UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
PROXY
STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed
by the Registrant ☒
Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check
the appropriate box:
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Preliminary
Proxy Statement |
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Confidential,
For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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☒ |
Definitive
Proxy Statement |
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☐ |
Definitive
Additional Materials |
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☐ |
Soliciting
Materials Under §240.14a-12 |
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BONE
BIOLOGICS CORPORATION |
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(Name
of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) |
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(Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) |
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Payment
of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):
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Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Fee
computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
BONE
BIOLOGICS CORPORATION
2
Burlington Woods Drive, Ste 100
Burlington,
MA 01803
August
3, 2023
Dear
Stockholder:
You
are cordially invited to attend the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Bone Biologics Corporation to be held at 11:00 a.m.
Eastern time on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at Bone Biologics Corporation offices, 2 Burlington Woods Drive, Ste 100, Burlington,
MA 01803. Stockholders may also listen to the Annual Meeting via telephone at 520-525-8845.
We
are pleased to take advantage of Securities and Exchange Commission rules that allow companies to furnish their proxy materials over
the Internet. We are mailing to our stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (“Notice and Access Card”),
instead of a paper copy of our proxy materials and our 2022 Annual Report, which includes our annual report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “2022 Annual Report”).
The Notice and Access Card contains instructions on how to access those documents and to cast your vote via the Internet. The Notice
and Access Card also contains instructions on how to request a paper copy of our proxy materials and our 2022 Annual Report. This process
allows us to provide our stockholders with the information they need on a timelier basis, while reducing the environmental impact
and lowering the costs of printing and distributing our proxy materials.
As
more fully described in the attached Notice of Annual Meeting and the accompanying Notice and Access Card, at the Annual Meeting, our
stockholders will consider and vote to (i) elect four directors to our Board of Directors; (ii) approve, in an advisory (non-binding)
vote, our executive officer compensation; (iii) approve, in an advisory (non-binding) vote, the frequency of future advisory votes
on executive officer compensation, (iv) ratify the appointment of Weinberg & Company, P.A., as our independent registered public
accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 and (v) approve an amendment to our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan.
It
is important that your shares be represented at the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please vote
as soon as possible to ensure that your shares will be represented and voted at the Annual Meeting. You may vote over the Internet, by
telephone or, if you receive a paper proxy card in the mail, by mailing the completed proxy card. If you attend the Annual Meeting, then
you may vote your shares in person even though you have previously voted your proxy. You may find directions at www.bonebiologics.com.
The
Board of Directors recommends that you vote “FOR” the proposals presented in this proxy statement.
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Sincerely, |
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/s/
Don Hankey |
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Don
Hankey |
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Chairman
of the Board of Directors |
BONE
BIOLOGICS CORPORATION
2
Burlington Woods Drive, Ste 100
Burlington,
MA 01803
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2023
Notice
is hereby given that an Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Bone Biologics Corporation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 (“Annual
Meeting”), will be held at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, September
12, 2023 at Bone Biologics Corporation offices, 2 Burlington Woods Drive, Ste 100, Burlington, MA 01803, for the following purposes,
which are more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement:
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To
elect four directors to our Board of Directors; |
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To
approve, in an advisory (non-binding) vote, our executive officer compensation; |
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To approve, in an advisory (non-binding) vote, the frequency
of future advisory votes on executive officer compensation; |
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To
ratify the appointment of Weinberg & Company, P.A., as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year
ending December 31, 2023; |
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To approve an amendment to our 2015 Equity Incentive
Plan; and |
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To
transact any other business as may properly come before the meeting or at any adjournment thereof. |
Our
Board of Directors has fixed the close of business
on July 14, 2023 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Only
our stockholders of record at the close of business on that date will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any
adjournments or postponements thereof.
We
will be using the Securities and Exchange Commission’s “e-proxy” rules that allow public companies to furnish
proxy materials to stockholders via the Internet. The “e-proxy” rules remove the requirement for public companies
to automatically send stockholders a full, printed copy of proxy materials and allow them instead to deliver to their stockholders a
Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice and Access Card”) and to provide online access to the documents.
The Notice of Internet Availability provides instructions on how to view our proxy materials for the Annual Meeting on the internet and
vote and request a printed copy of the proxy materials. We believe that this process will provide a convenient, economic and environmentally
friendly way to access the proxy materials and authorize a proxy to vote your shares.
Stockholders
may also listen to the Annual Meeting via telephone at 520-525-8845.
We
made this proxy statement and our 2022 Annual Report to stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 available to stockholders
on or about August 3, 2023.
IMPORTANT
NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2023:
The
proxy statement, proxy card and 2022 Annual Report to stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 are available at the following
website: www.bonebiologics.com/investor-relation. These documents are also available to any stockholder who wishes to receive
a paper copy by calling 866-870-3684, visiting www.investorelections.com/BBLG or emailing paper@investorelections.com.
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By
Order of the Board of Directors, |
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/s/
Don Hankey |
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Don
Hankey |
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Chairman
of the Board of Directors |
August
3, 2023
YOUR
VOTE IS IMPORTANT REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF SHARES YOU OWN. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, YOU ARE URGED TO
VOTE ELECTRONICALLY VIA THE INTERNET OR BY COMPLETING, SIGNING, DATING AND RETURNING THE PROXY/VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD. IF GIVEN, YOU
MAY REVOKE YOUR PROXY BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE PROXY STATEMENT AND PROXY/VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
BONE
BIOLOGICS CORPORATION
2
Burlington Woods Drive, Ste 100
Burlington,
MA 01803
PROXY
STATEMENT
Annual
Meeting of Stockholders to be Held on September 12, 2023
The
Annual Meeting
This
proxy statement is being furnished to the stockholders of Bone Biologics Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) for use at
the Annual Meeting to be held at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, September 12,
2023, at Bone Biologics Corporation offices, 2 Burlington Woods Drive, Ste 100, Burlington, MA 01803, and at any adjournments or postponements
thereof. Stockholders may also listen to the Annual Meeting via telephone at 520-525-8845. Directions to our corporate
headquarters are available at www.bonebiologics.com.
The
Annual Meeting is being held for the following purposes, which are more fully described in this proxy statement:
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To
elect four directors to our Board; |
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To
approve, in an advisory (non-binding) vote, our executive officer compensation; |
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To approve, in an advisory (non-binding) vote, the frequency
of future advisory votes on executive officer compensation; |
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To
ratify the appointment of Weinberg & Company, P.A., as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year
ending December 31, 2023; |
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To approve an amendment to our 2015 Equity Incentive
Plan; and |
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To
transact any other business as may properly come before the meeting or at any adjournment thereof. |
Stockholders
of the Company as of July 14, 2023, the Record Date, may vote in one of the following four ways: (1) by internet at www.proxypush.com/BBLG,
we encourage you to vote this way, (2) by touch tone telephone: call toll-free at 1-866-883-3382, (3) by completing, signing, dating
and returning your proxy card, if you requested a printed copy of the proxy materials, and (4) at the Annual Meeting. It
is important that you vote your shares whether or not you attend the Annual Meeting in person. If you attend the Annual Meeting,
you may vote in person even if you have previously returned your proxy card or completed your proxy on the Internet. Only the latest
vote you submit will be counted. Shares represented by proxy will be voted in accordance with the instructions you provide to the
individuals named on the proxy. If you provide no instruction, the shares will be voted for all of the proposals.
NO
MATTER WHAT METHOD YOU ULTIMATELY DECIDE TO USE TO VOTE YOUR SHARES, WE URGE YOU TO VOTE PROMPTLY.
We
have elected to provide access to our proxy materials to our stockholders via the Internet. Accordingly, on or about August 3, 2023,
we will begin mailing a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice and Access Card”). Our proxy materials,
including the Notice of 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, this proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card or, for shares held
in street name (i.e., held for your account by a broker or other nominee), a voting instruction form, and the 2022 Annual Report,
which includes our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “2022 Annual Report”) to stockholders, will be mailed or made available to stockholders on the Internet
on the same date.
Record
Date; Shares Entitled To Vote; Vote Required To Approve the Transaction
The
Board has fixed the close of business on July 14, 2023 (the “Record Date”), as the date for the determination of stockholders
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. On the Record Date, 3,134,391 shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per
share (“Common Stock”) were issued and outstanding, and pursuant to our Bylaws, each outstanding share of Common Stock
is entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to vote at a meeting of our stockholders.
A
majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote, represented either in person or by proxy, is necessary
to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. In the absence of a quorum, the Annual Meeting may be postponed
from time to time until stockholders holding the requisite number of shares of our Common Stock are represented in person or by proxy.
Broker non-votes and abstentions will be counted towards a quorum at the Annual Meeting.
Solicitation,
Voting and Revocation of Proxies
This
solicitation of proxies is being made by our Board, and our Company will pay the entire cost of preparing, assembling, printing, mailing
and distributing these proxy materials. In addition to the mailing of these proxy materials, the solicitation of proxies or votes may
be made in person, by telephone or by electronic communications by directors, officers and employees of our Company, who will not receive
any additional compensation for such solicitation activities. We also will reimburse brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees
and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy and solicitation materials to our stockholders.
Shares
of our Common Stock represented by a proxy received at or prior to the Annual Meeting, unless properly revoked, will be voted in accordance
with the instructions on the proxy. If a proxy card is signed and returned without any voting instructions, shares of our Common
Stock represented by the proxy card will be voted “FOR” the proposals described in this proxy statement, and in accordance
with the determination of the majority of our Board, as to any other matter which may properly come before the Annual Meeting, including
any adjournment or postponement thereof. A stockholder may revoke any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation by: (i) submitting
a later-dated vote by internet or telephone by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on September 11,
2023 (only your latest internet or telephone vote will be counted); (ii) delivering
to our corporate secretary, at or prior to the Annual Meeting, a duly executed proxy card relating to the same shares and bearing
a later date; (iii) delivering to our Corporate Secretary a timely written notice that you are
revoking your proxy, which must be received no later than September 11, 2023 or (iv) voting in person at the Annual
Meeting. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not, in and of itself, constitute a revocation of a proxy. All written notices of revocation
and other communications with respect to the revocation of a proxy should be addressed to:
BONE
BIOLOGICS CORPORATION
2
Burlington Woods Drive, Ste 100
Burlington,
MA 01803
Attention:
Corporate Secretary
Our
Board is not aware of any business to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting other than consideration of the proposals described
herein.
Internet
and Telephone Voting
In
addition to marking, signing, dating and mailing the enclosed proxy card, you may vote over the Internet or by telephone. Voting
via the Internet and telephone is fast, convenient and your vote is immediately confirmed and tabulated. If you choose to vote
via the Internet or telephone, instructions to do so are set forth on the enclosed Notice and Access Card.
If you own your shares in your own name, you can vote via the Internet or telephone in accordance with the instructions provided
on the Notice and Access Card. If your shares are held in “street name” by a bank, broker or other nominee, please
contact your broker or other organization regarding how to revoke your instructions and change
your vote. You may change your vote by submitting a later-dated vote on the internet or by telephone, if offered, or by participating
in the Annual Meeting and submitting a later vote during the meeting. You may also be instructed to obtain a legal proxy from
your broker, bank or other nominee and to submit a copy in advance of the Annual Meeting if you intend to vote shares held in “street
name” at the Annual Meeting.
If
you vote via the Internet or telephone, you do not have to mail in a proxy card, but your vote must be received by 11:59 p.m.,
Eastern Time, on September 11, 2023.
Reverse
Stock Split
On
June 5, 2023, the Company filed an amendment to its Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, (the “Amendment”) with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effect a 1-for-30 reverse stock split of its outstanding common stock and warrants. The
Amendment was effective on June 5, 2023 (the “Effective Time”). The Amendment was authorized by stockholders holding a majority
of the voting power of our common stock by a written consent on May 1, 2023. The Company’s common stock and publicly-traded warrants
began trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market on a split-adjusted basis on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.
All
common share and per share amounts in this Proxy Statement have been adjusted to reflect the 1-for-30 reverse stock split.
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS PROXY STATEMENT AND ANNUAL MEETING
Q: |
WHAT
IS THIS PROXY STATEMENT AND WHY AM I RECEIVING A NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS? |
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A: |
You
are receiving this Notice of internet availability of proxy materials in connection with an Annual Meeting of stockholders called
by our Board in connection with soliciting stockholder votes for the purpose of (i) electing four directors to our Board to serve
for a term ending on the date of the next Annual Meeting of stockholders following the date such persons are elected as directors,
or until their successors are duly elected and qualified; (ii) approve in an advisory (non-binding) vote, our executive officer compensation;
(iii) approve, in an advisory (non-binding) vote, the frequency of future advisory votes on executive officer compensation, (iv)
ratifying the appointment of Weinberg & Company, P.A. as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal
year ending December 31, 2023; and (v) approve an amendment to our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan; in each case, as more fully
described in this proxy statement. You have been sent the Notice and Access card because our Board is soliciting your proxy
to vote at the Annual Meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of voting on the foregoing matters. |
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Q: |
WHY
DID I RECEIVE A NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS INSTEAD OF A FULL SET OF PROXY MATERIALS? |
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A: |
Pursuant
to rules adopted by the SEC, for most stockholders, we are providing access to our proxy materials over the Internet rather than
printing and mailing our proxy materials. We believe following this process will expedite the receipt of such materials and will
help lower our costs and reduce the environmental impact of our annual meeting materials. Therefore, the Notice and Access Card was
mailed to holders of record and beneficial owners of our common stock starting on or about August 3, 2023. The Notice and Access
Card provides instructions as to how stockholders may access and review our proxy materials, including the Notice of 2023 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders, this proxy statement, the proxy card and our 2022 Annual Report, on the website referred to
in the Notice and Access Card or, alternatively, how to request that a copy of the proxy materials, including a proxy card, be sent
to them by mail. The Notice and Access Card also provides voting instructions. In addition, stockholders of record may request to
receive the proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically by e-mail on an ongoing basis for future stockholder meetings.
Please note that, while our proxy materials are available at the website referenced in the Notice and Access Card and our Notice
of 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, this proxy statement and our 2022 Annual Report are available on our website. No other information
contained on either website is incorporated by reference in, or considered to be a part of, this proxy statement. |
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Q: |
WHAT
INFORMATION IS CONTAINED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT? |
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A: |
The
information included in this proxy statement relates to the proposals to be voted on at the Annual Meeting, the voting process, compensation
of our directors and named executive officers, and certain other required information. |
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Q: |
WHO
IS ENTITLED TO VOTE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, AND WHAT VOTE IS REQUIRED TO APPROVE THE PROPOSALS? |
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A: |
Only
holders of shares of our Common Stock, as of the Record Date, are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of July 14, 2023, the
Record Date, there were 3,134,391 shares of our Common Stock issued and outstanding, and entitled to notice of and to vote at the
Annual Meeting. For all matters each outstanding share of our common stock will be entitled to one vote on each matter. Pursuant
to our Bylaws, a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote, represented either in person or
by proxy, is necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. The table below shows the
vote required to approve each of the proposals described in this proxy statement, assuming the presence of a quorum, in person or
by proxy, at the Annual Meeting. |
Proposal |
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Description |
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Vote
Required |
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Effect
of Abstentions |
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Effect
of Broker Non-Votes |
One |
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Election
of the four directors |
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Plurality
of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting(1) |
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None |
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None |
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Two
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Approval,
in an advisory (non-binding) vote, our executive officer compensation |
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Majority
of the votes cast on the proposal by holders present, in person or by proxy, and entitled
to vote on the proposal (2)
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None |
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None |
Three |
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Approval,
in an advisory (non-binding) vote, the frequency of future advisory votes on executive officer compensation |
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The
voting frequency option that receives the highest number of votes cast by stockholders(3) |
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None |
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None |
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Four |
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To
ratify the appointment of Weinberg & Company, P.A., as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year
ending December 31, 2023 |
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Majority
of the votes cast on the proposal by holders present, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the proposal (4) |
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None |
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N/A
because this proposal is a matter on which brokers may vote |
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Five |
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To
approve an amendment to our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan to increase the authorized number of shares available for future issuance
under the plan by 5 million shares |
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Majority
of the votes cast on the proposal by holders present, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the proposal |
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None |
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None |
(1) |
Our stockholders elect directors by a plurality vote, which means that the director nominees receiving
the most votes will be elected. A vote to “withhold” will have no effect on the election of director nominees because the
nominees who receive the highest number of “for” votes are elected, and since the nominees are running unopposed they only
need a single “for” vote to be elected. |
(2) |
The advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers is not binding upon
our Board or the Compensation Committee of our Board. However, the Board and the Compensation Committee will consider the outcome of
this vote when making future compensation decisions. |
(3) |
The advisory vote on the frequency of future stockholder advisory votes on the compensation of our
named executive officers is not binding upon our Board or the Compensation Committee of our Board. However, the Board and the Compensation
Committee will consider the outcome of this vote in determining the frequency of future votes with respect to the compensation of our
named executive officers. |
(4) |
We are presenting the appointment of Weinberg & Company, P.A. to our stockholders for ratification.
The Audit Committee of our Board will consider the outcome of this vote in its future discussions regarding the appointment of our
independent registered public accounting firm. |
Q: |
WHO COUNTS THE VOTES? |
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A: |
Jeffrey Frelick has been appointed inspector of election
by the Company and will tabulate votes at the Annual Meeting. |
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Q: |
DOES
OUR BOARD RECOMMEND VOTING “FOR” THE PROPOSALS? |
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A: |
Yes.
Our Board unanimously recommends that our stockholders vote “FOR” each of the four director nominees in this proxy
statement, “FOR” Proposals two, four and five, and FOR “1 YR” on Proposal three described in this proxy
statement. |
Q: |
HOW
MAY I VOTE ON THE PROPOSALS IF I OWN SHARES IN MY OWN NAME? |
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A: |
If
you own your shares in your own name, you may vote on the proposals presented in this proxy statement in one of the following four
ways whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting: (1) by internet at www.proxypush.com/BBLG, we encourage you to
vote this way, (2) by touch tone telephone: call toll-free at 1-866-883-3382, (3) by completing, signing, dating and returning
your proxy card, if you requested a printed copy of the proxy materials, and (4) at the Annual Meeting. It is important that
you vote your shares whether or not you attend the meeting in person. If you provide no instructions on your proxy card, the
shares will be voted “FOR”(i) the election of four nominees listed on the proxy card; (ii) the approval, in an advisory
(non-binding) vote, our executive officer compensation (iii) ratifying the appointment of Weinberg & Company, P.A. as our independent
registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, and (iv) approving an amendment to our 2015 Equity
Incentive Plan; and For “1 YR” in an advisory (non-binding) vote, the frequency of future advisory votes on executive
officer compensation. In the event other business properly comes before the Annual Meeting or at any adjournment or postponement
of the meeting, the individuals named in the proxy will vote the shares represented by the proxy in their discretion. |
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Q: |
HOW
MAY I VOTE ON THE PROPOSALS IF MY SHARES ARE HELD IN “STREET NAME” BY MY BROKER, BANK OR OTHER NOMINEE? |
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A: |
If on the record date, your shares of our common
stock were held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer or other similar organization, which we collectively refer to as a broker,
then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and these proxy materials are being made available to you
by that organization along with a voting instruction card. As a beneficial owner, you must vote your shares in the manner prescribed
by your broker. Your broker has enclosed or otherwise provided a voting instruction card for you to use in directing the broker how to
vote your shares. Your shares will be voted as you indicate. Check the voting instruction card used by that organization to see if it
offers internet or telephone voting.
If you hold your shares in street name, you will
receive instructions from your broker, bank or nominee that you must follow in order to submit your voting instructions and have your
shares voted at the Annual Meeting. If you want to vote in person at the Annual Meeting you may be instructed to obtain a legal proxy
from your broker, bank or other nominee and to submit a copy in advance of the meeting.
Brokerage firms do not have authority to vote
shares for which their customers do not provide voting instructions except with respect to the ratification of Weinberg & Company,
P.A. which is considered a routine matter. A broker, banker or other nominee no longer has discretion to vote for or against the other
proposals in this proxy statement which are considered non-routine matters. Accordingly, we encourage you to provide instructions to
your brokerage firm on how to vote your shares.
Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we recommend that you submit your proxy or voting instructions
in advance of the Annual Meeting as described above so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend or are unable
to attend the Annual Meeting. |
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Q: |
CAN
I CHANGE MY MIND AND REVOKE MY PROXY? |
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A: |
Yes.
If you are a stockholder of record, you may change your vote at any time before the polls close at the meeting. You may do this by
(i) submitting a later-dated vote by internet or telephone; (ii) delivering to our corporate secretary, at or prior to the
Annual Meeting, a duly executed proxy card relating to the same shares and bearing a later date; (iii) delivering to our
Corporate Secretary a timely written notice that you are revoking your proxy, which must be
received no later than September 11, 2023 or (iv) voting in person at the Annual Meeting. Attendance at the Annual
Meeting, in and of itself, will not constitute a revocation of a proxy. If you voted by Internet or telephone, you may change
your vote at any time up until 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on September 11, 2023,
by resubmitting a new vote by Internet or telephone. Your last vote will be the one which is used for voting purposes. If
you hold your shares in “street name,” you may submit new voting instructions by contacting your broker, bank or other
nominee. You may be instructed to obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other nominee and to submit a copy in advance of
the Annual Meeting if you intend to vote shares held in “street name” at the Annual Meeting. |
Q: |
CAN
I VOTE MY SHARES IN PERSON? |
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A: |
Yes.
The Annual Meeting is open to all holders of our common stock as of the Record Date. To vote in person, you will need to attend the
meeting and bring with you evidence of your stock ownership. If your shares are registered in your name, you will need to bring a
copy of stock certificate(s) together with valid picture identification. If your shares are held in the name of your broker, bank
or another nominee or you received your proxy materials electronically, you will need to bring evidence of your stock ownership,
such as your most recent brokerage account statement, and valid picture identification, and may be instructed to obtain a legal
proxy from your broker, bank or other nominee and to submit a copy in advance of the Annual Meeting. |
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Q: |
HOW CAN I FIND OUT THE VOTING RESULTS OF THE ANNUAL
MEETING? |
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A: |
Preliminary voting results will be announced at the
Annual Meeting. Final voting results will be published in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”) within four business days after the Annual Meeting. |
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Q: |
DO
I HAVE DISSENTERS’ RIGHTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSALS? |
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A: |
No.
Under Delaware law, “dissenters’ rights” are not available in connection with the proposals presented in this proxy
statement. |
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Q. |
HOW
MAY I REQUEST A SINGLE SET OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR MY HOUSEHOLD? |
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A: |
If
you share an address with another stockholder and have received multiple copies of our proxy materials, you may write us to request
delivery of a single copy of these materials. Written requests should be made to Bone Biologics Corporation, Attention: Corporate
Secretary, 2 Burlington Woods Drive, Ste 100, Burlington, MA 01803. |
Q. |
WHAT
SHOULD I DO IF I RECEIVE MORE THAN ONE SET OF VOTING MATERIALS? |
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A: |
You
may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this proxy statement and multiple proxy cards or
voting instruction cards. For example, if you hold your shares in more than one brokerage account, you may receive a separate voting
instruction card for each brokerage account in which you hold shares. If you are a stockholder of record and your shares are registered
in more than one name, you will receive more than one proxy card. Please complete, sign, date, and return each proxy card and voting
instruction card that you receive. |
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Q. |
WHAT
HAPPENS IF ADDITIONAL MATTERS ARE PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING? |
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A: |
Other
than the proposals described in this proxy statement, we are not aware of any other business to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting.
If you grant a proxy, the persons named as proxy holders will have the discretion to vote your shares on any additional matters properly
presented for a vote at the meeting. If for any reason any of our nominees are not available as a candidate for director, the persons
named as proxy holders will vote your proxy for such other candidate or candidates as may be nominated by the Board. |
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Q. |
IS
MY VOTE CONFIDENTIAL? |
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A: |
Proxy
instructions, ballots and voting tabulations that identify individual stockholders are handled in a manner that protects your voting
privacy. Your vote will not be disclosed either within the Company or to third parties, except: (1) as necessary to meet applicable
legal requirements, (2) to allow for the tabulation of votes and certification of the vote, and (3) to facilitate a successful proxy
solicitation. |
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Q. |
WHO
IS PAYING FOR THIS PROXY SOLICITATION? |
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A: |
Our
Board is making this solicitation, and we will pay the entire cost of preparing, assembling, printing, mailing and distributing
these proxy materials. In addition to the mailing of these proxy materials, the solicitation of proxies or votes may be made in person,
by telephone or by electronic communications by our directors, officers and employees, who will not receive any additional compensation
for such solicitation activities. We will also reimburse brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy and solicitation materials to stockholders. |
PROPOSAL
I – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our
Board currently has four directors. The Board proposes that all of the nominees listed below, each of whom currently serves on the Board,
be elected as directors to serve for a term ending on the date of the next Annual Meeting of stockholders following the date such persons
are elected as directors, and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
has approved and recommended for election as directors at the Annual Meeting the nominees described in this proxy statement.
Each
of the nominees has consented to serve if elected. If any of them becomes unavailable to serve as a director, the Board may designate
a substitute nominee. In that case, the persons named as proxies will vote for the substitute nominee designated by the Board. There
are no family relationships between any director, executive officer, or person nominated or chosen by the Company to become a director
or executive officer.
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position |
Don
Hankey |
|
80 |
|
Chairman
of the Board of Directors |
Bruce
Stroever |
|
73 |
|
Director |
Erick
Lucera |
|
55 |
|
Director
|
Siddhesh
Angle |
|
39 |
|
Director
|
The
biographies and work experience of each of our nominees for directors is set forth below under “Directors and Executive
Officers.”
Vote
Required and Recommendation of Board
The
affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting is required for the election of directors. A properly executed proxy
marked “WITHHELD” with respect to the election of one or more directors will not be voted with respect to the director or
directors indicated, although it will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum.
The
Board Recommends a Vote “For” Each of the Nominees Listed Above.
PROPOSAL
II – ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
This
proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal, gives you as a stockholder the opportunity to endorse or not endorse
our executive pay practices. This vote is intended to provide an overall assessment of our executive compensation program rather than
focus on any specific item of compensation. The goal for our executive compensation program is to motivate and retain highly-talented
executives who are critical to the successful implementation of our strategic business plan.
At
our 2016 annual meeting of stockholders our stockholders approved that we hold this non-binding, advisory vote on executive
compensation every year. Our board of directors subsequently adopted this preference, and we are providing our stockholders with a
say-on-pay vote this year. We are holding an advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes to approve the compensation of
our named executive officers in this Annual Meeting. After this Annual Meeting, the next required vote on the frequency of the
advisory vote on executive compensation will occur at our 2029 annual meeting of stockholders.
We
invite you to consider the details of our executive compensation program provided in the tables and narrative discussion relating to
the program. These will provide you with the individual elements of our compensation program and allow you to view the trends in compensation
for the years presented.
We
request stockholder approval of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to the SEC’s compensation
disclosure rules, which disclosures include the compensation tables and the narrative discussion pertaining to compensation. As an advisory
vote, this proposal is not binding upon our Board or us. However, we expect that our compensation committee, which is responsible
for designing and administering our executive compensation program, will consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation
decisions for our named executive officers. Accordingly, we are asking you to approve the following resolution:
RESOLVED,
that the compensation paid to the named executive officers of Bone Biologics Corporation, as disclosed in the 2023 Proxy Statement of
Bone Biologics Corporation pursuant to Item 402 of SEC Regulation S-K, including the compensation tables and narrative discussion, hereby
is approved.
Our
Board unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of
our named executive officers. Proxies received will be so voted unless stockholders vote otherwise via the Internet or specify otherwise
in their completed and returned proxy cards.
PROPOSAL
III – ADVISORY VOTE REGARDING THE FREQUENCY OF FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
(“SAY ON FREQUENCY”)
Pursuant
to Section 14A of the Exchange Act, the Board provides stockholders with the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on the frequency of
future advisory votes to approve the compensation of our named executive officers as reflected in Proposal 2 above. This Proposal 3,
commonly known as a “say on frequency” proposal, gives you the opportunity to indicate whether you prefer that we conduct
future advisory votes to approve the compensation of our named executive officers every year, every two years or every three years.
The
Board has determined that our stockholders should vote on the compensation of our named executive officers each year. In reaching this
recommendation, the Board considered that holding an annual advisory vote to approve executive compensation allows our stockholders to
provide direct input on our compensation practices and policies as disclosed in our proxy statement each year. An annual advisory vote
also provides our Compensation Committee with the opportunity to consider stockholder feedback when evaluating its compensation decisions
and facilitates our efforts to communicate with our stockholders.
You
will be able to specify one of four choices with respect to this proposal: 1 YR, 2 YR, 3 YR, or abstain. Although this
advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes to approve the compensation of our named executive officers is nonbinding, the
voting frequency option that receives the highest number of votes cast by stockholders will be deemed the frequency for the advisory
vote on executive compensation that has been selected by stockholders. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome
of this proposal.
THE
BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR “1 YR” AS THE PREFERRED FREQUENCY FOR FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION
OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.
PROPOSAL
IV – RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
General
The
Audit Committee of our Board has appointed Weinberg & Company, P.A. (“Weinberg & Company”) to act as our independent
registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, and recommends that our stockholders vote to ratify such
appointment. Representatives of Weinberg & Company are not expected to be present at the Annual Meeting.
Stockholder
ratification of the selection of Weinberg & Company is not required by our Bylaws or otherwise. However, the board is submitting
the selection of our independent registered accounting firm to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate governance.
If the stockholders fail to ratify this appointment, the Audit Committee may, but is not required to, reconsider whether to retain Weinberg
& Company. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may direct the appointment of a different accounting
firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
Principal
Accountant Fees and Services
Audit
Fees
| |
2022 | | |
2021 | |
Weinberg & Company, P.A. | |
$ | 76,194 | | |
$ | 37,565 | |
Audit
Related Fees
There
were no fees billed to us by Weinberg & Company, for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance
of the audit related fees.
Tax
Fees
We did not pay Weinberg &
Company for any tax related services for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.
All
Other Fees
We did not pay Weinberg &
Company for other services for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.
Our Audit Committee has determined
that the services provided by Weinberg & Company are compatible with maintaining the independence of Weinberg & Company as our
independent registered public accounting firm.
Audit
Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures. The audit committee pre-approves all audit and permissible non-audit services provided
by our independent registered public accounting firm. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services
and other services. The audit committee has adopted policies and procedures for the pre-approval of services provided by our independent
registered public accounting firm. The policies and procedures provide that management and our independent registered public accounting
firm jointly submit to the audit committee a schedule of audit and non-audit services for approval as part of the annual plan for each
year. In addition, the policies and procedures provide that the audit committee may also pre-approve particular services not in the annual
plan on a case-by-case basis. For each proposed service, management must provide a detailed description of the service and the projected
fees and costs (or a range of such fees and costs) for the service. The policies and procedures require management and our independent
registered public accounting firm to provide quarterly updates to the audit committee regarding services rendered to date and services
yet to be performed. All of the services provided and fees charged by Weinberg & Company were approved by our Audit Committee.
Vote
Required and Recommendation of Board
Under
Delaware law and pursuant to our Bylaws, the proposal to ratify Weinberg & Company, P.A. as our independent registered public accounting
firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, will be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the
proposal by holders present, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the proposal.
THE
BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF WEINBERG & COMPANY, P.A. AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.
PROPOSAL
V – APPROVAL OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO OUR 2015 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
Overview
We are asking our stockholders
to approve an amendment to the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”) to increase the number of shares authorized and
available for issuance under the 2015 Plan by 5,000,000 shares, resulting in an increase to the total shares authorized and available
for issuance under the 2015 Plan from 35,918 shares to 5,035,918, to extend the term of the 2015 Plan by ten years from December 30,
2025 to December 30, 2035, and to remove certain limitations on the number of shares that could be granted to a participant during any
fiscal year that was previously included to take advantage of the performance-based compensation exception pursuant to section 162(m)
of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), which has been eliminated (the “2015 Plan Amendment”). Our Board,
upon recommendation of the compensation committee, approved the 2015 Plan Amendment effective as of June 2023, subject to stockholder
approval. The 2015 Plan was originally adopted by our Board on December 28, 2015 and approved by stockholders on December 30, 2015.
The closing stock price of
a share of the Company’s common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market on July 14, 2023, our record date, was $1.37.
Purpose
of the Amendment of the 2015 Plan
Equity incentive awards play
a vital role in the compensation provided to the Company’s executive officers, non-employee directors and consultants. The Company
relies on equity compensation in order to attract and retain experienced and knowledgeable individuals and to align the interests of
the Company’s executive officers with those of our stockholders. Despite the role equity awards play in our compensation packages,
the Company is concerned about the dilutive effect of equity awards on our stockholders; accordingly, the Company is committed to using
equity incentive awards prudently and within reasonable limits.
As a result of our measured
approach to the use of equity incentive awards, since the 2015 Plan’s effective date, the Company has increased its 2015 Plan common
stock reserve only once. As of July 14, 2023, of the 35,918 shares of our common stock authorized for award under the 2015 Plan, approximately
18,963 shares remained available for future award under the 2015 Plan. Because we believe the equity component of our officers’
and directors’ compensation is important, stockholders are being asked to approve an increase of 5,000,000 common shares to 5,035,918
common shares authorized for issuance under the 2015 Plan.
Summary
Description of the Amended Plan
The principal terms and provisions
of the 2015 Plan as amended by the 2015 Plan Amendment are summarized below. The summary, however, is not intended to be a complete description
of all the terms of the 2015 Plan, as amended, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the 2015 Plan, which
is attached hereto as Appendix A, and the 2015 Plan Amendment, which is attached hereto as Appendix B. Any stockholder who wishes to
obtain a copy of the actual 2015 Plan document may do so upon written request to our Corporate Secretary at our principal offices at
2 Burlington Woods Drive, Ste 100, Burlington, MA 01803. The 2015 Plan Amendment will not become effective unless approved by our stockholders.
Types
of Awards
The terms of the 2015 Plan
provide for the grant of incentive stock options, or ISOs, and nonstatutory stock options, or NSOs, restricted stock awards, restricted
stock unit awards, stock appreciation rights, performance stock awards, performance cash award, and other stock awards.
Shares
Available for Awards
The aggregate number of shares
of our Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to stock awards under the 2015 Plan will consist of 5,035,918 shares of Common Stock.
The 2015 Plan also includes an “evergreen” feature, which provides that prior to the first day of each fiscal year following
the Effective Date (as defined in the 2015 Plan) through December 31, 2035, commencing on the first day of the fiscal year following
the fiscal year in which the Effective Date occurs, the Board may, without further stockholder approval, approve an increase in the Share
Reserve in an amount not more than 5% of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the last day of the preceding fiscal
year.
If a stock award granted
under the 2015 Plan, or any portion thereof, expires or otherwise terminates without all of the shares covered by the stock award having
been issued or is settled in cash rather than in shares, such expiration, termination or settlement will not reduce or otherwise offset
the number of shares available for issuance under the 2015 Plan. Additionally, shares issued pursuant to stock awards granted under the
2015 Plan that are forfeited back to or repurchased by the Company because of the failure to vest, as well as shares reacquired by us
as consideration for the exercise or purchase price of a stock award or to satisfy tax withholding obligations related to a stock award,
will become available again for issuance under the 2015 Plan.
As of July 14, 2023, stock
options covering an aggregate of 16,955 shares of Common Stock have been granted under the 2015 Plan and are currently outstanding.
Eligibility
All of our employees, directors
and consultants are eligible to participate in the 2015 Plan and may receive all types of awards; provided that ISOs may be granted under
the 2015 Plan only to our employees (including officers) and employees of our affiliates. As of July 14, 2023, we have two employees,
four non-employee directors and one consultant.
Grant
Limits
Under the 2015 Plan, the
maximum number of shares subject to awards granted during a single fiscal year to any non-employee director under the 2015 Plan, taken
together with any cash fees paid to such non-employee director during the fiscal year, shall not exceed $400,000 in total value (calculating
the value of any such awards based on the grant date fair value of such awards for financial reporting purposes). The Board may make
exceptions to this limit for individual non-employee directors in extraordinary circumstances (for example, to compensate such individual
for interim service in the capacity of an officer of the Company), as the Board may determine in its discretion, provided that the non-employee
director receiving such additional compensation may not participate in the decision to award such compensation or in other compensation
decisions involving non-employee directors.
Administration
The 2015 Plan is administered
by the Board, which may in turn delegate authority to administer the 2015 Plan to a committee. The Board has delegated concurrent authority
to administer the 2015 Plan to the Compensation Committee, but may, at any time, revert in itself some or all of the power previously
delegated to the Compensation Committee. The Board and the Compensation Committee are considered to be the “plan administrator”
for purposes of this Information Statement. Subject to the terms of the 2015 Plan, the plan administrator may determine the recipients,
numbers and types of awards to be granted, and terms and conditions of the awards, including the period of their exercisability and vesting.
Subject to the limitations set forth below, the plan administrator also determines the fair market value applicable to a stock award
and the exercise price of stock options and stock appreciation rights granted under the 2015 Plan.
The plan administrator may
also delegate to one or more of our officers the authority to designate employees who are not officers to be recipients of certain stock
awards and the number of shares subject to such stock awards, provided that such delegation must specify the total number of shares of
our Common Stock that may be subject to the stock awards granted by such officer and such officer may not grant a stock award to himself
or herself.
Repricing;
Cancellation and Re-Grant of Stock Awards
Subject to the terms of
our 2015 Plan and Nasdaq listing standards, the Board has the authority to reprice any outstanding option or stock appreciation right, cancel and re-grant any
outstanding stock award in exchange for new stock awards, cash or other consideration, or take any other action that is treated as a
repricing under generally accepted accounting principles, with the consent of any adversely affected participant.
Stock
Options
Stock options may be granted
under the 2015 Plan pursuant to stock option agreements. The 2015 Plan permits the grant of stock options that qualify as ISOs and NSOs.
Individual stock option agreements may be more restrictive as to any or all of the permissible terms described in this section.
The exercise price of NSOs
may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the Common Stock subject to the stock option on the date of grant. The exercise
price of ISOs may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the Common Stock subject to the stock option on the date of grant
and, in some cases (see “Limitations” below), may not be less than 110% of such fair market value.
The term of stock options
granted under the 2015 Plan may not exceed ten years and, in some cases (see “Limitations on Incentive Stock Options” below),
may not exceed five years. Except as explicitly provided otherwise in an optionholder’s stock option agreement, stock options granted
under the 2015 Plan generally terminate three months after termination of the optionholder’s service unless (i) termination is
due to the optionholder’s disability, in which case the stock option may be exercised (to the extent the stock option was exercisable
at the time of the termination of service) at any time within 12 months following termination; (ii) the optionholder dies before the
optionholder’s service has terminated, or within the period (if any) specified in the stock option agreement after termination
of service for a reason other than death, in which case the stock option may be exercised (to the extent the stock option was exercisable
at the time of the optionholder’s death) within 18 months following the optionholder’s death by the person or persons to
whom the rights to such stock option have passed; (iii) the optionholder is terminated for cause in which case the stock option will
cease to be exercisable immediately upon the optionholder’s termination, or (iv) the stock option by its terms specifically provides
otherwise. In addition, the plan administrator may grant options with different terms. A stock option term may be extended in the event
that exercise of the stock option following termination of service is prohibited by applicable securities laws or if the sale of stock
received upon exercise of a stock option would violate our insider trading policy. In no event may a stock option be exercised after
its original expiration date.
Acceptable forms of consideration
for the purchase of our Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a stock option under the 2015 Plan will be determined by the plan administrator
and may include (i) cash, check, bank draft or money order made payable to us, (ii) payment pursuant to a program developed under Regulation
T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board, (iii) Common Stock previously owned by the optionholder, (iv) a net exercise feature (for
NSOs only), or (v) other legal consideration approved by the plan administrator.
Stock options granted under
the 2015 Plan may become exercisable in cumulative increments, or “vest,” as determined by the plan administrator at the
rate specified in the stock option agreement. Shares covered by different stock options granted under the 2015 Plan may be subject to
different vesting schedules as the plan administrator may determine. The plan administrator also has flexibility to provide for accelerated
vesting of stock options in certain events.
Generally, an optionholder
may not transfer a stock option other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or a domestic relations order with the approval
of the plan administrator or a duly authorized officer. Additionally, an optionholder may, with the approval of the plan administrator
or a duly authorized officer, designate a beneficiary who may exercise the stock option following the optionholder’s death.
Limitations
on Incentive Stock Options
The aggregate fair market
value, determined at the time of grant, of shares of our Common Stock with respect to ISOs that are exercisable for the first time by
an optionholder during any calendar year under all of our stock plans may not exceed $100,000. The stock options or portions of stock
options that exceed this limit are treated as NSOs. No ISO may be granted to any person who, at the time of the grant, owns or is deemed
to own stock possessing more than 10% of our total combined voting power or that of any affiliate unless the following conditions are
satisfied:
|
● |
the
exercise price of the ISO must be at least 110% of the fair market value of the stock subject to the ISO on the date of grant; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
term of the ISO must not exceed five years from the date of grant. |
The aggregate maximum number
of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of ISOs granted under the 2015 Plan is 5,035,918 shares.
Restricted
Stock Awards
Restricted stock awards may
be granted under the 2015 Plan pursuant to restricted stock award agreements. A restricted stock award may be granted in consideration
for cash, check, bank draft or money order payable to us, the recipient’s services performed for us or an affiliate of ours, or
any other form of legal consideration acceptable to the plan administrator. Shares of our Common Stock acquired under a restricted stock
award may be subject to forfeiture to us in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the plan administrator. Rights to
acquire shares of our Common Stock under a restricted stock award may be transferred only upon such terms and conditions as are set forth
in the restricted stock award agreement. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable restricted stock award agreement, restricted
stock awards that have not vested will be forfeited upon the participant’s termination of continuous service for any reason.
Restricted
Stock Unit Awards
Restricted stock unit awards
may be granted under the 2015 Plan pursuant to restricted stock unit award agreements. Payment of any purchase price may be made in any
legal form acceptable to the plan administrator. We will settle a payment due to a recipient of a restricted stock unit award by delivery
of shares of our Common Stock, by cash, by a combination of cash and stock, or in any other form of consideration determined by the plan
administrator and set forth in the restricted stock unit award agreement. Dividend equivalents may be credited in respect of shares of
our Common Stock covered by a restricted stock unit award. Restricted stock unit awards may be subject to vesting in accordance with
a vesting schedule to be determined by the plan administrator. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable restricted stock unit award
agreement, restricted stock units that have not vested will be forfeited upon the participant’s termination of continuous service
for any reason.
Stock
Appreciation Rights
Stock appreciation rights
may be granted under the 2015 Plan pursuant to stock appreciation right agreements. Each stock appreciation right is denominated in Common
Stock equivalents. The strike price of each stock appreciation right will be determined by the plan administrator but will in no event
be less than 100% of the fair market value of the stock subject to the stock appreciation right at the time of grant. The plan administrator
may also impose restrictions or conditions upon the vesting of stock appreciation rights that it deems appropriate. Stock appreciation
rights may be paid in our Common Stock, in cash, in a combination of cash and stock, or in any other form of legal consideration approved
by the plan administrator and set forth in the stock appreciation right agreement. Stock appreciation rights will be subject to the same
conditions upon termination and restrictions on transfer as stock options under the 2015 Plan.
Performance
Awards
The 2015 Plan allows us to
grant cash and stock based performance awards that may qualify as performance-based compensation. Performance
awards may be granted, vest or be exercised based upon the attainment during a specified period of time of specified performance goals.
The length of any performance period, the performance goals to be achieved during the performance period, and the measure of whether
and to what degree such performance goals have been attained will be determined by the Compensation Committee or the Board.
Performance Goals under the
2015 Plan will be based on any one or more of the following Performance Criteria: (1) earnings (including earnings per share and net
earnings); (2) earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation; (3) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization;
(4) total stockholder return; (5) return on equity or average stockholder’s equity; (6) return on assets, investment, or capital
employed; (7) stock price; (8) margin (including gross margin); (9) income (before or after taxes); (10) operating income; (11) operating
income after taxes; (12) pre-tax profit; (13) operating cash flow; (14) sales or revenue targets; (15) increases in revenue or product
revenue; (16) expenses and cost reduction goals; (17) improvement in or attainment of working capital levels; (18) economic value added
(or an equivalent metric); (19) market share; (20) cash flow; (21) cash flow per share; (22) share price performance; (23) debt reduction;
(24) customer satisfaction; (25) stockholders’ equity; (26) capital expenditures; (27) debt levels; (28) operating profit or net
operating profit; (29) workforce diversity; (30) growth of net income or operating income; (31) billings; (32) pre-clinical development
related compound goals; (33) financing; (34) regulatory milestones, including approval of a compound; (35) stockholder liquidity; (36)
corporate governance and compliance; (37) product commercialization; (38) intellectual property; (39) personnel matters; (40) progress
of internal research or clinical programs; (41) progress of partnered programs; (42) partner satisfaction; (43) budget management; (44)
clinical achievements; (45) completing phases of a clinical study (including the treatment phase); (46) announcing or presenting preliminary
or final data from clinical studies; in each case, whether on particular timelines or generally; (47) timely completion of clinical trials;
(48) submission of INDs and NDAs and other regulatory achievements; (49) partner or collaborator achievements; (50) internal controls,
including those related to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; (51) research progress, including the development of programs; (52) investor
relations, analysts and communication; (53) manufacturing achievements (including obtaining particular yields from manufacturing runs
and other measurable objectives related to process development activities); (54) strategic partnerships or transactions (including in-licensing
and out-licensing of intellectual property; (55) establishing relationships with commercial entities with respect to the marketing, distribution
and sale of the Company’s products (including with group purchasing organizations, distributors and other vendors); (56) supply
chain achievements (including establishing relationships with manufacturers or suppliers of active pharmaceutical ingredients and other
component materials and manufacturers of the Company’s products); (57) co-development, co-marketing, profit sharing, joint venture
or other similar arrangements; and (58) other
measures of performance selected by the Board.
Performance Goals may be
based on a company-wide basis, with respect to one or more business units, divisions, affiliates, or business segments, and in
either absolute terms or relative to the performance of one or more comparable companies or the performance of one or more relevant
indices. In establishing a Performance Goal, the Compensation Committee and Board may provide that performance will be appropriately
adjusted as follows: (1) to exclude restructuring and/or other nonrecurring charges; (2) to exclude exchange rate effects; (3) to
exclude the effects of changes to generally accepted accounting principles; (4) to exclude the effects of any statutory adjustments
to corporate tax rates; (5) to exclude the effects of any “extraordinary items” as determined under generally accepted
accounting principles; (6) to exclude the dilutive effects of acquisitions or joint ventures; (7) to assume that any business
divested by the Company achieved performance objectives at targeted levels during the balance of a Performance Period following such
divestiture; (8) to exclude the effect of any change in the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company by reason of any stock
dividend or split, stock repurchase, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange of
shares or other similar corporate change, or any distributions to common stockholders other than regular cash dividends; (9) to
exclude the effects of stock based compensation and the award of bonuses under the Company’s bonus plans; (10) to exclude
costs incurred in connection with potential acquisitions or divestitures that are required to expensed under generally accepted
accounting principles; (11) to exclude the goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges that are required to be recorded under
generally accepted accounting principles and (12) to exclude the effect of any other unusual, non-recurring gain or loss or other
extraordinary item. In addition, the Board retains the discretion to reduce or eliminate the compensation or economic benefit due
upon attainment of Performance Goals and to define the manner of calculating the performance criteria it selects to use for a
Performance Period.
Other
Stock Awards
Other forms of stock awards
valued in whole or in part with reference to our Common Stock may be granted either alone or in addition to other stock awards under
the 2015 Plan. The plan administrator will have sole and complete authority to determine the persons to whom and the time or times at
which such other stock awards will be granted, the number of shares of our Common Stock to be granted and all other conditions of such
other stock awards. Other forms of stock awards may be subject to vesting in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the
plan administrator.
Clawback/Recovery
Stock awards granted under
the 2015 Plan will be subject to recoupment in accordance with any clawback policy we may be required to adopt pursuant to applicable
law and listing requirements. In addition, the Board may impose such other clawback, recovery or recoupment provisions in any stock award
agreement as it determines necessary or appropriate.
Changes
to Capital Structure
In the event of certain capitalization
adjustments, the plan administrator will appropriately adjust: (i) the class(es) and maximum number of securities subject to the 2015
Plan; (ii) the class(es) and maximum number of securities that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of ISOs; (iii) the class(es) and
maximum number of securities that may be awarded to any person pursuant to Section 162(m) limits; (iv) the class(es) and maximum number
of securities that may be awarded to any non-employee director; and (v) the class(es) and number of securities and price per share of
stock subject to outstanding stock awards.
Transactions
In the event of a transaction
(as defined in the 2015 Plan and described below), the Board will have the discretion to take one or more of the following actions with
respect to outstanding stock awards (contingent upon the closing or completion of such transaction), unless otherwise provided in the
stock award agreement or other written agreement with the participant or unless otherwise provided by the Board at the time of grant:
|
● |
arrange
for the surviving or acquiring corporation (or its parent company) to assume or continue the award or to substitute a similar stock
award for the award (including an award to acquire the same consideration paid to our stockholders pursuant to the transaction); |
|
|
|
|
● |
arrange
for the assignment of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by us with respect to the stock award to the surviving or acquiring
corporation (or its parent company); |
|
|
|
|
● |
accelerate
the vesting (and, if applicable, the exercisability) of the stock award and provide for its termination prior to the effective time
of the transaction; |
|
|
|
|
● |
arrange
for the lapse, in whole or in part, of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by us with respect to the award; |
|
● |
cancel
or arrange for the cancellation of the stock award, to the extent not vested or exercised prior to the effective time of the transaction,
in exchange for such cash consideration or no consideration, as the Board may consider appropriate; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
make
a payment, in such form as may be determined by the Board, equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the value of the property the participant
would have received upon the exercise of the stock award immediately prior to the effective time of the transaction, over (ii) any
exercise price payable in connection with such exercise. |
The Board is not obligated
to treat all stock awards or portions of stock awards in the same manner. The Board may take different actions with respect to the vested
and unvested portions of a stock award.
For purposes of the 2015
Plan, a transaction will be deemed to occur in the event of a corporate transaction or a change in control. A corporate transaction generally
means the consummation of (i) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of our consolidated assets, (ii) a sale or other
disposition of more than 50% of our outstanding securities, (iii) a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which we are
not the surviving corporation, or (iv) a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which we are the surviving corporation
but the shares of our Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction are converted or exchanged into other property by
virtue of the transaction.
A change of control generally
means (i) the acquisition by a person or entity of more than 50% of our combined voting power other than by merger, consolidation or
similar transaction; (ii) a consummated merger, consolidation or similar transaction immediately after which our stockholders cease to
own more than 50% of the combined voting power of the surviving entity; (iii) a consummated sale, lease or exclusive license or other
disposition of all or substantially of our consolidated assets; or (iv) when a majority of the Board becomes comprised of individuals
whose nomination, appointment, or election was not approved by a majority of the members of our Board or their approved successors.
Change
in Control
Under the 2015 Plan, a stock
award may be subject to additional acceleration of vesting and exercisability upon or after a change in control (as defined in the 2015
Plan) as may be provided in the stock award agreement or other written agreement with the participant, but in the absence of such provision,
no such acceleration will occur.
Plan
Amendments and Termination
The Board will have the authority
to amend or terminate the 2015 Plan at any time. However, except as otherwise provided in the 2015 Plan, no amendment or termination
of the 2015 Plan may materially impair any rights under awards already granted to a participant unless agreed to by the affected participant.
We will obtain stockholder approval of any amendment to the 2015 Plan as required by applicable law and listing requirements. No ISOs
may be granted under the 2015 Plan after December 30, 2035.
U.S.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
The information set forth
below is a summary only and does not purport to be complete. The information is based upon current federal income tax rules and therefore
is subject to change when those rules change. Because the tax consequences to any recipient may depend on his or her particular situation,
each recipient should consult the recipient’s tax adviser regarding the federal, state, local, and other tax consequences of the
grant or exercise of an award or the disposition of stock acquired as a result of an award. The 2015 Plan is not qualified under the
provisions of Section 401(a) of the Code and is not subject to any of the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974. Our ability to realize the benefit of any tax deductions described below depends on our generation of taxable income as well as
the requirement of reasonableness, the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code and the satisfaction of our tax reporting obligations.
Nonstatutory
Stock Options
Generally, there is no taxation
upon the grant of an NSO if the stock option is granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the underlying stock
on the grant date. On exercise, an optionholder will recognize ordinary income equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value
on the date of exercise of the stock over the exercise price. If the optionholder is employed by us or one of our affiliates, that income
will be subject to withholding taxes. The optionholder’s tax basis in those shares will be equal to their fair market value on
the date of exercise of the stock option, and the optionholder’s capital gain holding period for those shares will begin on that
date.
Subject to the requirement
of reasonableness, the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code and the satisfaction of a tax reporting obligation, we will generally
be entitled to a tax deduction equal to the taxable ordinary income realized by the optionholder.
Incentive
Stock Options
The 2015 Plan provides for
the grant of stock options that qualify as “incentive stock options,” as defined in Section 422 of the Code. Under the Code,
an optionholder generally is not subject to ordinary income tax upon the grant or exercise of an ISO. If the optionholder holds a share
received on exercise of an ISO for more than two years from the date the stock option was granted and more than one year from the date
the stock option was exercised (the “Required Holding Period”), the difference, if any, between the amount realized on a
sale or other taxable disposition of that share and the holder’s tax basis in that share will be long-term capital gain or loss.
If, however, an optionholder
disposes of a share acquired on exercise of an ISO before the end of the Required Holding Period (a “Disqualifying Disposition”),
the optionholder generally will recognize ordinary income in the year of the Disqualifying Disposition equal to the excess, if any, of
the fair market value of the share on the date the ISO was exercised over the exercise price. However, if the sales proceeds are less
than the fair market value of the share on the date of exercise of the stock option, the amount of ordinary income recognized by the
optionholder will not exceed the gain, if any, realized on the sale. If the amount realized on a Disqualifying Disposition exceeds the
fair market value of the share on the date of exercise of the stock option, that excess will be short-term or long-term capital gain,
depending on whether the holding period for the share exceeds one year.
For purposes of the alternative
minimum tax, the amount by which the fair market value of a share of stock acquired on exercise of an ISO exceeds the exercise price
of that stock option generally will be an adjustment included in the optionholder’s alternative minimum taxable income for the
year in which the stock option is exercised. If, however, there is a Disqualifying Disposition of the share in the year in which the
stock option is exercised, there will be no adjustment for alternative minimum tax purposes with respect to that share. In computing
alternative minimum taxable income, the tax basis of a share acquired on exercise of an ISO is increased by the amount of the adjustment
taken into account with respect to that share for alternative minimum tax purposes in the year the stock option is exercised.
We are not allowed an income
tax deduction with respect to the grant or exercise of an ISO or the disposition of a share acquired on exercise of an ISO after the
Required Holding Period. If there is a Disqualifying Disposition of a share, however, we are allowed a deduction in an amount equal to
the ordinary income includible in income by the optionholder, subject to Section 162(m) of the Code and provided that amount constitutes
an ordinary and necessary business expense for us and is reasonable in amount, and either the employee includes that amount in income
or we timely satisfy our reporting requirements with respect to that amount.
Restricted
Stock Awards
Generally, the recipient
of a restricted stock award will recognize ordinary income at the time the stock is received equal to the excess, if any, of the fair
market value of the stock received over any amount paid by the recipient in exchange for the stock. If, however, the stock is not vested
when it is received (for example, if the employee is required to work for a period of time in order to have the right to sell the stock),
the recipient generally will not recognize income until the stock becomes vested, at which time the recipient will recognize ordinary
income equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the stock on the date it becomes vested over any amount paid by the recipient
in exchange for the stock. A recipient may, however, file an election with the Internal Revenue Service, within 30 days following his
or her receipt of the stock award, to recognize ordinary income, as of the date the recipient receives the award, equal to the excess,
if any, of the fair market value of the stock on the date the award is granted over any amount paid by the recipient for the stock.
The recipient’s basis
for the determination of gain or loss upon the subsequent disposition of shares acquired from stock awards will be the amount paid for
such shares plus any ordinary income recognized either when the stock is received or when the stock becomes vested.
Subject to the requirement
of reasonableness, the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code and the satisfaction of a tax reporting obligation, we will generally
be entitled to a tax deduction equal to the taxable ordinary income realized by the recipient of the stock award.
Restricted
Stock Unit Awards
Generally, the recipient
of a stock unit structured to conform to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or an exception to Section 409A of the Code will
recognize ordinary income at the time the stock is delivered equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the shares of our
Common Stock received over any amount paid by the recipient in exchange for the shares of our Common Stock. To conform to the requirements
of Section 409A of the Code, the shares of our Common Stock subject to a stock unit award may generally only be delivered upon one of
the following events: a fixed calendar date (or dates), separation from service, death, disability or a change in control. If delivery
occurs on another date, unless the stock units otherwise comply with or qualify for an exception to the requirements of Section 409A
of the Code, in addition to the tax treatment described above, the recipient will owe an additional 20% federal tax and interest on any
taxes owed.
The recipient’s basis
for the determination of gain or loss upon the subsequent disposition of shares acquired from stock units will be the amount paid for
such shares plus any ordinary income recognized when the stock is delivered.
Subject to the requirement
of reasonableness, the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code and the satisfaction of a tax reporting obligation, we will generally
be entitled to a tax deduction equal to the taxable ordinary income realized by the recipient of the stock award.
Stock
Appreciation Rights
Under the 2015 Plan, we may
grant stock appreciation rights separate from any other award or in tandem with other awards granted under the 2015 Plan.
Where the stock appreciation
rights are granted with a strike price equal to the fair market value of the underlying stock on the grant date, the recipient will recognize
ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the stock or cash received upon such exercise. Subject to the requirement of reasonableness,
the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, and the satisfaction of a tax reporting obligation, we will generally be entitled to a
tax deduction equal to the taxable ordinary income realized by the recipient of the stock appreciation right.
New
Plan Benefits
As of July 14, 2023, 16,955
shares subject to stock options and performance-based stock options have been granted under the 2015 Plan. Other
than with respect to annual grants of stock options to our non-employee directors that will be made immediately following the date of
the annual meeting, awards under the 2015 Plan are discretionary and are not subject to set benefits or amounts, and we have not approved
any awards that are conditioned on stockholder approval of the 2015 Plan. Accordingly, we cannot currently determine the benefits or
number of shares subject to awards that may be granted in the future to executive officers, directors or employees under the 2015 Plan.
The
table below sets forth the benefits or amounts that will be received annually by our current non-employee directors under the 2015 Plan
pursuant to the Director Compensation Policy. Since the number of shares to be issued to each non-employee director pursuant to the Director
Compensation Policy is a function of the Fair Market Value on the grant date, dependent on the value of the underlying shares of common
stock at the time grant, the actual number of awards to be issued to the non-employee directors under the 2015 Plan is an estimate based
on the closing stock price of a share of the Company’s common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market on July 14, 2023, our
record date.
Name and Position | |
Dollar Value ($) | | |
Number
of Units(1) | |
All Current Directors who are Independent and Not Executive Officers
as a Group (3 persons) | |
| 150,000 | | |
| 117,204 | |
|
(1) |
Estimated
based on the closing stock price of a share of the Company’s common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market on July 14,
2023, our record date. |
Aggregate
Awards Granted
The
following table sets forth information with respect to the number of shares subject to awards previously granted to the following listed
individuals and specified groups under the 2015 Plan since its inception through July 14, 2023, our record date:
Name and Position | |
Number of Shares Underlying Options | | |
Number of Shares Underlying Restricted
Stock Units | | |
Number of Shares Underlying Restricted
Stock Grants | |
Named Executive Officers: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Jeffrey Frelick,
Chief Executive Officer and President | |
| 4,672 | | |
| 104 | | |
| - | |
Deina Walsh, Chief Financial
Officer | |
| 1,463 | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
All Current Executive Officers as a Group | |
| 6,135 | | |
| 104 | | |
| - | |
All Current Directors who are Not Executive Officers as a Group (4 persons) | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Each Nominee for Election as a Director: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Bruce Stroever | |
| 1,619 | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Don Hankey | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Erick Lucera | |
| 2,286 | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Sid Angle | |
| 2,286 | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Each Associate of any of Such Directors, Executive Officer or Nominees | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Each Other Person who Received or is to Receive 5 Percent of Such Options, Warrants
or Rights | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
All Employees, including all Current Officers Who are not Executive Officers,
as a Group | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Equity
Compensation Plan Information as of December 31, 2022
| |
Equity
Compensation Plan Information | |
Plan
Category | |
Number
of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (a) | | |
Weighted
average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (b) | | |
Number
of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding
securities reflected in column (a)) (c) | |
Equity
compensation plans approved by security holders | |
| 15,095 | | |
$ | 505.20 | | |
| 20,823 | |
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Total | |
| 15,095 | | |
$ | 505.20 | | |
| 20,823 | |
THE
BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE 2015 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN.
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The
following table sets forth information, as of July 14, 2023, regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock by:
● |
each
person known by us to be a beneficial owner of more than five percent of our outstanding common stock; |
|
|
● |
each
of our directors and director nominee; |
|
|
● |
each
of our named executive officers; and |
|
|
● |
all
directors and executive officers as a group. |
The
amounts and percentage of common stock beneficially owned are reported on the basis of regulations of the SEC governing the determination
of beneficial ownership of securities. Under the rules of the SEC, a person is deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of a security
if that person has or shares “voting power,” which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of such security, or
“investment power,” which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of such security. A person is also
deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities of which that person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days. Under
these rules, more than one person may be deemed a beneficial owner of the same securities and a person may be deemed a beneficial owner
of securities as to which he has no economic interest. Except as indicated by footnote, the persons named in the table below have sole
voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by them.
Name of Beneficial Owner or Identity of Group | |
Title of Class | |
Shares(1) | | |
Percentage | |
| |
| |
| | |
| |
5% or greater stockholders: | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Lind Global Fund II LP, Lind Global Partners II LLC, and Jeff Easton 444 Madison
Ave, Floor 41 New York, NY 10022 | |
Common Stock | |
| 203,045 | (2) | |
| 6.5 | % |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Executive Officers and Directors: | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Don R. Hankey 4751 Wilshire Blvd #110 Los Angeles, CA 90010 | |
Common Stock | |
| 238,154 | (3) | |
| 7.6 | % |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Jeffrey Frelick, 2 Burlington Woods Drive Ste 100, Burlington, MA 01803 | |
Common Stock | |
| 4,776 | (4) | |
| 0.2 | % |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Deina H. Walsh, 2 Burlington Woods Drive Ste 100, Burlington, MA 01803 | |
Common Stock | |
| 1,463 | (5) | |
| 0.0 | % |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Bruce Stroever, 2 Burlington Woods Drive Ste 100, Burlington, MA 01803 | |
Common Stock | |
| 1,619 | (6) | |
| 0.1 | % |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Erick Lucera, 2 Burlington Woods Drive Ste 100, Burlington, MA 01803 | |
Common Stock | |
| 2,286 | (7) | |
| 0.1 | % |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Sid Angle, 2 Burlington Woods Drive Ste 100, Burlington, MA 01803 | |
Common Stock | |
| 2,286 | (8) | |
| 0.1 | % |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Total Officers and Directors as a Group (6 persons) | |
Common Stock | |
| 250,584 | (9) | |
| 7.9 | % |
(1) |
Based
on 3,134,391 issued and outstanding shares. The number of shares issued and outstanding that was used to calculate the percentage
ownership of each listed person includes the shares underlying convertible debt, stock options and warrants that are exercisable
within 60 days from our report date. |
|
|
(2) |
This information
is based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on June 26, 2023 by Lind Global Fund II LP (the “Lind Fund”) which reports
sole voting power with respect to 203,045 shares and sole dispositive power with respect to 203,045 shares. Lind Global Partners
II LLC (“Lind Partners”), the general partner of the Lind Fund, may be deemed to have sole voting and dispositive power
with respect to the shares held by Lind Fund. Jeff Easton, the managing member of Lind Partners, may be deemed to have sole voting
and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by Lind Fund. |
|
|
(2) |
Mr.
Hankey is the beneficial owner of 223,406 shares and 14,748 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants of the Company consisting of
142,659 shares and 9,359 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants owned by the Don Hankey Trust (the “Trust”) of which
Mr. Hankey is the Trustee, 1,057 shares held by H&H Funding LLC of which Mr. Hankey is the sole manager, 2,590 shares and 176
shares issuable upon exercise of warrants held by Knight Services, Inc. which is 100% owned by the Trust, and Knight Insurance Company,
Ltd. the beneficial owner of 77,100 shares and 5,213 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants consisting of 9,516 shares and 644
shares issuable upon exercise of warrants held by Knight Insurance Company, Ltd., 48,887 shares and 3,305 shares issuable upon exercise
of warrants held by Knightbrook Insurance Company which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Knight Insurance Company, Ltd. and 18,697
shares and 1,264 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants held by Knight Specialty Insurance Company a wholly owned subsidiary of
Knight Insurance Company, Ltd. |
|
|
(3) |
Includes
4,672 shares underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days. |
|
|
(4) |
Includes
1,463 shares underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days. |
|
|
(5) |
Includes
1,619 shares underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days. |
|
|
(6) |
Includes
2,286 shares underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days. |
|
|
(7) |
Includes
2,286 shares underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days. |
|
|
(8) |
Consists
of 223,510 shares, 14,748 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants and 12,326 shares underlying stock options exercisable
within 60 days. |
DIRECTORS
AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS;
The
following table and biographical summaries set forth information, including principal occupation and business experience, about our directors
and executive officers as of the date of this proxy statement:
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position |
Jeffrey
Frelick |
|
58 |
|
Chief
Executive Officer and President |
Deina
H. Walsh |
|
58 |
|
Chief
Financial Officer |
Don
Hankey |
|
80 |
|
Chairman
of the Board of Directors |
Bruce
Stroever |
|
73 |
|
Director |
Erick
Lucera |
|
55 |
|
Director
|
Siddhesh
Angle |
|
39 |
|
Director
|
Jeffrey
Frelick: Chief Executive Officer and President
Jeffrey
Frelick serves as our President and Chief Executive Officer, bringing more than 25 years of leadership, operational, and investment experience
in the life science industry. He joined Bone Biologics in 2015 as our Chief Operating Officer and assumed his current role in June 2019.
Prior to Bone Biologics, Mr. Frelick spent 15 years on Wall Street as a sell-side analyst following the med-tech industry at investment
banks Canaccord Genuity, ThinkEquity and Lazard. He also previously worked at Boston Biomedical Consultants where he provided strategic
planning assistance, market research data and due diligence for diagnostic companies. He began his career at Becton Dickinson in sales
and sales management positions after gaining technical experience as a laboratory technologist with Clinical Pathology Facility. Mr.
Frelick received a B.S. in Biology from University of Pittsburgh and an M.B.A. from Suffolk University’s Sawyer Business School.
Deina
H. Walsh: Chief Financial Officer
Deina
Walsh has served as our Chief Financial Officer since November 2014. She is a certified public accountant and owner/founder of DHW CPA,
PLLC, a Public Companies Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) registered firm since 2014. Prior to forming her firm, Ms. Walsh had 13 years
at a public accounting firm where as a partner she was actively responsible for leading firm audit engagements of publicly held entities
in accordance with PCAOB standards and compliance with SEC regulations, including internal control requirements under Section 404 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Ms. Walsh had a global client base including entities throughout the United States, Canada and China. These entities
encompass a diverse range of industries including manufacturing, wholesale, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and technology. Her experience
includes work with start-up companies and well-established operating entities. She has assisted many entities seeking debt and
equity capital. Areas of specialty include mergers, acquisitions, reverse mergers, consolidations, complex equity structures, foreign
currency translations and revenue recognition complexities. Ms. Walsh has an Associates of Science Degree in Business Administration
from Monroe Community College and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the State University of New York at Brockport.
Don
Hankey: Chairman of the Board of Directors
Mr.
Hankey has served as Chairman of the Board since 2018. Mr. Hankey holds his BA Degree and has done post-graduate work from
the University of Southern California. At age 27, Mr. Hankey became Vice President of a major investment banking firm, which would later
become part of USB Paine Weber. Mr. Hankey acquired Midway Ford in 1972 and founded Hankey Investment Company. During the 1980s, Mr.
Hankey’s organization grew its portfolio and established a foothold in the financial services industry. Mr. Hankey has incorporated
technology into every aspect of the Hankey Group of companies improving efficiencies and outcomes. Mr. Hankey has been the manager of
Hankey Capital, LLC, since its formation in 2002. Given Mr. Hankey’s financial experience, we believe he is well qualified to serve
as the Chairman of the Board.
Bruce
Stroever: Director
Mr.
Stroever has served on the Board since 2012, bringing forty years of product development and general management experience in the medical
device and orthobiologics fields. Mr. Stroever most recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer at MTF until he retired
in 2018 after 30 years of service. Under Mr. Stroever’s leadership, MTF grew to be the largest tissue bank in the
world. From 1971 to 1988, Mr. Stroever held several positions with Ethicon, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson, Inc. subsidiary. Mr. Stroever
served on the advisory board for the New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network. He was also elected to the Board of Governors of the
American Association of Tissue Banks for a three-year term in 1999 and subsequently in 2012. He was a founding member of the Tissue Policy
Group subsidiary of the AATB and served as its Chairman for two terms. Mr. Stroever serves on the Board of Donate Life New York State,
a non-profit based in Albany, New York. Mr. Stroever received his B.E. in Mechanical/Chemical Engineering from Stevens Institute
of Technology in 1972 and a M.S. in Bioengineering from Columbia University in 1977. Given Mr. Stroever’s educational background,
his senior management experience in our industry and the continuity he brings to the Board, we believe that Mr. Stroever is well qualified
to serve as a member of the Board.
Erick
Lucera: Director
Mr.
Lucera’s appointment to the Board became effective upon completion of the October 2021 Primary Offering. Currently, Mr. Lucera
serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Editas Medicine, Inc.,
a public company. From 2020 to 2023, Mr. Lucera served as Chief Financial Officer of AVEO Oncology, a public biotech company.
From 2016 to 2020, Mr. Lucera served as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary of VALERITAS, a publicly held medical device
company. From 2017 to the present, Mr. Lucera has served as a member of the Board of Directors and Audit Chairman of Beyond Air (Nasdaq:
XAIR), a publicly held medical device company. From 2015 to 2016, Mr. Lucera served as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary
of VIVENTIA Bio, a privately held biotech company. From 2012 to 2015, Mr. Lucera served as Vice President, Corporate Development of Aratana
Therepeutics, a former publicly held biotech company (formerly Nasdaq: PETX). In 2012, Mr. Lucera served as Vice President,
Corporate Development of Sunshine Heart, a publicly held medical device manufacturer. From 2008 to 2011, Mr. Lucera served as Vice President,
Healthcare Analyst at Eaton Vance. From 2004 to 2008, he served as Portfolio Manager, Triathlon Life Sciences Fund. From 1995 to 2004,
he served as Senior Vice President and Principal of Independence Investments, as head of healthcare research team. From 1990 to 1993,
Mr. Lucera served as Staff Accountant at Price Waterhouse. Given Mr. Lucera’s extensive experience in strategic planning and finance,
we believe that Mr. Lucera is well qualified to serve as a member of the Board.
Siddhesh
(Sid) R. Angle: Director
Dr.
Angle’s appointment to the Board became effective upon completion of October 2021 Offering. From 2018 to the present,
Dr. Angle is Co-Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Regenosine, an early stage start-up for osteoarthritic disease. From
2021 to present, Dr. Angle also serves on the Executive Team of Vetosine, an animal health affiliate of Regenosine. From 2020 to 2021,
Dr. Angle was Associate Director, Innovation Commercialization at NYU Langone. From 2017 to 2020, Dr. Angle was Program Manager, Innovation
Commercialization at NYU Langone. From 2013 to 2017, Dr. Angle worked in various R&D capacities at Zimmer Biomet, culminating as
R&D manager of global orthobiologics. From 2011 to 2013, Dr. Angle served as Research Scientist at Carnegie Mellon University. Given
Mr. Angle’s extensive background in research and development, we believe that Mr. Angle is well qualified to serve as a member
of the Board.
Family
Relationships
There
are no family relationships between any of our directors or executive officers.
Legal
Proceedings
In
July 2019, Dr. Bessie (Chia) Soo and Dr. Kang (Eric) Ting (“Plaintiffs”) filed a complaint (the “Complaint”)
in federal court in Massachusetts against the Company, Bruce Stroever (“Stroever”), John Booth (“Booth”), Stephen
LaNeve (“LaNeve”, and together with Stroever and Booth, the “Individual Defendants”), and MTF Biologics (f/k/a
The Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation, Inc.) (“MTF”). The Complaint alleges claims for breach of contract against the
Company and tortious interference with contract against the Individual Defendants and MTF arising from the termination of the Professional
Service Agreements, dated as of January 8, 2016, between the Company and each of the Plaintiffs. The Individual Defendants have been
sued for actions taken by them in connection with their service to the Company as directors and/or officers of the Company. As such,
the Company has certain indemnification obligations to the Individual Defendants. The Company and the Individual Defendants intend to
vigorously defend against the allegations in the Complaint. Although the Complaint was filed several years ago, due to the Covid-19 Pandemic
and long delays in the court ruling on various motions to dismiss, in terms of case progression the case is still in its early stages
with the claims in the case not being set until April 2022 and preliminary discovery starting since then. Based on the early stage of
the litigation, it is not possible to estimate the amount or range of any possible loss arising from the expenditure of defense fees,
a judgment or settlement of the matter.
In
the normal course of our business, we may periodically become subject to various lawsuits. However, except as noted above, there are
currently no legal actions pending against us or, to our knowledge, are any such proceedings contemplated.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Our
Board consists of four (4) members: Don Hankey, Bruce Stroever, Erick Lucera, and Sid Angle. The Board met four times during 2022.
Director
Independence
The
listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) require that a majority of our board of directors be independent.
No director will qualify as independent unless the board affirmatively determines that the director has no relationship with us that
would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Based upon the Nasdaq listing
standards and applicable SEC rules and regulations, our board has determined that each of Bruce Stroever, Erick Lucera, and Sid Angle
are independent.
Board
Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight
The
Board believes it is important to select the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in the manner it considers in the best
interests of the Company at any given time. The Board has elected a Chairman of the Board who is different from the Company’s Chief
Executive Officer.
The
Board currently includes three individuals who are independent from the management of the Company and, assuming that these nominees are
elected at the Annual Meeting, these members of the Board will continue to be independent directors. The Board and its committees meet
regularly throughout the year to assure that the independent directors are well briefed and informed with regard to the Company’s
affairs. Independent directors have unfettered access to any employee within the Company and are encouraged to call upon whatever employee
he deems fit to secure the information each director feels is important to their understanding of our Company. In this fashion, we seek
to maintain well informed, independent directors who are prepared to make informed decisions regarding our business affairs.
Management
is responsible for the day-to-day management of risks the Company faces, while the Board as a whole plays an important role in overseeing
the identification, assessment and mitigation of such risks. The Board reviews information regarding the Company’s finances and
operations, as well as the risks associated with each. For example, the oversight of financial risk management lies primarily with the
Board’s Audit Committee, which is empowered to appoint and oversee our independent auditors, monitor the integrity of our financial
reporting processes and systems of internal controls and provide an avenue of communication among our independent auditors, management
and the Board. The Company’s Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing the management of risks relating to the Company’s
compensation plans and arrangements. In fulfilling its risk oversight responsibility, the Board, as a whole and acting through any established
committees, regularly consults with management to evaluate and, when appropriate, modify our risk management strategies.
Board
Committees
Our
Board has appointed an audit committee, nominating and corporate governance committee, and compensation committee. The table
below shows the number of meetings held by our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
during fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 (“fiscal year 2022”) and the names of the directors who served on these committees
during fiscal year 2022 and are currently serving on each committee.
Committee
Name |
|
Number
of
Meetings
Held |
|
Committee
Members |
Audit |
|
3(2) |
|
Bruce
Stroever
Erick
Lucera (1)
Sid
Angle |
Compensation |
|
1 |
|
Bruce
Stroever (1)
Erick
Lucera
Sid
Angle |
Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee |
|
1 |
|
Bruce
Stroever
Erick
Lucera
Sid
Angle (1) |
(1)
Committee Chair
(2)
The Audit Committee acted by unanimous written consent 1 time in fiscal year 2022.
Each
committee acts pursuant to a written charter adopted by our board of directors. The current charters for each board committee are available
on our website, www.bonebiologics.com under the heading, “Investors” and the subheading, “Corporate Governance.”
The information contained on our website is not a part of this proxy statement.
Audit
Committee
The
audit committee is responsible for overseeing: (i) our accounting and reporting practices and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
regarding such accounting and reporting practices; (ii) the quality and integrity of our financial statements; (iii) our internal control
and compliance programs; (iv) our independent auditors’ qualifications and independence and (v) the performance of our independent
auditors. In so doing, the audit committee maintains free and open means of communication between our
directors and management.
The Audit Committee
is a separately designated standing committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. The board of directors
has determined that each member of the audit committee meets the independence and financial literacy requirements applicable to audit
committee members under the Nasdaq listing standards and SEC rules. The board of directors has further determined that Mr. Lucera qualifies
as an “audit committee financial expert” in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC.
Compensation
Committee
The
compensation committee is responsible for reviewing and approving the compensation of our executive officers and directors and our performance
plans and other compensation plans. The compensation committee makes recommendations to our Board in connection with such
compensation and performance plans.
Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee
The
nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for (i) identifying, screening and reviewing individuals qualified to serve
as directors (consistent with criteria approved by our Board) and recommending to our Board candidates for nomination for election at
the annual meeting of stockholders or to fill Board vacancies or newly created directorships; (ii) developing and recommending
to our Board and overseeing the implementation of our corporate governance guidelines (if any); (iii) overseeing evaluations of our Board
and (iv) recommending to our Board candidates for appointment to Board committees.
Board
(and Committee) Meetings and Attendance
For
fiscal year 2022, each of our directors attended 75% or more of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board, and the committee(s) of
the Board on which he serves. Each director is expected to attend and participate in, either in person or by means of telephonic or video
conference, all scheduled meetings of the Board and all meetings of the committees of the Board on which such director serves, and all
scheduled meetings of stockholders of the Company. All of our current directors are expected to attend the Annual Meeting via teleconference.
Board
Diversity
The
following Board Diversity Matrix presents our Board Diversity statistics, in accordance with Nasdaq Rule 5606, as self-disclosed by the
directors. While the Board satisfies minimum objectives of Nasdaq Rule 5605(f)(2), the Board will continue to consider the diversity
of the Board in its selection of director nominees.
BOARD
DIVERSITY MATRIX (as of August 3, 2023)
Total
Number of Directors |
|
4 |
|
|
Female |
|
Male |
|
Did
Not Disclose Gender |
Part
I: Gender Identity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors |
|
- |
|
3 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Part
II: Demographic Background |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Asian |
|
- |
|
1 |
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
White |
|
- |
|
2 |
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Did
Not Disclose Demographic Background |
|
1 |
Indemnification
Agreements
Our
Board has approved a form of indemnification agreement for our directors and executive officers (“Indemnification Agreement”).
Following Board approval, we entered into Indemnification Agreements with each of our current directors and executive officers.
The
Indemnification Agreement provides for indemnification against expenses, judgments, fines and penalties actually and reasonably incurred
by an indemnitee in connection with threatened, pending or completed actions, suits or other proceedings, subject to certain limitations.
The Indemnification Agreement also provides for the advancement of expenses in connection with a proceeding prior to a final, non-appealable
judgment or other adjudication, provided that the indemnitee provides an undertaking to repay to us any amounts advanced if the indemnitee
is ultimately found not to be entitled to indemnification by us. The Indemnification Agreement sets forth procedures for making and responding
to a request for indemnification or advancement of expenses, as well as dispute resolution procedures that will apply to any dispute
between us and an indemnitee arising under the Indemnification Agreement.
The
foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of Indemnification Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.17 to the
Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 25, 2014.
Code
of Conduct and Ethics
The
Company adopted a formal code of ethics within the meaning of Item 406 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act, that applies
to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar
functions and that that establishes, among other things, procedures for handling actual or apparent conflicts of interest. Our Code of
Ethics is available at our website www.bonebiologics.com/investor-relations/corporate-governance.
Anti-Hedging Policy
We
have an insider trading policy that prohibits directors, officers and employees from engaging in transactions that hedge or offset any decrease
in the market value of equity securities granted as compensation.
Communications
with the Board
Stockholders
may communicate directly with the Board by writing to them at Board, c/o Corporate Secretary, Bone Biologics Corporation, 2 Burlington
Woods Drive, Ste 100, Burlington, MA 01803. Such communications will be forwarded to the director or directors to whom it is addressed,
except for communications that are (1) advertisements or promotional communications, (2) solely related to complaints with respect to
ordinary course of business issues, or (3) clearly unrelated to the Company’s business, industry, management or Board or committee
matters.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
This
proxy statement contains information about the compensation earned and paid to our named executive officers during fiscal year 2022 and
fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (“fiscal year 2021”). For fiscal year 2022, in accordance with the executive compensation
disclosure rules and regulations of the SEC, we determined that the following officers were our named executive officers:
|
● |
Jeffrey Frelick, Chief Executive Officer and President; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
Deina Walsh, Chief Financial Officer. |
Summary
Compensation Table
The
table below summarizes the compensation earned for services rendered to us in all capacities, for the fiscal years indicated, by its
named executive officers:
Name and Principal Position | |
Year | | |
Salary ($) | | |
Option
Awards ($)(1) | | |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation
($) | | |
All Other Compensation ($) | | |
Total Compensation ($) | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Jeffrey Frelick, Chief Executive Officer and President | |
| 2022 | | |
$ | 300,000 | | |
$ | 76,965 | | |
$ | 37,750 | | |
| | | |
$ | 414,715 | |
| |
| 2021 | | |
$ | 240,000 | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | 45,000 | (2) | |
$ | 290,000 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Deina Walsh, Chief Financial
Officer(3) | |
| 2022 | | |
$ | 200,000 | | |
$ | 31,583 | | |
$ | 18,875 | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | 250,458 | |
| |
| 2021 | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | 21,100 | | |
$ | 21,100 | |
(1) |
Represents
the grant date fair value of the option award, calculated in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards
Codification (“ASC”) 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation,” or ASC 718. The assumptions used in
calculating the grant date fair value of the option awards are set forth in Note 2 of the financial statements to our Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2022. |
|
|
(2) |
Pursuant
to the October 2016 Note Purchase Agreement, management agreed to defer 20% of earned compensation until $5,000,000 had been received in cumulative funding from non-current stockholders. This stipulation was met with
the closing of the October 2021 Primary Offering, at which time such deferred compensation was paid. Due
to funding limitations for product development Mr. Frelick elected to forgo his deferred compensation. |
(3) |
From
June 28, 2019 through January 2, 2022, Deina Walsh, our Chief Financial Officer, was employed through an independent contractor agreement.
On December 17, 2021, the Company entered into a revised employment agreement with Ms. Walsh to become full time, which became effective
on January 3, 2022. |
Employment
Agreements with Consultants and Named Executive Officers
Jeffrey
Frelick – Chief Executive Officer and President
The
Company entered into an Employment Agreement, dated as of June 8, 2015, with Jeffrey Frelick, to serve as the Company’s Chief Operating
Officer, effective August 8, 2015, with an annual salary of $300,000. Effective June 28, 2019,
the Board appointed Mr. Frelick as the Chief Executive Officer and President. Pursuant to Mr. Frelick’s employment agreement
he received a stock option grant equal to 3% of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock on August 8, 2015, to vest in three equal
installments on the first, second, and third anniversary of the execution of the employment agreement, which expire on December 27, 2025.
Mr. Frelick’s employment agreement is for a term of three years with the initial term ended on August 7, 2018, after which the
employment agreement automatically extends for one-year periods until terminated by the Company or Mr. Frelick.
Pursuant
to Mr. Frelick’s employment agreement he is
eligible to earn an annual target bonus of fifty percent (50%) of his base salary as in-effect for the applicable calendar year, subject
to the achievement of personal and corporate objectives or milestones to be established by the Board, or any compensation committee thereof,
(after considering any input or recommendations from Mr. Frelick) within sixty (60) days following the beginning of each calendar year
during Mr. Frelick’s employment. In order to earn the annual bonus under this provision, the applicable objectives must be achieved
and Mr. Frelick must be employed by Company at the time the annual bonus is distributed by Company. The annual bonus, if any, shall be
paid on or before March 15th of the calendar year following the year in which it is considered earned. The actual annual bonus paid may
be more or less than fifty percent (50%) of Mr. Frelick’s base salary. In the event of
Mr. Frelick’s termination without cause, Mr. Frelick is entitled to receive any unpaid salary and expenses, a payment equal to
12 months of his base salary, a pro-rated annual bonus at the Boards discretion, and a continuation of benefits for 12 months. To
allow Mr. Frelick to prevent or mitigate dilution of his equity interests in the Company, in connection with each financing, Mr. Frelick
will be provided an opportunity to invest in the Company such that his interest, at his option, remains undiluted or partially diluted.
Pursuant
to an October 2016 Note Purchase Agreement, Mr. Frelick agreed to defer 20% of his earned compensation until at least $5,000,000 had
been received in cumulative funding from non-current stockholders. The Company closed its primary offering in October 2021, at which
time the stipulation for deferred compensation was met and Mr. Frelick was entitled to receive his deferred compensation. Due to funding
limitations for product development Mr. Frelick elected to forgo his deferred compensation.
For
the year ended December 31, 2022, Mr. Frelick’s bonus was $37,750 cash and 1,259 stock options, which were granted in January
2023. There was no bonus for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Deina
Walsh – Chief Financial Officer
The Company entered
into an Independent Contractor Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2019, with Deina Walsh, whereby she provided services to the Company at
a rate of $100.00 per hour. On December 17, 2021, the Company entered into an employment agreement
with Ms. Walsh, effective January 3, 2022, to serve as the Company’s full time Chief Financial Officer with an annual salary
of $200,000. Pursuant to her employment agreement, Ms. Walsh received a vested stock option grant entitling her to purchase 833 shares
of Common Stock, which expires on January 3, 2025. Ms. Walsh’s employment agreement has an indeterminate term and is at will.
Pursuant
to Ms. Walsh’s employment agreement she
is eligible to earn an annual target bonus of twenty-five percent (25%) of her base salary as in-effect for the applicable calendar
year, subject to the achievement of personal and corporate objectives or milestones to be established by the Board, or any compensation
committee thereof, (after considering any input or recommendations from Ms. Walsh) within sixty (60) days following the beginning of
each calendar year during Ms. Walsh’s employment. In order to earn the annual bonus under this provision, the applicable objectives
must be achieved and Ms. Walsh must be employed by Company at the time the annual bonus is distributed by Company. The annual bonus,
if any, shall be paid on or before March 15th of the calendar year following the year in which it is considered earned. The actual annual
bonus paid may be more or less than twenty-five percent (25%) of Ms. Walsh’s base salary. In
the event of Ms. Walsh’s termination without cause, Ms. Walsh is entitled to receive any unpaid salary and expenses, a payment
equal to 4 months of her base salary, a pro-rated annual bonus at the Boards discretion, and a continuation of benefits for 4 months.
To allow Ms. Walsh to prevent or mitigate dilution of her equity interests in the Company, in connection with each financing,
Ms. Walsh shall be provided an opportunity to invest in the Company such that her interest, at her option, remains undiluted or partially
diluted.
For
the year ended December 31, 2022, Ms. Walsh’s bonus was $18,875 cash and 630 stock options, which were granted in January 2023.
Stock
Options
On
January 1, 2022, Mr. Frelick received a stock option grant whereby he is entitled to purchase 1,667 shares of Common Stock of the Company
at an exercise price of $111.60. The stock options vested immediately and expire on January 1,
2024. In the event Mr. Frelick is terminated prior to January 1, 2024, any unexercised portion of this this stock option grant will be
forfeited unless such termination is without Cause, as defined in the 2015 Plan, in which case the vested and unexercised options will
not be forfeited until the earlier of three months from such termination or January 1, 2024.
On
January 3, 2022, Ms. Walsh received a stock option grant whereby she is entitled to purchase 833 shares of Common Stock of
the Company at an exercise price of $111.60. The stock options vested immediately and expire on January 3, 2024. In the event Ms. Walsh is terminated prior to January 3, 2024, any unexercised
portion of this stock option grant will be forfeited unless such termination is without Cause, as defined in the 2015 Plan, in which
case the vested and unexercised options will not be forfeited until the earlier of three months from such termination or January 3,
2024.
Our
compensation committee believes the compensation under the employment agreements and other incentives granted to our named
executive officers align our named executive officers’ interests with those of our stockholders. Our compensation committee and
Board continues to evaluate our executive compensation program with a view toward motivating our named executive officers to meet
our strategic operational and financial goals in the best interests of our stockholders.
Executives
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
Name | |
Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) exercisable | |
|
Option exercise price ($) | | |
Option expiration date | |
(a) | |
(b) | |
|
(e) | | |
(f) | |
Jeffrey Frelick, Chief Operating Officer | |
| 1,667 | |
|
$ | 111.60 | | |
January 1, 2024 | |
| |
| 359 | |
|
$ | 1,537.50 | | |
May 26, 2026 | |
| |
| 1,387 | |
|
$ | 1,192.50 | | |
December 27, 2025 | |
Deina Walsh, Chief Financial Officer | |
| 833 | |
|
$ | 111.60 | | |
January 3, 2024 | |
Pay
Versus Performance
We
are providing the following information about the relationship between executive compensation actually paid (“CAP”) and certain
financial performance of the Company as required by SEC rules (see “Summary of Named Executive Officer Compensation above for discussion
of our compensation program).
Year | |
Summary
Compensation Table Total for PEO(1) | | |
Compensation Actually Paid
to PEO(2) | | |
Average
Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs(3) | | |
Average
Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs(2) | | |
Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on Total Shareholder Return(4) | | |
Net (Loss)(5) | |
2022 | |
$ | 414,715 | | |
$ | 406,750 | | |
$ | 250,458 | | |
$ | 246,475 | | |
$ | 4.12 | | |
$ | (1,484,620 | ) |
2021 | |
$ | 290,000 | | |
$ | 290,000 | | |
$ | 21,100 | (6) | |
$ | 21,100 | | |
$ | 69.15 | | |
$ | (1,610,685 | ) |
| (1) | Amounts
shown reflect total compensation set forth in the Summary Compensation Table for our PEO,
Mr. Frelick, for fiscal year 2022 and fiscal year 2021. |
| (2) | The
following table describes the adjustments, each of which is prescribed by SEC rule, to calculate
the CAP amounts from the summary compensation table (“SCT”) amounts. The SCT
amounts and the CAP amounts do not reflect the actual amount of compensation earned by or
paid to our executives during the applicable years, but rather are amounts determined in
accordance with Item 402 of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act. To determine CAP, adjustments
below were made to our executive officers’ total compensation. |
| |
2022 | | |
2021 | |
Adjustments | |
PEO | | |
Other NEO | | |
PEO | | |
Other NEO | |
SCT Amounts | |
$ | 414,715 | | |
$ | 250,458 | | |
$ | 290,000 | | |
$ | 21,100 | |
Adjustments for stock awards and option awards | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
(Deduct): Aggregate value for stock awards and option awards included in SCT
Total for the covered fiscal year | |
$ | (76,965 | ) | |
$ | (31,583 | ) | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Add: Fair value at year end of awards granted during the covered fiscal year
that were outstanding and unvested at the covered fiscal year end | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Add (Deduct): Year-over-year change in fair value at covered fiscal year end
of awards granted in any prior fiscal year that were outstanding and unvested at the covered fiscal year end | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Add: Vesting date fair value of awards granted and vested during the covered fiscal year | |
$ | 69,000 | | |
$ | 27,600 | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Add (Deduct): Change as of the vesting date (from the end of the prior fiscal
year) in fair value of awards granted in any prior fiscal year for which vesting conditions were satisfied during the covered fiscal
year | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
(Deduct): Fair value at end of prior fiscal year of awards granted in any
prior fiscal year that failed to meet the applicable vesting conditions during the covered fiscal year | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Add: Change in incremental fair value of awards modified during the covered
fiscal year | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Add: Dividends or other earnings paid on awards in the covered fiscal year
prior to vesting if not otherwise included in the SCT Total for the covered fiscal year | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
CAP Amounts | |
$ | 406,750 | | |
$ | 246,475 | | |
$ | 290,000 | | |
$ | 21,100 | |
| (3) | Amounts
shown reflect average total compensation set forth in the Summary Compensation Table for
our NEO, Ms. Walsh, for fiscal year 2022 and fiscal year 2021. |
| (4) | Amounts
shown reflect the value of a fixed investment of $100 on October 13, 2021, of $152.70,
our initial listing on NASDAQ, and on January 1, 2022 of $105.31 as quoted by
the Nasdaq Stock Market. All amounts have been adjusted for the 1-for-30 reverse stock split
effective June 5, 2023. |
| (5) | The
amounts reported in this column represent net loss reflected in the Company’s audited
financial statements for the applicable fiscal year. |
| (6) | From
June 28, 2019 through January 2, 2022, Deina Walsh, our Chief Financial Officer, was employed
through an independent contractor agreement. On December 17, 2021, the Company entered into
a revised employment agreement with Ms. Walsh to become full time, which became effective
on January 3, 2022. |
Analysis
of Information Presented in the Pay Verses Performance Table
We
are providing the following descriptions of the relationships between information presented in the Pay Versus Performance table, including
CAP, as required by Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. We are a pre-revenue medical device development stage entity engaged in research and
development activities focused the development of a medical device to assist in bone regeneration in spinal fusion. Accordingly,
the Compensation Committee does not use TSR or net income (loss) in its compensation programs. However, the Compensation Committee does
utilize several other performance measures, including management of research efforts, development and management of intellectual property
assets, budget management, and capital raising efforts, to align executive compensation with our performance and business objectives
(see “Executive Compensation”).
Compensation
actually paid to the PEO increased by $116,750 in 2022 as compared to 2021 due to the Company fully resuming operations in 2022 after
scaling back operations during most of 2021 as a result of limited capital resources. In 2022, our PEO was paid a cash bonus of $37,750
and was granted 1,259 stock options. In 2021, our PEO was not paid a cash bonus and was not granted any stock options. Compensation actually
paid to the non-PEO NEOs increased in 2022 as compared to 2021, as Ms. Walsh, our Chief Financial Officer, became a full-time employee
in 2022.
The information provided above
under the “Pay Versus Performance” heading will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date
hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing, except to the extent the Company specifically incorporates
such information by reference.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
As
a smaller reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, we are providing the following director compensation information in accordance with the scaled disclosure requirements
of Regulation S-K.
The
following table shows information regarding the compensation earned during the year ended December 31, 2022 by the members of our Board.
Name | |
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash | | |
Option Awards(1) | |
|
Total | |
Bruce Stroever | |
$ | 30,000 | | |
$ | 56,678 | |
|
$ | 86,678 | |
Don Hankey(2) | |
| - | | |
| - | |
|
| - | |
Erick Lucera | |
| 30,000 | | |
| 56,678 | |
|
| 86,678 | |
Sid Angle | |
| 30,000 | | |
| 56,678 | |
|
| 86,678 | |
Stephen
R. La Neve(2)(3) | |
| - | | |
| - | |
|
| - | |
(1) |
The amounts in
this column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of stock options under FASB ASC Topic 718, which was determined using a Black-Scholes
option-pricing model with the assumptions disclosed in Note 2—Stock Based Compensation to our consolidated financial statements
contained within our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year 2022. |
|
|
(2) |
Non-independent
director. No compensation paid per our Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy. |
|
|
(3) |
Resigned
effective December 18, 2022. |
The
following table provides information regarding equity awards held by each independent non-employee director as of December 31, 2022:
Name | |
Stock Options Outstanding (#) | |
Bruce Stroever | |
| 1,619 | |
Don Hankey | |
| - | |
Erick Lucera | |
| 2,286 | |
Sid Angle | |
| 2,286 | |
The Board
adopted a Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy (the “Director Compensation Policy”) as following:
Annual
Cash Compensation
Each
Non-Employee Director will receive the cash compensation set forth below for service on the Board. The annual cash compensation
amounts will be payable in equal quarterly installments, in arrears following the end of each quarter in which the service occurred,
pro-rated for any partial months of service. All annual cash fees are vested upon payment.
1. |
Annual
Board Service Retainer: |
|
a. |
All
Non-Employee Directors other than the Board Chair: $25,000 |
|
|
|
|
b. |
Non-Employee
Director who is the Board Chair: $35,000 |
2. |
Annual
Committee Chair Service Retainer (in addition to Annual Board Service Retainer): |
|
a. |
Chairman
of the Audit Committee: $5,000 |
|
|
|
|
b. |
Chairman
of the Compensation Committee: $5,000 |
|
|
|
|
c. |
Chairman
of the Corporate Governance Committee: $5,000 |
Equity
Compensation
Equity
awards will be granted under the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Plan or any successor equity incentive plan (the “Plan”).
All stock options granted under this Director Compensation Policy will be Nonstatutory Stock Options (as defined in the Plan), with a
term of ten years from the date of grant and an exercise price per share equal to 100% of the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan)
of the underlying common stock of the Company (“Common Stock”) on the date of grant.
|
(a) |
Automatic
Equity Grants. |
(i)
Initial Grant for New Directors. Without any further action of the Board, each person who, after the Effective Date, is elected
or appointed for the first time to be a Non-Employee Director will automatically, upon the date of his or her initial election or appointment
to be a Non-Employee Director, be granted a Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase 667 shares of Common Stock (the “Initial Grant”),
regardless of when such person is elected or appointed to the Board. Each Initial Grant will fully vest on the date of the annual meeting
of the stockholders of the Company (“Annual Meeting”) next following the Initial Grant.
(ii)
Annual Grant. Without any further action of the Board, at the close of business on the date of each Annual Meeting following the
Effective Date, each person who is then a Non-Employee Director will automatically be granted a Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase
a number of shares of Common Stock having an Option Value (calculated on the date of grant) of $50,000 (the “Annual Grant”).
Each Annual Grant will vest in a series of four (4) successive equal quarterly installments over the one-year period measured from the
date of grant.
REPORT
OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
In
connection with our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, the Audit Committee has: (1) reviewed and discussed
the audited financial statements with management; (2) discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm (the “Auditors”)
the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the SEC; and
(3) received the written disclosures and the letter from the Auditors required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board regarding the Auditors’ communications with the audit committee concerning independence, and has discussed with
the Auditors their independence.
Based
on the review and discussions referred to in items (1) through (3) of the above paragraph, the Audit Committee recommended to the board
of directors that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2022, for filing with the SEC.
Erick
Lucera, Chair
Bruce
Stroever
Sid
Angle
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
None
of the following persons has any direct or indirect material interest in any transaction to which we are a party or in any proposed transaction
to which we are proposed to be a party since January 1, 2022:
● |
Any
of our directors or officers; |
|
|
● |
Any
proposed nominee for election as our director; |
|
|
● |
Any
person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, shares carrying more than 5% of the voting rights attached to our Common Stock;
or |
|
|
● |
Any
relative or spouse of any of the foregoing persons, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same house as such person or who
is a director or officer of any parent or subsidiary of our Company. |
Review,
Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons
Due
to the small size of our Company, we do not at this time have a formal written policy regarding the review of related party transactions,
and rely on our full Board to review, approve or ratify such transactions and identify and prevent conflicts of interest. Our
Board reviews any such transaction in light of the particular affiliation and interest of any involved director, officer or other
employee or stockholder and, if applicable, any such person’s affiliates or immediate family members. Management aims to present
transactions to our Board for approval before they are entered into or, if that is not possible, for ratification after the transaction
has occurred. If our Board finds that a conflict of interest exists, then it will determine the appropriate action or remedial
action, if any. Our Board approves or ratifies a transaction if it determines that the transaction is consistent with our best
interests and the best interest of our stockholders.
DELINQUENT SECTION 16(a) REPORTS
Section 16(a) of the Exchange
Act requires our directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Company’s
equity securities, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of Common Stock and other equity
securities of the Company. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent stockholders are required by SEC regulation to furnish us
with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
To our knowledge, based solely
on a review of the copies of such reports furnished to us during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, all Section 16(a) filing requirements
applicable to its officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners were complied with except Jeffrey Frelick and Deina
Walsh who each filed on late report with respect to one transaction, and Erick Lucera, Bruce Stroever, and Sid Angle who each filed one
late report, each with respect to two transactions.
2024
ANNUAL MEETING
Stockholder
Proposals for Inclusion in the Company’s Proxy Materials for the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
We
will include in our proxy materials for our 2024 annual meeting of stockholders any stockholder proposals that comply with Rule 14a-8
under the Exchange Act. Among other things, Rule 14a-8 requires that we receive such proposals not less than 120 days prior to the one-year
anniversary of this proxy statement, or April 5, 2024. If the proposal is in compliance with all of the requirements set forth in Rule
14a-8 under the Exchange Act, we will include the stockholder proposal in our proxy statement and place it on the form of proxy issued
for the 2024 annual meeting. Stockholder proposals submitted for inclusion in our proxy materials should be mailed to the following address:
Bone Biologics Corporation, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 2 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100, Burlington, MA 01803.
Stockholder
Proposals for Consideration at the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, but not for Inclusion in the Proxy Materials.
Pursuant
to our amended and restated by-laws, items of business that are proposed outside of the process pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange
Act as described above, may properly be brought before the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders only if we receive notice of such business
no earlier than 120 days and no later than 90 days prior to the one-year anniversary of our 2023 annual meeting. Thus, for the 2024 annual
meeting of stockholders, we must receive notice of business that is not submitted for inclusion in our proxy materials pursuant to Rule
14a-8 under the Exchange Act between May 15, 2024 and June 14, 2024. The notice must be in accordance with and contain all information
provided for in our amended and restated by-laws and such business must be a proper matter for stockholder action under the General Corporation
Law of Delaware. We will not permit business that does not comply with the foregoing notice requirement to be brought before the 2024
annual meeting of stockholders. Stockholder business that is not submitted for inclusion in our proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8
should be mailed to the following address: Bone Biologics Corporation, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 2 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite
100, Burlington, MA 01803. You may obtain a copy of our amended and restated by-laws by writing to the Corporate Secretary at the address
above.
Stockholder
Nominations of Directors.
Pursuant to our amended and
restated by-laws, no nominations for directors shall be acted upon at the annual meeting except for those made by the Board and those
made by stockholders of record upon timely notice in writing to our Corporate Secretary. To be considered timely, notice must be received
by us no earlier than 120 days and no later than 90 days prior to the one-year anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting.
Thus, for the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, we must receive the notice between May 15, 2024 and June 14, 2024. The notice must
contain all information, including the completed questionnaire, referenced in our amended and restated by-laws. Stockholder notice of
nominations for directors should be mailed to the following address: Bone Biologics Corporation, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 2 Burlington
Woods Drive, Suite 100, Burlington, MA 01803. You may obtain a copy of our amended and restated by-laws by writing to the Corporate Secretary
at the address above.
In
addition to satisfying the advance notice requirements under our amended and restated by-laws, to comply with the universal proxy rules
under the Exchange Act, stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company’s nominees
must provide notice to our Corporate Secretary that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act no later
than July 14, 2024.
HOUSEHOLDING
OF PROXY MATERIALS
The
SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries (e.g., brokers) to satisfy the delivery requirements Notices of Internet
Availability of Proxy Materials or other Annual Meeting materials with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by
delivering a single Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or other Annual Meeting materials addressed to those stockholders.
This process, which is commonly referred to as “householding,” potentially means extra convenience for stockholders and cost
savings for companies.
This
year, a number of brokers with account holders who are Company stockholders will be “householding” the Company’s proxy
materials. A single Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials will be delivered to multiple stockholders sharing an address
unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected stockholders. Once you have received notice from your broker that they
will be “householding” communications to your address, “householding” will continue until you are notified otherwise
or until you revoke your consent. If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in “householding” and would prefer to
receive a separate Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, please notify your broker or the Company. Direct your written
request to Bone Biologics Corporation, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 2 Burlington Woods Drive, Ste 100, Burlington, MA 01803 and oral
requests may be made by calling the Company at (781) 552-4452 and we will promptly deliver a separate copy. Stockholders who currently
receive multiple copies of the Notices of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials at their addresses and would like to request “householding”
of their communications should contact their brokers.
OTHER
MATTERS
Management
does not intend to present any other items of business and knows of no other matters that will be brought before the Annual Meeting.
Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please sign and date the enclosed proxy card.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This
proxy statement and materials delivered with this proxy statement, including our 2022 Annual Report, contains “forward-looking”
statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this proxy statement and materials delivered with this
proxy statement, including, without limitation, statements regarding our financial position, business strategy, and plans and objectives
of management for future operations and capital expenditures, are forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations
reflected in the forward-looking statements and the assumptions upon which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, we
can give no assurance that such expectations and assumptions will prove to have been correct. Additional statements concerning important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are disclosed in the “Note Regarding Forward
Looking Statements” section of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. All written and oral forward-looking
statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf subsequent to the date of this proxy statement are expressly qualified
in their entirety by such cautionary statements.
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Bone
Biologics Corporation files reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC. You can read and copy these reports,
proxy statements, and other information concerning our company at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington,
D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room.
The SEC also maintains an Internet site that contains all reports, proxy statements and other information that we file electronically
with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov.
The
proxy statement, proxy card and Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year 2022 are available at the following website: www.bonebiologics.com/investor-relation/.
These documents are also available to any stockholder who wishes to receive a paper copy by calling 866-870-3684, visiting www.investorelections.com/BBLG
or emailing paper@investorelections.com with “Bone Biologics Corporation Materials Request” in the
subject line.
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors, |
|
|
|
/s/
Don Hankey |
|
Don
Hankey |
|
Chairman
of the Board of Directors |
|
|
August
3, 2023 |
|
Appendix
A
Bone
Biologics Corporation
2015
Equity Incentive Plan
Adopted
by the Board of Directors: December 28 2015
Approved
by the Stockholders: December 30, 2015
Effective
Date: December 28, 2015
1.
General.
(a)
Eligible Award Recipients. Employees, Directors and Consultants are eligible to receive Awards under the Plan.
(b)
Available Awards. The Plan provides for the grant of the following types of Awards: (i) Incentive Stock Options, (ii) Nonstatutory
Stock Options, (iii) Stock Appreciation Rights, (iv) Restricted Stock Awards, (v) Restricted Stock Unit Awards, (vi) Performance Stock
Awards, (vii) Performance Cash Awards, and (viii) Other Stock Awards.
(c)
Purpose. The Plan, through the granting of Awards, is intended to help the Company secure and retain the services of eligible award
recipients, provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and any Affiliate and provide
a means by which the eligible recipients may benefit from increases in value of the Common Stock.
2.
Administration.
(a)
Administration by Board. The Board will administer the Plan. The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a Committee or
Committees, as provided in Section 2(c).
(b)
Powers of Board. The Board will have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:
(i)
To determine (A) who will be granted Awards; (B) when and how each Award will be granted; (C) what type of Award will be granted;
(D) the provisions of each Award (which need not be identical), including when a person will be permitted to exercise or otherwise receive
cash or Common Stock under the Award; (E) the number of shares of Common Stock subject to, or the cash value of, an Award; and (F) the
Fair Market Value applicable to a Stock Award.
(ii)
To construe and interpret the Plan and Awards granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for administration
of the Plan and Awards. The Board, in the exercise of these powers, may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or
in any Award Agreement, in a manner and to the extent it will deem necessary or expedient to make the Plan or Award fully effective.
(iii)
To settle all controversies regarding the Plan and Awards granted under it.
(iv)
To accelerate, in whole or in part, the time at which an Award may be exercised or vest (or at which cash or shares of Common Stock
may be issued).
(v)
To suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or an Award Agreement, suspension or termination
of the Plan will not impair a Participant’s rights under the Participant’s then-outstanding Award without the Participant’s
written consent except as provided in subsection (viii) below.
(vi)
To amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable, including, without limitation, by adopting amendments relating
to Incentive Stock Options and certain nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code and/or to make the Plan or Awards
granted under the Plan compliant with the requirements for Incentive Stock Options or exempt from or compliant with the requirements
for nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, subject to the limitations, if any, of applicable law. However,
if required by applicable law or listing requirements, and except as provided in Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments,
the Company will seek stockholder approval of any amendment of the Plan that (A) materially increases the number of shares of Common
Stock available for issuance under the Plan, (B) materially expands the class of individuals eligible to receive Awards under the Plan,
(C) materially increases the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan, (D) materially reduces the price at which shares of Common
Stock may be issued or purchased under the Plan, (E) materially extends the term of the Plan, or (F) materially expands the types of
Awards available for issuance under the Plan. Except as provided in the Plan (including Section 2(b)(viii)) or an Award Agreement, no
amendment of the Plan will impair a Participant’s rights under an outstanding Award without the Participant’s written consent.
(vii)
To submit any amendment to the Plan for stockholder approval, including, but not limited to, amendments to the Plan intended to satisfy
the requirements of (A) Section 162(m) of the Code regarding the exclusion of performance-based compensation from the limit on corporate
deductibility of compensation paid to Covered Employees, (B) Section 422 of the Code regarding incentive stock options or (C) Rule 16b-3.
(viii)
To approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan and to amend the terms of any one or more Awards, including, but not
limited to, amendments to provide terms more favorable to the Participant than previously provided in the Award Agreement, subject to
any specified limits in the Plan that are not subject to Board discretion; provided however, that a Participant’s rights
under any Award will not be impaired by any such amendment unless (A) the Company requests the consent of the affected Participant, and
(B) such Participant consents in writing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) a Participant’s rights will not be deemed to have
been impaired by any such amendment if the Board, in its sole discretion, determines that the amendment, taken as a whole, does not materially
impair the Participant’s rights, and (2) subject to the limitations of applicable law, if any, the Board may amend the terms of
any one or more Awards without the affected Participant’s consent (A) to maintain the qualified status of the Award as an Incentive
Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code; (B) to change the terms of an Incentive Stock Option, if such change results in impairment
of the Award solely because it impairs the qualified status of the Award as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code;
(C) to clarify the manner of exemption from, or to bring the Award into compliance with, Section 409A of the Code; or (D) to comply with
other applicable laws or listing requirements.
(ix)
Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as the Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests
of the Company and that are not in conflict with the provisions of the Plan or Awards.
(x)
To adopt such procedures and sub-plans as are necessary or appropriate to permit participation in the Plan by Employees, Directors
or Consultants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States (provided that Board approval will not be necessary for
immaterial modifications to the Plan or any Award Agreement that are required for compliance with the laws of the relevant foreign jurisdiction).
(xi)
To effect, with the consent of any adversely affected Participant, (A) the reduction of the exercise, purchase or strike price of
any outstanding Stock Award; (B) the cancellation of any outstanding Stock Award and the grant in substitution therefor of a new (1)
Option or SAR, (2) Restricted Stock Award, (3) Restricted Stock Unit Award, (4) Other Stock Award, (5) cash and/or (6) other valuable
consideration determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, with any such substituted award (x) covering the same or a different number
of shares of Common Stock as the cancelled Stock Award and (y) granted under the Plan or another equity or compensatory plan of the Company;
or (C) any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles.
(c)
Delegation to Committee.
(i)
General. The Board may delegate some or all of the administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees. If administration of
the Plan is delegated to a Committee, the Committee will have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore
possessed by the Board that have been delegated to the Committee, including the power to delegate to a subcommittee of the Committee
any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board will thereafter be
to the Committee or subcommittee, as applicable). Any delegation of administrative powers will be reflected in resolutions, not inconsistent
with the provisions of the Plan, adopted from time to time by the Board or Committee (as applicable). The Committee may, at any time,
abolish the subcommittee and/or revest in the Committee any powers delegated to the subcommittee. The Board may retain the authority
to concurrently administer the Plan with the Committee and may, at any time, revest in the Board some or all of the powers previously
delegated.
(ii)
Section 162(m) and Rule 16b-3 Compliance. The Committee may consist solely of two (2) or more Outside Directors, in accordance with
Section 162(m) of the Code, or solely of two (2) or more Non-Employee Directors, in accordance with Rule 16b-3.
(d)
Delegation to an Officer. The Board may delegate to one (1) or more Officers the authority to do one or both of the following (i)
designate Employees who are not Officers to be recipients of Options, SARs, or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, other Stock
Awards and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the terms of such Awards, and (ii) determine the number of shares of Common Stock
to be subject to such Stock Awards granted to such Employees; provided, however, that the Board resolutions regarding such delegation
will specify the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to the Stock Awards granted by such Officer and that such
Officer may not grant a Stock Award to himself or herself. Any such Stock Awards will be granted on the form of Award Agreement most
recently approved for use by the Committee or the Board, unless otherwise provided in the resolutions approving the delegation authority.
The Board may not delegate authority to an Officer who is acting solely in the capacity of an Officer (and not also as a Director) to
determine the Fair Market Value pursuant to Section 13(x)(iii) below.
(e)
Effect of Board’s Decision. All determinations, interpretations and constructions made by the Board in good faith will not
be subject to review by any person and will be final, binding and conclusive on all persons.
3.
Shares Subject to the Plan.
(a)
Share Reserve.
(i)
Subject to Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued
pursuant to Stock Awards from and after the Effective Date will not exceed 18,667 (the “Share Reserve”).
(ii)
Prior to the first day of each fiscal year following the Effective Date and for a period of ten years, commencing on the first day
of the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the Effective Date occurs, the Board may, without further shareholder approval,
approve an increase in the Share Reserve in an amount not more than 5% of the total number of shares of Capital Stock outstanding on
the last day of the preceding fiscal year.
(iii)
For clarity, the Share Reserve in this Section 3(a) is a limitation on the number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant
to the Plan. Accordingly, this Section 3(a) does not limit the granting of Stock Awards except as provided in Section 7(a). Shares may
be issued in connection with a merger or acquisition as permitted by NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c) or, if applicable, NYSE Listed Company
Manual Section 303A.08, AMEX Company Guide Section 711 or other applicable rule, and such issuance will not reduce the number of shares
available for issuance under the Plan.
(b)
Reversion of Shares to the Share Reserve. If a Stock Award or any portion thereof (i) expires or otherwise terminates without all
of the shares covered by such Stock Award having been issued or (ii) is settled in cash (i.e., the Participant receives cash rather
than stock), such expiration, termination or settlement will not reduce (or otherwise offset) the number of shares of Common Stock that
may be available for issuance under the Plan. If any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to a Stock Award are forfeited back to or
repurchased by the Company because of the failure to meet a contingency or condition required to vest such shares in the Participant,
then the shares that are forfeited or repurchased will revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. Any shares reacquired
by the Company in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations on a Stock Award or as consideration for the exercise or purchase price
of a Stock Award will again become available for issuance under the Plan.
(c)
Incentive Stock Option Limit. Subject to the Share Reserve and Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the aggregate
maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will be 80,000
shares of Common Stock.
(d)
Section 162(m) Limitations. Subject to the Share Reserve and Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, at such time as
the Company may be subject to the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, the following limitations will apply.
(e)
A maximum of 4,000 shares of Common Stock subject to Options, SARs and Other Stock Awards whose value is determined by reference
to an increase over an exercise or strike price of at least one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value on the date any such
Stock Award is granted may be granted to any Participant during any fiscal year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any additional Options,
SARs or Other Stock Awards whose value is determined by reference to an increase over an exercise or strike price of at least one hundred
percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value on the date the Stock Award are granted to any Participant during any fiscal year, compensation
attributable to the exercise of such additional Stock Awards will not satisfy the requirements to be considered “qualified performance-based
compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code unless such additional Stock Award is approved by the Company’s stockholders.
(f)
A maximum of 4,000 shares of Common Stock subject to Performance Stock Awards may be granted to any one Participant during
any one fiscal year (whether the grant, vesting or exercise is contingent upon the attainment during the Performance Period of the Performance
Goals).
(g)
A maximum of $1,500,000 may be granted as a Performance Cash Award to any one Participant
during any one fiscal year.
(h)
Limitation on Grants to Non-Employee Directors. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to Stock Awards granted under
the Plan or otherwise during any one fiscal year to any Non-Employee Director, taken together with any cash fees paid by the Company
to such Non-Employee Director during such fiscal year for service on the Board, will not exceed $400,000 in total value (calculating
the value of any such Stock Awards based on the grant date fair value of such Stock Awards for financial reporting purposes). The Board
may make exceptions to the applicable limit in this Section 3(e) for individual Non-Employee Directors in extraordinary circumstances
(for example, to compensate such individual for interim service in the capacity of an officer of the Company), as Board may determine
in its discretion, provided that the Non-Employee Director receiving such additional compensation may not participate in the decision
to award such compensation or in other compensation decisions involving Non-Employee Directors.
(i)
Source of Shares. The stock issuable under the Plan will be shares of authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including
shares repurchased by the Company on the open market or otherwise.
4.
Eligibility.
(a)
Eligibility for Specific Stock Awards. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or a “parent
corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” thereof (as such terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and 424(f) of the Code).
Stock Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants; provided, however, that Stock
Awards may not be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants who are providing Continuous Service only to any “parent”
of the Company, as such term is defined in Rule 405, unless (i) the stock underlying such Stock Awards is treated as “service recipient
stock” under Section 409A of the Code (for example, because the Stock Awards are granted pursuant to a corporate transaction such
as a spin off transaction) or (ii) the Company, in consultation with its legal counsel, has determined that such Stock Awards are otherwise
exempt from or alternatively comply with the distribution requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
(b)
Ten Percent Stockholders. A Ten Percent Stockholder will not be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless the exercise price of such
Option is at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant and the Option is not exercisable after
the expiration of five (5) years from the date of grant.
5.
Provisions Relating to Options and Stock Appreciation Rights.
Each
Option or SAR will be in such form and will contain such terms and conditions as the Board deems appropriate. All Options will be separately
designated Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options at the time of grant, and, if certificates are issued, a separate certificate
or certificates will be issued for shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise of each type of Option. If an Option is not specifically
designated as an Incentive Stock Option, or if an Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option but some portion or all of the Option
fails to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under the applicable rules, then the Option (or portion thereof) will be a Nonstatutory
Stock Option. The provisions of separate Options or SARs need not be identical; provided, however, that each Award Agreement will
conform to (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the applicable Award Agreement or otherwise) the substance of
each of the following provisions:
(a)
Term. Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, no Option or SAR will be exercisable after the
expiration of ten (10) years from the date of its grant or such shorter period specified in the Award Agreement.
(b)
Exercise Price. Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, the exercise or strike price of each
Option or SAR will be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option or
SAR on the date the Award is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option or SAR may be granted with an exercise or strike price
lower than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Award if such Award is granted pursuant
to an assumption of or substitution for another option or stock appreciation right pursuant to a Corporate Transaction and in a manner
consistent with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and, if applicable, Section 424(a) of the Code. Each SAR will be denominated
in shares of Common Stock equivalents.
(c)
Purchase Price for Options. The purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option may be paid, to the
extent permitted by applicable law and as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, by any combination of the methods of payment
set forth below. The Board will have the authority to grant Options that do not permit all of the following methods of payment (or that
otherwise restrict the ability to use certain methods) and to grant Options that require the consent of the Company to use a particular
method of payment. The permitted methods of payment are as follows:
(i)
by cash, check, bank draft or money order payable to the Company;
(ii)
pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board that, prior to the issuance of the
stock subject to the Option, results in either the receipt of cash (or check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable instructions
to pay the aggregate exercise price to the Company from the sales proceeds;
(iii)
by delivery to the Company (either by actual delivery or attestation) of shares of Common Stock;
(iv)
if an Option is a Nonstatutory Stock Option, by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce
the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does
not exceed the aggregate exercise price; provided, however, that the Company will accept a cash or other payment from the Participant
to the extent of any remaining balance of the aggregate exercise price not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole shares
to be issued. Shares of Common Stock will no longer be subject to an Option and will not be exercisable thereafter to the extent that
(A) shares issuable upon exercise are used to pay the exercise price pursuant to the “net exercise,” (B) shares are delivered
to the Participant as a result of such exercise, and (C) shares are withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations; or
(v)
in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board and specified in the applicable Award Agreement.
(d)
Exercise and Payment of a SAR. To exercise any outstanding SAR, the Participant must provide written notice of exercise to the Company
in compliance with the provisions of the Award Agreement evidencing such SAR. The appreciation distribution payable on the exercise of
a SAR will be not greater than an amount equal to the excess of (A) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of the exercise of the
SAR) of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Common Stock equivalents in which the Participant is vested under such
SAR, and with respect to which the Participant is exercising the SAR on such date, over (B) the aggregate strike price of the number
of Common Stock equivalents with respect to which the Participant is exercising the SAR on such date. The appreciation distribution may
be paid in Common Stock, in cash, in any combination of the two or in any other form of consideration, as determined by the Board and
contained in the Award Agreement evidencing such SAR.
(e)
Transferability of Options and SARs. The Board may, in its sole discretion, impose such limitations on the transferability of Options
and SARs as the Board will determine. In the absence of such a determination by the Board to the contrary, the following restrictions
on the transferability of Options and SARs will apply:
(i)
Restrictions on Transfer. An Option or SAR will not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution (and
pursuant to Sections 5(e)(ii) and 5(e)(iii) below), and will be exercisable during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant.
The Board may permit transfer of the Option or SAR in a manner that is not prohibited by applicable tax and securities laws. Except as
explicitly provided in the Plan, neither an Option nor a SAR may be transferred for consideration.
(ii)
Domestic Relations Orders. Subject to the approval of the Board or a duly authorized Officer, an Option or SAR may be transferred
pursuant to the terms of a domestic relations order, official marital settlement agreement or other divorce or separation instrument
as permitted by Treasury Regulations Section 1.421-1(b)(2). If an Option is an Incentive Stock Option, such Option may be deemed to be
a Nonstatutory Stock Option as a result of such transfer.
(iii)
Beneficiary Designation. Subject to the approval of the Board or a duly authorized Officer, a Participant may, by delivering written
notice to the Company, in a form approved by the Company (or the designated broker), designate a third party who, upon the death of the
Participant, will thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option or SAR and receive the Common Stock or other consideration resulting
from such exercise. In the absence of such a designation, upon the death of the Participant, the executor or administrator of the Participant’s
estate will be entitled to exercise the Option or SAR and receive the Common Stock or other consideration resulting from such exercise.
However, the Company may prohibit designation of a beneficiary at any time, including due to any conclusion by the Company that such
designation would be inconsistent with the provisions of applicable laws.
(f)
Vesting Generally. The total number of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option or SAR may vest and become exercisable in periodic
installments that may or may not be equal. The Option or SAR may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when
it may or may not be exercised (which may be based on the satisfaction of Performance Goals or other criteria) as the Board may deem
appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Options or SARs may vary. The provisions of this Section 5(f) are subject to any Option
or SAR provisions governing the minimum number of shares of Common Stock as to which an Option or SAR may be exercised.
(g)
Termination of Continuous Service. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or other agreement between the
Participant and the Company, if a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates (other than for Cause and other than upon the Participant’s
death or Disability), the Participant may exercise the Participant’s Option or SAR (to the extent that the Participant was entitled
to exercise such Award as of the date of termination of Continuous Service) within the period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the
date three (3) months following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period specified
in the applicable Award Agreement), and (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in the Award Agreement. If,
after termination of Continuous Service, the Participant does not exercise his or her Option or SAR (as applicable) within the applicable
time frame, the Option or SAR will terminate.
(h)
Extension of Termination Date. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or other agreement between the Participant
and the Company, if the exercise of an Option or SAR following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service (other than
for Cause and other than upon the Participant’s death or Disability) would be prohibited at any time solely because the issuance
of shares of Common Stock would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act, then the Option or SAR will terminate
on the earlier of (i) the expiration of a total period of time (that need not be consecutive) equal to the applicable post-termination
exercise period after the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service during which the exercise of the Option or SAR would
not be in violation of such registration requirements, or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in the applicable
Award Agreement. In addition, unless otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement, if the sale of any Common Stock received
upon exercise of an Option or SAR following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service (other than for Cause) would
violate the Company’s insider trading policy, then the Option or SAR will terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of a period
of time (that need not be consecutive) equal to the applicable post-termination exercise period after the termination of the Participant’s
Continuous Service during which the sale of the Common Stock received upon exercise of the Option or SAR would not be in violation of
the Company’s insider trading policy, or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in the applicable Award
Agreement.
(i)
Disability of Participant. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or other agreement between the Participant
and the Company, if a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Participant’s Disability, the Participant
may exercise his or her Option or SAR (to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise such Option or SAR as of the date
of termination of Continuous Service), but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date twelve (12) months following
such termination of Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Award Agreement), and (ii) the expiration of
the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in the Award Agreement. If, after termination of Continuous Service, the Participant does
not exercise his or her Option or SAR within the applicable time frame, the Option or SAR (as applicable) will terminate.
(j)
Death of Participant. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or other agreement between the Participant and
the Company, if (i) a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Participant’s death, or (ii) the Participant
dies within the period (if any) specified in the Award Agreement for exercisability after the termination of the Participant’s
Continuous Service (for a reason other than death), then the Option or SAR may be exercised (to the extent the Participant was entitled
to exercise such Option or SAR as of the date of death) by the Participant’s estate, by a person who acquired the right to exercise
the Option or SAR by bequest or inheritance or by a person designated to exercise the Option or SAR upon the Participant’s death,
but only within the period ending on the earlier of (i) the date eighteen (18) months following the date of death (or such longer or
shorter period specified in the Award Agreement), and (ii) the expiration of the term of such Option or SAR as set forth in the Award
Agreement. If, after the Participant’s death, the Option or SAR is not exercised within the applicable time frame, the Option or
SAR (as applicable) will terminate.
(k)
Termination for Cause. Except as explicitly provided otherwise in a Participant’s Award Agreement or other individual written
agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant, if a Participant’s Continuous Service is terminated for Cause,
the Option or SAR will terminate immediately upon such Participant’s termination of Continuous Service, and the Participant will
be prohibited from exercising the Participant’s Option or SAR from and after the time of such termination of Continuous Service.
(l)
Non-Exempt Employees. If an Option or SAR is granted to an Employee who is a non-exempt employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards
Act of 1938, as amended, the Option or SAR will not be first exercisable for any shares of Common Stock until at least six (6) months
following the date of grant of the Option or SAR (although the Award may vest prior to such date). Consistent with the provisions of
the Worker Economic Opportunity Act, (i) if such non-exempt employee dies or suffers a Disability, (ii) upon a Corporate Transaction
in which such Option or SAR is not assumed, continued, or substituted, (iii) upon a Change in Control, or (iv) upon the Participant’s
retirement (as such term may be defined in the Participant’s Award Agreement, in another agreement between the Participant and
the Company, or, if no such definition, in accordance with the Company’s then current employment policies and guidelines), the
vested portion of any Options and SARs may be exercised earlier than six (6) months following the date of grant. The foregoing provision
is intended to operate so that any income derived by a non-exempt employee in connection with the exercise or vesting of an Option or
SAR will be exempt from the employee’s regular rate of pay. To the extent permitted and/or required for compliance with the Worker
Economic Opportunity Act to ensure that any income derived by a non-exempt employee in connection with the exercise, vesting or issuance
of any shares under any other Stock Award will be exempt from the employee’s regular rate of pay, the provisions of this Section
5(l) will apply to all Stock Awards and are hereby incorporated by reference into such Stock Award Agreements.
6.
Provisions of Stock Awards Other than Options and SARs.
(a)
Restricted Stock Awards. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement will be in such form and will contain such terms and conditions as
the Board deems appropriate. To the extent consistent with the Company’s bylaws, at the Board’s election, shares of Common
Stock underlying a Restricted Stock Award may be (i) held in book entry form subject to the Company’s instructions until any restrictions
relating to the Restricted Stock Award lapse; or (ii) evidenced by a certificate, which certificate will be held in such form and manner
as determined by the Board. The terms and conditions of Restricted Stock Award Agreements may change from time to time, and the terms
and conditions of separate Restricted Stock Award Agreements need not be identical. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement will conform
to (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following
provisions:
(i)
Consideration. A Restricted Stock Award may be awarded in consideration for (A) cash, check, bank draft or money order payable to
the Company, (B) past services to the Company or an Affiliate, or (C) any other form of legal consideration (including future services)
that may be acceptable to the Board, in its sole discretion, and permissible under applicable law.
(ii)
Vesting. Shares of Common Stock awarded under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement may be subject to forfeiture to the Company in
accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Board.
(iii)
Termination of Participant’s Continuous Service. If a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates, the Company may receive
through a forfeiture condition or a repurchase right any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant as of the date
of termination of Continuous Service under the terms of the Restricted Stock Award Agreement.
(iv)
Transferability. Rights to acquire shares of Common Stock under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement will be transferable by the
Participant only upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, as the Board will determine
in its sole discretion, so long as Common Stock awarded under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement remains subject to the terms of the
Restricted Stock Award Agreement.
(v)
Dividends. A Restricted Stock Award Agreement may provide that any dividends paid on Restricted Stock will be subject to the same
vesting and forfeiture restrictions as apply to the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award to which they relate.
(b)
Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement will be in such form and will contain such terms and conditions
as the Board deems appropriate. The terms and conditions of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements may change from time to time, and
the terms and conditions of separate Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements need not be identical. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement
will conform to (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the Agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of
the following provisions:
(i)
Consideration. At the time of grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Board will determine the consideration, if any, to be paid
by the Participant upon delivery of each share of Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Unit Award. The consideration to be paid
(if any) by the Participant for each share of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Unit Award may be paid in any form of legal
consideration that may be acceptable to the Board, in its sole discretion, and permissible under applicable law.
(ii)
Vesting. At the time of the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Board may impose such restrictions on or conditions to the
vesting of the Restricted Stock Unit Award as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.
(iii)
Payment. A Restricted Stock Unit Award may be settled by the delivery of shares of Common Stock, their cash equivalent, any combination
thereof or in any other form of consideration, as determined by the Board and contained in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement.
(iv)
Additional Restrictions. At the time of the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Board, as it deems appropriate, may impose
such restrictions or conditions that delay the delivery of the shares of Common Stock (or their cash equivalent) subject to a Restricted
Stock Unit Award to a time after the vesting of such Restricted Stock Unit Award.
(v)
Dividend Equivalents. Dividend equivalents may be credited in respect of shares of Common Stock covered by a Restricted Stock Unit
Award, as determined by the Board and contained in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement. At the sole discretion of the Board, such
dividend equivalents may be converted into additional shares of Common Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Unit Award in such manner
as determined by the Board. Any additional shares covered by the Restricted Stock Unit Award credited by reason of such dividend equivalents
will be subject to all of the same terms and conditions of the underlying Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement to which they relate.
(vi)
Termination of Participant’s Continuous Service. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Restricted Stock Unit Award
Agreement, such portion of the Restricted Stock Unit Award that has not vested will be forfeited upon the Participant’s termination
of Continuous Service.
(c)
Performance Awards.
(i)
Performance Stock Awards. A Performance Stock Award is a Stock Award (covering a number of shares not in excess of that set forth
in Section 3(d)(ii)) that is payable (including that may be granted, vest or be exercised) contingent upon the attainment during a Performance
Period of certain Performance Goals. A Performance Stock Award may, but need not, require the Participant’s completion of a specified
period of Continuous Service. The length of any Performance Period, the Performance Goals to be achieved during the Performance Period,
and the measure of whether and to what degree such Performance Goals have been attained will be conclusively determined by the Committee
(or, if not required for compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code, the Board), in its sole discretion. In addition, to the extent permitted
by applicable law and the applicable Award Agreement, the Board may determine that cash may be used in payment of Performance Stock Awards.
(ii)
Performance Cash Awards. A Performance Cash Award is a cash award (for a dollar value not in excess of that set forth in Section
3(d)(iii)) that is payable contingent upon the attainment during a Performance Period of certain Performance Goals. A Performance Cash
Award may also require the Participant’s completion of a specified period of Continuous Service. At the time of grant of a Performance
Cash Award, the length of any Performance Period, the Performance Goals to be achieved during the Performance Period, and the measure
of whether and to what degree such Performance Goals have been attained will be conclusively determined by the Committee (or, if not
required for compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code, the Board), in its sole discretion. The Board may specify the form of payment
of Performance Cash Awards, which may be cash or other property, or may provide for a Participant to have the option for his or her Performance
Cash Award, or such portion thereof as the Board may specify, to be paid in whole or in part in cash or other property.
(iii)
Board Discretion. The Board retains the discretion to reduce or eliminate the compensation or economic benefit due upon attainment
of Performance Goals and to define the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for a Performance Period.
(iv)
Section 162(m) Compliance. Unless otherwise permitted in compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code with respect to an Award intended
to qualify as “performance-based compensation” thereunder, the Committee will establish the Performance Goals applicable
to, and the formula for calculating the amount payable under, the Award no later than the earlier of (A) the date ninety (90) days after
the commencement of the applicable Performance Period, and (B) the date on which twenty-five percent (25%) of the Performance Period
has elapsed, and in any event at a time when the achievement of the applicable Performance Goals remains substantially uncertain. Prior
to the payment of any compensation under an Award intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m)
of the Code, the Committee will certify the extent to which any Performance Goals and any other material terms under such Award have
been satisfied (other than in cases where the Performance Goals relate solely to the increase in the value of the Common Stock). Notwithstanding
satisfaction or any completion of any Performance Goals, shares subject to Options, cash or other benefits granted, issued, retainable
and/or vested under an Award on account of satisfaction of such Performance Goals may be reduced by the Committee on the basis of any
further considerations as the Committee, in its sole discretion, will determine.
(d)
Other Stock Awards. Other forms of Stock Awards valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, Common Stock,
including the appreciation in value thereof (e.g., options or stock rights with an exercise price or strike price less than one hundred
percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the time of grant) may be granted either alone or in addition to Stock
Awards granted under Section 5 and this Section 6. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board will have sole and complete authority
to determine the persons to whom and the time or times at which such Other Stock Awards will be granted, the number of shares of Common
Stock (or the cash equivalent thereof) to be granted pursuant to such Other Stock Awards and all other terms and conditions of such Other
Stock Awards.
7.
Covenants of the Company.
(a)
Availability of Shares. The Company will keep available at all times the number of shares of Common Stock reasonably required to
satisfy then-outstanding Stock Awards.
(b)
Securities Law Compliance. The Company will seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the
Plan the authority required to grant Stock Awards and to issue and sell shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Stock Awards; provided,
however, that this undertaking will not require the Company to register under the Securities Act, the Plan, any Stock Award or any
Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Stock Award. If, after reasonable efforts and at a reasonable cost, the Company
is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority that counsel for the Company deems necessary for the
lawful issuance and sale of Common Stock under the Plan, the Company will be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell
Common Stock upon exercise of such Stock Awards unless and until such authority is obtained. A Participant will not be eligible for the
grant of an Award or the subsequent issuance of cash or Common Stock pursuant to the Award if such grant or issuance would be in violation
of any applicable securities law.
(c)
No Obligation to Notify or Minimize Taxes. The Company will have no duty or obligation to any Participant to advise such holder as
to the time or manner of exercising such Stock Award. Furthermore, the Company will have no duty or obligation to warn or otherwise advise
such holder of a pending termination or expiration of an Award or a possible period in which the Award may not be exercised. The Company
has no duty or obligation to minimize the tax consequences of an Award to the holder of such Award.
8.
Miscellaneous.
(a)
Use of Proceeds from Sales of Common Stock. Proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to Stock Awards will
constitute general funds of the Company.
(b)
Corporate Action Constituting Grant of Awards. Corporate action constituting a grant by the Company of an Award to any Participant
will be deemed completed as of the date of such corporate action, unless otherwise determined by the Board, regardless of when the instrument,
certificate, or letter evidencing the Award is communicated to, or actually received or accepted by, the Participant. In the event that
the corporate records (e.g., Board consents, resolutions or minutes) documenting the corporate action constituting the grant contain
terms (e.g., exercise price, vesting schedule or number of shares) that are inconsistent with those in the Award Agreement or related
grant documents as a result of a clerical error in the papering of the Award Agreement or related grant documents, the corporate records
will control and the Participant will have no legally binding right to the incorrect term in the Award Agreement or related grant documents.
(c)
Stockholder Rights. No Participant will be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to,
any shares of Common Stock subject to an Award unless and until (i) such Participant has satisfied all requirements for exercise of,
or the issuance of shares of Common Stock under, the Award pursuant to its terms, and (ii) the issuance of the Common Stock subject to
such Award has been entered into the books and records of the Company.
(d)
No Employment or Other Service Rights. Nothing in the Plan, any Award Agreement or any other instrument executed thereunder or in
connection with any Award granted pursuant thereto will confer upon any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an
Affiliate in the capacity in effect at the time the Award was granted or will affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate
(i) the employment of an Employee with or without notice and with or without Cause, (ii) the service of a Consultant pursuant to the
terms of such Consultant’s agreement with the Company or an Affiliate, or (iii) the service of a Director pursuant to the bylaws
of the Company or an Affiliate, and any applicable provisions of the corporate law of the state in which the Company or the Affiliate
is incorporated, as the case may be.
(e)
Change in Time Commitment. In the event a Participant’s regular level of time commitment in the performance of the Participant’s
services for the Company and any Affiliates is reduced (for example, and without limitation, if the Participant is an Employee of the
Company and the Employee has a change in status from a full-time Employee to a part-time Employee) after the date of grant of any Award
to the Participant, the Board has the right in its sole discretion to (x) make a corresponding reduction in the number of shares or cash
amount subject to any portion of such Award that is scheduled to vest or become payable after the date of such change in time commitment,
and (y) in lieu of or in combination with such a reduction, extend the vesting or payment schedule applicable to such Award. In the event
of any such reduction, the Participant will have no right with respect to any portion of the Award that is so reduced or extended.
(f)
Incentive Stock Option Limitations. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of Common
Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionholder during any calendar year (under
all plans of the Company and any Affiliates) exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) (or such other limit established in the
Code) or otherwise does not comply with the rules governing Incentive Stock Options, the Options or portions thereof that exceed such
limit (according to the order in which they were granted) or otherwise do not comply with such rules will be treated as Nonstatutory
Stock Options, notwithstanding any contrary provision of the applicable Option Agreement(s).
(g)
Investment Assurances. The Company may require a Participant, as a condition of exercising or acquiring Common Stock under any Award,
(i) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company as to the Participant’s knowledge and experience in financial and business
matters and/or to employ a purchaser representative reasonably satisfactory to the Company who is knowledgeable and experienced in financial
and business matters and that the Participant is capable of evaluating, alone or together with the purchaser representative, the merits
and risks of exercising the Award; and (ii) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company stating that the Participant is acquiring
Common Stock subject to the Award for the Participant’s own account and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise
distributing the Common Stock. The foregoing requirements, and any assurances given pursuant to such requirements, will be inoperative
if (A) the issuance of the shares upon the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Stock Award has been registered under a
then currently effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or (B) as to any particular requirement, a determination is
made by counsel for the Company that such requirement need not be met in the circumstances under the then applicable securities laws.
The Company may, upon advice of counsel to the Company, place legends on stock certificates issued under the Plan as such counsel deems
necessary or appropriate in order to comply with applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to, legends restricting the transfer
of the Common Stock.
(h)
Withholding Obligations. Unless prohibited by the terms of an Award Agreement, the Company may, in its sole discretion, satisfy any
federal, state or local tax withholding obligation relating to an Award by any of the following means or by a combination of such means:
(i) causing the Participant to tender a cash payment; (ii) withholding shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock issued
or otherwise issuable to the Participant in connection with the Stock Award; provided, however, that no shares of Common Stock
are withheld with a value exceeding the minimum amount of tax required to be withheld by law (or such lesser amount as may be necessary
to avoid classification of the Stock Award as a liability for financial accounting purposes); (iii) withholding cash from an Award settled
in cash; (iv) withholding payment from any amounts otherwise payable to the Participant; or (v) by such other method as may be set forth
in the Award Agreement.
(i)
Electronic Delivery. Any reference herein to a “written” agreement or document will include any agreement or document
delivered electronically, filed publicly at www.sec.gov (or any successor website thereto) or posted on the Company’s intranet
(or other shared electronic medium controlled by the Company to which the Participant has access).
(j)
Deferrals. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board, in its sole discretion, may determine that the delivery of Common
Stock or the payment of cash, upon the exercise, vesting or settlement of all or a portion of any Award may be deferred and may establish
programs and procedures for deferral elections to be made by Participants. Deferrals by Participants will be made in accordance with
Section 409A of the Code. Consistent with Section 409A of the Code, the Board may provide for distributions while a Participant is still
an employee or otherwise providing services to the Company. The Board is authorized to make deferrals of Awards and determine when, and
in what annual percentages, Participants may receive payments, including lump sum payments, following the Participant’s termination
of Continuous Service, and implement such other terms and conditions consistent with the provisions of the Plan and in accordance with
applicable law.
(k)
Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. To the extent that the Board determines that any Award granted hereunder is subject to
Section 409A of the Code, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award will incorporate the terms and conditions necessary to avoid the
consequences specified in Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code. To the extent applicable, the Plan and Award Agreements will be interpreted
in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan (and unless the Award Agreement specifically
provides otherwise), if the shares of Common Stock are publicly traded and a Participant holding an Award that constitutes “deferred
compensation” under Section 409A of the Code is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, no
distribution or payment of any amount will be made upon a “separation from service” before a date that is six (6) months
following the date of such Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A of the Code without
regard to alternative definitions thereunder) or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death.
(l)
Clawback/Recovery. All Awards granted under the Plan will be subject to recoupment in accordance with any clawback policy that the
Company is required to adopt pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which the Company’s
securities are listed or as is otherwise required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other applicable
law. In addition, the Board may impose such other clawback, recovery or recoupment provisions in an Award Agreement as the Board determines
necessary or appropriate, including but not limited to a reacquisition right in respect of previously acquired shares of Common Stock
or other cash or property upon the occurrence of an event constituting Cause. No recovery of compensation under such a clawback policy
will be an event giving rise to a right to resign for “good reason” or “constructive termination” (or similar
term) under any agreement with the Company.
9.
Adjustments upon Changes in Common Stock; Other Corporate Events.
(a)
Capitalization Adjustments. In the event of a Capitalization Adjustment, the Board will appropriately and proportionately adjust:
(i) the class(es) and maximum number of securities subject to the Plan pursuant to Section 3(a), (ii) the class(es) and maximum number
of securities that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options pursuant to Section 3(c), (iii) the class(es) and
maximum number of securities that may be awarded to any person pursuant to Section 3(d), (iv) the class(es) and maximum number of securities
that may be awarded to any Non-Employee Director pursuant to Section 3(e) and (v) the class(es) and number of securities and price per
share of stock subject to outstanding Stock Awards. The Board will make such adjustments, and its determination will be final, binding
and conclusive.
(b)
Dissolution. Except as otherwise provided in the Stock Award Agreement, in the event of a Dissolution of the Company, all outstanding
Stock Awards (other than Stock Awards consisting of vested and outstanding shares of Common Stock not subject to a forfeiture condition
or the Company’s right of repurchase) will terminate immediately prior to the completion of such Dissolution, and the shares of
Common Stock subject to the Company’s repurchase rights or subject to a forfeiture condition may be repurchased or reacquired by
the Company notwithstanding the fact that the holder of such Stock Award is providing Continuous Service, provided, however, that
the Board may, in its sole discretion, cause some or all Stock Awards to become fully vested, exercisable and/or no longer subject to
repurchase or forfeiture (to the extent such Stock Awards have not previously expired or terminated) before the Dissolution is completed
but contingent on its completion.
(c)
Transactions. The following provisions will apply to Stock Awards in the event of a Transaction unless otherwise provided in the
Stock Award Agreement or any other written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant or unless otherwise expressly
provided by the Board at the time of grant of a Stock Award. In the event of a Transaction, then, notwithstanding any other provision
of the Plan, the Board may take one or more of the following actions with respect to Stock Awards, contingent upon the closing or completion
of the Transaction:
(i)
arrange for the surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or the surviving or acquiring corporation’s parent company)
to assume or continue the Stock Award or to substitute a similar stock award for the Stock Award (including, but not limited to, an award
to acquire the same consideration paid to the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the Transaction);
(ii)
arrange for the assignment of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company in respect of Common Stock issued pursuant
to the Stock Award to the surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or the surviving or acquiring corporation’s parent company);
(iii)
accelerate the vesting, in whole or in part, of the Stock Award (and, if applicable, the time at which the Stock Award may be exercised)
to a date prior to the effective time of such Transaction as the Board determines (or, if the Board does not determine such a date, to
the date that is five (5) days prior to the effective date of the Transaction), with such Stock Award terminating if not exercised (if
applicable) at or prior to the effective time of the Transaction; provided, however, that the Board may require Participants to
complete and deliver to the Company a notice of exercise before the effective date of a Transaction, which exercise is contingent upon
the effectiveness of such Transaction;
(iv)
arrange for the lapse, in whole or in part, of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company with respect to the Stock
Award;
(v)
cancel or arrange for the cancellation of the Stock Award, to the extent not vested or not exercised prior to the effective time
of the Transaction, in exchange for such cash consideration or no consideration as the Board, in its sole discretion, may consider appropriate;
and
(vi)
make a payment, in such form as may be determined by the Board equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the value of the property the
Participant would have received upon the exercise of the Stock Award immediately prior to the effective time of the Transaction, over
(B) any exercise price payable by such holder in connection with such exercise. For clarity, this payment may be zero ($0) if the value
of the property is equal to or less than the exercise price. Payments under this provision may be delayed to the same extent that payment
of consideration to the holders of Common Stock in connection with the Transaction is delayed as a result of escrows, earn outs, holdbacks
or any other contingencies.
The
Board need not take the same action or actions with respect to all Stock Awards or portions thereof or with respect to all Participants.
The Board may take different actions with respect to the vested and unvested portions of a Stock Award.
(d)
Change in Control. A Stock Award may be subject to additional acceleration of vesting and exercisability upon or after a Change in
Control as may be provided in the Stock Award Agreement for such Stock Award or as may be provided in any other written agreement between
the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant, but in the absence of such provision, no such acceleration will occur.
10.
Plan Term; Earlier Termination or Suspension of the Plan.
(a)
The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. No Incentive Stock Option will be granted after the tenth (10th) anniversary
of the earlier of (i) the date the Plan is adopted by the Board, or (ii) the date the Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company.
No Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.
(b)
No Impairment of Rights. Suspension or termination of the Plan will not impair rights and obligations under any Award granted while
the Plan is in effect except with the written consent of the affected Participant or as otherwise permitted in the Plan.
11.
Effective Date of Plan.
a)
This Plan will become effective on the Effective Date.
12.
Choice of Law.
The
laws of the State of Delaware will govern all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Plan, without
regard to that state’s conflict of laws rules.
13.
Definitions. As used in the Plan, the following definitions will apply to the capitalized
terms indicated below:
(a)
“Affiliate” means, at the time of determination, any “parent” or “subsidiary”
of the Company as such terms are defined in Rule 405. The Board will have the authority to determine the time or times at which “parent”
or “subsidiary” status is determined within the foregoing definition.
(b)
“Award” means a Stock Award or a Performance Cash Award.
(c)
“Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms
and conditions of an Award.
(d)
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e)
“Capitalization Adjustment” means any change that is made in, or other events that occur with respect to,
the Common Stock subject to the Plan or subject to any Stock Award after the Effective Date without the receipt of consideration by the
Company through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other
than cash, large nonrecurring cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange
of shares, change in corporate structure or any similar equity restructuring transaction, as that term is used in Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (or any successor thereto). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
conversion of any convertible securities of the Company will not be treated as a Capitalization Adjustment.
(f)
“Capital Stock” means each and every class of common stock of the Company, regardless of the number of
votes per share.
(g)
“Cause” will have the meaning ascribed to such term in any written agreement between the Participant and
the Company defining such term and, in the absence of such agreement, such term means, with respect to a Participant, the occurrence
of any of the following events: (i) such Participant’s commission of any felony or any crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral
turpitude under the laws of the United States or any state thereof; (ii) such Participant’s attempted commission of, or participation
in, a fraud or act of dishonesty against the Company; (iii) such Participant’s intentional, material violation of any contract
or agreement between the Participant and the Company or of any statutory duty owed to the Company; (iv) such Participant’s unauthorized
use or disclosure of the Company’s confidential information or trade secrets; or (v) such Participant’s gross misconduct.
The determination that a termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service is either for Cause or without Cause will be made
by the Company, in its sole discretion. Any determination by the Company that the Continuous Service of a Participant was terminated
with or without Cause for the purposes of outstanding Awards held by such Participant will have no effect upon any determination of the
rights or obligations of the Company or such Participant for any other purpose.
(h)
“Change in Control” means the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions,
of any one or more of the following events:
(i)
any Exchange Act Person becomes the Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent
(50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities other than by virtue of a merger, consolidation
or similar transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control will not be deemed to occur (A) on account of the acquisition
of securities of the Company directly from the Company, (B) on account of the acquisition of securities of the Company by an investor,
any affiliate thereof or any other Exchange Act Person that acquires the Company’s securities in a transaction or series of related
transactions the primary purpose of which is to obtain financing for the Company through the issuance of equity securities, or (C) solely
because the level of Ownership held by any Exchange Act Person (the “Subject Person”) exceeds the designated
percentage threshold of the outstanding voting securities as a result of a repurchase or other acquisition of voting securities by the
Company reducing the number of shares outstanding, provided that if a Change in Control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence)
as a result of the acquisition of voting securities by the Company, and after such share acquisition, the Subject Person becomes the
Owner of any additional voting securities that, assuming the repurchase or other acquisition had not occurred, increases the percentage
of the then outstanding voting securities Owned by the Subject Person over the designated percentage threshold, then a Change in Control
will be deemed to occur;
(ii)
there is consummated a merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving (directly or indirectly) the Company and, immediately
after the consummation of such merger, consolidation or similar transaction, the stockholders of the Company immediately prior thereto
do not Own, directly or indirectly, either (A) outstanding voting securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined
outstanding voting power of the surviving Entity in such merger, consolidation or similar transaction or (B) more than fifty percent
(50%) of the combined outstanding voting power of the parent of the surviving Entity in such merger, consolidation or similar transaction,
in each case in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately
prior to such transaction;
(iii)
there is consummated a sale, lease, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets
of the Company and its Subsidiaries, other than a sale, lease, license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated
assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries to an Entity, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities
of which are Owned by stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of the outstanding voting
securities of the Company immediately prior to such sale, lease, license or other disposition; or
(iv)
individuals who, on the date the Plan is adopted by the Board, are members of the Board (the “Incumbent Board”)
cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board; provided, however, that if the appointment
or election (or nomination for election) of any new Board member was approved or recommended by a majority vote of the members of the
Incumbent Board then still in office, such new member will, for purposes of this Plan, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing definition or any other provision of this Plan, (A) the term Change in Control will not include a sale of assets, merger
or other transaction effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Company, and (B) the definition of Change in
Control (or any analogous term) in an individual written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant will supersede
the foregoing definition with respect to Awards subject to such agreement; provided, however, that if no definition of Change
in Control or any analogous term is set forth in such an individual written agreement, the foregoing definition will apply.
(i)
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including any applicable regulations and guidance
thereunder.
(j)
“Committee” means a committee of one (1) or more Directors to whom authority has been delegated by the
Board in accordance with Section 2(c).
(k)
“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.
(l)
“Company” means Bone Biologics Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
(m)
“Consultant” means any person, including an advisor, who is (i) engaged by the Company or an Affiliate
to render consulting or advisory services and is compensated for such services, or (ii) serving as a member of the board of directors
of an Affiliate and is compensated for such services. However, service solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such service, will
not cause a Director to be considered a “Consultant” for purposes of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person is
treated as a Consultant under this Plan only if a Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act is available to register either
the offer or the sale of the Company’s securities to such person.
(n)
“Continuous Service” means that the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether
as an Employee, Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or terminated. A change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service
to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee, Director or Consultant or a change in the Entity for which the Participant renders such
service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, will
not terminate a Participant’s Continuous Service; provided, however, that if the Entity for which a Participant is rendering
services ceases to qualify as an Affiliate, as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, such Participant’s Continuous Service
will be considered to have terminated on the date such Entity ceases to qualify as an Affiliate. For example, a change in status from
an Employee of the Company to a Consultant of an Affiliate or to a Director will not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service.
To the extent permitted by law, the Board or the chief executive officer of the Company, in that party’s sole discretion, may determine
whether Continuous Service will be considered interrupted in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Board or chief executive
officer, including sick leave, military leave or any other personal leave, or (ii) transfers between the Company, an Affiliate, or their
successors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a leave of absence will be treated as Continuous Service for purposes of vesting in a Stock
Award only to such extent as may be provided in the Company’s leave of absence policy, in the written terms of any leave of absence
agreement or policy applicable to the Participant, or as otherwise required by law.
(o)
“Corporate Transaction” means the consummation, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions,
of any one or more of the following events:
(i)
a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all, as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, of the consolidated
assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries;
(ii)
a sale or other disposition of more than 50% of the outstanding securities of the Company;
(iii)
a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the Company is not the surviving corporation; or
(iv)
a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger, consolidation or similar transaction are converted or exchanged by virtue of the
merger, consolidation or similar transaction into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise.
(p)
“Covered Employee” will have the meaning provided in Section 162(m)(3) of the Code.
(q)
“Director” means a member of the Board.
(r)
“Disability” means, with respect to a Participant, the inability of such Participant to engage in any substantial
gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that
has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, as provided in Sections 22(e)(3) and
409A(a)(2)(c)(i) of the Code, and will be determined by the Board on the basis of such medical evidence as the Board deems warranted
under the circumstances.
(s)
“Dissolution” means when the Company, after having executed a certificate of dissolution with the State of Delaware,
has completely wound up its affairs. Conversion of the Company into a Limited Liability Company (or any other pass-through entity) will
not be considered a “Dissolution” for purposes of the Plan.
(t)
“Effective Date” means the effective date of this Plan, which is the earlier of (i) the date that this
Plan is first approved by the Company’s stockholders, and (ii) the date this Plan is adopted by the Board.
(u)
“Employee” means any person employed by the Company or an Affiliate. However, service solely as a Director,
or payment of a fee for such services, will not cause a Director to be considered an “Employee” for purposes of the Plan.
(v)
“Entity” means a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity.
(w)
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
(x)
“Exchange Act Person” means any natural person, Entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section
13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act), except that “Exchange Act Person” will not include (i) the Company or any Subsidiary
of the Company, (ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any trustee or other fiduciary holding
securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities
pursuant to an offering of such securities, (iv) an Entity Owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially
the same proportions as their Ownership of stock of the Company; or (v) any natural person, Entity or “group” (within the
meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act) that, as of the Effective Date, is the Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities
of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities.
(y)
“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of the Common Stock determined as follows:
(i)
If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or traded on any established market, the Fair Market Value of a share
of Common Stock will be, unless otherwise determined by the Board, the closing sales price for such stock as quoted on such exchange
or market (or the exchange or market with the greatest volume of trading in the Common Stock) on the date of determination, as reported
in a source the Board deems reliable.
(ii)
Unless otherwise provided by the Board, if there is no closing sales price for the Common Stock on the date of determination, then
the Fair Market Value will be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.
(iii)
In the absence of such markets for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value will be determined by the Board in good faith and in a
manner that complies with Sections 409A and 422 of the Code.
(z)
“Incentive Stock Option” means an option granted pursuant to Section 5 that is intended to be, and that
qualifies as, an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
(aa)
“Non-Employee Director” means a Director who either (i) is not a current employee or officer of the Company
or an Affiliate, does not receive compensation, either directly or indirectly, from the Company or an Affiliate for services rendered
as a consultant or in any capacity other than as a Director (except for an amount as to which disclosure would not be required under
Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act (“Regulation S-K”)), does not possess
an interest in any other transaction for which disclosure would be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, and is not engaged in
a business relationship for which disclosure would be required pursuant to Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or (ii) is otherwise considered
a “non-employee director” for purposes of Rule 16b-3.
(bb)
“Nonstatutory Stock Option” means any option granted pursuant to Section 5 that does not qualify as an
Incentive Stock Option.
(cc)
“Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange
Act.
(dd)
“Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase shares of Common Stock
granted pursuant to the Plan.
(ee)
“Option Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and an Optionholder evidencing the terms
and conditions of an Option grant. Each Option Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(ff)
“Optionholder” means a person to whom an Option is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such
other person who holds an outstanding Option.
(gg)
“Other Stock Award” means an award based in whole or in part by reference to the Common Stock which is
granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(d).
(hh)
“Other Stock Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of an Other Stock
Award evidencing the terms and conditions of an Other Stock Award grant. Each Other Stock Award Agreement will be subject to the terms
and conditions of the Plan.
(ii)
“Outside Director” means a Director who either (i) is not a current employee of the Company or an “affiliated
corporation” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) of the Code), is not a former employee
of the Company or an “affiliated corporation” who receives compensation for prior services (other than benefits under a tax-qualified
retirement plan) during the taxable year, has not been an officer of the Company or an “affiliated corporation,” and does
not receive remuneration from the Company or an “affiliated corporation,” either directly or indirectly, in any capacity
other than as a Director, or (ii) is otherwise considered an “outside director” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.
(jj)
“Own,” “Owned,” “Owner,” “Ownership”
A person or Entity will be deemed to “Own,” to have “Owned,” to be the “Owner” of, or to have acquired
“Ownership” of securities if such person or Entity, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding,
relationship or otherwise, has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting, with respect to such
securities.
(kk)
“Participant” means a person to whom an Award is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other
person who holds an outstanding Stock Award.
(ll)
“Performance Cash Award” means an award of cash granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section
6(c)(ii).
(mm)
“Performance Criteria” means the one or more criteria that the Board will select for purposes of establishing
the Performance Goals for a Performance Period. The Performance Criteria that will be used to establish such Performance Goals may be
based on any one of, or combination of, the following as determined by the Board: (1) earnings (including earnings per share and net
earnings); (2) earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation; (3) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization;
(4) total stockholder return; (5) return on equity or average stockholder’s equity; (6) return on assets, investment, or capital
employed; (7) stock price; (8) margin (including gross margin); (9) income (before or after taxes); (10) operating income; (11) operating
income after taxes; (12) pre-tax profit; (13) operating cash flow; (14) sales or revenue targets; (15) increases in revenue or product
revenue; (16) expenses and cost reduction goals; (17) improvement in or attainment of working capital levels; (18) economic value added
(or an equivalent metric); (19) market share; (20) cash flow; (21) cash flow per share; (22) share price performance; (23) debt reduction;
(24) customer satisfaction; (25) stockholders’ equity; (26) capital expenditures; (27) debt levels; (28) operating profit or net
operating profit; (29) workforce diversity; (30) growth of net income or operating income; (31) billings; (32) pre-clinical development
related compound goals; (33) financing; (34) regulatory milestones, including approval of a compound; (35) stockholder liquidity; (36)
corporate governance and compliance; (37) product commercialization; (38) intellectual property; (39) personnel matters; (40) progress
of internal research or clinical programs; (41) progress of partnered programs; (42) partner satisfaction; (43) budget management; (44)
clinical achievements; (45) completing phases of a clinical study (including the treatment phase); (46) announcing or presenting preliminary
or final data from clinical studies; in each case, whether on particular timelines or generally; (47) timely completion of clinical trials;
(48) submission of INDs and NDAs and other regulatory achievements; (49) partner or collaborator achievements; (50) internal controls,
including those related to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; (51) research progress, including the development of programs; (52) investor
relations, analysts and communication; (53) manufacturing achievements (including obtaining particular yields from manufacturing runs
and other measurable objectives related to process development activities); (54) strategic partnerships or transactions (including in-licensing
and out-licensing of intellectual property; (55) establishing relationships with commercial entities with respect to the marketing, distribution
and sale of the Company’s products (including with group purchasing organizations, distributors and other vendors); (56) supply
chain achievements (including establishing relationships with manufacturers or suppliers of active pharmaceutical ingredients and other
component materials and manufacturers of the Company’s products); (57) co-development, co-marketing, profit sharing, joint venture
or other similar arrangements; and (58) to the extent that an Award is not intended to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code, other
measures of performance selected by the Board.
(nn)
“Performance Goals” means, for a Performance Period, the one or more goals established by the Board for
the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria. Performance Goals may be based on a Company-wide basis, with respect to one
or more business units, divisions, Affiliates, or business segments, and in either absolute terms or relative to the performance of one
or more comparable companies or the performance of one or more relevant indices. Unless specified otherwise by the Board (i) in the Award
Agreement at the time the Award is granted or (ii) in such other document setting forth the Performance Goals at the time the Performance
Goals are established, the Board will appropriately make adjustments in the method of calculating the attainment of Performance Goals
for a Performance Period as follows: (1) to exclude restructuring and/or other nonrecurring charges; (2) to exclude exchange rate effects;
(3) to exclude the effects of changes to generally accepted accounting principles; (4) to exclude the effects of any statutory adjustments
to corporate tax rates; (5) to exclude the effects of any “extraordinary items” as determined under generally accepted accounting
principles; (6) to exclude the dilutive effects of acquisitions or joint ventures; (7) to assume that any business divested by the Company
achieved performance objectives at targeted levels during the balance of a Performance Period following such divestiture; (8) to exclude
the effect of any change in the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company by reason of any stock dividend or split, stock repurchase,
reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares or other similar corporate change,
or any distributions to common stockholders other than regular cash dividends; (9) to exclude the effects of stock based compensation
and the award of bonuses under the Company’s bonus plans; (10) to exclude costs incurred in connection with potential acquisitions
or divestitures that are required to expensed under generally accepted accounting principles; (11) to exclude the goodwill and intangible
asset impairment charges that are required to be recorded under generally accepted accounting principles and (12) to exclude the effect
of any other unusual, non-recurring gain or loss or other extraordinary item.
(oo)
“Performance Period” means the period of time selected by the Board over which the attainment of one or
more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to and the payment of a Stock Award
or a Performance Cash Award. Performance Periods may be of varying and overlapping duration, at the sole discretion of the Board.
(pp)
“Performance Stock Award” means a Stock Award granted under the terms and conditions of Section 6(c)(i).
(qq)
“Plan” means this Bone Biologics Corporation 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, as it may be amended from time
to time.
(rr)
“Restricted Stock Award” means an award of shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms
and conditions of Section 6(a).
(ss)
“Restricted Stock Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Restricted
Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Award grant. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement will be subject
to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(tt)
“Restricted Stock Unit Award” means a right to receive shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant
to the terms and conditions of Section 6(b).
(uu)
“Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a
Restricted Stock Unit Award evidencing the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Unit Award grant. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award
Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(vv)
“Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in
effect from time to time.
(ww)
“Rule 405” means Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act.
(xx)
“Rule 701” means Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act.
(yy)
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(zz)
“Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right to receive the appreciation
on Common Stock that is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 5.
(aaa)
“Stock Appreciation Right Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Stock
Appreciation Right evidencing the terms and conditions of a Stock Appreciation Right grant. Each Stock Appreciation Right Agreement will
be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(bbb)
“Stock Award” means any right to receive Common Stock granted under the Plan, including an Incentive Stock
Option, a Nonstatutory Stock Option, a Restricted Stock Award, a Restricted Stock Unit Award, a Stock Appreciation Right, a Performance
Stock Award or any Other Stock Award.
(ccc)
“Stock Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the
terms and conditions of a Stock Award grant. Each Stock Award Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(ddd)
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to the Company, (i) any corporation of which more than fifty percent (50%)
of the outstanding capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective
of whether, at the time, stock of any other class or classes of such corporation will have or might have voting power by reason of the
happening of any contingency) is at the time, directly or indirectly, Owned by the Company, and (ii) any partnership, limited liability
company or other entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect interest (whether in the form of voting or participation in profits
or capital contribution) of more than fifty percent (50%).
(eee)
“Ten Percent Stockholder” means a person who Owns (or is deemed to Own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the
Code) stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Affiliate.
(fff)
“Transaction” means a Corporate Transaction or a Change in Control.
Appendix
B
FIRST
AMENDMENT
TO
THE
BONE
BIOLOGICS CORPORATION
2015
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
The
Bone Biologics 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is hereby amended as follows, effective September 12, 2023:
1.
Section 2(b)(vii) of the Plan is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to provide as follows:
“(vii)
To submit any amendment to the Plan for stockholder approval, including, but not limited to, amendments to the Plan intended to satisfy
the requirements of (A) Section 162(m) of the Code, (B) Section 422 of the Code regarding incentive stock options or (C) Rule 16b-3.”
2.
Section 2(c)(ii) of the Plan is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to provide as follows:
“(ii)
Rule 16b-3 Compliance. The Committee may consist solely of two (2) or more Non-Employee Directors, in accordance with Rule 16b-3.”
3.
Section 3(a)(i) of the Plan is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to provide as follows:
“(i)
Subject to Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued
pursuant to Stock Awards from and after the Effective Date will not exceed 5,186,667 (the “Share Reserve”).”
4.
Section 3(c) of the Plan is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to provide as follows:
“(c)
Incentive Stock Option Limit. Subject to the Share Reserve and Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the aggregate
maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will be 5,186,667 shares
of Common Stock.”
5.
Section 3(d) of the Plan is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to provide as follows:
“(d)
Reserved.”
6.
Section 6(c) of the Plan is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to provide as follows:
“(c)
Performance Awards.
(i)
Performance Stock Awards. A Performance Stock Award is a Stock Award that is payable (including that may be granted, vest or be exercised)
contingent upon the attainment during a Performance Period of certain Performance Goals. A Performance Stock Award may, but need not,
require the Participant’s completion of a specified period of Continuous Service. The length of any Performance Period, the Performance
Goals to be achieved during the Performance Period, and the measure of whether and to what degree such Performance Goals have been attained
will be conclusively determined by the Committee or the Board. In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the applicable
Award Agreement, the Board may determine that cash may be used in payment of Performance Stock Awards.
(ii)
Performance Cash Awards. A Performance Cash Award is a cash award that is payable contingent upon the attainment during a Performance
Period of certain Performance Goals. A Performance Cash Award may also require the Participant’s completion of a specified period
of Continuous Service. At the time of grant of a Performance Cash Award, the length of any Performance Period, the Performance Goals
to be achieved during the Performance Period, and the measure of whether and to what degree such Performance Goals have been attained
will be conclusively determined by the Committee or the Board. The Board may specify the form of payment of Performance Cash Awards,
which may be cash or other property, or may provide for a Participant to have the option for his or her Performance Cash Award, or such
portion thereof as the Board may specify, to be paid in whole or in part in cash or other property.
(iii)
Board Discretion. The Board retains the discretion to reduce or eliminate the compensation or economic benefit due upon attainment
of Performance Goals and to define the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for a Performance Period.
7.
Section 9(a) of the Plan is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to provide as follows:
“(a)
Capitalization Adjustments. In the event of a Capitalization Adjustment, the Board will appropriately and proportionately adjust:
(i) the class(es) and maximum number of securities subject to the Plan pursuant to Section 3(a), (ii) the class(es) and maximum number
of securities that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options pursuant to Section 3(c), (iii) the class(es) and
maximum number of securities that may be awarded to any Non-Employee Director pursuant to Section 3(e), and (iv) the class(es) and number
of securities and price per share of stock subject to outstanding Stock Awards. The Board will make such adjustments, and its determination
will be final, binding and conclusive.”
8.
Section 13(p) of the Plan is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to provide as follows:
“(p)
Reserved.”
9.
Section 13(t) of the Plan is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to provide as follows:
“(t)
“Effective Date” means the latter of the date on which this Plan or the latest amendment thereto is approved by
the stockholders of the Company.”
10.
Section 13(ii) of the Plan is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to provide as follows:
“(ii)
Reserved.”
11.
Section 13(mm) of the Plan is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to provide as follows:
“(mm)
“Performance Criteria” means the one or more criteria that the Board will select for purposes of establishing
the Performance Goals for a Performance Period. The Performance Criteria that will be used to establish such Performance Goals may be
based on any one of, or combination of, the following as determined by the Board: (1) earnings (including earnings per share and net
earnings); (2) earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation; (3) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization;
(4) total stockholder return; (5) return on equity or average stockholder’s equity; (6) return on assets, investment, or capital
employed; (7) stock price; (8) margin (including gross margin); (9) income (before or after taxes); (10) operating income; (11) operating
income after taxes; (12) pre-tax profit; (13) operating cash flow; (14) sales or revenue targets; (15) increases in revenue or product
revenue; (16) expenses and cost reduction goals; (17) improvement in or attainment of working capital levels; (18) economic value added
(or an equivalent metric); (19) market share; (20) cash flow; (21) cash flow per share; (22) share price performance; (23) debt reduction;
(24) customer satisfaction; (25) stockholders’ equity; (26) capital expenditures; (27) debt levels; (28) operating profit or net
operating profit; (29) workforce diversity; (30) growth of net income or operating income; (31) billings; (32) pre-clinical development
related compound goals; (33) financing; (34) regulatory milestones, including approval of a compound; (35) stockholder liquidity; (36)
corporate governance and compliance; (37) product commercialization; (38) intellectual property; (39) personnel matters; (40) progress
of internal research or clinical programs; (41) progress of partnered programs; (42) partner satisfaction; (43) budget management; (44)
clinical achievements; (45) completing phases of a clinical study (including the treatment phase); (46) announcing or presenting preliminary
or final data from clinical studies; in each case, whether on particular timelines or generally; (47) timely completion of clinical trials;
(48) submission of INDs and NDAs and other regulatory achievements; (49) partner or collaborator achievements; (50) internal controls,
including those related to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; (51) research progress, including the development of programs; (52) investor
relations, analysts and communication; (53) manufacturing achievements (including obtaining particular yields from manufacturing runs
and other measurable objectives related to process development activities); (54) strategic partnerships or transactions (including in-licensing
and out-licensing of intellectual property; (55) establishing relationships with commercial entities with respect to the marketing, distribution
and sale of the Company’s products (including with group purchasing organizations, distributors and other vendors); (56) supply
chain achievements (including establishing relationships with manufacturers or suppliers of active pharmaceutical ingredients and other
component materials and manufacturers of the Company’s products); (57) co-development, co-marketing, profit sharing, joint venture
or other similar arrangements; and (58) other measures of performance selected by the Board.”
*
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