SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

 

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 the use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
Definitive Proxy Statement
Definitive Additional Materials
Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

 

AVALON GLOBOCARE CORP.

 

(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 0-1l (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:

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Avalon GloboCare Corp.

 

2019

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

 

AND

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

 

 

August 6, 2019

 

at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time

 

 

 

The Nasdaq Stock Market

151 West 42nd Street
New York, New York 10036

  

 

 

  

Avalon GloboCare Corp.

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON August 6, 2019

 

The 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Avalon GloboCare Corp. (“Avalon” or the “Company”) will be held at The Nasdaq Stock Market, 151 West 42nd Street, New York, New York 10036, on August 6, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, to consider the following proposals:

 

(1) To elect the nine director nominees named in the Proxy Statement to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified;

 

(2) To ratify the appointment of RBSM LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019;

 

(3) To approve the 2019 Incentive Stock Plan (the “2019 Incentive Plan”) and to authorize 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance thereunder;

 

(4) To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers;

 

(5) To recommend, on an advisory basis, a one, two or three-year frequency with which the Company should conduct future stockholder advisory votes on named executive officer compensation; and

 

(6) To act on such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

 

BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE PROPOSALS TO THE COMPANY AND ITS STOCKHOLDERS, IT IS VITAL THAT EVERY STOCKHOLDER VOTE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON OR BY PROXY.

 

These proposals are fully set forth in the accompanying Proxy Statement which you are urged to read thoroughly. For the reasons set forth in the Proxy Statement, your Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” Proposals 1 through 4 and a vote for a three-year frequency with which the Company should conduct future stockholder advisory votes on named executive officer compensation. A list of all stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be available at the principal office of the Company during usual business hours for examination by any stockholder for any purpose germane to the Annual Meeting for 10 days prior to the date thereof. Stockholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting. If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting in person, please be sure to bring your proxy card and photo identification. However, whether or not you plan to attend the meeting in person, your shares should be represented and voted. After reading the enclosed Proxy Statement, please sign, date, and return promptly the enclosed Proxy in the accompanying postpaid envelope we have provided for your convenience or vote via the Internet as instructed herein to ensure that your shares will be represented.

 

You may wish to provide your response electronically through the Internet by following the instructions set out on the enclosed Proxy Card. If you do attend the meeting and wish to vote your shares personally, you may revoke your Proxy.

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held August 6, 2019. In addition to the copies you have received, the Proxy Statement and our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K to Stockholders are available at: https://www.proxyvote.com .

 

  By Order of the Board of Directors
   
  /s/ Wenzhao “Daniel” Lu
  Wenzhao “Daniel” Lu
  Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

 

 

 

WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN ON ATTENDING THE MEETING IN PERSON, PLEASE VOTE AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT YOUR VOTE IS COUNTED.

 

Avalon GloboCare Corp.
4400 Route 9 South, Suite 3100

Freehold, New Jersey 07728

(732) 780-4400

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the

Annual Meeting of Shareholders on August 6, 2019:

 

Our Notice of 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Proxy Statement, and

2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at

http://www.proxyvote.com

 

Proxy materials or a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) are being first released or mailed on or about June 17, 2019, to all shareholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. In accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), instead of mailing a printed copy of our proxy materials to each record shareholder, we may furnish proxy materials by providing internet access to those documents. The Notice contains instructions on how to access our proxy materials and vote online, or in the alternative, request a paper copy of the proxy materials and a proxy card.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

 

 

This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Avalon GloboCare Corp. (“Avalon” or the “Company”) to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) which will be held at the Nasdaq Stock Market located at 151 West 42nd Street, New York, New York 10036 on August 6, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, and at any postponements or adjournments thereof. The proxy materials will be furnished to stockholders on or about June 17, 2019.

 

REVOCABILITY OF PROXY AND SOLICITATION

 

Any stockholder executing a proxy that is solicited hereby has the power to revoke it prior to the voting of the proxy. Revocation may be made by attending the Annual Meeting and voting the shares of stock in person, or by delivering to the Chief Financial Officer of the Company at the principal office of the Company prior to the Annual Meeting a written notice of revocation or a later-dated, properly executed proxy. Solicitation of proxies may be made by directors, officers and other employees of the Company by personal interview, telephone, facsimile transmittal or electronic communications. No additional compensation will be paid for any such services. This solicitation of proxies is being made by the Company, which will bear all costs associated with the mailing of this Proxy Statement and the solicitation of proxies.

 

RECORD DATE

 

Stockholders of record at the close of business on June 10, 2019 will be entitled to receive notice of, attend and vote at the Annual Meeting.

 

INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING

 

Why am I receiving these materials?

 

Avalon GloboCare Corp. has furnished these materials to you by mail, in connection with the Company’s solicitation of proxies for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on August 6, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. local time at the Nasdaq Stock Market located at 151 West 42nd Street, New York, New York 10036. These materials have also been made available to you on the Internet. These materials describe the proposals on which the Company would like you to vote and also give you information on these proposals so that you can make an informed decision. We are furnishing our proxy materials on or about June 17, 2019 to all stockholders of record entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

 

What is included in these materials?

 

These materials include:

 

this Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting; and

 

the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.

 

Notice of Internet Availability (Notice and Access)

 

Instead of mailing a printed copy of our proxy materials to each shareholder, we are furnishing proxy materials via the Internet. This reduces both the costs and the environmental impact of sending our proxy materials to our shareholders. If you received a “Notice of Internet Availability,” you will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials unless you specifically request a printed copy. The Notice of Internet Availability will instruct you how to access and review all of the important information contained in the proxy materials. The Notice of Internet Availability also instructs you how to submit your proxy on the Internet and how to vote by telephone.

 

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If you would like to receive a printed or emailed copy of our proxy materials, you should follow the instructions for requesting such materials included in the Notice of Internet Availability. In addition, if you received paper copies of our proxy materials and wish to receive all future proxy materials, proxy cards and annual reports electronically, please follow the electronic delivery instructions on www.proxyvote.com. We encourage shareholders to take advantage of the availability of the proxy materials on the Internet to help reduce the cost and environmental impact of our annual shareholder meetings.

 

The Notice of Internet Availability is first being sent to shareholders on or about June 17, 2019. Also on or about June 17, 2019, we will first make available to our shareholders this Proxy Statement and the form of proxy relating to the 2019 Annual Meeting, as well as our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 26, 2019.

 

What is the proxy card?

 

The proxy card enables you to appoint David Jin, our Chief Executive Officer, and Luisa Ingargiola, our Chief Financial Officer, as your representatives at the Annual Meeting. By completing and returning a proxy card, you are authorizing these individuals to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting in accordance with your instructions on the proxy card. This way, your shares will be voted whether or not you attend the Annual Meeting.

 

What is the purpose of the Annual Meeting?

 

At our Annual Meeting, stockholders will act upon the matters outlined in the Notice of Annual Meeting on the cover page of this Proxy Statement, including:

 

(i) the election of nine persons named herein as nominees for directors of the Company, to hold office subject to the provisions of the bylaws of the Company, until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified;

 

(ii) ratification of the appointment of RBSM LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019;

 

(iii) to approve the 2019 Incentive Plan and to authorize 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance thereunder;

 

(iv) to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers and

 

(v) to recommend, on an advisory basis, a one, two or three-year frequency with which the Company should conduct future stockholder advisory votes on named executive officer compensation.

 

In addition, management will act on such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof, report on the performance of the Company during fiscal year 2018 and respond to questions from stockholders.

 

What constitutes a quorum?

 

The presence at the meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding on the record date will constitute a quorum permitting the meeting to conduct its business. As of the record date, there were 75,655,639 shares of Avalon common stock issued and outstanding. Thus, the presence of the holders of common stock representing at least 37,903,475 votes will be required to establish a quorum.

 

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What is the difference between a stockholder of record and a beneficial owner of shares held in street name?

 

Most of our stockholders hold their shares in an account at a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee holder, rather than holding share certificates in their own name. As summarized below, there are some distinctions between shares held of record and those owned beneficially in street name.

 

How can I get electronic access to the proxy materials?

 

The Notice provides you with instructions regarding how to:

 

view the Company’s proxy materials for the Annual Meeting on the Internet;

 

request hard copies of the materials; and

 

instruct the Company to send future proxy materials to you electronically by email.

 

Choosing to receive future proxy materials by email will save the Company the cost of printing and mailing documents to you and will reduce the impact of the Company’s annual meetings on the environment. If you choose to receive future proxy materials by email, you will receive an email message next year with instructions containing a link to those materials and a link to the proxy voting website. Your election to receive proxy materials by email will remain in effect until you terminate it.

 

Stockholder of Record

 

If on June 10, 2019, your shares were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Vstock Transfer Inc., Inc., you are considered a stockholder of record with respect to those shares, and the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement was sent directly to you by the Company. As the stockholder of record, you have the right to direct the voting of your shares by returning the proxy card to us. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, if you do not vote over the Internet, please complete, date, sign and return a proxy card to ensure that your vote is counted.

 

Beneficial Owner of Shares Held in Street Name

 

If on June 10, 2019, your shares were held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer, or other nominee holder, then you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name,” and the Notice of Annual Meeting & Proxy statement was forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Annual Meeting. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to instruct that organization on how to vote the shares held in your account. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote these shares in person at the Annual Meeting unless you receive a valid proxy from the organization.

 

How do I vote?

 

Stockholders of Record. If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote by any of the following methods:

 

Via the Internet. You may vote by proxy via the Internet by following the instructions provided on the enclosed Proxy Card.

 

By Mail. You may vote by completing, signing, dating and returning your proxy card in the pre-addressed, postage-paid envelope provided.

 

In Person. You may attend and vote at the Annual Meeting. The Company will give you a ballot when you arrive. You must bring valid photo identification such as your driver’s license or passport and may be requested to provide proof of stock ownership as of the record date.

 

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Beneficial Owners of Shares Held in Street Name. If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name, you may vote by any of the following methods:

 

Via the Internet. You may vote by proxy via the Internet by following the instructions provided on the enclosed Proxy Card.

 

By Mail. You may vote by proxy by filling out the vote instruction form and returning it in the pre-addressed, postage-paid envelope provided.

 

In Person. If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name and you wish to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain a legal proxy from the organization that holds your shares. You must bring valid photo identification such as your driver’s license or passport.

 

What are abstentions and broker non-votes?

 

While the inspector of elections will treat shares represented by proxies that reflect abstentions or include “broker non-votes” as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum, abstentions or “broker non-votes” do not constitute a vote “for” or “against” any matter and thus will be disregarded in any calculation of “votes cast.” However, abstentions and “broker non-votes” will have the effect of a negative vote if an item requires the approval of a majority of a quorum or of a specified proportion of all issued and outstanding shares.

 

Brokers holding shares of record for customers generally are not entitled to vote on “non-routine” matters, unless they receive voting instructions from their customers ( see What happens if I do not give specific voting instructions) . As used herein, “uninstructed shares” means shares held by a broker who has not received voting instructions from its customers on a proposal. A “broker non-vote” occurs when a nominee holding uninstructed shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that non-routine matter.

 

What happens if I do not give specific voting instructions?

 

Stockholders of Record. If you are a stockholder of record and you:

 

indicate when voting on the Internet that you wish to vote as recommended by the Board of Directors, or

 

sign and return a proxy card without giving specific voting instructions, then the proxy holders will vote your shares in the manner recommended by the Board of Directors on all matters presented in this Proxy Statement and as the proxy holders may determine in their discretion with respect to any other matters properly presented for a vote at the Annual Meeting.

 

Beneficial Owners of Shares Held in Street Name. If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name and do not provide the organization that holds your shares with specific voting instructions, under the rules of various national and regional securities exchanges, the organization that holds your shares may generally vote on routine matters, but not on non-routine matters. Under New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) rules, if your shares are held by a member organization, as that term is defined under NYSE rules, responsibility for making a final determination as to whether a specific proposal constitutes a routine or non-routine matter rests with that organization, or third parties acting on its behalf.

 

What are the Board’s recommendations?

 

The Board’s recommendation is set forth together with the description of each item in this Proxy Statement. In summary, the Board recommends a vote:

 

  for election of the nine director nominees named in the Proxy Statement to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified;

 

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  for ratification of the appointment of RBSM LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019;
     
  to approve the 2019 Incentive Plan and to authorize 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance thereunder;
     
  to approve , on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers; and
     
  to recommend , on an advisory basis, a three-year frequency with which the Company should conduct future stockholder advisory votes on named executive officer compensation

  

With respect to any other matter that properly comes before the Annual Meeting, the proxy holders will vote as recommended by the Board of Directors or, if no recommendation is given, in their own discretion.

 

How are proxy materials delivered to households?

 

Only one copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018 and this Proxy Statement will be delivered to an address where two or more stockholders reside with the same last name or who otherwise reasonably appear to be members of the same family based on the stockholders’ prior express or implied consent.

 

We will deliver promptly upon written or oral request a separate copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018 and this Proxy Statement. If you share an address with at least one other stockholder, currently receive one copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Proxy Statement at your residence, and would like to receive a separate copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Proxy Statement for future stockholder meetings of the Company, please specify such request in writing and send such written request to Avalon GloboCare Corp., 4400 Route 9 South, Suite 3100, Freehold, New Jersey 07728; Attention: Chief Financial Officer.

 

If you want to receive separate copies of the Notice of Internet Availability, proxy statement and annual report in the future, or if you are receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy for your household, you should contact your bank, broker or other nominee record holder, or you may contact us at the above address and telephone number.

 

Interest of Officers and Directors in matters to be acted upon

 

Except for the election to our Board of the nine nominees and Proposals 3 and 4, to the extent such proposals are on a non-binding advisory basis, as set forth herein, none of our officers or directors has any interest in any of the matters to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting.

 

How much stock is owned by 5% stockholders, directors, and executive officers?

 

The following table sets forth the number of shares known to be beneficially owned by all persons who own at least 5% of Avalon’s outstanding common stock, the Company’s directors, the Company’s executive officers, and the directors and executive officers as a group as of June 10, 2019, unless otherwise noted. Unless otherwise indicated, the stockholders listed in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares indicated.

 

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Name of Beneficial Owner (1)   Common Stock
Beneficially Owned
    Percentage of
Common Stock (2)
 
       
Wenzhao (Daniel) Lu* (3)     28,936,000       37.9 %
David Jin* (4)     15,550,000       20.4 %
Meng Li* (5)     5,270,000       6.9 %
Luisa Ingargiola* (6)     1,722,222       2.3 %
Yancen Lu* (7)     5,207,500       6.8 %
Steven A. Sanders* (8)     57,500       **  
Wilbert J. Tauzin II* (9)     120,000       **  
William B. Stilley III* (10)     57,500       **  
Tevi Troy* (11)     57,500       **  
Yue (Charles) Li* (12)     20,000       **  
All officers and directors as a group (10 persons)     56,962,222       74.8 %

  

* Officer and/or director of our company.
** Less than 1.0%.

 

(1) Except as otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner is c/o Avalon GloboCare Corp., 4400 Route 9 South, Suite 3100, Freehold, New Jersey 07728.
(2) Applicable percentage ownership is based on 75,655,639 shares of common stock outstanding as of June 10, 2019, together with securities exercisable or convertible into shares of common stock within 60 days of June 10, 2019 for each stockholder. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Shares of common stock that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of June 10, 2019 are deemed to be beneficially owned by the person holding such securities for the purpose of computing the percentage of ownership of such person, but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
(3) Wenzhao “Daniel” Lu holds (i) 25,936,000 shares of common stock directly and 2,000,000 shares of common stock indirectly through WLM Limited and (ii) 1,000,000 options, of which 750,000 shares have vested and an additional 250,000 shares shall vest within 60 days.
(4) David Jin holds (i) 15,450,000 shares of common stock and (ii) 100,000 options, of which 75,000 shares have vested and an additional 25,000 shares shall vest within 60 days.
(5) Meng Li holds (i) 5,150,000 shares of common stock and (ii) 120,000 options, of which 85,000 shares have vested and an additional 35,000 shares shall vest within 60 days.
(6) Represents stock option to acquire 1,722,222 shares of common stock of our company, which included 111,111 shares to be vested within 60 days.
(7) Yancen Lu holds (i) 5,000,000 shares of common stock and (ii) 207,500 options, of which 170,000 shares have vested and an additional 37,500 shares shall vest within 60 days.
(8) Represents stock option to acquire 57,500 shares of common stock of our company, which included 12,500 shares to be vested within 60 days.
(9) Represents stock option to acquire 120,000 shares of common stock of our company, which included 10,000 shares to be vested within 60 days.
(10) Represents stock option to acquire 57,500 shares of common stock of our, which included 12,500 shares to be vested within 60 days.
(11) Represents stock option to acquire 57,500 shares of common stock of our, which included 12,500 shares to be vested within 60 days.
(12) Represents stock option to acquire 20,000 shares of common stock of our, which included 10,000 shares to be vested within 60 days.

 

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

The Board of Directors oversees our business and affairs and monitors the performance of management. In accordance with corporate governance principles, the Board does not involve itself in day-to-day operations. The directors keep themselves informed through discussions with the Chief Executive Officer and other key executives, visits to the Company’s facilities, by reading the reports and other materials that we send them and by participating in Board and committee meetings. Each director’s term will continue until the election and qualification of his or her successor, or his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. Biographical information about our directors is provided in “Proposal No. 1 — Proposal for the Election of Nine Directors” on page 22. Except as set forth in this Proxy Statement, none of our directors held directorships in other reporting companies or registered investment companies at any time during the past five years. Our Board currently consists of nine persons, all of whom have been nominated by the Company to stand for re-election.

 

Name   Age   Position
         
Wenzhao “Daniel” Lu   61   Chairman of the Board of Directors
         
David Jin, MD, PhD   51   Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
         
Meng Li   41   Chief Operating Officer, Secretary and Director
         
Steven A. Sanders   73   Director
         
Yancen Lu   45   Director
         
Wilbert J. Tauzin II   74   Director
         
William B. Stilley, III   50   Director
         
Tevi Troy   51   Director
         

Yue “Charles” Li

 

45

 

 Director

 

Board Composition

 

Our business and affairs are organized under the direction of our board of directors, which currently consists of nine members. The primary responsibility of our board of directors is to provide oversight, strategic guidance, counseling, and direction to our management team. Our board of directors meets on a regular basis and additionally as required.

 

A majority of the authorized number of directors constitutes a quorum of the Board of Directors for the transaction of business. The directors must be present at the meeting to constitute a quorum. However, any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors individually or collectively consent in writing to the action.

 

Director Independence

 

Our board of directors currently consists of nine (9) members. Our board of directors has determined that Yancen Lu, William B. Stilley, III, Steven A. Sanders, Tevi Troy and Yue “Charles” Li, qualify as independent directors in accordance with the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) listing requirements. Mr. Wenzhao “Daniel” Lu, Dr. David Jin Mr. Wilbert J. Tauzin II and Ms. Meng Li are not considered independent. Nasdaq’s independence definition includes a series of objective tests, such as that the director is not, and has not been for at least three (3) years, one of our employees and that neither the director nor any of his or her family members has engaged in various types of business dealings with us. In addition, as required by Nasdaq rules, our board of directors has made a subjective determination as to each independent director that no relationships exist that, in the opinion of our board of directors, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In making these determinations, our board of directors reviewed and discussed information provided by the directors and us with regard to each director’s business and personal activities and relationships as they may relate to us and our management. There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.

 

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As required under Nasdaq rules and regulations, our independent directors meet in regularly scheduled executive sessions at which only independent directors are present.

 

Family Relationships

 

There are no family relationships among our directors or executive officers.

 

Board Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight

 

Our Board of Directors, or the Board, is primarily responsible for overseeing our risk management processes on behalf of our company. The Board receives and reviews periodic reports from management, auditors, legal counsel, and others, as considered appropriate regarding our company’s assessment of risks. In addition, the Board focuses on the most significant risks facing our company and our company’s general risk management strategy, and also ensures that risks undertaken by our company are consistent with the board’s appetite for risk. While the Board oversees our company’s risk management, management is responsible for day-to-day risk management processes. We believe this division of responsibilities is the most effective approach for addressing the risks facing our company and that our board leadership structure supports this approach.

  

Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

 

To our knowledge, our directors and executive officers have not been involved in any of the following events during the past ten years:

 

any bankruptcy petition filed by or against such person or any business of which such person was a general partner or executive officer either at the time of the bankruptcy or within two years prior to that time;

 

any conviction in a criminal proceeding or being subject to a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses);

 

being subject to any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining him from or otherwise limiting his involvement in any type of business, securities or banking activities or to be associated with any person practicing in banking or securities activities;

 

being found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action, the SEC or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated a Federal or state securities or commodities law, and the judgment has not been reversed, suspended, or vacated;

 

being subject of, or a party to, any Federal or state judicial or administrative order, judgment decree, or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to an alleged violation of any Federal or state securities or commodities law or regulation, any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies, or any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity; or

 

being subject of or party to any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated, of any self-regulatory organization, any registered entity or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority over its members or persons associated with a member.

 

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Board Committees

 

Establishment of Board Committees and Adoption of Charters

 

In November 2018, the Company established a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, a Compensation Committee and an Audit Committee (collectively, the “Committees”) and approved and adopted charters to govern each of the Committees. 

 

In connection with the establishment of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, Compensation Committee and Audit Committee, the Board of Directors of the Company appointed members to each such committee. Currently, all three committees are comprised of at least three (3) directors meeting the requirements set forth in each applicable charter. The membership of these three standing committees of the Board of Directors of the Company is as follows: 

 

Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee
  Compensation Committee   Audit Committee
Steven Sanders (Chairman)   Yancen Lu (Chairman)   William Stilley (Chairman)
Tevi Troy   Steven Sanders   Yancen Lu
William Stilley   Tevi Troy   Steve Sanders

 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

 

Our board of directors has determined that each of the members of the Nominating and Governance Committee (the “Governance Committee”) are “independent directors” as defined by Nasdaq. The Governance Committee generally responsible for recommending to our full board of directors’ policies, procedures, and practices designed to help ensure that our corporate governance policies, procedures, and practices continue to assist the board of directors and our management in effectively and efficiently promoting the best interests of our stockholders. The Governance Committee is also responsible for selecting and recommending for approval by our board of directors and our stockholders a slate of director nominees for election at each of our annual meetings of stockholders, and otherwise for determining the board committee members and chairmen, subject to board of directors ratification, as well as recommending to the board director nominees to fill vacancies or new positions on the board of directors or its committees that may occur or be created from time to time, all in accordance with our bylaws and applicable law. The Governance Committee’s principal functions include:

 

  developing and maintaining our corporate governance policy guidelines;

 

  developing and maintaining our codes of conduct and ethics;

 

  overseeing the interpretation and enforcement of our Code of Conduct and our Code of Ethics for Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial and Accounting Officers;

 

  evaluating the performance of our board of directors, its committees, and committee chairmen and our directors; and

 

  selecting and recommending a slate of director nominees for election at each of our annual meetings of the stockholders and recommending to the board director nominees to fill vacancies or new positions on the board of directors or its committees that may occur from time to time.

  

During 2018, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee did not meet as this was a newly formed committee. The Governance Committee is governed by a written charter approved by our board of directors. A copy of the Governance Committee’s charter is posted on the Company’s website at www.avalon-globocare.com  in the “Investors” section of the website. In identifying potential independent board of directors’ candidates with significant senior-level professional experience, the Governance Committee solicits candidates from the board of directors, senior management and others and may engage a search firm in the process. The Governance Committee reviews and narrows the list of candidates and interviews potential nominees. The final candidate is also introduced and interviewed by the board of directors and the lead director if one has been appointed. In general, in considering whether to recommend any particular candidate for inclusion in our board of directors’ slate of recommended director nominees, the Governance Committee will apply the criteria set forth in our corporate governance guidelines. These criteria include the candidate’s integrity, business acumen, commitment to understanding our business and industry, experience, conflicts of interest and the ability to act in the interests of our stockholders. Further, specific consideration is given to, among other things, diversity of background and experience that a candidate would bring to our board of directors. The Governance Committee does not assign specific weights to particular criteria and no particular criterion is a prerequisite for each prospective nominee. We believe that the backgrounds and qualifications of our directors, considered as a group, should provide a composite mix of experience, knowledge and abilities that will allow our board of directors to fulfill its responsibilities. Stockholders may recommend individuals to the Governance Committee for consideration as potential director candidates by submitting their names, together with appropriate biographical information and background materials to our Governance Committee. Assuming that appropriate biographical and background material has been provided on a timely basis, the Governance Committee will evaluate stockholder recommended candidates by following substantially the same process, and applying substantially the same criteria, as it follows for candidates submitted by others.

  

9

 

Audit Committee

 

We have a separately-designated standing Audit Committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Our board of directors has determined that the members are all “independent directors” as defined by the rules of Nasdaq applicable to members of an audit committee and Rule 10A-3(b)(i) under the Exchange Act. In addition, Mr. Stilley is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K and demonstrates “financial sophistication” as defined by the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. The Audit Committee is appointed by our board of directors to assist our board of directors in monitoring (1) the integrity of our financial statements, (2) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and (3) the independence and performance of our internal and external auditors. The Audit Committee’s principal functions include:

 

  reviewing our annual audited financial statements with management and our independent auditors, including major issues regarding accounting and auditing principles and practices and financial reporting that could significantly affect our financial statements;
     
  reviewing our quarterly financial statements with management and our independent auditor prior to the filing of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, including the results of the independent auditors’ reviews of the quarterly financial statements;
     
  recommending to the board of directors the appointment of, and continued evaluation of the performance of, our independent auditor;
     
  approving the fees to be paid to our independent auditor for audit services and approving the retention of our independent auditor for non-audit services and all fees for such services;
     
  reviewing periodic reports from our independent auditor regarding our auditor’s independence, including discussion of such reports with the auditor;
     
  reviewing the adequacy of our overall control environment, including internal financial controls and disclosure controls and procedures; and
     
  reviewing with our management and legal counsel legal matters that may have a material impact on our financial statements or our compliance policies and any material reports or inquiries received from regulators or governmental agencies.

 

During 2018, the audit committee met two times. A copy of the Audit Committee’s charter is posted on the Company’s website at www.avalon-globocare.com   in the “Investors” section of the website.

 

Meetings may be held from time to time to consider matters for which approval of our Board of Directors is desirable or is required by law.

 

10

 

Compensation Committee

 

Our compensation committee consists of Yancen Lu, Steven Sanders and Tevi Troy. Our board of directors has determined that each of the members are an “independent director” as defined by the Nasdaq rules applicable to members of a compensation committee. The Compensation Committee is responsible for establishing the compensation of our senior management, including salaries, bonuses, termination arrangements, and other executive officer benefits as well as director compensation. The Compensation Committee also administers our equity incentive plans. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Compensation Committee met one time. The Compensation Committee is governed by a written charter approved by the board of directors. A copy of the Compensation Committee’s charter is posted on the Company’s website at www.avalon-globocare.com  in the “Investors” section of the website. The Compensation Committee works with the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and reviews and approves compensation decisions regarding senior management including compensation levels and equity incentive awards. The Compensation Committee also approves employment and compensation agreements with our key personnel and directors. The Compensation Committee has the power and authority to conduct or authorize studies, retain independent consultants, accountants or others, and obtain unrestricted access to management, our internal auditors, human resources and accounting employees and all information relevant to its responsibilities.

  

The responsibilities of the Compensation Committee, as stated in its charter, include the following:

 

  review and approve the Company’s compensation guidelines and structure;
     
  review and approve on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives with respect to compensation for the Chief Executive Officer;

  

  review and approve on an annual basis the evaluation process and compensation structure for the Company’s other officers, including salary, bonus, incentive and equity compensation; and
     
  periodically review and make recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the compensation of non-management directors.

 

The Compensation Committee is responsible for developing the executive compensation philosophy and reviewing and recommending to the Board of Directors for approval all compensation policies and compensation programs for the executive team.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

None of our executive officers currently serves, or in the past year has served, as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers on our board of directors or compensation committee.

 

Code of Ethics

 

We have a code of ethics that applies to all of our employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, and the Board. A copy of this code is available in our employee handbook and under the “About Us – Code of Conduct” section of our website at www.avalon-globocare.com. In addition, we intend to post on our website all disclosures that are required by law or the listing standards of our applicable trading market concerning any amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of the code. The reference to our website address does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained at or available through our website, and you should not consider it to be a part of this report.

 

Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

Our directors and executive officers are indemnified as provided by the Delaware law and our Bylaws. These provisions state that our directors may cause us to indemnify a director or former director against all costs, charges and expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment, actually and reasonably incurred by him or her as a result of him or her acting as a director. The indemnification of costs can include an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment. Such indemnification is at the discretion of our board of directors and is subject to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s policy regarding indemnification.

 

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Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise. We have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

 

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

 

The following table sets forth compensation information for our directors for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

Name   Fees
Earned or
Paid in
Cash 
$
    Stock
Awards 
$
    Option
Awards 
$
    Non-equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
$
    Change in Pension
Value and Non-
Qualified Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
    All Other
Compensation
$
    Total
$
 
Steven Sukel (1)     -       -       72,283       -       -       -       72,283  
Yancen Lu (2)     -       -       96,378       -       -       -       96,378  
Wilbert Tauzin (3)     -       -       236,346       -       -       -       236,346  
Wenzhao Lu     -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
David Jin     -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Meng Li (4)     -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Steven Sanders (5)     10,000       -       54,009       -       -       -       64,009  
Tevi Troy (6)     10,000       -       48,388       -       -       -       58,388  
William Stilley (7)     15,000       -       55,379       -       -       -       70,379  

 

(1) Mr. Sukel’s 2018 compensation consisted of 30,000 options vested and valued at $72,283. Mr. Sukel was our director from April 28, 2017 to July 30, 2018.
(2) Mr. Lu’s 2018 compensation consisted of 40,000 options vested and valued at $96,378. Mr. Lu has been our director since April 28, 2017.
(3) Mr. Tauzin’s 2018 compensation consisted of 80,000 options vested and valued at $236,346. Mr. Tauzin has been our director since November 1, 2017.
(4) Ms. Li was our director from October 10, 2016 to July 9, 2018.
(5) Mr. Sanders’s 2018 compensation consisted of cash of $10,000 and 20,000 options vested and valued at $54,009. Mr. Sanders has been our director since July 30, 2018.
(6) Mr. Troy’s 2018 compensation consisted of cash of $10,000 and 20,000 options vested and valued at $48,388. Mr. Troy has been our director since June 4, 2018
(7) Mr. Stilley’s 2018 compensation consisted of cash of $15,000 and 20,000 options vested and valued at $55,379. Mr. Stilley has been our director since July 5, 2018.

 

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

The Audit Committee, on behalf of our Board of Directors, serves as an independent and objective party to monitor and provide general oversight of the integrity of our consolidated financial statements, our independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and independence, the performance of our independent registered public accounting firm and our standards of business conduct. The Audit Committee performs these oversight responsibilities in accordance with its Audit Committee Charter.

 

Our management is responsible for preparing our consolidated financial statements and managing our financial reporting process. Our independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of our audited consolidated financial statements to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. The Audit Committee met with our independent registered public accounting firm, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations and the overall quality of our financial reporting.

 

12

 

In this context, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 with management and with our independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee has discussed with our independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by the statement on PCAOB AS 16 (Communications with Audit Committees), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T, which includes, among other items, matters related to the conduct of the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements.

 

The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding such independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm its independence from us and our management.

 

Based on its review of the audited financial statements and the various discussions noted above, the Audit Committee recommended to our Board of Directors that our audited consolidated financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

Respectfully submitted by the Audit Committee,

 

William Stilley (Chairman)

Yancen Lu

Steve Sanders

 

The foregoing Audit Committee Report does not constitute soliciting material and shall not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other filing of our Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act, except to the extent we specifically incorporate this Audit Committee Report by reference therein.

 

INFORMATION ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

The executive officers are appointed annually by our Board of Directors and hold office until their successors are elected and duly qualified unless otherwise specified in an individual’s employment agreement. There are no family relationships between any of our directors or executive officers. The current executive officers of the Company, and their ages as of June 10, 2019 are as follows:

 

Name   Age   Position
David Jin, MD, PHD   51   Chief Executive Officer and President
Meng Li   41   Chief Operating Officer and Secretary
Luisa Ingargiola   51   Chief Financial Officer

 

Biographical information regarding our executive officers as of June 10, 2019 is set forth below:

 

David Jin, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

 

Dr. David Jin, MD, PhD, is our Chief Executive Officer, President and a member of the Board of Directors. From 2009 to 2017, Dr. Jin has served as the Chief Medical Officer of BioTime, Inc. (NYSE American: BTX), a clinical stage regenerative medicine company with a focus on pluripotent stem cell technology. Dr. Jin also acts as a senior translational clinician-scientist at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Ansary Stem Cell Center at Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University. Prior to his current endeavors, Dr. Jin was Chief Consultant/Advisor for various biotech/pharmaceutical companies regarding hematology, oncology, immunotherapy and stem cell-based technology development. Dr. Jin has been Principle Investigator in more than 15 pre-clinical and clinical trials, as well as author/co-author of over 80 peer-reviewed scientific abstracts, articles, reviews, and book chapters. Dr. Jin studied medicine at SUNY Downstate College of Medicine in Brooklyn, New York. He received his clinical training and subsequent faculty tenure at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital (the teaching hospital for both Cornell and Columbia Universities) in the areas of internal medicine, hematology, and clinical oncology. Dr. Jin was honored as Top Chief Medical Officer by ExecRank in 2012, as well as recognized by Leading Physicians of the World in 2015. Dr. Jin is qualified to serve as a director because of his role with us, and his extensive operational knowledge of, and executive level management experience in, the healthcare industry.

 

13

 

Meng Li, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary

 

Ms. Meng Li is our Chief Operating Officer and Secretary and a member of the Board of Directors. Ms. Li has over 15 years of executive experience in international marketing, branding, communications, and media investment consultancy. Ms. Li served as Managing Director at Maxus/GroupM (a WPP Group company) where she was responsible for business P&L and corporate management from 2006 to 2015. Prior to joining Maxus/Group M, Ms. Li worked for Zenith Media (a Publicis Group company) from 2000 to 2006 as Senior Manager. Ms. Li received a Bachelor of Arts in International Economic Law from Dalian Maritime University in China.

  

Luisa Ingargiola, Chief Financial Officer

 

Luisa Ingargiola is our Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Ingargiola graduated in 1989 from Boston University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Finance. In 1996, she received her MBA in Health Administration from the University of South Florida. In 1990, Ms. Ingargiola joined Boston Capital Partners as an Investment Advisor in their Limited Partnership Division. In this capacity, she worked with investors and partners to report investment results, file tax forms, and recommend investments. In 1992, Ms. Ingargiola joined MetLife Insurance Company as a Budget and Expense Manager. In this capacity she managed a $30 million annual budget. Her responsibilities included budget implementation, expense and variance analysis and financial reporting. From 2007 through 2016, Ms. Ingargiola served as the Chief Financial Officer at MagneGas Corporation (Nasdaq: MNGA) and continues to serve as a director. Ms. Ingargiola serves as the Audit Committee Chair of several companies including FTE Networks, Inc. (NYSE American: FTNW) and Electrameccanica Vehicles Corp. (NASDAQ:SOLO)).

 

14

   

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Executive Officers’ Compensation

 

The following table sets forth information concerning the annual and long-term compensation earned by or paid to our Chief Executive Officer and to other persons who served as executive officers as at and/or during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 or who earned compensation exceeding $100,000 during fiscal year 2018 (the “named executive officers”), for services as executive officers for the last two fiscal years.

  

Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and Principal   Fiscal   Salary     Stock Award     Option Awards     Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation     Change in Pension Value and Non- Qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings     All Other Compensation     Total  
Position   Year   ($)     ($)     ($)     ($)     ($)     ($)     ($)  
Dr. David Jin   2018   400,000     -     -             -           -            -     400,000  
CEO   2017     200,000       -       -       -       -       -       200,000  
Luisa Ingargiola   2018     450,000       -       833,333       -       -       -       1,283,333  
CFO   2017     195,855       -       763,889       -       -       -       959,744  
Meng Li   2018     200,000       -       -       -       -       -       200,000  
COO and Secretary   2017     100,000       -       -       -       -       -       100,000  
Dr. Yu Zhou   2018     182,356       -       -       -       -       -       182,356  
Co-CEO of GenExosome   2017     22,356       -       -       -       -       -       22,356  

 

Employment Agreements

 

David Jin

 

On December 1, 2016, the Company entered into an Executive Employment Agreement with David Jin, the Company’s CEO and President. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Jin will be employed as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company until November 30, 2017 unless earlier terminated pursuant to the terms of the agreement. During the term of the agreement, Mr. Jin will be entitled to a base salary at the annualized rate of $200,000 and will be eligible for a discretionary performance bonus, equity awards and to participate in employee benefits plans as the Company may institute from time to time at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Jin may be terminated for “cause” as defined and Mr. Jin may resign for “good reason” as defined. In the event Mr. Jin is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason, the Company will be required to pay Mr. Jin all accrued salary and bonuses, reimbursement for all business expenses and Mr. Jin’s salary for one year. In the event Mr. Jin is terminated with cause, resigns without good reason, dies or is disabled, the Company will be required to pay Mr. Jin all accrued salary and bonuses and reimbursement for all business expenses. Under the agreement Mr. Jin is subject to confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicitation restrictions.

 

On January 3, 2019, the Company entered into a Letter Agreement with Dr. Jin, pursuant to which his annual base salary set forth in his employment agreement was increased to $360,000 effective January 1, 2019. Further, the Company agreed to grant Dr. Jin stock options to acquire 150,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $2.00 per share.

 

15

 

Meng Li

 

On January 11, 2017, Avalon Shanghai entered into an Executive Employment Agreement with Meng Li, the Company’s COO and Secretary. Pursuant to the agreement, Ms. Li will be employed as Chief Operating Officer and President of Avalon Shanghai through November 30, 2019, unless earlier terminated pursuant to the terms of the agreement. During the term of the agreement, Ms. Li will be entitled to a base salary at the annualized rate of $100,000 and will be eligible for a discretionary performance bonus, equity awards and to participate in employee benefits plans as the Avalon Shanghai may institute from time to time at the discretion of its Board of Directors. Pursuant to the agreement, Ms. Li may be terminated for “cause” as defined and Ms. Li may resign for “good reason” as defined. In the event Ms. Li is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason, Avalon Shanghai will be required to pay Ms. Li all accrued salary and bonuses, reimbursement for all business expenses and Ms. Li’s salary for one year. In the event Ms. Li is terminated with cause, resigns without good reason, dies or is disabled, Avalon Shanghai will be required to pay Ms. Li all accrued salary and bonuses and reimbursement for all business expenses. Under the agreement Ms. Li is subject to confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicitation restrictions.

  

On January 3, 2019, the Company entered into a Letter Agreement with Ms. Li, pursuant to which her annual base salary set forth in her employment agreement was increased to $340,000 effective January 1, 2019. Further, the Company agreed to grant Ms. Li stock options to acquire 150,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $2.00 per share.

 

Luisa Ingargiola

 

On February 21, 2017, Ms. Ingargiola and the Company entered into an Executive Retention Agreement effective February 9, 2017 pursuant to which Ms. Ingargiola agreed to serve as Chief Financial Officer in consideration of an annual salary of $200,000 to be increased to $225,000 on the 60-day anniversary. The Company has agreed to provide a bonus of 50% of her base salary upon the Company timely filing its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the Company raising gross proceeds of $20 million in debt and/or equity capital and a bonus of 100% of her base salary upon the Company achieving (i) any merger or sale of the Company or its assets, (ii) the Company achieving adjusted EBITDA of $10 million in a fiscal year, (iii) the Company achieving a listing on a national exchange and then or subsequently raising gross proceeds in the amount of $10 million. The Company also granted Ms. Ingargiola a Stock Option to acquire two million shares of common stock of the Company at an exercise price of $0.50 per share for a period of ten years. The Stock Options vest in 36 equal tranches commencing on the grant date. The Company and Ms. Ingargiola also entered into an Indemnification Agreement.

 

The employment of Ms. Ingargiola is at will and may be terminated at any time, with or without formal cause. Pursuant to the terms of executive retention agreement with Ms. Ingargiola, the Company has agreed to provide specified severance and bonus amounts and to accelerate the vesting on their equity awards upon termination upon a change of control or an involuntary termination, as each term is defined in the agreements.

 

In the event of a termination upon a change of control, Ms. Ingargiola is entitled to receive an amount equal to 12 months of her base salary and the target bonus then in effect for the executive officer for the year in which such termination occurs, such bonus payment to be pro-rated to reflect the full number of months the executive remained in the Company’s employ. In addition, the vesting on any stock option held by the executive officer will be accelerated in full. At the election of the executive officer, the Company will also continue to provide health related employee insurance coverage for twelve months, at the Company’s expense.

 

In the event of an involuntary termination, Ms. Ingargiola is entitled to receive an amount equal to six months of her base salary and the target bonus then in effect for the executive officer for the six months in which such termination occurs, such bonus payment to be pro-rated to reflect the full number of months the executive remained in the Company’s employ. Such payment will be increased to 12 months upon the one-year anniversary of the retention agreement. In addition, the vesting on any stock option held by the executive officer will be accelerated in full. At the election of the executive officer, the Company will also continue to provide health related employee insurance coverage for twelve months, at the Company’s expense.

 

16

 

On January 3, 2019, the Company entered into a Letter Agreement with Ms. Ingargiola, pursuant to which her annual base salary set forth in her employment agreement was increased to $350,000 effective January 1, 2019.

 

Yu Zhou

 

On October 25, 2017, Dr. Yu Zhou and GenExosome entered into an Executive Retention Agreement pursuant to which Dr. Zhou agreed to serve as Co-Chief Executive Officer in consideration of an annual salary of $160,000. Dr. Zhou and GenExosome also entered into an Invention Assignment, Confidentiality, Non-Compete and Non-Solicit Agreement.

 

Grants of Plan Based Awards

 

We did not grant any option to our Executive Officers in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.

   

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

 

There were no options exercised by our executive officers or stock vested to our executive officers during the year ended December 31, 2018.

  

Outstanding Equity Awards

 

The following table sets forth information with respect to the outstanding equity awards of our principal executive officers and principal financial officer during 2018, and each person who served as an executive officer of the Company as of December 31, 2018:

 

    Outstanding Equity Awards  
    Option Awards     Stock Awards  
Name and principal position   Number of securities underlying unexercised options
Exercisable
(#)
    Number of securities underlying unexercised options Unexercisable
(#)
    Equity incentive plan awards:
Number of securities underlying unexercised options
(#)
    Options exercise price
($)
    Option expiration Date     Number of shares or units of stock that have not vested
(#)
    Market value of shares or units of stock that have not vested
($)
    Equity incentive plan awards: Number of unearned shares other rights that have not vested
(#)
    Equity
incentive plan
awards:
Market or
payout value
of unearned
shares, units
or other
rights that
have not
vested
($)
 
Luisa Ingargiola   1,277,778     722,222     2,000,000     0.50       2/8/2027       -        -         -         -  
David Jin     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Meng Li     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Yu Zhou     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  

 

No Pension Benefits

 

The Company does not maintain any plan that provides for payments or other benefits to its executive officers at, following or in connection with retirement and including, without limitation, any tax-qualified defined benefit plans or supplemental executive retirement plans.

 

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No Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

 

The Company does not maintain any defined contribution or other plan that provides for the deferral of compensation on a basis that is not tax-qualified.

 

Director Compensation

 

Name   Fees Earned or Paid in Cash 
$
    Stock
Awards 
$
    Option Awards 
$
    Non-equity Incentive Plan Compensation
$
    Change in Pension Value and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings     All Other Compensation
$
    Total
$
 
Steven Sukel (1)     -           -       72,283            -            -           -       72,283  
Yancen Lu (2)     -       -       96,378       -       -       -       96,378  
Wilbert Tauzin (3)     -       -       236,346       -       -       -       236,346  
Wenzhao Lu     -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
David Jin     -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Meng Li (4)     -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Steven Sanders (5)     10,000       -       54,009       -       -       -       64,009  
Tevi Troy (6)     10,000       -       48,388       -       -       -       58,388  
William Stilley (7)     15,000       -       55,379       -       -       -       70,379  

 

(1) Mr. Sukel’s 2018 compensation consisted of 30,000 options vested and valued at $72,283. Mr. Sukel was our director from April 28, 2017 to July 30, 2018.
(2) Mr. Lu’s 2018 compensation consisted of 40,000 options vested and valued at $96,378. Mr. Lu has been our director since April 28, 2017.
(3) Mr. Tauzin’s 2018 compensation consisted of 80,000 options vested and valued at $236,346. Mr. Tauzin has been our director since November 1, 2017.
(4) Ms. Li was our director from October 10, 2016 to July 9, 2018.
(5) Mr. Sanders’s 2018 compensation consisted of cash of $10,000 and 20,000 options vested and valued at $54,009. Mr. Sanders has been our director since July 30, 2018.
(6) Mr. Troy’s 2018 compensation consisted of cash of $10,000 and 20,000 options vested and valued at $48,388. Mr. Troy has been our director since June 4, 2018
(7) Mr. Stilley’s 2018 compensation consisted of cash of $15,000 and 20,000 options vested and valued at $55,379. Mr. Stilley has been our director since July 5, 2018.

 

18

 

ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN AT THE MEETING

 

PROPOSAL NO. 1

 

PROPOSAL FOR ELECTION OF NINE DIRECTORS

 

At this year’s Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors proposes that the nominees listed below be elected to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. All of the nominees are currently serving as directors. All nominees have consented to being named in this Proxy Statement and to serve if elected.

 

Assuming a quorum is present, the nine nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes of shares entitled to be voted for such persons will be elected as directors of the Company to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Unless marked otherwise, proxies received will be voted “FOR” the election of the nominees named below. In the event that additional persons are nominated for election as directors, the proxy holders intend to vote all proxies received by them in such a manner as will ensure the election of the nominees listed below, and, in such event, the specific nominees to be voted for will be determined by the proxy holders.

 

Information With Respect to Director Nominees

 

Listed below are the nominees for election to our Board with information showing the principal occupation or employment of the nominees for director, the principal business of the corporation or other organization in which such occupation or employment is carried on, and such nominees’ business experience during the past five years. Such information has been furnished to the Company by the director nominees.

 

Name   Age   Position
         
Wenzhao “Daniel” Lu   61   Chairman of the Board of Directors
         
David Jin, MD, PhD   51   Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
         
Meng Li   41   Chief Operating Officer, Secretary and Director
         
Steven A. Sanders   72   Director
         
Yancen Lu   45   Director
         
Wilbert J. Tauzin II   74   Director
         
William B. Stilley, III   50   Director
         
Tevi Troy   51   Director
         
Yue “Charles” Li   45   Director

 

Officers are elected annually by the Board of Directors (subject to the terms of any employment agreement), at our annual meeting, to hold such officer until an officer’s successor has been duly appointed and qualified, unless an officer sooner dies, resigns or is removed by the Board.

 

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The principal occupation and business experience during at least the past five years for our executive officers and directors is as follows:

 

Wenzhao “Daniel” Lu, Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

Mr. Wenzhao “Daniel” Lu is our Chairman of the Board. He is a seasoned healthcare entrepreneur with extensive operational knowledge and experience in China. He has been serving as Chairman of the Board for the Daopei Medical Group, or DPMG, since 2010. Under his leadership, DPMG has recently expanded its clinical network involving a state-of-the-art stem cell bank at Wuhan Biolake, three top-ranked private hospitals (located in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hebei), specialty hematology laboratories, as well as a hematology research institute, with more than 100 partnering and collaborating hospitals in China. DPMG was founded by Professor Daopei Lu, a renowned hematologist pioneering in hematopoietic stem cell transplant and member of the Academy of Engineering in China. Mr. Wenzhao “Daniel” Lu received a Bachelor of Arts from Temple University Tyler School of Arts in 1988 and subsequently worked as senior Art Director at Ogilvy & Mather Advertising Company. Prior to joining DPMG, Mr. Lu served as Chief Operating Officer for BioTime Asia Limited, which is a subsidiary of BioTime, Inc. (NYSE American: BTX) in 2009. Mr. Lu is qualified to serve as a director because of his extensive operational knowledge of, and executive level management experience in, the healthcare industry.

 

David Jin, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

 

Dr. David Jin, MD, PhD, is our Chief Executive Officer, President and a member of the Board of Directors. From 2009 to 2017, Dr. Jin has served as the Chief Medical Officer of BioTime, Inc. (NYSE American: BTX), a clinical stage regenerative medicine company with a focus on pluripotent stem cell technology. Dr. Jin also acts as a senior translational clinician-scientist at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Ansary Stem Cell Center at Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University. Prior to his current endeavors, Dr. Jin was Chief Consultant/Advisor for various biotech/pharmaceutical companies regarding hematology, oncology, immunotherapy and stem cell-based technology development. Dr. Jin has been Principle Investigator in more than 15 pre-clinical and clinical trials, as well as author/co-author of over 80 peer-reviewed scientific abstracts, articles, reviews, and book chapters. Dr. Jin studied medicine at SUNY Downstate College of Medicine in Brooklyn, New York. He received his clinical training and subsequent faculty tenure at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital (the teaching hospital for both Cornell and Columbia Universities) in the areas of internal medicine, hematology, and clinical oncology. Dr. Jin was honored as Top Chief Medical Officer by ExecRank in 2012, as well as recognized by Leading Physicians of the World in 2015. Dr. Jin is qualified to serve as a director because of his role with us, and his extensive operational knowledge of, and executive level management experience in, the healthcare industry.

 

Meng Li, Chief Operating Officer, Secretary and Director

 

Ms. Meng Li is our Chief Operating Officer, Secretary and a Director. Ms. Li has over 15 years of executive experience in international marketing, branding, communications, and media investment consultancy. Ms. Li served as Managing Director at Maxus/GroupM (a WPP Group company) where she was responsible for business P&L and corporate management from 2006 to 2015. Prior to joining Maxus/Group M, Ms. Li worked for Zenith Media (a Publicis Group company) from 2000 to 2006 as Senior Manager. Ms. Li received a Bachelor of Arts in International Economic Law from Dalian Maritime University in China.

  

Luisa Ingargiola, Chief Financial Officer

 

Luisa Ingargiola is our Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Ingargiola graduated in 1989 from Boston University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Finance. In 1996, she received her MBA in Health Administration from the University of South Florida. In 1990, Ms. Ingargiola joined Boston Capital Partners as an Investment Advisor in their Limited Partnership Division. In this capacity, she worked with investors and partners to report investment results, file tax forms, and recommend investments. In 1992, Ms. Ingargiola joined MetLife Insurance Company as a Budget and Expense Manager. In this capacity she managed a $30 million annual budget. Her responsibilities included budget implementation, expense and variance analysis and financial reporting. From 2007 through 2016, Ms. Ingargiola served as the Chief Financial Officer at MagneGas Corporation (Nasdaq: MNGA) and continues to serve as a director. Ms. Ingargiola serves as the Audit Committee Chair of several companies including FTE Networks, Inc. (NYSE American: FTNW) and Electrameccanica Vehicles Corp. (NASDAQ:SOLO)).

  

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Steven A. Sanders, Director

 

Steven A. Sanders is a member of the Board of Directors. Since January 2017, Mr. Sanders has been Of Counsel to the law firm of Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP. From July 2007 until January 2017, Mr. Sanders was a Senior Partner of Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP. From January 1, 2004 until June 30, 2007, he was Of Counsel to the law firm of Rubin, Bailin, Ortoli, LLP. From January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2003, he was Counsel to the law firm of Spitzer & Feldman PC. Mr. Sanders also serves as a Director of Helijet International, Inc. and Electrameccanica Vehicles Corp. (Nasdaq: SOLO). Additionally, he has been a director at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts since October 2013 and has been a director of the Bay Street Theater since February 2015. Mr. Sanders received his JD from Cornell University and his BBA from The City College of New York. Mr. Sanders is qualified to serve as a director because of his corporate, securities and international law experience, including working with companies in the life sciences industry.

 

Yancen Lu, Director

 

Yancen Lu is a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Lu has more than 19 years of experience in investment banking and equity investment management. He is Managing Director of FountainVest Partners. In addition to his professionalism in securities, investment and capital management, Mr. Lu has a special focus and comprehensive understanding of the global medical and healthcare industry. He is Director of leading healthcare corporations including Sino Hospital Investment Corporation (Hong Kong), Chang’an Hospital (the largest private hospital in Northwest China), and DIH Medical Technologies. Mr. Lu received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Engineering Economics from Tianjin University. Mr. Lu is qualified to serve as a director because of his extensive operational knowledge of, and executive level management experience in, the healthcare industry.

    

Wilbert J. Tauzin II, Director

 

Wilbert J. Tauzin II is a member of the Board of Directors. From December 2010 until March 1, 2014, Congressman Tauzin served as Special Legislative Counsel to Alston & Bird LLP. From December 2004 to June 2010, Congressman Tauzin was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a trade group that serves as one of the pharmaceutical industry’s top lobbying groups. He served 13 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Louisiana’s 3rd Congressional District since being first sworn in in 1980. From January 2001 through February 2004, Congressman Tauzin served as Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. He also served as a senior member of the House Resources Committee and Deputy Majority Whip. Prior to serving as a member of Congress, Congressman Tauzin was a member of the Louisiana State Legislature, where he served as Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee and Chief Administration Floor Leader. He currently serves as a director of Entergy Corporation and LHC Group, Inc., publicly-traded companies, and Lenitiv Scientific, LLC and Resilient Network Systems, LLC, both privately-held companies. Congressman Tauzin received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Nicholls State University and a Juris Doctor degree from Louisiana State University. Congressman Tauzin is qualified to serve as a director because of his extensive knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry and his experience as a director of several publicly-traded and privately-held companies.

 

William B. Stilley, III, Director

 

William B. Stilley is a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Stilley has been the chief executive officer Adial Pharmaceuticals, Inc. since December 2010, the secretary and treasurer of Adial Pharmaceuticals, Inc. since April 2012 and a member of the board of directors of Adial Pharmaceuticals, Inc. since April 2011. From August 2008 until December 2010, he was the vice president, business development and strategic projects at Clinical Data, Inc. (NASDQ: CLDA). From February 2002, Mr. Stilley was the COO and CFO of Adenosine Therapeutics, LLC until certain assets of Adenosine Therapeutics were acquired by Clinical Data, Inc. in August 2008. Mr. Stilley has served as an advisor of Adenosine Therapeutics, LLC since the sale of its assets to Clinical Data, Inc. and its subsequent acquisition of new assets. Mr. Stilley has advised both public and private companies on financing and M&A transactions, has been the interim CFO of a public company, the interim Chief Business Officer of Diffusion Pharmaceuticals from September 2015 through December 2015, and the COO and CFO of a number of private companies. Before entering the business community, Mr. Stilley served as Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. Mr. Stilley has an MBA with honors from the Darden School of Business and a B.S. in Commerce/Marketing from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia. Mr. Stilley is qualified to serve as a director because of his extensive knowledge of the biotechnology industry, significant executive leadership and operational experience, and knowledge of, and experience in, financing and M&A transactions.

 

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Tevi Troy, Director

 

Tevi Troy is a member of the Board of Directors. Since February 2018, Dr. Troy has served as Vice President of Public Policy for Juul Labs. From 2014 to 2018, Dr. Troy was the founder and CEO of the American Health Policy Institute. Before that, Dr. Troy was Senior Fellow at Hudson Institute, where he remains an Adjunct Fellow. He has also been a Researcher at the American Enterprise Institute. On August 3, 2007, Dr. Troy was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. As Deputy Secretary, Dr. Troy was the chief operating officer of the largest civilian department in the federal government, with a budget of $716 billion and over 67,000 employees. Dr. Troy has extensive White House experience, having served in several high-level positions over a five-year period, culminating in his service as Deputy Assistant and then Acting Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy. Dr. Troy has held high-level positions on Capitol Hill as well. From 1998 to 2000, Dr. Troy served as the Policy Director for Senator John Ashcroft. From 1996 to 1998, Dr. Troy was Senior Domestic Policy Adviser and later Domestic Policy Director for the House Policy Committee, chaired by Christopher Cox. In addition to his senior level government work and health care expertise, Dr. Troy is also a presidential historian, making him one of only a handful of historians who has both studied the White House as a historian and worked there at the highest levels. Dr. Troy’s many other affiliations include: contributing editor for Washingtonian magazine; member of the publication committee of National Affairs; member of the Board of Fellows of the Jewish Policy Center; a Senior Fellow at the Potomac Institute; and a member of the Blue Ribbon Study Panel examining the United States’ readiness to address bioterrorism and naturally occurring outbreaks. In 2012, he was a Special Policy Adviser to the Mitt Romney presidential campaign and served as Director of Domestic Policy for the nascent Romney transition. Dr. Troy has a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University and an M.A and Ph.D. in American Civilization from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Troy is qualified to serve as a director because of his extensive knowledge of the healthcare industry and his significant leadership experience.

 

Yue “Charles” Li

 

Yue “Charles” Li has over 20 years of experience in the areas of M&A and Capital Markets in China. In June 2018, Mr. Li founded and currently serves as a Managing Director of Puget SoundVest, a private equity firm in China focused on long term investments in healthcare sector. From February 2008 through March 2018, Mr. Li served in various roles with FountainVest Partners including Managing Director. Mr. Li received a Bachelor of Science in Management of Information System from Tianjin University and a MBA from Washington University.

 

Required Vote

 

The election of the directors of the Company requires the affirmative vote of a plurality of the shares of the Company’s common stock present in person or represented by Proxy at the Annual Meeting, which will be the nominees receiving the largest number of votes, which may or may not constitute a majority.

 

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RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD FOR PROPOSAL NO. 1:

 

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL THE NOMINEES DESCRIBED ABOVE.

 

PROPOSAL NO. 2

 

RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

 

The audit committee of our board of directors has appointed RBSM LLP (“RBSM”) as our independent registered public accounting firm to audit our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ending December 31, 2019 and 2018.

 

At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will be asked to ratify the appointment of RBSM as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2019. Stockholder ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm is not required by our bylaws or other applicable legal requirements. However, our board of directors submits the appointment of RBSM to our stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate governance. If this appointment is not ratified by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote, the appointment will be reconsidered by our audit committee. Even if the appointment is ratified, our audit committee, in its sole discretion, may appoint another independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019 if our audit committee believes that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. A representative of RBSM is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if he or she wishes to do so, and is expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.

 

Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm  

 

RBSM served as our independent auditors for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017. The following is a summary of the fees billed to the Company for professional services rendered for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

    December 31,
2018
    December 31,
2017
 
Audit Fees   $ 234,500     $ 155,500  
Audit Related Fees     -       101,000  
Tax Fees     15,000       15,500  
All Other Fees     -       -  
Totals   $ 249,500     $ 272,000  

 

AUDIT FEES. Consists of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements, review of the Form 10-K, and review of the interim consolidated financial statements included in quarterly reports, and services that are normally provided by our independent auditors in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements, including registration statements.

   

AUDIT-RELATED FEES. Consists of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit and or review of our consolidated financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees”, such as audits and reviews in connection with acquisitions.

 

TAX FEES. Consists of fees billed for professional services for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.

 

ALL OTHER FEES. Consists of fees for products and services other than the services reported above. There were no management consulting services provided in fiscal 2018 or 2017.

 

POLICY ON AUDIT COMMITTEE PRE-APPROVAL OF AUDIT AND PERMISSIBLE NON-AUDIT SERVICES OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

 

The current policy of the directors, acting as the audit committee, is to approve the appointment of the principal auditing firm and any permissible audit-related services. The audit and audit related fees include fees for the annual audit of the financial statements and review of financial statements included in 10Q filings. Fees charged by the auditor were approved by the Board with engagement letters signed by the audit committee chairman.

 

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The Audit Committee is responsible for the pre-approval of audit and permitted non-audit services to be performed by the Company’s independent auditor. The Audit Committee will, on an annual basis, consider and, if appropriate, approve the provision of audit and non-audit services by the auditor. Thereafter, the Audit Committee will, as necessary, consider and, if appropriate, approve the provision of additional audit and non-audit services by the auditor which are not encompassed by the Audit Committee’s annual pre-approval and are not prohibited by law. The Audit Committee has delegated to the Chair of the Audit Committee the authority to pre-approve, on a case-by-case basis, non-audit services to be performed by the auditor. The Audit Committee has approved all audit and permitted non-audit services performed by the auditor for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD FOR PROPOSAL NO. 2:

 

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF RBSM LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019.

 

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PROPOSAL NO. 3

 

APPROVAL OF THE AVALON GLOBOCARE INC. 2019 INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN AND THE RESERVATION OF 5,000,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK FOR ISSUANCE THEREUNDER

 

At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s stockholders are being asked to approve the 2019 Incentive Stock Plan (the “2019 Incentive Plan”) and to authorize 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance thereunder. The following is a summary of principal features of the 2019 Incentive Plan. The summary, however, does not purport to be a complete description of all the provisions of the 2019 Incentive Plan. Any stockholder of the Company who wishes to obtain a copy of the actual plan document may do so upon written request to the Company’s Secretary at the Company’s principal offices.

 

General

 

The 2019 Incentive Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has reserved 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance under the 2019 Incentive Plan. Under the Plan, options may be granted which are intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options (“ISOs”) under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”) or which are not (“Non-ISOs”) intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options thereunder.

 

The 2019 Incentive Plan is not a qualified deferred compensation plan under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and is not subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”).

 

Purpose

 

The primary purpose of the 2019 Incentive Plan is to attract and retain the best available personnel for the Company in order to promote the success of the Company’s business and to facilitate the ownership of the Company’s stock by employees. In the event that the 2019 Incentive Plan is not adopted the Company, the Company may have considerable difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified personnel, officers, directors and consultants.

 

Administration

 

The 2019 Incentive Plan is administered by a committee of the Board that is designated by the Board to administer the Plan, composed of not less than two members of the Board all of whom are disinterested persons, as contemplated by Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”). All questions of interpretation of the 2019 Incentive Plan are determined by the Committee, and its decisions are final and binding upon all participants.

 

Eligibility

 

Under the 2019 Incentive Plan, options may be granted to key employees, officers, directors or consultants of the Company, as provided in the 2019 Incentive Plan.

 

Terms of Options

 

The term of each Option granted under the Plan shall be contained in a stock option agreement between the Optionee and the Company and such terms shall be determined by the Board of Directors consistent with the provisions of the Plan, including the following:

 

(a) PURCHASE PRICE. The purchase price of the Common Shares subject to each ISO shall not be less than the fair market value (as set forth in the 2019 Incentive Plan), or in the case of the grant of an ISO to a Principal Stockholder, not less that 110% of fair market value of such Common Shares at the time such Option is granted. The purchase price of the Common Shares subject to each Non-ISO shall be determined at the time such Option is granted, but in no case less than 100% of the fair market value of such Common Shares at the time such

 

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Option is granted.

 

(b) VESTING. The dates on which each Option (or portion thereof) shall be exercisable and the conditions precedent to such exercise, if any, shall be fixed by the Committee, in its discretion, at the time such Option is granted.

 

(c) EXPIRATION. The expiration of each Option shall be fixed by the Committee, in its discretion, at the time such Option is granted; however, unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time such Option is granted, an Option shall be exercisable for ten (10) years after the date on which it was granted (the “Grant Date”). Each Option shall be subject to earlier termination as expressly provided in the 2019 Incentive Plan or as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, at the time such Option is granted.

 

(d) TRANSFERABILITY. No Option shall be transferable, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and any Option may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by him. No Option granted under the Plan shall be subject to execution, attachment or other process.

 

(e) OPTION ADJUSTMENTS. The aggregate number and class of shares as to which Options may be granted under the Plan, the number and class shares covered by each outstanding Option and the exercise price per share thereof (but not the total price), and all such Options, shall each be proportionately adjusted for any increase decrease in the number of issued Common Shares resulting from split-up spin-off or consolidation of shares or any like capital adjustment or the payment of any stock dividend.

 

Except as otherwise provided in the 2019 Incentive Plan, any Option granted hereunder shall terminate in the event of a merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation, reorganization or liquidation of the Company. However, the Optionee shall have the right immediately prior to any such transaction to exercise his Option in whole or in part notwithstanding any otherwise applicable vesting requirements.

 

(f) TERMINATION, MODIFICATION AND AMENDMENT. The 2019 Incentive Plan (but not Options previously granted under the Plan) shall terminate ten (10) years from the earlier of the date of its adoption by the Board of Directors or the date on which the Plan is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon, and no Option shall be granted after termination of the Plan. Subject to certain restrictions, the Plan may at any time be terminated and from time to time be modified or amended by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Company present, or represented, and entitled to vote at a meeting duly held in accordance with the applicable laws of the State of Delaware.

 

FEDERAL INCOME TAX ASPECTS OF THE 2019 INCENTIVE PLAN

 

THE FOLLOWING IS A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE EFFECT OF FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION UPON THE PARTICIPANTS AND THE COMPANY WITH RESPECT TO THE PURCHASE OF SHARES UNDER THE 2019 Incentive PLAN. THIS SUMMARY DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE COMPLETE AND DOES NOT ADDRESS THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO TAXPAYERS WITH SPECIAL TAX STATUS. IN ADDITION, THIS SUMMARY DOES NOT DISCUSS THE PROVISIONS OF THE INCOME TAX LAWS OF ANY MUNICIPALITY, STATE OR FOREIGN COUNTRY IN WHICH THE PARTICIPANT MAY RESIDE, AND DOES NOT DISCUSS ESTATE, GIFT OR OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OTHER THAN INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES. THE COMPANY ADVISES EACH PARTICIPANT TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF PARTICIPATION IN THE 2019 Incentive Plan AND FOR REFERENCE TO APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE CODE.

 

Incentive Stock Options

 

The recipient of an incentive stock option generally will not be taxed upon grant of the option. Federal income taxes are generally imposed only when the shares of common stock from exercised incentive stock options are disposed of, by sale or otherwise. The amount by which the fair market value of the common stock on the date of exercise exceeds the exercise price is, however, included in determining the option recipient’s liability for the alternative minimum tax. If the incentive stock option recipient does not sell or dispose of the shares of common stock until more than one year after the receipt of the shares and two years after the option was granted, then, upon sale or disposition of the shares, the difference between the exercise price and the market value of the shares of common stock as of the date of exercise will be treated as a capital gain, and not ordinary income. If a recipient fails to hold the shares for the minimum required time the recipient will recognize ordinary income in the year of disposition generally in an amount equal to any excess of the market value of the common stock on the date of exercise (or, if less, the amount realized or disposition of the shares) over the exercise price paid for the shares. Any further gain (or loss) realized by the recipient generally will be taxed as short-term or long-term gain (or loss) depending on the holding period. We will generally be entitled to a tax deduction at the same time and in the same amount as ordinary income is recognized by the option recipient, if any.

 

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Nonstatutory Stock Options

 

The recipient of stock options not qualifying as incentive stock options generally will not be taxed upon the grant of the option. Federal income taxes are generally due from a recipient of nonstatutory stock options when the stock options are exercised. The excess of the fair market value of the common stock purchased on such date over the exercise price of the option is taxed as ordinary income. Thereafter, the tax basis for the acquired shares is equal to the amount paid for the shares plus the amount of ordinary income recognized by the recipient. We will generally be entitled to a tax deduction at the same time and in the same amount as ordinary income is recognized by the option recipient by reason of the exercise of the option.

 

Other Awards

 

Recipients who receive restricted stock unit awards will generally recognize ordinary income when they receive shares upon settlement of the awards, in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares at that time. Recipients who receive awards of restricted shares subject to a vesting requirement will generally recognize ordinary income at the time vesting occurs, in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares at that time minus the amount, if any, paid for the shares. However, a recipient who receives restricted shares which are not vested may, within 30 days of the date the shares are transferred, elect in accordance with Section 83(b) of the Code to recognize ordinary compensation income at the time of transfer of the shares rather than upon the vesting dates. Recipients who receive performance shares will generally recognize ordinary income at the time of settlement, in an amount equal to the cash received, if any, and the fair market value of any shares received. We will generally be entitled to a tax deduction at the same time and in the same amount as ordinary income is recognized by the recipient.

 

Restrictions on Resale

 

Certain officers and directors of the Company may be deemed to be “affiliates” of the Company as that term is defined under the Securities Act. The Common Stock acquired under the 2019 Incentive Plan by an affiliate may be reoffered or resold only pursuant to an effective registration statement or pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

Required Vote

 

The affirmative vote of a majority of shares of common stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on this proposal is required for the approval of the 2019 Plan.

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “ FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE AVALON GLOBOCARE CORP. 2019 INCENTIVE PLAN AND THE RESERVATION OF 5,000,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK FOR ISSUANCE THEREUNDER

 

 

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PROPOSAL NO. 4

 

ADVISORY VOTE ON THE APPROVAL OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and Section 14A of the Exchange Act entitle the Company’s stockholders to vote to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to the SEC’s rules.

 

The Company’s executive compensation programs are designed to (1) motivate and retain executive officers, (2) reward the achievement the Company’s short-term and long-term performance goals, (3) establish an appropriate relationship between executive pay and short-term and long-term performance and (4) align executive officers’ interests with those of the Company’s stockholders. Under these programs, the Company’s executive officers are rewarded for the achievement of specific financial operating goals established by the Compensation Committee and the realization of increased stockholder value. Please read the section herein entitled “Executive Compensation” for additional details about the Company’s executive compensation programs, including information about the fiscal year 2018 compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.

 

The Compensation Committee continually reviews the compensation programs for the Company’s executive officers to ensure they achieve the desired goals of aligning the Company’s executive compensation structure with the Company’s stockholders’ interests and current market practices.

 

The Company is asking the Company’s stockholders to indicate their support for the Company’s named executive officer compensation as disclosed in this Proxy Statement and the accompanying Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. This proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal, gives the Company’s stockholders the opportunity to express their views on the Company’s executive compensation. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of the Company’s named executive officers and the philosophy, policies and practices described in this Proxy Statement and the accompanying Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. Accordingly, the Company will ask its stockholders to vote “FOR” the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:

 

“RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the accompanying Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the compensation tables and narrative discussion, is hereby APPROVED.”

 

The say-on-pay vote is advisory, and therefore not binding on the Company, the Compensation Committee or the Company’s Board. The Company’s Board and the Company’s Compensation Committee value the opinions of the Company’s stockholders and to the extent there is any significant vote against the named executive officer compensation as disclosed in this Proxy Statement and the accompanying Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, the Company will consider the Company’s stockholders’ concerns and the Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address those concerns.

 

Recommendation

 

THE COMPANY BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY’S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AS DESCRIBED UNDER THE HEADING “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION,” AND THE RELATED DISCLOSURES CONTAINED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT AND THE ACCOMPANYING ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018.

 

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PROPOSAL NO. 5

 

ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF HOLDING AN ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

In addition to the advisory approval of the Company’s executive compensation program, the Company is also holding a non-binding advisory vote by stockholders on the frequency with which stockholders would have an opportunity to hold an advisory vote on the Company’s executive compensation program. The Company has included this proposal among the items to be considered at the Annual Meeting pursuant to the requirements of Section 14A of the Exchange Act. The Company is providing stockholders the option of selecting a frequency of one, two or three years, or abstaining. For the reasons described below, the Company recommends that the Company stockholders select a frequency of three years.

 

While the Company’s executive compensation program is designed to support long-term value creation, in recent years we have conducted in-depth reviews of the Company’s executive compensation every three years. Accordingly, a vote every three years will coincide with this more detailed review and an every three-year vote will allow for the highest level of accountability and direct communication between the Company and its stockholders. The Company therefore recommend that the Company stockholders select “Three Years” when voting on the frequency of advisory votes on executive compensation. Although the advisory vote is non-binding, The Company’s Board will review the results of the vote and take them into account in making a determination concerning the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation.

 

The option of one year, two years or three years that receives the highest number of votes cast by stockholders will be the frequency of the advisory note on executive compensation that has been selected by stockholders. However, because this vote is advisory and not binding on the Board of Directors or the Company, the Board may decide that it is in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders and the Company to hold an advisory vote on executive compensation more or less frequently than the option approved by the Company’s stockholders.

 

Recommendation

 

THE COMPANY BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR A THREE-YEAR FREQUENCY FOR HOLDING AN ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

 

29

 

OTHER MATTERS

 

The Board of Directors knows of no other business which will be presented at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters properly come before the meeting, the persons named in the enclosed Proxy, or their substitutes, will vote the shares represented thereby in accordance with their judgment on such matters.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

Annual Reports on Form 10-K

 

Additional copies of Avalon’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 may be obtained without charge by writing to the Chief Financial Officer, Avalon GloboCare Corp., 4400 Route 9 South, Suite 3100, Freehold, New Jersey 07728. Workhorse’s Annual Report on Form 10-K can also be found on Avalon’s website: www.avalon-globocare.com .

 

Stockholders Proposals for the 2020 Annual Meeting.

 

Stockholder proposals intended to be presented at the Company’s 2020 annual meeting must be received by the Company no later than February 18, 2020 (pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, 120 days before the anniversary of the prior year’s mailing date) to be eligible for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement and form of proxy for next year’s meeting. Proposals should be addressed to Avalon GloboCare Corp., Attn. Chief Financial Officer, 4400 Route 9 South, Suite 3100, Freehold, New Jersey 07728.

 

For any proposal that is not submitted for inclusion in next year’s proxy statement (as described in the preceding paragraph), but is instead sought to be presented directly at the 2020 annual meeting, the federal securities laws require stockholders to give advance notice of such proposals. The required notice must (pursuant to Rule 14a-4 of the Exchange Act) be given no less than 45 days in advance of the one year anniversary date of the date on which the Company first sent its proxy materials for the immediately preceding annual meeting. Accordingly, with respect to the Company’s 2020 annual meeting of stockholders, notice must be provided to Avalon GloboCare Corp., Attn. Chief Financial Officer, 4400 Route 9 South, Suite 3100, Freehold, New Jersey 07728 no later than May 3, 2020. If a stockholder fails to provide timely notice of a proposal to be presented at the 2020 annual meeting, the chair of the meeting will declare it out of order and disregard any such matter.

 

Proxy Solicitation Costs

 

The proxies being solicited hereby are being solicited by the Company. The Company will bear the entire cost of solicitation of proxies including preparation, assembly, printing and mailing of the Notice, the Proxy Statement, the Proxy card and establishment of the Internet site hosting the proxy material. Copies of solicitation materials will be furnished to banks, brokerage houses, fiduciaries and custodians holding in their names shares of common stock beneficially owned by others to forward to such beneficial owners. Officers and regular employees of the Company may, but without compensation other than their regular compensation, solicit proxies by further mailing or personal conversations, or by telephone, telex, facsimile or electronic means. We will, upon request, reimburse brokerage firms and others for their reasonable expenses in forwarding solicitation material to the beneficial owners of stock.

 

  By Order of the Board of Directors,
   
  /s/ Wenzhao “Daniel” Lu
  Wenzhao “Daniel” Lu
  Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

30

 

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE VOTE TODAY.

 

 

Vote by Internet – QUICK ☐ EASY
IMMEDIATE – 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week or by Mail

 

Avalon GloboCare Corp.   As a shareholder of Avalon GloboCare Corp., you have the option of voting your shares electronically through the Internet, eliminating the need to return the proxy card. Your electronic vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you marked, signed, dated and returned the proxy card. Votes submitted electronically over the Internet must be received by 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on August 5, 2019.

 

          INTERNET/MOBILE
https://[************]
Use the Internet to vote your proxy. Have your proxy card available when you access the above website.  Follow the prompts to vote your shares.
             
             
             
PLEASE DO NOT RETURN THE PROXY CARD IF YOU
ARE VOTING ELECTRONICALLY.
        MAIL – Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided.
             

  FOLD HERE ● DO NOT SEPARATE ● INSERT IN ENVELOPE PROVIDED

 

PROXY        
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF THE NAMED NOMINEES AS DIRECTORS, “FOR” PROPOSALS 1, 2, 3, 4 AND 5.        

 

1.Election of Directors

 

(1)     Wenzhao “Daniel” Lu FOR  ☐ WITHHOLD  ☐

(2)     David Jin FOR  ☐  WITHHOLD  ☐

(3)     Meng Li FOR  ☐  WITHHOLD  ☐

(4)     Yancen Lu FOR  ☐  WITHHOLD  ☐

(5)     Steven A. Sanders FOR  ☐  WITHHOLD  ☐

(6)     Wilbert J. Tauzin, II FOR  ☐  WITHHOLD  ☐

(7)     William B. Stilley, III FOR  ☐ WITHHOLD  ☐

(8)     Tevi Troy FOR  ☐  WITHHOLD  ☐

(9)     Yue “Charles” Li FOR  ☐  WITHHOLD  ☐

 

 

2. Proposal to ratify the appointment of RBSM LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019.

 

FOR            AGAINST            ABSTAIN
 ☐                     ☐                          ☐

3. Proposal to approve the 2019 Incentive Stock Plan and to authorize 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance thereunder. 

 

FOR            AGAINST            ABSTAIN
 ☐                      ☐                           ☐

4. Proposal to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers 

 

FOR            AGAINST            ABSTAIN
 ☐                      ☐                           ☐

5. Proposal to recommend, on an advisory basis, the frequency for conducting future stockholder advisory votes on named executive officer compensation 

o 1 YEAR      o 2 YEARS      o 3 YEARS      o ABSTAIN

 

 

 

 

    COMPANY ID:
     
    PROXY NUMBER:
     
    ACCOUNT NUMBER:

 

Signature   Signature, if held jointly   Date   , 2019.

 

Note: Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. When shares are held by joint owners, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, or corporate officer, please give title as such. 

 

FOLD HERE ● DO NOT SEPARATE ● INSERT IN ENVELOPE PROVIDED ☐ PROXY

 

Avalon GloboCare Corp.

PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 6, 2019
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

The undersigned shareholder hereby appoints David Jin and Luisa Ingargiola or either of them (each with full power to act alone), as attorneys and proxies for the undersigned, with the power to appoint his or her substitute, to represent and to vote all the shares of the common stock of Avalon GloboCare Corp. (the “Company”), which the undersigned would be entitled to vote, at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at The Nasdaq Stock Market located at 151 West 42nd Street, New York, New York 10036 on, August 6, 2019 at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time, and any adjournments thereof, subject to the directions indicated on the reverse side hereof.

 

In their discretion, the Proxy is authorized to vote upon any other matter that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.

 

This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed on the reverse side by the undersigned shareholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR the election of the named nominees as directors, FOR Proposals 2, 3 AND 4 and FOR a three year frequency for conducting future stockholder advisory votes on named executive officer compensation.

 

PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

 

(IMPORTANT — This Proxy must be signed and dated on the reverse side.)

 

 

 

 

 

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