UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
DC 90549
SCHEDULE
14A
(RULE
14a-101)
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Filed
by the Registrant
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[X]
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Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant
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Check
the appropriate box:
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[X]
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Preliminary
Proxy Statement
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Confidential,
For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a–6(e)(2))
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Definitive
Proxy Statement
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Definitive
Additional Materials
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Soliciting
Material under Rule 14a-12
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ADVAXIS,
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]
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No
fee required.
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Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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(1)
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Title
of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2)
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Aggregate
number of securities to which transactions applies:
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(3)
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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):
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(4)
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Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction.
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(5)
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Total
fee paid:
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Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials:
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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.
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(1)
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Amount
previously paid:
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(2)
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Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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Party:
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Advaxis,
Inc.
305 College Road East
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
Dear
Stockholder:
You
are cordially invited to our 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be held at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time, on March 21, 2018, at
the offices of our legal counsel, Alston & Bird LLP, located at 90 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10016. At the meeting,
stockholders will be asked to (i) elect five directors for a term of one year, (ii) approve an amendment to our Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase our authorized share capital by 30,000,000 shares of common stock, (iii)
approve our 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and (iv) ratify the appointment of Marcum LLP as our independent registered public
accounting firm for the year ending October 31, 2018. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions and make comments at
the meeting.
In
accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we are furnishing our proxy statement and
annual report to stockholders for the year ended October 31, 2017 on the Internet. You may have already received our “Important
Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials,” which was mailed on or about February 9, 2018. That notice described
how you can obtain our proxy statement and annual report. You can also receive paper copies of our proxy statement and annual
report upon request.
It
is important that your stock be represented at the meeting regardless of the number of shares you hold. You are encouraged to
specify your voting preferences by marking our proxy card and returning it as directed. If you do attend the meeting and wish
to vote in person, you may revoke your proxy at the meeting.
If
you have any questions about the proxy statement or the accompanying 2017 Annual Report, please contact Sara M. Bonstein, our
Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary at (609) 250-7510.
We
look forward to seeing you at the 2018 Annual Meeting.
Sincerely,
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Anthony
A. Lombardo
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Interim
Chief Executive Officer
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February
9, 2018
Princeton, New Jersey
Advaxis,
Inc.
305 College Road East
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
NOTICE
OF 2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Notice
is hereby given that the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Advaxis, Inc. will be held at the offices of Alston & Bird
LLP, our legal counsel, located at 90 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10016, on March 21, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, to
consider and act upon the following:
1.
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To
elect five members to our Board of Directors to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until
their respective successors have been elected and qualified.
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2.
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To
approve an amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase our authorized share capital by
30,000,000 shares of common stock.
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3.
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To
approve our 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
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4.
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To
ratify the selection of Marcum LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending October
31, 2018, which we refer to as fiscal 2018.
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5.
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To
transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
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The
foregoing items of business are more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice. Our proxy statement and
annual report to stockholders for the year ended October 31, 2017 can also be viewed online by following the instructions listed
on our proxy card.
Instructions
on how to vote your shares via the Internet are contained on the “Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials,”
which was mailed on or about February 9, 2018. Instructions on how to obtain a paper copy of our proxy statement and annual report
to stockholders for the year ended October 31, 2017 are listed on the “Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy
Materials.” These materials can also be viewed online by following the instructions listed on the “Important Notice
Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials.”
If
you choose to receive a paper copy of our proxy statement and annual report, you may vote your shares by completing and returning
the proxy card that will be enclosed.
Holders
of record of the Company’s common stock at the close of business on January 19, 2018 are entitled to receive notice of,
and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. The date of mailing of this Notice of our 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the accompanying
Proxy Statement and materials is on or about February 9, 2018.
All
stockholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting.
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By
Order of the Board of Directors,
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Sara
M. Bonstein
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Chief
Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
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February
9, 2018
Princeton, New Jersey
IMPORTANT
NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MARCH 21, 2018.
THE
PROXY STATEMENT AND ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR
THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2017 ARE AVAILABLE AT HTTP://IR.ADVAXIS.COM/FINANCIAL - INFORMATION/SEC - FILINGS
WHETHER
OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING AND IN
ORDER TO ASSURE THAT YOUR SHARES ARE REPRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL
MEETING, PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD
AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PREPAID ENVELOPE.
ADVAXIS,
INC.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Advaxis,
Inc.
305 College Road East
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
PROXY
STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MARCH 21, 2018
This
proxy statement is being made available via Internet access, beginning on or about February 9, 2018, to the owners of shares of
common stock of Advaxis, Inc. (the “Company,” “our,” “we,” or “Advaxis”) as of
January 19, 2018, in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our Board of Directors for our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
(the “Annual Meeting”). On or about February 9, 2018, we sent an “Important Notice Regarding the Availability
of Proxy Materials” to our stockholders. If you received this notice by mail, you will not automatically receive by mail
our proxy statement and annual report to stockholders for the year ended October 31, 2017. If you would like to receive a printed
copy of our proxy statement, annual report and proxy card, please follow the instructions for requesting such materials in the
notice. Upon request, we will promptly mail you paper copies of such materials free of charge.
INFORMATION
ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING
Why
did I receive an “Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials”?
In
accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules, instead of mailing a printed copy of our proxy materials,
we may send an “Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials” to stockholders. All stockholders
will have the ability to access the proxy materials on a website referred to in the notice or to request a printed set of these
materials at no charge. You will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials unless you specifically request one from us.
Instead, the notice instructs you as to how you may access and review all of the important information contained in the proxy
materials via the Internet and submit your vote via the Internet.
When
is the Annual Meeting?
The
Annual Meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on March 21, 2018.
Where
will the Annual Meeting be held?
The
Annual Meeting will be held at the offices of Alston & Bird LLP, our legal counsel, located at 90 Park Avenue, New York, New
York 10016.
What
items will be voted on at the Annual Meeting?
There
are four matters scheduled for a vote:
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To
elect five members to our Board of Directors to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until
their respective successors have been elected and qualified;
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To
approve an amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase our authorized share capital by
30,000,000 shares of common stock;
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To
approve our 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan; and
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To
ratify the selection of Marcum LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending October
31, 2018, which we refer to as fiscal 2018.
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As
of the date of this proxy statement, we are not aware of any other matters that will be presented for consideration at the Annual
Meeting.
What
are the Board of Directors’ recommendations?
Our
Board recommends that you vote:
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“FOR”
the election of each of the five nominees named herein to serve on the Board;
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“FOR”
the approval of an amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase our authorized share capital
by 30,000,000 shares of common stock;
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“FOR”
the approval of our 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan;
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“FOR”
the ratification of the appointment of Marcum LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2018.
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INFORMATION
ABOUT THE VOTING
Who
is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?
Only
stockholders of record at the close of business on January 19, 2018, which we refer to as the Record Date, are entitled to receive
notice of the Annual Meeting and to vote the shares that they held on that date at the Annual Meeting, or any adjournment or postponement
thereof. As of the close of business on the Record Date, we had 41,542,691 shares of common stock outstanding. Each share
of common stock entitles its holder to one vote at the Annual Meeting.
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Stockholders
of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name.
If on the Record Date your shares were registered directly in your name with
our transfer agent, Continental Transfer and Trust Company, then you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder of record,
you may vote in person at the Annual Meeting or vote by proxy. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge
you to fill out and return the enclosed proxy card, to ensure your vote is counted.
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Beneficial
Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker, Bank, Custodian or Other Nominee.
If on the Record Date your shares
were held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, custodian or other nominee, then you are the beneficial owner of shares
held in “street name” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that organization. The organization
holding your account is considered the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Annual Meeting. As a beneficial
owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank, custodian or other nominee on how to vote the shares in your account.
You are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting. However, because you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote
your shares in person at the Annual Meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker, bank, custodian
or other nominee.
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What
constitutes a quorum at the Annual Meeting?
In
accordance with Delaware law (the law under which we are incorporated) and our Amended and Restated Bylaws, the presence at the
Annual Meeting, by proxy or in person, of the holders of at least one-third of the shares of our common stock outstanding on the
record date constitutes a quorum, thereby permitting the stockholders to conduct business at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions,
votes withheld, and broker non-votes will be included in the calculation of the number of shares considered present at the Annual
Meeting for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum.
If
a quorum is not present at the Annual Meeting, a majority in voting interest of the stockholders present in person and by proxy
may adjourn the meeting to another date. If an adjournment is for more than 30 days or a new record date is fixed for the adjourned
meeting by our Board of Directors, we will provide notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote
at the adjourned meeting. At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted that might have
been transacted at the originally called meeting.
What
is a proxy?
A
proxy is a person you appoint to vote your shares of our common stock on your behalf. If you are unable to attend the Annual Meeting,
our Board of Directors is seeking your appointment of a proxy so that your shares of our common stock may be voted. If you vote
by proxy, you will be designating Anthony A. Lombardo or Sara M. Bonstein, as your proxies. Mr. Lombardo or Ms. Bonstein may act
on your behalf and have the authority to appoint a substitute to act as your proxy.
How
do I vote?
Whether
you hold shares directly as the stockholder of record or indirectly as the beneficial owner of shares held for you by a broker
or other nominee (i.e., in “street name”), you may direct your vote without attending the Annual Meeting. You may
vote by granting a proxy or, for shares you hold in street name, by submitting voting instructions to your broker or nominee.
In most instances, you will be able to do this by internet, telephone or by mail. Please refer to the summary instructions below
and those included on your proxy card or, for shares you hold in street name, the voting instruction card provided by your broker
or nominee.
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By
Internet
— If you have Internet access, you may authorize your proxy from any location in the world as directed
in our “Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials.”
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By
Telephone
— If you are calling from the United States or Canada, you may authorize your proxy by following the
“By Telephone” instructions on the proxy card or, if applicable, the telephone voting instructions that may be
described on the voting instruction card sent to you by your broker or nominee.
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By
Mail
— You may authorize your proxy by signing your proxy card and mailing it in the enclosed, postage-prepaid
and addressed envelope. For shares you hold in street name, you may sign the voting instruction card included by your broker
or nominee and mail it in the envelope provided.
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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 Record Date.
Can
I change my vote after I return my proxy card?
Yes.
You can revoke your proxy at any time before the final vote at the Annual Meeting. If you are the record holder of your shares,
you may revoke your proxy in any one of three ways:
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You
may submit another properly completed proxy bearing a later date;
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You
may send a written notice that you are revoking your proxy to Advaxis, Inc. at 305 College Road East, Princeton, New Jersey
08540, Attention: Sara M. Bonstein, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary (so long as we receive such notice no
later than the close of business on the day before the Annual Meeting); or
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You
may attend the Annual Meeting and notify the election officials at the Annual Meeting that you wish to revoke your proxy and
vote in person. Simply attending the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke your proxy.
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If
your shares are held by your broker, bank, custodian or other nominee, you should follow the instructions provided by such broker,
bank, custodian or other nominee.
What
if I sign and return my proxy but do not provide voting instructions?
Proxy
cards or voting instruction cards that are signed, dated and returned but do not contain voting instructions will be voted:
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“FOR”
the election of each of the five nominees named herein to serve on the Board;
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“FOR”
the approval of an amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase our authorized share capital
by 30,000,000 shares of common stock;
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“FOR”
the approval of our 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan; and
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“FOR”
the ratification of the appointment of Marcum LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2018.
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How
are votes counted?
Before
the Annual Meeting, our Board of Directors will appoint one or more inspectors of election for the meeting. The inspector(s) will
determine the number of shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum and the validity and effect of proxies. The
inspector(s) will also receive, count, and tabulate ballots and votes and determine the results of the voting on each matter that
comes before the Annual Meeting. Broker non-votes occur when shares are held indirectly through a broker, bank or other
intermediary on behalf of a beneficial owner (referred to as held in “street name”) and the broker submits a proxy
but does not vote for a matter because the broker has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner and (i) the broker
does not have discretionary voting authority on the matter or (ii) the broker chooses not to vote on a matter for which it has
discretionary voting authority. Under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) which govern voting matters
at the Annual Meeting, brokers are permitted to exercise discretionary voting authority only on “routine” matters
when voting instructions have not been timely received from a beneficial owner.
Under
NYSE rules the following matters are considered to be “routine” matters: (i) the ratification of Marcum LLP as
our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending October 31, 2018 and (ii) the approval of an amendment
to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase our authorized common stock by 30,000,000 shares. Brokers that hold your shares therefore have discretionary
authority to vote your shares without receiving instructions from you on such matters.
What
vote is required to elect our directors for a one-year term?
The
affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes of the shares present, in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting is required for
the election of each of the nominees for director. “Plurality” means that the nominees receiving the largest number
of votes up to the number of directors to be elected at the Annual Meeting will be duly elected as directors. Votes withheld,
and broker non-votes will not affect the outcome of director elections.
What
vote is required to ratify Marcum LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending October 31, 2018?
The
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required
to approve the ratification of Marcum LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending October 31,
2018. Abstentions will have the same effect as a negative vote. However, broker non-votes, if any, as this is a “routine”
matter under NYSE rules, will not have the effect of a vote against this proposal as they are not considered to be present and
entitled to vote on this matter and, therefore, have no effect on the result of this vote (see “How are Votes Counted?”
above).
What
vote is required to approve an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to increase our authorized common stock by 30,000,000
shares?
The
affirmative vote of a majority of our common stock outstanding is required to approve the amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation
to increase our authorized common stock by 30,000,000 shares. The effect of an abstention or a broker non-vote, if any,
as this is a “routine” matter under NYSE rules, is the same as that of a vote against the proposal (see “How
are Votes Counted?” above).
What
vote is required to approve our 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan?
Th
e
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required
to approve our 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
Abstentions will have the same effect as a negative vote.
How
can I find out the results of the voting at the Annual Meeting?
We
will announce preliminary voting results at the Annual Meeting. We will also disclose voting results on a Form 8-K filed with
the SEC, within four business days after the Annual Meeting.
How
do I obtain a list of the Company’s stockholders?
A
list of our stockholders as of the Record Date will be available for inspection at our corporate headquarters located at 305 College
Road East, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 during normal business hours during the 10-day period prior to the Annual Meeting.
Who
is paying for this proxy solicitation?
We
will pay the entire cost of preparing, assembling, printing, mailing, and distributing these proxy materials and soliciting votes.
If you choose to vote over the internet, you are responsible for internet access charges you may incur. If you choose to vote
by telephone, you are responsible for telephone charges you may incur. In addition to the mailing of these proxy materials, the
solicitation of proxies or votes may be made in person, by telephone or by electronic communication by our directors, officers
and employees, who will not receive any additional compensation for such solicitation activities. Proxies also may be solicited
by employees and our directors by mail, telephone, facsimile, e-mail or in person.
Additional
Information
Whom
should I contact if I have any questions?
If
you have any questions about the Annual Meeting, these proxy materials or your ownership of our common stock, please contact Sara
M. Bonstein, our Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary, by mail at Advaxis, Inc., 305 College Road East, Princeton,
New Jersey 08540, by telephone: (609) 250-7510 or by fax: (609) 452-9818.
PROPOSAL
NO. 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our
By-laws provide that the number of directors is to be no less than one and no more than nine and shall be fixed by action of the
directors. Currently, our Board of Directors consists of seven members. Governor Ridge and Dr. McKearn will not stand for reelection
at our 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Governor Ridge has chosen to not stand for reelection so as to focus on his health
and rehabilitation and Dr. McKearn is pursuing other opportunities. The Company would like to thank both Governor Ridge
and Dr. McKearn for their service and contributions. We have proposed five individuals for nomination to our Board.
Each director will hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his successor is duly elected and qualified,
or until his earlier resignation or removal. For information regarding the independence of our directors, see “Corporate
Governance Matters — Director Independence” elsewhere in this proxy statement.
Unless
otherwise instructed, the persons named in the proxy will vote to elect the five nominees named below as directors. Although
the Board does not contemplate that any of the nominees will be unavailable to serve as a director, should any unexpected vacancies
occur, the enclosed proxy will be voted for such substituted nominees, if any, as may be designated by the Board. In no event
will the proxy be voted for more than five directors.
Information
for Nominees for Director
The
names of the nominees for election as directors at the Annual Meeting, each of whom is an incumbent director, and certain information
about them, including their ages as of January 31, 2018 is set forth below:
Name
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Age
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Position
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Dr.
David Sidransky
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57
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Chairman
of our Board of Directors
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Dr.
James P. Patton
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60
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Vice
Chairman of our Board of Directors
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Roni
A. Appel
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51
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Director
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Richard
J. Berman
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75
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Director
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Dr.
Samir N. Khleif
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54
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Director
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Biographical
information for all nominated directors and current directors is provided in the Corporate Governance Matters section elsewhere
in this proxy statement.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 1 RELATING TO ELECTING EACH OF THE FIVE
NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE.
PROPOSAL
NO. 2
APPROVAL OF an amendment to our AMENDED AND RESTATED Certificate of Incorporation to INCREASE our
authorized shareS OF COMMON STOCK by 30,000,000 shares from 65,000,000 to 95,000,000
Overview
Our
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate”) currently authorize us to issue an aggregate
of 65,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of “blank check” preferred
stock, par value $0.001 per share.
Our
Board of Directors has approved, and is seeking stockholder approval of, an amendment to our Certificate (the “Amendment”)
to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance by 30,000,000 shares, bringing the total number of authorized
shares of common stock to 95,000,000 shares. The text of the proposed Amendment is attached hereto as
Exhibit A
.
No
changes to the Certificate are being proposed with respect to the number of authorized shares of preferred stock. Other than the
proposed increase in the number of authorized shares of common stock, the Amendment is not intended to modify the rights of existing
stockholders in any material respect. The additional shares of common stock to be authorized pursuant to the Amendment would have
rights identical to the currently outstanding common stock of the Company. Our stockholders do not currently have any preemptive
or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase any additional shares of common stock that may be issued in the future, and therefore,
future issuances of common stock may, depending on the circumstances, have a dilutive effect on the earnings per share, voting
power and other interests of the existing stockholders.
The
Board of Directors has unanimously determined that the Amendment is advisable and in the best interests of the Company and our
stockholders, and recommends that our stockholders approve the Amendment.
Reasons
for Increase
The
Board of Directors believes that it is prudent to increase the authorized number of shares of common stock in order to maintain
a reserve of shares available for immediate issuance to meet business needs, such as a strategic acquisition opportunity or equity
offering, promptly as they arise. The Board of Directors believes that maintaining such a reserve will save time and money in
responding to future events requiring the issuance of additional shares of common stock, such as strategic acquisitions or future
equity offerings.
All
authorized but unissued shares of common stock will be available for issuance from time to time for any proper purpose approved
by the Board of Directors (including issuances in connection with issuances to raise capital, effect acquisitions or stock-based
employee benefit plans), without further vote of the stockholders, except as required under applicable law or the Nasdaq Marketplace
Rules. There are currently no arrangements, agreements or understandings for the issuance of the additional shares of authorized
common stock except for issuances in the ordinary course of business. The Board of Directors does not presently intend to seek
further stockholder approval of any particular issuance of shares unless such approval is required by law or the Nasdaq Marketplace
Rules.
If
the Proposed Amendment is approved by the stockholders, it will become effective upon filing and recording of a Certificate of
Amendment as required by the Delaware General Corporation Law.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT OF OUR AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE
OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE OUR AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK BY 30,000,000 SHARES FROM 65,000,000 TO 95,000,000.
PROPOSAL
NO. 3
APPROVAL
OF THE ADVAXIS, INC. 2018
EMPLOYEE
STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
We
are seeking stockholder approval of the Advaxis, Inc. 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Employee Stock Purchase Plan”),
which was approved by the Board of Directors on January 23, 2018, subject to approval by the stockholders at the Annual
Meeting. If approved by the stockholders, the Plan will be effective as of the date of the Annual Meeting.
The
purpose of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan is to provide eligible employees of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries an
opportunity to use payroll deductions to purchase shares of our common stock and thereby acquire an ownership interest in the
Company. The Employee Stock Purchase Plan is intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” meeting the
requirements of Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code.
The
maximum aggregate number of shares of our common stock that may be purchased under the ESPP will be 1,000,000. As of January 19,
2018, there were approximately 108 employees eligible to participate in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
A
summary of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan is set forth below. The summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full
text of the plan, which is filed with this Proxy Statement as
Exhibit B
.
Summary
of the Plan
Administration
Subject
to the express provisions of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, the Compensation Committee of our Board has authority to interpret
and construe the provisions of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, to adopt rules and regulations for administering the Employee
Stock Purchase Plan, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for administering the Employee Stock Purchase
Plan. The Employee Stock Purchase Plan will be administered in order to qualify as an employee stock purchase plan under Section
423 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Stock
Subject to the Plan
Subject
to adjustment as provided in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock reserved and available
for issuance pursuant to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan is 1,000,000. As of January 19, 2018, the closing price of our common
stock on NASDAQ was $2.93 per share.
Eligibility;
Grant and Exercise of Options
All
employees of the Company are eligible to participate in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of the second offering period following
their most recent date of hire.
No
employee may be granted options to purchase shares of our common stock under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan if such employee
(i) immediately after the grant would own capital stock possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all
classes of our capital stock, or (ii) holds rights to purchase shares of our common stock under all of our employee stock purchase
plans (as defined in Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code) that accrue at a rate that exceeds $25,000 worth of shares of our
common stock for each calendar year.
Plan
Provisions
The
Employee Stock Purchase Plan provides for monthly offering periods coinciding with each calendar month, unless specified otherwise
by the committee. Eligible employees may elect to become a participant in the Employee Stock Purchase by submitting a request
form to the administrator, which will remain effective from offering period to offering period unless and until the participant
files a new request form. Participants may contribute between 1% and 20%, in whole percentages, of his or her gross base pay,
provided, however, that a participant may not purchase more than 1,000 shares of our common stock during each offering period,
subject to adjustment as provided in the Plan. Payroll deductions will accumulate in a non-interest bearing contribution account.
All deductions are made on an after tax basis.
On
the first day of an offering, participants will be granted an option to purchase on the last day of the offering (the “purchase
date”) at the price described below (the “purchase price”) the number of full shares of common stock which the
cash credited to his or her contribution account on the purchase date will purchase at the purchase price. Unless a participant
terminates employment or withdraws from the Plan or an offering on or before the purchase date, his or her option to purchase
shares of common stock will be deemed to have been exercised automatically on the purchase date. The purchase price will be 85%
of the fair market value of the common stock on the purchase date of the offering. No brokerage fees will be charged for these
purchase transactions. If there is a cash balance remaining in a participant’s contribution account at the end of an offering
representing the exercise price for a fractional share of common stock, such balance will remain in the contribution account to
be used in the next offering, unless he or she requests that such amount be refunded. All shares purchased will be held in the
participant’s name by the administrator.
Options
granted under the Plan are not transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and options are exercisable
only by the participant during his or her lifetime.
Termination
of Employment and Withdrawal from the Plan
If
a participant’s employment is terminated for any reason, his or her participation in the Plan will terminate immediately
and the balance, if any, in his or her contribution account will be returned in cash, without interest.
Participants
may elect to withdraw from the Employee Stock Purchase Plan at any time and receive back any of their contributions, without interest,
not used to purchase shares. If a participant wishes to withdraw his or her funds prior to a purchase, he or she must make an
election to do so 15 days prior to the end of the offering period. If a participant does withdraw, he or she will not be eligible
to re-enroll until the beginning of the 2
nd
subsequent offering period (i.e. the participant may not participate in
the offering period following the one from which he or she just withdrew).
Amendment
and Termination of the Plan
The
Compensation Committee may amend the Employee Stock Purchase Plan at any time; provided, however, that no amendment may, without
stockholder approval, materially affect the eligibility requirements under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan or increase the number
of shares of common stock subject to any options issued to participants.
The
Compensation Committee may terminate the Employee Stock Purchase Plan at any time. Upon termination of the Employee Stock Purchase
Plan, the administrator must give notice thereof to participants and will terminate all payroll deductions. Cash balances then
credited to participants’ contribution accounts will be distributed as soon as practicable, without interest.
Federal
Income Tax Consequences to the Company and to Participants
The
Employee Stock Purchase Plan is designed to qualify as an Employee Stock Purchase Plan under Section 423 of the Code. A general
summary of the federal income tax consequences regarding the Employee Stock Purchase Plan is stated below. The tax consequences
of participating in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan may vary with respect to individual situations. Accordingly, participants
should consult with their tax advisors in regard to the tax consequences of participating in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan
as to both federal and state income tax considerations.
Neither
the grant nor the exercise of options under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan will have a tax impact on the participant or on us.
If a participant disposes of the common stock acquired upon the exercise of his options after at least two years from the date
of grant and one year from the date of exercise, then the participant must treat as ordinary income the amount by which the lesser
of (i) the fair market value of the common stock at the time of disposition, or (ii) the fair market value of the common stock
at the date of grant, exceeds the purchase price. Any gain in addition to this amount will be treated as a capital gain. If a
participant holds common stock at the time of his or her death, the holding period requirements are automatically deemed to have
been satisfied and he or she will realize ordinary income in the amount by which the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the
common stock at the time of death, or (ii) the fair market value of the common stock at the date of grant exceeds the purchase
price. We will not be allowed a deduction if the holding period requirements are satisfied. If a participant disposes of common
stock before expiration of two years from the date of grant and one year from the date of exercise, then the participant must
treat as ordinary income the excess of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of exercise of the option over the
purchase price. Any additional gain will be treated as long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, as the case may be. We will
be allowed a deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant.
Benefits
to Named Executive Officers and Others
Participation
in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan is voluntary and we cannot presently determine the benefits or amounts that will be received
pursuant to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan in the future, as such amounts will depend on the amount of contributions eligible
employees choose to make, the actual purchase price of shares in future offering periods, the market value of the Common Stock
on various future dates. Non-employee directors are not eligible to participate in the plan.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE ADVAXIS, INC. 2018 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN.
PROPOSAL
NO. 4
RATIFICATION
OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The
Audit Committee annually considers and selects our independent registered public accountants. The Audit Committee has selected
Marcum LLP to act as our independent registered public accountants for fiscal 2018.
Stockholder
ratification of Marcum LLP as our independent registered public accountants is not required by our by-laws, or otherwise. However,
we are submitting the selection of Marcum LLP to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If
the stockholders do not ratify the selection of Marcum LLP as our independent registered public accountants, the Audit Committee
will reconsider the selection of such independent registered public accountants. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit
Committee may, in its discretion, direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accountant at any time during
the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders.
Representatives
of Marcum LLP are expected to attend the Annual Meeting in order to respond to questions from stockholders and will have the opportunity
to make a statement.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS
A VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 4 RELATING TO THE RATIFICATION
OF THE SELECTION OF MARCUM, LLP AS OUR
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS FOR FISCAL 2018.
AUDIT
COMMITTEE REPORT
This
Audit Committee Report shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be filed with the SEC or subject to Regulation
14A or 14C under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of
the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of our previous filings under the Securities Act or
the Exchange Act that might incorporate future filings, including this proxy statement, in whole or in part, this report shall
not be incorporated by reference into any such filings.
Management
is responsible for our internal controls and financial reporting process. The independent registered public accounting firm is
responsible for performing an independent audit of our financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and for issuing an opinion thereon. The Audit Committee’s responsibility is to oversee
these processes and our internal controls. The Audit Committee does not prepare or audit our financial statements or certify their
accuracy.
In
this context, the Audit Committee has met and held discussions with management and the independent registered public accounting
firm. Management represented to the Audit Committee that our financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, and the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management and
the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee has discussed with the independent registered public accounting
firm the matters required to be discussed by the statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended, as adopted by the PCAOB in
Rule 3200T.
Our
independent registered public accounting firm also provided to the Audit Committee the written disclosures and the letter required
by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with
the Audit Committee concerning independence, and the Audit Committee discussed with the independent registered public accounting
firm, Marcum, LLP, the firm’s independence.
Based
upon the Audit Committee’s discussions with management and the independent registered public accounting firm and the Audit
Committee’s review of our audited financial statements and the representations of management, and the report of the independent
registered public accounting firm to the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee recommended that the Board include the audited financial
statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2017, as filed with the SEC.
This
report is submitted by the Audit Committee.
Richard
J. Berman, Chairman
Roni A. Appel
Dr. James P. Patton
Disclosure
of Principal Accountant Fees and Services
On
December 14, 2012, we engaged Marcum, LLP (“Marcum”) as our independent registered public accounting firm to audit
our financial statements. Beginning with the year ended October 31, 2012, Marcum has audited our financial statements. The
following table presents fees for professional services rendered by Marcum for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2017 and
2016.
|
|
Fiscal 2017
|
|
|
Fiscal 2016
|
|
Audit Fees
(1)
|
|
$
|
224,331
|
|
|
$
|
168,875
|
|
Tax Fees
(2)
|
|
|
21,365
|
|
|
|
17,650
|
|
All Other Fees
(3)
|
|
|
92,025
|
|
|
|
18,364
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
337,721
|
|
|
$
|
204,889
|
|
|
(1)
|
Audit
Fees consisted primarily of annual audit fees, including the assessment of internal control over financial reporting and reviews
of the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
Tax
Fees consisted primarily of services related to tax compliance, including the preparation, review and filing of tax returns.
|
|
|
|
|
(3)
|
All
Other Fees consisted primarily of services related to the review of securities registration documents and other non-audit
reviews.
|
Policy
on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Auditors
The
Audit Committee will pre-approve all auditing services and the terms thereof (which may include providing comfort letters in connection
with securities underwriting) and non-audit services (other than non-audit services prohibited under Section 10A(g) of the Exchange
Act or the applicable rules of the SEC or the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) to be provided to us by the independent
auditor; provided, however, the pre-approval requirement is waived with respect to the provisions of non-audit services for us
if the “de minimus” provisions of Section 10A(i)(1)(B) of the Exchange Act are satisfied. This authority to pre-approve
non-audit services may be delegated to one or more members of the Audit Committee, who shall present all decisions to pre-approve
an activity to the full Audit Committee at its first meeting following such decision. The Audit Committee may review and approve
the scope and staffing of the independent auditors’ annual audit plan.
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE MATTERS
Board
of Directors
As
of January 31, 2018, our Board includes seven directors. Effective upon the election of directors at the Annual Meeting, our Board
will include the following members:
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
Dr.
David Sidransky
|
|
57
|
|
Chairman
of our Board of Directors
|
Dr.
James P. Patton
|
|
60
|
|
Vice
Chairman of our Board of Directors
|
Roni
A. Appel
|
|
51
|
|
Director
|
Richard
J. Berman
|
|
75
|
|
Director
|
Dr.
Samir Khleif
|
|
54
|
|
Director
|
Directors
Dr.
David Sidransky
. Dr. Sidransky currently serves as the Chairman of our Board of Directors and has served as a member of
our Board of Directors since July 2013. He is a renowned oncologist and research scientist named and profiled by TIME magazine
in 2001 as one of the top physicians and scientists in America, recognized for his work with early detection of cancer. Since
1994, Dr. Sidransky has been the Director of the Head and Neck Cancer Research Division and Professor of Oncology, Otolaryngology,
Genetics, and Pathology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of
Champions Oncology since October 2007 and was, until the merger with Eli Lilly, a director and Vice-Chairman of ImClone Systems,
Inc. He is the Chairman of Tamir Biotechnology and Ayala and serves on the Board of Directors of Galmed and Orgenesis.
He has served on scientific advisory boards of MedImmune, Roche, Amgen, and Veridex, LLC (a Johnson & Johnson diagnostic company),
among others. Dr. Sidransky served as Director (2005-2008) of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). Dr. Sidransky’s
experience in life science companies, as well as his scientific knowledge, qualify him to service as our director and non-executive
chairman.
Dr.
James P. Patton
. Dr. Patton currently serves as the Vice Chairman of our Board of Directors, has served as the Chairman
of our Board and has been a member of our Board of Directors since February 2002. Furthermore, Dr. Patton was the Chairman of
our Board of Directors from November 2004 until December 31, 2005 and was our Chief Executive Officer from February 2002 to November
2002. Since February 1999, Dr. Patton has been the Vice President of Millennium Oncology Management, Inc., which is a consulting
company in the field of oncology services delivery. Dr. Patton was a trustee of Dundee Wealth US, a mutual fund family, from October
2006 through September 2014. He is a founder and has been chairman of VAL Health, LLC, a health care consultancy, from 2011 to
the present. In addition, he was President of Comprehensive Oncology Care, LLC since 1999, a company that owned and operated a
cancer treatment facility in Exton, Pennsylvania until its sale in 2008. From February 1999 to September 2003, Dr. Patton also
served as a consultant to LibertyView Equity Partners SBIC, LP, a venture capital fund based in Jersey City, New Jersey. From
July 2000 to December 2002, Dr. Patton served as a director of Pinpoint Data Corp. From February 2000 to November 2000, Dr. Patton
served as a director of Healthware Solutions. From June 2000 to June 2003, Dr. Patton served as a director of LifeStar Response.
He earned his B.S. from the University of Michigan, his Medical Doctorate from Medical College of Pennsylvania, and his M.B.A.
from Penn’s Wharton School. Dr. Patton was also a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar. He has published papers
regarding scientific research in human genetics, diagnostic test performance and medical economic analysis. Dr. Patton’s
experience as a trustee and consultant to funds that invest in life science companies provide him with the perspective from which
we benefit. Additionally, Dr. Patton’s medical experience and service as a principal and director of other life science
companies make Dr. Patton particularly qualified to serve as our director and non-executive vice chairman.
Roni
A. Appel
. Mr. Appel has served as a member of our Board of Directors since November 2004. He was our President and Chief
Executive Officer from January 1, 2006 and Secretary and Chief Financial Officer from November 2004, until he resigned as our
Chief Financial Officer on September 7, 2006 and as our President, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary on December 15, 2006.
From December 15, 2006 to December 2007, Mr. Appel served as a consultant to us. Mr. Appel currently is a self-employed consultant.
Previously, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Anima Cell Metrology Ltd., from 2008 through January 31, 2013. From 1999 to
2004, he was a partner and managing director of LV Equity Partners (f/k/a LibertyView Equity Partners). From 1998 until 1999,
he was a director of business development at Americana Financial Services, Inc. From 1994 to 1998, he was an attorney and completed
his M.B.A at Columbia University. Mr. Appel’s longstanding service with us and his entrepreneurial investment career in
early stage biotech businesses qualify him to serve as our director.
Richard
J. Berman
. Mr. Berman has served as a member of our Board of Directors since September 1, 2005. Richard Berman’s
business career spans over 35 years of venture capital, senior management and merger and acquisitions experience. In the past
5 years, Mr. Berman has served as a director and/or officer of over a dozen public and private companies. In 2016 he was elected
Chairman of Cevolva Biotech Inc. From 2014-2016, he was Chairman of MetaStat, Inc. From 2006-2011, he was Chairman of National
Investment Managers, a company with $12 billion in pension administration assets. Mr. Berman also serves as a director for the
public healthcare companies Catasys, Inc. and Cryoport Inc. From 2002 to 2010, he was a director at Nexmed Inc. (now Apricus Biosciences,
Inc.) where he also served as Chairman/CEO in 2008 and 2009. From 1998-2000, he was employed by Internet Commerce Corporation
(now Easylink Services) as Chairman and CEO and served as director from 1998-2012. Previously, Mr. Berman worked at Goldman Sachs,
was Senior Vice President of Bankers Trust Company, where he started the M&A and Leveraged Buyout Departments, created the
largest battery company in the world in the 1980s by merging Prestolite, General Battery and Exide to form Exide Technologies
(XIDE), helped to create what is now Soho (NYC) by developing five buildings, and advised on over $4 billion of M&A transactions
(completed over 300 deals). He is a past Director of the Stern School of Business of NYU where he obtained his B.S. and M.B.A.
He also has US and foreign law degrees from Boston College and The Hague Academy of International Law, respectively. Mr. Berman’s
extensive knowledge of our industry, his role in the governance of publicly held companies and his directorships in other life
science companies qualify him to serve as our director.
Dr.
Samir Khleif
. Dr. Khleif has served as a member of our Board of Directors since October 2014. He currently serves as the
Director of the State of Georgia Cancer Center, Georgia Regents University Cancer Center and the Cancer Service Line. Dr. Khleif
was formerly Chief of the Cancer Vaccine Section at the NCI, and also served as a Special Assistant to the Commissioner of the
FDA leading the Critical Path Initiative for oncology. Dr. Khleif is a Georgia Research Alliance Distinguished Cancer Scientist
and Clinician and holds a professorship in Medicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Graduate Studies at Georgia Regents
University. Dr. Khleif’s research program at Georgia Regents University Cancer Center focuses on understanding the mechanisms
of cancer-induced immune suppression, and utilizing this knowledge for the development of novel immune therapeutics and vaccines
against cancer. His research group designed and performed some of the first cancer vaccine clinical trials targeting specific
genetic changes in cancer cells. He led many national efforts and committees on the development of biomarkers and integration
of biomarkers in clinical trials, including the AACR-NCI-FDA Cancer Biomarker Collaborative and the ASCO Alternative Clinical
Trial Design. Dr. Khleif is the author of many book chapters and scientific articles on tumor immunology and biomarkers process
development, and he is the editor for two textbooks on cancer therapeutics, tumor immunology, and cancer vaccines. Dr. Khleif
was inducted into the American Society for Clinical Investigation, received the National Cancer Institute’s Director Golden
Star Award, the National Institutes of Health Award for Merit, the Commendation Medal of the US Public Health Service, and he
was recently appointed to the Institute of Medicine National Cancer Policy Forum. Dr. Khleif’s distinguished career as well
as his extensive expertise in vaccines and immunotherapies qualify him to serve as our director.
Dr.
Thomas J. McKearn
. Dr. McKearn has served as a member of our Board of Directors since July 2002. He brings more than 30
years of experience in the translation of biotechnology science into oncology products. As one of the founders of Cytogen Corporation,
an Executive Director of Strategic Science and Medicine at Bristol-Myers Squibb, then for ten years, from 2002 to 2012, at Agennix,
Inc. (formerly GPC-Biotech) as VP of Medical Affairs and later as the VP of Strategic Clinical Affairs, and then as the President,
Research & Development at Onconova, he has worked to bring innovative laboratory findings into the clinic and through the
FDA regulatory process for the benefit of cancer patients who need better ways to cope with their afflictions. Prior to entering
the biotechnology industry in 1981, Dr. McKearn received his medical, graduate and post-graduate training at the University of
Chicago and served on the faculty of the Medical School at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Dr. McKearn’s
experience in managing life science companies, his knowledge of medicine and the commercialization of biotech products qualify
him to serve as our director.
Thomas
J. Ridge
. Mr. Ridge is Chief Executive Officer of Ridge Global, LLC, a global strategic consulting company, a position
he has held since July 2006. In March 2014, Mr. Ridge co-founded Ridge Schmidt Cyber (provider of strategic services to companies
in the area of cyber security) with Howard Schmidt. In April 2010, Mr. Ridge also became a partner in Ridge Policy Group, a bipartisan,
full-service government affairs and issue management group. From April 2005 to July 2006, he was President and Chief Executive
Officer of Thomas Ridge LLC. From October 2001 to February 2005, Mr. Ridge was Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Prior to that, Mr. Ridge served as Governor of Pennsylvania from 1995 to 2001. Mr. Ridge has been a director of Chart Acquisition
Corp. since July 2011 and a director of LifeLock, Inc. since March 2010. He was a director of FS Investment Corporation from November
2011 to February 2014. He also previously served as a director of Exelon Corporation, Brightpoint, Inc., Geospatial Holdings,
Inc., Vonage Holdings Corp. and The Home Depot, Inc. Mr. Ridge holds a bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Harvard University
and a Juris Doctor degree from The Dickinson School of Law of The Pennsylvania State University. Mr. Ridge’s distinguished
career as well as his extensive expertise in leadership and business development qualify him to serve as a director.
The
Board held 9 board meetings in fiscal 2017. Each director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of: (1) the total number
of Board meetings; and (2) the total number of meetings of the committee(s) of which he was a member, if any. We do not have a
written policy on board attendance at annual meetings of stockholders. We will encourage, but will not require, our directors
to attend the Annual Meeting.
The
table below describes the Board’s committees in fiscal 2017:
Director
Independence
In
accordance with the disclosure requirements of the SEC, we have adopted the NASDAQ listing standards for independence effective
April 2010. Each of our incumbent directors is independent in accordance with the definition set forth in the NASDAQ rules. Each
nominated member of each of our Board committees is an independent director under the NASDAQ standards applicable to such committees.
The Board considered the information included in transactions with related parties as outlined below along with other information
the Board considered relevant, when considering the independence of each director.
Audit
Committee
The
Audit Committee of our Board of Directors is currently composed of three directors, all of whom satisfy the independence and other
standards for Audit Committee members under the NASDAQ rules and the Exchange Act, as amended. The Audit Committee is responsible
for recommending the engagement of auditors to the full Board, reviewing the results of the audit engagement with the independent
registered public accounting firm, identifying irregularities in the management of our business in consultation with our independent
accountants, and suggesting an appropriate course of action, reviewing the adequacy, scope, and results of the internal accounting
controls and procedures, reviewing the degree of independence of the auditors, as well as the nature and scope of our relationship
with our independent registered public accounting firm, and reviewing the auditors’ fees. For fiscal year 2017, the Audit
Committee was composed of Messrs. Berman and Appel and Dr. Patton, with Mr. Berman serving as the Audit Committee’s financial
expert as defined under Item 407 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to as the Securities
Act.
The
Audit Committee operates under a written Audit Committee Charter, which is available to stockholders on our website at http://ir.advaxis.com/governance-docs.
Compensation
Committee
The
Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors currently consists of Drs. Khleif, McKearn and Sidransky. The Compensation Committee
determines the salaries, bonuses, and incentive and equity compensation of our officers subject to applicable employment agreements,
provides recommendations for the salaries and incentive compensation of our other employees and consultants, and reviews and oversees
our compensation programs and policies generally. For executives other than the Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee
receives and considers performance evaluations and compensation recommendations submitted to the Committee by the Chief Executive
Officer. In the case of the Chief Executive Officer, the evaluation of his performance is conducted by the Compensation Committee,
which determines any adjustments to his compensation as well as awards to be granted. The agenda for meetings of the Compensation
Committee is usually determined by its Chairman, with the assistance of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. The Compensation
Committee conducts at least five regularly scheduled meetings each year, which are regularly attended by the Chief Executive Officer.
The Compensation Committee engaged Hewitt Associates LLC, operating as Aon Hewitt, a compensation consultant, in July 2016, to
perform a compensation program review and market analysis, as well as provide recommendations regarding adjustments to executive
officer base salaries, target bonus opportunities and long-term equity incentives. Additional information regarding the role of
the Compensation Committee and its processes and procedures for considering and determining executive compensation is set forth
in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” later in this proxy statement.
The
Compensation Committee operates under a written Compensation Committee Charter, which is available to stockholders on our website
at http://ir.advaxis.com/governance-docs.
Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee
The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of our Board of Directors currently consists of Messrs. Ridge and Berman, and Drs.
Patton, Khleif and Sidransky. The functions of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee include identifying and recommending
to the Board individuals qualified to serve as members of the Board and on the committees of the Board, advising the Board with
respect to matters of board composition, procedures and committees, developing and recommending to the Board a set of corporate
governance principles applicable to us and overseeing corporate governance matters generally including review of possible conflicts
and transactions with persons affiliated with directors or members of management, and overseeing the annual evaluation of the
Board and our management.
The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee operates under a written Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter,
which is available to stockholders on our website at http://ir.advaxis.com/governance-docs.
The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider director candidates recommended by eligible stockholders. Stockholders
may recommend director nominees for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee by writing to the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee, Attention: Chairman, Advaxis, Inc., 305 College Road East, Princeton, New Jersey, 08540. Any
recommendations for director made to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee should include the nominee’s name
and qualifications for membership on our Board of Directors, and should include the following information for each person being
recommended or nominated for election as a director:
|
●
|
The
name, age, business address and residence address of the person;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
The
principal occupation or employment of the person;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
The
number of shares of our Common Stock that the person owns beneficially or of record; and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
Any
other information relating to the person that must be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made
in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors under Section 14 of the Exchange Act and its rules and
regulations.
|
In
addition, the stockholder’s notice must include the following information about such stockholder:
|
●
|
The
stockholder’s name and record address;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
The
number of shares of our Common Stock that the stockholder owns beneficially or of record;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
A
description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and each proposed nominee and any other person or
persons, including their names, pursuant to which the nomination is to be made;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
A
representation that the stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to nominate the person or
persons named in such stockholder’s notice; and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
Any
other information about the stockholder that must be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in
connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors under Section 14 of the Exchange Act and its rules and
regulations.
|
The
notice must include a written consent by each proposed nominee to being named as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected.
No person will be eligible for election as a director of ours unless recommended by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
and nominated by our Board of Directors or nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth above. Candidates proposed by
stockholders for nomination are evaluated using the same criteria as candidates initially proposed by the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee.
We
must receive the written nomination for an annual meeting not less than 90 days and not more than 120 days prior to the first
anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting of stockholders, or, if no annual meeting was held the previous year or
the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days before or delayed more than 60 days after the anniversary date, we
must receive the written nomination not more than 120 days prior to the annual meeting and not less than the later of 90 days
prior to the annual meeting or ten days following the day on which public announcement of the date of the annual meeting is first
made. For a special meeting, we must receive the written nomination not less than the later of 90 days prior to the special meeting
or ten days following the day on which public announcement of the date of the special meeting is first made.
The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee expects, as minimum qualifications, that nominees to our Board of Directors (including
incumbent directors) will enhance our Board of Director’s management, finance and/or scientific expertise, will not have
a conflict of interest and will have a high ethical standard. A director nominee’s knowledge and/or experience in areas
such as, but not limited to, the medical, biotechnology, or life sciences industry, equity and debt capital markets and financial
accounting are likely to be considered both in relation to the individual’s qualification to serve on our Board of Directors
and the needs of our Board of Directors as a whole. Other characteristics, including but not limited to, the director nominee’s
material relationships with us, time availability, service on other boards of directors and their committees, or any other characteristics
that may prove relevant at any given time as determined by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall be reviewed
for purposes of determining a director nominee’s qualification.
Candidates
for director nominees are evaluated by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in the context of the current composition
of our Board of Directors, our operating requirements and the long-term interests of our stockholders. The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee then uses its network of contacts to compile a list of potential candidates, but may also engage, if it deems
appropriate, a professional search firm. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee conducts any appropriate and necessary
inquiries into the backgrounds and qualifications of possible candidates after considering the function and needs of our Board
of Directors. In the case of incumbent directors whose terms of office are set to expire, the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee reviews such directors’ overall service to us during their term, including the number of meetings attended, level
of participation, quality of performance, and any other relationships and transactions that might impair such directors’
independence. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee meets to discuss and consider such candidates’ qualifications
and then selects a nominee for recommendation to our Board of Directors by majority vote. To date, the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee has not paid a fee to any third party to assist in the process of identifying or evaluating director candidates.
While
we do not have a formal diversity policy for Board membership, we will seek to ensure that its membership consists of sufficiently
diverse backgrounds, meaning a mix of backgrounds and experiences that will enhance the quality of the Board’s deliberations
and decisions. In considering candidates for the Board, the independent directors will consider, among other factors, diversity
with respect to viewpoints, skills, experience and other demographics.
Research
and Development Committee
The
Research and Development Committee was established in August 2013 with the purpose of providing advice and guidance to the Board
on scientific and medical matters and development. The Research and Development Committee currently consists of Drs. Sidransky,
Khleif, McKearn and Patton. The functions of the Research and Development Committee include providing advice and guidance to the
Board on scientific matters and providing advice and guidance to the Board on medical matters.
Board
Leadership Structure
On
May 27, 2015, David Sidransky was appointed Chairman and continues to serve as Chairman. Dr. Sidransky’s experience in life
science companies, as well as his scientific knowledge, his history with our Company and his own history of innovation and strategic
thinking, qualify him to serve as our Chairman. Additionally, on July 6, 2017, Anthony A. Lombardo was appointed our Interim Chief
Executive Officer. Mr. Lombardo’s knowledge of industry standards and his experience in industry operations, and his leadership
experience complements Dr. Sidransky’s scientific knowledge.
While
we do not have a formal policy regarding the separation of our principal executive officer and Chairman of our Board, we believe
the current structure is in the best interest of the Company at this time. Further, this structure demonstrates to our employees,
customers and stockholders that we are under strong leadership, with multiple skills and sets the tone for managing our operations.
This leadership structure promotes strategic development and execution, timely decision-making and effective management of our
resources. We believe that we are well-served by this structure.
Risk
Oversight
The
Board has an active role in overseeing our risk management and is responsible for discussing with management and the independent
auditors our major financial risk exposures, the guidelines and policies by which risk assessment and management is undertaken,
and the steps management has taken to monitor and control risk exposure. The Board regularly engages in discussions of the most
significant risks that we are facing and how those risks are being managed. The Board believes that its work and the work of the
Chairman and the principal executive officer, enables the Board to effectively oversee our risk management function.
Stockholder
Communications to the Board
Stockholders
may contact an individual director, the Board as a group, or a specified Board committee or group, including the non-employee
directors as a group, by writing to the following address:
Advaxis,
Inc.
305 College Road East
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
Attn: Board of Directors
Each
communication should specify the applicable addressee or addressees to be contacted as well as the general topic of the communication.
We will initially receive and process communications before forwarding them to the addressee. We generally will not forward to
the directors a stockholder communication that we determine to be primarily commercial in nature or relates to an improper or
irrelevant topic, or that requests general information about us.
Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act, requires our directors and executive officers and each person who owns more than ten percent of a registered
class of our equity securities (collectively, “Reporting Persons”) to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership
and reports of changes in ownership of our Common Stock and our other equity securities. Reporting Persons are required by SEC
regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms that they file. Based solely on the Company’s review of
the copies of the forms received by it during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017 and written representations that no other
reports were required, the Company believes that each person who, at any time during such fiscal year, was a Reporting Person
complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements during such fiscal year.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Currently,
the Compensation Committee consists of Drs. Khleif, McKearn and Sidransky. No member of the Compensation Committee was an officer
or employee of the Company during the last fiscal year, or had any relationship with the Company requiring disclosure under Item
404 of Regulation S-K. No executive officer of the Company served as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee
of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on the Company’s Compensation Committee or Board of Directors.
Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions
Our
policy is to enter into transactions with related parties on terms that, on the whole, are no more favorable, or no less favorable,
than those available from unaffiliated third parties. Based on our experience in the business sectors in which we operate and
the terms of our transactions with unaffiliated third parties, we believe that all transactions that we enter will meet this policy
standard at the time they occur. Presently, we have no such related party transactions.
OWNERSHIP
OF SECURITIES
Except
as noted below, the following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock
as of January 31, 2018:
|
●
|
each
person who is known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding Common Stock;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
each
of our directors;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
each
of our named executive officers and current executive officers; and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
all
of our current directors and executive officers as a group.
|
As
used in the table below, the term beneficial ownership with respect to our Common Stock consists of sole or shared voting power
(which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of shares of our Common Stock) or sole or shared investment power (which
includes the power to dispose, or direct the disposition of, shares of our Common Stock) through any contract, arrangement, understanding,
relationship or otherwise, including a right to acquire such power(s) during the 60 days following January 31, 2018.
Unless
otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table, and subject to community property laws where applicable, we believe each of
the stockholders named in this table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares indicated as beneficially
owned. Applicable percentages are based on 41,542,691 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of January 19, 2018,
adjusted as required by the rules promulgated by the SEC. Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each of the individuals
and entities listed in this table is 305 College Road East, Princeton, New Jersey 08540.
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
Name of Beneficial Owner
|
|
Total # of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
|
|
|
Percentage of Ownership
|
|
Anthony Lombardo
(1)
|
|
|
15,685
|
|
|
|
*
|
%
|
David
Sidransky
(2)
|
|
|
138,693
|
|
|
|
*
|
%
|
Roni Appel
(3)
|
|
|
187,662
|
|
|
|
*
|
%
|
Richard Berman
(4)
|
|
|
119,869
|
|
|
|
*
|
%
|
Samir Khleif
(5)
|
|
|
169,587
|
|
|
|
*
|
%
|
Tom McKearn
(6)
|
|
|
136,204
|
|
|
|
*
|
%
|
Jim Patton
(7)
|
|
|
294,778
|
|
|
|
*
|
%
|
Thomas Ridge
(8)
|
|
|
109,305
|
|
|
|
*
|
%
|
Sara Bonstein
(9)
|
|
|
503,058
|
|
|
|
1.20
|
%
|
Robert Petit
(10)
|
|
|
374,602
|
|
|
|
*
|
%
|
Dan O’Connor
(11)
|
|
|
1,816,953
|
|
|
|
4.24
|
%
|
Gregory
T. Mayes
(12)
|
|
|
367,680
|
|
|
|
*
|
%
|
Adage Capital Management, L.P.
(13)
|
|
|
4,100,043
|
|
|
|
9.87
|
%
|
Amgen, Inc.
(13)
|
|
|
3,047,446
|
|
|
|
7.34
|
%
|
BlackRock Fund Advisors
(13)
|
|
|
2,125,245
|
|
|
|
5.12
|
%
|
All
Current Directors and Officers as a Group (10 People)
(14)
|
|
|
2,049,443
|
|
|
|
4.80
|
%
|
*Less
than 1%
(1)
Represents 15,685 issued shares of our Common Stock.
(2)
Represents 75,360 issued shares of our Common Stock and options to purchase 63,333 shares of our Common Stock
exercisable within 60 days.
(3)
Represents 118,812 issued shares of our Common Stock and options to purchase 62,600 shares of our Common Stock exercisable
within 60 days and warrants to purchase 6,250 shares of our Common Stock exercisable within 60 days.
(4)
Represents 45,669 issued shares of our Common Stock and options to purchase 74,200 shares of our Common Stock
exercisable within 60 days.
(5)
Represents 64,587 issued shares of our Common Stock and options to purchase 105,000 shares of our Common Stock exercisable
within 60 days.
(6)
Represents 64,804 issued shares of our Common Stock and options to purchase 71,400 shares of our Common Stock exercisable
within 60 days.
(7)
Represents 206,745 issued shares of our Common Stock and options to purchase 75,533 shares of our Common Stock
exercisable within 60 days and warrants to purchase 12,500 shares of our Common Stock exercisable within 60 days.
(8)
Represents 24,305 issued shares of our Common Stock and options to purchase 85,000 shares of our Common Stock exercisable
within 60 days.
(9)
Represents 122,293 issued shares of our Common Stock and options to purchase 380,765 shares of our Common
Stock exercisable within 60 days.
(10)
Represents 145,981 issued shares of our Common Stock and options to purchase 222,221 shares of our Common
Stock exercisable within 60 days and warrants to purchase 6,400 shares of our Common Stock exercisable within 60 days.
(11)
Represents 503,969 issued shares of our Common Stock and options to purchase 1,306,234 shares of our Common Stock exercisable
within 60 days and warrants to purchase 6,750 shares of our Common Stock exercisable within 60 days.
(12)
Represents options to purchase 367,680 shares of our Common Stock exercisable within 60 days.
(13)
As reported on Form 13D and/or 13G.
(14)
Represents 884,241 issued shares of our Common Stock and options to purchase 1,140,052 shares of our Common
Stock exercisable within 60 days and warrants to purchase 25,150 shares of our Common Stock exercisable within 60 days.
Executive
Officers
The
following table provides information on our current executive officers.
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
Anthony
A. Lombardo
|
|
70
|
|
Interim
Chief Executive Officer
|
Sara
M. Bonstein
|
|
37
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer, Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary
|
Robert
G. Petit
|
|
58
|
|
Chief
Scientific Officer and Executive Vice President
|
Anthony
A. Lombardo.
Mr. Lombardo served as the Chief Business Officer and Senior Vice President of the Company before being appointed
as Interim Chief Executive Officer in July 2017. He is an accomplished industry veteran with nearly 30 years of leadership experience
in the life sciences industry. Prior to joining Advaxis in April 2017, Mr. Lombardo was a Partner at The Channel Group, where,
from 2014 to 2017 he provided strategic advisory services to biotechnology, pharma and med-tech companies. Previously, beginning
in 2000, he was President and CEO of E-Z-EM Inc., which was sold to Bracco Diagnostics in 2008, where Mr. Lombardo remained and
oversaw business operations for six years as the Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining E-Z-EM, Lombardo served as the President
of ALI Imaging Systems, Inc., which was sold to McKesson in 2002. He has also held leadership roles at General Electric Medical
Systems, Philips Medical Systems, Loral/Lockheed Martin Corp. and Sony Corporation.
Sara
M. Bonstein
. Ms. Bonstein joined Advaxis in March 2014 as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and currently
serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary. Ms. Bonstein has 15 years of financial leadership
experience in the life sciences industry with Eli Lilly& Company, ImClone Systems, and Johnson & Johnson. While at Eli
Lilly& Company, Ms. Bonstein was a Six Sigma Champion and Black Belt, leading multiple projects relating to clinical research,
project management, finance, manufacturing, and commercial sales. Prior to her Six Sigma role, Ms. Bonstein held positions of
increasing responsibility at ImClone (which was acquired by Eli Lilly in 2008) including Director of Finance where she led all
budget and forecast activities for preclinical, clinical and manufacturing research and development, spanning over ten monoclonal
antibody cancer therapeutics, including ERBITUX® (cetuximab), a cancer treatment with over $1.5 billion in annual sales. Prior
to joining ImClone, Ms. Bonstein was a financial analyst at Johnson & Johnson in both the Ortho McNeil Pharmaceuticals and
Ortho Biotech Divisions of the company where she managed gross-to-net analysis and calculation for approximately $1.1 billion
of pharmaceutical product sales. In 2016, NJBiz named Ms. Bonstein CFO of the Year – Healthcare Organization and Forty under
40. Ms. Bonstein is a 2004 graduate of Johnson & Johnson’s Financial Leadership Development Program. She holds a BS
in Finance from The College of New Jersey and an M.B.A from Rider University.
Robert
G. Petit, Ph.D
. Dr. Petit joined Advaxis in October 2010 and currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific
Officer. Dr. Petit has over 20 years of experience in all medical and scientific aspects of pharmaceutical development. He has
led programs in discovery, translational development and intellectual property development and has designed and conducted U.S.
and international clinical evaluation programs from phase I to IV. Dr. Petit joined Advaxis from Bristol Myers Squibb where he
was the U.S. Medical Strategy Lead for the Ipilimumab program, Director of Medical Strategy for New Oncology Products, and Director
of Global Clinical Research. Prior to joining Bristol Myers-Squibb, Robert served as Vice President of Clinical Development at
MGI Pharma and also at Aesgen Inc. His scientific focus has been to develop immunologic based therapies with a particular emphasis
on immunologic oncology treatment. Robert has had significant FDA experience and has contributed to five NDA/BLA filings. Dr.
Petit has a Doctorate from the Ohio State University College of Medicine and a B.S. from Indiana State University.
COMPENSATION
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The
Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) describes the compensation program and material compensation decisions
we have made under those programs in regard to the compensation of the following named executive officers (“NEOs”
or “named executive officers”) for the Fiscal Year 2017:
Name
|
|
Title
|
Anthony
A. Lombardo
|
|
Interim
Chief Executive Officer, effective as of July 6, 2017
|
Sara
M. Bonstein
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer and Executive Vice President
|
Robert
G. Petit
|
|
Chief
Scientific Officer and Executive Vice President
|
Daniel
J. O’Connor
|
|
Former
Chief Executive Officer, resigned effective as of July 6, 2017
|
Gregory
T. Mayes
|
|
Former
Chief Business Officer, resigned effective December 30, 2016
|
Executive
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
The
Compensation Committee’s philosophy is to attract, retain and engage the most talented and dedicated executives possible
by providing compensation programs that are designed to ensure that the interests of our stockholders are closely aligned with
those of our executives. We believe that, in order to achieve this objective, our compensation program must include the following
components:
●
|
Market
Competitive:
|
|
We
offer competitive compensation packages at levels for comparable positions at companies with whom we compete for talent.
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
Individual
Performance:
|
|
We
recognize and reward individual initiative and achievement by providing upside opportunities for exceptional performance.
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
Pay
for Performance:
|
|
We
emphasize pay for performance by directly linking a portion of compensation on the attainment of the Company’s short-term
and long-term goals and performance.
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
Stockholder
Value Alignment
|
|
We
align our executives’ interests with those of our stockholders by making stock-based incentives a core element of our
compensation program.
|
To
achieve these goals, we compensate our named executive officers with a mix of salary, variable compensation and equity awards.
We intend to maintain compensation plans that tie a portion of our executives’ overall compensation to achievement of corporate
goals and value-creating milestones, such as the development of our products and the establishment and maintenance of key strategic
relationships, as well as our financial and operational performance.
Accordingly,
a substantial portion of executive compensation, including annual cash bonuses and annual equity grants, is “at risk”
and must be earned through achieving performance measurements. These awards are earned by achieving key performance goals that
are essential to both the short-term and long-term growth and success of our business, which when achieved, create value for our
stockholders.
Role
of the Compensation Committee
The
Compensation Committee reviews the performance and determines all compensation that is paid or awarded to our named executive
officers on an annual basis. In accordance with its charter, the Compensation Committee has established a compensation strategy
to attract and retain executive talent and motivate executive officers to improve their performance and the financial and operating
performance of the Company. The Committee reviews the compensation strategy annually to ensure that the program and policies support
the appropriate Company objectives and align with stockholder interests.
In
the past, we have utilized the services of a compensation consultant to review our policies and procedures with respect to executive
compensation, and to provide market data regarding competitive pay practices. We engaged Hewitt Associates LLC, operating as Aon
Hewitt, a compensation consultant, in January 2015, to perform a compensation program review and market analysis, as well as provide
recommendations regarding adjustments to executive officer base salaries, target bonus opportunities and long-term equity incentives.
The Compensation Committee used this information as a guide in determining base salary adjustments, bonus opportunities and long-term
incentive award levels for our named executive officers for fiscal 2017. For fiscal year 2018 and going forward, the Compensation
Committee intends to engage an independent compensation consultant on an annual basis to support the work of the Compensation
Committee with respect to evaluation and design of the Company’s current and proposed compensation plans, including providing
input and advice regarding the types and amounts of compensation opportunities offered, the related performance metrics, performance
goals and payout ranges, and construction of Company peer groups for the purposes of comparatively evaluation current and proposed
officer and director compensation.
Market
Data
With
Radford’s assistance, we collected and analyzed compensation market data to be used as a resource in setting fiscal 2017
compensation levels and to review the competitiveness of our compensation programs. Data sources included public company proxy
statements as well as proprietary compensation surveys and other surveys that have benchmark compensation information. We selected
peer companies from the public biotechnology space based upon sector focus, stage of clinical development, market capitalization
and number of employees. For fiscal 2017, we reviewed compensation data of the following peer companies for these purposes: Aduro
BioTech, Inc., Agenus Inc., Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc., Array BioPharma Inc., Atara Biotherapeutics,
Inc., Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Celldex Therapeutics, Inc., Cellectis S.A., Clovis Oncology, Inc., Coherus Biosciences,
Inc., Flexion Therapeutics, Inc., Geron Corporation, Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc., Heron Therapeutics, Inc., Inovio Pharmaceuticals,
Inc., La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company, MacroGenics, Inc., NewLink Genetics Corporation, OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Puma Biotechnology,
Inc., Revance Therapeutics, Inc., Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., TG Therapeutics, Inc., XBiotech, Inc., ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
For
fiscal 2017, we used the peer company targets in the design of each of the elements described below as well as reviewed specific
target levels of total compensation. Our objective going forward is to provide competitive total compensation opportunities to
our executive officers that take into account the status and performance of the company, the competitive market for executives
and the desire to attract, retain and motivate high-performing executives.
Elements
of Compensation
The
compensation received by our executive officers consists of the following elements:
Base
Salary.
Base salaries for our named executive officers are established based on the scope of their responsibilities and individual
experience, taking into account competitive market compensation paid by other companies for similar positions within the biotechnology
industry. Base salaries are reviewed annually, and adjusted from time to time to realign salaries with market levels after considering
individual experience, responsibilities and overall performance. Salaries for named executive officers are set annually by the
Compensation Committee, after considering the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer (however, the Chief Executive Officer
does not make recommendations with respect to his or her own salary). The criteria for determining base salary are subjective
rather than objective, and in the past have included the executive’s contribution to our company’s progress in the
key areas of scientific progress, clinical development, financial strength and administration, and how the executive has carried
out the responsibilities of his or her position.
In
fiscal 2017, based on a peer review conducted by Radford, our compensation committee determined that base salaries for our named
executive officers were below the market median for our peer group, and decided to increase base salaries to position them closer
to the 50
th
percentile reflected in the peer company analysis. For fiscal year 2018, the named executive officers voluntarily
decided to forego cost of living increases to their base salaries that would otherwise have become effective automatically pursuant
to their employment agreements.
Annual
Incentive Bonus.
In addition to base salaries, our Compensation Committee has the authority to award annual incentive bonuses
to our named executive officers. The annual incentive bonuses are intended to compensate named executive officers for achieving
corporate goals and strategic milestones. For fiscal 2017, each named executive officer was eligible to earn a target annual bonus
up to an amount equal to a specified percentage of such named executive officer’s salary (50% for Mr. Lombardo, and 40%
for Ms. Bonstein and Dr. Petit). The bonus was based, in large part, upon the achievement of a combination of clinical and regulatory
goals, and subjective goals relating to human resources functions and management. These goals were achieved at an aggregate level
of 60%, and accordingly, bonus amounts were paid at 60% of each named executive officer’s target bonus amount. The amounts
of the annual incentive bonus earned by each named executive officer is disclosed in the “Bonus” column of the Summary
Compensation Table below.
Long-Term
Incentive Program.
We believe that long-term performance is achieved through an ownership culture that encourages such performance
by our named executive officers using equity awards. Our equity compensation plans have been established to provide all of our
employees, including our named executive officers, with incentives to help align employee interests with the interests of our
stockholders. Our Compensation Committee believes that the use of equity awards offers the best approach to achieving our compensation
goals. While we have not adopted stock ownership guidelines, our equity compensation plans have provided the principal method
for our named executive officers to acquire a meaningful ownership interest in the company.
In
2017, we adopted an Equity Grant Policy that provides, among other things, that annual equity awards to the Company’s officers
and directors shall be approved at a regularly-scheduled meeting of the Compensation Committee held in November each year, and
ensures that equity-based awards cannot and will not be granted based on the anticipated release of material non-public information.
In
general, the size of grants of long-term equity awards to the named executive officers are subjectively determined by considering
competitive market data, the officer’s tenure and level of responsibility, and a subjective assessment of the officer’s
performance and importance to the ongoing success of the Company.
In
fiscal year 2017, we split our regular annual grant cycle into two parts, granting equity awards to the named executive officers
on November 3, 2016 and on May 1, 2017. The November grants consisted of stock options that vest in three equal annual installments
on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date, and performance-based restricted stock units with vesting based on
the success of the investigational new drug application for ADXS-NEO and the opening of a specified number of clinical sites for
AIM2CERV, and the May grants consisted of performance-based restricted stock units with vesting based on the opening of a specified
number of clinical sites for AIM2CERV, and time-vesting restricted stock units. The number of awards granted to the named executive
officers is set forth below.
Stock
Options
Name
|
|
November
Grants
|
|
Anthony
Lombardo
|
|
|
-
|
|
Daniel
O’Connor
|
|
|
170,234
|
|
Sara
Bonstein
|
|
|
68,906
|
|
Robert
Petit
|
|
|
68,906
|
|
Gregory
Mayes
|
|
|
68,906
|
|
Performance-Based
Restricted Stock Units
Name
|
|
November
Grants
|
|
|
May
Grants
|
|
Anthony
Lombardo
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Daniel
O’Connor
|
|
|
88,551
|
|
|
|
88,551
|
|
Sara
Bonstein
|
|
|
28,600
|
|
|
|
28,599
|
|
Robert
Petit
|
|
|
28,600
|
|
|
|
28,599
|
|
Gregory
Mayes
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Time-Vesting
Restricted Stock Units
Name
|
|
November
Grants
|
|
Anthony
Lombardo
|
|
|
-
|
|
Daniel
O’Connor
|
|
|
142,996
|
|
Sara
Bonstein
|
|
|
57,881
|
|
Robert
Petit
|
|
|
57,881
|
|
Gregory
Mayes
|
|
|
-
|
|
In
addition, Ms. Bonstein was granted 50,000 restricted stock units in connection with her promotion to Executive Vice President,
effective as of December 30, 2016, which vest in four equal installments. One-fourth of this award vested immediately and one-fourth
will vest on each anniversary of the date of grant. The award will be fully vested on December 30, 2019.
Upon
Mr. Lombardo joining the Company on April 17, 2017, he was granted 100,000 restricted stock units as an inducement award, which
vest in four equal installments. One-fourth of this award vested immediately and one-fourth will vest on each anniversary
of the date of grant. The award will be fully vested on April 17, 2020.
Employment
Agreements, Severance and/or Change-in-Control Benefits.
We have employment agreements with each of our named executive officers
that entitle them to certain levels of compensation and severance benefits, the terms of which are described below under “Employment
Agreements with Named Executive Officers.” In addition, on February 24, 2016, the Board adopted a change in control severance
plan that provides our employees, including the named executive officers, with severance payments and benefits in the event their
employment is terminated in connection with a change in control of the Company. We believe the severance and change in control
benefits are an essential element of our executive compensation package, are competitive within the marketplace and assist us
in recruiting and retaining talented individuals.
See
below under “Employment Agreements with Named Executive Officers” and “Potential Payments Upon Termination or
Change-in-Control” for a complete description of the terms of such agreements.
CEO
Transition
As
noted above, Mr. O’Connor resigned as our Chief Executive Officer, effective as of July 6, 2017. In connection with his
departure, the Company and Mr. O’Connor entered into a separation agreement, pursuant to which Mr. O’Connor became
entitled to receive: (i) cash payments in a total gross amount of $560,000, payable over a 12 month period, (ii) a one-time gross
cash payment of $280,000, that was paid on or about July 13, 2017, (iii) accelerated vesting of his equity incentive awards, and
(iv) continued coverage under the Company’s group medical plans at active-employee rates for 12 months. The separation agreement
included a full release of claims by Mr. O’Connor in favor of the Company.
In
connection with Mr. O’Connor’s resignation, the Company appointed Mr. Lombardo as Interim Chief Executive Officer,
effective as July 6, 2017. The Company and Mr. Lombardo entered into an employment agreement, effective July 18, 2017, pursuant
to which Mr. Lombardo’s base salary is set at $355,000 per year, and he is eligible for an annual bonus targeted at 50%
of his base salary based on achievement of performance goals in the discretion of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Lombardo also
received a one-time lump-sum bonus equal to $88,000 that was paid within thirty (30) days after the effective date of the agreement.
Mr. Lombardo will be entitled to cash severance payments if his employment is involuntarily terminated, as described below under
“Employment Agreements with Named Executive Officers.”
Retention
Bonus Agreement
Relating
to the CEO transition described above, in July 2017, the Compensation Committee approved retention bonuses for the continuing
named executive officers in the following amounts: Mr. Lombardo, $125,000; Ms. Bonstein, $100,000; and Dr. Petit, $100,000. The
retention bonuses were awarded to provide financial incentive and retention value to the named executive officers and to ensure
continuity of management during a period of transition and uncertainty within the Company. The retention bonuses were earned based
on the named executive officers remaining employed with the Company through March 1, 2018.
Consideration
of Most Recent Advisory Stockholder Vote on Executive Compensation
At
the annual meeting of stockholders on March 10, 2016, approximately 62% of the shares represented and entitled to vote at the
annual meeting were voted to approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, as discussed and disclosed
in the 2016 Proxy Statement. The Board and the Compensation Committee appreciate and value the views of our stockholders. In considering
the results of this advisory vote on executive compensation, the Committee concluded that the compensation paid to our named executive
officers and the Company’s overall pay practices generally are supported by our stockholders.
Going
forward, future advisory votes on executive compensation will serve as an additional tool to guide the Board and the Compensation
Committee in evaluating the alignment of the Company’s executive compensation program with the interests of the Company
and its stockholders.
At
the annual meeting of stockholders on June 5, 2013, our stockholders expressed a preference that advisory votes on executive compensation
occur once every three years. Consistent with this preference, the Board determined to implement an advisory vote on executive
compensation once every three years until the next required vote on the frequency of stockholder votes on the compensation of
executive officers, which is scheduled to occur at the 2019 annual meeting.
Tax
and Accounting Considerations
The
accounting and tax treatment of compensation generally has not been a material factor in determining the amounts of compensation
for our executive officers. However, the Compensation Committee has considered the accounting and tax impact of various program
designs to balance the potential cost to us with the benefit/value to the executives.
Code
Section 162(m) places a limit of $1 million on the amount of compensation that a company may deduct in any year with respect to
certain executive officers. It is the Compensation Committee’s intent to maximize deductibility of executive compensation
while retaining the discretion needed to compensate executives in a manner commensurate with performance and the competitive landscape
for executive talent. For fiscal year 2017, the Compensation Committee structured a portion of its long-term equity awards in
a manner intended to be exempt from the deduction limitation of Code Section 162(m) because they are earned based on the achievement
of performance goals established by the Compensation Committee pursuant to our shareholder-approved equity incentive plan. The
exemption from Code Section 162(m)’s deduction limit for performance-based compensation has been repealed, effective for
taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, such that compensation paid to our covered executive officers in excess of $1
million will not be deductible unless it qualifies for transition relief applicable to certain arrangements in place as of November
2, 2017.
Compensation
Committee Reports
The
Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis included in this proxy statement with
management. Based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation
Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement and the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended October 31, 2017 filed with the SEC.
Members
of the Compensation Committee:
Dr.
David Sidransky, Chairman
Dr.
Samir N. Khleif
Dr.
Thomas McKearn
COMPENSATION
OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
The
following table summarizes all compensation for each of the last three fiscal years awarded to, earned by or paid to our named
executive officers.
Summary
Compensation Table
Name and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All
|
|
|
|
|
Principal
|
|
Fiscal
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
Position
|
|
Year
|
|
|
Salary
(1)
|
|
|
Bonus
(2)
|
|
|
Award (s)
(3)
|
|
|
Award (s)
(4)
|
|
|
Compensation
(5)
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anthony Lombardo
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
|
177,500
|
|
|
|
184,000
|
|
|
|
840,410
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
146
|
|
|
|
1,202,056
|
|
Interim Chief Executive
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Officer
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sara M. Bonstein
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
|
377,569
|
|
|
|
96,000
|
|
|
|
1,338,665
|
|
|
|
438,242
|
|
|
|
47,402
|
|
|
|
2,297,878
|
|
Executive VP, Chief
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
|
338,931
|
|
|
|
671,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,714,132
|
|
|
|
744
|
|
|
|
2,724,807
|
|
Financial Officer
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
|
260,953
|
|
|
|
99,131
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
4,419,275
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
4,779,359
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert G. Petit
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
|
376,718
|
|
|
|
96,000
|
|
|
|
980,665
|
|
|
|
438,242
|
|
|
|
52,349
|
|
|
|
1,943,974
|
|
Executive VP, Chief
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
|
337,689
|
|
|
|
930,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,553,434
|
|
|
|
23,390
|
|
|
|
2,844,513
|
|
Scientific Officer
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
|
278,889
|
|
|
|
99,750
|
|
|
|
417,876
|
|
|
|
1,094,305
|
|
|
|
22,255
|
|
|
|
1,913,075
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel J. O’Connor
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
|
354,718
|
|
|
|
209,271
|
|
|
|
2,718,026
|
|
|
|
2,724,045
|
|
|
|
911,045
|
|
|
|
6,917,105
|
|
Former President and Chief
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
|
464,224
|
|
|
|
1,277,500
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
4,821,006
|
|
|
|
29,976
|
|
|
|
6,592,706
|
|
Executive Officer
(6)
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
|
345,986
|
|
|
|
170,625
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
11,790,326
|
|
|
|
29,494
|
|
|
|
12,336,431
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gregory T. Mayes
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
|
66,108
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
438,242
|
|
|
|
24,095
|
|
|
|
528,445
|
|
Former Executive VP,
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
|
370,592
|
|
|
|
954,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,874,834
|
|
|
|
744
|
|
|
|
3,200,170
|
|
Chief Business Officer
(7)
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
|
301,398
|
|
|
|
139,125
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
5,350,695
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
5,791,218
|
|
(1)
In accordance with their employment agreements, each of the NEOs (other than Mr. Lombardo) voluntarily used a percentage
of his or her base salary (ranging from 5% - 25%) to purchase restricted stock directly from the Company at market price.
(2)
Represents annual incentive bonuses for services performed during the fiscal year. The NEOs were entitled to receive these
bonuses in cash, however, for fiscal year 2015, each of the executives voluntarily requested to be paid a portion of their bonus
in shares of our Common Stock. 2016 values also include a special one-time bonus for Mr. O’Connor, Dr. Petit, Ms. Bonstein
and Mr. Mayes in conjunction with the Amgen collaboration.
(3)
Reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock units determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.
Grant date fair value for RSUs with time-based vesting is based on the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant.
Grant date fair value for the performance-based RSUs is based on the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant and
the probable outcome of performance-based conditions at the time of grant, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures.
(4)
Reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of stock options determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The assumptions
used in determining the grant date fair values of the stock options are set forth in the notes to the Company’s consolidated
financial statements, which are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2017 filed with the
SEC.
(5)
All Other Compensation is more fully described in the table under “All Other Compensation – Supplemental”
below.
(6)
Mr. O’Connor resigned from the Company effective as of July 6, 2017.
(7)
Mr. Mayes resigned from the Company effective as of December 30, 2016.
All
Other Compensation – Supplemental
|
|
Health
Insurance Premiums
|
|
|
Reimbursement
of Taxes
|
|
|
Matching
Contributions to 401(k) Plan
|
|
|
Severance
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Name
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
Anthony
A. Lombardo
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
146
|
|
|
|
146
|
|
Sara
M. Bonstein
|
|
|
22,107
|
|
|
|
15,476
|
|
|
|
9,075
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
744
|
|
|
|
47,402
|
|
Robert
G. Petit
|
|
|
25,635
|
|
|
|
15,544
|
|
|
|
10,426
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
744
|
|
|
|
52,349
|
|
Daniel
J. O’Connor
|
|
|
22,963
|
|
|
|
15,377
|
|
|
|
11,447
|
|
|
|
860,700
|
|
|
|
558
|
|
|
|
911,045
|
|
Gregory
T. Mayes
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
23,701
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
394
|
|
|
|
24,095
|
|
Employment
Agreements with Named Executive Officers
The
Company appointed Mr. Lombardo as Interim Chief Executive Officer, effective as of July 6, 2017. The Company and Mr. Lombardo
entered into an employment agreement, effective July 18, 2017, which provides for an initial one-year term, after which it will
be automatically renewed for one year periods, unless otherwise terminated by either party upon ninety (90) days written notice.
The employment agreement provides that Mr. Lombardo will receive a base salary of $355,000 per year, and he is eligible for an
annual bonus targeted at 50% of his base salary based on achievement of performance goals in the discretion of the Compensation
Committee. Mr. Lombardo also received a one-time lump-sum bonus equal to $88,000 that was paid within thirty (30) days after the
effective date of the agreement.
The
Company previously entered into employment agreements with the other continuing named executive officers, which provide for an
initial one-year term, after which they will be automatically renewed for one year periods, unless otherwise terminated by either
party upon ninety (90) days written notice. Effective January 1, 2017, the employment agreements provide that the named executive
officers are entitled to a 2017 base salary of $400,000 for Ms. Bonstein and Mr. Petit (in each case, subject to annual cost-of-living
adjustments), which will be reviewed on an annual basis.
Pursuant
to their employment agreements, as amended, Ms. Bonstein’s and Mr. Petit’s base salary is paid in two components:
a percentage in cash and a percentage in Common Stock. The Company and the executive shall agree, from time to time, regarding
the percentage used for the cash component and the stock component.
Each
of the named executive officers is eligible to receive an annual incentive bonus, with a target bonus opportunity equal to 50%,
in the case of Mr. Lombardo, or 40%, in the case of Ms. Bonstein and Mr. Petit, of base salary. The actual amount of bonus earned,
if any, will be determined by the Compensation Committee based on achievement of pre-established performance goals. In addition,
each of the named executive officers is eligible to participate in the Company’s benefit plans, and is entitled to vacation,
sick leave and reimbursement of reasonable business expenses.
In
the event the named executive officer’s employment is terminated without Just Cause, or if the executive voluntarily resigns
with Good Reason, or if the named executive officer’s employment is terminated due to disability (all as defined in the
employment agreement), and so long as the named executive officer executes a confidential separation and release agreement, in
addition to the applicable base salary, plus any accrued but unused vacation time and unpaid expenses that have been earned as
of the date of such termination, the named executive officer is entitled to the following severance benefits: (i) twelve months
of base salary payable in a lump sum (in the case of Mr. Lombardo) or in equal monthly installments (in the case of Ms. Bonstein
and Mr. Petit), (ii) pro rata target bonus (in the case of Ms. Bonstein and Mr. Petit), (iii) continued health and welfare benefits
for 12 months, and (iv) full vesting of all stock options and stock awards (with extension of the exercise period for stock options
by two years), and (v) for Mr. Lombardo, reimbursement for financial planning services for twelve months.
The
named executive officer employment agreements contain customary covenants regarding non-solicitation, non-compete, confidentiality
and works for hire.
Grants
of Plan Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2017
The
following table below sets forth the individual grants of plan-based awards made to each of the named executive officers during
fiscal year 2017.
|
|
|
|
Estimated
Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards
(3)
|
|
|
All
Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or
|
|
|
All
Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying
|
|
|
Exercise
or Base Price of Option Awards
|
|
|
Grant
Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards
|
|
Name
|
|
Grant
Date
|
|
Threshold
(#)
|
|
|
Target
(#)
|
|
|
Maximum
(#)
|
|
|
Units
(#)
|
|
|
Options
(#)
(8)
|
|
|
($/Sh)
|
|
|
($)
(10)
|
|
Anthony
Lombardo
|
|
04/17/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
821,000
|
|
|
|
07/31/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,000
|
(5)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,410
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sara
M. Bonstein
|
|
11/03/16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28,600
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
220,506
|
|
|
|
11/03/16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
68,906
|
|
|
|
7.71
|
|
|
438,242
|
|
|
|
12/30/16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000
|
(6)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
358,000
|
|
|
|
05/01/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28,599
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
251,385
|
|
|
|
05/01/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
57,881
|
(7)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
508,774
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
G. Petit
|
|
110/3/16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28,600
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
220,506
|
|
|
|
11/03/16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
68,906
|
|
|
|
7.71
|
|
|
438,242
|
|
|
|
05/01/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28,599
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
251,385
|
|
|
|
05/01/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
57,881
|
(7)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
508,774
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel
J. O’Connor
(1)
|
|
11/03/16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
88,551
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
682,728
|
|
|
|
11/03/16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
170,234
|
|
|
|
7.71
|
|
|
1,298,885
|
|
|
|
05/01/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
88,551
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
778,363
|
|
|
|
05/01/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
142,996
|
(7)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,256,935
|
|
|
|
07/06/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,000
|
(9)
|
|
|
3.63
|
|
|
5,600
|
(9)
|
|
|
07/06/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,000
|
(9)
|
|
|
9.38
|
|
|
10,560
|
(9)
|
|
|
07/06/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
670,000
|
(9)
|
|
|
13.44
|
|
|
837,500
|
(9)
|
|
|
07/06/17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
450,000
|
(9)
|
|
|
12.81
|
|
|
571,500
|
(9)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gregory
T. Mayes
(2)
|
|
11/03/16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
68,906
|
|
|
|
7.71
|
|
|
438,242
|
|
(1)
Mr. O’Connor resigned from the Company effective July 6, 2017. Pursuant to his separation agreement all restricted
stock units and stock options vested immediately. The restricted stock units were settled through the issuance of the Company’s
common stock and all outstanding stock options will remain exercisable until July 5, 2021.
(2)
Mr. Mayes resigned from the Company effective December 30, 2016 and served as a consultant to the Company through December
31, 2017. Effective December 31, 2017 all unvested stock options were canceled and Mr. Mayes will have 90 days to exercise any
outstanding vested options.
(3)
Represents restricted stock units (“RSUs”) granted as a performance-vesting awards under the 2015 Incentive
Plan. The November 3, 2016 and May 1, 2017 RSUs vest in three equal annual installments, on November 3, 2017, 2018 and 2019 and
November 1, 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively, contingent on the achievement of performance goals relating to drug applications
and clinical sites and subject to the executive officer’s continued employment with the Company.
(4)
Represents restricted stock units granted as an inducement award, which vest in four equal installments. The first installment
vests upon issuance and one-fourth on each anniversary of the date of grant. The award will be fully vested on April 17, 2020.
(5)
Represents restricted stock units granted as an incentive based award. The award vests in equal installments over twelve
quarters, and will be fully vested on April 30, 2020.
(6)
Represents restricted stock units granted as a promotional award, which vest in four equal installments. The first installment
vests upon issuance and one-fourth on each anniversary of the date of grant. The award will be fully vested on December 30, 2019.
(7)
Represents restricted stock units granted as incentive based awards, which vest in three equal installments. One-third of
the award vested on November 1, 2017 and one-third on each anniversary thereafter. The award will be full vested on November 1,
2019.
(8)
Reflects awards of non-qualified stock options granted under the 2015 Incentive Plan. The exercise price of the options
is equal to the closing price of our Common Stock on the date of the grant. The options vest in three equal annual installments
on the first three anniversaries of the grant date. The options expire ten years from the grant date.
(9)
In connection with Mr. O’Connor’s resignation effective July 6, 2017, the Compensation Committee amended his
outstanding stock options to provide that they would remain outstanding and exercisable for four year following his resignation.
Amount reflects the incremental fair value associated with the modification of these previously-awarded grants.
(10)
Reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of stock options determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at 2017 Fiscal Year-End
The
following table summarizes all outstanding equity awards held by our named executive officers at fiscal year-end. The market or
payout value of unearned shares, units or rights that have not vested equals $3.40, which was the closing price of Advaxis’
common shares on Nasdaq on October 31, 2017 and for performance based restricted stock units presumes that the target performance
goals are met.
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
of Shares
|
|
|
Value of
|
|
|
|
Securities
|
|
|
Securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
or Units
|
|
|
Shares or
|
|
|
|
Underlying
|
|
|
Underlying
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of Stock
|
|
|
Units of
|
|
|
|
Unexercised
|
|
|
Unexercised
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
That Have
|
|
|
Stock That
|
|
|
|
Options (#)
|
|
|
Options (#)
|
|
|
Exercise
|
|
|
Expiration
|
|
|
Not Vested
|
|
|
Have Not
|
|
Name
|
|
Exercisable
|
|
|
Unexercisable
|
|
|
Price ($)
|
|
|
Date
|
|
|
(#)
|
|
|
Vested ($)
|
|
Anthony Lombardo
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2,500
|
(4)
|
|
|
8,500
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
75,000
|
(5)
|
|
|
255,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sara M. Bonstein
|
|
|
188,347
|
|
|
|
62,783
|
(1)
|
|
|
13.44
|
|
|
|
03/30/2025
|
|
|
|
37,500
|
(6)
|
|
|
127,500
|
|
|
|
|
53,334
|
|
|
|
106,666
|
(2)
|
|
|
12.81
|
|
|
|
11/05/2025
|
|
|
|
86,480
|
(7)
|
|
|
294,032
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
68,906
|
(3)
|
|
|
7.71
|
|
|
|
11/03/2026
|
|
|
|
28,600
|
(8)
|
|
|
97,240
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert G. Petit
|
|
|
8,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
13.75
|
|
|
|
10/11/2020
|
|
|
|
7,773
|
(9)
|
|
|
26,428
|
|
|
|
|
14,400
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
18.50
|
|
|
|
11/08/2021
|
|
|
|
86,480
|
(7)
|
|
|
294,032
|
|
|
|
|
18,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
9.38
|
|
|
|
03/14/2023
|
|
|
|
28,600
|
(8)
|
|
|
97,240
|
|
|
|
|
46,639
|
|
|
|
15,546
|
(1)
|
|
|
13.44
|
|
|
|
03/30/2025
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
48,333
|
|
|
|
96,667
|
(2)
|
|
|
12.81
|
|
|
|
11/05/2025
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
68,906
|
(3)
|
|
|
7.71
|
|
|
|
11/03/2026
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel J. O’Connor
|
|
|
8,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
3.63
|
|
|
|
07/05/2021
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
8,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
9.38
|
|
|
|
07/05/2021
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
670,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
13.44
|
|
|
|
07/05/2021
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
450,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
12.81
|
|
|
|
07/05/2021
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
170,234
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
7.71
|
|
|
|
07/05/2021
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gregory T. Mayes
|
|
|
228,045
|
|
|
|
76,015
|
(1)
|
|
|
13.44
|
|
|
|
03/30/2025
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
58,333
|
|
|
|
116,667
|
(2)
|
|
|
12.81
|
|
|
|
11/05/2025
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
68,906
|
(3)
|
|
|
7.71
|
|
|
|
11/03/2026
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
(1)
|
These
options will vest on March 30, 2018.
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
Of
these options, one-half vested on November 5, 2017, and the award will be fully vested on November 5, 2018.
|
|
|
|
|
(3)
|
Of
these options, one-third vested on November 3, 2017, one-third will vest on November 3, 2018, and the award will be fully
vested on November 3, 2019.
|
|
|
|
|
(4)
|
Represents
unvested restricted stock units granted to Mr. Lombardo as an incentive based award on July 31, 2017. The award vests in equal
installments over twelve quarters, and will be fully vested on April 30, 2020.
|
|
|
|
|
(5)
|
Represents
unvested restricted stock units granted to Mr. Lombardo as an inducement award on April 17, 2017. The award will vest in four
equal annual installments beginning on April 17, 2017 and will be fully vested on April 17, 2020.
|
|
|
|
|
(6)
|
Represents
unvested restricted stock units granted to Ms. Bonstein as a promotional award on December 30, 2016. The award will vest in
four equal annual installments beginning on December 30, 2016 and will be fully vested on December 30, 2019.
|
|
|
|
|
(7)
|
Represents
unvested restricted stock units granted as a performance-based and time-vesting awards on May 1, 2017. The awards will
vest in four equal annual installments beginning on November 1, 2017 and will be fully vested on November 1, 2020.
|
|
|
|
|
(8)
|
Represents
unvested restricted stock units granted as a performance-based award on November 3, 2016. The awards will vest in four equal
annual installments beginning on November 3, 2017 and will be fully vested on November 3, 2020.
|
|
|
|
|
(9)
|
Represents
unvested restricted stock units granted to Dr. Petit as an incentive-based award on March 30, 2015. The awards will vest in
four equal annual installments beginning on March 30, 2015 will be fully vested on March 30, 2018.
|
Options
Exercised and Stock Vested in Fiscal Year 2017
The
following table includes information related to stock options exercised by the named executive officers and restricted stock awards
that vested during fiscal year 2017. For stock awards, the value realized on vesting equals the market price of the underlying
shares at vesting.
|
|
Option
Awards
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
No.
of Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
No.
of Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquired
|
|
|
Value
Realized
|
|
|
Acquired
|
|
|
Value
Realized
|
|
|
|
on
Exercise
|
|
|
on
Exercise
|
|
|
on
Vesting
|
|
|
on
Vesting
|
|
Name
|
|
(#)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
(#)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
Anthony
Lombardo
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
25,500
|
|
|
|
207,718
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sara
Bonstein
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
12,500
|
|
|
|
89,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
Petit
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
7,773
|
|
|
|
62,650
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dan
O’Connor
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
320,098
|
|
|
|
2,144,657
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gregory
T. Mayes
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Retirement
Benefits
The
Company provides retirement income to its employees, including Executives, through a 401(k) plan, where participants may elect
to contribute a portion of their salary to the plan, and the Company provides matching contributions on employees’ contribution
up to 4 percent of base salary.
Potential
Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control
Termination
of Employment
As
described above under “Employment Agreements with Named Executive Officers,” the Company has entered into employment
agreements with each of the named executive officers that provide for certain severance payments and benefits in the event the
named executive officer’s employment with the Company is terminated under certain circumstances. In addition, the Company
has adopted the Advaxis, Inc. Change in Control Plan, which provides for certain enhanced severance payments and benefits in the
event a participating executive officer’s employment with the Company is terminated under certain circumstances, as described
below.
Under
the Change in Control Plan, if an executive officer’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the executive
officer for Good Reason (as such terms are defined in the plan) during the period beginning three months prior to or 18 months
following a Change in Control of the Company (as defined in the plan), then the executive officer will be entitled to a cash severance
payment in an amount equal to the sum of (a) a pro rata target annual bonus, plus (b) the product of 1.5, in the case of the Company’s
Chief Executive Officer, or 1.0, in the case of the Company’s other executive officers, multiplied by the sum of the executive’s
base salary and his or her target annual bonus. In addition, the executive officer will be entitled to continued coverage at no
cost to the executive under the Company’s group health and welfare plans for period of 18 months, in the case of the Chief
Executive Officer, or 12 months, in the case of the other executive officers.
In
addition, upon a Change in Control of the Company, unvested equity awards held by an executive officer will be accelerated as
follows: (i) outstanding stock options and other awards in the nature of rights that may be exercised shall become fully vested
and exercisable, (ii) time-based restrictions on restricted stock, restricted stock units and other equity awards shall lapse
and the awards shall become fully vested, and (iii) performance-based equity awards shall become vested and shall be deemed earned
based on an assumed achievement of all relevant performance goals at “target” levels, and shall payout pro rata to
reflect the portion of the performance period that had elapsed prior to the Change in Control.
To
receive any severance benefits under the Plan, a participant must execute a general release of claims against the Company. In
addition, participants in the Plan are subject to restrictive covenants, including non-competition, non-solicitation and confidentiality
provisions, during their employment and for a period of 12 months following their termination of employment.
The
table below shows the estimated value of benefits to each of the named executive officers if their employment had been terminated
under various circumstances as of October 31, 2017. The amounts shown in the table exclude accrued but unpaid base salary, unreimbursed
employment-related expenses, accrued but unpaid vacation pay, and the value of equity awards that were vested by their terms as
of October 31, 2017.
The
table does not include Mr. Mayes, who resigned from the Company effective December 30, 2016. Mr. Mayes did not receive any compensation
in connection with his resignation. The table also does not include Mr. O’Connor, who resigned as Chief Executive Officer
effective July 6, 2017. In connection with his departure, the Company and Mr. O’Connor entered into a separation agreement,
pursuant to which Mr. O’Connor became entitled to receive: (i) cash payments in a total gross amount of $560,000, payable
over a 12 month period, (ii) a one-time gross cash payment of $280,000, that was paid on or about July 13, 2017, (iii) an accelerated
vesting of his equity incentive awards and extension of exercise period for stock option, and (iv) continued coverage under the
Company’s group medical plans at active-employee rates for 12 months. The separation agreement included a full release of
claims by Mr. O’Connor in favor of the Company.
|
|
Involuntary Termination without a Change in Control ($)
|
|
|
Involuntary Termination in connection with a Change in Control ($)
|
|
|
Death ($)
|
|
|
Disability ($)
|
|
|
Term for Cause; Voluntary Resignation ($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anthony Lombardo
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash severance
|
|
|
355,000
|
(1)
|
|
|
710,000
|
(6)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Pro rata bonus
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
177,500
|
(2)
|
|
|
177,500
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Health benefits
|
|
|
10,000
|
(3)
|
|
|
15,000
|
(7)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Financial Planning
|
|
|
15,000
|
(4)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Value of equity Acceleration
|
|
|
263,500
|
(5)
|
|
|
263,500
|
(5)
|
|
|
263,500
|
(4)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Total
|
|
|
643,500
|
|
|
|
1,161,000
|
|
|
|
441,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sara Bonstein
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash severance
|
|
|
400,000
|
(1)
|
|
|
560,000
|
(6)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
400,000
|
(1)
|
|
|
-
|
|
Pro rata bonus
|
|
|
160,000
|
(2)
|
|
|
160,000
|
(2)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
160,000
|
(2)
|
|
|
-
|
|
Health benefits
|
|
|
20,615
|
(3)
|
|
|
20,615
|
(7)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
20,615
|
(3)
|
|
|
-
|
|
Value of equity Acceleration
|
|
|
518,772
|
(5)
|
|
|
518,772
|
(5)
|
|
|
518,772
|
(5)
|
|
|
518,772
|
(5)
|
|
|
-
|
|
Total
|
|
|
1,099,387
|
|
|
|
1,259,387
|
|
|
|
518,772
|
|
|
|
1,099,387
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert Petit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash severance
|
|
|
400,000
|
(1)
|
|
|
560,000
|
(6)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
400,000
|
(1)
|
|
|
-
|
|
Pro rata bonus
|
|
|
160,000
|
(2)
|
|
|
160,000
|
(2)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
160,000
|
(2)
|
|
|
-
|
|
Health benefits
|
|
|
14,846
|
(3)
|
|
|
14,846
|
(7)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
14,846
|
(3)
|
|
|
-
|
|
Value of equity Acceleration
|
|
|
417,700
|
(5)
|
|
|
417,700
|
(5)
|
|
|
417,700
|
(4)
|
|
|
417,700
|
(5)
|
|
|
-
|
|
Total
|
|
|
992,547
|
|
|
|
1,152,547
|
|
|
|
417,700
|
|
|
|
992,547
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
(1)
|
Reflects
severance payment equal to one times base salary, payable in a single lump sum, in the case of Mr. Lombardo, or payable in
equal monthly installments for 12 months, in the case of the other named executive officers.
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
Reflects
pro rata bonus determined by multiplying the target bonus amount for the year in which the termination occurs by a fraction,
the numerator of which is the number of calendar days the executive is employed during such year and the denominator of which
is 365.
|
|
|
|
|
(3)
|
Reflects
the Company’s cost of continued health coverage at active employee rates for 12 months.
|
|
|
|
|
(4)
|
Reflects
reimbursement for financial planning services for 12 months.
|
|
|
|
|
(5)
|
Reflects
the value of unvested in-the-money stock options and RSUs that vest upon the designated event.
|
|
|
|
|
(6)
|
For
Mr. Lombardo, reflects 1.5 times the sum of his base salary plus target bonus amount. For the other named executive officers,
reflects the sum of base salary plus target bonus amount.
|
|
|
|
|
(7)
|
Reflects
the full cost of continued health coverage for 18 months for Mr. Lombardo and 12 months for the other named executive officers.
|
Director
Compensation
For
fiscal year 2017, non-employee directors received an annual cash retainer of $50,000 for Board services, and the Chairman of the
Board and the Vice Chairman of the Board received larger annual cash retainers of $80,000 and $65,000, respectively. Non-employee
directors received additional annual retainers for serving on Board committees, as follows: $15,000 for Audit Committee Chair;
$15,000 for Compensation Committee Chair; $7,500 for Audit Committee member; $7,500 for Compensation Committee member; $10,000
for Nominating and Corporate Governance Chair; $10,000 for Research and Development Chair; $5,000 for Nominating and Corporate
Governance member; $5,000 for Research and Development member; $10,000 for Executive Committee Chair; $5,000 for Executive Committee
Vice-Chair; $2,000 for Executive Committee Member. In addition, on November 3, 2016, each non-employee director was granted 25,000
stock options (the Chairman of the Board received 30,000 stock options), which vest in three equal annual installments on each
of the first three anniversaries of the grant date. The Compensation Committee annually reviews and makes recommendations to the
Board regarding compensation and benefits for non-employee directors. As part of its annual review, the Compensation Committee
regularly engages an independent compensation consultant to provide competitive market data and advice regarding non-employee
director compensation.
The
table below summarizes the compensation that was earned by our non-employee directors for fiscal year 2017.
Name
|
|
Fees
Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)
(1)
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
($)
(2)
|
|
|
Option
Awards
($)
(3)
|
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Dr.
David Sidransky
|
|
|
108,125
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
190,800
|
|
|
|
298,925
|
|
Dr.
James P. Patton
|
|
|
105,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
159,000
|
|
|
|
264,000
|
|
Roni
A. Appel
|
|
|
57,500
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
159,000
|
|
|
|
216,500
|
|
Richard
J. Berman
|
|
|
72,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
159,000
|
|
|
|
231,000
|
|
Dr.
Samir N. Khleif
|
|
|
67,500
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
159,000
|
|
|
|
226,500
|
|
Dr.
Thomas J. McKearn
|
|
|
62,500
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
159,000
|
|
|
|
221,500
|
|
Thomas
Ridge
|
|
|
56,250
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
159,000
|
|
|
|
215,250
|
|
|
(1)
|
Represents
the annual retainers paid in cash for director services in Fiscal Year 2017.
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
No
stock awards were granted to the non-employee directors in fiscal year 2017. As of October 31, 2017, the non-employee directors
held the following number of restricted stock units: Dr. Sidransky, 80,355; Dr. Patton, 211,749; Mr. Appel, 123,810; Mr. Berman,
50,669; Dr. Khleif, 69,586; Dr. McKearn, 69,804; and Mr. Ridge, 24,305.
|
|
|
|
|
(3)
|
Reflects
the aggregate grant date fair value of stock options determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The assumptions used
in determining the grant date fair values of the stock options are set forth in the notes to the Company’s consolidated
financial statements, which are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2017 filed with
the SEC. As of October 31, 2017, the non-employee directors held the following number of stock options: Dr. Sidransky, 100,000;
Dr. Patton, 107,200; Mr. Appel, 100,200; Mr. Berman, 104,200; Dr. Khleif, 135,000; Dr. McKearn, 101,400; and Mr. Ridge, 115,000.
|
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
The
following table includes information related to shares available and outstanding awards under our equity incentive plans
as of October 31, 2017.
Plan
Category
|
|
Number
of Securities to be issued upon Exercise of outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights (#)
|
|
|
Weighted-average
Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights ($)
|
|
|
Number
of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (#)
|
|
Equity
Compensation Plans approved by security holders
|
|
|
3,893,558
|
|
|
|
12.51
|
|
|
|
710,853
|
|
Equity
Compensation Plans not approved by security holders
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
TOTAL:
|
|
|
3,893,558
|
|
|
|
12.51
|
|
|
|
710,853
|
|
DEADLINE
FOR RECEIPT OF 2019 STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Stockholders
may present proper proposals for inclusion in our proxy statement and for consideration at the next annual meeting of stockholders
by submitting their proposals in writing to our Corporate Secretary in a timely manner. For a stockholder proposal to be considered
for inclusion in our proxy statement for our 2019 annual meeting of stockholders, our Corporate Secretary must receive the written
proposal at our principal executive offices no later than October 13, 2018; provided, however, that in the event that we hold
our 2019 annual meeting of stockholders more than 30 days before or after the one-year anniversary date of the 2018 Annual Meeting,
we will disclose the new deadline by which stockholders proposals must be received under Item 5 of our earliest possible Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q or, if impracticable, by any means reasonably calculated to inform stockholders. In addition, stockholder
proposals must otherwise comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act. Such proposals also must comply with
SEC regulations under Rule 14a-8 regarding the inclusion of stockholder proposals in company-sponsored proxy materials. Proposals
should be addressed to:
Advaxis
Inc.
Attn: Corporate Secretary
305 College Road East
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
Stockholder
proposals to be presented at the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders, other than stockholder proposals submitted pursuant to Exchange
Act Rule 14a-8 for inclusion in the proxy statement for the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders, must be received in writing at
our corporate offices no later than December 27, 2018 (45 days before the one-year anniversary of the date this proxy statement
is expected to be mailed to you).
DELIVERY
OF PROXY MATERIALS TO HOUSEHOLDS
The
SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries, such as brokers, to satisfy the delivery requirements for proxy
statements and annual reports with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single proxy statement
addressed to those stockholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as “householding,” potentially provides
extra convenience for stockholders and cost savings for companies.
We
and some brokers may be householding our proxy materials by delivering a single proxy statement and annual report to multiple
stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected stockholders. Once you have
received notice from your broker or us that they or we will be householding materials 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 proxy statement and annual report, or if you are receiving multiple copies of the proxy
statement and annual report and wish to receive only one, please notify your broker if your shares are held in a brokerage account
or us if you are a stockholder of record. You can notify us by sending a written request by mail to Sara Bonstein, Chief Financial
Officer and Corporate Secretary, Advaxis, Inc., 305 College Road East, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, or by calling (609) 250-7510.
In addition, we will promptly deliver, upon written or oral request to the address or telephone number above, a separate copy
of the annual report and proxy statement to a stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the documents was delivered.
OTHER
MATTERS
The
Board knows of no other matters that may come before the Annual Meeting. If any other matters should properly come before the
Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote in accordance with their judgment on
such matters. Such discretionary authority is conferred by the proxy.
In
our filings with the SEC, information is sometimes “incorporated by reference.” This means that we are referring you
to information that has previously been filed with the SEC, so the information should be considered as part of the filing you
are reading. Based on SEC regulations, the Audit Committee Report specifically is not incorporated by reference into any other
filings with the SEC.
EXHIBIT
A
Certificate
of Amendment
Of
the
Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
of
Advaxis,
inc.
Advaxis,
Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “Corporation”),
does hereby certify:
|
1.
|
The
amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended by deleting Article Fourth thereof
in its entirety and inserting the following in lieu thereof:
|
|
|
|
|
|
“Fourth
: The total number of shares which the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is One Hundred Million (100,000,000)
shares of which Ninety-Five Million (95,000,000) shares shall be designated “Common Stock” and have a par value
of $0.001 per share, and Five Million (5,000,000) shares shall be “blank check” preferred stock and have a par
value of $0.001.”
|
|
|
|
|
2.
|
The
foregoing amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware
|
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
to be executed and acknowledged by its duly appointed officer as of this __
th
day of March, 2018.
|
ADVAXIS,
INC.
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
Sara
Bonstein
|
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer,
|
|
|
Executive
Vice President and Corporate Secretary
|
EXHIBIT
B
ADVAXIS,
INC.
2018
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
ARTICLE
I
BACKGROUND
1.1
Establishment of the Plan
. Advaxis, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby establishes a stock purchase plan to be known
as the “Advaxis, Inc. 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”), as set forth in this document. The Plan
is intended to be a qualified employee stock purchase plan within the meaning of Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended, and the regulations and rulings thereunder.
1.2
Applicability of the Plan
. The provisions of this Plan are applicable only to certain individuals who, on or after the
Effective Date (as defined herein), are employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries participating in the Plan. The Committee
shall indicate from time to time which of its Subsidiaries, if any, are participating in the Plan.
1.3
Purpose
. The purpose of the Plan is to enhance the proprietary interest among the employees of the Company and its participating
Subsidiaries through ownership of Common Stock of the Company.
ARTICLE
II
DEFINITIONS
Whenever
capitalized in this document, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below.
2.1
Administrator
. Administrator shall mean the person or persons (who may be officers or employees of the Company) selected
by the Committee to operate the Plan, perform day-to-day administration of the Plan, and maintain records of the Plan.
2.2
Board
. Board shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.3
Code
. Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations thereunder.
2.4
Committee
. Committee shall mean the committee of the Board described in Article III.
2.5
Common Stock
. Common Stock shall mean the common stock, par value $0.001, of the Company.
2.6
Company
. Company shall mean Advaxis, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
2.7
Compensation
. Compensation shall mean, with respect to each Participant for each pay period, the full base salary and overtime
paid to such Participant by the Company or a participating Subsidiary. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, “Compensation”
does not include: (i) bonuses or commissions, (ii) any amounts contributed by the Company or a Designated Subsidiary to any pension
plan, (iii) any automobile or relocation allowances (or reimbursement for any such expenses), (iv) any amounts paid as a starting
bonus or finder’s fee, (v) any amounts realized from the exercise of any stock options or incentive awards, (vi) any amounts
paid by the Company or a participating Subsidiary for other fringe benefits, such as health and welfare, hospitalization and group
life insurance benefits, or perquisites, or paid in lieu of such benefits, or (vii) other similar forms of extraordinary compensation.
2.8
Contribution Account
. Contribution Account shall mean the bookkeeping account established by the Administrator on behalf
of each Participant, which shall be credited with the amounts deducted from the Participant’s Compensation pursuant to Section
4.2 or Article VII. The Administrator shall establish a separate Contribution Account for each Participant for each Offering Period.
2.9
Effective Date
. Effective Date shall mean the date that the Company’s stockholders approve the Plan.
2.10
Eligible Employee
. An Employee eligible to participate in the Plan pursuant to Section 4.1.
2.11
Employee
. Employee shall mean an individual employed by an Employer who meets the employment relationship described in
Treasury Regulation Sections 1.423-2(b) and Section 1.421-7(h).
2.12
Employer
. Employer shall mean the Company and any Subsidiary designated from time to time by the Committee as an employer
participating in the Plan.
2.13
Fair Market Value
. Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock, as of any designated date, shall mean the closing sales
price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on such date or on the last previous date on which such stock was traded.
2.14
Offering Date
. Offering Date shall mean the first Trading Date of each Offering Period.
2.15
Offering Period
. Offering Period shall mean the period of time during which offers to purchase Common Stock are outstanding
under the Plan. The Committee shall determine the length of each Offering Period, which need not be uniform; provided that no
Offering Period shall exceed twenty-four (24) months in length. Until specified otherwise by the Committee, Offering Periods will
be for one-month periods coinciding with each calendar month.
2.16
Option
. Option shall mean the option to purchase Common Stock granted under the Plan on each Offering Date.
2.17
Participant
. Participant shall mean any Eligible Employee who has elected to participate in the Plan under Section 4.2.
2.18
Plan
. Plan shall mean the Advaxis, Inc. 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended and in effect from time to time.
2.19
Purchase Date
. Purchase Date shall mean the last Trading Date of each Offering Period.
2.20
Purchase Price
. Purchase Price shall mean the purchase price of Common Stock determined under Section 6.1.
2.21
Request Form
. Request Form shall mean an Employee’s authorization either in writing on a form approved by the Administrator
or through electronic communication approved by the Administrator which specifies the Employee’s payroll deduction in accordance
with Section 7.2, and contains such other terms and provisions as may be required by the Administrator.
2.22
Stock Account
. Stock Account shall mean the account established by the Administrator on behalf of each Participant, which
shall be credited with shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to the Plan and dividends thereon (which may be reinvested in
shares of Common Stock if permitted by the Committee), until such shares are distributed in accordance with Article VIII of the
Plan.
2.23
Subsidiary
. Subsidiary shall mean any present or future corporation which is a “subsidiary corporation” of
the Company as defined in Code Section 424(f).
2.24
Trading Date
. Trading Date shall mean a date on which shares of Common Stock are traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market or
any other national securities exchange.
Except
when otherwise indicated by the context, the definition of any term herein in the singular may also include the plural.
ARTICLE
III
ADMINISTRATION
3.1
Committee
. The Plan shall be administered by a Committee appointed by the Board (which Committee shall consist of at least
two directors) or, at the discretion of the Board from time to time, the Plan may be administered by the Board. Unless otherwise
designated by the Board, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company shall serve as the Committee administering
the Plan.
3.2
Action and Interpretations By the Committee
. For purposes of administering the Plan, the Committee may from time to time
adopt rules, regulations, guidelines and procedures for carrying out the provisions and purposes of the Plan and make such other
determinations, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Committee may deem appropriate. The Committee’s determinations on
the foregoing matters shall be conclusive and binding upon all persons. Each member of the Committee is entitled to, in good faith,
rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that member by any officer or other employee of the Company or any
affiliate, the Company’s or an affiliate’s independent certified public accountants, Company counsel or any executive
compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan.
3.3
Authority of Committee
. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee has the exclusive power, authority
and discretion to:
(a)
interpret and construe any and all provisions of the Plan;
(b)
adopt rules and regulations for administering the Plan,;
(c)
make all other determinations necessary or advisable for administering the Plan;
(d)
adopt such modifications, procedures, and subplans as may be necessary or desirable to comply with provisions of the laws of non-U.S.
jurisdictions in which the Company or any participating Subsidiary may operate, in order to assure the viability of the benefits
of Awards granted to Participants located in such other jurisdictions and to meet the objectives of the Plan.
ARTICLE
IV
ELIGIBILITY
AND PARTICIPATION
4.1
Eligibility
. All Employees shall be eligible to participate in the Plan as of the second Offering Period following the
Employee’s most recent date of hire by an Employer.
On
each Offering Date, Options will automatically be granted to all Eligible Employees who have timely submitted a Request Form to
the Administrator pursuant to Section 4.2; provided, however, that no Employee shall be granted an Option for an Offering Period
if, immediately after the grant, the Employee would own stock, and/or hold outstanding options to purchase stock, possessing five
percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary. For
purposes of this Section, the attribution rules of Code Section 424(d) shall apply in determining stock ownership of any Employee.
If an Employee is granted an Option for an Offering Period and such Employee does not participate in the Plan for such Offering
Period, such Option will be deemed never to have been granted for purposes of applying the $25,000 annual limitation described
in Section 6.2.
4.2
Participation
. Prior to the start of an Offering Period, and in accordance with the rules adopted by the Administrator,
an Eligible Employee may submit a Request Form to the Administrator to participate in the Plan for such Offering Period. The Request
Form shall authorize payroll deductions from the Employee’s Compensation for the Offering Period, subject to the limits
and procedures described in Article VII. A Participant’s Request Form authorizing a regular payroll deduction shall remain
effective from Offering Period to Offering Period until amended or canceled under Section 8.1.
4.3
Leave of Absence
. For purposes of Section 4.1, an individual on a leave of absence from an Employer shall be deemed to
be an Employee for the first 90 days of such leave, or for such longer period of time that his or her entitlement to return to
work is protected by statute or agreement with the Employer, if applicable. For purposes of this Plan, such individual’s
employment with the Employer shall be deemed to terminate at the close of business on the 90th day of the leave, unless the individual
has returned to regular employment with an Employer before the close of business on such 90th day or his entitlement to return
to work is protected by statute or agreement with the employer. Termination of any individual’s leave of absence by an Employer,
other than on account of a return to employment with an Employer, shall be deemed to terminate an individual’s employment
with the Employer for all purposes of the Plan.
ARTICLE
V
STOCK
AVAILABLE
5.1
In General
. Subject to the adjustments in Sections 5.2 and 5.3, an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock shall
be available for purchase by Participants pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. These shares may be authorized and unissued
shares or may be shares issued and subsequently acquired by the Company. If an Option under the Plan expires or terminates for
any reason without having been exercised in whole or part, the shares subject to such Option that are not purchased shall again
be available for subsequent Option grants under the Plan. If the total number of shares of Common Stock for which Options are
exercised on any Purchase Date exceeds the maximum number of shares then available under the Plan, the Administrator shall make
a pro rata allocation of the shares available in as nearly a uniform manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine
to be equitable; and the balance of the cash credited to Participants’ Contribution Accounts shall be distributed to the
Participants as soon as practicable.
5.2
Adjustment in Event of Changes in Capitalization
. In the event of a stock dividend, stock split or combination of shares,
recapitalization or other change in the Company’s capitalization, or other distribution with respect to holders of the Company’s
Common Stock other than normal cash dividends, an automatic adjustment shall be made in the number and kind of shares as to which
outstanding Options or portions thereof then unexercised shall be exercisable and in the available shares set forth in Section
5.1, and in the Offering Period limit under Section 6.3, so that the proportionate interest of the Participants shall be maintained
as before the occurrence of such event; provided, however, that in no event shall any adjustment be made that would cause any
Option to fail to qualify as an option pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan within the meaning of Section 423 of the Code.
5.3
Dissolution or Liquidation
. In the event of a proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Offering Period then
in progress shall be shortened by setting a new Purchase Date (the “New Purchase Date”), and shall terminate immediately
prior to the consummation of the dissolution or liquidation, unless otherwise provided by the Committee. The Company shall notify
each Participant, at least ten (10) business days prior to the New Purchase Date, that the next Purchase Date has been changed
to the New Purchase Date and that the Participant’s Option shall be exercised automatically on the New Purchase Date, unless
the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period, as provided in Section 8.1 hereof, prior to the New Purchase Date.
5.4
Merger or Asset Sale
. In the event of a reorganization, merger, or consolidation of the Company with one or more corporations
in which the Company is not the surviving corporation (or survives as a direct or indirect subsidiary of such other constituent
corporation or its parent), or upon a sale of substantially all of the property or stock of the Company to another corporation,
then, in the discretion of the Committee, (i) each outstanding Option shall be assumed, or an equivalent option substituted, by
the successor corporation or its parent, or (ii) the Offering Period then in progress shall be shortened by setting a New Purchase
Date, which shall be before the date of the proposed transaction. If the Committee sets a New Purchase Date, the Company shall
notify each Participant, at least ten (10) business days prior to the New Purchase Date, that the Purchase Date has been changed
to the New Purchase Date and that the Participant’s Option shall be exercised automatically on the New Purchase Date, unless
the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period, as provided in Section 8.1 hereof, prior to the New Purchase Date. In
lieu of the foregoing, the Committee may terminate the Plan in accordance with Section 9.2.
ARTICLE
VI
OPTION
PROVISIONS
6.1
Purchase Price
. The Purchase Price of a share of Common Stock purchased for a Participant pursuant to each exercise of
an Option shall be the Designated Percent of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Purchase Date.
Until
otherwise provided by the Committee, the Designated Percent for purposes of the foregoing sentence is 85 percent. The Committee
may change the Designated Percent for any Offering Period but in no event shall the Designated Percent be less than 85 percent.
6.2
Calendar Year $25,000 Limit
. Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, no Employee may be granted an Option for any
Offering Period which permits such Employee’s rights to purchase Common Stock under this Plan and any other qualified employee
stock purchase plan (within the meaning of Code Section 423) of the Company and its Subsidiaries to accrue at a rate which exceeds
$25,000 of Fair Market Value of such Common Stock for each calendar year in which an Option is outstanding at any time. For purposes
of this Section, Fair Market Value shall be determined as of the Offering Date.
6.3
Offering Period Limit.
Notwithstanding anything else contained herein the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that
an Eligible Employee may purchase in any Offering Period is 1,000 shares.
ARTICLE
VII
PURCHASING
COMMON STOCK
7.1
Participant’s Contribution and Stock Accounts
.
(a)
Contribution Account.
The Administrator shall establish a book account in the name of each Participant for each Offering
Period, which shall be the Participant’s Contribution Account. As discussed in Section 7.2 below, a Participant’s
payroll deductions shall be credited to the Participant’s Contribution Account, without interest, until such cash is withdrawn,
distributed, or used to purchase Common Stock as described below. All cash received or held by the Company under the Plan may
be used by the Company for any corporate purpose. The Company shall not be obligated to segregate any assets held under the Plan.
(b)
Stock Account and Registration of Shares.
At the election of the Administrator, shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise
of an Option may be (i) registered in book entry form on the registration books maintained by the Company’s transfer agent,
(ii) certificated in the name of the Company and held by the Company as the nominee for the Participant, or (iii) registered in
book-entry form in an account established on behalf of the Participant with a third-party brokerage firm. These shares shall be
credited to the Participant’s Stock Account. A Participant shall have all ownership rights as to the shares credited to
his or her Stock Account, and the Company shall have no ownership or other rights of any kind with respect to any such certificates
or the shares represented thereby. The Company may enter into an arrangement with one or more third-party firms to administer
the Stock Accounts of Participants.
7.2
Payroll Deductions; Dividends
.
(a)
Payroll Deductions
. By submitting a Request Form at any time before an Offering Period in accordance with rules adopted
by the Administrator, an Eligible Employee may authorize payroll deductions to purchase Common Stock under the Plan for any Offering
Period. The payroll deductions shall be effective on the first pay period during the Offering Period commencing after receipt
of the Request Form by the Administrator. The payroll deduction shall be in any percentage up to a maximum of 20 percent (20%)
of such Employee’s Compensation payable each pay period, and at any other time an element of Compensation is payable. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Committee may impose a maximum dollar limit for payroll deductions in any one Offering Period, subject to Section
6.2.
(b)
Dividends
. Cash or stock dividends paid on Common Stock which is credited to a Participant’s Stock Account as of
the dividend payment date may, at the election of the Company, be automatically reinvested in shares of Common Stock and credited
to the Participant’s Stock Account or paid or distributed to the Participant as soon as practicable.
7.3
Automatic Exercise
. Unless the cash credited to a Participant’s Contribution Account is withdrawn or distributed
as provided in Article VIII, his or her Option shall be deemed to have been exercised automatically on each Purchase Date, for
the purchase of the number of full shares of Common Stock which the cash credited to his or her Contribution Account at that time
will purchase at the Purchase Price. If there is a cash balance remaining in the Participant’s Contribution Account at the
end of an Offering Period representing the exercise price for a fractional share of Common Stock, such balance may be retained
in the Participant’s Contribution Account for the next Offering Period, unless the Participant requests that it be refunded,
without interest. Any other cash balance remaining in the Participant’s Contribution Account at the end of an Offering Period
shall be refunded to the Participant, without interest. The amount of cash that may be used to purchase shares of Common Stock
may not exceed the Compensation restrictions set forth in Section 7.2 or the applicable limitations of Sections 6.2 or 6.3.
Except
as provided in the preceding paragraph, if the cash credited to a Participant’s Contribution Account on the Purchase Date
exceeds the applicable Compensation restrictions of Section 7.2 or exceeds the amount necessary to purchase the maximum number
of shares of Common Stock available during the Offering Period under the applicable limitations of Section 6.2 or Section 6.3,
such excess cash shall be refunded to the Participant, without interest. The excess cash may not be used to purchase shares of
Common Stock nor retained in the Participant’s Contribution Account for a future Offering Period.
Each
Participant shall receive a statement on not less than an annual basis indicating the number of shares credited to his or her
Stock Account, if any, under the Plan.
7.4
Listing, Registration, and Qualification of Shares
. The granting of Options for, and the sale and delivery of, Common Stock
under the Plan shall be subject to the effecting by the Company of any listing, registration, or qualification of the shares subject
to that Option upon any securities exchange or under any federal or state law, or the obtaining of the consent or approval of
any governmental regulatory body deemed necessary or desirable for the issuance or purchase of the shares covered.
ARTICLE
VIII
DISCONTINUANCE,
WITHDRAWALS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
8.1
Discontinuance
. A Participant may discontinue participation in an Offering Period and thereby discontinue his or her payroll
deductions for an Offering Period by filing a new Request Form with the Administrator requesting a refund of amounts accumulated
in his or her Contribution Account. This discontinuance shall be effective as soon as practicable, typically on the first pay
period commencing at least 15 days after receipt of the Request Form by the Administrator. A Participant who discontinues his
or her participation for an Offering Period may not resume participation in the Plan until the second Offering Period following
the discontinuance.
Any
amount held in the Participant’s Contribution Account for an Offering Period after the effective date of the discontinuance
of his or her participation will, at the election of the Participant, be:
(a)
returned to the Participant, in cash, without interest, as soon as practicable, upon the Participant’s written request received
by the Administrator at least 15 days before the next Purchase Date; or
(b)
if the Participant so requests or, in the absence of timely instructions from the Participant of a desire to receive cash under
(a) above, held under the Plan and used to purchase Common Stock for the Participant under the automatic exercise provisions of
Section 7.3.
8.3
Leave of Absence; Transfer to Ineligible Status
. If a Participant either begins a leave of absence, is transferred to employment
with a Subsidiary not participating in the Plan, or remains employed with an Employer but is no longer eligible to participate
in the Plan, the Participant shall cease to be eligible for payroll deductions to his or her Contribution Account pursuant to
Section 7.2. The cash balance then credited to the Participant’s Contribution Account shall, at the election of the Participant,
be—
(a)
returned to the Participant, in cash, without interest, as soon as practicable, upon the Participant’s written request received
by the Administrator at least 15 days before the next Purchase Date; or
(b)
if the Participant so requests or, in the absence of timely instructions from the Participant of a desire to receive cash under
(a) above, held under the Plan and used to purchase Common Stock for the Participant under the automatic exercise provisions of
Section 7.3.
If
the Participant returns from the leave of absence before being deemed to have ceased employment with the Employer under Section
4.3, or again becomes eligible to participate in the Plan, the Request Form, if any, in effect immediately before the leave of
absence or disqualifying change in employment status shall be deemed void and the Participant must again complete a new Request
Form to resume participation in the Plan.
8.4
Termination of Employment for Reasons Other Than Death
. If a Participant terminates employment with the Company and its
Subsidiaries for reasons other than death, the cash balance in the Participant’s Contribution Account shall be returned
to the Participant in cash, without interest, as soon as practicable. Certificates for the largest whole number of shares of Common
Stock credited to his or her Stock Account shall be distributed to the Participant as soon as practicable, together with cash
for any remaining balance.
8.5
Death
. In the event a Participant dies, the cash balance in his or her Contribution Account shall be distributed to the
Participant’s estate, in cash, without interest, as soon as practicable. Certificates for the largest whole number of shares
of Common Stock credited to his or her Stock Account shall be distributed to the Participant as soon as practicable, together
with cash for any remaining balance.
ARTICLE
IX
AMENDMENT
AND TERMINATION
9.1
Amendment
. The Committee shall have the right to amend or modify the Plan, in full or in part, at any time and from time
to time; provided, however, that no amendment or modification shall:
(a)
affect any right or obligation with respect to any grant previously made, unless required by law or deemed by the Committee to
be necessary or desirable in order to enable the Company to comply with applicable securities laws or regulations, or
(b)
unless previously approved by the stockholders of the Company, where such approval is necessary to satisfy applicable securities
laws, the Code, or rules of any stock exchange on which the Company’s Common Stock is listed:
(1)
in any manner materially affect the eligibility requirements set forth in Sections 4.1 and 4.3, or change the definition of Employer
as set forth in Section 2.12, or
(2)
increase the number of shares of Common Stock subject to any Options issued to Participants (except as provided in Sections 5.2
and 5.4).
9.2
Termination
. The Plan will continue into effect for a term of ten years from the Effective Date unless earlier terminated
by the Committee. The Committee may terminate the Plan at any time in its sole and absolute discretion. The Plan shall be terminated
by the Committee if at any time the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for purposes of the Plan is not sufficient to
meet all purchase requirements, except as specified in Section 5.1.
Upon
termination of the Plan, the Administrator shall give notice thereof to Participants and shall terminate all payroll deductions.
Cash balances then credited to Participants’ Contribution Accounts shall be distributed as soon as practicable, without
interest.
ARTICLE
X
MISCELLANEOUS
10.1
Registration and Expenses
. Whether registered in book entry form or represented in certificate form as provided in Section
7.1(b), shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of an Option shall be directly registered in the name of the Participant
or, if the Participant so indicates on the Request Form, (a) in the Participant’s name jointly with a member of the Participant’s
family, with the right of survivorship, (b) in the name of a custodian for the Participant (in the event the Participant is under
a legal disability to have stock issued in the Participant’s name), (c) in a manner giving effect to the status of such
shares as community property, or (d) in street name for the benefit of any of the above with a broker designated by the Participant.
No other names may be included in the Common Stock registration. The Company shall pay all issue or transfer taxes with respect
to the issuance of shares of such Common Stock or the initial transfer of such shares to a brokerage account designated by the
Company, as well as all fees and expenses necessarily incurred by the Company in connection with such issuance or initial transfer.
Once the shares have been issued to the Participant or initially transferred to such brokerage account on behalf of the Participant,
the Company shall bear no expense for further transfers or sale of the shares.
10.2
Employment Rights
. Neither the establishment of the Plan, nor the grant of any Options thereunder, nor the exercise thereof
shall be deemed to give to any Employee the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary or to interfere
with the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to discharge any Employee or otherwise modify the employment relationship at any
time.
10.3
Tax Withholding
. The Administrator may make appropriate provisions for withholding of federal, state, and local income
taxes, and any other taxes, from a Participant’s Compensation to the extent the Administrator deems such withholding to
be legally required.
10.4
Rights Not Transferable
. Rights and Options granted under this Plan are not transferable by the Participant other than
by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and are exercisable only by the Participant during his or her lifetime.
10.5
No Repurchase of Stock by Company
. The Company is under no obligation to repurchase from any Participant any shares of
Common Stock acquired under the Plan.
10.6
Governing Law
. The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware except
to the extent such laws are preempted by the laws of the United States.
10.7
Indemnification
. To the extent allowable under applicable law, each member of the Committee and officers and employees
of the Company shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from any loss, cost, liability, or expense (including, but
not limited to, attorneys fees) 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 such member may be a party or in which he may be involved by reason of any
action or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by such member in satisfaction of judgment
in such action, suit, or proceeding against him provided he gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and
defend the same before he undertakes to handle and defend it on his own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall be
in addition to any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s Certificate
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.
The
foregoing is hereby acknowledged as being the Advaxis, Inc. 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan as adopted by Board on January
23, 2018 for submission to the stockholders for approval on March 21, 2018.
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ADVAXIS,
INC.
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By:
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Sara
Bonstein
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Chief
Financial Officer
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Ayala Pharmaceuticals (QX) (USOTC:ADXS)
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