UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Filed by the Registrant x
|
|
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
|
|
Check the appropriate box:
|
o
|
Preliminary Proxy Statement
|
o
|
Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
|
x
|
Definitive Proxy Statement
|
o
|
Definitive Additional Materials
|
o
|
Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12
|
|
Cardiff Oncology, Inc.
|
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
|
|
|
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the
Registrant)
|
|
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
|
x
|
No fee required.
|
o
|
Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11.
|
|
(1)
|
Title of each class of securities to which transaction
applies:
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
Aggregate number of securities to which transaction
applies:
|
|
|
|
|
(3)
|
Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which
the filing fee is calculated and state how it was
determined):
|
|
|
|
|
(4)
|
Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
|
|
|
|
|
(5)
|
Total fee paid:
|
|
|
|
o
|
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
|
o
|
Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the
offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by
registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date
of its filing.
|
|
(1)
|
Amount Previously Paid:
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
|
|
|
|
|
(3)
|
Filing Party:
|
|
|
|
|
(4)
|
Date Filed:
|
Cardiff Oncology, Inc.
11055 Flintkote Avenue
San Diego, CA 92121
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held on June 9, 2022
Dear Stockholder:
We are pleased to invite you to attend the annual meeting of
stockholders (the “Annual
Meeting”)
of Cardiff Oncology, Inc. (“Cardiff”
or the “Company”),
which will be held on June 9, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. local time at our
offices, located at 11055 Flintkote Avenue, San Diego, CA 92121,
for the following purposes:
1. To elect seven (7) members to our Board of
Directors;
2. To ratify the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as our independent
registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending
December 31, 2022;
3. To consider and act upon a proposal to approve an amendment to
the Company’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”) to
increase the number of shares issuable thereunder to 5,150,000
shares from 3,150,000 shares;
4. To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the
Company’s named executive officers; and
5. To transact such other matters as may properly come before the
Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement
thereof.
Cardiff Oncology's Board of Directors has fixed the close of
business on April 11, 2022 as the record date for a determination
of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual
Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
If You Plan to Attend
Please note that space limitations make it necessary to limit
attendance of the Annual Meeting to our stockholders. Registration
and seating will begin at 7:30 a.m. Shares of common stock can be
voted at the Annual Meeting only if the holder thereof is present
in person or by valid proxy.
For admission to the Annual Meeting, each stockholder may be asked
to present valid picture identification, such as a driver’s license
or passport, and proof of stock ownership as of the record date,
such as the enclosed proxy card or a brokerage statement reflecting
stock ownership. Cameras, recording devices and other electronic
devices will not be permitted at the Annual Meeting. If you do not
plan on attending the Annual Meeting, please vote, date and sign
the enclosed proxy and return it in the business envelope provided.
Even if you do plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we recommend that
you vote your shares at your earliest convenience in order to
ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting. Your vote is very
important.
If you have any questions or need assistance voting your shares,
please call Kingsdale Advisors at:
Strategic Shareholder Advisor and Proxy Solicitation
Agent
745 Fifth Avenue, 5th
Floor, New York, NY 10151
North American Toll Free Phone:
1-888-302-5741
Email: contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com
Call Collect Outside North America: 416-867-2272
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for
the Annual Meeting to Be Held on June 9, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. local
time at 11055 Flintkote Avenue, San Diego, CA 92121.
The proxy statement and annual report to stockholders are available
at
http://www.pstvote.com/cardiff2022.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By the Order of the Board of Directors
|
|
|
|
/s/ Dr. Rodney S. Markin MD, Ph.D.
|
|
Dr. Rodney S. Markin MD, Ph.D.
|
|
Chairman of the Board of Directors
|
Dated: April 14, 2022
Whether or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting in person,
we urge you to vote your shares at your earliest convenience. This
will ensure the presence of a quorum at the Annual Meeting.
Promptly voting your shares will save Cardiff Oncology the expenses
and extra work of additional solicitation. An addressed envelope
for which no postage is required if mailed in the United States is
enclosed if you wish to vote by mail. Submitting your proxy now
will not prevent you from voting your shares at the Annual Meeting
if you desire to do so, as your proxy is revocable at your option.
Your vote is important, so please act today!
Cardiff Oncology, Inc.
11055 FLINTKOTE AVENUE
SAN DIEGO, CA 92121
PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE
2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON JUNE 9, 2022
The Board of Directors (the “Board”)
of Cardiff Oncology, Inc. (“Cardiff”
or the “Company”)
is soliciting your proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders (the “Annual
Meeting”)
to be held at our offices, located at 11055 Flintkote Avenue, San
Diego, CA 92121, on June 9, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. local time,
including at any adjournments or postponements of the Annual
Meeting. You are invited to attend the Annual Meeting to vote on
the proposals described in this proxy statement. However, you do
not need to attend the Annual Meeting to vote your shares. Instead,
you may simply complete, sign and return the enclosed proxy card if
you received paper copies of the proxy materials, or follow the
instructions below to submit your proxy over the
Internet.
In accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), we have elected to
provide our beneficial owners and stockholders of record access to
our proxy materials over the Internet. Beneficial owners are
stockholders whose shares of our common stock are held in the name
of a broker, bank or other agent (i.e., in “street name”).
Accordingly, a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials
(the “Notice”) will be mailed on or about April 28, 2022 to our
beneficial owners and stockholders of record who owned our common
stock at the close of business on April 11, 2022. Beneficial owners
and stockholders of record will have the ability to access the
proxy materials on a website referred to in the Notice or request
that a printed set of the proxy materials be sent to them by
following the instructions in the Notice. Beneficial owners and
stockholders of record who have previously requested to receive
paper copies of our proxy materials will receive paper copies of
the proxy materials instead of a Notice.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS PROXY MATERIAL AND
VOTING
Why did I Receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy
Materials in the Mail instead of a Full Set of Proxy
Materials?
We are pleased to take advantage of the SEC rule that allows
companies to furnish their proxy materials over the Internet.
Accordingly, we have sent to our stockholders of record a Notice of
Internet Availability of Proxy Materials. Instructions on how to
access the proxy materials over the Internet free of charge or to
request a paper copy may be found in the Notice. Our stockholders
may request to receive proxy materials in printed form by mail or
electronically on an ongoing basis. A stockholder’s election to
receive proxy materials by mail or electronically will remain in
effect until the stockholder changes the stockholder’s
election.
What Does it Mean if I Receive More than One Notice?
If you receive more than one Notice, your shares may be registered
in more than one name or in different accounts. Please follow the
voting instructions on each Notice to ensure that all of your
shares are voted.
How do I attend the Annual Meeting?
The Annual Meeting will be held on June 9, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. local
time at our offices, located at 11055 Flintkote Avenue, San Diego,
CA 92121. Directions to the Annual Meeting may be found at the back
of this Proxy Statement. Information on how to vote in person at
the Annual Meeting is discussed below.
Who May Attend the Annual Meeting?
Only record holders and beneficial owners of our common stock, or
their duly authorized proxies, may attend the Annual Meeting. If
your shares of common stock are held in street name, you will need
to bring a copy of a brokerage statement or other documentation
reflecting your stock ownership as of the Record Date.
Who is Entitled to Vote?
The Board has fixed the close of business on April 11, 2022 as
the record date (the “Record
Date”)
for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to
vote at, the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement
thereof. On the Record Date, there were 43,306,061 shares of common
stock outstanding. Each share of common stock represents one vote
that may be voted on each proposal that may come before the Annual
Meeting.
What is the Difference Between Holding Shares as a Record Holder
and as a Beneficial Owner (Holding Shares in Street
Name)?
If your shares are registered in your name with our transfer agent,
Philadelphia Stock Transfer, Inc., you are the “record holder” of
those shares. If you are a record holder, these proxy materials
have been provided directly to you by the Company.
If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account, a bank or
other holder of record, you are considered the “beneficial owner”
of those shares held in “street name.” If your shares are held in
street name, these proxy materials have been forwarded to you by
that organization. The organization holding your account is
considered to be the stockholder of record for purposes of voting
at the Annual Meeting. As the beneficial owner, you have the right
to instruct this organization on how to vote your
shares.
What am I Voting on?
There are four (4) matters scheduled for a vote:
1. To elect seven (7) members to our Board of
Directors;
2. To ratify the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as our independent
registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending
December 31, 2022;
3. To consider and act upon a proposal to approve an amendment to
the Company’s 2021 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the
“2021
Plan”)
to increase the number of shares issuable thereunder to 5,150,000
shares from 3,150,000 shares; and
4. To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the
Company's named executive officers.
What if another matter is properly brought before the Annual
Meeting?
The Board knows of no other matters that will be presented for
consideration at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters are
properly brought before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of
the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote on those
matters in accordance with their best judgment.
How Do I Vote?
Stockholders of Record
For your convenience, record holders of our common stock have three
methods of voting:
1.
Vote by Internet.
The website address for Internet voting is on your proxy
card.
2.
Vote by mail.
Mark, date, sign and promptly mail the enclosed proxy card (a
postage-paid envelope is provided for mailing in the United
States).
3.
Vote in person.
Attend and vote at the Annual Meeting.
Beneficial Owners of Shares Held in Street Name
For your convenience, beneficial owners of our common stock have
three methods of voting:
1.
Vote by Internet.
The website address for Internet voting is on your vote instruction
form.
2.
Vote by mail.
Mark, date, sign and promptly mail your vote instruction form (a
postage-paid envelope is provided for mailing in the United
States).
3.
Vote in person.
Obtain a valid legal proxy from the organization that holds your
shares and attend and vote at the Annual Meeting.
If you vote by Internet, please DO NOT mail your proxy
card.
All shares entitled to vote and represented by a properly completed
and executed proxy received before the Annual Meeting and not
revoked will be voted at the Annual Meeting as instructed in a
proxy delivered before the Annual Meeting. If you do not indicate
how your shares should be voted on a matter, the shares represented
by your properly completed and executed proxy will be voted as the
Board recommends on each of the enumerated proposals, with regard
to any other matters that may be properly presented at the Annual
Meeting and on all matters incident to the conduct of the Annual
Meeting. If you are a registered stockholder and attend the Annual
Meeting, you may deliver your completed proxy card in person. If
you are a street name stockholder and wish to vote at the Annual
Meeting, you will need to obtain a proxy form from the institution
that holds your shares. All votes will be tabulated by the
inspector of elections appointed for the Annual Meeting, who will
separately tabulate affirmative and negative votes, abstentions and
broker non-votes.
We provide Internet proxy voting to allow you to vote your shares
online, with procedures designed to ensure the authenticity and
correctness of your proxy vote instructions. However, please be
aware that you must bear any costs associated with your Internet
access, such as usage charges from Internet access providers and
telephone companies.
How Many Votes do I Have?
On each matter to be voted upon, you have one vote for each share
of common stock you own as of the close of business on the Record
Date.
Is My Vote Confidential?
Yes, your vote is confidential. Only the inspector of elections,
individuals who help with processing and counting your votes and
persons who need access for legal reasons will have access to your
vote. This information will not be disclosed, except as required by
law.
What Constitutes a Quorum?
To carry on business at the Annual Meeting, we must have a quorum.
A quorum is present when a majority of the shares entitled to vote
as of the Record Date, are represented in person or by proxy. Thus,
21,653,031 shares must be represented in person or by proxy to have
a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Your shares will be counted towards
the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy (or one is submitted on
your behalf by your broker, bank or other nominee) or if you vote
in person at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes
will be counted towards the quorum requirement. Shares owned by us
are not considered outstanding or considered to be present at the
Annual Meeting. If there is not a quorum at the Annual Meeting,
either the chairperson of the Annual Meeting or our stockholders
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting may adjourn the Annual
Meeting.
How Will my Shares be Voted if I Give No Specific
Instruction?
We must vote your shares as you have instructed. If there is a
matter on which a stockholder of record has given no specific
instruction but has authorized us generally to vote the shares,
they will be voted as follows:
1. “FOR”
the election of each of the seven (7) members to our Board of
Directors;
2. “FOR”
the ratification of the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as our
independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year
ending December 31, 2022;
3. “FOR”
the amendment to the Company’s 2021 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan
(the “2021
Plan”)
to increase the number of shares issuable thereunder to 5,150,000
shares from 3,150,000 shares; and
4. “FOR”
approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the
Company’s named executive officers.
This authorization would exist, for example, if a stockholder of
record merely signs, dates and returns the proxy card but does not
indicate how its shares are to be voted on one or more proposals.
If other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting and you do
not provide specific voting instructions, your shares will be voted
at the discretion of the proxies.
If your shares are held in street name, see “What
is a Broker Non-Vote?”
below regarding the ability of banks, brokers and other such
holders of record to vote the uninstructed shares of their
customers or other beneficial owners in their
discretion.
How are Votes Counted?
Votes will be counted by the inspector of election appointed for
the Annual Meeting, who will separately count, for the election of
directors, “FOR,” “WITHHOLD” and broker non-votes; and, with
respect to the other proposals, votes “FOR,” “AGAINST,” “ABSTAIN,”
and broker non-votes.
What is a Broker Non-Vote?
If your shares are held in street name, you must instruct the
organization who holds your shares how to vote your shares. If you
sign your proxy card but do not provide instructions on how your
broker should vote on “routine” proposals, your broker will vote
your shares as recommended by the Board. If you do not provide
voting instructions, your shares will not be voted on any
“non-routine” proposals. This vote is called a “broker non-vote.”
Because broker non-votes are not considered under Delaware law to
be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, broker non-votes will
not be included in the tabulation of the voting results of any of
the proposals and, therefore, will have no effect on these
proposals.
Brokers cannot use discretionary authority to vote shares on the
election of directors if they have not received instructions from
their clients. Please submit your vote instruction form so your
vote is counted.
What is an Abstention?
An abstention is a stockholder’s affirmative choice to decline to
vote on a proposal. Under Delaware law, abstentions are counted as
shares present and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. However,
our By-Laws provide that an action of our stockholders (other than
the election of directors) is only approved if a majority of the
number of shares of stock present and entitled to vote thereat vote
in favor of such action.
How Many Votes are Needed for Each Proposal to Pass?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proposal
|
|
Vote Required
|
Election of each of the seven (7) members to our Board of
Directors
|
|
Plurality of the votes cast (the seven directors receiving the most
“FOR” votes)
|
|
|
|
Ratification of the Appointment of BDO USA, LLP as our Independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm for our Fiscal Year Ending
December 31, 2022
|
|
A majority of the votes entitled to vote thereon and present at the
Annual Meeting
|
|
|
|
Approval of an amendment to the Company’s 2021 Omnibus Equity
Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”) to increase the number of shares
issuable thereunder to 5,150,000 shares from 3,150,000
shares
|
|
A majority of the votes entitled to vote thereon and present at the
Annual Meeting
|
|
|
|
Approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the
Company’s named executive officers |
|
A majority of the votes entitled to vote thereon and present at the
Annual Meeting |
What Are the Voting Procedures?
In voting by proxy with regard to the election of directors, you
may vote in favor of all nominees, withhold your votes as to all
nominees, or withhold your votes as to specific nominees. With
regard to other proposals, you may vote in favor of or against the
proposal, or you may abstain from voting on the proposal. You
should specify your respective choices on the accompanying proxy
card or your vote instruction form.
Is My Proxy Revocable?
You may revoke your proxy and reclaim your right to vote at any
time before your proxy is voted by giving written notice to the
Secretary of Cardiff Oncology, by delivering a properly completed,
later-dated proxy card or vote instruction form or by voting in
person at the Annual Meeting. All written notices of revocation and
other communications with respect to revocations of proxies should
be addressed to: Cardiff Oncology, Inc., 11055 Flintkote Avenue,
San Diego, CA 92121, Attention: Secretary, or by facsimile at
858-952-7571. Your most current proxy card or Internet proxy is the
one that will be counted.
Who is Paying for the Expenses Involved in Preparing and Mailing
this Proxy Statement?
All of the expenses involved in preparing, assembling and mailing
these proxy materials and all costs of soliciting proxies will be
paid by us. In addition to the solicitation by mail, proxies may be
solicited by our officers and other employees by telephone or in
person. Such persons will receive no compensation for their
services other than their regular salaries. Arrangements will also
be made with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and
fiduciaries to forward solicitation materials to the beneficial
owners of the shares held of record by such persons, and we may
reimburse such persons for reasonable out of pocket expenses
incurred by them in forwarding solicitation materials. We have
retained Kingsdale Advisors as our strategic shareholder advisor
and proxy solicitation agent in connection with the solicitation of
proxies for the Meeting. If you have any questions or require any
assistance with completing your proxy, please contact Kingsdale
Advisors by telephone (toll-free within North America) at
1-888-302-5741 or (call collect outside North America) at
416-867-2272 or by email at
contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com.
Do I Have Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal?
Our stockholders do not have appraisal rights under Delaware law or
under our governing documents with respect to the matters to be
voted upon at the Annual Meeting.
How can I Find out the Results of the Voting at the Annual
Meeting?
Preliminary voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting.
In addition, final voting results will be disclosed in a Current
Report on Form 8-K that we expect to file with the SEC within four
business days after the Annual Meeting. If final voting results are
not available to us in time to file a Form 8-K with the SEC within
four business days after the Annual Meeting, we intend to file a
Form 8-K to publish preliminary results and, within four business
days after the final results are known to us, file an additional
Form 8-K to publish the final results.
When are Stockholder Proposals Due for the 2023 Annual
Meeting?
Any appropriate proposal submitted by a stockholder and intended to
be presented at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the
“2023
Annual Meeting”)
must be submitted in writing to our Secretary at 11055 Flintkote
Avenue, San Diego, CA 92121, and received no later than December
28, 2022, to be includable in our proxy statement and related proxy
for the 2023 Annual Meeting. However, if the date of the 2023
Annual Meeting is convened more than 30 days before, or delayed by
more than 30 days after, June 9, 2023, to be considered for
inclusion in proxy materials for our 2023 Annual Meeting, a
stockholder proposal must be submitted in writing to our Secretary
at 11055 Flintkote Avenue, San Diego, CA 92121, a reasonable time
before we begin to print and send our proxy materials for the 2023
Annual Meeting. A stockholder proposal will need to comply with the
SEC regulations under Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”),
regarding the inclusion of stockholder proposals in
company-sponsored proxy materials. Although the Board will consider
stockholder proposals, we reserve the right to omit from our proxy
statement, or to vote against, stockholder proposals that we are
not required to include under the Exchange Act, including Rule
14a-8.
If you wish to submit a proposal that is not to be included in the
proxy materials for the 2023 Annual Meeting, your proposal must be
submitted in writing to our Secretary at 11055 Flintkote Avenue,
San Diego, CA 92121 by December 28,
2022. However, if the date of the 2023 Annual Meeting is convened
more than 30 days before, or delayed by more than 30 days after,
June 9, 2023, to be brought before our 2023 Annual Meeting, a
stockholder proposal must be submitted in writing to the Company’s
Secretary at 11055 Flintkote Avenue, San Diego, CA 92121, a
reasonable time before we begin to print and send our proxy
materials for the 2023 Annual Meeting.
Do the Company’s Officers and Directors have an Interest in Any of
the Matters to Be Acted Upon at the Annual Meeting?
Members of the Board have an interest in Proposal 1, the election
to the Board of the seven (7) director nominees set forth herein.
Members of the Board and executive officers of Cardiff Oncology do
not have any interest in Proposal 2, the ratification of the
appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm.
Members of the Board and the executive officers of Cardiff Oncology
are eligible to receive awards under the terms of the 2021 Plan,
and they therefore have a substantial interest in Proposal 3.
Members of the Board and executive officers of Cardiff Oncology do
have an interest in Proposal 4, to the extent such proposal is on a
non-binding advisory basis.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STANDARDS AND DIRECTOR
INDEPENDENCE
We are committed to good corporate governance practices. These
practices provide an important framework within which our Board of
Directors and management pursue our strategic objectives for the
benefit of our stockholders.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
Our Board of Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines
that set forth expectations for directors, director independence
standards, Board committee structure and functions, and other
policies for the governance of the company. Our Corporate
Governance Guidelines are available without charge on the investor
relations section of our website at
www.cardiffoncology.com.
Board Composition and Leadership Structure
The positions of Chief Executive Officer
and Chair of our Board of Directors are held by two different
individuals (Dr. Mark Erlander and Dr. Rodney Markin,
respectively). This structure allows our Chief Executive
Officer
to focus on our day-to-day business while our Chair leads our Board
of Directors in its fundamental role of providing advice to and
independent oversight of management. Our Board of Directors
believes such separation is appropriate, as it enhances the
accountability of the Chief Executive Officer to the Board of
Directors and strengthens the independence of the Board of
Directors from management.
Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
Our Board of Directors believes that open communication between
management and the Board of Directors is essential for effective
risk management and oversight. Our Board of Directors meets with
our Chief Executive Officer and other members of the senior
management team at quarterly Board of Director meetings, where,
among other topics, they discuss strategy and risks in the context
of reports from the management team and evaluate the risks inherent
in significant transactions. While our Board of Directors is
ultimately responsible for risk oversight, our Board committees
assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight
responsibilities in certain areas of risk. The Audit Committee
assists our Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight
responsibilities with respect to risk management in the areas of
major financial risk exposures, internal control over financial
reporting, disclosure controls and procedures, legal and regulatory
compliance and cybersecurity and data privacy. The Compensation
Committee assists our Board of Directors in assessing risks created
by the incentives inherent in our compensation policies. The
Corporate Governance/Nominating Committee assists our Board of
Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect
to the management of corporate, legal and regulatory
risk.
Director Independence
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Under the
rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, independent directors must
constitute a majority of a listed company’s Board of Directors. In
addition, the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market require that,
subject to specified exceptions, each member of a listed company’s
Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance/Nominating Committees
must be an “independent director.” Under the rules of the Nasdaq
Stock Market, a director will only qualify as an “independent
director” if, in the opinion of that company’s Board of Directors,
that person does
not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of
independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a
director. Additionally, Compensation Committee members must not
have a relationship with the listed company that is material to the
director’s ability to be independent from management in connection
with the duties of a Compensation Committee member.
Audit Committee members must also satisfy the independence criteria
set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (Exchange Act). In order to be considered independent
for purposes of Rule 10A-3, a member of an Audit Committee of a
listed company may not, other than in his or her capacity as a
member of the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors or any other
Board committee: (i) accept, directly or indirectly, any
consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from the listed
company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) be an affiliated person
of the listed company or any of its subsidiaries.
Our Board of Directors has undertaken a review of the independence
of each director and considered whether each director has a
material relationship with us that could compromise his or her
ability to exercise independent judgment in carrying out his or her
responsibilities. As a result of this review, our Board of
Directors determined that Drs. Armitage, Markin, Mohindru, Pace,
Tannenbaum and Ms. White representing six of our seven incumbent
directors, are “independent directors” as defined under the
applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the listing
requirements and rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market. In making these
determinations, our Board of Directors reviewed and discussed
information provided by the directors and us with regard to each
directors’ business and personal activities and relationships as
they may relate to us and our management, including the beneficial
ownership of our capital stock by each non-employee director and
any affiliates.
Committee of our Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors has established an Audit Committee, a
Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee, each of which has the composition and responsibilities
described below. Members serve on these committees until their
resignation or until otherwise determined by our Board of
Directors. Each of these committees has a written charter, copies
of which are available without charge on our website at
http://cardiffoncology.investorroom.com/
under “Corporate Governance'.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include, among other things:
(i) selecting and retaining an independent registered public
accounting firm to act as our independent auditors, setting the
compensation for our independent auditors, overseeing the work done
by our independent auditors and terminating our independent
auditors, if necessary, (ii) periodically evaluating the
qualifications, performance and independence of our independent
auditors, (iii) pre-approving all auditing and permitted non-audit
services to be provided by our independent auditors, (iv) reviewing
with management and our independent auditors our annual audited
financial statements and our quarterly reports prior to filing such
reports with the SEC, including the results of our independent
auditors’ review of our quarterly financial statements, (v)
reviewing with management and our independent auditors significant
financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with
the preparation of our financial statements, and (vi) review the
processes utilized by management for identifying, evaluating, and
mitigating strategic,
financial, operational, regulatory, and external risks inherent in
the Company’s business, including but not limited to,
cybersecurity. The Audit Committee also prepares the Audit
Committee report that is required to be included in our annual
proxy statement pursuant to the rules of the SEC.
As of December 31, 2021, the Audit Committee consisted of John P.
Brancaccio, chair of the Audit Committee, Dr. Rodney S. Markin and
Lâle White. Under the applicable rules and regulations of Nasdaq,
each member of a company’s audit committee must be considered
independent in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(c)(2)(A)(i)
and (ii) and Rule 10A-3(b)(1) under the Exchange Act. The Board has
determined that each of Mr. Brancaccio, Dr. Markin and Ms. White is
“independent” as that term is defined under applicable Nasdaq and
SEC rules. Mr. Brancaccio and Ms. White are our audit committee
financial experts. If all of the nominated directors are re-elected
for another term, it is expected that Dr. Mani Mohindru will be
appointed to the Audit Committee as a replacement for Mr.
Brancaccio, and Ms. White will become the chair of the Audit
Committee.
Compensation Committee
The purpose of the Compensation Committee is to discharge the
Board’s responsibilities relating to compensation of our directors
and executive officers. The Compensation Committee has
responsibility for, among other things, (i) recommending to the
Board for approval the overall compensation philosophy for our
company and periodically reviewing the overall compensation
philosophy for all employees to ensure it is appropriate and does
not incentivize unnecessary and
excessive risk taking, (ii) reviewing annually and making
recommendations to the Board for approval, as necessary or
appropriate, with respect to our compensation plans, (iii) based on
an annual review, determining and approving, or at the discretion
of the Compensation Committee, recommending to the Board for
determination and approval, the compensation and other terms of
employment of each of our officers, (iv) reviewing and making
recommendations to the Board with respect to the compensation of
directors, (v) overseeing our regulatory compliance with respect to
compensation matters, (vi) reviewing and discussing with
management, prior to the filing of our annual proxy statement or
annual report on Form 10-K, our disclosure relating to executive
compensation, including our executive and director compensation
tables as required by SEC rules and, if required, our Compensation
Discussion and Analysis, and (vii) preparing any required annual
report regarding executive compensation for inclusion in our annual
proxy statement or our annual report on Form 10-K. The Compensation
Committee has the power to form one or more subcommittees, each of
which may take such actions as may be delegated by the Compensation
Committee.
The charter of the Compensation Committee grants the Compensation
Committee authority to select, retain, compensate, oversee and
terminate any compensation consultant to be used to assist in the
evaluation of director, chief executive officer, officer and our
other compensation and benefit plans and to approve the
compensation consultant’s fees and other retention terms. The
Compensation Committee is directly responsible for the appointment,
compensation and oversight of the work of any internal or external
legal, accounting or other advisors and consultants retained by the
Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee may also select
or retain advice and assistance from an internal or external legal,
accounting or other advisor as the Compensation Committee
determines to be necessary or advisable in connection with the
discharge of its duties and responsibilities and will have the
direct responsibility to appoint, compensate and oversee any such
advisor. Currently, the Compensation Committee engages the Human
Capital Solutions subdivision of Aon plc (“Aon” or “Radford”), as
its compensation consultant.
As of December 31, 2021, the Compensation Committee consisted of
Dr. Renee Tannenbaum, chair of the Compensation Committee, Dr. Gary
W. Pace and Dr. Rodney S. Markin. The Board has determined that all
of the members are “independent” under Nasdaq Listing Rule
5605(a)(2).
Corporate Governance/Nominating Committee
The Corporate Governance/Nominating Committee has responsibility
for assisting the Board in, among other things, (i) effecting Board
organization, membership and function, including identifying
qualified board nominees, (ii) effecting the organization,
membership and function of the committees of the Board, including
the composition of the committees of the Board and recommending
qualified candidates for the committees of the Board, (iii)
evaluating and providing successor planning for the chief executive
officer and our other executive officers, (iv) identifying and
evaluating candidates for director in accordance with certain
general and specific criteria, (v) developing and recommending to
the Board Corporate Governance Guidelines and any changes thereto,
setting forth the corporate governance principles applicable to us,
and overseeing compliance with the Corporate Governance Guidelines,
(vi) reviewing potential conflicts of interest involving directors
and determining whether such directors may vote on issues as to
which there may be a conflict, and (vii) oversees corporate
environmental and social responsibility matters as they pertain to
the Company’s business and long-term strategy and identify and
bring to the attention of the full Board emerging Environmental,
Social, and Corporate Governance ("ESG") trends and issues that may
affect the business operations, performance, external stakeholder
relationships or reputation of the Company.
As of December 31, 2021, the Corporate Governance/Nominating
Committee consisted of Dr. Gary W. Pace, chair of the Corporate
Governance/Nominating Committee, Mr. John Brancaccio and Dr. James
O. Armitage. The Board has determined that all of the members are
“independent” under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2). If all of the
nominated directors are re-elected for another term, it is expected
that Dr. Mani Mohindru will be appointed to the Corporate
Governance/Nominating Committee as a replacement for Mr.
Brancaccio.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have adopted a formal Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
applicable to all Board members, officers and employees. Our Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics can be found on our website
at
www.cardiffoncology.com.
A copy of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics may be obtained
without charge upon written request to Secretary, Cardiff Oncology,
Inc., 11055 Flintkote Avenue, San Diego, California 92121. If we
make any substantive amendments to our Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics or grant any waiver from a provision of the Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics to any executive officer or director, we will
promptly disclose the nature of the amendment or waiver on our
website (www.cardiffoncology.com)
and/or in our public filings with the SEC.
Anti-hedging
We have adopted an Insider Trading Policy that applies to all of
our employees, officers and directors, including our Chief
Executive Officer and other executive officers, which prohibits
such individuals from purchasing financial instruments (including
prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars and
exchange funds), or otherwise engaging in transactions, that hedge
or offset, or are designed to hedge or offset, any decrease in
market value of our common stock, such as zero cost collars and
forward sales contracts and exchange funds.
Family Relationships and Other Arrangements
There are no family relationships among our directors and executive
officers. There are no arrangements or understandings between or
among our executive officers and directors pursuant to which any
director or executive officer was or is to be selected as a
director or executive officer.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation
During fiscal year 2021, Drs. Markin, Pace and Tannenbaum served on
our Compensation Committee. None of our current executive officers
has served as a member of the Board of Directors, or as a member of
the Compensation Committee or similar committee, of any entity that
has one or more executive officers who served on our Board of
Directors or Compensation Committee during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2021.
Board and Committee Meetings and Attendance
The Board of Directors and its committees meet regularly throughout
the year and also hold special meetings and act by written consent
from time to time. During fiscal year 2021, the Board of Directors
held 8 meetings including telephonic meetings; the Audit Committee
held 5 meetings; the Compensation Committee held 7 meetings; and
the Corporate Governance/Nominating Committee held 7 meetings.
During fiscal year 2021, none of the directors attended fewer than
75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings held by the
Board of Directors during his or her tenure and the total number of
meetings held by all committees of the Board of Directors on which
such director served during his or her tenure. The independent
members of the Board of Directors also meet separately without
management directors on a regular basis to discuss such matters as
the independent directors consider appropriate.
Board Attendance at Annual Stockholders’ Meeting
We invite and encourage each member of our Board of Directors to
attend our annual meetings of stockholders. We do not have a formal
policy regarding attendance of our annual meetings of stockholders
by the members of our Board of Directors.
Communication with Directors
Stockholders and interested parties who wish to communicate with
our Board of Directors, non-management members of our Board of
Directors as a group, a committee of the Board of Directors or a
specific member of our Board of Directors (including our Chair) may
do so by letters addressed to:
Cardiff Oncology, Inc.
c/o Secretary
11055 Flintkote Ave.
San Diego, California, 92121
All communications by letter addressed to the attention of our
Secretary will be reviewed by the Secretary and provided to the
members of the Board of Directors unless such communications are
unsolicited items, sales materials and other routine items and
items unrelated to the duties and responsibilities of the Board of
Directors.
Considerations in Evaluating Director Nominees
The Corporate Governance/Nominating
Committee is responsible for identifying, considering and
recommending candidates to the Board of Directors for Board
membership. A variety of methods are used to identify and evaluate
director nominees, with the goal of maintaining and further
developing a diverse, experienced and highly qualified Board of
Directors. Candidates may come to our attention through current
members of our Board of Directors, professional search firms,
stockholders or other persons.
The Corporate Governance/Nominating Committee will recommend to the
Board of Directors for selection all nominees to be proposed by the
Board of Directors for election by the stockholders, including
approval or recommendation of a slate of director nominees to be
proposed by the Board of Directors for election at each annual
meeting of stockholders, and will recommend all director nominees
to be appointed by the Board of Directors to fill interim director
vacancies.
Our Board of Directors encourages selection of directors who will
contribute to the company’s overall corporate goals. The Corporate
Governance/Nominating Committee may from time to time review and
recommend to the Board of Directors the desired qualifications,
expertise and characteristics of directors, including such factors
as breadth of experience, knowledge about our business and
industry, willingness and ability to devote adequate time and
effort to the Board of Directors, ability to contribute to the
Board of Directors’ overall effectiveness, and the needs of the
Board of Directors and its committees. Exceptional candidates who
do not meet all of these criteria may still be considered. In
evaluating potential candidates for the Board of Directors, the
Corporate Governance/Nominating Committee considers these factors
in the light of the specific needs of the Board of Directors at
that time.
In addition, under our Corporate Governance Guidelines, a director
is expected to spend the time and effort necessary to properly
discharge such director’s responsibilities. Accordingly, a director
is expected to regularly attend meetings of the Board of Directors
and committees on which such director sits, and to review prior to
meetings material distributed in advance for such meetings. Thus,
the number of other public company boards and other boards (or
comparable governing bodies) on which a prospective nominee is a
member, as well as his or her other professional responsibilities,
will be considered. Also, under our Corporate Governance
Guidelines, there are no limits on terms that may be served by a
director. However, in connection with evaluating recommendations
for nomination for reelection, the Corporate Governance/Nominating
Committee considers director tenure. We value diversity on a
company-wide basis but have not adopted a specific policy regarding
Board diversity.
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
At the Annual Meeting, the stockholders will elect seven (7)
directors to hold office until the 2023 Annual Meeting. Directors
are elected by a plurality of votes cast by stockholders. In the
event the nominees are unable or unwilling to serve as directors at
the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted for any
substitute nominees designated by the present Board or the proxy
holders to fill such vacancy, or for the balance of the nominees
named without nomination of a substitute, or the size of the Board
will be reduced in accordance with the Bylaws of the Company. The
Board has no reason to believe that the persons named below will be
unable or unwilling to serve as nominees or as directors if
elected. Mr. Brancaccio has not been re-nominated as a member of
the Board.
Assuming a quorum is present, the seven (7) nominees receiving the
highest number of affirmative votes of shares entitled to be voted
for such persons will be elected as directors of the Company to
serve for a one-year term. Unless marked otherwise, proxies
received will be voted “FOR” the election of the nominees named
below. In the event that additional persons are nominated for
election as directors, the proxy holders intend to vote all proxies
received by them in such a manner as will ensure the election of
the nominees listed below, and, in such event, the specific
nominees to be voted for will be determined by the proxy
holders.
Information with Respect to Director Nominees
Listed below are the current directors who are nominated to hold
office until their successors are elected and qualified, and their
ages as of April 11, 2022.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Age |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. James O. Armitage, M.D. |
|
75 |
|
|
Mark Erlander, Ph.D. |
|
62 |
|
|
Dr. Rodney S. Markin, M.D., Ph.D. |
|
65 |
|
|
Mani Mohindru, Ph.D. |
|
50 |
|
|
Gary W. Pace, Ph.D. |
|
74 |
|
|
Renee P. Tannenbaum, Pharm.D. |
|
70 |
|
|
Lâle White |
|
66 |
|
|
Dr. James O. Armitage, M.D. - Independent Director
Dr. Armitage has been a director of our company since April 2020.
Dr. Armitage has been a Professor of Internal Medicine in the
division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Nebraska
Medical Center since 2003, after having served as Chairman of the
Department of Internal Medicine, Dean of the College of Medicine,
and in various other capacities since joining the Center in 1982.
He also holds a hospital appointment at The Nebraska Medical
Center. Dr. Armitage has authored or co-authored more than 600
articles, 108 book chapters and edited or co-edited 27 textbooks.
He has previously served as President of the American Society of
Clinical Oncology ("ASCO"), and as a member of the ASCO Board of
Directors. Dr. Armitage received a bachelor of science degree from
the University of Nebraska and a medical degree from the University
of Nebraska Medical Center and completed his post-graduate training
at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of
Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. The Board believes that Dr. Armitage's
training as a physician, his research, clinical and administrative
experience, and his previous service as a director of a publicly
traded biopharmaceutical company provide him with the
qualifications and skills to serve as a director.
Mark Erlander, Ph.D.
-
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Dr. Erlander has been our Chief Executive Officer since May 2020
and a director since June 2020. Dr. Erlander was our Chief
Scientific Officer from March 2013 to April 2020. Dr. Erlander has
more than 18 years of experience directing and leading research and
development for gene discovery, with a strong focus on molecular
diagnostics. Prior to joining Cardiff Oncology, he was Chief
Scientific Officer at bioTheranostics, a subsidiary of bioMérieux,
a molecular diagnostic testing company that is focused on clinical
applications in oncology, from 2008 to February 2013. Previously
Dr. Erlander was a Group Leader and subsequently Research Fellow at
the R. W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute (Johnson &
Johnson). He was also an assistant member and Postdoctoral Fellow
at The Scripps Research Institute in the Department of Molecular
Biology. Dr.
Erlander holds a B.S. degree in Biochemistry from the University of
California, Davis; an M.S. degree in Biochemistry from Iowa State
University; and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of
California, Los Angeles. Dr. Erlander is an accomplished researcher
with 32 issued U.S. patents and 38 U.S. patent applications, and is
a lead or contributing author on more than 70 scientific articles.
The Board believes that Dr. Erlander’s research and clinical
experience qualifies him to serve as a director of our
company.
Dr. Rodney S. Markin,
M.D., Ph.D.
-
Independent Director
Dr. Markin has been Chairman of the Board of our company since
December 2020 and a Director since February 2014. Dr. Markin has
served as Chief Operating Officer of The University of Nebraska
since August 2017. Dr. Markin has served as Chief Technology
Officer and Associate Vice Chancellor for Business Development at
The University of Nebraska Medical Center since 2011; as Professor
of Pathology and Microbiology since 1985; as David T. Purtilo
Distinguished Professor Pathology and Microbiology since 2005; as
Courtesy Professor of Surgery since 1990 and as Courtesy Professor
of Psychiatry since 2013. Dr. Markin is also a director on the
Board of Children's Hospital and Medical Center Foundation, on the
Board of Trustees for Keck Graduate Institute, on the Board of the
Make-A-Wish Foundation and on the Board of PerceptiMed since July
2015. Dr. Markin served on the Board of Directors for Transgenomic,
Inc. from March 2007 to December 2014. The Board believes that Dr.
Markin’s valuable executive experience in the healthcare business
qualifies him to serve as a director and Chairman of the Board of
our company.
Mani Mohindru, Ph.D .- Independent Director
Dr. Mohindru is currently the CEO of Novasenta, an early-stage
biotech company. In addition to Cardiff Oncology, she also serves
as a director of CytomX, Inc., a public biotechnology company. From
October 2020 to May 2021, she served as a director of SAB
Biotherapeutics, a then private biotech company. From December 2019
to October 2020, Dr. Mohindru served as Chief Executive Officer of
CereXis, a biotechnology company. Dr. Mohindru served as Chief
Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer of Cara Therapeutics,
Inc., a public biotechnology company, from August 2017 until
December 2019. From March 2016 to July 2017, Dr. Mohindru served as
the Chief Strategy Officer at Curis, Inc., a public biotechnology
company. From April 2015 to February 2016, Dr. Mohindru served as
Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Investor Relations
and from June 2013 to March 2015, Dr. Mohindru served as Vice
President of Corporate Strategy and Investor Relations, each at
Curis, Inc. In 2012, Dr. Mohindru co-founded ImmTox, Inc., a small
private biotechnology company. From June 2011 to September 2012,
Dr. Mohindru was a Senior Biotechnology Analyst at ThinkEquity,
LLC, a research and investment banking firm. Previously, from June
2009 to May 2011, Dr. Mohindru was a Partner at Axon Healthcare
Company, a strategic pharmaceutical and biotechnology consultancy
firm that she co-founded. Dr. Mohindru was also a Managing Director
at Capstone Investments in its investment banking division, a Vice
President at Credit Suisse, and an Associate Research Analyst at
global financial services firm, UBS. Dr. Mohindru completed her
Ph.D. in Neurosciences at Northwestern University and she received
both her B.S. in Human Biology and Masters in Biotechnology from
the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. The
Board believes that Dr. Mohindru’s years of biopharmaceutical
industry leadership as well as Wall Street experience provides her
with the qualifications and skills to serve as a
director.
Gary W. Pace, Ph.D.
-
Independent Director
Dr. Pace has been a director of our company since April 2020. In
addition, Dr. Pace has been a Director of Pacira Biosciences, Inc.
since 2008 and Antisense Therapeutics since 2015, as well as a
director of several private companies. He previously served on the
board of Simavita Ltd. from 2016 to 2021, ResMed Inc. from 1994 to
2018, Transition Therapeutics Inc. from 2002 to 2016 and QRxPharma
Ltd. from 2001 to 2013. Dr. Pace is a seasoned biopharmaceutical
executive with over 40 years of experience in the industry. He has
co-founded several early stage life science companies, where he
built products from the laboratory to commercialization. Dr. Pace
has contributed to the development of the biotechnology industry
through honorary university appointments and industry and
government committees. In 2003, he was awarded a Centenary Medal by
the Australian Government “for service to Australian society in
research and development” and was recognized as the 2011 Director
of the Year (corporate governance) by the San Diego Directors
Forum. He is also a fellow of the Australian Academy of
Technological Sciences and Engineering. Dr. Pace holds a B.Sc.
(Hons I) from the University of New South Wales and a Ph.D. from
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he was a Fulbright
Fellow and General Foods Scholar. The Board believes that Dr.
Pace’s years of experience providing strategic advisory services to
complex organizations, including as a public company director
provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a
director.
Renee P. Tannenbaum, Pharm.D.
- Independent Director
Dr. Tannenbaum currently serves as an independent consultant and
strategic advisor to several biopharmaceutical, diagnostic and
device companies. Most recently she served as Vice President of
Global Partnering at Halozyme, Inc., where she was responsible for
leading the team that executes business development activities and
the company’s alliances through partnerships and collaborations.
Dr. Tannenbaum was previously Head of Global Customer Excellence at
AbbVie from October 2012 to January 2016, where she was responsible
for building commercial capabilities for the organization.
Previously, Dr. Tannenbaum served as President of Myrtle Potter
& Company, LLC, a global life sciences consulting and advisory
firm from April 2011 to October 2012 and Executive Vice President
and Chief Commercial Officer at Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., from
May 2009 to January 2011, where she was responsible for revenue
generation for Elan’s marketed products, preparing for the
commercialization of the company’s pipeline, including its
Alzheimer’s portfolio, and strengthening the company’s overall
commercial capabilities. Prior to her role at Elan, Dr. Tannenbaum
was at Novartis Pharma AG for three years, where she led the Global
Commercial Operations organization. Prior to that, Dr. Tannenbaum
spent nine years at Bristol Myers Squibb and 16 years at Merck and
Company, Inc. where she held a variety of leadership positions in
operations and general management. Dr. Tannenbaum has served as a
director of Zogenix, Inc. since February 2015. Dr. Tannenbaum
served as a director to Nordic Nanovector ASA, a publicly-traded
company in Norway, and Cipher Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a Canadian
publicly-traded company, from April to August 2016, Sharps
Compliance Inc. from November 2012 to November 2014 and Immune
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately-held company, from August 2011
to October 2012. Dr. Tannenbaum retains a faculty position at the
University of the Sciences’ Mayes College of Healthcare Business
and Policy and serves as the Dean’s Professor. Dr. Tannenbaum
received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Philadelphia
College of Pharmacy and Sciences, her MBA from Temple University,
and her Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from the University
of Connecticut. The Board believes that Dr. Tannenbaum’s extensive
experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, including providing
strong executive leadership to numerous biopharmaceutical companies
provides her with the qualifications and skills to serve as a
director.
Lâle White - Independent Director
Ms. White has been a director of our company since April 2020. Ms.
White is the Chief Executive Officer of XIFIN, Inc., a financial
cloud computing company, with over 25 years of experience in
information systems development and medical billing. She lectures
extensively on these topics and has consulted for major
laboratories and laboratory associations throughout the U.S. Ms.
White worked with HCFA and the U.S. Office of the Inspector General
to develop the first OIG Model Compliance Program. She is a
longstanding member of the California Clinical Lab Association,
where for the last eight years she has chaired the state and
federal contractor committees that work with the Medicare
Administrative Contractors and the Department of Health and Human
Services. Ms. White was previously Vice President of Finance of
Laboratory Corporation of America, one of the largest clinical
reference laboratories in the U.S., and its predecessor National
Health Laboratories, where she led the software development of
several accounts receivable, inventory, cost accounting and
financial management systems for the laboratory industry. Ms. White
previously was on the Board of bioTheranostics while it was a
BioMerieux subsidiary and CombiMatrix Corporation, until its
acquisition by Invitae Corporation in 2017. Ms. White has a BA in
finance and an MBA from Florida International University. The Board
believes that Ms. White’s significant executive experience with the
strategic, financial, and operational requirements of health care
organizations, particularly in the area of billing and
reimbursement provides her with the qualifications and skills to
serve as a director.
Board Diversity
The following Board Diversity Matrix presents our Board diversity
statistics in accordance with Nasdaq Rule 5606, as self-disclosed
by our directors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Board Diversity Matrix as of April 11, 2022 |
Total number of directors |
8 |
Part 1: Gender Identity |
Female |
Male |
Non-Binary |
Decline to Disclose |
Directors |
3 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
Part 2: Demographic Background |
Female |
Male |
Non-Binary |
Decline to Disclose |
African American or Black |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Alaskan Native or Native American |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Asian |
2 |
— |
— |
— |
Hispanic or Latinx |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander |
— |
— |
— |
— |
White |
1 |
5 |
— |
— |
Two or More Races or Ethnicities |
— |
— |
— |
— |
LGBTQ+ |
— |
Did Not Disclose Demographic Background |
— |
Board Recommendation
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR”
EACH OF THE NOMINEES TO THE BOARD SET FORTH IN THIS PROPOSAL
1.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The following table provides certain summary information concerning
compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our Principal
Executive Officer and our other highest paid executive officers
whose total annual salary and bonus exceeded $100,000
(collectively, the “named executive officers”) for fiscal
year 2021.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
Salary ($) |
|
Option Awards ($)
(2)
|
|
|
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(1)
|
|
|
|
Total ($) |
Mark Erlander, CEO |
|
2021 |
|
532,716 |
|
|
|
2,851,972 |
|
|
|
|
|
250,510 |
|
|
|
|
|
3,635,198 |
|
|
|
2020 |
|
444,764 |
|
|
|
476,380 |
|
|
|
|
|
229,559 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,150,703 |
|
Vicki Kelemen, COO(3)
|
|
2021 |
|
359,962 |
|
|
|
1,317,635 |
|
|
|
|
|
152,280 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,829,877 |
|
|
|
2020 |
|
322,576 |
|
|
|
269,543 |
|
|
|
|
|
157,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
749,619 |
|
James Levine, CFO(4)
|
|
2021 |
|
202,693 |
|
|
|
2,085,227 |
|
|
|
|
|
179,775 |
|
|
|
|
|
2,467,695 |
|
(1)The
amounts in this column relate to annual cash incentives earned by
the Named Executive Officers in 2021 and 2020.
(2)Amounts
shown in this column do not reflect dollar amounts actually
received by our named executive officers. Instead, these amounts
represent the aggregate grant date fair value of stock option
awards determined in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards
Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”)
Topic 718. The valuation assumptions used in
determining 2021 and 2020 amounts are described in Note 6
to our financial statements included in our Annual Reports on
Form 10-K for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and
2020.
(3)Ms.
Kelemen was promoted to Chief Operating Officer during Fiscal Year
2020.
(4)Mr.
Levine was hired in July 2021, and, as part of his new employment
agreement, was awarded an inducement grant of non-qualified stock
options that will vest over four years.
Narrative to Summary Compensation Table at 2021 Fiscal Year
End
2021 Salaries
Our executive officers each receive a base salary for their
services provided to our Company. The base salary payable to each
executive officer is intended to provide a fixed component of
compensation reflecting the executive’s skill set, experience, role
and responsibilities.
2021 Annual Cash Incentive
Annually management submits corporate goals for approval to the
Compensation Committee. We maintain an annual performance-based
cash bonus program in which each of our executive officers
participated in 2021. The cash target bonus is based on achievement
of corporate goals, and is subject to approval from the
Compensation Committee prior to payment. Each executive officer’s
target bonus is calculated as a percentage of base salary. The 2021
annual cash incentive opportunity for Dr. Erlander was 50% of his
base salary. Ms. Kelemen, and Mr. Levine were both targeted at 45%
of their base salaries.
In the first quarter of 2021, the compensation committee
established performance goals related to the Company’s clinical
programs, Drug Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (“CMC”), and
preclinical studies. In the first quarter of 2022, the Board of
Directors reviewed the Company’s performance achievement relative
to these pre-determined goals, as well as notable other Corporate
accomplishments through 2021. Based on an assessment of the
Company’s performance, our compensation comittee approved the level
of achievement of all of our 2021 corporate goals, which resulted
in our executive officers receiving an award equal to 94% of their
respective target bonus amounts.
2021 Equity Awards
From time to time, at the discretion of the Compensation Committee
we grant time-based equity awards to our executive officers. We
believe that these time-based equity awards are a valuable
retention tool and incentivize our executive officers to create
long-term shareholder value. During Fiscal year 2021, we granted
stock options to our executive officers which vest in equal
installments over a three year period, beginning on the anniversary
of the grant date.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table sets forth information for the named executive
officers regarding the number of shares subject to both exercisable
and unexercisable stock options as well as the exercise prices and
expiration dates thereof, as of December 31, 2021. Except for the
options set forth in the table below, no other equity awards were
held by any of our named executive officers as of December 31,
2021.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards(1)
|
|
|
Name |
|
Number of Securities
Underlying Unexercised Options (#)
Exercisable |
|
Number of Securities
Underlying Unexercised Options (#)
Unexercisable |
|
|
Option
Exercise Price ($) |
|
Option
Expiration Date |
|
|
|
|
|
Mark Erlander |
|
70 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
204.48 |
|
|
9/13/2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
139 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
350.64 |
|
|
12/10/2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,778 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
506.88 |
|
|
1/28/2023 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,389 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
398.16 |
|
|
12/11/2023 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,778 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
236.88 |
|
|
7/16/2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
834 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
316.08 |
|
|
12/11/2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,084 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
372.96 |
|
|
1/4/2026 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,348 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
61.20 |
|
|
8/22/2027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,336 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
21.60 |
|
|
1/23/2028 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
89,468 |
|
|
44,735 |
|
(2)
|
|
2.48 |
|
|
6/20/2029 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
73,747 |
|
|
147,494 |
|
(3)
|
|
2.60 |
|
|
6/17/2030 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
435,072 |
|
(4)
|
|
7.98 |
|
|
6/10/2031 |
|
|
|
|
|
Vicki Kelemen |
|
556 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
320.40 |
|
|
10/30/2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
70 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
372.96 |
|
|
1/4/2026 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,084 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
61.20 |
|
|
8/22/2027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,440 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
21.60 |
|
|
1/23/2028 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,321 |
|
|
35,320 |
|
(5)
|
|
2.48 |
|
|
6/20/2029 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
41,683 |
|
|
83,366 |
|
(6)
|
|
2.60 |
|
|
6/17/2030 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
200,928 |
|
(7)
|
|
7.98 |
|
|
6/10/2031 |
|
|
|
|
|
James Levine |
|
— |
|
|
390,000 |
|
(8)
|
|
6.55 |
|
|
7/12/2031 |
|
|
|
|
|
(1)For
each executive officer, the shares listed in this table are subject
to a single stock option award carrying the varying exercise prices
as set forth herein. The option awards remain exercisable until
they expire ten years from the date of grant, subject to earlier
expiration following termination of employment.
(2)44,735
Stock Options will vest on June 20, 2022.
(3)73,747
will vest per year on June 17, 2022 and 2023.
(4)108,768
Stock Options will vest on June 10, 2022, and 9,064 will vest
monthly from July 10, 2022 through June 10, 2025.
(5)35,320
Stock Options will vest on June 20, 2022.
(6)41,683
will vest per year on June 17, 2022 and 2023.
(7)50,232
Stock Options will vest on June 10, 2022, and 4,186 will vest
monthly from July 10, 2022 through June 10, 2025.
(8)97,500
Stock Options will vest on July 12, 2022, and 8,125 will vest
monthly from August 12, 2022 through July 12, 2025.
Director Compensation
Under our non-employee director compensation policy, a new
non-employee director receives an initial grant of options to
purchase a number of shares of common stock that considers
competitive dollar values and percent of company for comparable
companies. As a result, the 2021 option grant for new directors was
equal to 44,001 stock options, that vested in equal annual
installments over 3 years, and had an exercise price of $7.98
(subject to adjustment for recapitalizations, stock split, stock
dividends and the like). In addition, each non-employee director
receives the following annual compensation for his or her
service:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Committee membership |
|
Annual retainer non-employee board member |
|
Audit |
Compensation |
Corporate Governance/Nominating |
Chair |
$40,000 |
|
$16,000 |
$10,000 |
$8,000 |
Member |
$65,000 |
|
$8,000 |
$6,000 |
$4,000 |
In addition, each non-employee director receives an annual equity
grant of options to purchase a number of shares of common stock
that considers competitive dollar values and percent of company for
comparable companies. As a result, the 2021 option grant for
continuing directors was equal to 22,000 stock options, that vest
on the one-year anniversary of the date of the grant, and had an
exercise price of $7.98 (subject to adjustment for
recapitalizations, stock split, stock dividends and the
like).
The following table sets forth summary information concerning the
total compensation paid to our non-employee directors in 2021
for services to our company.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash ($) |
|
Option Awards ($)(1)
|
|
|
|
Total ($) |
Thomas H. Adams, Ph.D.(2)
|
|
28,889 |
|
|
415,567 |
|
|
|
|
444,456 |
|
Dr. James O. Armitage, M.D.(3)
|
|
69,000 |
|
|
141,905 |
|
|
|
|
210,905 |
|
John Brancaccio(4)
|
|
85,000 |
|
|
141,905 |
|
|
|
|
226,905 |
|
Gary S. Jacob(5)
|
|
32,222 |
|
|
223,120 |
|
|
|
|
255,342 |
|
Dr. Rodney S. Markin, M.D., Ph.D.(6)
|
|
123,000 |
|
|
141,905 |
|
|
|
|
264,905 |
|
Mani Mohindru, Ph.D.(7)
|
|
36,292 |
|
|
288,211 |
|
|
|
|
324,503 |
|
Gary W. Pace, Ph.D.(8)
|
|
78,667 |
|
|
141,905 |
|
|
|
|
220,572 |
|
Renee P. Tannenbaum, Pharm.D.(9)
|
|
39,642 |
|
|
288,211 |
|
|
|
|
327,853 |
|
Lâle White(10)
|
|
73,000 |
|
|
141,905 |
|
|
|
|
214,905 |
|
(1)Amounts
shown in this column do not reflect dollar amounts actually
received by our non-employee directors. Instead, these amounts
represent the aggregate grant date fair value of stock option
awards determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The
valuation assumptions used in determining 2021 amounts are
described in Note 6 to our financial statements included in
our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2021.
(2)Dr.
Adams' term as a director ended on June 10, 2021. As of December
31, 2021, 473,651 stock options were outstanding, all of which were
exercisable. The expiration dates of Dr. Adams' outstanding stock
options were modified at the end of his term, resulting in the
revaluation of his stock options.
(3)As
of December 31, 2021, 62,774 stock options were outstanding, of
which 32,830 were exercisable.
(4)As
of December 31, 2021, 98,517 stock options were outstanding, of
which 76,517 were exercisable.
(5)Mr.
Jacob's term as a director ended on June 10, 2021. As of December
31, 2021, 76,106 stock options were outstanding, all of which were
exercisable. The expiration dates of Mr. Jacob's outstanding stock
options were modified at the end of his term, resulting in the
revaluation of his stock options.
(6)As
of December 31, 2021, 97,827 stock options were outstanding, of
which 75,827 were exercisable.
(7)As
of December 31, 2021, 44,001 stock options were outstanding, of
which 0 were exercisable.
(8)As
of December 31, 2021, 62,774 stock options were outstanding, of
which 32,830 were exercisable.
(9)As
of December 31, 2021, 44,001 stock options were outstanding, of
which 0 were exercisable.
(10)As
of December 31, 2021, 62,774 stock options were outstanding, of
which 32,830 were exercisable.
Employment Agreements
Mark Erlander Employment Agreement
On February 22, 2021, we entered into an amended and restated
employment agreement with Dr. Erlander (the “Erlander
Employment Agreement”). The term of the Erlander Employment
Agreement commenced on February 22, 2021 and will continue
until February 21, 2024, following which time the Erlander
Employment Agreement will be automatically renewed for successive
one year periods at the end of each term, unless either party
delivers written notice to the other party of their intent to not
renew the agreement. Pursuant to the Erlander Employment Agreement,
Dr. Erlander’s base compensation is $533,000 per year.
Dr. Erlander is eligible to receive a cash bonus of up to 50%
of his base salary per year based on meeting certain performance
objectives and bonus criteria.
If Dr. Erlander’s employment is terminated by us for cause or
as a result of Dr. Erlander’s death or permanent disability,
or if Dr. Erlander terminates his employment agreement
voluntarily, Dr. Erlander will be entitled to receive a lump
sum equal to (i) any portion of unpaid base compensation then
due for periods prior to termination, (ii) any bonus earned
but not yet paid through the date of his termination, and
(iii) all business expenses reasonably and necessarily
incurred by Dr. Erlander prior to the date of termination. If
Dr. Erlander’s employment is terminated by us without cause or
by Dr. Erlander for good reason, Dr. Erlander will be
entitled to receive the amounts due upon termination of his
employment by us for cause or as a result of his death or permanent
disability, or upon termination by Dr. Erlander of his
employment voluntarily, in addition to (provided that
Dr. Erlander executes a written release with respect to
certain matters) a severance payment equal to his base compensation
for 12 months from the date of termination and the bonus and
any benefits that Dr. Erlander would be eligible for during
such 12 month period. In addition, if Dr. Erlander’s
employment is terminated: (a) by us without cause within
12 months prior to a change of control (as defined in the
Erlander Employment Agreement) that was pending during such
12 month period, (b) by Dr. Erlander for good reason
within 12 months after a change of control, or (c) by us
without cause at any time upon or within 12 months after a
change of control, Dr. Erlander will be entitled to receive
the amounts due upon termination of his employment by us for cause
or as a result of his death or permanent disability, or upon
termination by Dr. Erlander of his employment voluntarily, in
addition to the severance payments due if Dr. Erlander’s
employment is terminated by us without cause or by
Dr. Erlander for good reason, and all of Dr. Erlander’s
unvested stock options and other equity awards would immediately
vest and become fully exercisable (x) in the event a change of
control transaction is pending, for a period of six months
following the date of termination, and (y) in the event a
change of control transaction is not then pending, for the period
of time set forth in the applicable agreement evidencing the
award.
Vicki Kelemen Employment Agreement
On February 22, 2021, we entered into an employment agreement
with Ms. Kelemen (the “Kelemen Employment Agreement”). The term of
the Kelemen Employment Agreement commenced on February 22,
2021 and will continue until February 21, 2024, following which
time the Kelemen Employment Agreement will be automatically renewed
for successive one year periods at the end of each term, unless
either party delivers written notice to the other party of their
intent to not renew the agreement. Pursuant to the Kelemen
Employment Agreement, Ms. Kelemen’s base compensation is $360,000
per year. Ms. Kelemen is eligible to receive a cash bonus of up to
45% of her base salary per year based on meeting certain
performance objectives and bonus criteria.
If Ms. Kelemen’s employment is terminated by us for cause or as a
result of Ms. Kelemen’s death or permanent disability, or if Ms.
Kelemen terminates her employment agreement voluntarily, Ms.
Kelemen will be entitled to receive a lump sum equal to
(i) any portion of unpaid base compensation then due for
periods prior to termination, (ii) any bonus earned but not
yet paid through the date of her termination, and (iii) all
business expenses reasonably and necessarily incurred by Ms.
Kelemen prior to the date of termination. If Ms. Kelemen’s
employment is terminated by us without cause or by Ms. Kelemen for
good reason, Ms. Kelemen will be entitled to receive the amounts
due upon termination of her employment by us for cause or as a
result of her death or permanent disability, or upon termination by
Ms. Kelemen of her employment voluntarily, in addition to (provided
that Ms. Kelemen executes a written release with respect to certain
matters) a severance payment equal to her base compensation for
12 months from the date of termination and the bonus and any
benefits that Ms. Kelemen would be eligible for during such 12
month period. In addition, if Ms. Kelemen’s employment is
terminated: (a) by us without cause within 12 months
prior to a change of control (as defined in the Kelemen Employment
Agreement) that was pending during such 12 month period,
(b) by Ms. Kelemen for good reason within 12 months after
a change of control, or (c) by us without cause at any time
upon or within 12 months after a change of control, Ms.
Kelemen will be entitled to receive the amounts due upon
termination of her employment by us for cause or as a result of her
death or permanent disability, or upon termination by Ms. Kelemen
of her employment voluntarily, in addition to the severance
payments due if Ms. Kelemen’s employment is terminated by us
without cause or by Ms. Kelemen for good reason, and all of Ms.
Kelemen’s unvested stock options and other equity awards would
immediately vest and become fully exercisable (x) in the event
a change of control transaction is pending,
for a period of six months following the date of termination, and
(y) in the event a change of control transaction is not then
pending, for the period of time set forth in the applicable
agreement evidencing the award.
James Levine Employment Agreement
On July 12, 2021, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr.
Levine (the “Levine Employment Agreement”). The term of the Levine
Employment Agreement commenced on July 12, 2021 and will
continue until July 12, 2024, following which time the Levine
Employment Agreement will be automatically renewed for successive
one year periods at the end of each term, unless either party
delivers written notice to the other party of their intent to not
renew the agreement. Pursuant to the Levine Employment Agreement,
Mr. Levine’s base compensation is $425,000 per year. Mr. Levine is
eligible to receive a cash bonus of up to 45% of his base salary
per year based on meeting certain performance objectives and bonus
criteria.
If Mr. Levine’s employment is terminated by us for cause or as a
result of Mr. Levine’s death or permanent disability, or if Mr.
Levine terminates his employment agreement voluntarily, Mr. Levine
will be entitled to receive a lump sum equal to (i) any portion of
unpaid Base Compensation then due for periods prior to the
effective date of termination; (ii) any Bonus and Options earned
and not yet paid or granted, as applicable, through the date of
termination; and (iii) all business expenses reasonably and
necessarily incurred by Mr. Levine prior to the date of
termination. If Mr. Levine’s employment is terminated by us without
cause or by Mr. Levine for good reason, Mr. Levine will be entitled
to receive the amounts due upon termination of his employment by us
for cause or as a result of his death or permanent disability, or
upon termination by Mr. Levine of his employment voluntarily, in
addition to (provided that Mr. Levine executes a written release
with respect to certain matters) a severance payment equal to his
base compensation for 12 months from the date of termination and
the bonus and any benefits that Mr. Levine would be eligible for
during such 12 month period. In addition, if Mr. Levine’s
employment is terminated: (a) by us without cause within 12 months
prior to a change of control (as defined in the Levine Employment
Agreement) that was pending during such 12 month period, (b) by Mr.
Levine for good reason within 12 months after a change of control,
or (c) by us without cause at any time upon or within 12 months
after a change of control, Mr. Levine will be entitled to receive
the amounts due upon termination of his employment by us for cause
or as a result of his death or permanent disability, or upon
termination by Mr. Levine of his employment voluntarily, in
addition to the severance payments due if Mr. Levine’s employment
is terminated by us without cause or by Mr. Levine for good reason,
and all of Mr. Levine’s unvested stock options and other equity
awards would immediately vest and become fully exercisable (x) in
the event a change of control transaction is pending, for a period
of six months following the date of termination, and (y) in the
event a change of control transaction is not then pending, for the
period of time set forth in the applicable agreement evidencing the
award.
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change In
Control
Other than the provisions of the executive severance benefits to
which our named executive officers would be entitled to at December
31, 2021 as set forth above, we have no liabilities under
termination or change in control conditions. We do not have a
formal policy to determine executive severance benefits. Each
executive severance arrangement is negotiated on an individual
basis.
The table below estimates the current value of amounts payable to
our named executive officer in the event that a termination of
employment occurred on December 31, 2021. The closing price of our
common stock, as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market, was $6.01
on December 31, 2021. The following table excludes certain
benefits, such as accrued Paid Time Off ("PTO"), that are available
to all employees generally. The actual amount of payments and
benefits that would be provided can only be determined at the time
of a change in control and/or the named executive officer’s
qualifying separation from our Company. The table is merely an
illustrative example of the impact of a hypothetical termination of
employment or change in control and qualifying termination. The
amounts that would actually be paid upon a termination of
employment can only be determined at the time of such termination,
based on the fact and circumstances then prevailing.
Mark Erlander
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination |
By Cardiff Oncology Without
Cause Outside a Change
In Control |
|
By Cardiff Oncology Without
Cause or by Dr. Erlander for
Good Reason in Connection
with a Change In Control(1)
|
Value of Equity Securities Accelerated |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
2,954,918 |
|
Cash Payments |
548,052 |
|
|
548,052 |
|
Total Cash Benefits and Payments |
$ |
548,052 |
|
|
$ |
3,502,970 |
|
(1)Relates
to the termination of the Erlander Employment Agreement:
(a) by us without cause within 12 months prior to a change of
control that was pending during such 12 month period, (b) by
Dr. Erlander for good reason within 12 months after a change
of control, or (c) by us without cause at any time upon or
within 12 months after a change of control.
Vicki Kelemen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination |
By Cardiff Oncology Without
Cause Outside a Change
In Control |
|
By Cardiff Oncology Without
Cause or by Ms. Kelemen for
Good Reason in Connection
with a Change In Control(1)
|
Value of Equity Securities Accelerated |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,512,449 |
|
Cash Payments |
377,957 |
|
|
377,957 |
|
Total Cash Benefits and Payments |
$ |
377,957 |
|
|
$ |
1,890,406 |
|
(1)Relates
to the termination of the Kelemen Employment Agreement: (a) by
us without cause within 12 months prior to a change of control that
was pending during such 12 month period, (b) by Ms. Kelemen
for good reason within 12 months after a change of control, or
(c) by us without cause at any time upon or within 12 months
after a change of control.
James Levine
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination |
By Cardiff Oncology Without
Cause Outside a Change
In Control |
|
By Cardiff Oncology Without
Cause or by Mr. Levine for
Good Reason in Connection
with a Change In Control(1)
|
Value of Equity Securities Accelerated |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,841,247 |
|
Cash Payments |
450,631 |
|
|
450,631 |
|
Total Cash Benefits and Payments |
$ |
450,631 |
|
|
$ |
2,291,878 |
|
(1)Relates
to the termination of the Levine Employment Agreement: (a) by
us without cause within 12 months prior to a change of control that
was pending during such 12 month period, (b) by Mr. Levine for
good reason within 12 months after a change of control, or
(c) by us without cause at any time upon or within 12 months
after a change of control.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The following table sets forth certain information regarding
beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock as of
April 11, 2022 by (i) each person known to beneficially
own more than 5% of our outstanding common stock,
(ii) each of our directors, (iii) each of our named
executive officers, and (iv) all of our directors and
executive officers as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, the
persons named in the table below have sole voting and investment
power with respect to all shares beneficially owned, subject to
community property laws, where applicable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name of Beneficial Owner |
|
Shares of Common
Stock Beneficially Owned |
|
Percentage (2) |
Executive officers and directors(1): |
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. James O. Armitage |
|
73,292 |
|
(3)
|
|
* |
John Brancaccio |
|
110,493 |
|
(4)
|
|
* |
Mark Erlander, Ph.D. |
|
311,220 |
|
(5)
|
|
* |
Vicki Kelemen |
|
139,439 |
|
(6)
|
|
* |
James Levine |
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
* |
Dr. Rodney S. Markin, M.D., Ph.D. |
|
128,887 |
|
(7)
|
|
* |
Mani Mohindru, Ph.D. |
|
14,667 |
|
(8)
|
|
* |
Gary W. Pace, Ph.D. |
|
553,613 |
|
(9)
|
|
1.3 |
Renee P. Tannenbaum, Pharm.D. |
|
14,667 |
|
(10)
|
|
* |
Lâle White |
|
128,732 |
|
(11)
|
|
* |
All Officers and Directors as a Group (10 persons) |
|
1,505,010 |
|
|
|
3.5 |
5% Stockholders: |
|
|
|
|
|
Janus Henderson Group |
|
3,523,012 |
|
(12)
|
|
8.1 |
Caxton Corporation |
|
3,479,340 |
|
(13)
|
|
8.0 |
BlackRock, Inc. |
|
2,532,248 |
|
(14)
|
|
5.9 |
Pfizer, Inc. |
|
2,411,575 |
|
(15)
|
|
5.6 |
*less than 1%
(1)The
address of each person is c/o Cardiff Oncology, Inc., 11055
Flintkote Avenue, San Diego, CA 92121 unless otherwise indicated
herein.
(2)The
calculation in this column is based upon 43,306,061 shares of
common stock outstanding on April 11, 2022. Beneficial
ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and
generally includes voting or investment power with respect to the
subject securities. Shares of common stock that are currently
exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of
April 11, 2022 are deemed to be beneficially owned by the
person holding such securities for the purpose of computing the
percentage beneficial ownership of such person, but are not treated
as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage
beneficial ownership of any other person.
(3)Includes
58,802 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock
options that are exercisable within 60 days after April 11,
2022.
(4)Includes
98,233 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock
options that are exercisable within 60 days after April 11,
2022.
(5)Includes
296,739 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock
options that are exercisable within 60 days after April 11,
2022.
(6)Includes
133,386 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock
options that are exercisable within 60 days after April 11,
2022.
(7)Includes
97,827 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock
options that are exercisable within 60 days after April 11,
2022. Dr. Markin has direct ownership of 7,181 shares of common
stock, and indirect ownership of 23,879 shares of Common Stock
through Prairie Ventures LLC.
(8)Includes
14,667 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock
options that are exercisable within 60 days after April 11,
2022.
(9)Includes
58,802 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock
options that are exercisable within 60 days after April 11,
2022.
(10)Includes
14,667 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock
options that are exercisable within 60 days after April 11,
2022.
(11)Includes
58,802 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock
options that are exercisable within 60 days after April 11,
2022.
(12)Based
on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 10, 2022,
reporting beneficial ownership as of December 31, 2021. Janus
Henderson has an indirect 97% ownership stake in Intech Investment
Management LLC ("Intech") and a 100% ownership stake in Janus
Capital Management LLC ("JCM"), Perkins Investment Management LLC
("Perkins"), Henderson Global Investors Limited ("HGIL") and Janus
Henderson Investors Australia Institutional Funds Management
Limited ("JHIAIFML"), (each an "Asset Manager" and collectively as
the "Asset Managers"). Due to the above ownership structure,
holdings for the Asset Managers are aggregated for purposes of this
filing. Each Asset Manager is an investment adviser registered or
authorized in its relevant jurisdiction and each furnishing
investment advice to various fund, individual and/or institutional
clients (collectively referred to herein as "Managed Portfolios").
These entities have shared voting and dispositive power with
respect to these shares. The address for these entities is Janus
Henderson Group plc 201 Bishopsgate, EC2M 3AE, United
Kingdom.
(13)Based
on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 14, 2022,
reporting beneficial ownership as of December 31, 2021. Each of
Caxton Corporation, CDK Associates, L.L.C., and Bruce S. Kovner
have shared voting and dispositive power with respect to these
shares. The address for these entities is 731 Alexander Road,
Building 2, Suite 500, Princeton, New Jersey 08540.
(14)Based
on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 4, 2022, reporting
beneficial ownership as of December 31, 2021. BlackRock, Inc has
sole voting power for 2,493,000 shares and sole dispositive power
over all 2,532,248 shares. The address for BlackRock, Inc is 55
East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10055.
(15)Based
on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on November 19, 2021,
reporting beneficial ownership as of November 18, 2021. Pfizer,
Inc. has sole voting and dispositive power over all 2,411,575
shares. The address of Pfizer, Inc. is 235 East 42nd Street, New
York, New York 10017.
PROPOSAL 2
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF OUR INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR FISCAL YEAR
ENDING
DECEMBER 31, 2022
The Board has appointed BDO USA, LLP (“BDO”)
to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for
the year ending December 31, 2022. BDO has acted as our principal
accountant since April 5, 2007 and served as our independent
registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2021.
A representative of BDO is expected to be present via telephone
conference at the Annual Meeting. He or she will have the
opportunity to make a statement if desired and is expected to be
available to respond to appropriate questions.
Our Audit Committee retains our independent registered public
accounting firm and approves in advance all audit and non-audit
services performed by this firm and any other auditing firms.
Although management has the primary responsibility for the
financial statements and the reporting process including the
systems of internal control, the Audit Committee consults with
management and our independent registered public accounting firm
regarding the preparation of financial statements and the adoption
and disclosure of our critical accounting estimates and generally
oversees the relationship of the independent registered public
accounting firm with Cardiff Oncology. The independent registered
public accounting firm is responsible for expressing an opinion on
the conformity of those audited financial statements with generally
accepted accounting principles, relating to their judgments as to
the quality, not just the acceptability, of Cardiff Oncology's
accounting principles, and such other matters as are required to be
discussed with the Audit Committee under generally accepted
auditing standards.
It is the responsibility of our management to determine that our
financial statements and disclosures are complete and accurate and
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. It is
the responsibility of our independent registered public accounting
firm to conduct the audit of our financial statements and
disclosures. In giving its recommendation to the Board that our
audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021
be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2021, the Audit Committee has relied on: (1)
management’s representation that such financial statements have
been prepared with integrity and objectivity and in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States; and
(2) the report of our independent registered public accounting firm
with respect to such financial statements.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The aggregate fees billed to us by BDO, our independent registered
public accounting firm, for the indicated services for each of the
last two fiscal years were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
Audit fees (1) |
$ |
341,370 |
|
|
$ |
342,424 |
|
Tax fees (2) |
8,609 |
|
|
12,226 |
|
|
$ |
349,979 |
|
|
$ |
354,650 |
|
(1)Audit
fees consist of fees for professional services performed by BDO for
the audit and review of our financial statements, preparation and
filing of our registration statements, including issuance of
comfort letters.
(2)Tax
fees consist of fees for professional services performed by BDO
with respect to tax compliance.
Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible
Non-Audit Services of Independent Auditors
Consistent with SEC policies and guidelines regarding audit
independence, the Audit Committee is responsible for the
pre-approval of all audit and permissible non-audit services
provided by our independent registered public accounting firm on a
case-by-case basis. Our Audit Committee has established a policy
regarding
approval of all audit and permissible non-audit services provided
by our principal accountants. Our Audit Committee pre-approves
these services by category and service. Our Audit Committee has
pre-approved all of the services provided by our independent
registered public accounting firm.
Vote Required
The selection of our independent registered public accounting firm
is not required to be submitted to a vote of our stockholders for
ratification. However, we are submitting this matter to the
stockholders as a matter of good corporate governance. Even if the
appointment is ratified, the Board may, in its discretion, appoint
a different independent registered public accounting firm at any
time during the year if it determines that such a change would be
in the best interests of us and our stockholders. If the
appointment is not ratified, the Board will reconsider whether or
not to retain BDO.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares (by voting power)
present in person at the Annual Meeting or represented by proxy and
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to approve the
ratification of the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as our independent
registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2022.
Board Recommendation
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR”
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF BDO USA, LLP AS THE COMPANY’S
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2022.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The following Audit Committee Report shall
not be deemed to be “soliciting material,” deemed “filed” with the
SEC or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of the
Company’s previous filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or the Exchange Act that might incorporate by reference
future filings, including this Proxy Statement, in whole or in
part, the following Audit Committee Report shall not be
incorporated by reference into any such filings.
The Audit Committee is comprised of three independent directors (as
defined under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2)). The Audit Committee
operates under a written charter, which is available on our website
at
http://cardiffoncology.com/
under “Corporate Governance.”
We have reviewed and discussed with management and the Company’s
auditors, the Company’s audited financial statements as of and for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.
We have discussed with BDO USA, LLP, the Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm, the matters as required to be
discussed by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the
“PCAOB”)
Auditing Standard No. 1301 (Communications with Audit
Committees).
We have received the written disclosures and the letter from BDO
USA, LLP required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding
BDO USA, LLP’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning
independence, and have discussed with BDO USA, LLP, their
independence from management and the Company.
Based on the review and discussions referred to above, we
recommended to the Board that the financial statements referred to
above be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
|
|
|
Submitted by the Audit Committee
|
John Brancaccio, Chair
|
Dr. Rodney S. Markin
|
Lâle White
|
PROPOSAL 3
APPROVAL OF AN INCREASE TO THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES ISSUABLE
UNDER THE CARDIFF ONCOLOGY 2021 OMNIBUS EQUITY PLAN
On April 23, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the
Cardiff Oncology, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the
“2021 Plan”), an omnibus equity incentive plan pursuant to which
the Company may grant equity and cash and equity-linked awards to
certain management, directors, consultants and others. The
shareholders approved the adoption of the 2021 Plan on June 10,
2021.
On April 12, 2022, the Board approved an amendment to the 2021
Plan, subject to approval by our stockholders. The Board amended
the 2021 Plan to provide for, and submits to our stockholders for
approval, an increase in the number of shares of common stock that
may be issued under the 2021 Plan by 2,000,000 shares. The
additional shares will increase the total shares of common stock
reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan to an aggregate of
5,150,000 shares.
Reasons for the Proposed Amendment
As described above, we are seeking stockholder approval of an
amendment to increase the number of shares issuable pursuant to the
2021 Plan by 2,000,000 shares. In determining the amount of the
increase contemplated by the proposed amendment to the 2021 Plan,
the Board has taken into consideration the fact that, excluding the
requested share increase, as of April 11, 2022, there were
approximately 55,525,823 shares of our common stock outstanding on
a fully-diluted basis, and the Board believes that this
fully-diluted number, rather than the number of outstanding shares
of the Company, is the relevant number in determining the
appropriate number of shares available under the 2021 Plan.
Assuming the approval of this increase, the total number of shares
of our common stock available for issuance under the 2021 Plan will
be 5,150,000, which represents approximately 9% of our common stock
as calculated on a fully-diluted basis.
The purpose of this increase is to continue to be able to attract,
retain and motivate executive officers and other employees,
non-employee directors and certain consultants in a highly
competitive market for employee talent. Upon stockholder approval
of the amendment, additional shares of common stock will be
reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan, which will enable us to
continue to grant equity awards to our officers, employees,
consultants and non-employee directors at levels determined by the
Board to be necessary to attract, retain and motivate the
individuals who will be critical to our success in achieving its
business objectives and thereby creating greater value for all our
stockholders. Furthermore, we believe that equity compensation
aligns the interests of our management and other employees with the
interests of our other stockholders. Equity awards are a key
component of our incentive compensation program. We believe that
option grants have been critical in attracting and retaining
talented employees and officers, aligning their interests with
those of stockholders, and focusing key employees on our long-term
growth. We anticipate that option grants and other forms of equity
awards such as restricted stock awards may become an increasing
component in similarly motivating our consultants. In order to
attract and retain qualified employees, we have had to grant stock
options in excess of our historical equity burn rate.
Approval of the amendment to the 2021 Plan will permit us to
continue to use stock-based compensation to align stockholder and
employee interests and to motivate employees and others providing
services to us or any subsidiary.
The terms of the 2021 Plan are summarized below.
We Manage Our Equity Incentive Award Use Carefully and Dilution Is
Reasonable
The Compensation Committee carefully monitors our total dilution
and equity expense to ensure that we maximize stockholder value by
granting only the appropriate number of equity awards necessary to
attract, retain and motivate employees.
•As
of the record date, 918,865 shares remained available for future
equity grants under the 2021 Plan.
Based on our historical equity usage and our internal growth plans,
this represents less than one year of available shares.
Accordingly, the proposed 2,000,000 increase of shares to be
reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan to 5,150,000 would be
sufficient for grants of awards for
approximately the next two years (covering 2023 and 2024), assuming
we continue to grant awards consistent with our historical usage
and current practices, as reflected in our recent historical burn
rate discussed below, and noting that future circumstances may
require us to change our current equity grant practices. If the
adoption of the amendment to increase the number of shares reserved
for issuance under the 2021 Plan
is approved, the share reserve under the 2021 Plan could last for a
longer or shorter period of time, depending on our future equity
grant practices, which we cannot predict with any degree of
certainty at this time.
The following table shows certain key equity metrics over the past
three fiscal years:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Key Equity Metrics |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
2019 |
Equity burn rate(1)
|
|
4.9 |
% |
|
4.6 |
% |
|
16.4 |
% |
Overhang(2)
|
|
14.4 |
% |
|
5.8 |
% |
|
13.9 |
% |
(1)Equity
burn rate is calculated by dividing the number of shares subject to
equity awards granted during the fiscal year by the
weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the
period.
(2)Overhang
is calculated by dividing the sum of (x) the number of shares
subject to equity awards outstanding at the end of the fiscal year
and (y) the number of shares available for future grants, by the
number of shares outstanding at the end of the fiscal
year.
•If
the adoption of the amendment to increase the number of shares
reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan is approved, the issuance
of the shares to be reserved under the 2021 Plan would dilute
existing stockholders by an additional 3% on a fully diluted basis,
based on the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of
April 11, 2022.
•As
described in the table above, the total aggregate equity value of
the shares being requested for the increase in authorized shares
under the 2021 Plan, based on the closing price of our common stock
on April 11, 2022, is $4,260,000.
In light of the factors described above, and the fact that the
ability to continue to grant equity compensation is vital to our
ability to continue to attract and retain employees in the
competitive labor markets in which we compete, the Board has
determined that the proposed adoption of the increase in the number
of shares authorized for issuance under the 2021 Plan is reasonable
and appropriate at this time. The Board will not create a
subcommittee to evaluate the risks and benefits for issuing the
shares under the 2021 Plan.
Description of Our 2021 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan
Set forth below is a summary of the 2021 Plan, but this summary is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2021
Plan, a copy of which is included as Appendix A to this proxy
statement.
Shares Available
The maximum number of shares of common stock reserved and available
for issuance under the 2021 Plan will be equal to the sum of (i)
5,150,000 shares of common stock; (ii) the number of shares of
common stock reserved, but unissued under the 2014 Plan, and (iii)
the number of shares of common stock underlying forfeited awards
under the 2014 Plan; provided that shares of common stock issued
under the 2021 Plan with respect to an Exempt Award will not count
against the share limit.
We use the term “Exempt Award” to mean (i) an award granted in
assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards
previously granted by another business entity acquired by us or any
of our subsidiaries or with which we or any of our subsidiaries
merge, or (ii) an award that a participant purchases at fair market
value.
Administration
The 2021 Plan is administered by the Board or by one or more
committees of directors appointed by the Board (the
“Administrator”).
The Board may delegate different levels of authority to different
committees with administrative and grant authority under the 2021
Plan. Any committee delegated administrative authority under the
2021 Plan may further delegate its authority under the Plan to
another committee of directors, and any such delegate shall be
deemed to be an Administrator of the 2021 Plan. The Administrator
comprised solely of directors may also delegate, to the extent
permitted by Section 157 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
and any other applicable law, to one or more officers of the
Company, its powers under this Plan (a) to designate Eligible
Persons who will receive grants of awards under this Plan, and (b)
to determine the number of shares subject to, and the other terms
and conditions of, such awards. It is anticipated that the
Administrator (either generally or with respect to specific
transactions) will be constituted so as to comply, as necessary or
desirable, with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under
the Exchange Act.
Eligibility
Awards may be granted pursuant to the 2021 Plan only to persons who
are eligible persons. Under the 2021 Plan, “Eligible Person” means
any person who is either: (a) an officer (whether or not a
director) or employee of the Company or one of its subsidiaries;
(b) a director of the Company or one of its subsidiaries; or (c) a
consultant who renders bona fide services to the Company or one of
its subsidiaries; provided, however, that Incentive Stock Options
(“ISOs”)
may be granted only to employees.
Awards
The 2021 Plan permits the grant of: (a) stock options, which may be
intended as ISOs or as nonqualified stock options (options not
meeting the requirements to qualify as ISOs); (b) stock
appreciation rights (“SARs”);
(c) restricted stock; (d) restricted stock units; (e) cash
incentive awards; or (f) other awards, including: (i) stock
bonuses, performance stock, performance units, dividend
equivalents, or similar rights to purchase or acquire shares,
whether at a fixed or variable price or ratio related to the common
stock, upon the passage of time, the occurrence of one or more
events, or the satisfaction of performance criteria or other
conditions, or any combination thereof; or (ii) any similar
securities with a value derived from the value of or related to the
common stock and/or returns thereon.
Consideration for Awards
The purchase price for any award granted under the 2021 Plan or the
common stock to be delivered pursuant to any such award, as
applicable, may be paid by means of any lawful consideration as
determined by the Administrator, including, without limitation, one
or a combination of the following methods:
•services
rendered by the recipient of such award;
•cash,
check payable to the order of the Company, or electronic funds
transfer;
•notice
and third party payment in such manner as may be authorized by the
Administrator;
•the
delivery of previously owned and fully vested shares of common
stock;
•by
a reduction in the number of shares otherwise deliverable pursuant
to the award; or
•subject
to such procedures as the Administrator may adopt, pursuant to a
“cashless exercise” with a third party who provides financing for
the purposes of (or who otherwise facilitates) the purchase or
exercise of awards.
Certain Federal Tax Consequences
The following summary of the federal income tax consequences of the
2021 Plan transactions is based upon federal income tax laws in
effect as of April 11, 2022. This summary does not purport to be
complete, and does not discuss state, local or non-U.S. tax
consequences.
Nonqualified Stock Options.
The grant of a nonqualified stock option under the 2021 Plan will
not result in any federal income tax consequences to the
participant or to the Company. Upon exercise of a nonqualified
stock option, the participant will recognize ordinary compensation
income equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares
of Common Stock at the time of exercise over the option exercise
price. If the participant is an employee, this income is subject to
withholding for federal income and employment tax purposes. The
Company is entitled to an income tax deduction in the amount of the
income recognized by the participant, subject to possible
limitations imposed by Section 162(m) of Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the “Code”),
thereof. Any gain or loss on the participant’s subsequent
disposition of the shares will be treated as long-term or
short-term capital gain or loss, depending on the sales proceeds
received and whether the shares are held for more than one year
following exercise. The Company does not receive a tax deduction
for any subsequent capital gain.
Incentive Options.
The grant of an ISO under the 2021 Plan will not result in any
federal income tax consequences to the participant or to the
Company. A participant recognizes no federal taxable income upon
exercising an ISO (subject to the alternative minimum tax rules
discussed below), and the Company receives no deduction at the time
of exercise. In the event of a disposition of stock acquired upon
exercise of an ISO, the tax consequences depend upon how long the
participant has held the shares. If the participant does not
dispose of the shares within two years after the ISO was granted,
nor within one year after the ISO was exercised, the participant
will recognize a long-term capital gain (or loss) equal to the
difference between the sale price of the shares and the exercise
price. The Company is not entitled to any deduction under these
circumstances.
If the participant fails to satisfy either of the foregoing holding
periods (referred to as a “disqualifying disposition”), he or she
will recognize ordinary compensation income in the year of the
disposition. The amount of ordinary compensation income generally
is the lesser of (i) the difference between the amount realized on
the disposition and the exercise price or (ii) the difference
between the fair market value of the stock at the time of exercise
and the exercise price. Such amount is not subject to withholding
for federal income and employment tax purposes, even if the
participant is an employee of the Company. Any gain in excess of
the amount taxed as ordinary income will generally be treated as a
short-term capital gain. The Company, in the year of the
disqualifying disposition, is entitled to a deduction equal to the
amount of ordinary compensation income recognized by the
participant, subject to possible limitations imposed by the Code,
including Section 162(m) thereof.
The “spread” under an ISO — i.e., the difference between the fair
market value of the shares at exercise and the exercise price — is
classified as an item of adjustment in the year of exercise for
purposes of the alternative minimum tax. If a participant’s
alternative minimum tax liability exceeds such participant’s
regular income tax liability, the participant will owe the
alternative minimum tax liability.
Restricted Stock.
Restricted stock is generally taxable to the participant as
ordinary compensation income on the date that the restrictions
lapse (i.e. the date that the stock vests), in an amount equal to
the excess of the fair market value of the shares on such date over
the amount paid for such stock (if any). If the participant is an
employee, this income is subject to withholding for federal income
and employment tax purposes. The Company is entitled to an income
tax deduction in the amount of the ordinary income recognized by
the participant, subject to possible limitations imposed by the
Code, including Section 162(m) thereof. Any gain or loss on the
participant’s subsequent disposition of the shares will be treated
as long-term or short-term capital gain or loss treatment depending
on the sales price and how long the stock has been held since the
restrictions lapsed. The Company does not receive a tax deduction
for any subsequent gain.
Participants receiving restricted stock awards may make an election
under Section 83(b) of the Code (“Section
83(b) Election”)
to recognize as ordinary compensation income in the year that such
restricted stock is granted, the amount equal to the excess of the
fair market value on the date of the issuance of the stock over the
amount paid for such stock. If such an election is made, the
recipient recognizes no further amounts of compensation income upon
the lapse of any restrictions and any gain or loss on subsequent
disposition will be long-term or short-term capital gain or loss to
the recipient. The Section 83(b) Election must be made within 30
days from the time the restricted stock is issued.
Other Awards.
Other awards (such as restricted stock units) are generally treated
as ordinary compensation income as and when common stock or cash
are paid to the participant upon vesting or settlement of such
awards. If the participant is an employee, this income is subject
to withholding for income and employment tax purposes. The Company
is generally entitled to an income tax deduction equal to the
amount of ordinary income recognized by the recipient, subject to
possible limitations imposed by the Code, including Section 162(m)
thereof.
Section 162(m) Limitation.
In general, under Section 162(m), income tax deductions of
publicly-held corporations may be limited to the extent total
compensation (including base salary, annual bonus, stock option
exercises and non-qualified benefits paid) for certain executive
officers exceeds $1 million (less the amount of any “excess
parachute payments” as defined in Section 280G of the Code) in any
one year. Prior to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “TCJA”),
covered employees generally consisted of our Chief Executive
Officer and each of the next three highest compensated officers
serving at the end of the taxable year other than our Chief
Financial Officer, and compensation that qualified as
“performance-based” under Section 162(m) was exempt from this $1
million deduction limitation. As part of the TCJA, the ability to
rely on this exemption was, with certain limited exceptions,
eliminated; in addition, the definition of covered employees was
expanded to generally include all named executive officers. Certain
awards under the 2014 Plan granted prior to November 2, 2017 may be
grandfathered from the changes made by the TCJA under certain
limited transition relief, however, for grants after that date and
any grants which are not grandfathered, we will no longer be able
to take a deduction for any compensation in excess of $1 million
that is paid to a covered employee. There is no guarantee that we
will be able to take a deduction for any compensation in excess of
$1 million that is paid to a covered employee under the 2014
Plan.
New Plan Benefits
All awards under the 2021 Plan are made at the discretion of the
Administrator. Therefore, the benefits and amounts that will be
received or allocated under the 2021 Plan to the named executive
officers, the executive officers as a group, and all employees who
are not executive offices as a group are not determinable at this
time.
SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION
PLANS
The following table summarizes information about our equity
compensation plans as of December 31, 2021.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares of Common Stock to be Issued upon Exercise of
Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights
|
|
Weighted- Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants
and Rights
|
|
Number of Options Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under
Equity Compensation Plans (excluding securities reflected in column
(a))
|
|
|
(a)
|
|
(b)
|
|
(c)
|
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Stockholders
|
|
2,981,872 |
|
|
$ |
7.35 |
|
2,284,862 |
|
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by
Stockholders(1)
|
|
790,112 |
|
|
|
6.27 |
|
— |
|
Total |
|
3,771,984 |
|
|
|
|
|
2,284,862 |
|
(1)These
options were granted in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule
5635(c)(4).
Vote Required
The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares (by voting power)
present in person at the Annual Meeting or represented by proxy and
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to approve the
amendment to the 2021 Plan.
Board Recommendation
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR”
APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY’S 2021 PLAN TO INCREASE THE
NUMBER OF SHARES AVAILABLE FOR ISSUANCE FROM 3,150,000 TO 5,150,000
SHARES.
PROPOSAL 4
APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF THE NAMED EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS
Under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), our stockholders are entitled to
vote to provide advisory approval of the compensation of our named
executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant to
the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC. In accordance with
these requirements, at our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, a
majority of our stockholders voted in favor of holding an advisory
vote to approve executive compensation every three years. Our board
of directors considered the voting results on that proposal and
determined to hold future advisory votes on the compensation of our
named executive officers every three years. Pursuant to the
Dodd-Frank Act, the stockholder vote on executive compensation is
an advisory vote only, and it is not binding on us or our board of
directors.
We last held this advisory at our 2019 annual meeting. In the 2019
vote, approximately 90% of the votes that were cast were “For” the
approval of our executive compensation program as disclosed in our
2019 proxy statement. The compensation committee and board of
directors considered those voting results to strongly support our
company’s approach to, and structure of, executive
compensation.
The compensation committee continually reviews the compensation
programs for our executive officers to ensure they achieve the
desired goals of aligning our executive compensation structure with
stockholders' interests and current market practices. Our executive
compensation program is designed to attract, retain and motivate
individuals with superior ability, experience and leadership
capability to deliver on our annual and long-term business
objectives necessary to create stockholder value. Our executive
officers are compensated for the achievement of annual goals
established by our compensation committee in our performance-based
annual cash incentive program and through stock option grants that
are at risk of having no value unless our stock price appreciates.
The Executive Compensation section of this proxy statement provides
additional details about our 2021 executive compensation program,
including information about the 2021 compensation of our named
executive officers.
The compensation committee and the board of directors believe that
our executive compensation program fulfills the above-described
goals and is reasonable, competitive, and aligned with our
performance and the performance of our executives.
We are asking our stockholders to indicate their support for our
named executive officer compensation as described in this proxy
statement. This proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay”
proposal, gives our stockholders the opportunity to express their
views on our named executive officers’ compensation. This vote is
not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but
rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers and
the philosophy, policies and practices described in this proxy
statement. Although the vote is non-binding, our compensation
committee and board of directors value the opinions of the
stockholders and will consider the outcome of the vote when making
future compensation decisions.
Accordingly, we ask that our stockholders vote “FOR” the following
resolution:
“RESOLVED, that Cardiff Oncology, Inc.’s stockholders approve, on
an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive
officers, as disclosed in Cardiff Oncology, Inc.’s Proxy Statement
for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, pursuant to the
compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, including the Executive
Compensation, the Summary Compensation Table and the other related
tables and disclosure.”
Vote Required
The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of voting capital
present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting
will be required to approve the advisory vote regarding the
compensation of the named executive officers. Abstentions will be
counted toward the tabulation of votes cast on this proposal and
will have the same effect as negative votes.
Board Recommendation
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE
APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AS
DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO THE COMPENSATION
DISCLOSURE RULES OF THE SEC.
TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS
The following is a description of transactions or series of
transactions since January 1, 2020, or any currently proposed
transaction, to which we were or are to be a participant and in
which the amount involved in the transaction or series of
transactions exceeds $120,000, and in which any of our directors,
executive officers or persons who we know hold more than five
percent of any class of our capital stock, including their
immediate family members, had or will have a direct or indirect
material interest, other than compensation arrangements with our
directors and executive officers.
In November 2018, the Company entered into a Material Transfer
Agreement (“MTA”) with Leucadia Life Sciences (“Leucadia”) pursuant
to which Leucadia developed a PCR-based assay for onvansertib for
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (“AML”). This assay was completed in
December 2020. During the duration of the agreement, one of the
Company's directors the late Dr. Thomas Adams (who is no longer a
director as of June 2021), was a principal stockholder of Leucadia.
In connection with the MTA, the Company entered into a consulting
agreement with Tommy Adams, Co-Founder & Chief Operating
Officer of Leucadia, who is the son of Dr. Adams. During the years
ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company incurred and recorded
approximately $0.0 million and $1.1 million, respectively, of
research and development expenses for services performed by
Leucadia and Tommy Adams.
In May 2020, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase
Agreement with Gary W. Pace, Ph.D, one of the Company's directors.
Dr. Pace purchased 447,761 shares of the Company's common stock at
$1.34 per share for an aggregate purchase price of
$600,000.
We have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors
and executive officers under which we agreed to indemnify those
individuals under the circumstances and to the extent provided for
in the agreements, for expenses, damages, judgments, fines,
settlements and any other amounts they may be required to pay in
actions, suits or proceedings which they are or may be made a party
or threatened to be made a party by reason of their position as a
director, officer or other agent of ours, and otherwise to the
fullest extent permitted under Delaware law and our By-Laws. We
also have an insurance policy covering our directors and executive
officers with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities
arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
otherwise.
Our board has adopted a written related party transaction policy to
set forth the policies and procedures for the review, approval and
ratification of related party transactions. This policy covers any
financial transaction, arrangement or relationship, or any series
of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships (including
any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) in which we are or
are to be a participant, since the beginning of our last completed
fiscal year, and a related party has or will have a direct or
indirect material interest. A related party is any individual who
is, or who has been since the beginning of our last fiscal year, an
executive officer, director or nominee for election as a director,
or any person known to be the record or beneficial owner of more
than 5% of any class of our voting securities, any immediate family
member of any of the foregoing persons or any entity which is owned
or controlled by any of the foregoing persons, or any entity in
which one of the foregoing persons has a substantial ownership
interest in or control over such entity. Transactions involving the
employment or compensation of our executive officers or
compensation to our directors, transactions with another company at
which a related party’s only relationship is as a director and/or
beneficial owner of less than 10% of such company’s equity
interests, transactions in which all of our stockholders receive
proportional benefits, certain regulated transactions and certain
banking-related services are not considered related-person
transactions under this policy. Under our Audit Committee Charter
and our related party transaction policy, our Audit Committee is
responsible for reviewing and approving in advance any related
party transaction. In connection with its review of a related party
transaction, the Audit Committee will take into account, among
other factors it deems appropriate, whether the related party
transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally
available to an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar
circumstances and the extent of the related party’s interest in the
related party transaction.
OTHER MATTERS
Cardiff Oncology has no knowledge of any other matters that may
come before the Annual Meeting and does not intend to present any
other matters. However, if any other matters shall properly come
before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement
thereof, the persons soliciting proxies will have the discretion to
vote as they see fit unless directed otherwise.
We will bear the cost of soliciting proxies in the accompanying
form. In addition to the use of the mailings, proxies may also be
solicited by our directors, officers or other employees, personally
or by telephone, facsimile or
email, none of
whom will be compensated separately for these solicitation
activities. We have engaged Kingsdale Advisors to assist in the
solicitation of proxies. We will pay a fee of $12,500 plus
reasonable out-of-pocket charges.
If you do not plan to attend the Annual Meeting, in order that your
shares may be represented and in order to assure the required
quorum, please sign, date and return your proxy promptly. In the
event you are able to attend the Annual Meeting, at your request,
Cardiff Oncology will cancel your previously submitted
proxy.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Householding
The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries
(e.g., brokers) to satisfy the delivery requirements for Proxy
Availability Notice or other Annual Meeting materials with respect
to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering
a single Notice or other Annual Meeting materials addressed to
those stockholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as
householding, potentially provides extra convenience for
stockholders and cost savings for companies. Stockholders who
participate in householding will continue to be able to access and
receive separate proxy cards.
This year, a number of brokers with account holders who are our
stockholders will be “householding” our proxy materials. A Notice
or proxy materials will be delivered in one single envelope to
multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary
instructions have been received from one or more of 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 or proxy materials, please notify your broker or
call our Secretary at (858) 952-7570, or submit a request in
writing to our Secretary, c/o Cardiff Oncology, Inc., 11055
Flintkote Avenue, San Diego, CA 92121. Stockholders who currently
receive multiple copies of the Notice or proxy materials at their
address and would like to request householding of their
communications should contact their broker. In addition, we will
promptly deliver, upon written or oral request to the address or
telephone number above, a separate copy of the Notice or proxy
materials to a stockholder at a shared address to which a single
copy of the documents was delivered.
Annual Reports and Form 10-K
Additional copies of Cardiff Oncology’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 may be obtained without
charge by writing to the Secretary, Cardiff Oncology, Inc., 11055
Flintkote Avenue, San Diego, CA 92121.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By Order of the Board of Directors
|
|
|
|
/s/ Dr. Rodney S. Markin MD, Ph.D.
|
|
Dr. Rodney S. Markin MD, Ph.D.
|
|
Chairman of the Board of Directors
|
April 14, 2022
Directions to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Cardiff
Oncology, Inc.
Cardiff Oncology, Inc.
11055 Flintkote Avenue
San Diego, CA 92121
From the
North
(Los Angeles/Orange County/Carlsbad)
Take 5 Fwy South. Take CARMEL MOUNTAIN ROAD exit.
Turn Left on CARMEL MOUNTAIN ROAD—go 0.3 miles
Turn Right on VISTA SORRENTO PARKWAY—go 1.4 miles
Turn Right on SORRENTO VALLEY BOULEVARD —go 0.2 miles
Turn Right on ROSELLE STREET —go 0.3 miles
Turn Left on DUNHILL STREET — go 0.2 miles
Arrive at 11055 FLINTKOTE AVENUE, on the RIGHT
From the
South
(La Jolla/San Diego International Airport Airport/Chula
Vista)
Take 5 Fwy North. Take SORRENTO VALLEY ROAD exit.
Turn Left on ROSELLE STREET —go 0.3 miles
Turn Left on DUNHILL STREET — go 0.2 miles
Arrive at 11055 FLINTKOTE AVENUE, on the RIGHT
APPENDIX A
CARDIFF ONCOLOGY, INC.
2021 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
Section 1.Purpose
of Plan.
The name of the Plan is the Cardiff Oncology, Inc. 2021 Omnibus
Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).
The purposes of the Plan are to (i) provide an additional
incentive to selected employees, directors, and independent
contractors of the Company or its Affiliates whose contributions
are essential to the growth and success of the Company,
(ii) strengthen the commitment of such individuals to the
Company and its Affiliates, (iii) motivate those individuals
to faithfully and diligently perform their responsibilities and
(iv) attract and retain competent and dedicated individuals
whose efforts will result in the long-term growth and profitability
of the Company. To accomplish these purposes, the Plan provides
that the Company may grant Options, Stock Appreciation Rights,
Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Other Stock-Based Awards
or any combination of the foregoing.
Section 2.Definitions.
For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as
set forth below:
(a)“Administrator”
means the Board, or, if and to the extent the Board does not
administer the Plan, the Committee in accordance with Section 3
hereof.
(b)“Affiliate”
means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common
control with, the Person specified as of any date of
determination.
(c)“Applicable
Laws”
means the applicable requirements under U.S. federal and state
corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, including
the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the
Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any
other country or jurisdiction where Awards are granted under the
Plan, as are in effect from time to time.
(d)“Award”
means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock,
Restricted Stock Unit or Other Stock-Based Award granted under the
Plan.
(e)“Award
Agreement”
means any written notice, agreement, contract or other instrument
or document evidencing an Award, including through electronic
medium, which shall contain such terms and conditions with respect
to an Award as the Administrator shall determine, consistent with
the Plan.
(f)“Beneficial
Owner”
(or any variant thereof) has the meaning defined in Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act.
(g)“Board”
means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(h)“Bylaws”
mean the bylaws of the Company, as may be amended and/or restated
from time to time.
(i)“Cause”
has the meaning assigned to such term in any individual service,
employment or severance agreement or Award Agreement with the
Participant or, if no such agreement exists or if such agreement
does not define “Cause,” then “Cause” means a Participant’s
(i) conviction of a felony or a crime involving fraud or moral
turpitude; (ii) theft, material act of dishonesty or fraud,
intentional falsification of any employment or Company records, or
commission of any criminal act which impairs Participant’s ability
to perform appropriate employment duties for the Company;
(iii) intentional or reckless conduct or gross negligence
materially harmful to the Company or the successor to the Company
after a Change in Control, including violation of a non-competition
or confidentiality agreement; (iv) willful failure to follow
lawful instructions of the person or body to which Participant
reports; or (v) gross negligence or willful misconduct in the
performance of Participant’s assigned duties. Cause shall not
include mere unsatisfactory performance in the achievement of a
Participant’s job objectives. Any voluntary termination of
employment or service by the Participant in anticipation of an
involuntary termination of the Participant’s employment or service,
as applicable, for Cause shall be deemed to be a termination for
Cause.
(j)“Change
in Capitalization”
means any (i) merger, consolidation, reclassification,
recapitalization, spin-off, spin-out, repurchase or other
reorganization or corporate transaction or event, (ii) special
or extraordinary dividend or
other extraordinary distribution (whether in the form of cash,
Common Stock or other property), stock split, reverse stock split,
share subdivision or consolidation, (iii) combination or
exchange of shares or (iv) other change in corporate
structure, which, in any such case, the Administrator determines,
in its sole discretion, affects the Shares such that an adjustment
pursuant to Section 5 hereof is appropriate.
(k)“Change
in Control”
means the first occurrence of an event set forth in any one of the
following paragraphs following the Effective Date:
(1)any
Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly,
of securities of the Company (not including in the securities
Beneficially Owned by such Person which were acquired directly from
the Company or any Affiliate thereof) representing more than fifty
percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then
outstanding securities, excluding any Person who becomes such a
Beneficial Owner in connection with a transaction described in
clause (i) of paragraph (3) below; or
(2)the
date on which individuals who constitute the Board as of the
Effective Date and any new director (other than a director whose
initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or
threatened election contest, including, but not limited to, a
consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the
Company) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination
for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved or
recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors
then still in office who either were directors on the Effective
Date or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was
previously so approved or recommended cease for any reason to
constitute a majority of the number of directors serving on the
Board; or
(3)there
is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Company or any
direct or indirect Subsidiary with any other corporation or other
entity, other than (i) a merger or consolidation
(A) which results in the voting securities of the Company
outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation
continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by
being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or
any parent thereof), in combination with the ownership of any
trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee
benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary, fifty percent (50%)
or more of the combined voting power of the securities of the
Company or such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation and
(B) following which the individuals who comprise the Board
immediately prior thereto constitute at least a majority of the
board of directors of the Company, the entity surviving such merger
or consolidation or, if the Company or the entity surviving such
merger or consolidation is then a Subsidiary, the ultimate parent
thereof, or (ii) a merger or consolidation effected to
implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar
transaction) in which no Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner,
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including
in the securities Beneficially Owned by such Person any securities
acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates) representing
more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the
Company’s then outstanding securities; or
(4)the
stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation
or dissolution of the Company or there is consummated an agreement
for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially
all of the Company’s assets, other than (A) a sale or
disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the
Company’s assets 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 following the completion of such
transaction in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale or
(B) a sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the
Company’s assets immediately following which the individuals who
comprise the Board immediately prior thereto constitute at least a
majority of the board of directors of the entity to which such
assets are sold or disposed or, if such entity is a subsidiary, the
ultimate parent thereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) a Change in Control shall
not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any
transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately
following which the holders of Common Stock immediately prior to
such transaction or series of transactions continue to have
substantially the same proportionate ownership in an entity which
owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Company
immediately following such transaction or series of transactions
and (ii) to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation
and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, a Change in
Control shall be deemed to have occurred under the Plan with
respect to any Award that constitutes deferred compensation under
Section 409A of the Code only if a change in the ownership or
effective control of the Company or a change in ownership of a
substantial portion of the assets of the Company shall also be
deemed to have occurred under Section 409A of the Code. For
purposes of this definition of Change in Control, the term “Person”
shall not include (i) the Company or any Subsidiary thereof,
(ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an
employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof,
(iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant
to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a
corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of
the Company in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership of shares of the Company.
(l)“Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time, or any successor thereto.
(m)“Committee”
means any committee or subcommittee the Board may appoint to
administer the Plan. Subject to the discretion of the Board, the
Committee shall be composed entirely of individuals who meet the
qualifications of a “non-employee director” within the meaning of
Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and any other qualifications
required by the applicable stock exchange on which the Common Stock
is traded.
(n)“Common
Stock”
means the common stock of the Company, par value
$0.0001.
(o)“Company”
means Cardiff Oncology, Inc., a Delaware corporation (or any
successor company, except as the term “Company” is used in the
definition of “Change in Control” above).
(p)“Disability”
has the meaning assigned to such term in any individual service,
employment or severance agreement or Award Agreement with the
Participant or, if no such agreement exists or if such agreement
does not define “Disability,” then “Disability” means that a
Participant, as determined by the Administrator in its sole
discretion, (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful
activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental
impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be
expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve
(12) months, or (ii) is, by reason of any medically
determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to
result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period
of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement
benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an
accident and health plan covering employees of the Company or an
Affiliate thereof.
(q)“Effective
Date”
has the meaning set forth in Section 17 hereof.
(r)“Eligible
Recipient”
means an employee, director or independent contractor of the
Company or any Affiliate of the Company who has been selected as an
eligible participant by the Administrator;
provided,
however,
to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax
penalties under Section 409A of the Code, an Eligible Recipient of
an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right means an employee,
non-employee director or independent contractor of the Company or
any Affiliate of the Company with respect to whom the Company is an
“eligible issuer of service recipient stock” within the meaning of
Section 409A of the Code.
(s)“Exchange
Act”
means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to
time.
(t)“Exempt
Award”
shall mean the following:
Section 1.An
Award granted in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding
awards previously granted by a corporation or other entity acquired
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or with which the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries combines by merger or otherwise. The
terms and conditions of any such Awards may vary from the terms and
conditions set forth in the Plan to the extent the Administrator at
the time of grant may deem appropriate, subject to Applicable
Laws.
Section 2.An
award that an Eligible Recipient purchases at Fair Market Value
(including awards that an Eligible Recipient elects to receive in
lieu of fully vested compensation that is otherwise due) whether or
not the Shares are delivered immediately or on a deferred
basis.
(u)“Exercise
Price”
means, (i) with respect to any Option, the per share price at
which a holder of such Option may purchase Shares issuable upon
exercise of such Award, and (ii) with respect to a Stock
Appreciation Right, the base price per share of such Stock
Appreciation Right.
(v)“Fair
Market Value”
of a share of Common Stock or another security as of a particular
date shall mean the fair market value as determined by the
Administrator in its sole discretion; provided, that, (i) if
the Common Stock or other security is admitted to trading on a
national securities exchange, the fair market value on any date
shall be the closing sale price reported on such date, or if no
shares were traded on such date, on the last preceding date for
which there was a sale of a share of Common Stock on such exchange,
or (ii) if the Common Stock or other security is then traded
in an over-the-counter
market, the fair market value on any date shall be the average of
the closing bid and asked prices for such share in such
over-the-counter market for the last preceding date on which there
was a sale of such share in such market.
(w)“Free
Standing Rights”
has the meaning set forth in Section 8.
(x)“Good
Reason”
has the meaning assigned to such term in any individual service,
employment or severance agreement or Award Agreement with the
Participant or, if no such agreement exists or if such agreement
does not define “Good Reason,” “Good Reason” and any provision of
this Plan that refers to “Good Reason” shall not be applicable to
such Participant.
(y)“Grandfathered
Arrangement”
means an Award which is provided pursuant to a written binding
contract in effect on November 2, 2017, and which was not modified
in any material respect on or after November 2, 2017, within the
meaning of Section 13601(e)(2) of P.L. 115.97, as may be amended
from time to time (including any rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder).
(z)“Incentive
Compensation”
means annual cash bonus and any Award.
(aa)“ISO”
means an Option intended to be and designated as an “incentive
stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Code.
(bb)“Nonqualified
Stock Option”
shall mean an Option that is not designated as an ISO.
(cc)“Option”
means an option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant
to Section 7 hereof. The term “Option” as used in the Plan includes
the terms “Nonqualified Stock Option” and “ISO.”
(dd)“Other
Stock-Based Award”
means a right or other interest granted pursuant to Section 10
hereof that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in
part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, Common
Stock, including, but not limited to, unrestricted Shares, dividend
equivalents or performance units, each of which may be subject to
the attainment of performance goals or a period of continued
provision of service or employment or other terms or conditions as
permitted under the Plan.
(ee)“Participant”
means any Eligible Recipient selected by the Administrator,
pursuant to the Administrator’s authority provided for in Section 3
below, to receive grants of Awards, and, upon his or her death, his
or her successors, heirs, executors and administrators, as the case
may be.
(ff)“Person”
shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange
Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)
thereof.
(gg)“Plan”
means this 2021 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan.
(hh)“Prior
Plan”
means the Company’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Date.
(ii)“Related
Rights”
has the meaning set forth in Section 8.
(jj)“Restricted
Period”
has the meaning set forth in Section 9.
(kk)“Restricted
Stock”
means a Share granted pursuant to Section 9 below subject to
certain restrictions that lapse at the end of a specified period
(or periods) of time and/or upon attainment of specified
performance objectives.
(ll)“Restricted
Stock Unit”
means the right granted pursuant to Section 9 hereof to receive a
Share at the end of a specified restricted period (or periods) of
time and/or upon attainment of specified performance
objectives.
(mm)“Rule
16b-3”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.
(nn)“Section
16 Officer”
means any officer of the Company whom the Board has determined is
subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange
Act, whether or not such individual is a Section 16 Officer at the
time the determination to recoup compensation is made.
(oo)“Shares”
means Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan, as
adjusted pursuant to the Plan, and any successor (pursuant to a
merger, consolidation or other reorganization)
security.
(pp)“Stock
Appreciation Right”
means a right granted pursuant to Section 8 hereof to receive an
amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the aggregate Fair
Market Value, as of the date such Award or portion thereof is
surrendered, of the Shares covered by such Award or such portion
thereof, over (ii) the aggregate Exercise Price of such Award
or such portion thereof.
(qq)“Subsidiary”
means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination,
any other Person as to which such first Person owns or otherwise
controls, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting
shares or other similar interests or a sole general partner
interest or managing member or similar interest of such other
Person.
(rr)“Transfer”
has the meaning set forth in Section 15.
Section 3.Administration.
(a)The
Plan shall be administered by the Administrator and shall be
administered, to the extent applicable, in accordance with Rule
16b-3 under the Exchange Act (“Rule
16b-3”).
(b)Pursuant
to the terms of the Plan, the Administrator, subject, in the case
of any Committee, to any restrictions on the authority delegated to
it by the Board, shall have the power and authority, without
limitation:
(1)to
select those Eligible Recipients who shall be
Participants;
(2)to
determine whether and to what extent Options, Stock Appreciation
Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Other Stock-Based
Awards or a combination of any of the foregoing, are to be granted
hereunder to Participants;
(3)to
determine the number of Shares to be covered by each Award granted
hereunder;
(4)to
determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms
of the Plan, of each Award granted hereunder (including, but not
limited to, (i) the restrictions applicable to Restricted
Stock or Restricted Stock Units and the conditions under which
restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock or Restricted
Stock Units shall lapse, (ii) the performance goals and
periods applicable to Awards, (iii) the Exercise Price of each
Option and each Stock Appreciation Right or the purchase price of
any other Award, (iv) the vesting schedule and terms
applicable to each Award; provided, however, that at least
ninety-five percent (95%) of the Awards under the Plan shall not
vest, in whole or in part, earlier than one (1) year from the
date of grant, (v) the number of Shares or amount of cash or
other property subject to each Award and (vi) subject to the
requirements of Section 409A of the Code (to the extent applicable)
any amendments to the terms and conditions of outstanding Awards,
including, but not limited to, extending the exercise period of
such Awards and accelerating the payment schedules of such Awards
and/or, to the extent specifically permitted under the Plan,
accelerating the vesting schedules of such Awards);
(5)to
determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms
of the Plan, which shall govern all written instruments evidencing
Awards;
(6)to
determine the Fair Market Value in accordance with the terms of the
Plan;
(7)to
determine the duration and purpose of leaves of absence which may
be granted to a Participant without constituting termination of the
Participant’s service or employment for purposes of Awards granted
under the Plan;
(8)to
adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, regulations,
guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it shall from time
to time deem advisable;
(9)to
construe and interpret the terms and provisions of, and supply or
correct omissions in, the Plan and any Award issued under the Plan
(and any Award Agreement relating thereto), and to otherwise
supervise the administration of the Plan and to exercise all powers
and authorities either specifically granted under the Plan or
necessary and advisable in the administration of the Plan;
and
(10)to
prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to
sub-plans established for the purpose of satisfying applicable
non-United States laws or for qualifying for favorable tax
treatment under applicable non-United States laws, which rules and
regulations may be set forth in an appendix or appendixes to the
Plan.
(c)Subject
to Section 5, neither the Board nor the Committee shall have the
authority to (i) reprice or cancel and regrant any Award at a lower
exercise, base or purchase price or cancel any Award with an
exercise, base or purchase price in exchange for cash, property or
other Awards without first obtaining the approval of the Company’s
stockholders; or (ii) accelerate the vesting of any Awards (except
pursuant to Section 11).
(d)All
decisions made by the Administrator pursuant to the provisions of
the Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all Persons,
including the Company and the Participants.
(e)The
expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company
and its Affiliates.
(f)If
at any time or to any extent the Board shall not administer the
Plan, then the functions of the Administrator specified in the Plan
shall be exercised by the Committee. Except as otherwise provided
in the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, any
action of the Committee with respect to the administration of the
Plan shall be taken by a majority vote at a meeting at which a
quorum is duly constituted or unanimous written consent of the
Committee’s members.
Section 4.Shares
Reserved for Issuance Under the Plan.
(a)Subject
to Section 5 hereof, the number of shares of Common Stock that are
reserved and available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted
under the Plan shall be equal to the sum of (i) 5,150,000
shares, plus (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock
reserved, but unissued under the Prior Plan; and (iii) the
number of shares of Common Stock underlying forfeited awards under
the Prior Plan;
provided,
that,
shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan with respect to an
Exempt Award shall not count against such share limit. Following
the Effective Date, no further awards shall be issued under the
Prior Plan, but all awards under the Prior Plan which are
outstanding as of the Effective Date (including any Grandfathered
Arrangement) shall continue to be governed by the terms, conditions
and procedures set forth in the Prior Plan and any applicable Award
Agreement.
(b)Shares
issued under the Plan may, in whole or in part, be authorized but
unissued Shares or Shares that shall have been or may be reacquired
by the Company in the open market, in private transactions or
otherwise. If an Award entitles the Participant to receive or
purchase Shares, the number of Shares covered by such Award or to
which such Award relates shall be counted on the date of grant of
such Award against the aggregate number of Shares available for
granting Awards under the Plan. If any Shares subject to an Award
are forfeited, cancelled, exchanged or surrendered or if an Award
otherwise terminates or expires without a distribution of Shares to
the Participant, the Shares with respect to such Award shall, to
the extent of any such forfeiture, cancellation, exchange,
surrender, termination or expiration, again be available for
granting Awards under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i)
Shares surrendered or withheld as payment of either the Exercise
Price of an Award (including Shares otherwise underlying a Stock
Appreciation Right that are retained by the Company to account for
the Exercise Price of such Stock Appreciation Right) and/or
withholding taxes in respect of an Award and (ii) any Shares
reacquired by the Company on the open market or otherwise using
cash proceeds from the exercise of Options shall no longer be
available for grant under the Plan. In addition, (i) to the
extent an Award is denominated in shares of Common Stock, but paid
or settled in cash, the number of shares of Common Stock with
respect to which such payment or settlement is made shall again be
available for grants of Awards pursuant to the Plan and
(ii) shares of Common Stock underlying Awards that can only be
settled in cash shall not be counted against the aggregate number
of shares of Common Stock available for Awards under the Plan. Upon
the exercise of any Award granted in tandem with any other Awards,
such related Awards shall be cancelled to the extent of the number
of Shares as to which the Award is exercised and, notwithstanding
the foregoing, such number of Shares shall no longer be available
for grant under the Plan.
(c)No
more than 5,150,000 Shares shall be issued pursuant to the exercise
of ISOs.
(d)Director
Compensation Limits. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary
in the Plan, the sum of the grant date Fair Market Value of
equity-based Awards (determined as of the grant date in accordance
with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards
Codification Topic 718, or any successor thereto) plus any cash
fees paid by the Company for serving as a non-employee director of
the Board during any calendar year shall not exceed $500,000,
increased to $750,000 in the calendar year of his or her initial
service as a non-employee director.
Section 5.Equitable
Adjustments.
In the event of any Change in Capitalization, an equitable
substitution or proportionate adjustment shall be made in
(i) the aggregate number and kind of securities reserved for
issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 4, (ii) the kind,
number of securities subject to, and the Exercise Price subject to
outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the
Plan, (iii) the kind, number and purchase price of Shares or
other securities or the amount of cash or amount or type of other
property subject to outstanding Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock
Units or Other Stock-Based Awards granted under the Plan; and/or
(iv) the terms and conditions of any outstanding Awards
(including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets
or criteria with respect thereto);
provided,
however,
that any fractional shares resulting from the adjustment shall be
eliminated. Such other equitable substitutions or adjustments shall
be made as may be determined by the Administrator, in its sole
discretion. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in
connection with a Change in Capitalization, the Administrator may
provide, in its sole discretion, but subject in all events to the
requirements of Section 409A of the Code, for the cancellation of
any outstanding Award granted hereunder in exchange for payment in
cash or other property having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal
to the Fair Market Value of the Shares, cash or other property
covered by such Award, reduced by the aggregate Exercise Price or
purchase price thereof, if any;
provided,
however,
that if the Exercise Price or purchase price of any outstanding
Award is equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of the
shares of Common Stock, cash or other property covered by such
Award, the Administrator may cancel such Award without the payment
of any consideration to the Participant. Further, without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, with respect to Awards subject to
foreign laws, adjustments made hereunder shall be made in
compliance with applicable requirements. Except to the extent
determined by the Administrator, any adjustments to ISOs under this
Section 5 shall be made only to the extent not constituting a
“modification” within the meaning of Section 424(h)(3) of the
Code. The Administrator’s determinations pursuant to this Section 5
shall be final, binding and conclusive.
Section 6.Eligibility.
The Participants in the Plan shall be selected from time to time by
the Administrator, in its sole discretion, from those individuals
that qualify as Eligible Recipients.
Section 7.Options.
(a)General.
Options granted under the Plan shall be designated as Nonqualified
Stock Options or ISOs. Each Participant who is granted an Option
shall enter into an Award Agreement with the Company, containing
such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine, in
its sole discretion, including, among other things, the Exercise
Price of the Option, the term of the Option and provisions
regarding exercisability of the Option, and whether the Option is
intended to be an ISO or a Nonqualified Stock Option (and in the
event the Award Agreement has no such designation, the Option shall
be a Nonqualified Stock Option). The provisions of each Option need
not be the same with respect to each Participant. More than one
Option may be granted to the same Participant and be outstanding
concurrently hereunder. Options granted under the Plan shall be
subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 7 and
shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not
inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator shall
deem desirable and set forth in the applicable Award
Agreement.
(b)Exercise
Price.
The Exercise Price of Shares purchasable under an Option shall be
determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion at the time
of grant, but in no event shall the exercise price of an Option be
less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a
share of Common Stock on the date of grant.
(c)Option
Term.
The maximum term of each Option shall be fixed by the
Administrator, but no Option shall be exercisable more than ten
(10) years after the date such Option is granted. Each Option’s
term is subject to earlier expiration pursuant to the applicable
provisions in the Plan and the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, subject to Section 4(d) of the Plan, the Administrator
shall have the authority to accelerate the exercisability of any
outstanding Option at such time and under such circumstances as the
Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems
appropriate.
(d)Exercisability.
Each Option shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject
to such terms and conditions, including the attainment of
performance goals, as shall be determined by the Administrator in
the applicable Award Agreement. The Administrator may also provide
that any Option shall be exercisable only in installments, and the
Administrator may waive such installment exercise provisions at any
time, in whole or in part, based on such factors as the
Administrator may determine in its sole discretion.
(e)Method
of Exercise.
Options may be exercised in whole or in part by giving written
notice of exercise to the Company specifying the number of whole
Shares to be purchased, accompanied by payment in full of
the
aggregate Exercise Price of the Shares so purchased in cash or its
equivalent, as determined by the Administrator. As determined by
the Administrator, in its sole discretion, with respect to any
Option or category of Options, payment in whole or in part may also
be made (i) by means of consideration received under any
cashless exercise procedure approved by the Administrator
(including the withholding of Shares otherwise issuable upon
exercise), (ii) in the form of unrestricted Shares already
owned by the Participant which have a Fair Market Value on the date
of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as
to which such Option shall be exercised, (iii) any other form
of consideration approved by the Administrator and permitted by
Applicable Laws or (iv) any combination of the
foregoing.
(f)ISOs.
The terms and conditions of ISOs granted hereunder shall be subject
to the provisions of Section 422 of the Code and the terms,
conditions, limitations and administrative procedures established
by the Administrator from time to time in accordance with the Plan.
At the discretion of the Administrator, ISOs may be granted only to
an employee of the Company, its “parent corporation” (as such term
is defined in Section 424(e) of the Code) or a Subsidiary of the
Company.
(1)ISO
Grants to 10% Stockholders.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, if an ISO is
granted to a Participant who owns shares representing more than ten
percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of shares of the
Company, its “parent corporation” (as such term is defined in
Section 424(e) of the Code) or a Subsidiary of the Company, the
term of the ISO shall not exceed five (5) years from the time of
grant of such ISO and the Exercise Price shall be at least one
hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the
Shares on the date of grant.
(2)$100,000
Per Year Limitation For ISOs.
To the extent the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined on the
date of grant) of the Shares for which ISOs are exercisable for the
first time by any Participant during any calendar year (under all
plans of the Company) exceeds $100,000, such excess ISOs shall be
treated as Nonqualified Stock Options.
(3)Disqualifying
Dispositions.
Each Participant awarded an ISO under the Plan shall notify the
Company in writing immediately after the date the Participant makes
a “disqualifying disposition” of any Share acquired pursuant to the
exercise of such ISO. A “disqualifying disposition” is any
disposition (including any sale) of such Shares before the later of
(i) two years after the date of grant of the ISO and
(ii) one year after the date the Participant acquired the
Shares by exercising the ISO. The Company may, if determined by the
Administrator and in accordance with procedures established by it,
retain possession of any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise
of an ISO as agent for the applicable Participant until the end of
the period described in the preceding sentence, subject to
complying with any instructions from such Participant as to the
sale of such Shares.
(g)Rights
as Stockholder.
A Participant shall have no rights to dividends, dividend
equivalents or distributions or any other rights of a stockholder
with respect to the Shares subject to an Option until the
Participant has given written notice of the exercise thereof, and
has paid in full for such Shares and has satisfied the requirements
of Section 15 hereof.
(h)Termination
of Employment or Service.
Treatment of an Option upon termination of employment of a
Participant shall be provided for by the Administrator in the Award
Agreement.
(i)Other
Change in Employment or Service Status.
An Option shall be affected, both with regard to vesting schedule
and termination, by leaves of absence, including unpaid and
un-protected leaves of absence, changes from full-time to part-time
employment, partial Disability or other changes in the employment
status or service status of a Participant, in the discretion of the
Administrator.
Section 8.Stock
Appreciation Rights.
(a)General.
Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted either alone
(“Free
Standing Rights”)
or in conjunction with all or part of any Option granted under the
Plan (“Related
Rights”).
Related Rights may be granted either at or after the time of the
grant of such Option. The Administrator shall determine the
Eligible Recipients to whom, and the time or times at which, grants
of Stock Appreciation Rights shall be made. Each Participant who is
granted a Stock Appreciation Right shall enter into an Award
Agreement with the Company, containing such terms and conditions as
the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion,
including, among other things, the number of Shares to be awarded,
the Exercise Price per Share, and all other conditions of Stock
Appreciation Rights. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Related
Right may be granted for more Shares than are subject to the Option
to which it relates. The provisions of Stock Appreciation Rights
need not be the same with respect to each Participant. Stock
Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan shall be subject to the
following terms
and conditions set forth in this Section 8 and shall contain such
additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of
the Plan, as the Administrator shall deem desirable, as set forth
in the applicable Award Agreement.
(b)Awards;
Rights as Stockholder.
A Participant shall have no rights to dividends or any other rights
of a stockholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock, if
any, subject to a Stock Appreciation Right until the Participant
has given written notice of the exercise thereof and has satisfied
the requirements of Section 15 hereof.
(c)Exercise
Price.
The Exercise Price of Shares purchasable under a Stock Appreciation
Right shall be determined by the Administrator in its sole
discretion at the time of grant, but in no event shall the exercise
price of a Stock Appreciation Right be less than one hundred
percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock
on the date of grant.
(d)Exercisability.
(1)Stock
Appreciation Rights that are Free Standing Rights shall be
exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and
conditions as shall be determined by the Administrator in the
applicable Award Agreement.
(2)Stock
Appreciation Rights that are Related Rights shall be exercisable
only at such time or times and to the extent that the Options to
which they relate shall be exercisable in accordance with the
provisions of Section 7 hereof and this Section 8 of the
Plan.
(e)Payment
Upon Exercise.
(1)Upon
the exercise of a Free Standing Right, the Participant shall be
entitled to receive up to, but not more than, that number of Shares
equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value as of the
date of exercise over the Exercise Price per share specified in the
Free Standing Right multiplied by the number of Shares in respect
of which the Free Standing Right is being exercised.
(2)A
Related Right may be exercised by a Participant by surrendering the
applicable portion of the related Option. Upon such exercise and
surrender, the Participant shall be entitled to receive up to, but
not more than, that number of Shares equal in value to the excess
of the Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise over the
Exercise Price specified in the related Option multiplied by the
number of Shares in respect of which the Related Right is being
exercised. Options which have been so surrendered, in whole or in
part, shall no longer be exercisable to the extent the Related
Rights have been so exercised.
(3)Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Administrator may determine to settle the
exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right in cash (or in any
combination of Shares and cash).
(f)Termination
of Employment or Service.
Treatment of a Stock Appreciation Right upon termination of
employment of a Participant shall be provided for by the
Administrator in the Award Agreement.
(g)Term.
(1)The
term of each Free Standing Right shall be fixed by the
Administrator, but no Free Standing Right shall be exercisable more
than ten (10) years after the date such right is
granted.
(2)The
term of each Related Right shall be the term of the Option to which
it relates, but no Related Right shall be exercisable more than ten
(10) years after the date such right is granted.
(h)Other
Change in Employment or Service Status.
Stock Appreciation Rights shall be affected, both with regard to
vesting schedule and termination, by leaves of absence, including
unpaid and un-protected leaves of absence, changes from full-time
to part-time employment, partial Disability or other changes in the
employment or service status of a Participant, in the discretion of
the Administrator.
Section 9.Restricted
Stock and Restricted Stock Units.
(a)General.
Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units may be issued under the
Plan. The Administrator shall determine the Eligible Recipients to
whom, and the time or times at which, Restricted Stock or
Restricted Stock Units shall be made. Each Participant who is
granted Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall enter into
an Award Agreement
with the Company, containing such terms and conditions as the
Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, including,
among other things, the number of Shares to be awarded; the price,
if any, to be paid by the Participant for the acquisition of
Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units; the period of time
restrictions, performance goals or other conditions that apply to
Transferability, delivery or vesting of such Awards (the
“Restricted
Period”);
and all other conditions applicable to the Restricted Stock and
Restricted Stock Units. If the restrictions, performance goals or
conditions established by the Administrator are not attained, a
Participant shall forfeit his or her Restricted Stock or Restricted
Stock Units, in accordance with the terms of the grant. The
provisions of the Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units need
not be the same with respect to each Participant.
(b)Awards
and Certificates.
Except as otherwise provided below in Section 9(c), (i) each
Participant who is granted an Award of Restricted Stock may, in the
Company’s sole discretion, be issued a share certificate in respect
of such Restricted Stock; and (ii) any such certificate so
issued shall be registered in the name of the Participant, and
shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions
and restrictions applicable to any such Award. The Company may
require that the share certificates, if any, evidencing Restricted
Stock granted hereunder be held in the custody of the Company until
the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that, as a
condition of any Award of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall
have delivered a share transfer form, endorsed in blank, relating
to the Shares covered by such Award. Certificates for shares of
unrestricted Common Stock may, in the Company’s sole discretion, be
delivered to the Participant only after the Restricted Period has
expired without forfeiture in such Restricted Stock Award. With
respect to Restricted Stock Units to be settled in Shares, at the
expiration of the Restricted Period, share certificates in respect
of the shares of Common Stock underlying such Restricted Stock
Units may, in the Company’s sole discretion, be delivered to the
Participant, or his legal representative, in a number equal to the
number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Restricted Stock
Units Award. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary,
any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units to be settled in
Shares (at the expiration of the Restricted Period, and whether
before or after any vesting conditions have been satisfied) may, in
the Company’s sole discretion, be issued in uncertificated form.
Further, notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, with
respect to Restricted Stock Units, at the expiration of the
Restricted Period, Shares, or cash, as applicable, shall promptly
be issued (either in certificated or uncertificated form) to the
Participant, unless otherwise deferred in accordance with
procedures established by the Company in accordance with Section
409A of the Code, and such issuance or payment shall in any event
be made within such period as is required to avoid the imposition
of a tax under Section 409A of the Code.
(c)Restrictions
and Conditions.
The Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to
this Section 9 shall be subject to the following restrictions and
conditions and any additional restrictions or conditions as
determined by the Administrator at the time of grant or, subject to
Section 409A of the Code where applicable, thereafter:
(1)The
Administrator may, in its sole discretion, provide for the lapse of
restrictions in installments and may accelerate or waive such
restrictions in whole or in part based on such factors and such
circumstances as the Administrator may determine, in its sole
discretion, including, but not limited to, the attainment of
certain performance goals, the Participant’s termination of
employment or service with the Company or any Affiliate thereof, or
the Participant’s death or Disability. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, upon a Change in Control, the outstanding Awards shall
be subject to Section 11 hereof.
(2)Except
as provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Participant
shall generally have the rights of a stockholder of the Company
with respect to Restricted Stock during the Restricted
Period;
provided,
however,
that dividends declared during the Restricted Period with respect
to an Award, shall only become payable if (and to the extent) the
underlying Restricted Stock vests. Except as provided in the
applicable Award Agreement, the Participant shall generally not
have the rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares subject to
Restricted Stock Units during the Restricted Period;
provided,
however,
that, subject to Section 409A of the Code, an amount equal to
dividends declared during the Restricted Period with respect to the
number of Shares covered by Restricted Stock Units shall, unless
otherwise set forth in an Award Agreement, be paid to the
Participant at the time (and to the extent) Shares in respect of
the related Restricted Stock Units are delivered to the
Participant. Certificates for Shares of unrestricted Common Stock
may, in the Company’s sole discretion, be delivered to the
Participant only after the Restricted Period has expired without
forfeiture in respect of such Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock
Units, except as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall
otherwise determine.
(3)The
rights of Participants granted Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock
Units upon termination of employment or service as a director or
independent contractor to the Company or to any Affiliate thereof
terminates for any reason during the Restricted Period shall be set
forth in the Award Agreement.
(4)Form
of Settlement.
The Administrator reserves the right in its sole discretion to
provide (either at or after the grant thereof) that any Restricted
Stock Unit represents the right to receive the amount of cash per
unit that is determined by the Administrator in connection with the
Award.
Section 10.Other
Stock-Based Awards.
Other Stock-Based Awards may be issued under the Plan. Subject to
the provisions of the Plan, the Administrator shall have sole and
complete authority to determine the individuals to whom and the
time or times at which such Other Stock-Based Awards shall be
granted. Each Participant who is granted an Other Stock-Based Award
shall enter into an Award Agreement with the Company, containing
such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine, in
its sole discretion, including, among other things, the number of
shares of Common Stock to be granted pursuant to such Other
Stock-Based Awards, or the manner in which such Other Stock-Based
Awards shall be settled (e.g., in shares of Common Stock, cash or
other property), or the conditions to the vesting and/or payment or
settlement of such Other Stock-Based Awards (which may include, but
not be limited to, achievement of performance criteria) and all
other terms and conditions of such Other Stock-Based Awards. In the
event that the Administrator grants a bonus in the form of Shares,
the Shares constituting such bonus shall, as determined by the
Administrator, be evidenced in uncertificated form or by a book
entry record or a certificate issued in the name of the Participant
to whom such grant was made and delivered to such Participant as
soon as practicable after the date on which such bonus is payable.
Notwithstanding anything set forth in the Plan to the contrary, any
dividend or dividend equivalent Award issued hereunder shall be
subject to the same restrictions, conditions and risks of
forfeiture as apply to the underlying Award.
Section 11.Change
in Control.
Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator and evidenced in
an Award Agreement, in the event that (a) a Change in Control
occurs, and (b) the Participant is employed by the Company or any
of its Affiliates immediately prior to the consummation of such
Change in Control then upon the consummation of such Change in
Control, the Administrator, in its sole and absolute discretion,
may:
1.provide
that any unvested or unexercisable portion of any Award carrying a
right to exercise become fully vested and exercisable;
and
2.cause
the restrictions, deferral limitations, payment conditions and
forfeiture conditions applicable to an Award granted under the Plan
to lapse and such Awards shall be deemed fully vested and any
performance conditions imposed with respect to such Awards shall be
deemed to be fully achieved at target performance
levels.
If the Administrator determines in its discretion pursuant to
Section 3(b)(4) hereof to accelerate the vesting of Options and/or
Share Appreciation Rights in connection with a Change in Control,
the Administrator shall also have discretion in connection with
such action to provide that all Options and/or Stock Appreciation
Rights outstanding immediately prior to such Change in Control
shall expire on the effective date of such Change in
Control.
Section 12.Amendment
and Termination.
The Board may amend, alter or terminate the Plan at any time, but
no amendment, alteration or termination shall be made that would
impair the rights of a Participant under any Award theretofore
granted without such Participant’s consent. The Board shall obtain
approval of the Company’s stockholders for any amendment that would
require such approval in order to satisfy the requirements of any
rules of the stock exchange on which the Common Stock is traded or
other Applicable Law. Subject to Section 3(c), the Administrator
may amend the terms of any Award theretofore granted, prospectively
or retroactively, but, subject to Section 5 of the Plan and the
immediately preceding sentence, no such amendment shall materially
impair the rights of any Participant without his or her
consent.
Section 13.Unfunded
Status of Plan.
The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive
compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a
Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any
such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a
general creditor of the Company.
Section 14.Withholding
Taxes.
Each Participant shall, no later than the date as of which the
value of an Award first becomes includible in the gross income of
such Participant for purposes of applicable taxes, pay to the
Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator
regarding payment of an amount up to the maximum statutory tax
rates in the Participant’s applicable jurisdiction with respect to
the Award, as determined by the Company. The obligations of the
Company under the Plan shall be conditional on the making of such
payments or arrangements, and the Company shall, to the extent
permitted by Applicable
Laws, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of
any kind otherwise due to such Participant. Whenever cash is to be
paid pursuant to an Award, the Company shall have the right to
deduct therefrom an amount sufficient to satisfy any applicable
withholding tax requirements related thereto. Whenever Shares or
property other than cash are to be delivered pursuant to an Award,
the Company shall have the right to require the Participant to
remit to the Company in cash an amount sufficient to satisfy any
related taxes to be withheld and applied to the tax
obligations;
provided,
that,
with the approval of the Administrator, a Participant may satisfy
the foregoing requirement by either (i) electing to have the
Company withhold from delivery of Shares or other property, as
applicable, or (ii) delivering already owned unrestricted
shares of Common Stock, in each case, having a value not exceeding
the applicable taxes to be withheld and applied to the tax
obligations. Such already owned and unrestricted shares of Common
Stock shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date on
which the amount of tax to be withheld is determined and any
fractional share amounts resulting therefrom shall be settled in
cash. Such an election may be made with respect to all or any
portion of the Shares to be delivered pursuant to an award. The
Company may also use any other method of obtaining the necessary
payment or proceeds, as permitted by Applicable Laws, to satisfy
its withholding obligation with respect to any Award.
Section 15.Transfer
of Awards.
Until such time as the Awards are fully vested and/or exercisable
in accordance with the Plan or an Award Agreement, no purported
sale, assignment, mortgage, hypothecation, transfer, charge,
pledge, encumbrance, gift, transfer in trust (voting or other) or
other disposition of, or creation of a security interest in or lien
on, any Award or any agreement or commitment to do any of the
foregoing (each, a “Transfer”)
by any holder thereof in violation of the provisions of the Plan or
an Award Agreement will be valid, except with the prior written
consent of the Administrator, which consent may be granted or
withheld in the sole discretion of the Administrator. Any purported
Transfer of an Award or any economic benefit or interest therein in
violation of the Plan or an Award Agreement shall be null and
void
ab initio
and shall not create any obligation or liability of the Company,
and any Person purportedly acquiring any Award or any economic
benefit or interest therein transferred in violation of the Plan or
an Award Agreement shall not be entitled to be recognized as a
holder of such Shares or other property underlying such Award.
Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator in accordance with
the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence, an Option or
a Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised, during the lifetime of
the Participant, only by the Participant or, during any period
during which the Participant is under a legal Disability, by the
Participant’s guardian or legal representative.
Section 16.Continued
Employment or Service.
Neither the adoption of the Plan nor the grant of an Award shall
confer upon any Eligible Recipient any right to continued
employment or service with the Company or any Affiliate thereof, as
the case may be, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right
of the Company or any Affiliate thereof to terminate the employment
or service of any of its Eligible Recipients at any
time.
Section 17.Effective
Date.
The Plan was approved by the Board on April 23, 2021 and shall be
adopted and become effective on the date that it is approved by the
Company’s stockholders (the “Effective
Date”).
Section 18.Electronic
Signature.
Participant’s electronic signature of an Award Agreement shall have
the same validity and effect as a signature affixed by
hand.
Section 19.Term
of Plan.
No Award shall be granted pursuant to the Plan on or after the
tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, but Awards theretofore
granted may extend beyond that date.
Section 20.Securities
Matters and Regulations.
(a)Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the obligation of the Company to
sell or deliver Shares with respect to any Award granted under the
Plan shall be subject to all Applicable Laws, rules and
regulations, including all applicable federal and state securities
laws, and the obtaining of all such approvals by governmental
agencies as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the
Administrator. The Administrator may require, as a condition of the
issuance and delivery of certificates evidencing shares of Common
Stock pursuant to the terms hereof, that the recipient of such
shares
make such agreements and representations, and that such
certificates bear such legends, as the Administrator, in its sole
discretion, deems necessary or advisable.
(b)Each
Award is subject to the requirement that, if at any time the
Administrator determines that the listing, registration or
qualification of Shares is required by any securities exchange or
under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any
governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a
condition of, or in connection with, the grant of an Award or the
issuance of Shares, no such Award shall be granted or payment made
or Shares issued, in whole or in part, unless listing,
registration, qualification, consent or approval has been effected
or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the
Administrator.
(c)In
the event that the disposition of Shares acquired pursuant to the
Plan is not covered by a then current registration statement under
the Securities Act and is not otherwise exempt from such
registration, such Shares shall be restricted against transfer to
the extent required by the Securities Act or regulations
thereunder, and the Administrator may require a Participant
receiving Common Stock pursuant to the Plan, as a condition
precedent to receipt of such Common Stock, to represent to the
Company in writing that the Common Stock acquired by such
Participant is acquired for investment only and not with a view to
distribution.
Section 21.Section
409A of the Code.
The Plan as well as payments and benefits under the Plan are
intended to be exempt from, or to the extent subject thereto, to
comply with Section 409A of the Code, and, accordingly, to the
maximum extent permitted, the Plan shall be interpreted in
accordance therewith. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to
the contrary, to the extent required in order to avoid accelerated
taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code,
the Participant shall not be considered to have terminated
employment or service with the Company for purposes of the Plan and
no payment shall be due to the Participant under the Plan or any
Award until the Participant would be considered to have incurred a
“separation from service” from the Company and its Affiliates
within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Any payments
described in the Plan that are due within the “short term deferral
period” as defined in Section 409A of the Code shall not be
treated as deferred compensation unless Applicable Law requires
otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, to
the extent that any Awards (or any other amounts payable under any
plan, program or arrangement of the Company or any of its
Affiliates) are payable upon a separation from service and such
payment would result in the imposition of any individual tax and
penalty interest charges imposed under Section 409A of the
Code, the settlement and payment of such awards (or other amounts)
shall instead be made on the first business day after the date that
is six (6) months following such separation from service (or
death, if earlier). Each amount to be paid or benefit to be
provided under this Plan shall be construed as a separate
identified payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.
The Company makes no representation that any or all of the payments
or benefits described in this Plan will be exempt from or comply
with Section 409A of the Code and makes no undertaking to
preclude Section 409A of the Code from applying to any such
payment. The Participant shall be solely responsible for the
payment of any taxes and penalties incurred under
Section 409A.
Section 22.Notification
of Election Under Section 83(b) of the Code.
If any Participant shall, in connection with the acquisition of
shares of Common Stock under the Plan, make the election permitted
under Section 83(b) of the Code, such Participant shall notify
the Company of such election within ten (10) days after filing
notice of the election with the Internal Revenue
Service.
Section 23.No
Fractional Shares.
No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued or delivered
pursuant to the Plan. The Administrator shall determine whether
cash, other Awards, or other property shall be issued or paid in
lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or
any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise
eliminated.
Section 24.Beneficiary.
A Participant may file with the Administrator a written designation
of a beneficiary on such form as may be prescribed by the
Administrator and may, from time to time, amend or revoke such
designation. If no designated beneficiary survives the Participant,
the executor or administrator of the Participant’s estate shall be
deemed to be the Participant’s beneficiary.
Section 25.Paperless
Administration.
In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the
services of a third party, an automated system for the
documentation, granting or exercise of Awards, such as a system
using an internet website or interactive voice response, then the
paperless documentation, granting or exercise of Awards by a
Participant may be permitted through the use of such an automated
system.
Section 26.Severability.
If any provision of the Plan is held to be invalid or
unenforceable, the other provisions of the Plan shall not be
affected but shall be applied as if the invalid or unenforceable
provision had not been included in the Plan.
Section 27.Clawback.
(a)If
the Company is required to prepare a financial restatement due to
the material non-compliance of the Company with any financial
reporting requirement, then the Committee may require any
Section 16 Officer to repay or forfeit to the Company, and
each Section 16 Officer agrees to so repay or forfeit, that
part of the Incentive Compensation received by that Section 16
Officer during the three-year period preceding the publication of
the restated financial statement that the Committee determines was
in excess of the amount that such Section 16 Officer would
have received had such Incentive Compensation been calculated based
on the financial results reported in the restated financial
statement. The Committee may take into account any factors it deems
reasonable in determining whether to seek recoupment of previously
paid Incentive Compensation and how much Incentive Compensation to
recoup from each Section 16 Officer (which need not be the
same amount or proportion for each Section 16 Officer),
including any determination by the Committee that a Section 16
Officer engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or committed grossly
negligent acts or omissions which materially contributed to the
events that led to the financial restatement. The amount and form
of the Incentive Compensation to be recouped shall be determined by
the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion, and recoupment
of Incentive Compensation may be made, in the Committee’s sole and
absolute discretion, through the cancellation of vested or unvested
Awards, cash repayment or both.
(b)Notwithstanding
any other provisions in this Plan, any Award which is subject to
recovery under any Applicable Laws, government regulation or stock
exchange listing requirement, will be subject to such deductions
and clawback as may be required to be made pursuant to such
Applicable Law, government regulation or stock exchange listing
requirement (or any policy adopted by the Company pursuant to any
such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing
requirement).
Section 28.Governing
Law.
The Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to
principles of conflicts of law of such state.
Section 29.Indemnification.
To the extent allowable pursuant to applicable law, each member of
the Board and the Administrator and any officer or other employee
to whom authority to administer any component of the Plan is
designated shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company
from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon
or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or
resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he
or she may be a party or in which he or she may be a party or in
which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure
to act pursuant to the Plan and against and from any and all
amounts paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in such
action, suit, or proceeding against him or her; provided, however,
that he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own
expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes
to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing
right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights
of indemnification to which such individuals may be entitled
pursuant to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a
matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have
to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
Section 30.Titles
and Headings, References to Sections of the Code or Exchange
Act.
The titles and headings of the sections in the Plan are for
convenience of reference only and, in the event of any conflict,
the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall
control. References to sections of the Code or the Exchange Act
shall include any amendment or successor thereto.
Section 31.Successors.
The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be binding upon
any successor corporation or organization resulting from the
merger, consolidation or other reorganization of the Company, or
upon any successor corporation or organization succeeding to
substantially all of the assets and business of the
Company.
Section 32.Relationship
to other Benefits.
No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in
determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings,
profit sharing, group insurance, welfare, or other benefit plan of
the Company or any Affiliate except to the extent otherwise
expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement
thereunder.
PROXY CARD
CARDIFF ONCOLOGY, INC.
PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON JUNE 9, 2022
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints, Mark Erlander and Brigitte
Lindsay, and each of them, as proxies, each with full power of
substitution, to represent and to vote all the shares of common
stock of Cardiff Oncology, Inc. (the “Company”),
which the undersigned would be entitled to vote, at the Company’s
Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on June 9, 2022 and at
any adjournments thereof, subject to the directions indicated on
this Proxy Card.
In their discretion, the proxy is authorized to vote upon any other
matter that may properly come before the meeting or any
adjournments thereof.
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPECIFICATIONS
MADE, BUT IF NO CHOICES ARE INDICATED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR
THE ELECTION OF ALL NOMINEES AND FOR THE PROPOSALS LISTED ON THE
REVERSE SIDE.
This proxy is governed by the laws of the State of
Delaware.
IMPORTANT—This Proxy must be signed and dated on the reverse
side.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for
the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to Be Held on June 9, 2022 at
8:00 am local time at the Company’s offices located at 11055
Flintkote Avenue, San Diego, CA 92121. The proxy statement and the
2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at
www.pstvote.com/cardiff2022.
THIS IS YOUR PROXY
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
Dear Stockholder:
We cordially invite you to attend the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of Cardiff Oncology, Inc. to be held at Cardiff
Oncology's offices located at 11055 Flintkote Avenue, San Diego, CA
92121, on June 9, 2022, beginning at 8:00 a.m. local
time.
Please read the proxy statement which describes the proposals and
presents other important information, and complete, sign and return
your proxy promptly in the enclosed envelope.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR”
PROPOSALS 1-4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. Election of Directors Nominees
|
|
FOR
|
|
WITHHOLD
|
|
|
|
|
|
01-Dr. James O. Armitage
|
|
o
|
|
o
|
02-Mark Erlander, Ph.D.
|
|
o
|
|
o
|
03-Dr.
Rodney Markin
|
|
o
|
|
o
|
04-Mani Mohindru, Ph.D.
|
|
o
|
|
o
|
05-Gary W. Pace, Ph.D.
|
|
o
|
|
o
|
06-Renee P. Tannenbaum, Pharm.D.
|
|
o
|
|
o
|
07-Lâle White
|
|
o
|
|
o
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2. Proposal to ratify BDO USA, LLP as the Company’s independent
registered public accountants for fiscal year ending December 31,
2022.
|
|
FOR
o
|
AGAINST
o
|
ABSTAIN
o
|
|
|
|
|
|
3. Proposal to approve an amendment to the Company's 2021 Omnibus
Equity Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares issuable
thereunder to 5,150,000 shares from 3,150,000 shares.
|
|
FOR
o
|
AGAINST
o
|
ABSTAIN
o
|
|
|
|
|
|
4. Proposal to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of
the Company’s named executive officers. |
|
FOR
o
|
AGAINST
o
|
ABSTAIN
o
|
Important: Please sign exactly as name appears on this proxy. When
signing as attorney, executor, trustee, guardian, corporate
officer, etc., please indicate full title.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dated:
|
, 2022 |
|
|
|
Signature
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name (printed)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Title
|
|
VOTING INSTRUCTIONS
You may vote your proxy in the following ways:
1.
VIA INTERNET:
Login to www.pstvote.com/cardiff2022
Enter your control number (12 digit number located
below)
2.
VIA MAIL:
Philadelphia Stock Transfer, Inc.
2320 Haverford Rd., Suite 230
Ardmore, PA 19003
CONTROL NUMBER:
You may vote by Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Internet
voting is available through 11:59 p.m.,
prevailing time, on June 8, 2022.
Cardiff Oncology (NASDAQ:CRDF)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2022 to Jul 2022
Cardiff Oncology (NASDAQ:CRDF)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2021 to Jul 2022