BIOMERICA, INC.
1533 MONROVIA AVENUE
NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA 92663
17571 Von Karman Avenue
Irvine, CA 92614
_____________________________
NOTICE OF 20072010 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 29, 2007
DECEMBER 15, 2010
_____________________________
To Our Stockholders:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting of the stockholders of BIOMERICA, INC., a Delaware corporation (herein called the "Company"), will be held at the offices of the Company, 1533 Monrovia17571 Von Karman Avenue, Newport Beach,Irvine, California 9266392614 on November 29, 2007December 15, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.
At the meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote upon the following matters:
1. The election of six
| 1. | The election of five directors, each to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor
has been elected and qualified or until his or her earlier
resignation, death or removal. The Proxy Statement which
accompanies this Notice includes the names of the nominees to
be presented by the Board of Directors for election and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation, death or removal. The Proxy Statement which accompanies this Notice includes the names of the nominees to be presented by the Board of Directors for election; and |
| 2. | To consider and act upon a proposal to ratify and approve the Company's 2010 Stock Incentive Plan; and |
| 3. | To ratify the selection by the Audit Committee of the Company's Board of Directors of PKF, Certified Public Accountants, a Professional Corporation as the Company's independent public accounting firm for the current fiscal year; and |
| 4. | Transaction of such other business which may properly come before the annual meeting and any adjournment thereof. |
In accordance with the provisions of the Company's Bylaws, the Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on October 12, 2007,19, 2010, as the record date for the determination of the holders of the Company's common stock, $0.08 par value entitled to notice of and to vote at said Annual Meeting. To assure that your shares will be represented at the Annual Meeting, please complete, sign, date and promptly return the accompanying proxy card in the enclosed envelope. You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
/S/
/S/ Zackary S. Irani -------------------------------------------
ZACKARY S. IRANI, Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
Newport Beach,
Irvine, California
September
28, 2007
29, 2010
BIOMERICA, INC.
1533 Monrovia
17571 Von Karman Avenue
Newport Beach,
Irvine, CA 92663
92614
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
_____________________________
GENERAL INFORMATION
This Proxy Statement is furnished by the Board of Directors of BIOMERICA, INC., a Delaware corporation (together with its subsidiary, the(the "Company"), in connection with the solicitation of proxies for use at the Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on November 29, 2007,December 15, 2010, at the offices of the Company, 1533 Monrovia17571 Von Karman Avenue, Newport Beach,Irvine, California 9266392614 at 10:00 a.m., and at any and all adjournments thereof (the "Annual Meeting"). The Annual Meeting has been called for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Notice"). This Proxy Statement, and the Annual Report of the Company for the year ended May 31, 2007,2010, will be mailed on or about October 20, 2007,27, 2010, to each stockholder of record as of the close of business on October 12, 2007.
19, 2010.
RECORD DATE AND OUTSTANDING SHARES
The close of business on October 12, 2007,19, 2010, has been set as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting (the "Record Date"). As of September 5, 2007,19, 2010, there was outstanding and entitled to vote an aggregate of approximately 5,999,2146,660,839 shares of the Company's common stock, $0.08 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), held of record by approximately 906867 stockholders. However, brokers and other institutions hold many shares on behalf of other beneficial owners of the Company's stockholders.stock.
VOTING RIGHTS, QUORUM & VOTES REQUIRED
The holder of each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote for each share held as of the Record Date on each matter to be considered at the Annual Meeting.
The presence at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock held of record on the Record Date is necessary to constitute a quorum for the purposes of electing directors and each other item of business. The holderShares represented by proxies pursuant to which votes contain one or more abstentions or broker "non-votes," are counted as present for purposes of each sharedetermining the presence or absence of Commona quorum for the Meeting.
Broker "non-votes" occur when a broker holding shares in "street name" votes on one proposal, but does not vote on another proposal because the broker does not have discretionary voting power and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner of such shares. Usually, this would occur when brokers holding stock in "street name" have not received any instructions from clients, in which case the brokers (as holders of record) are generally permitted by the rules of the New York Stock held of record on the Record Date is entitledExchange to vote only on each"discretionary" matters. Under a 2009 amendment to such rules, the uncontested election of directors is no longer a "discretionary" matter, and therefore brokers will not be permitted to vote shares for which they have not received voting instructions in favor of the proposed election of directors. F urthermore, approval of a stock incentive plan is not a "discretionary" matter, and brokers will therefore not be considered atpermitted to vote shares for which they have not received voting instructions in favor of the Annual Meeting.
VOTES REQUIRED
proposed approval of the 2010 Stock Incentive Plan. However, under such rules, the proposed ratification of the selection by the Audit Committee of PKF, Certified Public Accountants, a Professional Corporation as the Company's independent public accounting firm for the current fiscal year, is a "discretionary" matter, and the Company believes brokers will therefore be generally able to vote shares held in "street name" on such matters without receiving instructions from the beneficial holders of such shares.
Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the affirmative votes cast at the meeting of stockholders. VOTING RIGHTS
HoldersThe affirmative vote of our Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share
held asa majority of the Record Date.
EFFECT OF ABSTENTIONS AND BROKER NON-VOTES
Ifvotes properly cast is required (i) to approve the stockholder or his, her or itsCompany's 2010 Stock Incentive Plan and (ii) to ratify the selection of PKF, Certified Public Accountants, a Professional Corporation as the Company's independent public accounting firm for the current fiscal year. Abstentions on such election and each of the other proposals, and any broker marks "Abstain" on a duly
submitted proxy card representing such stockholder's shares, or if the
stockholders attend the Annual Meeting in person, but elect not to vote on a
particular proposal or proposals, then such shares"non-votes," will be consideredcounted as present at
the meetingor represented for purposes of determining the required quorums andpresence of a quorum for the meeting, but will not be taken into account in determining the outcome of the election of directors.
Brokers holding shares of record for customers generally are not
entitled to vote on some matters unless they receive voting instructions from
their customers. "Broker non-votes" are votesexcept that, could have been cast on the
matter in question if the brokers had received their customers' instructions,
and as to which the broker has notified the Company on a proxy form in
accordance with industry practice or has otherwise advised us that it lacks
voting authority. Shares represented by brokers' non-votes (i) will be
considered present at the meeting for purposes of determining the required
quorums and (ii)vote on the Company's 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, any abstentions will not be taken into account in determining the outcometreated as votes cast agains t approval of the election of directors.
such proposal.
All votes will be tabulated by the inspector of elections appointed for the meeting, who will separately tabulate, for the proposal, affirmative and negative votes, abstentions and broker non-votes.
-1-
APPRAISAL RIGHTS
Under Delaware law, stockholders are not entitled to any appraisal rights with respect to the approval of any of the proposals described in this Proxy Statement.
PERSONS MAKING THE SOLICITATION
The Proxy accompanying this Proxy Statement is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company for use at the Annual Meeting. The solicitation of proxies is being made only by use of the mails and the cost of preparing, assembling and mailing these proxy materials will be paid by the Company. Following the mailing of this Proxy Statement, directors, officers and
regular employees of the Company may solicit proxies by mail, telephone, telegraph or personal interview. Such persons will receive no additional compensation for such services. Brokerage houses and other nominees, fiduciaries and custodians nominally holding shares of the Company's common stock, $0.08 par value (the "Common Stock"), of record will be requested to forward proxy soliciting material to the beneficial owners of such shares. The Company will,wil l, upon request, reimburse such parties for their reasonable expenses in forwarding proxy materials to the beneficial owners.
TERMS OF THE PROXY
The enclosed Proxy indicates the matters to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting and provides boxes to be marked to indicate the manner in which the stockholder's shares are to be voted with respect to such matters. By appropriately marking the boxes, a stockholder may specify whether the proxy shall vote for or against or shall be without authority to vote the shares represented by the Proxy. The Proxy also confers upon the proxy discretionary voting authority with respect to such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting.
If the Proxy is executed properly and is received by the proxyCompany prior to the Annual Meeting, the shares represented by the Proxy will be voted. Where a stockholder specifies a choice with respect to the matter to be acted upon, the shares will be voted in accordance with such specification. Any proxy which is executed in such a manner as not to withhold authority to vote for the election of the specified nominees as directors shall be deemed to confer such authority. A Proxy may be revoked at any time prior to its exercise (i) by giving written notice of the revocation thereof to Ms. Janet Moore, Secretary, Biomerica, Inc., 1533 Monrovia17571 Von Karman Avenue, Newport Beach,Irvine, California 92663,92614, (ii) by attending the meeting and electing to vote in person, or (iii) by delivering a duly executed Proxy bearing a later date.
COMMON STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth, as of September
28, 200729, 2010 certain information as to shares of Common Stock owned by (i) each person known to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock, (ii) each director, including nominees for director, and each named executive officer of the Company, and (iii) all executive officers and directors of the Company as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, each person listed has sole voting and investment power over the shares beneficially owned by him or her. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each named beneficial owner is the same as that of the Company's principal executive offices located at
1533 Monrovia17571 Von Karman Avenue,
Newport Beach,Irvine, California
92663.
SHARES PERCENTAGE
NAME OF BENEFICIALLY BENEFICIALLY
BENEFICIAL OWNER (1) OWNED OWNED
- ------------------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
Janet Moore (2) 835,527 13.6%
Zackary Irani (3) 753,359 11.7%
Francis Capitanio (4) 158,750 2.6%
Allen Barbieri (5) 110,389 1.8%
Francis R. Cano, Ph.D. (6) 94,500 1.6%
Jane Emerson, M.D., Ph.D. (7) 12,500 .2%
John Roehm (8) 12,500 .2%
-2-
Joseph L. Rink (9) 429,431 7.0%
Keith A. Cannon (10) 420,375 7.0%
All executive officers and directors
as a group (seven persons) (11) 1,977,525 28.5%
- --------------
92614.
| NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER (1) | | SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED | | PERCENTAGE BENEFICIALLY OWNED |
| Janet Moore (2) | | 816,277 | | 12.1% |
| Zackary Irani (3) | | 830,859 | | 11.9% |
| Francis Capitanio (4) | | 134,500 | | 2.0% |
| Allen Barbieri (5) | | 137,889 | | 2.0% |
| Francis R. Cano, Ph.D. (6) | | 122,000 | | 1.8% |
| Jane Emerson, M.D., Ph.D. (7) | | 50,000 | | * |
| Joseph L. Rink (8) | | 407,156 | | 6.1% |
| Keith A. Cannon (9) | | 490,668 | | 7.3% |
| The BroadOak Fund | | 500,000 | | 7.5% |
All executive officers and directors as a group (six persons) (10) | | 2,091,525 | | 28.2% |
_________________
* Less than one percent.
(1) Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Any shares of Common Stock that each named person and group has the right to acquire within 60 days pursuant to options, warrants, conversion privileges or other rights, are deemed outstanding for purposes of computing shares beneficially owned by and the percentage ownership of each such person and group. However, such shares are not deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the shares beneficially owned by or percentage ownership of any other person or group. Percentage ownership for each named beneficial owner, and the ownership of the directors and executive officers as a group, is based on 5,999,2146,660,839 shares outstanding as of the date of the Proxy Statement plus the shares the named person and group has a right to acquire within 60 days thereafter pursuant to options, warrants, conversion privileges or other rights and privileges.
(2) Includes 92,00091,500 shares underlying options exercisable by Ms. Moore at or within 60 days after the date of the Proxy; 58,000 shares underlying
warrants exercisable by The Janet Moore Trust of which Janet Moore is the
sole trustee, at or within 60 days after the date of the Proxy; 607,527633,777 shares owned by The Janet Moore Trust of which Janet Moore is the sole trustee.
trustee; at or within 60 days after the date of the Proxy.
(3) Includes 429,833317,333 shares underlying options/options and warrants exercisable by Mr. Irani at or within 60 days after the date of the Proxy.
(4) Includes 158,750134,500 shares underlying options exercisable by Mr. Capitanio at or within 60 days after the date of the Proxy.
(5) Includes 82,50085,000 shares underlying options/options and warrants exercisable by Mr. Barbieri at or within 60 days after the date of the Proxy.
(6) Includes 82,50085,000 shares underlying options exercisable by Dr. Cano at or within 60 days after the date of the Proxy.
(7) Includes 12,50050,000 shares underlying options exercisable by Dr. Emerson at or within 60 days after the date of the Proxy.
(8) Includes 12,500 shares underlying options exercisable by Mr. Roehm at or
within 60 days after the date of the Proxy.
(9) Includes 131,00011,000 shares underlying options/warrants exercisable by Mr. Rink at or within 60 days after the date of the Proxy. Mr. Rink's address is 1533 Monrovia17571 Von Karman Avenue, Newport Beach,Irvine, CA 92663.
(10)92614.
(9) Includes 17,333 shares underlying warrants exercisable by Mr. Cannon at or within 60 days after the date of the Proxy. Mr. Cannon's address is 3333 Tripoli Way, Oceanside, CA 92056.
(11)
(10) Includes all information set forth in footnotes (2) through
(8)(7), above.
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PROPOSAL NO. 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
DIRECTORS
The Company's Bylaws give the Board of Directors ("the Board") the power to set the number of directors at no less than three (3) or more than nine (9). The size of the Company's Board is currently set at six (6)five (5) directors and six (6)five (5) directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting to be held on November 29,
2007. The directors so elected will serve until replaced by a voteDecember 15, 2010. Each director of the stockholders.Company is elected annually and holds office for the ensuing year and until his successor has been elected and qualified. In the event that any of them should become unavailable prior to the Annual Meeting, the Proxy will be voted for a substitute nominee or nominees designated by the Board or the number of directors may be reduced accordingly.
The following table sets forth the name and current age of each nominee for director, the year he or she was first elected a director and his or her position(s) with the Company. The Company does not pay a fee to any third party to identify potential nominees. The Board has not received
during the 120-day
period between the end of the fiscal year and the date of the proxy, any
recommended nominees from a
stockholder owning more than 5% of the Company's
stock for at least one year.
Director
Name Age Since Positions Held
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zackary Irani 41 1997 Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
Janet Moore 56 1997 Secretary, Chief Financial
Officer, Treasurer and Director
Allen Barbieri 49 1999 Director, Audit Committee Chairman
Francis R. Cano, Ph.D. 60 1999 Director
Jane Emerson, M.D., Ph.D. 53 2007 Director
John Roehm 48 2007 Director
stockholder.
| Name | Age | Director Since | Positions Held |
| Zackary Irani | 44 | 1997 | Chairman of the Board and |
| | | | Chief Executive Officer |
| | | | |
| Janet Moore | 59 | 1997 | Secretary, Chief Financial Officer, |
| | | | Treasurer, Director |
| | | | |
| Allen Barbieri | 52 | 1999 | Director, Audit Committee Chairman, |
| | | | Member of Compensation Committee |
| | | | |
| Francis R. Cano, Ph.D. | 63 | 1999 | Director, Member of Audit Committee, |
| | | | Member of Compensation Committee |
| | | | |
| Jane Emerson, M.D., Ph.D. | 56 | 2007 | Director |
Mr. Zackary Irani has been a Director of the Company, and has been serving as the Company's Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since April 29, 1997. Prior to that time, Mr. Irani served as the Company's Vice President of Business Development since July 1994.Development. He has been an employee of the Company since 1986. During fiscal 2008 and 2009, Mr. Irani also servesserved as Chairman of the Board of Lancer Orthodontics, Inc. and served as Lancer's Chief Executive Officer from April 1997 until April 2004.
Ms. Janet Moore has been a Director of the Company since April 29, 1997, and has been serving as the Company's Secretary and Treasurer since 1985. She has served as the Company's Chief Financial Officer since 1999 and has been an employee of the Company since 1976. During fiscal 2008 and through September 29, 2008, Ms. Moore also servesserved as a director and Secretary of Lancer Orthodontics, Inc.
Francis R. Cano, Ph.D., has served as a Director of the Company since June 1999. Dr. Cano is currently working asthe managing director of a consultant through Cano
Biotechnology Corp. From 2003 until 2005 Dr. Canobiotechnology consulting business, which he founded, and which is focused on vaccines and immunotherapeutics. He co-founded Aviron in 1993 and served as the Chief Executive
Officer and Chairman of the Board of Vaxin, Inc. from where he retired. From
1996 to 1997, Dr. Cano served as Senior Vice President - Biotechnology of BDM,
an information technology company. In 1996, Dr. Cano started the Cano
Biotechnology Corp., where he worked with vaccine leaders (Aventis), small
private and public biotechnology companies, venture groups and universities.
From 1992 to 1996, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Aviron,
a public biotechnology company focused on developing viral vaccinesOfficer. The Company developed an intranasal flu vaccine and was acquired by MedImmune in 2002 for disease
prevention.$1.2 billion. From 1972-1993 Dr. Cano held various scientific/management positions with American Cyanamid, the last of which was also involved in developing a vaccine business at a
divisionas Vice President-General Manager of American Cynamid Corporation.the Lederle-Praxis Biological Division. During fiscal 2008 and through September 29, 2008, Dr. Cano also servesserved on the board of Lancer Orthodontics, Inc., Avant Immunotherapeutics and currently serves on the board of Arbor Vita Corporation.
Mr. Allen Barbieri has served as a Director of the Company since October 1999.
SinceMr. Barbieri also currently serves as the CEO of LubriGreen Biosynthetics, a privately held renewable lubricants manufacturing company. Prior to that, from April 2004
to Sept. 2009, Mr. Barbieri
has served as
part-time,the Chief Executive Officer of Lancer Orthodontics, Inc. and from 1999 until the present time, Mr. Barbieri has also worked as a private investor. From 1998 to 1999, he served as President and Chief Financial Officer of Buy.com. From 1994 until 1998 Mr. Barbieri was President and Chief Executive Officer of Pacific National Bank.
-4-
Mr. Barbieri continues to serve as a director of Lancer Orthodontics, Inc.Dr. Emerson has served as a director of the Company since April 2007. Since 1994July 1, 2009 Dr. Emerson has served as Chief of Clinical Pathology at the USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California. From 1994 to 2009 Dr. Emerson served as Chief, Division of Chemical Pathology for the University of California, Irvine. SinceFrom 2000 to 2009 she has also served as the Chief of Clinical Pathology and sincefrom 2004 to 2009 as a Clinical Professor for the University of California, Irvine. SinceFrom 2005 to 2009 Dr. Emerson has served as Vice Chair for Clinical Programs, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine for the University of California, Irvine.
Mr. John Roehm has served as
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINATED DIRECTORS.
The Company does not have a directorstanding Nominating Committee. As the Board is relatively small, the entire Board serves the function of the Company since July 2007.
From 1999 to 2006 Mr. Roehm served as Director of Pharmacy Marketing for
Albertsons, Inc. Since 2006 Mr. Roehm has been serving as President and Chief
Executive Officer of Mollen Immunization Clinics.
The Board recommends a vote for the election of each of the nominated directors.Nominating Committee. The Board of Directors regularly assesses the appropriate size of the Board of Directors and whether any vacancies on the Board of Directors are expected due to retirement or otherwise. In the event that vacancies are anticipated or otherwise arise, the Board utilizes a variety of methods for identifying and evaluating director candidates. Candidates may come to the attention of the Committee through current directors, professional search firms, stockholders or other persons.
Once the Board has identified a prospective nominee, the Board will evaluate the prospective nominee in the context of the then current composition of the Board of Directors and will consider a variety of other factors, including the prospective nominee's business, technology and industry, finance and financial reporting experience, and other attributes that would be expected to contribute to an effective Board of Directors. The Board seeks to identify nominees who possess a diligent range of experience, skills, areas of expertise, industry knowledge and business judgment. Successful nominees should have a history of superior performance or accomplishments in their professional undertakings and should have the highest personal and professional ethics and values. The Board does not evaluate stockholder nominees differentlydiffe rently than any other nominee.
Our Board will consider stockholder nominations for directors if we receive timely written notice, in proper form, of the intent to make a nomination at a meeting of stockholders. To be timely, the notice must be received within the time frame discussed below in this Proxy Statement under the heading "Stockholder Proposals." To be in proper form, the notice must, among other matters, include each nominee's written consent to serve as a director if elected, a description of all arrangements or understandings between the nominating stockholder and each nominee and information about the nominating stockholder and each nominee.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Mr. Francis Capitanio, age 63,66, has served as the President of the diagnostics division of Biomerica since July 10, 2000. Mr. Capitanio was President and Chief Executive Officer of Kalisto Biologicals, Inc. from 1997 until 2000. From 1980 until 1996, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Diatech Diagnostics.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES
The Board of Directors has a standing Audit and Compensation Committee. The Board of Directors held three2 meetings during the year ended May 31, 20072010 and acted by unanimous written consent six2 times. All directors attended 75% or more of the aggregate of all meetings of the Board of Directors and the committees, if any, upon which the directors served during the year ended May 31, 2007.
2010.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The Compensation Committee is responsible for assisting the Board of Directors in discharging its responsibilities regarding the compensation of our employees and directors. The specific duties of the Compensation Committee include, among other matters: reviewing and approving executive compensation; evaluating our executive officers' performance; setting the compensation levels of our executive officers; setting our incentive compensation plans, including our equity-based incentive plans; and making recommendations to our Board of Directors regarding our overall compensation structure, policies and programs. During fiscal
20062010 the compensation committee was comprised of Mr. Allen Barbieri and Dr. Francis Cano. One compensation committee meeting was held during the fiscal year ended May 31,
2007.
-5-
2010.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing our accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of our financial statements. In addition, the Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in its oversight of our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The specific duties of the Audit Committee include, among others: monitoring the integrity of our financial process and systems of internal controls regarding finance, accounting and legal compliance; selecting our independent auditor; monitoring the independence and performance of our independent auditor; and providing an avenue of communication among the independent auditor, our management and our Board of Directors. The Audit Committee has the authority to conduct any investigation appropriate to fulfilling its responsibilities, and it has direct access to all of our employees and to the independent auditor. The Audit Committee also has the ability to retain, at ourthe Company's expense and without further approval of the Board of Directors, special legal, accounting or other consultants or experts that it deems necessary in the performance of its duties.
The Audit Committee met two timesone time during fiscal 2007.2010. The members of the Audit Committee are Mr. Barbieri and Dr. Cano. The Board of Directors determined that Mr. Barbieri qualifies as an "audit committee financial expert" and that each member of the Audit Committee is financially literate.
DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The Board reviews the independence of each director when he/she is elected to the board and monitors such on a continual basis. The Board considers the transactions and relationships between each member and the Company in determining independence. The Board judges independence based on the definition of Director Independence as defined by FINRA Rule 4200(a)(15) of the Nasdaq Stock
Market LLC.. Based upon that review the Board affirmatively determined that Allen Barbieri, Dr. Cano and Dr. Emerson and Mr. John Roehm are considered "independent" with respect to NASDAQ'sFINRA'S definition of such. Please refer to Appendix A annexed hereto for
the definition of independence.
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The information in this Report of the Audit Committee is not deemed "soliciting material" or to be "filed" with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Audit Committee oversees the Company's financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process including the systems of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Committee reviewed the audited financial statements in the Annual Report with management including a discussion of the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements.
The Committee reviewed with the independent auditors, who are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles, their judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Company's accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the Committee. The Committee has discussed with the independent auditors the auditors' independence from management and the Company including the matters in the written disclosures required by the Independence Standards Board and considered the compatibility of non-audit services with the auditors' independence.
The Committee discussed with the Company's independent auditors the overall scope and plans for their audit. The Committee meets with the independent auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluationsunderstanding of the Company's internal controls, and the overall quality of the Company's financial reporting.
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors (and the Board has approved) that the audited financial statements be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB10-K for the year ended May 31, 20072010 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Committee and the Board have also recommended the selection of the Company's independent auditors, PKF, Certified Public Accountants, a Professional Corporation.
/s/
/s/ Francis R. Cano /s/ Allen Barbieri - ------------------- ------------------
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the total compensation earned by all executive officers of the company for the fiscal
yearyears ended May 31,
2007.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
--------------------------
Name Stock Option Non Nonquali- All Total
And Principal Salary Bonus Awards Awards Equity fied Other ($)
Position Year ($) ($) ($) ($) Incentive Deferred Compen-
Plan Compen- sation
Compen- sation ($)
sation Earnings
($)
- ----------------------- ------- ----------- ------ ------- ------ --------- ---------- ------------ ---------
Zackary Irani
Chairman & Chief
Executive Officer 2007 105,000 -0- -0- 34,500 27,643 -0- -0- 167,143
Francis Capitanio
President 2007 123,305 -0- -0- 23,000 21,643 -0- -0- 167,948
Janet Moore
Chief Financial
Officer, Treasurer & 2007 68,670 -0- -0- 15,640 7,643 -0- -0- 91,953
Secretary
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OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
--------------------------------------------
OPTION AWARDS STOCK AWARDS:
------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------
Name Number Number Equity Option Option Number Market Equity Equity
of of Incentive Exercise Expiration of Value of Incentive Incentive
Securities Securities Plan Price Date Shares or Shares or Plan Plan
Underlying Underlying Awards: ($) Units Units Awards: Awards:
Unexercised Unexercised Number of of Stock of Stock Number Market
Options (#) Options (#) Securities That Have That Have of or Payout
Exercisable Unexercisable Underlying Not Not Unearned Value
Unexercised Vested Vested Shares, of
Unearned (#) ($) Units or Unearned
Options Other Shares,
(#) Rights Units or
That Have Other
Not Rights
Vested That Have
(#) Not
Vested
($)
----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------
Zackary Irani 75,000 -0- -0- .28 5-23-08 -0- -0- -0- -0-
50,000 -0- -0- .53 6-3-10 -0- -0- -0- -0-
150,000 50,000 -0- .40 5-31-11 -0- -0- -0- -0-
37,500 37,500 -0- .80 5-31-12 -0- -0- -0- -0-
Francis Capitanio
25,000 -0- -0- 5-23-08 -0- -0- -0- -0-
.28
18,750 6,250 -0- 4-5-10 -0- -0- -0- -0-
.40
36,000 -0- -0- .53 6-3-10 -0- -0- -0- -0-
54,000 18,000 -0- .40 5-31-11 -0- -0- -0- -0-
25,000 25,000 -0- .80 5-31-12 -0- -0- -0- -0-
Janet Moore 20,000 -0- -0- .28 5-23-08 -0- -0- -0- -0-
25,000 -0- -0- .53 6-3-10 -0- -0- -0- -0-
30,000 10,000 -0- .40 5-31-11 -0- -0- -0- -0-
17,000 17,000 -0- .80 5-31-12 -0- -0- -0- -0-
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COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Although not prohibited by the Company's Bylaws, directors receive no
direct payment for their services as directors, but they have been, and may in
the future be, granted options to purchase the Company's securities. The
compensation of directors is subject to review and adjustment from time to time
by the Board of Directors.
The following table presents the compensation of Non-Employee Directors for
the fiscal year ended May 31, 2007. As indicated below, during fiscal 2007 the
Non-Employee Directors' compensation consisted of a stock option award.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
---------------------
Name Fees Stock Option Non-Equity Change in All Other Total
Earned Awards Awards Incentive Plan Pension Compensation ($)
Or ($) ($) Compensa- Value and ($)
Paid in tion Nonqualified
Cash ($) Deferred
($) Compensation
Earnings
- ------------------------ ---------- --------- --------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------
Allen Barbieri -0- -0- 9,050 (1) -0- -0- -0- 9,050
Francis Cano, Ph.D. -0- -0- 9,050 (1) -0- -0- -0- 9,050
Jane Emerson, M.D., Ph.D. -0- -0- 11,632 (1) -0- -0- -0- 11,632
John Roehm (2) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
2010 and 2009.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
| Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($) | Stock Awards ($) | Option Awards ($) (4) | Non Equity Incentive Plan Compen-sation ($) | Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings | All Other Compensation ($) | Total ($) |
| Zackary Irani Chairman & Chief Executive Officer | 2010 | 105,000 | -0- | -0- | 4,084 | -0- | -0- | -0- | 109,084(1) |
| 2009 | 105,000 | -0- | -0- | 7,832 | -0- | -0- | -0- | 112,832(1) |
Francis Capitanio President | 2010 | 124,987 | 5,000 | -0- | 2,042 | -0- | -0- | -0- | 127,029 |
| 2009 | 124,957 | 10,000 | -0- | 4,540 | -0- | -0- | -0- | 139,497(2) |
Janet Moore Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer & Secretary | 2010 | 89,761 | -0- | -0- | 2,859 | -0- | -0- | -0- | 92,620 |
| 2009 | 85,836 | 12,189 | -0- | 4,556 | -0- | -0- | -0- | 102,581 |
Not included in the above amounts were the following:
(1) All directors received non-qualified stock options to purchase 25,000
shares, however the valueIn fiscal 2010 Zackary Irani was paid $45,322 for payment toward his accrued wages payable. In fiscal 2009 Zackary Irani was paid $33,822 for payment toward his accrued wages payable. In fiscal 2009 Mr. Irani’s portion of the options varied dueManagement Incentive bonus was $2,189, which he declined to factors that fluctuateaccept.
(2) Mr. Capitanio’s portion of the Management Incentive for fiscal 2009 was $2,189, which he declined to accept.
(3) In fiscal 2010 Janet Moore was paid $45,760 for payment toward her accrued wages payable. In fiscal 2009 Janet Moore was paid $34,846 for payment toward her accrued wages payable.
(4) For additional information as to the assumptions made in valuation, see Note 14 to the Company’s audited financial statements filed with the SEC in the
calculation of stock option value, such as current market value.
(2) Mr. Roehm was not a director duringCompany’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31,
2007.
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2010. The Option Awards represent amounts expensed in fiscal 2010 for options that vested in fiscal 2010. No options were granted to officers in fiscal 2010.
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
| Name | Option Awards | Stock Awards |
| | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options | Option Exercise Price ($) | Option Expiration Date | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($) |
| Zackary Irani | 50,000 | -0- | -0- | .53 | 6-3-10 | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
| 200,000 | -0- | -0- | .40 | 5-31-11 | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
| 75,000 | -0- | -0- | .80 | 5-31-12 | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
| 25,000 | 25,000 | -0- | .60 | 3-30-14 | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
| Francis Capitanio | | | | | | | | | |
| 36,000 | -0- | -0- | .53 | 6-3-10 | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
| 72,000 | -0- | -0- | .40 | 5-31-11 | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
| 50,000 | -0- | -0- | .80 | 5-31-12 | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
| 12,500 | 12,500 | -0- | .60 | 3-30-14 | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
| Janet Moore | 25,000 | -0- | -0- | .53 | 6-3-10 | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
| 40,000 | -0- | -0- | .40 | 5-31-11 | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
| 34,000 | -0- | -0- | .80 | 5-31-12 | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
| 17,500 | 17,500 | -0- | .60 | 3-30-14 | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Although not prohibited by the Company's Bylaws, directors receive no direct payment for their services as directors, but they have been, and may in the future be, granted options to purchase the Company's securities. The compensation of directors is subject to review and adjustment from time to time by the Board of Directors.
The following table presents the compensation of Non-Employee Directors for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2010. Non-Employee Directors were not granted any stock options in fiscal 2010, however certain amounts were expensed in fiscal 2010 for previously granted options since they vested in fiscal 2010.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
| Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | Stock Awards ($) | Option Awards ($) (1) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) | Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings | All Other Compensation ($) | Total ($) |
| Allen Barbieri | -0- | -0- | 3,677 | -0- | -0- | (3) | -0- |
| Francis Cano, Ph.D | -0- | -0- | 3,677 | -0- | -0- | -3,500-(4) | -0- |
| Jane Emerson, M.D., Ph.D. | -0- | -0- | 3,677 | -0- | -0- | -10,000-(4) | -0- |
| John Roehm(2) | -0- | -0- | 6,312 | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
| (1) | Represents the amount expensed in fiscal 2010 for options that vested in fiscal 2010. No options were granted to Directors in fiscal 2010. |
| (2) | John Roehm no longer serves as a director of the Company. |
| (3) | Allen Barbieri has had the use of a small amount of office space in the Company’s new facility in exchange for consulting services. No value has been determined for this. |
| (4) | Dr. Cano and Dr. Emerson each received compensation for performance of certain consulting work for the Company. |
SECTION 16(a) - BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires the Company's executive officers, directors and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of the Company's stock, to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Executive officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners are required by applicable regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based solely upon a review of the copies of such forms furnished to the Company and information involving securities transactions of which the Company is aware, the Company believes that during the fiscal year ended May 31, 2007,2010, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its executive officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial stockholders were complied with,
except for one filing in which director, Dr. Francis Cano, inadvertently filed
one Form 4 late after he purchased 12,000 shares of Biomerica common stock on
the open market in May 2007.
with.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
NOTES PAYABLE -SHAREHOLDER
Biomerica's shareholder's line of credit expired on September 13, 2003
and was not renewed, however- SHAREHOLDER
In March 2004 the unpaidCompany signed a note payable for the principal and interest was converted
into a note payable bearing interestdue at 8%that time of $313,318 to Janet Moore, an officer, director and payable September 1, 2004. The
due date on this note has been extended until September 1, 2008. Minimum
payments are $4,000 per month plus an additional $2,000 per month, depending on
quarterly results of the Company.shareholder. The Company is currently in compliance with
the payment terms ofmade regular monthly payments according to the agreement. In July 2008 the Company paid off the remaining balance due of $95,936. As of May 31, 2010 and 2009 there were $0 due on the note. During 20072010 and 2006,2009, the Company incurred $19,898$0 and $22,355,$1,227, respectively, in interest expense related to the shareholder note payable. As of
May 31, 2007, $0 in accrued interest was due on the promissory note.
During 2005 and 2004, a shareholder/director advanced the Company $0
and $4,000, respectively.$4,000. At May 31, 20072010 and 20062009 $0 and $1,659, respectively, was owed in interest payable on this loan and a previous loan of $10,000. The full amount of the loan was paid off in July 2009.
RENT EXPENSE
During fiscal 2006, $3202009 and from June through November of interest due on the $4,000 was forgiven by the shareholder/director.
During fiscal 2007 a shareholder/director advanced2010 the Company $15,000, $50,000 and $35,000 in short term loans. The loans were repaid in two
days, twenty-five days and fourteen days, respectively. Interest of $388 was
paid on the loans.
RENT EXPENSE
The Company is currently operatingleased its facilities on a month-to-month agreementbasis while it explores various leasing options. Theplanned and executed its move. Those facilities arewere owned and operated by fourMs. Janet Moore (an officer, shareholder and director of the Company's shareholders, oneCompany), Ilse Sultanian, Susan Irani Rigdon and Jennifer Irani, some of whom is an officer and director.
Effective May 1, 2006, the monthlyare shareholders. The rent was set at $14,000 per month. Management believesbelieved that there would behave been no significant difference in the terms of the property rental if the Company was renting from a third party. Total grossrelated party rent expense for this facilityfiscal 2010 was approximately $168,000 and $158,000 during the years ended
May 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Biomerica subleased a portion of its facility under a non-cancelable
operating lease, which expired May 16, 2003 and was month-to-month until April
1, 2006, at which time$84,000.
On June 18, 2009, the Company
returned that spaceentered into an agreement to
the landlord.lease a building in Irvine, California, commencing September 1, 2009 and ending August 31, 2016 with an unaffiliated party. The
Company recordedinitial base
rental incomerent is set at $18,490 with a security deposit of
$15,478 during the year ended May 31,
2006.$22,080. The
facilities are leased from the trustssum of
Mrs. Ilse Sultanian, Ms.
Janet Moore, an officer, director and shareholder of our Company, Jennifer Irani
and Susan Irani. All landlords, are also shareholders$40,568 was due upon execution of the
Company. Gross rent
expense of approximately $168,000lease. In October and
$158,000 was incurred during 2007 and
2006, respectively, for this lease.
As of May 31, 2007, we believe that our facilities and equipment are in
suitable condition and are adequate to satisfy the current requirements of our
Company. However, management is exploring alternative leasing space, which may
be more beneficial to the needs ofNovember 2009 the Company
and allow for a more efficient
operation at a cost effective rate.
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moved its operations to this facility.
ACCRUED COMPENSATION
During fiscal 2002-2005, two officers, who are also shareholders of the Company, agreed to defer payment of a all or a portion of their salaries. At May 31, 2007 approximately $264,5482010 and 2009, $75,686 and $166,768, respectively, of deferred officer's salary is included in accrued compensation in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
During fiscal 2006 one of the officers agreed to participate in the Company's
private placement in part by reducing his accrued compensation by approximately
$20,000 in exchange for restricted common stock. No interest was accrued on the deferred wages until March 2007. As of March 1, 2007 the Company has beenbegan accruing interest at the rate of 8% per year. In October, 2008 the interest rate was decreased to 4% per year. For the yearyears ended May 31, 2007,
$5,3342010 and 2009, $5,098 and $20,187 in interest expense was incurred.
incurred, respectively.
Included in accrued compensation as of May 31, 20072010 and 2009 is vacation accrual of $169,044. Of this,$201,031 and $189,916, respectively. Included in the 2010 and 2009 vacation accrual is approximately $121,000 is due to the former chief executive officer's estate. The Company is disputing the validity of this claim.
LANCER ORTHODONTICS, INC.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Board of Directors reviews, approves and/or ratifies all transactions involving related persons. The purpose of the review is to determine that such transactions are conducted on terms not materially less favorable to the Company than what would be usual and customary in transactions between unrelated persons and, in the case of transactions involving Directors, to determine whether such transactions affect the independence of a Director in accordance with the relevant rules and standards issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
PROPOSAL No. 2: APPROVAL OF THE COMPANY'S 2010 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
On September 23, 2010, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the Company's 2010 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") for 850,000 options, subject to stockholder approval. The Board of Directors believes that the interests of the Company and its stockholders will be best served by approving the Plan. The Company’s 1999 Stock Incentive Plan expired in August 2009 and therefore no additional options may be granted under that plan (existing options may, however, still be exercised). Therefore, the Company has no Stock Incentive Plan under which new shares may be granted at this time. The Board believes the Plan will enhance the Company's ability to recruit and maintain qualified management and personnel by including stock options as part of compensation packages. Options provide an incentive to emp loyees to contribute to the success of the Company which would provide a benefit to employees as well as to the shareholders. In fiscal 2003, Biomerica enteredaddition, it conserves cash flow by having part of an employee’s compensation in the form of options. The following summary description of the Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
PURPOSE. The Plan is intended to provide incentive to employees, officers, directors and others expected to provide significant services to the Company, to encourage proprietary interest in the Company, to encourage such employees to remain in the employ of the Company, to attract new employees with outstanding qualifications, and to afford additional incentive to others to increase their efforts in providing significant services to the Company.
ADMINISTRATION. The Plan will be administered by the Company's Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors (the "Stock Option Committee") which may be established by the Board. Any such Stock Option Committee will at all times be composed of "non-employee directors".
No member of the Stock Option Committee will vote on any matter affecting his or her own compensation with respect to awards under the Plan.
TYPES OF AWARDS. The Company's Plan provides for the grant of (i) incentive stock options ("ISOs") within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and (ii) stock options that are not intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Code ("NQSOs"; collectively with ISOs, "Options"). The Plan also authorizes the award of shares of restricted Common Stock ("Restricted Stock").
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF AWARDS. Options granted under the Plan will vest and become exercisable as determined by the Stock Option Committee or the Board of Directors. Awards will be subject to the terms and restrictions of the awards made by the Stock Option Committee or the Board of Directors. Option and award recipients shall enter into ana written stock option agreement with Lancer (the
Company's former subsidiary) whereby Biomerica agreedthe Company. The Stock Option Committee or the Board of Directors has discretionary authority to payselect participants from among eligible persons and to determine, at the time an initial shelter
feeOption or award is granted, when and in what increments shares covered by the Option or award will vest and may be purchased. In the case of $5,000 with additional paymentsan Option, the Stock Option Committee or the Board of $2,875Directors also has the discretionary authority to determine, at the time su ch Option is granted, whether the Option is intended to be an ISO or a NQSO, provided, however, that certain restrictions applicable to ISOs are mandatory, including a requirement that ISOs not be issued for useless than 100% of the Lancer de Mexico
facilitiesthen fair market value of the Common Stock (110% in the case of a grantee who holds more than 10% of the outstanding Common Stock) and a maximum exercise period of ten (10) years (five (5) years in the case of a grantee who holds more than 10% of the outstanding Common Stock). Fair market value is determined by the Board of Directors or the Stock Option Committee in good faith, for which the Board or Committee may refer to produce and manufacture Biomerica products. The monthly payments
are due as long as Biomerica produces its productsthe price at which the shares traded at the Lancer de Mexico
facility. Atclose of business on the date of valuation as quoted on Yahoo.Finance.com Such determination will be conclusive and binding on all persons.
ELIGIBLE PERSONS. Officers, directors and employees of the Company and other persons expected to provide bona fide services to the Company are eligible to participate in the Plan. ISOs may be granted to the officers and employees of the Company. NQSOs and other awards may be granted to the directors, officers, employees, agents and consultants of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
Under current law, ISOs may not be granted to any director or consultant of the Company who is not an employee.
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. Subject to anti-dilution provisions for stock splits, stock dividends and similar events, the Plan authorizes the grant of Options to purchase up to Eight hundred fifty thousand Thousand (850,000) shares of the Company's Common Stock.
TERM OF THE PLAN. Unless previously terminated by the Board of Directors, the Plan will terminate on September 23, 2020, and no options may be granted under the Plan thereafter, but existing options will remain in effect until the options are exercised or terminated by their terms.
TERM OF OPTIONS. Each stock option must terminate no more than ten (10) years from the date it is granted (or five (5) years in the case of ISOs granted to an employee who is deemed to own in excess of ten percent (10%) of the combined voting power of the Company's outstanding equity stock). Stock options may be granted on terms providing for exercise either in whole or in part at any time or times during their restrictive terms, or only in specified percentages at the stated time periods or intervals during the term of the stock option.
OPTION EXERCISE. The exercise price of any stock option granted under the Plan is payable in full in cash. The Company may provide for other payment mechanisms, including making loans available to option holders to exercise stock options evidenced by a promissory note executed by the option holder, which notes may, but are not required to be secured by a pledge of Common Stock issued upon exercise of the option.
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN. The Board of Directors may, without affecting any outstanding stock options, from time to time revise or amend the Plan, and may suspend or discontinue it at any time. However, no such revision or amendment may, without stockholder approval, increase the number of shares subject to the Plan.
COMMON STOCK. The Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan is currently traded Over-the-Counter under the symbol BMRA.OB. The closing per share market value of the Common Stock on September 23, 2010 (the date of the adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors) was $0.39. Based on this valuation, the Eight Hundred Fifty Thousand (850,000) shares reserved for issuance under the Plan have an aggregate market value of three hundred thirty one thousand five hundred dollars ($331,500).
CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES. Following is a brief summary of the principal federal income tax consequences of awards under the Plan. This summary is not an exhaustive description and does not describe all applicable federal, state or local tax laws.
INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. A Plan participant is not subject to federal income tax at the time of either the grant or the exercise of an ISO. In the year in which an ISO is exercised, however, the amount by which the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock received upon the exercise of an ISO exceeds the exercise price will constitute an adjustment to the option holder's income in computing alternative minimum taxable income. Such adjustment could result in the imposition of, or increase the amount of, the option holder's "alternative minimum tax" under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
If an option holder does not dispose of such shares of Common Stock within two (2) years after the ISO was granted or one (1) year after the ISO was exercised, whichever is later (any such disposition, a "disqualifying event"), then any gain or loss recognized upon such disposition generally will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss. In such event, the Company will not receive a tax deduction on either the exercise of the ISO or on the sale of the underlying Common Stock.
If an option holder makes a "disqualifying disposition," the option holder will realize ordinary income in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date the ISO is exercised minus the exercise price, or (ii) the sales price received by the option holder on the disposition of such Common Stock minus the exercise price. In such event, the Company will be entitled to a deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the option holder. If a sale is a disqualifying disposition, the option holder also may realize short-term or long-term capital gain or loss, if such shares constitute capital assets in an option holder's hands. The gain or loss will be measured by the difference between the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise of the ISO and the sales price of the shares.
NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS. No income is realized by an option holder upon the grant of an NQSO with an exercise price equal to at least the fair market value of the underlying common stock on the date of the grant. Upon the exercise of an NQSO, however, the amount by which the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise exceeds the exercise price will be taxed as ordinary income to an option holder and the Company will be entitled to a deduction in an equal amount. Upon subsequent sales of Common Stock received upon exercise of NQSO's, an option holder may realize short-term or long-term capital gain or loss, depending upon the holding period of the shares, if such shares constitute capital assets in the option holder's hands. The gain or loss will be measured by the difference between the sales price and the tax basis of the shares sold. The tax basis for this purpose will be the sum of the exercise price and the amount of ordinary income realized by the option holder as a
result of such exercise.
RESTRICTED STOCK. Generally, a participant who has been awarded Restricted Stock will not realize taxable income at the time of the award, and the Company will not be entitled to a deduction at that time; provided, however, that the participant may elect to treat the value of the shares as income at the time of receipt (without regard to restrictions) by filing with the IRS (with a copy to the Company) an election under Section 83(b) of the Code no later than thirty (30) days after the issuance date. When the restrictions on the Restricted Stock lapse, the participant will have ordinary income and the Company will have a corresponding deduction. The measure of such income and deduction will be the fair market value of the shares at the time the restrictions lapse.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE 2010 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN.
PROPOSAL NO. 3 RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Under applicable law and the procedures adopted by the Company's Board of Directors, the Audit Committee of the Company's Board of Directors selects the Company's independent public accounting firm for each fiscal year. The Audit Committee has selected PKF, Certified Public Accountants, a Professional Corporation ("PKF") to serve as the Company's independent public accounting firm for the year ending May 31, 2007, Biomerica had paid all applicable shelter fees.
Biomerica also contracts2011. PKF has previously served as the services of certain Lancer employees each
month atCompany's independent public accounting firm commencing with the manufacturing facility. The costs include wages and other related
employment costs, which are billed to Biomerica on a monthly basis. These costs
for the fiscal yearsyear ended May 31, 20072004.
Although shareholder ratification of the Audit Committee's selection of the independent registered public accounting firm is not required by law or the procedures adopted by the Company's Board of Directors, the Audit Committee's selection of PKF as the Company's independent public accounting firm for fiscal year 2011 is being submitted for ratification by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting because the Company's Board of Directors has determined that such ratification is a matter of good corporate governance practice. If this proposal is not approved at the Annual Meeting, the Audit Committee may reconsider its selection of PKF. Even if the selection of PKF is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may select a different registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines th at such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and 2006 were approximately $236,000 and
$154,000, respectively.
PRIVATE PLACEMENT
During fiscal 2006 the Chief Executive Officer purchased 52,000 shares
of restricted common stock with 17,333 warrants at a purchase price of $0.48 per
one share and one-third of a warrant. The shares were paid for with $5,000 cash
and approximately $20,000 reduction in accrued salary.
INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
its shareholders.
It is not expected that a representative of the independent registered public accounting firm of PKF, Certified Public Accountants, a Professional Corporation, the Company's auditor for the fiscal years ended May 31, 20072010 and 2006,2009, and for the current fiscal year, will be present at the Annual Meeting, to
respond to appropriate questions or to makehowever, a statement if he or she so desires.
representative will be attending the meeting telephonically.
AUDIT FEES
The aggregate fees billed for professional services by PKF in 2010 and 2009 were as follows:
| | | 2010 | | | 2009 | |
| | | | | | | |
| Audit fees | | $ | 72,228 | | | $ | 72,182 | |
| Audit related fees | | | -- | | | | -- | |
| Tax fees | | | 6,274 | | | | 6,043 | |
| All other fees | | | -- | | | | 784 | |
| Total | | $ | 78,503 | | | $ | 79,009 | |
Audit Fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit andof our annual financial statements, the audit related feesof our subsidiary's financial statements, the reviews of the Company's and subsidiaries' annual and quarterly
financial statements included in our Forms 10-Q and for the year ended May 31, 2007 was $50,000.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION FEES
There were no fees billedany other services that are normally provided by the principal accountants for professional
servicesPKF in connection with respect to financial information systems designour statutory and implementation
forregulatory filings or engagements.
Audit Related Fees consist of the fiscal year ended May 31, 2007.
ALL OTHER FEES
The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered duringfor assurance and related services that were reasonably related to the fiscal year
ended May 31, 2007, for all other services was $1,732 for general consulting
services andperformance of the audit or review of our financial statements and the 2007 proxy statementfinancial statements of our subsidiary that were not otherwise included in Audit Fees.
Tax Fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice and $5,362tax planning. Included in such Tax Fees were fees for incomepreparation of our tax return
preparation.
returns and consultancy and advice on other tax planning matters.
All Other Fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for products and services provided by PKF and not otherwise included in Audit Fees, Audit Related fees or Tax Fees.
The audit committee has considered that the provision of the above services has not impaired the principal accountant's ability to maintain independence.
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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE PROPOSAL TO RATIFY PKF AS THE COMPANY’S CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
OTHER BUSINESS
Management is not aware of any matters to come before the Annual Meeting other than those stated in this Proxy Statement. However, inasmuch as matters of which management is not now aware may come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof, the Proxy confers discretionary authority with respect to acting thereon, and the persons named in such Proxy intend to vote, act, and consent in accordance with their best judgment with respect thereto.
DIRECTOR ATTENDANCE AT ANNUAL MEETINGS
Our Board of Directors has adopted a policy that encourages our directors to attend our annual stockholder meetings. The annual meeting of stockholders held on November 29, 2006December 3, 2009 was attended by allfour of our incumbent directors. It is expected that all directors will be in attendance at the 2010 Annual Meeting.
ANNUAL REPORT
The Annual Report to Stockholders and Form 10-KSB10-K covering the Company's fiscal year ended May 31, 20072010 are being mailed to stockholders with this Proxy Statement. The Annual Report does not form any part of the material for the solicitation of the Proxy.
COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our stockholders may communicate with our Board of Directors, a committee of our Board of Directors or a director by sending a letter addressed to the Board, a committee or a director c/o Corporate Secretary, Biomerica Inc.,
1533 Monrovia Ave, Newport Beach,17571 Von Karman Avenue, Irvine, California
92663.92614. All communications will be compiled by our corporate Secretary and forwarded to the Board of Directors, the committee or the director accordingly.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Company’s Corporate Governance Policy, and its Policy on Business Conduct and Ethics (“Ethics Policy”) for all directors, officers and employees of the Company, including executive officers, are available on the Company’s web site at www.biomerica.com . Stockholders may also obtain free of charge printed copies of this policy by writing to the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s headquarters.
DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR NEXT ANNUAL MEETING
Any eligible stockholder who desires to have a proposal considered for inclusion in our 20082011 proxy solicitation materials, including director nominations, must cause their proposals to be received in writing by our Secretary at 1533 Monrovia Ave, Newport Beach,17571 Von Karman Avenue, Irvine, California 9266392614 no later than January 3, 2008.May 30, 2011. The Board of Directors will review new proposals from eligible stockholders if they are received in writing by January 3, 2008.May 30, 2011. Proposals must be submitted in accordance with our bylaws and must comply with Securities and Exchange Commission regulations promulgated under Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Any notice to the Secretary must include as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting: (a) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting and the reason for conducting the business at the Annual Meeting, (b) the stockholder's name and address, as they appear on our records, (c) the class and number of shares which the stockholder beneficially owns, (d) any material interest of the stockholder in the business requested to be brought before the meeting and (e) any other information that is required to be provided by the stockholder pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in his or her capacity as a proponent of the stockholder proposal.
A stockholder's notice to the Secretary regarding a nomination for the election of directors must set forth: (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director, (i) the person's name, age, business address and residence address, (ii) the person's principal occupation or employment, (iii) the class and number of shares of capital stock beneficially owned by the person, and (iv) any other information relating to the person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations for proxies for election of directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (b) as to the stockholder giving the notice (i) the name and address of the stockholder, as they appearappe ar on our records, and (ii) the class and number of shares of stock that are beneficially owned by the stockholder on the date of the stockholder notice. If the Board of Directors so requests, any person nominated for election to the Board shall furnish to our Secretary the information required to be set forth in the notice of nomination pertaining to the nominee.
Nothing in this section shall be deemed to require us to include in our proxy solicitation materials relating to any annual meeting any stockholder proposal or nomination that does not meet all of the requirements for inclusion established by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
/S/ ZACKARY S. IRANI,
------------------------------------
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Newport Beach,
Irvine, California
September
28, 2007
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APPENDIX29, 2010EXHIBIT A
BIOMERICA, INC.
2010 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
ARTICLE 1. INTRODUCTION.
The following is the definition of independence asPlan was adopted by the NASDAQ
Stock MarketBoard effective September 23, 2010. The purpose of the Plan is to promote the long-term success of the Company and the definitioncreation of stockholder value by (a) encouraging Employees, Outside Directors and Consultants to focus on critical long-range objectives, (b) encouraging the attraction and retention of Employees, Outside Directors and Consultants with exceptional qualifications and (c) linking Employees, Outside Directors and Consultants directly to stockholder interests through increased stock ownership. The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for Awards in the form of Restricted Shares or Options (which may constitute incentive stock options or nonstatutory stock options).
The Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of California.
ARTICLE 2. ADMINISTRATION.
2.1 COMMITTEE COMPOSITION. The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company, provided the Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a Committee consisting exclusively of two or more Outside Directors of the Company, who shall be appointed by the Board. In addition, the composition of the Committee shall satisfy:
(a) Such requirements as the Securities and Exchange Commission may establish for administrators acting under plans intended to qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3 (or its successor) under the Exchange Act; and
(b) Such requirements as the Internal Revenue Service may establish for outside directors acting under plans intended to qualify for exemption under Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.
2.2 COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES. The Board (or the Committee, if applicable) shall (a) review management's recommendation as to the Employees, Outside Directors and Consultants who are to receive Awards under the Plan, (b) determine the type, number, vesting requirements and other features and conditions of such Awards, (c) interpret the Plan and (d) make all other decisions relating to the operation of the Plan. The Board and Committee may adopt such rules or guidelines as it deems appropriate to implement the Plan. The Board's and Committee's determinations under the Plan shall be final and binding on all persons.
2.3 COMMITTEE FOR NON-OFFICER GRANTS. The Board may also appoint a secondary committee of the Board, which shall be composed of one or more directors of the Company who need not satisfy the requirements of Section 2.1. Such secondary committee may administer the Plan with respect to Employees and Consultants who are not considered officers or directors of the Company under section 16 of the Exchange Act or covered employees under Section 162(m)(3) of the Code, may grant Awards under the Plan to such Employees and Consultants and may determine all features and conditions of such Awards. Within the limitations of this Section 2.3, any reference in the Plan to the Committee shall include such secondary committee.
ARTICLE 3. SHARES AVAILABLE FOR GRANTS.
3.1 BASIC LIMITATION. Common Shares issued pursuant to the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares. The aggregate number of Options and Restricted Shares awarded under the Plan shall not exceed EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND (850,000). The limitations of this Section 3.1 and Section 3.2 shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to Article 9.
3.2 ADDITIONAL SHARES. If Options are forfeited or terminate for any other reason before being exercised, then the corresponding Common Shares shall again become available for the grant of Options or Restricted Shares under the Plan. If Restricted Shares or Common Shares issued upon the exercise of Options are forfeited, then such Common Shares shall again become available for the grant of NSOs and Restricted Shares under the Plan. The aggregate number of Common Shares that may be issued under the Plan upon the exercise of ISOs shall not be increased when Restricted Shares or other Common Shares are forfeited.
ARTICLE 4. ELIGIBILITY.
4.1 NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTIONS AND RESTRICTED SHARES. Only Employees, Outside Directors and Consultants shall be eligible for the grant of NSOs and Restricted Shares.
4.2 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. Only Employees who are employees of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary shall be eligible for the grant of ISOs. In addition, an Employee who owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of outstanding stock of the Company or any of its Parents or Subsidiaries shall not be eligible for the grant of an ISO unless the requirements set forth in section 422(c)(5) of the Code are satisfied.
ARTICLE 5. OPTIONS.
5.1 STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT. Each grant of an Option under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement between the Optionee and the Company. Such Option shall be subject to all applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan. The provisions of the various Stock Option Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical. A Stock Option Agreement may provide that a new Option will be granted automatically to the Optionee when he or she exercises a prior Option and pays the Exercise Price in the form described in Section 6.2.
5.2 NUMBER OF SHARES. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the number of Common Shares subject to the Option and shall provide for the adjustment of such number in accordance with Article 9. The limitations set forth in the preceding sentence shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with Article 9.
5.3 EXERCISE PRICE. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the Exercise Price; provided that the Exercise Price under an ISO shall in no event be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Common Share on the date of grant and the Exercise Price under an NSO shall in no event be less than 85% of the Fair Market Value of a Common Share on the date of grant. In the case of an NSO, a Stock Option Agreement may specify an Exercise Price that varies in accordance with a predetermined formula while the NSO is outstanding.
5.4 VESTING, EXERCISABILITY AND TERM. Unless otherwise provided in the Stock Option Agreement, an Optionee's right to exercise the Option shall vest pro rata over a period of three (3) years with 25% of the Option vesting on the date of grant, and 25% of the Option vesting on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant. The Stock Option Agreement shall also specify the term of the Option; provided that the term of an ISO shall in no event exceed 10 years from the date of grant. A Stock Option Agreement may provide for accelerated exercisability in the event of the Optionee's death, disability or retirement or other events and may provide for expiration prior to the end of its term in the event of the termination of the Optionee's service.
5.5 EFFECT OF CHANGE IN CONTROL. Notwithstanding Section 5.4 above, each Option shall automatically fully vest (e.g., become exercisable) as to all or part of the Common Shares subject to such Option in the event that a Change in Control (as defined in Section 14.4 below) occurs with respect to the Company, subject to the following limitations.
5.6 MODIFICATION OR ASSUMPTION OF OPTIONS. Within the limitations of the Plan, the Board or the Committee may modify, extend or assume outstanding options or may accept the cancellation of outstanding options (whether granted by the Company or by another issuer) in return for the grant of new options for the same or a different number of shares and at the same or a different exercise price. The foregoing notwithstanding, no modification of an Option shall, without the consent of the Optionee, alter or impair his or her rights or obligations under such Option.
5.7 BUYOUT PROVISIONS. The Committee may at any time (a) offer to buy out for a payment in cash or cash equivalents an Option previously granted or (b) authorize an Optionee to elect to cash out the vested portion of an Option previously granted, in either case at such time and based upon such terms and conditions as the Board or the Committee shall establish.
ARTICLE 6. PAYMENT FOR OPTION SHARES.
6.1 GENERAL RULE. The entire Exercise Price of Common Shares issued upon exercise of Options shall be payable in cash or cash equivalents at the time when such Common Shares are purchased, except as follows:
(a) In the case of an ISO granted under the Plan, payment shall be made only pursuant to the express provisions of the applicable Stock Option Agreement. The Stock Option Agreement may specify that payment may be made in any form(s) described in this Article 6.
(b) In the case of an NSO, the Committee may at any time accept payment in any form(s) described in this Article 6.
6.2 EXERCISE/SALE. To the extent that this Section 6.2 is applicable, all or any part of the Exercise Price and any withholding taxes may be paid by delivering (on a form prescribed by the Company) an irrevocable direction to a securities broker approved by the Company to sell all or part of the Common Shares being purchased under the Plan and to deliver all or part of the sales proceeds to the Company.
6.3 EXERCISE/PLEDGE. To the extent that this Section 6.3 is applicable, all or any part of the Exercise Price and any withholding taxes may be paid by delivering (on a form prescribed by the Company) an irrevocable direction to pledge all or part of the Common Shares being purchased under the Plan to a securities broker or lender approved by the Company, as security for a loan, and to deliver all or part of the loan proceeds to the Company.
6.4 PROMISSORY NOTE. To the extent that this Section 6.4 is applicable, all or any part of the Exercise Price and any withholding taxes may be paid by delivering (on a form prescribed by the Company) a full-recourse promissory note, which may include a security interest in the shares issued under the Option. However, the par value of the Common Shares being purchased under the Plan, if newly issued, shall be paid in cash or cash equivalents.
6.5 OTHER FORMS OF PAYMENT. To the extent that this Section 6.5 is applicable, all or any part of the Exercise Price and any withholding taxes may be paid in any other form that is consistent with applicable laws, regulations and rules.
ARTICLE 7.
7.1 ACCELERATED EXERCISABILITY. All NSOs granted to an Outside Director under this Article 7 shall become exercisable in full in the event of:
(a) the termination of such Outside Director's service because of death, total and permanent disability or retirement at or after age 70; or
(b) a Change in Control (as defined in Section 15.4 below) with respect to the Company, except as provided in the next following sentence.
7.2 EXERCISE PRICE. The Exercise Price under all NSOs granted to an Outside Director under this Article 7 shall be equal to 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Common Share on the date of grant, payable in one of the forms described in Sections 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 and 6.4.
7.3 TERM. Unless otherwise provided in the Stock Option Agreement, all NSOs granted to an Outside Director under this Article 7 shall terminate on the earliest of (a) the 10th anniversary of the date of grant, (b) the date 3 months after the termination of such Outside Director's service for any reason other than death, total and permanent disability or retirement at or after age 70 or (c) the date 12 months after the termination of such Outside Director's service because of death, total and permanent disability or retirement at or after age 70.
7.4 AFFILIATES OF OUTSIDE DIRECTORS. The Committee may provide that the NSOs that otherwise would be granted to an Outside Director under this Article 7 shall instead be granted to an affiliate of such Outside Director. Such affiliate shall then be deemed to be an Outside Director for purposes of the Plan, including that the service-related vesting and termination provisions pertaining to the NSOs shall be applied with regard to the service of the Outside Director.
ARTICLE 8. RESTRICTED SHARES.
8.1 RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT. Each grant of Restricted Shares of Common Stock under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Agreement between the recipient and the Company. Such Restricted Shares shall be subject to all applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan. The provisions of the various Restricted Stock Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.
8.2 PAYMENT FOR AWARDS. Subject to the following sentence, Restricted Shares may be sold or awarded under the Plan for such consideration as the Board or the Committee may determine, including (without limitation) cash, cash equivalents, full-recourse promissory notes, past services and future services. To the extent that an Award consists of newly issued Restricted Shares, the Award recipient shall furnish consideration with a value not less than the par value of such Restricted Shares in the form of cash, cash equivalents or past services rendered to the Company (or a Parent or Subsidiary), as the Committee may determine.
8.3 VESTING CONDITIONS. Unless otherwise provided in the Restricted Stock Agreement, the Restricted Shares shall vest pro rata over a period of three (3) years with 25% of the Restricted Shares vesting on the date of grant, and 25% of the Restricted Shares vesting on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant. A Restricted Stock Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting in the event of the Participant's death, disability or retirement or other events. All Restricted Shares shall become vested in the event that a Change in Control (as defined in Section 15.4) occurs with respect to the Company, except as provided in the next following sentence.
8.4 VOTING AND DIVIDEND RIGHTS. The holders of Restricted Shares awarded under the Plan shall have the same voting, dividend and other rights as the Company's other stockholders.
ARTICLE 9. PROTECTION AGAINST DILUTION.
9.1 ADJUSTMENTS. In the event of a subdivision of the outstanding Common Shares, a declaration of a dividend payable in Common Shares, a declaration of a dividend payable in a form other than Common Shares in an amount that has a material effect on the price of Common Shares, a combination or consolidation of the outstanding Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise) into a lesser number of Common Shares, a recapitalization, a spin-off or a similar occurrence, the Board of the Committee shall make such adjustments as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate in one or more of (a) the number of Options and Restricted Shares available for future Awards under Article 3, (b) the limitations set forth in Section 5.2, (c) the number of Common Shares covered by each outstanding Option or (d) the Exercise Price un der each outstanding Option. Except as provided in this Article 9, a Participant shall have no rights by reason of any issue by the Company of stock of any class or securities convertible into stock of any class, any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class, the payment of any stock dividend or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class.
9.2 DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDATION. To the extent not previously exercised, Options shall terminate immediately prior to the dissolution or liquidation of the Company.
9.3 REORGANIZATIONS. In the event that the Company is using in determining
independencea party to a merger or other reorganization, outstanding Options and Restricted Shares shall be subject to the agreement of its board members:
IM-4200 DEFINITION OF INDEPENDENCE -- RULE 4200(A)(15)
Itmerger or reorganization. Such agreement may, but is importantnot required to, provide for investors to have confidence that individuals
serving as independent directors do not have a relationship with the listed
company that would impair their independence. The board has a responsibility to
make an affirmative determination that no such relationships exist through the
application of Rule 4200. Rule 4200 also provides a list of certain
relationships that preclude a board finding of independence. These objective
measures provide transparency to investors and companies, facilitate uniform
applicationone or more of the rules, and ease administration. Because Nasdaq does not
believe that ownershipfollowing: (a) the continuation of company stockthe outstanding Awards by itself would precludethe Company, if the Company is a board findingsurviving corporation, (b) the assumption of independence, it is not included in the aforementioned objective factors. It
should be noted that there are additional, more stringent requirements that
apply to directors serving on audit committees, as specified in Rule 4350.
The Rule's reference tooutstanding Awards by the "company" includes anysurviving corporation or its parent or subsidiary, (c) the substitution by the surviving corporation or its parent or subsidiary of its own awards for the company. outstanding Awards, (d) full exercisability or vesting and accelerated expiration of the outstanding Awards or (e) settlement of the full value of the outstanding Awards
in cash or cash equivalents followed by cancellation of such Awards.
ARTICLE 10. AWARDS UNDER OTHER PLANS.
The term "parentCompany may grant awards under other plans or subsidiary"programs. Such awards may be settled in the form of Common Shares issued under this Plan. Such Common Shares shall be treated for all purposes under the Plan like Restricted Shares and shall, when issued, reduce the number of Common Shares available under Article 3.
ARTICLE 11. LIMITATION ON RIGHTS.
11.1 RETENTION RIGHTS. Neither the Plan nor any Award granted under the Plan shall be deemed to give any individual a right to remain an Employee, Outside Director or Consultant. The Company and its Parents, Subsidiaries and Affiliates reserve the right to terminate the service of any Employee, Outside Director or Consultant at any time, with or without cause, subject to applicable laws, the Company's certificate of incorporation and by-laws and a written employment agreement (if any).
11.2 STOCKHOLDERS' RIGHTS. A Participant shall have no dividend rights, voting rights or other rights as a stockholder with respect to any Common Shares covered by his or her Award prior to the time when a stock certificate for such Common Shares is intendedissued or, in the case of an Option, the time when he or she becomes entitled to cover entitiesreceive such Common Shares by filing a notice of exercise and paying the issuer controlsExercise Price. No adjustment shall be made for cash dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to such time, except as expressly provided in the Plan.
11.3 REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. Any other provision of the Plan notwithstanding, the obligation of the Company to issue Common Shares under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and consolidatesregulations and such approval by any regulatory body as may be required. The Company reserves the right to restrict, in whole or in part, the delivery of Common Shares pursuant to any Award prior to the satisfaction of all legal requirements relating to the issuance of such Common Shares, to their registration, qualification or listing or to an exemption from registration, qualification or listing.
ARTICLE 12. WITHHOLDING TAXES.
12.1 GENERAL. To the extent required by applicable federal, state, local or foreign law, a Participant or his or her successor shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the satisfaction of any withholding tax obligations that arise in connection with the issuer's financial statementsPlan. The Company shall not be required to issue any Common Shares or make any cash payment under the Plan until such obligations are satisfied.
ARTICLE 13. FUTURE OF THE PLAN.
13.1 TERM OF THE PLAN. The Plan, as filed withset forth herein, shall become effective upon approval of the Commission (butPlan by the Company's stockholders (expected to be obtained on or about December 15, 2010). The Plan shall remain in effect until September 23, 2020, unless earlier terminated under Section 13.2, except that no ISOs shall be granted on or after the 10th anniversary of the later of (a) the date when the Board adopted the Plan or (b) the date when the Board adopted the most recent increase in the number of Common Shares available under Article 3 which was approved by the Company's stockholders.
13.2 AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION. The Board may, at any time and for any reason, amend or terminate the Plan. An amendment of the Plan shall be subject to the approval of the Company's stockholders only to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations or rules. No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the termination thereof. The termination of the Plan, or any amendment thereof, shall not affect any Award previously granted under the Plan.
ARTICLE 14. DEFINITIONS.
14.1 "AFFILIATE" means any entity other than a Subsidiary, if the issuer reflectsCompany and/or one or more Subsidiaries own not less than 50% of such entity solely asentity.
14.2 "AWARD" means any award of an investment in its financial statements). The reference to executive officer
means those officers covered in SEC Rule 16a-1(f)Option or a Restricted Share under the Act. InPlan.
14.3 "BOARD" means the contextCompany's Board of Directors, as constituted from time to time.
14.4 "CHANGE IN CONTROL" shall mean:
(a) the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the definitionCompany with or into another entity or any other corporate reorganization, if more than 50% of Family Member under Rule 4200(a)(14), the referencecombined voting power of the continuing or surviving entity's securities outstanding immediately after such merger, consolidation or other reorganization is owned by persons who were not stockholders of the Company immediately prior to marriage is intended to capture relationships specifiedsuch merger, consolidation or other reorganization;
(b) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets;
(c) a change in the Rule (parents,
children and siblings)identity of a majority of the members of the Company's Board of Directors that arisebecomes effective on a single date (provided, however, that the appointments of new directors upon the deaths or resignations of directors by the remaining directors then in office shall not constitute a change in identity with respect to such departed director); or
(d) any transaction as a result of marriage, such as "in-law"
relationships.
The three year look-back periods referencedwhich any person is the "beneficial owner" (as defined in paragraphs (A)Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), (C), (E)
and (F)directly or indirectly, of securities of the Rule commence onCompany representing at least 50% of the date the relationship ceases. For example, a
director employedtotal voting power represented by the company is not independent until three years after such
employment terminates.Company's then outstanding voting securities. For purposes of paragraph (A)this Subsection (d), the term "person" shall have the same meaning as when used in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Rule, employmentExchange Act but shall exclude (i) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or of a Parent or Subsidiary and (ii) a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the comm on stock of the Company. A transaction shall not constitute a directorChange in Control if its sole purpose is to change the state of the Company's incorporation or to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company's securities immediately before such transaction.
14.5 "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
14.6 "COMMITTEE" means a committee of the Board, as described in Article 2.
14.7 "COMMON SHARE" means one share of the common stock of the Company.
14.8 "COMPANY" means Biomerica, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
14.9 "CONSULTANT" means a consultant or adviser who provides bona fide services to the Company, a Parent, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate as an executive officer on an interim basisindependent contractor. Service as a Consultant shall not disqualify that director from
being considered independent following such employment, provided the interim
employment did not last longer than one year. A director would not be considered independent while serving as an interim officer. Similarly,employment for all purposes of paragraph (B)the Plan, except as provided in Section 4.2.
14.10 "EMPLOYEE" means an employee of the Rule, compensation received byCompany, a directorParent, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate.
14.11 "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
14.12 "EXERCISE PRICE" means the amount for former
service as an interim executive officer need notwhich one Common Share may be considered as compensation
in determining independence after such service, provided such interim employment
did not last longer than one year. Nonetheless, the issuer's board of directors
still must consider whether such former employment and any compensation received
would interfere with the director'spurchased upon exercise of independent judgment in carrying
out the responsibilities of a director. In addition. if the director
participatedsuch Option, as specified in the preparationapplicable Stock Option Agreement.
14.13 "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means the market price of Common Shares, determined by the Board or the Committee in good faith on such basis as it deems appropriate. Whenever possible, the determination of Fair Market Value by the Committee shall be based on the prices reported in The Wall Street Journal. Such determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.
14.14 "ISO" means an incentive stock option described in section 422(b) of the company's financial statements while
serving as an interim executive officer. Rule 4350(d)(2)(A)(iii) would preclude
service on the audit committee for three years.
Paragraph (B)Code.
14.15 "NSO" means a stock option not described in sections 422 of the Rule is generally intended to capture situations
where a compensation is made directly to (or for the benefit of) the directorCode.
14.16 "OPTION" means an ISO or
a Family Member of the director. For example, consulting or personal service
contracts with a director or Family Member of the director would be analyzed
under paragraph (B) of the Rule. In addition, political contributions to the
campaign of a director or a Family Member of the director would be considered
indirect compensation under paragraph (B). Non-preferential payments made in the
ordinary course of providing business services (such as payments of interest or
proceeds related to banking services or loans by an issuer that is a financial
institution or payment of claims on a policy by an issuer that is an insurance
company), payments arising solely from investments in the company's securities
and loans permitted under Section 13(k) of the Act will not preclude a finding
of director independence as long as the payments are non-compensatory in nature.
Depending on the circumstances, a loan or payment could be compensatory if, for
example, it is not on terms generally available to the public.
Paragraph (D) of the Rule is generally intended to capture payments to
an entity with which the director or Family Member of the director is affiliated
by serving as a partner, controlling shareholder or executive officer of such
entity. Under exceptional circumstances, such as where a director has direct,
significant business holdings, it may be appropriate to apply the corporate
measurements in paragraph (D), rather than the individual measurements of
paragraph (B). Issuers should contact Nasdaq if they wish to apply the Rule in
this manner. The reference to a partner in paragraph (D) is not intended to
include limited partners. It should be noted that the independence requirements
of paragraph (D) of the Rule are broader than SEC Rule 10A-3(e)(8)NSO granted under the
Act.
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Under paragraph (D), a directorPlan and entitling the holder to purchase Common Shares. 14.17 "OPTIONEE" means an individual or estate who is, or who has a Family Member who
is,holds an executive officer of a charitable organization may not be considered
independent if the company makes payments to the charity in excess of the
greater of 5% of the charity's revenues or $200,000. However, Nasdaq encourages
companies to consider other situations where a director or their Family Member
and the company each have a relationship with the same charity when assessing
director independence.
For purposes of determining whether a lawyer is eligible to serve on an
audit committee, SEC Rule 10A-3 under the Act generally provides that any
partner in a law firm that receives payments from the issuer is ineligible to
serve on that issuer's audit committee. In determining whether a director may be
considered independent for purposes other than the audit committee, payments to
a law firm would generally be considered under Rule 4200(a)(15)(D), which looks
to whether the payment exceeds the greater of 5% of the recipient's gross
revenues or $200,000; however, if the firm is a sole proprietorship, Rule
4200(a)(15)(B), which looks to whether the payment exceeds $100,000, applies.
Paragraph (G) of the Rule provides a different measurement for
independence for investment companies in order to harmonize with the Investment
Company Act of 1940. In particular, in lieu of paragraphs (A)-(F), a director
who is an "interested person" of the company as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of
the Investment Company Act of 1940, other than in his or her capacity asOption.
14.18 "OUTSIDE DIRECTOR" shall mean a member of the board of directors or any board committee,Board who is not an Employee. Service as an Outside Director shall not be considered independent.
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Amendedemployment for all purposes of the Plan, except as provided in Section 4.2.
14.19 "PARENT" means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the Company owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain. A corporation that attains the status of a Parent on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Parent commencing as of such date.
14.20 "PARTICIPANT" means an individual or estate who holds an Award.
14.21 "PLAN: means this Biomerica, Inc. 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.
14.22 "RESTRICTED SHARE" means a Common Share awarded under the Plan.
14.23 "RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT" means the agreement between the Company and the recipient of a Restricted Share that contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to such Restricted Share.
14.24 "STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT" means the agreement between the Company and an Optionee that contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to his or her Option.
14.25 "SUBSIDIARY" means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain. A corporation that attains the status of a Subsidiary on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Subsidiary commencing as of such date.
ARTICLE 15. EXECUTION.
To record the adoption of the Plan by
SR-NASDAQ-2006-041 eff. Mar. 13, 2007.
Amended by SR-NASDAQ-2006-021 eff. Oct. 6, 2006
Adopted by SEC Release 34-53128 (Jan. 13, 2006).
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REVOCABLE PROXYthe Board, the Company has caused its duly authorized officer to execute this document in the name of the Company.
BIOMERICA, INC. ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
NOVEMBER 29, 2007
The undersigned stockholder(s) of Biomerica, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company") hereby nominates, constitutes and appoints
By: /s/ Janet Moore his, her or its true and lawful agent and proxy, with full power
Name: Janet Moore
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Date approved by Board of substitution, to vote all the shares of stock of the Company which the
undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of the Company to be held
at the offices of the Company, 1533 Monrovia Avenue, Newport Beach, California
92663 at 10:00 a.m., and any and all adjournments thereof, with respect to the
matters described in the accompanying Proxy Statement, and, in her discretion,
on such other matters which properly come before the Annual Meeting, as fully
and with the same force and effect as the undersigned might or could do if
personally present thereat, as follows:
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR PROPOSAL 1.
1. _______ FOR all nominees ________ WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE
(Except as listed below) (As to all nominees)
Nominees: Dr. Francis R. Cano; Zackary Irani; Allen Barbieri;
Janet Moore; Dr. Jane Emerson; and John Roehm.
Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee,
write the nominee's name in the space provided below.
________________________________________________________________________________
_____For ____Against ____Abstain
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND
MAY BE REVOKED PRIOR TO ITS EXERCISE.
PLEASE SIGN AND DATE ON REVERSE SIDE.
-16-
THE PROXY CONFERS AUTHORITY TO VOTE AND UNLESS SPECIFIED OTHERWISE
SHALL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSAL 1 AND WILL BE VOTED BY THE PROXY HOLDER AT HIS, HER
OR ITS DISCRETION AS TO ANY OTHER MATTERS PROPERLY TRANSACTED AT THE MEETING.
Dated: ______________________
____________________________________________
(Please Print Name)
____________________________________________
(Signature of Stockholder)
____________________________________________
(Please Print Name)
____________________________________________
(Signature of Stockholder)
(Please date this Proxy and sign your name as it appears on your stock
certificate(s). Executors, administrators, trustees, etc., should give their
full titles. All joint owners should sign.)
I (We) do do not
- --------- ------
expect to attend the meeting.
-17-Directors: September 23, 2010
Date Approved by Shareholders: _______________________________