60 days of, September 22, 2022 are counted as outstanding. These shares, however, are not
counted as outstanding for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person(s). Except as may be indicated in the
footnotes to this table and pursuant to applicable community property laws, each person named in the table has sole voting and dispositive
power with respect to the shares of common stock set forth opposite that person’s name. Unless indicated below, the address of
each individual listed below is c/o Matinas BioPharma Holdings, Inc., 1545 Route 206 South, Suite 302, Bedminster, NJ 07921.
Name of Beneficial Owner | |
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned | | |
Percentage of Shares Beneficially Owned | |
| |
| | |
| |
Directors and Executive Officers | |
| | | |
| | |
Jerome D. Jabbour (1) | |
| 4,617,617 | | |
| 2.1 | % |
Herbert Conrad (2) | |
| 5,935,260 | | |
| 2.7 | % |
Kathryn Corzo (3) | |
| 60,588 | | |
| * | % |
Eric Ende (4) | |
| 1,121,453 | | |
| * | % |
Natasha Giordano (5) | |
| 298,823 | | |
| * | % |
James Scibetta (6) | |
| 1,689,819 | | |
| * | % |
Matthew Wikler (7) | |
| 1,117,833 | | |
| * | % |
James J. Ferguson (8) | |
| 938,543 | | |
| * | % |
Thomas J. Hoover (9) | |
| - | | |
| * | % |
Keith A. Kucinski (10) | |
| 1,068,981 | | |
| * | % |
Hui Liu (11) | |
| 282,293 | | |
| * | % |
Raphael Mannino (12) | |
| 2,907,841 | | |
| 1.3 | % |
Theresa Matkovits (13) | |
| 1,120,834 | | |
| * | % |
Directors and Executive Officers as a group (13 persons) (14) | |
| 21,159,885 | | |
| 9.2 | % |
*
Less than 1%
(1)
Includes 4,157,293 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. Does not include 2,863,307 shares of common stock underlying
options.
(2)
Includes 1,240,694 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options.
(3)
Includes 60,588 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. Does not include 121,175 shares of common stock underlying
options.
(4)
Includes 977,361 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options.
(5)
Includes 298,823 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. Does not include 79,976 shares of common stock underlying
options.
(6)
Includes 1,039,861 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options.
(7)
Includes 827,361 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options.
(8)
Includes 938,543 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. Does not include 1,074,057 shares of common stock underlying
options.
(9)
Does not include 850,000 shares of common stock underlying options.
(10)
Includes 974,481 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. Does not include 900,519 shares of common stock underlying
options.
(11)
Includes 282,293 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. Does not include 592,707 shares of common stock underlying
options.
(12)
Includes 988,126 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. Does not include 421,874 shares of common stock underlying
options.
(13)
Includes 1,120,834 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. Does not include 854,166 shares of common stock underlying
options.
(14)
See notes (1) through (13).
Securities
Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The
following table provides information with respect to our compensation plans under which equity compensation was authorized as of December
31, 2021.
Plan Category | |
Number of Shares of Common Stock to be Issued upon Exercise of Outstanding Options (a) | | |
Weighted- Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options (b) | | |
Number of Options Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (c)(2) | |
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders(1) | |
| 28,184,291 | | |
$ | 1.21 | | |
| 4,282,530 | |
Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Total | |
| 28,184,291 | | |
$ | 1.21 | | |
| 4,282,530 | |
(1) |
The
amounts shown in this row include securities under the Matinas BioPharma Holdings, Inc. Amended and Restated 2013 Equity Incentive
Plan (the “2013 Plan”). |
(2) |
In
accordance with the “evergreen” provision in our 2013 Plan, an additional 8,650,778 shares were automatically made available
for issuance on the first trading day of 2022, which represents 4% of the number of shares outstanding on December 31, 2021; these
shares are excluded from this calculation. |
Certain
Relationships and Related Party Transactions
Other
than compensation arrangements for our named executive officers and directors, there have been no transaction or series of similar transactions,
since January 1, 2021, to which we were a party or will be a party, in which:
|
● |
the
amounts involved exceeded or will exceed $120,000; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
of our directors, executive officers or holders of more than 5% of our capital stock, or any member of the immediate family of the
foregoing persons, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. |
Indemnification
Agreements
We
entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers. The indemnification agreements provide for indemnification
against expenses, judgments, fines and penalties actually and reasonably incurred by an indemnitee in connection with threatened, pending
or completed actions, suits or other proceedings, subject to certain limitations. The indemnification agreements also provide for the
advancement of expenses in connection with a proceeding prior to a final, non-appealable judgment or other adjudication, provided that
the indemnitee provides an undertaking to repay to us any amounts advanced if the indemnitee is ultimately found not to be entitled to
indemnification by us. The indemnification agreement set forth procedures for making and responding to a request for indemnification
or advancement of expenses, as well as dispute resolution procedures that apply to any dispute between us and an indemnitee arising under
the Indemnification Agreements.
Policies
and Procedures for Related Party Transactions
We
have adopted a policy that our executive officers, directors, nominees for election as a director, beneficial owners of more than 5%
of any class of our common stock, any members of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons and any firms, corporations or
other entities in which any of the foregoing persons is employed or is a partner or principal or in a similar position or in which such
person has a 5% or greater beneficial ownership interest, which we refer to collectively as related parties, are not permitted to enter
into a transaction with us without the prior consent of our board of directors acting through the Audit Committee or, in certain circumstances,
the Chair of the Audit Committee. Any request for us to enter into a transaction with a related party, in which the amount involved exceeds
$100,000 and such related party would have a direct or indirect interest must first be presented to our Audit Committee, or in certain
circumstances the Chair of our Audit Committee, for review, consideration and approval. In approving or rejecting any such proposal,
our Audit Committee, or the Chair of our Audit Committee, is to consider the material facts of the transaction, including, but not limited
to, whether the transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third party under the same
or similar circumstances, the extent of the benefits to us, the availability of other sources of comparable products or services and
the extent of the related party’s interest in the transaction.
Director
Independence
Based
on information requested from and provided by each of our directors, our board of directors has determined that Messrs. Herbert Conrad,
Eric Ende, James Scibetta, Matthew Wikler, and Mss. Kathryn Corzo and Natasha Giordano, are “independent directors”
as such term is defined in the rules of the applicable NYSE corporate governance requirements and Rule 10A-3 promulgated under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
PROPOSAL NO.
3: RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF EISNERAMPER LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER
31, 2022
The
Audit Committee has reappointed EisnerAmper LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm to audit the financial statements
of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, and has further directed that management submit their selection of independent
registered public accounting firm for ratification by our stockholders at the Annual Meeting. Neither the accounting firm nor any of
its members has any direct or indirect financial interest in or any connection with us in any capacity other than as public registered
accounting firm.
Principal
Accountant Fees and Services
The
following table represents aggregate fees billed to the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, by EisnerAmper
LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.
| |
Years Ended December 31, |
| |
2021 | |
2020 |
| |
(in thousands) |
Audit Fees | |
$ | 249 | | |
$ | 297 | |
Audit-Related Fees | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Tax Fees | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Total Fees | |
$ | 249 | | |
$ | 297 | |
Audit
Fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements, audit of internal
controls over financial reporting, review of our interim consolidated financial statements and comfort letters.
Audit-Related
Fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for assurance related services that are reasonably related to the
performance of the audit or review of our financial services.
Tax
Fees are for tax-related services related primarily to tax consulting and tax planning.
The
Audit Committee pre-approves all auditing services and any non-audit services that the independent registered public accounting firm
is permitted to render under Section 10A (h) of the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee may delegate the pre-approval to one of its members,
provided that if such delegation is made, the full Audit Committee must be presented at its next regularly scheduled meeting with any
pre-approval decision made by that member.
Attendance
at Annual Meeting
Representatives
of EisnerAmper LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, where they will be available to respond to appropriate questions
from stockholders and, if they desire, to make a statement.
Vote
Required
The
affirmative vote of a majority of the total votes cast virtually or by proxy is required to approve this proposal.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE
RATIFICATION
OF THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.
REPORT
OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE*
The
undersigned members of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Matinas BioPharma Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”)
submit this report in connection with the committee’s review of the financial reports for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021
as follows:
|
1. |
The
Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the audited financial statements for the Company for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2021. |
|
|
|
|
2. |
The
Audit Committee has discussed with representatives of EisnerAmper LLP, the independent public accounting firm, the matters which
are required to be discussed with them under the provisions of Auditing Standard No. 1301, Communications with Audit Committees.
|
|
|
|
|
3. |
The
Audit Committee has discussed with EisnerAmper LLP, the independent public accounting firm, the auditors’ independence from
management and the Company has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditors required by applicable
requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. |
In
addition, the Audit Committee considered whether the provision of non-audit services by EisnerAmper LLP is compatible with maintaining
its independence. In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors
(and the Board of Directors has approved) that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Audit
Committee,
James
Scibetta, Chair
Herbert
Conrad
Eric
Ende
Natasha
Giordano
* |
The
foregoing report of the Audit Committee is not to be deemed “soliciting material” or deemed to be “filed”
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (irrespective of any general incorporation language in any document filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission) or subject to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or to the liabilities of
Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent we specifically incorporate it by reference into a document
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
STOCKHOLDER
PROPOSALS
Stockholder
Proposals for 2023 Annual Meeting
Our
by-laws state that a stockholder must provide timely written notice of a proposal to be brought before the meeting and supporting documentation
as well as be present at such meeting, either in person or by a representative. Any stockholder proposals submitted for inclusion in
our proxy statement and form of proxy for our 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be timely received by the Company at our principal
executive office no later than August 3, 2023 no earlier than July 4, 2023 in order to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement
and form of proxy; provided, however, that in the event the Annual Meeting is scheduled to be held on a date more than
thirty (30) days before the anniversary date of the immediately preceding Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Anniversary Date”)
or more than sixty (60) days after the Anniversary Date, a stockholder’s notice shall be timely if received by the Company at our
principal executive office not later than the close of business on the later of (i) the ninetieth (90th) day prior to the
scheduled date of such Annual Meeting; and (ii) the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement of
the date of such Annual Meeting is first made by the Company. Such proposals must also comply with the requirements as to form and substance
established by the SEC if such proposals are to be included in the proxy statement and form of proxy. Proxies solicited by our Board
will confer discretionary voting authority with respect to these proposals, subject to the SEC’s rules and regulations governing
the exercise of this authority. Any such proposal shall be mailed to: Matinas BioPharma Holdings, Inc., 1545 Route 206 South, Suite 302,
Bedminster, New Jersey 07921, Attn.: Secretary.
ANNUAL
REPORT
Copies
of our Annual Report on Form 10-K (including an amendment thereto and audited financial statements) filed with the SEC may be obtained
without charge by writing to Matinas BioPharma Holdings, Inc., 1545 Route 206 South, Suite 302, Bedminster, New Jersey 07921, Attn.:
Secretary. A request for a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K must set forth a good-faith representation that the requesting party
was either a holder of record or a beneficial owner of our common stock on September 16, 2022. Exhibits to the Form 10-K will be mailed
upon similar request and payment of specified fees to cover the costs of copying and mailing such materials.
Our
audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and certain other related financial and business information
are contained in our 2021 Annual Report to Stockholders, which is being made available to our stockholders along with this proxy statement,
but which is not deemed a part of the proxy soliciting material.
HOUSEHOLDING
OF ANNUAL MEETING MATERIALS
Some
banks, brokers and other nominee record holders may be participating in the practice of “householding” proxy statements.
This means that only one copy of this Proxy Statement may have been sent to multiple stockholders in the same household. We will promptly
deliver a separate copy of this Proxy Statement to any stockholder upon written or oral request to: Matinas BioPharma Holdings, Inc.,
1545 Route 206 South, Suite 302, Bedminster, New Jersey 07921, Attn.: Secretary, or by phone at (908) 484-8805. Any stockholder
who wants to receive a separate copy of this Proxy Statement, or of our proxy statements or annual reports in the future, or any stockholder
who is receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy per household, should contact the stockholder’s bank,
broker, or other nominee record holder, or the stockholder may contact us at the address and phone number above.
OTHER
MATTERS
As
of the date of this proxy statement, the Board does not intend to present at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders any matters other than
those described herein and does not presently know of any matters that will be presented by other parties. If any other matter requiring
a vote of the stockholders should come before the meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the proxy to vote with respect
to any such matter in accordance with the recommendation of the Board or, in the absence of such a recommendation, in accordance with
the best judgment of the proxy holder.
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors |
|
|
|
/s/
Jerome D. Jabbour |
|
Jerome
D. Jabbour,
Chief
Executive Officer |
September
22, 2022
Bedminster,
New Jersey
Matinas Biopharma (AMEX:MTNB)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2024 to May 2024
Matinas Biopharma (AMEX:MTNB)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2023 to May 2024