UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment

(Amendment No. )

 

Filed by the Registrant

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant

Check the appropriate box:

Preliminary Proxy Statement

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

Definitive Proxy Statement

Definitive Additional Materials

Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-12

CUE BIOPHARMA, INC. Preliminary Proxy Statement

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

Definitive Proxy Statement

Definitive Additional Materials

Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

Cue Biopharma, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Thanother than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box)all boxes that apply):

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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials

Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11

 

No fee required.

 

Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

(1)

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: N/A

(2)

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: N/A

(3)

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): N/A

(4)

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: N/A

(5)

Total fee paid: N/A

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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

(1)

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(4)

Date Filed: N/A

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LOGOCUE BIOPHARMA, INC.

21 Erie40 Guest Street

Cambridge, MA 02139Boston, Massachusetts 02135

May 1, 2018April 26, 2024

Dear Stockholder:To our Stockholders:

YouWe are cordially invitedpleased to invite you to attend the annual meeting of stockholders of Cue Biopharma, Inc. to be held, or the Annual Meeting, on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at 9:00 a.m., local time, on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, at the offices of K&L Gates LLP located at State Street Financial Center, 19th Floor, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts.

Eastern Time. We are using a virtual format for the “Notice and Access” method of providing proxy materials to youAnnual Meeting. The Annual Meeting will be conducted exclusively via the internet. We believe that this process should provideInternet, and there will not be a physical meeting location. You may attend the Annual Meeting online at www.proxydocs.com/CUE, where you with a convenient and quick waywill be able to access your proxy materials and vote your shares while allowing uselectronically during the meeting and submit questions during the meeting. In order to conserve natural resourcesattend the Annual Meeting online, you must register in advance at www.proxydocs.com/CUE prior to June 4, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Upon completing your registration, you will receive further instructions via email, including your unique links that will allow you access to the meeting and reducepermit you to submit questions. Please follow the costs of printing and distributinginstructions found on your Notice Regarding the proxy materials. On or about May 1, 2018, we are mailing to our stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, (the “Notice”) containingProxy Card and/or Voting Instruction Card and subsequent instructions on howthat will be delivered to access our proxy statement and vote electronicallyyou via the internet or by telephone. email.

The Notice also contains instructions on how to receive a paper copy of your proxy materials.

We look forward to your attending either in person or by proxy. Further details regarding the matters to be acted upon at this meeting appear in the Notice and Proxy Statement. Please give this material your careful attention.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Daniel R. Passeri

Daniel R. Passeri

Chief Executive Officer, President and Director


LOGO

CUE BIOPHARMA, INC.

21 Erie Street

Cambridge, MA 02139

NOTICE OF 2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

to be held on June 12, 2018

To the Stockholders of Cue Biopharma, Inc.:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 20182024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the Proxy Statement contain details of Cue Biopharma, Inc., a Delaware corporation, willthe business to be held on 9:00 a.m., local time, on Tuesday, June 12, 2018conducted at the offices of K&L Gates LLP located at State Street Financial Center, 19th Floor, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MassachusettsAnnual Meeting, including the nominees for the following purposes:

1.To elect the seven nominees to the Board of Directors nominated by the Board of Directors.

2.To ratify the appointment of Gumbiner Savett Inc. as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2018.

3.To transact such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

In accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission rules, we are furnishing these proxy materials and our 2017 Annual Report to Stockholders via the internet. On or about May 1, 2018, we mailed to stockholderselection as of the record date a notice with instructions on how to access our annual meeting materials and vote via the internet, by mail or telephone.

directors. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 23, 2018, the record date fixed by the Board of Directors, are12, 2024 will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annualAnnual Meeting.

Your vote is important. Regardless of whether you plan to attend the Annual Meeting online, we hope that you will vote as soon as possible. You may vote by proxy over the Internet, by telephone, or by mail by following the instructions on the Proxy Card or Voting Instruction Card. Voting over the internet or by telephone, written proxy or voting instruction card will ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting regardless of whether you attend the meeting online.

Thank you for your ongoing support of, and continued interest in, Cue Biopharma.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Daniel R. Passeri

Daniel R. Passeri

Chief Executive Officer


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CUE BIOPHARMA, INC.

40 Guest Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02135

NOTICE OF 2024 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held on Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Dear Stockholder:

You are cordially invited to the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or the Annual Meeting, of Cue Biopharma, Inc. The Annual Meeting will be held exclusively via the Internet in a virtual meeting format at www.proxydocs.com/CUE on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The stockholders will consider and vote on the following matters:

1.
The election of six nominees to the Board of Directors;
2.
The ratification of the appointment of RSM US LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024;
3.
The approval, on a non-binding advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers; and
4.
The transaction of any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. If you plan to

You may attend the annualAnnual Meeting online at www.proxydocs.com/CUE, where you will be able to submit questions during the meeting. Prior to the meeting, and during the meeting until polls are closed, you require directions, please call us at (617) 949-2680.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

/s/ Colin Sandercock

Colin Sandercock

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Cambridge, Massachusetts

May 1, 2018


PROXY STATEMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GENERAL INFORMATION

1

PROPOSAL 1—ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

7

INFORMATION CONCERNING EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

10

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES AND BOARD MATTERS

12

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS COMMITTEES

15

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

17

COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

18

PROPOSAL 2—RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

23

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

24

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

25

OTHER BUSINESS

25

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON JUNE 12, 2018

25

i


LOGO

may vote by logging into www.proxypush.com/CUE BIOPHARMA, INC.

21 Erie Street

Cambridge, MA 02139

PROXY STATEMENT

The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Cue Biopharma, Inc. (the “Company,” “Cue Biopharma,” “we,” “us” or “our”) is providing these materials to you in connection with Cue Biopharma’s annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). The Annual Meeting will take place using your stockholder information provided on 9:00 a.m., local time, on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at the offices of K&L Gates LLP located at State Street Financial Center, 19th Floor, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts. This proxy statement and the form of proxy are being made available, and the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) is being mailed,described below. Stockholders will not be able to stockholdersattend the Annual Meeting in person. In order to attend the Annual Meeting online, you must register in advance at www.proxydocs.com/CUE prior to June 4, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Upon completing your registration, you will receive further instructions via email. Please follow the instructions found on your Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials, Proxy Card and/or about May 1, 2018.Voting Instruction Card and subsequent instructions that will be delivered to you via email. We believe that hosting a virtual meeting will enable greater stockholder attendance and participation from any location around the world.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Why am I receiving these materials?

You have received these proxy materials becauseStockholders of record at the Board is soliciting your proxyclose of business on April 12, 2024 will be entitled to notice of and to vote your shares atelectronically during the Annual Meeting. This proxy statement includes information that we are required to provide to you under Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules and is designed to assist you in voting your shares.

Pursuant to the “notice and access” rules adopted by the SEC, weMeeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. We have elected to provide stockholders access to our proxy materials over the internet. Accordingly, we sentInternet under the Notice to all of our stockholders as of the record date. The Notice includes instructions on how to accessSecurities and Exchange Commission’s “notice and access” rules. We believe that providing our proxy materials over the internetInternet expedites stockholders’ receipt of proxy materials, lowers costs and howreduces the environmental impact of our Annual Meeting.


We encourage all stockholders to request a printed copy of these materials. In addition, by followingattend the Annual Meeting online. However, whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting online, we encourage you to read the Proxy Statement and submit your proxy or voting instructions as soon as possible. Please review the instructions in the Notice, stockholders may request to receive proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically by email on an ongoing basis.

What is a proxy?

The Board is asking for your proxy. This means you authorize persons selected by ushow to vote your shares atonline during the Annual Meeting as described in the way that you instruct. All shares represented by valid proxies received beforeProxy Statement.

By the Order of the Board of Directors,

/s/ Colin Sandercock

Colin Sandercock

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Boston, Massachusetts

April 26, 2024

Important Notice Regarding Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the 2024 Annual Meeting willof Stockholders to be voted in accordance with the stockholder’s specific voting instructions.

What is included in these materials?

These materials include:

this proxy statement for the Annual Meeting;

a proxy card for the Annual Meeting; and

the 2017Held on June 5, 2024: This Proxy Statement, our 2023 Annual Report to Stockholders, which includes our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.2023, and a proxy card are available at www.proxydocs.com/CUE. These documents are also available to any stockholder who wishes to receive a paper copy by calling (866) 648-8133, visiting www.investorelections.com/CUE or emailing paper@investorelections.com.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING

1

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING

2

PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

8

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

11

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

21

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

22

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

30

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS

31

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

32

PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

34

PROPOSAL 3: ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

35

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR OUR 2025 ANNUAL MEETING

36

HOUSEHOLDING OF ANNUAL MEETING MATERIALS

36

OTHER MATTERS

36


 

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CUE BIOPHARMA, INC.

What items40 Guest Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02135

PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE 2024 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held on Wednesday, June 5, 2024

INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING

This Proxy Statement contains information about our 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, or the Annual Meeting. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The Annual Meeting will be held exclusively via the Internet in a virtual meeting format at www.proxydocs.com/CUE. There will not be a physical meeting location, and stockholders will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. Except where the context otherwise requires, references to “Cue Biopharma,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms refer to Cue Biopharma, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiary. References to our website are inactive textual references only and the contents of our website are not incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement.

This Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card are being furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our board of directors for use at the Annual Meeting and at any adjournment or postponement of that meeting. All proxies will be voted in accordance with the instructions they contain. If you do not specify your voting instructions on your proxy, it will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of our board of directors. We are making this Proxy Statement, the related proxy card and our annual report to stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, or our 2023 Annual Report, available to stockholders for the first time on or about April 26, 2024.

A copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, except for exhibits, will be furnished without charge to any stockholder upon written or oral request to Secretary, Cue Biopharma, Inc., 40 Guest Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02135, by calling (866) 648-8133, by emailing paper@investorelections.com or by submitting a request over the Internet at www.investorelections.com/CUE. This Proxy Statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 are also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING

Q. Why do I have access to these materials?

A. We have made these proxy materials available to you because our board of directors is soliciting your proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting?Meeting to be held on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, including at any adjournment or postponement of the meeting. As a holder of record of common stock as of the close of business on April 12, 2024, you are invited to attend the Annual Meeting online and are requested to vote on the items of business described in this Proxy Statement. This Proxy Statement includes information that we are required to provide to you under the rules adopted by the SEC and that is designed to assist you in voting your shares.

There are two proposals scheduledQ. Why did I receive a notice in the mail regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials instead of a full set of proxy materials?

A. In accordance with SEC rules, we have elected to provide access to our proxy materials, including this Proxy Statement and our 2023 Annual Report, over the Internet. Accordingly, we have sent a Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials, or the Notice, to our stockholders of record entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting with instructions for accessing the proxy materials and voting over the Internet or by telephone prior to the Annual Meeting. We will mail the Notice on or about April 26, 2024 to all stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

All stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will have the ability to access the proxy materials by visiting the website referred to in the Notice, www.proxydocs.com/CUE. This makes the proxy distribution process more efficient and less costly and helps conserve natural resources. The Notice also contains instructions to request to receive a printed set of the proxy materials. You may request the proxy materials over the Internet at www.investorelections.com/CUE, by emailing paper@investorelections.com, or by calling (866) 648-8133.

The Notice also identifies the date and time of, and website for, the Annual Meeting; the matters to be acted upon at the meeting and our board of directors’ recommendation with regard to each matter; a toll-free telephone number, an email address, and a website where stockholders can request to receive, free of charge, a paper or email copy of the Proxy Statement, our 2023 Annual Report, and a proxy card relating to the Annual Meeting; and information on how to access and vote the proxy card.

Q. Can I vote my shares by filling out and returning the Notice?

A. No. The Notice identifies the items to be voted on at the Annual Meeting:Meeting, but you cannot vote by marking the Notice and returning it. The Notice provides instructions on how to vote over the Internet or by telephone, by requesting and returning a printed proxy card, or by registering to vote online during the Annual Meeting.

Q. What does it mean if I receive more than one Notice?

A. If you receive more than one Notice, your shares may be registered in more than one name or in different accounts. Please follow the voting instructions on the Notices to ensure that all of your shares are voted.

Q. What is the purpose of the Annual Meeting?

A. At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will consider and vote on the following matters:

the(1)
The election of six directors, Frederick Driscoll, Pamela Garzone, Peter A. Kiener, Frank Morich, Daniel Passeri, and Patrick Verheyen, for a one-year term expiring at the nominees to the Board nominated by our Board2025 annual meeting of Directors;stockholders and until their respective successors have duly been elected and qualified (Proposal 1).

the(2)
The ratification of the Audit Committee’s appointment of Gumbiner Savett Inc. (“Gumbiner Savett”)RSM US LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018.2024 (Proposal 2).

(3)
The Board is not awareapproval, on a non-binding advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers (Proposal 3).
(4)
The transaction of any other matters to be broughtbusiness that may properly come before the Annual Meeting. If other matters are properly raisedMeeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

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Q. Why is the Annual Meeting of stockholders a virtual, online meeting?

A. The Annual Meeting will be a virtual meeting of stockholders where stockholders will participate by accessing a website using the Internet. There will not be a physical meeting location. We believe that hosting a virtual meeting will facilitate stockholder attendance and participation at our Annual Meeting by enabling stockholders to participate from any location around the world. Our virtual meeting will be governed by our Rules of Conduct and Procedures which will be posted during the meeting at www.proxydocs.com/CUE. We have designed the proxy holders mayvirtual annual meeting to provide the same rights and opportunities to participate as stockholders would have at an in-person meeting, including the right to vote any shares represented by proxy in their discretion.and ask questions through the virtual meeting platform.

What are the Board’s voting recommendations?

The Board recommends that you vote your shares:

FOR the nominees to the Board; and

FOR the ratification of the Audit Committee’s appointment of Gumbiner Savett as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2018.

Who canQ. How do I virtually attend the Annual Meeting?

Admission toA. We will host the Annual Meeting live online via webcast at www.proxydocs.com/CUE. In order to attend the Annual Meeting online, you must register at www.proxydocs.com/CUE prior to June 4, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Upon completing your registration, you will receive further instructions via email, including your unique links that will allow you access to the meeting, permit you to submit questions and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Please be sure to follow your Notice, proxy card and/or voting instruction card and subsequent instructions that will be delivered to you via email. After you register, you will receive a confirmation email, which will alert you to further instructions. Approximately one hour before the start of the meeting, you will receive another email that will give you direct instructions to attend the meeting and allow you to ask questions during the meeting. If you have difficulties during registration or checking in in advance of the meeting, technical support is limited to:available during those times, and you should follow the instructions found on the registration page and in your emails. Online registration for the Annual Meeting will begin on or around April 26, 2024.

The webcast of the Annual Meeting will start on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Instructions on how to attend and participate in the meeting online will be sent to you via email, upon completing your registration.

Q. Who can vote?

A. Only stockholders as of record at the close of business on April 23, 2018 (the “record date”);

holders of valid proxies12, 2024, the record date for the Annual Meeting; and

our invited guests.

Each stockholder may be asked to present valid picture identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, and proof of stock ownership as of the record date.

When is the record date and who is entitled to vote?

The Board set April 23, 2018 as the record date. All record holders of Cue Biopharma common stock as of the close of business on that dateMeeting, are entitled to vote.vote at the Annual Meeting. On this record date, there were 48,643,316 shares of our common stock outstanding. Common stock is our only class of stock outstanding.

Q. How many votes do I have?

A. Each share of our common stock is entitled to one vote.

What is a stockholder of record?

A stockholder of record or registered stockholder is a stockholder whose ownership of Cue Biopharma stock is reflected directly on the books and records of our transfer agent, Corporate Stock Transfer, Inc. Ifthat you hold stock through an account with a bank, broker or similar organization, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and are not a stockholder of record. For shares held in street name, the stockholder of record is your bank, broker or similar organization. We only have access to stock ownership information for registered stockholders. If you are not a stockholder of record, we will require additional documentation to evidence your stock ownershipown as of the record date, suchApril 12, 2024, entitles you to one vote on each matter that is voted on.

Q. Is my vote important?

A. Your vote is important no matter how many shares you own. Please take the time to vote. Take a moment to read the instructions, choose the way to vote that is the easiest and most convenient for you and cast your vote as a copysoon as possible.

Q. How do I vote?

A. If you are the “record holder” of your shares, meaning that you own your shares in your own name and not through a bank, brokerage account statement, a letter from your broker, bankfirm or other nominee, you may vote:

(1)
Over the Internet or a copyby Telephone: You may submit your voting instructions by proxy, by phone or via the internet by following the instructions provided in the Notice or the proxy card. If you vote over the Internet, you do not need to complete and mail your proxy card or vote your proxy by telephone. Your vote must be received by 8:59 a.m. Eastern Time on June 5, 2024 to be counted.
(2)
By Mail: To vote using the printed proxy card that may be delivered to you upon request, simply complete, sign and date the proxy card and return it promptly in the postage prepaid envelope provided to Proxy Tabulator for Cue Biopharma, Inc., c/o Mediant Communications Inc., P.O. Box 8016, Cary, North Carolina 27512-9903. If you vote by mail, you do not need to vote over the Internet or by telephone. If we receive the proxy card no later than June 4, 2024, we will vote your shares as you direct.
(3)
Online During the Annual Meeting: You may vote by attending the Annual Meeting online. Please log onto www.proxypush.com/CUE and enter your stockholder information provided on the Notice previously mailed to you to register prior to the registration deadline of June 4, 2024 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time in order to attend the Annual Meeting.

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You can submit your vote at www.proxypush.com/CUE. Please be sure to follow instructions found on your Notice, proxy card and/or voting instruction card. As described below,card and subsequent instructions that will be delivered to you via email. If you vote by proxy prior to the Annual Meeting and choose to attend the Annual Meeting online, there is no need to vote again during the Annual Meeting unless you wish to change your vote.

If your shares are held in “street name,” meaning they are held for your account by a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee, you may vote:

(1)
Over the Internet or by Telephone: You will receive instructions from your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee if they permit Internet or telephone voting. You should follow those instructions.
(2)
By Mail: You will receive instructions from your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee explaining how you are notcan vote your shares by mail. You should follow those instructions.
(3)
Online During the Annual Meeting: You must request a stockholder of record,legal proxy from your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee in order to vote during the Annual Meeting. In addition, you will notneed your control number included on your Notice, proxy card or voting instruction card in order to demonstrate proof of beneficial ownership and to be able to vote during the Annual Meeting.

Q. Can I change my vote?

A. If your shares unlessare registered directly in your name, you have a proxy from the stockholder of record authorizing you to vote your shares.

How do I vote?

You may vote by any of the following methods:

In person. Stockholders of record and beneficial stockholders with shares held in street name may vote in person at the meeting. If you hold shares in street name, you must also obtain a proxy from the stockholder of record authorizing you to vote your shares.

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By mail (if you received a paper copy of the proxy materials by mail). Stockholders of record may vote by signing and returning the proxy card provided.

By phone or via the Internet. You may vote by proxy, by phone or via the Internet by following the instructions provided in the Notice or the proxy card included with a paper copy of the proxy statement.

Beneficial owners of shares held in “street name.” You may vote by following the voting instructions provided to you by your bank or broker.

How can I change or revoke my vote?

If you are a stockholder of record, you may change or revoke your proxy any timeand change your vote by following one of the below procedures:

(1)
Vote over the Internet or by telephone as instructed above under “Over the Internet or by Telephone.” Only your latest Internet or telephone vote is counted. You may not change your vote over the Internet or by telephone after 8:59 a.m. Eastern Time, on June 5, 2024.
(2)
Sign and complete a new proxy card and send it by mail to Proxy Tabulator for Cue Biopharma, Inc., c/o Mediant Communications Inc., P.O. Box 8016 Cary, North Carolina 27512-9903. Mediant must receive the proxy card no later than June 4, 2024. Only your latest dated proxy will be counted.
(3)
Virtually attend the Annual Meeting online and vote online as instructed above. Attending the Annual Meeting alone will not revoke your Internet vote, telephone vote or proxy submitted by mail, as the case may be.
(4)
Give our corporate secretary written notice before it is votedor at the Annual Meeting by:

that you want to revoke your proxy. Such written notice should be sent to Cue Biopharma, Inc., Attention: Secretary, 40 Guest Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02135.

timely delivering a properly executed, later-dated proxy or submitting a proxy withIf your shares are held in “street name,” you may submit new voting instructions using the telephonewith a later date by contacting your bank, brokerage firm or internet voting system;

delivering a written revocation of your proxy to our Secretary at our principal executive offices; or

voting in personother nominee. You may also vote virtually at the meeting.

If you hold your shares beneficially in street name, you may change your vote by submitting newAnnual Meeting, which will have the effect of revoking any previously submitted voting instructions, toif you obtain a legal proxy from your bank, brokerbrokerage firm or other nominee followingas described in the instructions they provide.answer to the question “How do I vote?” above.

What happensQ. Will my shares be voted if I do not return my proxy or do not give specific voting instructions?

Stockholders of record.A.If your shares are registered directly in your name, your shares will not be voted if you do not vote over the Internet, by telephone or by returning your proxy card by mail or online while virtually attending the Annual Meeting. If you are a stockholder of record and you submit your proxy or sign and return a proxy card without giving specific voting instructions, then the proxy holders will vote your shares in the manner recommended by the Boardboard on all matters presented in this proxy statementProxy Statement and as the proxy holders may determine in their discretion for any other matters properly presented for a vote at the meeting.

Beneficial owners ofIf your shares are held in “street name.name, If you are a beneficial owner of your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee may under certain circumstances vote your shares held in street name andif you do not provide the organization that holdsreturn your voting instructions. Banks, brokerage firms and other nominees can vote your shares with specificon discretionary matters in the absence of voting instructions, the organization that holds your shares may generally vote on routine matters but cannot vote on non-routine matters. If the organization that holds your shares does not receive instructions from you on howbut they will not be allowed to vote your shares on a non-routine matter,with respect to non-discretionary matters such as the organization that holdselection of directors. If you do not return voting instructions to your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee to vote your shares, your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee may, on discretionary matters, either vote your shares or leave your shares unvoted.

Your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee cannot vote your shares on any matter that is not considered discretionary. Proposal 1 (the election of directors) and Proposal 3 (the advisory vote on the compensation paid to our named executive officers) are not considered discretionary matters. If you do not instruct your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee how to vote with respect to these proposals, your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee may not vote with respect to these proposals and those

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votes will inform the inspector of electionbe counted as “broker non-votes.” “Broker non-votes” are shares that are held in “street name” by a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee that indicates on its proxy that it does not have theor did not exercise discretionary authority to vote on this matter with respect to your shares. This is referred to as a “broker non-vote.”

Which ballot measures are considered “routine” or “non-routine”?

The election of directors (“particular matter. Proposal 1”) is considered to be a non-routine matter under applicable rules. A broker or other nominee cannot vote without instructions on non-routine matters, and therefore there may be broker non-votes on Proposal 1.

The2 (the ratification of the appointment of Gumbiner SavettRSM US LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2018 (“Proposal 2”)the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024) is considered to be a routinediscretionary matter, under applicable rules. A brokerand we expect that your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee may generallywill be able to exercise discretionary authority to vote on routine matters,this proposal even if it does not receive voting instructions from you, so we do not expect therelong as it holds your shares in its name. We encourage you to provide voting instructions to your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee. This ensures that your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting according to your instructions. You should receive directions from your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee about how to submit your voting instructions.

Q. May I see a list of stockholders entitled to vote as of the record date?

A. A list of stockholders as of the close of business on the record date will be available for examination by the stockholders for any broker non-votes with respectpurpose germane to Proposal 2.

What is the quorummeeting for a period of 10 days ending on the day before the Annual Meeting, and during the Annual Meeting, using the unique link provided via email following the completion of registration for the Annual Meeting?Meeting.

The presence in person or by proxy ofQ. How many shares must be represented to hold the holders representing aAnnual Meeting?

A. A majority of our shares of common stock issued and outstanding at the combined voting power of outstanding capital stockrecord date and entitled to vote is necessary forat the transaction of business atAnnual Meeting must be present virtually or represented by proxy to hold the Annual Meeting. This is called a quorum.

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What is the voting requirement to approve each of the proposals?

The following are the voting requirements for each proposal:

Proposal 1: Election of Directors. The seven nominees receiving the highest number of votes will be elected as directors.

Proposal 2: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The Audit Committee’s appointment of Gumbiner Savett as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2018 may be ratified by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of stock of the Company which are present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon.

How are abstentions and broker non-votes treated?

Broker non-votes and abstentions are counted for For purposes of determining whether a quorum isexists, we count as present any shares that are voted over the Internet, by telephone, by completing and submitting a proxy card by mail or that are represented virtually at the Annual Meeting. However,meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes count as present for purposes of establishing a quorum. If a quorum is not present, we expect to adjourn the Annual Meeting until we obtain a quorum.

As of the record date, April 12, 2024, approximately 48,643,316 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding.

Q. What vote is required to approve each matter and how are votes counted?

A. Proposal 1 - Election of Directors

The six nominees for director to receive the highest number of votes FOR election will be elected as directors. This is called a plurality. Proposal 1 is not considered a discretionary matter. Therefore, if your shares are held by your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee in “street name” and you do not provide voting instructions with respect to your shares, your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee cannot vote your shares on Proposal 1. Shares held in “street name” by banks, brokerage firms or other nominees who indicate on their proxies that they do not have authority to vote the shares on Proposal 1 will not be counted as votes entitled to vote onFOR or WITHHELD from any non-routine proposal considered at the Annual Meeting and, therefore,nominee. As a result, such “broker non-votes” will have no effect on the proposal regardingvoting on Proposal 1. You may:

vote FOR each nominee;
vote FOR a particular nominee or nominees and WITHHOLD your vote from the other nominees; or
WITHHOLD your vote from each nominee.

Votes that are withheld will not be included in the vote tally for the election of directors. We expect no broker non-votesdirectors and will not affect the results of the vote.

Proposal 2 - Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To approve Proposal 2, holders of a majority of the votes cast on the routinematter must vote FOR the proposal. Proposal 2 is considered a discretionary matter. If your shares are held by your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee in “street name” and you do not provide voting instructions with respect to your shares, we expect that your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee will be able to exercise discretionary authority to vote your shares on Proposal 2 in the absence of voting instructions from you. If your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee exercises this discretionary authority, no “broker non-votes” are expected to occur in connection with Proposal 2. If you ABSTAIN from voting on Proposal 2, your shares will not be voted FOR or AGAINST the proposal, to appoint Gumbiner Savettwhich has the same effect as a vote AGAINST the proposal.

Although stockholder approval of our audit committee’s appointment of RSM US LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2018.

Abstentions will be counted as votes present and entitledthe fiscal year ending December 31, 2024 is not required, we believe that it is advisable to vote on the proposals consideredgive stockholders

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an opportunity to ratify this appointment. If this proposal is not approved at the Annual Meeting, our audit committee will reconsider its appointment of RSM US LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm.

Proposal 3 - Advisory Vote on the Compensation Paid to Named Executive Officers

To approve Proposal 3, holders of a majority of the votes cast on the matter must vote FOR the proposal. Proposal 3 is not considered a discretionary matter. Therefore, if your shares are held by your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee in “street name” and therefore,you do not provide voting instructions with respect to your shares, your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee cannot vote your shares on Proposal 3. As a result, such “broker non-votes” will have no effect on the voting on Proposal 3. If you ABSTAIN from voting on Proposal 3, your shares will not be voted FOR or AGAINST the proposal, which has the same effect as a vote AGAINST the proposal.

Proposal 3 is non-binding. Because this vote is advisory and not binding on us or our board of votes againstdirectors in any way, our board of directors may decide that it is in our and our stockholders’ best interests to compensate our named executive officers in an amount or manner that differs from that which is approved by our stockholders.

Q. How does the board of directors recommend that I vote on the proposals?

A. Our board of directors recommends that you vote:

FOR the election of each of the six directors, Frederick Driscoll, Pamela Garzone, Peter A. Kiener, Frank Morich, Daniel Passeri, and Patrick Verheyen, for a one-year term expiring at the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors have duly been elected and qualified;
FOR the ratification of the appointment of Gumbiner SavettRSM US LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2018. Abstentionsthe fiscal year ending December 31, 2024; and
FOR the approval, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers.

Q. Who will have no effectcount the votes?

A. The votes will be counted, tabulated and certified by Mediant Communications Inc., our inspector of election.

Q. Will my vote be kept confidential?

A. Your vote will be kept confidential and we will not disclose your vote, unless (1) we are required to do so by law (including in connection with the pursuit or defense of a legal or administrative action or proceeding), or (2) there is a contested election for the board of directors. The inspector of election will forward any written comments that you make on the proposal regardingproxy card to management without providing your name, unless you expressly request disclosure on the election of directors.proxy card.

Who pays for solicitation of proxies?

The Company is paying the cost of soliciting proxies and will reimburse brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for sending proxy materials to stockholders and obtaining their votes. In addition to soliciting the proxies by mail, certain of our directors, officers and regular employees, without compensation, may solicit proxies personally or by telephone, facsimile and email.

WhereQ. How can I find out the voting results of the voting at the Annual Meeting?

We will announceA. Preliminary voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting. Final voting results will be tallied by the inspector of election and published in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the SEC within four business days followingafter the Annual Meeting.

What is the deadline to propose actions for consideration or to nominate individuals to serve as directorsQ. How do I submit a question at the 2019Annual Meeting?

A. If you wish to submit a question prior to the meeting, you must register to attend the Annual Meeting. You can visit www.proxydocs.com/CUE and follow the instructions for registering to attend the Annual Meeting and for submitting a question. If you wish to submit a question during the Annual Meeting, you may log into the virtual meeting platform using the unique link provided to you via email following the completion of your registration prior to 5:00 p.m. on June 4, 2024 at www.proxydocs.com/CUE. Our virtual meeting will be governed by our Rules of Conduct and Procedures, which will be posted at www.proxydocs.com/CUE during the meeting.

Q. How and when may I submit a stockholder proposal, including a stockholder nomination for director for the 2025 annual meeting?

A. Stockholders wishing to recommend a candidate for director should write to our corporate secretary at 40 Guest Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02135. In order to give the corporate governance and nominating committee sufficient time to evaluate a

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recommended candidate and/or include the candidate in our proxy statement for the 2025 annual meeting, of stockholders?

Requirements for Stockholder Proposals to Be Considered for Inclusion in the Company’s Proxy Materials. Stockholder proposals to be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy relating to the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders mustrecommendation should be received by January 1, 2019. In addition, all proposals will need to complyour corporate secretary at our principal executive offices in accordance with Rule 14a-8 ofour procedures detailed in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which listssection below entitled “Stockholder Proposals for our 2025 Annual Meeting.” Such submissions must state the requirements for the inclusion of stockholder proposals in company-sponsored proxy materials. Stockholder proposals must be deliverednominee’s name, together with appropriate biographical information and background materials and information with respect to the Company’s Secretary at P.O. Box 390509, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139.

Requirements for Stockholder Proposals to Be Brought Before the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Notice of any director nominationstockholder or other proposal that you intend to present at the 2019 annual meetinggroup of stockholders but do not intend to have included inmaking the proxy statement and formrecommendation, including the number of proxy relating to the 2019 annual meetingshares of common stock owned by such stockholder or group of stockholders, must be delivered to the Company’s Secretary at P.O. Box 390509, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 not earlier than the close of business on February 12, 2019 and not later than the close of business on March 14, 2019. In addition, your notice must set forth theas well as other information required by our bylaws or SEC regulations. We may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as we may reasonably require in determining the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such proposed nominee.

Q. Who is paying the costs of soliciting these proxies?

A. We will pay all of the costs of soliciting proxies. Our directors, officers and other employees may solicit proxies in person or by mail, telephone, fax or email. We will pay our directors, officers and other employees no additional compensation for these services. We will ask banks, brokerage firms and other nominees to forward these proxy materials to their principals and to obtain authority to execute proxies. We may reimburse them for their expenses.

Q. How do I obtain an Annual Report on Form 10-K?

A. If you would like a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 that we filed with respectthe SEC, we will send you one, without exhibits, free of charge. Please contact Secretary, Cue Biopharma, Inc., 40 Guest Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02135.

All of our SEC filings are also available free of charge in the “Investors & Media—Financial Information” section of our website at www.cuebiopharma.com.

Implications of Being a “Smaller Reporting Company”

We are a “smaller reporting company,” meaning that the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates was less than $700 million on the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter and our annual revenue was less than $100 million during our most recently completed fiscal year. We may continue to each director nominationbe a smaller reporting company if either (i) the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates was less than $250 million on the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter or other proposal that you(ii) our annual revenue was less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates was less than $700 million on the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter. For so long as we remain a smaller reporting company, we are permitted and intend to present at the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders.

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SECURITIES OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forthrely on exemptions from certain information regarding beneficial ownership of our voting stock as of April 23, 2018 by:

each person or group of affiliated persons known by usdisclosure and other requirements that are applicable to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of our voting stock;

each executive officer included in the Summary Compensation Table below;

each of our directors;

each person nominated to become director; and

all executive officers, directors and nominees as a group.

Unless otherwise noted below, the address of each person listed on the table is c/o Cue Biopharma, Inc. at 21 Erie Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139. To our knowledge, each person listed below has sole voting and investment power over the shares shown as beneficially owned except to the extent jointly owned with spouses or otherwise noted below.

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. The information does not necessarily indicate ownership for any other purpose. Under these rules, shares of stock which a person has the right to acquire (i.e., by the exercise of an option or warrant) within 60 days after April 23, 2018 are deemed to be beneficially owned and outstanding for purposes of calculating the number of shares and the percentage beneficially owned bypublic companies that person. However, these shares are not deemedapplicable to a smaller reporting company. We have taken advantage of certain reduced reporting obligations in this Proxy Statement. Accordingly, the information contained herein may be beneficially owned and outstanding for purposes of computingdifferent than the percentage beneficially owned by anyinformation you receive from other person. The applicable percentage of common stock as of April 23, 2018 is based upon 20,130,766 shares outstanding on that date.public companies in which you hold stock.

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Name and Address

of Beneficial Owner

  Common
Stock
  Shares
Underlying
Options
   Shares
Underlying
Warrants
   Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
   Percentage
of Class
 

Directors and Executive Officers

         

Daniel R. Passeri

   40,000   204,275    —      244,275    1.2% 

Cameron Gray

   667,500   —      253,606    921,106    4.5% 

Ken Pienta

   2,000   57,500    —      59,500    * 

Ronald D. Seidel

   445,000   45,000    —      490,000    2.4% 

Rodolfo J. Chaparro

   445,000   45,000    —      490,000    2.4% 

Anthony DiGiandomenico(1)

   —     —      —      —      * 

Peter Kiener

   —     62,368    —      62,368    * 

Steven McKnight

   —     50,368    —      50,368    * 

Barry Simon

   —     50,368    —      50,368    * 

Chris Marlett(2)

   1,017,973   —      601,841    1,619,814    7.8% 

Colin Sandercock

   —     18,750    —      18,750    * 

Directors and Executive Officers as a group (11 persons)

   2,617,473   533,629    855,447    4,006,549    18.6% 

Five Percent Stockholders

         

MDB Capital Group, LLC(3)

   1,017,973   —      601,841    1,619,814    7.8% 

Peter A. Appel(4)

   1,522,222(5)   —      —      1,522,222    7.6% 

Mark Strome(6)

   1,148,889(7)   —      —      1,148,889    5.7% 

*Less than one percent.
(1)This row does not include shares owned by MDB Capital Group, LLC (“MDB”), of which Mr. DiGiandomenico holds a 24.99% ownership stake but no dispositive or voting power over Cue Biopharma shares held by MDB.

PROPOSAL 1:

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(2)Shares represented in this row are owned by MDB, of which Mr. Marlett is Chief Executive Officer and a co-founder. Mr. Marlett has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to these shares. Mr. Marlett disclaims any beneficial ownership of the shares included in the table above except to the extent of his pecuniary interests therein, and this proxy statement shall not be deemed an admission that Mr. Marlett is the beneficial owner of such securities.
(3)The address of MDB is 2425 Cedar Springs Road, Dallas, Texas 75201.
(4)The address of Peter A. Appel is 3505 Main Lodge Drive, Coconut Grove, Florida 33133.
(5)Based solely on the Schedule 13G filed on February 13, 2018 by Peter A. Appel.
(6)The address of Mark Strome is 100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1750, Santa Monica, California 90401.
(7)Based solely on the Schedule 13G filed on January 9, 2018 by Mark Strome, consists of: (i) 555,556 shares of common stock held of record by the Mark and Tammy Strome Family Trust U/A/D August 18, 2008, of which Mr. Strome and Tammy Estrada Strome are the co-trustees under the applicable trust agreement and (ii) 593,333 shares of Common Stock held of record by Strome Mezzanine Fund, LP. Strome Investment Management, LP is the general partner of Strome Mezzanine Fund, LP, and Strome Group Inc. is the general partner of Strome Investment Management, LP. Mr. Strome is the President and CEO of Strome Group, Inc.

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PROPOSAL 1—ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Company’s BoardOur board of Directorsdirectors currently consists of sevensix members. Upon the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of our Board of Directors the Board has nominated the seven current directors for electionare elected at the Annual Meeting to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and hold office for a one-year term and until their resignation or removal or their successors are duly elected and qualified. In accordance with our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, our directors may fill existing vacancies on the electionboard of their successors.directors.

Shares represented by allIf no contrary indication is made, proxies received by the Board and not marked so as to withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee will be votedFOR for Mr. Driscoll, Dr. Garzone, Dr. Kiener, Dr. Morich, Mr. Passeri and Mr. Verheyen. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of individuals than the electionnumber of nominees named in this Proxy Statement. In the event that any of the nominees named below. The Board knows of no reason why any nominee would befor director is not a candidate or is unable or unwilling to serve but if such should beas a director at the case, proxies maytime of the election (which is not currently expected), your proxy will be voted for any nominee who is designated by our board of directors to fill the electionvacancy.

Our priority in selection of someboard members is identification of members who will further the interests of our stockholders through their established record of business acumen, the ability to contribute positively to the decision-making process of the Company, knowledge of our business, understanding of the competitive landscape and a reputation for integrity, honesty and adherence to high ethical standards. We also seek to have a diversity of skills and backgrounds represented on our board of directors. Re-nomination of our directors is not automatic, and performance on the board and committees is considered, as well as the undertaking of continuing director education. Certain individual qualifications and skills of our directors that contribute to the board of directors’ effectiveness as a whole are described in the following paragraphs.

Information Regarding Director Nominees

The following paragraphs provide information as of the date of this Proxy Statement about each nominee for director, as furnished to us by the nominees for director. The information presented includes information each such individual has given us about his or her age, any position he or she holds with us, his or her principal occupation and business experience for the past five years and the names of other person nominatedpublicly held companies of which he or she currently serves as a director or has served as a director during the past five years. In addition to the information presented below regarding each such individual’s specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led our board of directors to the conclusion that he or she should serve as a director, we also believe that each of our directors and director nominees has a reputation for integrity, honesty and adherence to high ethical standards. Each has demonstrated business acumen and an ability to exercise sound judgment, as well as a commitment of service to our company and our board of directors. Finally, we value their significant experience on other public company boards of directors and board committees.

Information about the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by each of our directors and nominees for director appears below under the heading “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.”

There are no family relationships between or among any of our executive officers, directors or nominees for director.

Nominees for Election to the Board of Directors.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE NOMINEES LISTED BELOW

The following table sets forth the nominees to be elected at the Annual Meeting, the year such director was first elected as a director, and the positions currently held by each director with the Company.Directors

 

Nominee’s or

Director’s Name

Year First
Became
Director

Position with the Company

Daniel R. Passeri

2016

Chief Executive Officer President and Director

Frank Morich

2018

Chairman

Frederick Driscoll

2018

Director

Pamela Garzone

2023

Director

Peter A. Kiener

2016

Chairman

Director

Anthony DiGiandomencioPatrick Verheyen

2015Director

Cameron Gray

2015Director

Christopher Marlett2023

2015Director

Steven McKnight

2016

Director

Barry Simon

2016Director

INFORMATION CONCERNING DIRECTORS AND NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR

Set forth below is background informationFrederick Driscoll, age 73, joined our board of directors in June 2018. Mr. Driscoll served as Interim Chief Financial Officer at Invivyd, Inc., a biotechnology company (Nasdaq: IVVD) from October 2022 to September 2023. Prior to his employment at Invivyd, Inc., Mr. Driscoll served as the Chief Financial Officer at Renovacor, Inc. (NYSE: RCOR), a biotechnology company, from March 2022 to June 2022. Prior to his employment at Renovacor, Inc., Mr. Driscoll served as Chief Financial Officer at Flexion Therapeutics Inc., or Flexion, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of local therapies for each current directorthe treatment of patients with musculoskeletal conditions, such as osteoarthritis, from 2013 to 2017 and nominee for director,from May 2021 to November 2021, when the company was acquired by Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Prior to joining Flexion, he was Chief Financial Officer at Novavax, Inc., a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company (Nasdaq: NVAX), from 2009 to 2013. From 2008 to 2009, Mr.

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Driscoll served as wellChief Executive Officer of Genelabs Technologies, Inc., or Genelabs, a publicly traded biopharmaceutical and diagnostics company later acquired by GlaxoSmithKline. He previously served as information regarding additional experience, qualifications, attributesGenelabs’ Chief Financial Officer from 2007 to 2008. From 2000 to 2006, Mr. Driscoll served as Chief Executive Officer at OXiGENE, Inc., or skills that ledOXiGENE, a biopharmaceutical company. Mr. Driscoll has also served as Chairman of the Board and Audit Committee Chair at OXiGENE and as a member of Directorsthe Audit Committee for Cynapsus, which was sold to conclude that such director or nominee shouldSunovion Pharmaceuticals in 2016. Mr. Driscoll was a member of the board of directors of NantKwest Inc. (Nasdaq: NK) from 2017 through 2021 and is currently a member of the board of directors of Cellectar Biosciences Inc. (Nasdaq: CLRB), MEI Pharma (Nasdaq: MEIP) and Calliditas Therapeutics AB (CALTX). Mr. Driscoll earned a Bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Bentley University. Mr. Driscoll’s extensive industry, executive, board experience and financial expertise position him well to serve as a member of our board of directors.

Pamela D. Garzone, age 70, joined our board of directors in April 2023. Dr. Garzone has served as the Chief Development Officer at Anixa Biosciences, Inc., a company focused on oncology and infectious diseases, since September 2021. Prior to joining Anixa, Dr. Garzone served as the Chief Medical Officer at Calibr, a division of the Scripps Research Institute from May 2019 to May 2021. From May 2009 through May 2019, Dr. Garzone served as the Vice President, Group Asset Team Lead focused on early oncology clinical research at Pfizer Inc. Dr. Garzone earned a B.S. degree in pharmacy from Purdue University and an M.S. in pharmacy practice from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Garzone received her Ph.D. in clinical science from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Garzone’s extensive knowledge of the biopharmaceutical industry makes her well qualified to serve on our board of directors.

Peter A. Kiener, age 72, joined our board of directors in March 2016. Dr. Kiener served as the Board.Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Research and Development of Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Sucampo, a global biopharmaceutical company, from October 2014 to February 2018. Prior to joining Sucampo, Dr. Kiener served as the Chief Scientific Officer of Ambrx, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of antibody-drug conjugates from 2013 to 2014. From 2009 to 2013, he was President and co-founder of Zyngenia Inc., an early-stage biopharmaceutical company. From 2001 to 2009, he was head of Research and R&D at MedImmune, the biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca. Dr. Kiener is currently also a member of the board of directors of Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Resolve LLC, iTolerance, Inc. and Lava Therapeutics (Nasdaq: LVTX). Dr. Kiener was a member of the board of directors of Tetragenetics Inc. from 2018 through 2022. Dr. Kiener holds a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Lancaster and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Oxford. Dr. Kiener’s extensive executive leadership experience and his in-depth knowledge of the biopharmaceutical industry make him well qualified to serve on our board of directors.

Frank Morich, age 70, joined our board of directors in July 2018 and was appointed Chairman in April 2020. Dr. Morich has served as a consultant in the life sciences and health care industries since 2015. Since 2023, Dr. Morich has served on the board of Perspective Therapeutics (Nasdaq: CATX), an early-stage biopharmaceutical company. Dr. Morich was a member of the supervisory board of MorphoSys AG (Nasdaq: MOR), a late-stage, biopharmaceutical company, from 2015 to 2021. From 2011 to 2014, Dr. Morich served as Chief Commercial Officer at Takeda Pharmaceutical, a global pharmaceutical company, and from 2010 to 2011, he served as Executive Vice President International Operations at Takeda. From 2008 to 2010, Dr. Morich served as Chief Executive Officer of NOXXON Pharma AG, a clinical-stage drug development company, and from 2005 to 2007 he served as Chief Executive Officer and member of the board of directors of Innogenetics N.V., an international in vitro diagnostics company. During 2004, Dr. Morich served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Board of AM Pharma B.V., a clinical-stage drug development company. Prior to that, Dr. Morich held several positions at Bayer, a global pharmaceutical and life sciences company, including member of the board of management of Bayer AG, head of global product development and head of research and development. Dr. Morich graduated in medical studies at the University of Marburg, Germany. Dr. Morich has over 35 years of experience in the life sciences and health care industries and extensive executive leadership experience, making him well qualified to serve on our board of directors as Chairman.

Daniel R. Passeri, age 57, joined Cue Biopharma in August 201663, has served as our Chief Executive Officer and President.a director since August 2016. He also served as our President from August 2016 to October 2019. He served as a director of Curis, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRIS) (“Curis”), or Curis, a biotechnology company seeking to develop and commercialize drug candidates for the treatment of cancer, from September 2001 to June 2016. Mr. Passeri previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Curis from September 2001 until June 2014 and as Vice Chairman of its board of directors from June 2014 to June 2016, and additionally held the title of President from September 2001 to February 2013. Previously, from November 2000 to September 2001, Mr. Passeri served as the Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Strategic Planning of Curis. From December 2014 to June 2015, Mr. Passeri served as Chief Officer of Technology Management and Business Development of the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine. From March 1997 to November 2000, Mr. Passeri was employed by GeneLogicGene Logic Inc., a biotechnology company, most recently as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Strategic Planning. From February 1995 to March 1997, Mr. Passeri was employed by Boehringer Mannheim, a pharmaceutical, biotechnology and diagnostic company, as Director of Technology Management. Mr. Passeri received a J.D. from the National Law Center at George Washington University Law School, an M.Sc. in biotechnology from the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine at the University of London and a B.S. in biology from Northeastern University.

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Mr. Passeri’s qualifications to serve as a director of Cue Biopharma include his extensive service and experience as a director and executive officer of a public company as well as his extensive experience in corporate strategy and development, intellectual property strategy and oversight, and technology licensing, as each of these elements are critical to our overall business strategy.

Peter A. Kiener, Patrick Verheyen, age 66,64, joined our board of directors in March 2016. Dr. KienerApril 2023. Mr. Verheyen served as the Chief Scientific Officer andGlobal Head of Research andJanssen Business Development of Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Sucampo”),at Johnson & Johnson, a global biopharmaceuticalhealthcare products company, from October 2014 to February 2018. Prior to joining Sucampo, Dr. Kiener2015 through 2021. Mr. Verheyen also served as a member of the Chief Scientific OfficerJanssen’s Pharmaceuticals Group Operating Committee during this time. Mr. Verheyen joined Johnson & Johnson in 1986 and served in various roles, including as Head of Ambrx, Inc.,London Johnson & Johnson Innovation Center from 2012 through 2015. Mr. Verheyen received a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of antibody-drug conjugates since 2013. From 2009 to 2013, he was President and co-founder of Zyngenia Inc., an early-stage biopharmaceutical company. Dr. Kiener holds a Bachelor’s Degreedegree in Chemistrybioengineering from the University of LancasterLeuven in Flanders, Belgium. Mr. Verheyen has over 35 years of experience in the health care industry and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Biochemistry from the University of Oxford. Dr. Kiener’s extensive executive leadership experience, and his in-depth knowledge of the biopharmaceutical industry makemaking him well qualified to serve on our board of directors.

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF EACH OF MR. DRISCOLL, DR. GARZONE, DR. KIENER, DR. MORICH, MR. PASSERI, AND MR. VERHEYEN.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

General

We believe that good corporate governance is important to ensure that Cue Biopharma is managed for the long-term benefit of our stockholders. This section describes key corporate governance practices that we have adopted. We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics, which applies to all of our officers, directors and employees, and corporate governance guidelines and charters for our audit committee, our compensation committee and our corporate governance and nominating committee. We have posted copies of our code of business conduct and ethics and corporate governance guidelines, as Chairman.

Anthony DiGiandomenico, age 51, joinedwell as each of our board of directors in June 2015. He has also servedcommittee charters, on the boardCorporate Governance page of directors of ENDRA Life Sciences Inc. (Nasdaq: NDRA), a developer of enhanced ultrasound technology, since July 2013. Since he co-founded MDB in 1997, Mr. DiGiandomenico has been enabling investment into early-stage disruptive technologies. He has worked alongside a wide range of companies in the biotechnology, medical devices, high technology, and renewable energy spaces. Mr. DiGiandomenico holds an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley and a BS in Finance from the University of Colorado. Mr. DiGiandomenico’s financial expertise, general business acumen and significant executive leadership experience position him well to make valuable contributions to our board of directors.

Cameron Gray, age 47, has been a member“Investors & Media” section of our boardwebsite, www.cuebiopharma.com, which you can access free of directors since January 2015 and served as our Chief Executive Officer from January 2015 to August 2016. He is also a Managing Director at MDB. Dr. Gray has been with MDB since September 2013. Prior to joining MDB, Dr. Gray served as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Endeavor IP, Inc., an intellectual property services and patent licensing company, from May 2013 through January 2014. He was self-employed from January 2012 through May 2013 and prior to that he was Senior Vice President at ICAP Patent Brokerage, LLC where he managed its life sciences and Asia Pacific businesses from January 2009 through January 2012. Dr. Gray has a Juris Doctor degree from George Washington University School of Law, a Ph.D. in biophysics from the University of Virginia, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in physics from Princeton University. Dr. Gray’s extensive industry, executive and board experience position him well to serve as a member of our board of directors.

Christopher Marlett, age 53, joined our board of directors in June 2015. Mr. Marlett is, and has been since 1997, the Chief Executive Officer and a co-founder of MDB. He also servedcharge. Information contained on the boardwebsite is not incorporated by reference in, or considered part of, directors of theMaven, Inc., a developer of a network of professionally-managed online media channels, from April 2008this Proxy Statement. We intend to February 2018. Mr. Marlett has over twenty-seven years of investment banking experience, including all phases of corporate finance, such as the completion of initial public offerings, secondary offerings, PIPEs and strategic consulting. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California. Mr. Marlett’s leadership and financial experience position him well to serve as a member of our board of directors.

Steven McKnight, age 68, joined our board of directors in March 2016. Dr. McKnight is the founder and chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of Peloton Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company that discovers and develops first-in-class, small molecule cancer therapies targeting unexploited molecular vulnerabilities. He also serves as a professor in the Department of Biochemistry at UT Southwestern Medical Center, where he has led an active research laboratory since 1996. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Dr. McKnight holds a B.S. in Biology from The University of Texas at Austin and a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Virginia. His extensive academic accomplishments and pertinent research experience position him well to servedisclose on our boardwebsite any amendments to, or waivers from, our code of directors.

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Barry Simon, age 53, joined our board of directors in March 2016. He has served as a member ofbusiness conduct and ethics that are required to be disclosed by law or the board of directors of NantKwest Inc., a clinical-stage immunotherapy company, since 2007, and a member of the board of directors of Viracta Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage drug development company, since 2017. Dr. Simon has also served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of NantKwest, Inc. since 2015 and from 2007 to 2015 was its President and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to this, he held various senior management and advisory positions at Roche Labs, Inc., a pharmaceuticals company, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, a global healthcare company, Connetics Corporation, a specialty pharmaceutical company, Immunomedics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, Immusol, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, HealthPro BioVentures, LLC, a healthcare and life sciences investment bank, and NorthSound Capital, LLC, a U.S.-based hedge fund. Dr. Simon has attended corporate training programs by the London School of Business and the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He is clinically trained in infectious diseases, anesthesiology, and internal medicine and received his M.D. from the SUNY Downstate, Health Sciences Center in New York. Dr. Simon’s many years of management and director experience make him well-qualified to serve on our board of directors.

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INFORMATION CONCERNING EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Set forth below is background information relating to our executive officers:

Name

Age

Position

Daniel R. Passeri

57Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

Ken Pienta, M.D.

58Chief Medical Officer

Ronald Seidel, III

41Executive Vice President, Head of Research and Development

Rodolfo Chaparro

45Executive Vice President, Head of Immunology

Colin G. Sandercock

61Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Anish Suri

45Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer

Kerri-Ann Millar

49Vice President, Finance

Daniel R. Passeriis discussed above underInformation Concerning Directors and Nominees for Director.

Ken Pienta, M.D. joined Cue Biopharma in April 2017 as our Chief Medical Officer. He is currently the Donald S. Coffey Professor of Urology and Professor of Oncology and Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and serves as the Director of Research for the Brady Urological Institute. He previously served as a director of Curis from March 2013 to January 2018. From 1995 to 2013, Dr. Pienta was the Director of the Prostate Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) at The University of Michigan. He is a two-time American Cancer Society Clinical Research Professor Award recipient, is the author of more than 350 peer-reviewed articles, and has been the principle investigator on numerous local and national clinical trials. Dr. Pienta received a B.A. and an M.D. from the Johns Hopkins University.

Ronald Seidel, III is one of our Executive Vice Presidents and our Head of Research and Development. Dr. Seidel is a scientific co-founder of Cue Biopharma and co-inventor of our licensed core technologies. Prior to joining us, Dr. Seidel was a research Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Director of the Macromolecular Therapeutic Development Facility (the “MTDF”) at Einstein from 2008 to 2015. The function of the MTDF was to leverage high throughput technologies for the development, analysis and production of protein-based therapeutics. Additionally, through the MTDF, Dr. Seidel was the Associate Director of Eukaryotic Protein Production at the Northeast BioDefense Center from 2008 to 2013. He also served as a consultant to various companies in the biologics and protein production industries. Dr. Seidel holds a Bachelor of Sciences degree and Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Georgia. He did his post-doctoral work at New York Structural Biology Center.

Rodolfo Chaparro is one of our Executive Vice Presidents and our Head of Immunology. Dr. Chaparro is a scientific co-founder of Cue Biopharma and co-inventor of our licensed core technologies. Prior to joining us, he served as research faculty in the Department of Biochemistry at Einstein from 2010 to 2014 with research expertise in immune profiling and immunotherapeutics, and became Head of Immunology within the MTDF. He began working at Einstein as a postdoctoral fellow in 2004 and joined the MTDF in 2010. Dr. Chaparro holds a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Biology from the University of California at Irvine and a Ph.D. in Immunology from Stanford University.

Colin G. Sandercock has been our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since December 4, 2017. Prior to joining Cue Biopharma, he was a partner at Perkins Coie LLP since July 2010, practicing in the areas of patent litigation, procurement, management and enforcement of domestic and foreign patent portfolio, licensing disputes, trademark disputes, and opinions relating to infringement, validity and freedom to operate. Mr. Sandercock holds a B.S. from Moravian College, an M.S.E. from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from Catholic University, Columbus School of Law.

Anish Suri has been chosen to become our Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer effective May 14, 2018. Prior to joining Cue Biopharma, he has held roles of increasing responsibility at Janssen

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Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson (“Janssen”), most recently as Senior Director at Janssen Immunosciences in Beerse, Belgium since January 2015 and, prior to that, as Scientific Director since 2013. His core responsibilities have included providing strategic leadership and guidance for new initiatives focused on parsing the specificity and diversity of the immune repertoire to enable antigen-specific immuno-therapies and related applications in cancer immunity; tolerogenic approaches for autoimmune diseases; and harnessing immune-monitoring to enable a deeper understanding of transition states from health to disease. Dr. Suri joined Janssen from Bristol-Myers Squibb (“BMS”) in 2013, where he was responsible for providing strategic guidance to immuno-oncology and immunology drug-discovery programs. Prior to BMS, Dr. Suri was an Assistant Professor of Pathology and Immunology at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis. Dr. Suri received his Ph.D. in Immunology from Washington University in St. Louis.

Kerri-Ann Millar has been chosen to become our Vice President, Finance effective May 1, 2018. Ms. Millar joined Cue Biopharma in September 2017 as Corporate Controller. Prior to joining Cue Biopharma, Ms. Millar served as Corporate Controller of Flexion Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of local therapies for the treatment of patients with musculoskeletal conditions, such as osteoarthritis, from March 2014 to September 2017. From May 2005 to March 2014, Ms. Millar served as Finance Specialist for Curis, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on treatments for cancer. Ms. Millar holds a B.S. in Accounting and Finance from Boston University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES AND BOARD MATTERS

Director Independence

Under the listing requirements and rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”)LLC, or Nasdaq, or the Nasdaq Listing Rules. We will also provide copies of these documents, as well as certain of our other corporate governance documents, free of charge, to any stockholder upon written request to Secretary, Cue Biopharma, Inc., 40 Guest Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02135.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

Our board of directors has adopted corporate governance guidelines to assist in the exercise of its duties and responsibilities and to serve the best interests of Cue Biopharma and our stockholders. These guidelines, which provide a framework for the conduct of our board’s business, provide that:

our board’s principal responsibility is to oversee the management of Cue Biopharma;
except as may be otherwise permitted by the Nasdaq Listing Rules, a majority of the members of our board shall be independent directors;
the independent directors must constitutemeet at least twice annually in executive session;
directors have full and free access to management and, as necessary and appropriate, independent advisors; and
new directors participate in an orientation program and all directors are expected to participate in continuing director education on an ongoing basis; and our board will conduct a self-evaluation annually to determine whether it is functioning effectively.

Director Independence

The Nasdaq Listing Rules require a majority of a listed company’s board of directors within 12 months after its initial public offering. We are phasing in compliance with this rule and expect a majority of our directors to be composed of independent priordirectors within one year of listing. In addition, the Nasdaq Listing Rules require that, subject to specified exceptions, each member of a listed company’s audit, compensation and corporate governance and nominating committees be independent under the anniversarySecurities Exchange Act of our initial public offering.1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Audit committee members must also satisfy the independence criteria set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act and compensation committee members must also satisfy the independence criteria set forth in Rule 10C-1 under the Exchange Act. Under the rules of Nasdaq Listing Rules, a director will only qualifiesqualify as an “independent director” if, in the opinion of the Company’s Boardlisted company’s board of Directors, the directordirectors, that person does not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director.

Our Board In order to be considered independent for purposes of Directors has determined that eachRule 10A-3, a member of Peter Kiener, Steven McKnight and Barry Simon are “independent directors”an audit committee of a listed company may not, other than in his or her capacity as such term is defined by Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5605(a)(2). We have established an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Each of Peter Kiener, Steven McKnight and Barry Simon serve as membersmember of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committeeaudit committee, the board of directors, or any other board committee, accept, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from the listed company or any of its subsidiaries or otherwise be an affiliated person of the listed company or any of its subsidiaries. In order to be considered independent for purposes of Rule 10C-1, the board must consider, for each member of a compensation committee of a listed company, all factors specifically relevant to determining whether a director has a relationship to such company which is material to that director’s ability to be independent from management in connection with the duties of a compensation committee member, including, but not limited to: (1) the source of compensation of the director, including any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee paid by such company to the director; and Nominating(2) whether the director is affiliated with the company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.

In April 2024, our board of directors undertook a review of the composition of our board of directors and Corporate Governance Committee. Ourits committees and the independence of each director. Based upon information requested from and provided by each director concerning his or her background, employment and affiliations, including family relationships, our board of directors has determined that Peter Kienereach of our directors, with the exception of Mr. Passeri, is an audit committee financial expert,“independent director” as defined under the applicableNasdaq Listing Rules. In April 2023, our board of directors made a similar determination that Tamar Howson and Aaron Fletcher, who served on our board of

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directors until October 2023 and June 2023, respectively, were each an independent director. In making such determinations, our board of directors considered the relationships that each such director has with our company and all other facts and circumstances that our board of directors deemed relevant in determining his or her independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each director. Mr. Passeri is not an independent director under these rules because he is our chief executive officer.

Board Leadership Structure

Our board of directors, upon the recommendation of our corporate governance and nominating committee, has determined that the roles of chairman of the SEC,board and that all memberschief executive officer should remain separate at the current time. Accordingly, our board of the Audit Committee are “independent”directors has appointed Dr. Morich, an independent director within the meaning of the applicable Nasdaq listing standards andListing Rules (see “Director Independence” above), as the independence standards of Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Each of the members of the Audit Committee meets the requirements for financial literacy under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and Nasdaq.

Board Leadership Structure

The Board of Directors has an independent chairman, meaning that the positions of chairman of the board of directors. Dr. Morich possesses an in-depth knowledge of the issues, opportunities and challenges that our company faces. We believe he is currently the person best positioned to ensure our board of directors’ time and attention is focused on the matters that are most critical to our company. Our board of directors believes Dr. Morich is a decisive leader who commands accountability and enhances our ability to communicate our message and strategy clearly and consistently to stockholders, employees and strategic partners. Dr. Morich’s duties as chairman of the board include the following:

chairing meetings of the independent directors in executive session;
meeting with any director who is not adequately performing his or her duties as a member of our board of directors or any committee;
facilitating communications between other members of our board of directors and the chief executive officer;
preparing or approving the agenda for each board meeting;
determining the frequency and length of board meetings and recommending when special meetings of our board of directors should be held; and
reviewing and, if appropriate, recommending action to be taken with respect to written communications from stockholders submitted to our board of directors (see “Communications with Our Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer are not held by a single individual. The BoardDirectors” below).

Our board of Directorsdirectors believes that having a leadership structure with separate roles of chairman and chief executive officer offers the following benefits:

supporting the independent oversight of Cue Biopharma and enhancing our board’s objective evaluation of our chief executive officer;
freeing the chief executive officer to focus on company operations instead of board administration;
providing the chief executive officer with an independent chairman ensures that management is subject toexperienced sounding board;
providing greater opportunities for communication between stockholders and our board of directors;
enhancing the independent and objective oversightassessment of risk by our board of directors; and
providing an independent spokesman for our company.

Although the independentroles of chairman and chief executive officer are currently separate, our corporate governance and nominating committee and board of directors have an active voice in the governance of the Company.

Policy Governing Security Holder Communications with the Board of Directors

Security holders who wish to communicate directly with the Board, the independent directors of the Board or any individual member of the Board may do so by sending such communication by certified mail addressed to the Chairman of the Board, the entire Board of Directors, to the independent directors as a group or to the individual director or directors, in each case, c/o Secretary, Cue Biopharma, Inc., P.O. Box 390509, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139. The Secretary reviews any such security holder communication and forwards relevant communications to the addressee.

Policies Regarding Director Nominations

The Board has delegated to its Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee responsibilitybelieve it is appropriate for establishing membership criteria for the Board, identifying individuals qualified to become directors consistent with such criteria and recommending the director nominees.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for, among other things: (1) recommending to the Board personsour chief executive officer to serve as membersa member of the Board and as membersour board of and chairpersons fordirectors.

Director Nomination Process

Director Qualifications

In evaluating director nominees, the committees of the Board, (2) considering the recommendation of candidates to serve as directors submitted from the stockholders of the Company, (3) assisting the Board in evaluating the Board’s and its committees’ performance, (4) advising the Board regarding the appropriate board leadership structure for the Company, (5) reviewing and making recommendations to the Board on corporate governance and (6) reviewing the size and composition of the Board and recommending to the Board any changes it deems advisable.

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The Board seeks members from diverse professional backgrounds who combine a broad spectrum of relevant industry and strategic experience and expertise that, in concert, offer us and our stockholders diversity of opinion and insight in the areas most important to us and our corporate mission. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee has not set specific, minimum qualifications that must be met by director candidates. Rather, in determining candidates to recommend to the Board to serve as members of the Board, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committeenominating committee will consider among other things whether a candidate is of the highest ethical character and shares the Company’s values and whether the candidate’s following factors:

reputation bothfor personal and professional integrity, honesty and adherence to high ethical standards;
demonstrated business acumen, experience and ability to exercise sound judgments in matters that relate to the current and long-term objectives of our company and a willingness and ability to contribute positively to the decision-making process of our company;

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commitment to understand our company and its industry and to regularly attend and participate in meetings of our board of directors and its committees;
interest and ability to understand the sometimes conflicting interests of the various constituencies of our company, which include stockholders, employees, customers, governmental units, creditors and the general public, and to act in the interests of all stockholders;
ability to represent the interests of all stockholders without having, or appearing to have, a conflict of interest;
diversity of expertise and experience in substantive matters pertaining to our business relative to other board members; and
diversity of background and perspective, considered as a group, should provide a significant breadth of experience, knowledge and abilities that shall assist the board of directors in fulfilling its responsibilities.

The corporate governance and nominating committee’s goal is to assemble a board of directors that brings to the company a variety of perspectives and skills derived from high quality business and professional experience. Moreover, the corporate governance and nominating committee believes that the background and qualifications of the board of directors, considered as a group, should provide a significant mix of experience, knowledge and abilities that will allow the board of directors to fulfill its responsibilities. Nominees are not discriminated against on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability or any other basis proscribed by law.

Our priority in selection of board members is identification of members who will further the interests of our stockholders through their established record of business acumen, the ability to contribute positively to the decision-making process of the Company, knowledge of our business, understanding of the competitive landscape and a reputation for integrity, honesty and adherence to high ethical standards. While we have no formal policy regarding board diversity, our corporate governance guidelines provide that the value of diversity should be considered and that the background and qualifications of the members of our board of directors considered as a group should provide a significant breadth of experience, knowledge, and ability to assist our board of directors in fulfilling its responsibilities. Our directors’ performance and qualification criteria are reviewed periodically by the corporate governance and nominating committee.

Identification and Evaluation of Nominees for Directors

The corporate governance and nominating committee identifies nominees for director by first evaluating the current members of our board of directors willing to continue in service. Current members with qualifications and skills that are consistent with the imagecorporate governance and reputationnominating committee’s criteria for board of director service and who are willing to continue in service are considered for re-nomination, balancing the value of continuity of service by existing members of our board of directors with that of obtaining a new perspective or expertise.

The committee generally inquires of our board of directors and members of management for their recommendations. The committee may also review the composition and qualification of the Company. In addition, nominees for director are selected to have complementary, ratherboards of directors of our competitors, and may seek input from industry experts or analysts. The corporate governance and nominating committee reviews the qualifications, experience and background of candidates. Final candidates, if other than overlapping, skill sets. However,our current directors, would be interviewed by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee does not have a formal policy concerning the diversitymembers of the Board.

Procedures for Recommendationcorporate governance and nominating committee and by certain of Director Nominees by Stockholders

The policyour other independent directors and executive management. In making its determinations, the corporate governance and nominating committee evaluates each individual in the context of our board of directors as a whole, with the Corporate Governanceobjective of assembling a group that can best contribute to the success of our company and Nominating Committee isrepresent stockholder interests through the exercise of sound judgment. After review and deliberation of all feedback and data, the corporate governance and nominating committee makes its recommendation to consider properly submitted stockholder recommendations forour board of directors. To date, the corporate governance and nominating committee has not utilized third-party search firms to identify board of director candidates. To submitThe corporate governance and nominating committee may in the future choose to do so in those situations where particular qualifications are required or where existing contacts are not sufficient to identify an appropriate candidate.

Stockholders may recommend individuals to our corporate governance and nominating committee for consideration as potential director candidates by submitting a recommendation to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee for director nominee candidates, a stockholder must make such recommendation in writing and include:including:

the name and address of the stockholder making the recommendation, as they appear on our books and records, and of such record holder’s beneficial owner, if any;

the class and number of shares of our equity that are owned beneficially and held of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, including all “synthetic equity instruments” (e.g., derivatives, swaps, hedges, etc.), voting rights, rights to fees, dividends, or other material rights;

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the name of the individual recommended for consideration as a director nominee;

full biographical information concerning the director candidate, including a statement about the candidate’s qualifications;

a description of all arrangements or understandings (whether or not in writing) among such stockholder or such beneficial owner and any other person or persons pursuant to which the recommendation is being made;

why
a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of our company entitled to vote at such recommended candidate meets our criteriameeting and would be ableintends to fulfillappear in person or by proxy at the dutiesmeeting to propose such candidate;
a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a director;

howgroup which intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or proxy card to holders of at least the recommended candidate meets applicable independence requirements established bypercentage of our company’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the SEC and Nasdaq;proposal or elect the nominee and/or otherwise to solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such nomination

the recommended candidate’s beneficial ownership in our securities;

any relationships between the recommended candidate and us or any of our competitors, customers or suppliers, labor unions or other persons with special interests regarding the Company which may constitute a conflict of interest; and

all other information relating to the recommended candidate that would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the election of directors or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, including the recommended candidate’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if approved by the Board of Directorsboard and elected.

Recommendations must be sent to the Chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, c/o Secretary, Cue Biopharma, Inc., P.O. Box 390509, Cambridge,40 Guest Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02139.02135. Assuming that appropriate biographical and background materials has been provided on or before the dates set forth in the section below entitled “Stockholder Proposals for our 2025 Annual Meeting,” the committee will evaluate stockholder recommended candidates by following substantially the same process, and applying substantially the same criteria, as it follows for candidates by others, as described above.

Board Diversity Matrix

Board Diversity Matrix (As of April 26, 2024)

 

Total Number of Directors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Female

 

 

Male

 

 

 

Non-Binary

 

 

Did Not
Disclose
Gender

 

Part I: Gender Identity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Directors

 

 

1

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part II: Demographic Background

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

African American or Black

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alaskan Native or Native American

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hispanic or Latinx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

White

 

 

1

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two or More Races or Ethnicities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LGBTQ+

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did Not Disclose Demographic Background

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Communications with Our Board of Directors

Our board of directors will give appropriate attention to written communications that are submitted by stockholders and will respond if and as appropriate. The Secretary must receive any such recommendationchairman of the board of directors is primarily responsible for nomination not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day priormonitoring communications from stockholders and for providing copies or summaries to the first anniversaryother directors as he or she considers appropriate.

Communications are forwarded to all directors if they relate to important substantive matters and include suggestions or comments that the chairman of the dateboard considers to be important for the directors to know. In general, communications relating to corporate governance and corporate strategy are more likely to be forwarded than communications relating to ordinary business affairs, personal grievances and matters as to which we receive repetitive or duplicative communications.

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Stockholders who wish to send communications on any topic to our board of directors should address such communications to Secretary, Cue Biopharma, Inc., 40 Guest Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02135.

Board Meetings and Attendance

Our board of directors met nine times during our fiscal year 2023, including telephonic meetings. During the year, each of our directors attended 75% or more of the proxy statement delivered to stockholders in connection withaggregate number of meetings of the preceding year’s annual meetingboard of stockholders; provided,

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however, that with respect to a special meeting of stockholders called by us fordirectors and the purpose of electing directors to the Board of Directors, the Secretary must receive any such recommendation not earlier than the 90th day prior to such special meeting nor later than the later of (1) the close of business on the 60th day prior to such special meeting or (2) the close of business on the 10th day following the daycommittees on which a public announcement is first made regarding such special meeting. We will promptly forward any such nominations to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Once the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee receives a recommendation for a director candidate, such candidate will be evaluated in the same manner as other candidates and a recommendation with respect to such candidate will be delivered to the Board of Directors.he or she served.

Policy Governing Director Attendance at Annual MeetingsMeeting

Although our company does not have a formal policy regarding attendance by members of Stockholders

Each director is encouragedour board of directors at our annual meeting, we encourage all of our directors to attend the Annual Meetingattend. For our annual meeting of stockholders in person. We2023, all of our directors who were then serving on our board of directors were in attendance, other than Dr. Howson, who did not have a 2017stand for re-election at the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders.

Code of Ethics

We have in place a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) that applies to all of our directors, officers and employees. The Code of Ethics is designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote:

honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;

full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that we file with, or submit to, the SEC and in other public communications that we make;

compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations;

the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code of Ethics to an appropriate person identified in the Code of Ethics; and

accountability for adherence to the Code of Ethics.

A current copy of the Code of Ethics is available at www.cuebiopharma.com. A copy may also be obtained, free of charge, from us upon a request directed to Cue Biopharma, Inc., P.O. Box 390509, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, attention: Investor Relations. We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers of a provision of the Code of Ethics required to be disclosed by applicable SEC rules by posting such information on our website available at www.cuebiopharma.com and/or in our public filings with the SEC.

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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS COMMITTEES

Board of DirectorsCommittees

Our bylaws state that the numberboard of directors constituting the entire Boardhas established an audit committee, a compensation committee, a corporate governance and nominating committee, and a science and technology strategy committee, each of Directors shall be determined by resolution of the Board and that the Board has the authority to increase the number of directors, fill any vacancies on the Board and to decrease the number of directors. The number of directors currently fixed by our Board is seven.

Our Board of Directors met 11 times during the year ended December 31, 2017. No director attended less than 75 percent of all meetings of the Board and applicable committee meetings in 2017 held during the period for which he was a director other than Steven McKnight who attended 73% of such meetings. The Board of Directors currently has standing Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees. The Board and each standing committee retains the authority to engage its own advisors and consultants. Each committee hasoperates under a charter that has been approved by the Board of Directors. Copiesour board. A copy of the audit committee, compensation committee and corporate governance and nominating committee charters are availablecan be found under the “Investors & Media—Corporate Governance” section of our website, which is located at www.cuebiopharma.com.

Audit Committee

The members of our audit committee are Frederick Driscoll, Frank Morich and Patrick Verheyen. Mr. Driscoll is the chair of the audit committee. Dr. Kiener served as a member of the audit committee until June 2023. Our audit committee’s responsibilities include:

appointing, approving the compensation of, and assessing the independence of our registered public accounting firm;
overseeing the work of our independent registered public accounting firm, including through the receipt and consideration of reports from that firm;
reviewing and discussing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm our annual and quarterly financial statements and related disclosures;
monitoring our internal control over financial reporting;
establishing policies regarding procedures for the receipt and retention of accounting related complaints and concerns;
meeting independently with our internal auditing staff, if any, our independent registered public accounting firm and management;
providing oversight over cybersecurity risk;
reviewing and approving or ratifying any related person transactions; and
preparing the audit committee report required by SEC rules.

All audit and non-audit services, other than de minimis non-audit services, to be provided to us by our independent registered public accounting firm must be approved in advance by our audit committee.

Our audit committee held four meetings during 2023. Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Driscoll is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules. We believe that the composition of our audit committee meets the requirements for independence under current Nasdaq and SEC rules and regulations. Our board of directors has also determined that each member of our audit committee can read and understand fundamental financial statements, in accordance with applicable requirements.

15


Compensation Committee

The members of our compensation committee are Peter Kiener, Pamela Garzone and Patrick Verheyen. Dr. Kiener is the chair of the compensation committee. Ms. Howson served as a member of the compensation committee until June 2023. Our compensation committee’s responsibilities include:

reviewing and approving, or making recommendations to our board of directors with respect to, the compensation of our chief executive officer and our other executive officers;
reviewing and evaluating the chief executive officer’s performance relative to our goals and objectives and establishing the individual elements of the chief executive officer’s total compensation
overseeing and administering our cash and equity incentive plans;
reviewing and making recommendations to our board of directors with respect to director compensation;
reviewing and discussing annually with management our “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” disclosure if and to the extent then required by SEC rules; and
preparing the compensation committee report if and to the extent then required by SEC rules.

The compensation committee has the authority to engage independent legal counsel, independent consultants and other advisors to review any matter under its responsibility. The compensation committee may form, and delegate authority to, subcommittees when it deems appropriate. We believe that the composition of our compensation committee meets the requirements for independence under current Nasdaq and SEC rules and regulations. Our compensation committee held six meetings during 2023.

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

The members of our corporate governance and nominating committee are Frank Morich, Peter A. Kiener and Frederick Driscoll. Dr. Morich is the chair of the corporate governance and nominating committee. Ms. Howson served as a member of the corporate governance and nominating committee until June 2023. Our corporate governance and nominating committee’s responsibilities include:

recommending to our board of directors the persons to be nominated for election as directors and to each of our board’s committees;
reviewing and making recommendations to our board with respect to our board leadership structure;
reviewing and making recommendations to our board with respect to management succession planning;
developing and recommending to our board of directors corporate governance principles;
overseeing our policies with respect to compliance management and any compliance committee established; and
overseeing a periodic evaluation of our board of directors.

We believe that the composition of our corporate governance and nominating committee meets the requirements for independence under current Nasdaq and SEC rules and regulations. The corporate governance and nominating committee held six meetings during 2023.

Science and Technology Strategy Committee

The members of our science and technology strategy committee are Peter Kiener, Frank Morich and Pamela Garzone. Dr. Kiener is the chair of the science and technology strategy committee. Our science and technology strategy committee’s responsibilities include:

assisting the board of directors in providing counsel to our senior management regarding our scientific research and development strategies, programs and activities including assessments of strengths, weaknesses/gaps, opportunities and threats faced by the Company;
advising the board of directors with respect to strategic and tactical scientific issues; and
facilitating development of our scientific strategy and making recommendations to the board of directors regarding corporate positioning and technology status.

16


The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

Our board of directors is actively involved in oversight of risks that could affect us. Our board of directors oversees our risk management processes directly and through its committees. Our management is responsible for risk management on a day-to-day basis. The role of our board of directors and its committees is to oversee the risk management activities of management. Our board of directors fulfills this duty by discussing with management the policies and practices utilized by management in assessing and managing risks and providing input on those policies and practices.

In general, our board of directors oversees risk management activities relating to business strategy, acquisitions, capital allocation, organizational structure and certain operational risks. Our audit committee oversees risk management activities related to financial controls and legal and compliance risks, including oversight over cybersecurity risk. Oversight by our audit committee includes direct communications with our independent registered public accounting firm. Our compensation committee oversees risk management activities relating to our compensation policies and practices and assessing whether any of our compensation policies or programs has the potential to encourage excessive risk-taking. Oversight by our compensation committee includes direct communication with our independent compensation consultants. Our corporate governance and nominating committee oversees risk management activities relating to management succession planning, the composition of our board of directors and its committees, corporate governance and compliance. Our science and technology strategy committee assists the board of directors’ oversight of our scientific research and development strategies. Each committee reviewsreports to the appropriatenessfull board of its charter annually directors on a regular basis, including reports with respect to the committee’s risk oversight activities as appropriate. In addition, since risk issues often overlap, committees from time to time request that the full board of directors discuss particular risks.

Employee, Officer and Director Hedging and Pledging

Pursuant to our insider trading policy, our directors, officers, employees and/or atconsultants, as well as any immediate family members sharing the household of any of the foregoing, are prohibited from engaging in transactions in publicly traded options, such as puts, calls and other intervalsderivative securities, relating to our company. This prohibition also extends to various forms of hedging transactions or monetization transactions, such as zero-cost collars and forward sale contracts, as they involve the establishment of a short position in our securities. In addition, our insider trading policy prohibits such persons from holding our securities in a margin account or pledging such securities as collateral for a loan, with an exception in limited situations only with the preapproval of our chief financial officer and, in the case of directors and executive officers, the audit committee.

Rule 10b5-1 Sales Plans

Certain of our directors and executive officers have adopted and may in the future adopt written plans, known as Rule 10b5-1 plans, in which they will contract with a broker to buy or sell shares of our common stock on a periodic basis. Under a Rule 10b5-1 plan, a broker executes trades pursuant to parameters established by the director or officer when entering into the plan, without further direction from the director or officer. The director or officer may amend or terminate the plan in some circumstances. Our directors and executive officers may also buy or sell additional shares outside of a Rule 10b5-1 plan when they are not in possession of material, nonpublic information.

Director Compensation

We maintain a compensation policy for our non-employee directors that is intended to enable us to attract and retain, on a long-term basis, highly qualified non-employee directors. Pursuant to our director compensation policy, our non-employee directors receive on an annual basis a $35,000 retainer paid in cash. In addition, the chairman of the board, if he or she is a non-employee

17


director, receives an annual cash retainer of $30,000 and standing committee members receive the annual committee fees set forth below.

Audit Committee Chair:

 

$

15,000

 

Audit Committee Member (other than the committee Chair):

 

$

7,500

 

Compensation Committee Chair:

 

$

10,000

 

Compensation Committee Member (other than the committee
   Chair):

 

$

5,000

 

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee Chair:

 

$

8,000

 

Corporate Governance and Nominating Member (other
   than the committee Chair):

 

$

4,000

 

Science and Technology Strategy Committee Chair:

 

$

10,000

 

Science and Technology Strategy Committee Member (other
   than the committee Chair):

 

$

5,000

 

Effective in January 2021, upon initial appointment to the board of directors, a non-employee director is awarded an option to purchase 20,000 shares of common stock that vest over three years with one-third vesting on the one-year anniversary of the grant date and the balance vesting in eight equal quarterly installments, or the Initial Option. On the first trading day following December 31 of each committee determines.year, each non-employee director is awarded an option to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock, or the Annual Option. Such options vest and become exercisable on the first anniversary of the grant date.

In March 2023, our board of directors amended our non-employee director compensation policy such that the Initial Option was an option to purchase 40,000 shares of common stock and the Annual Option was an option to purchase 20,000 shares of common stock. In December 2023, our board of directors further amended our non-employee director compensation policy such that the Initial Option is an option to purchase 48,800 shares of common stock and the Annual Option is an option to purchase 24,400 shares of common stock.

Daniel R. Passeri, a director who also serves as our chief executive officer, does not receive any additional compensation for his service as director. Mr. Passeri is one of our named executive officers and accordingly, the compensation we pay to Mr. Passeri is discussed under “Executive Compensation—Summary Compensation Table” and “Executive Compensation—Narrative to Summary Compensation Table.”

The table below shows all compensation to our non-employee directors, including compensation for their services as a member or a chair of one of our standing committees, during the year ended December 31, 2023.

Name

 

Fees Earned
or Paid in Cash
($)

 

 

Option Awards
($)(1)

 

 

All Other Compensation
($)(2)

 

 

Total
($)

 

Pamela Garzone (3)

 

 

30,139

 

 

 

111,692

 

 

 

 

 

 

141,831

 

Patrick Verheyen (3)

 

 

35,146

 

 

 

100,168

 

 

 

 

 

 

135,314

 

Frank Morich

 

 

85,500

 

 

 

20,766

 

 

 

 

 

 

106,266

 

Peter A. Kiener

 

 

58,250

 

 

 

20,766

 

 

 

65,167

 

 

 

144,183

 

Frederick Driscoll

 

 

55,542

 

 

 

20,766

 

 

 

 

 

 

76,308

 

Tamar Howson (4)

 

 

21,369

 

 

 

24,856

 

 

 

 

 

 

46,225

 

Aaron Fletcher (5)

 

 

35,862

 

 

 

20,766

 

 

 

 

 

 

56,628

 

(1)
The amounts shown in this column indicate the grant date fair value of option awards granted in the subject year computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For additional information regarding the assumptions made in calculating these amounts, see Note 9 to our audited financial statements included with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC. For Ms. Howson, the amount includes $4,090 of incremental fair value related to previously granted options that were modified in June 2023, computed as of the modification date in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.
(2)
Represents consulting fees paid to Dr. Kiener.
(3)
Dr. Garzone and Mr. Verheyen joined our board of directors in April 2023.
(4)
Ms. Howson resigned from our board of directors effective June 7, 2023.
(5)
Dr. Fletcher resigned from our board of directors effective October 9, 2023.

18


The following table sets forthshows the current membersnumber of the Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committeesshares subject to outstanding option awards held by each non-employee director as of the Board:December 31, 2023:

 

Name

Audit

Shares Subject to Outstanding
Stock Option Awards (#)

CompensationCorporate
Governance and
Nominating

Peter A. Kiener

Chair

115,600

XX

Steven McKnightFrank Morich

X

97,200

ChairX

Barry SimonFrederick Driscoll

X

96,000

X

Aaron Fletcher

Chair

78,000

Tamar Howson

58,263

Pamela Garzone

40,000

Patrick Verheyen

40,000

Committees

Audit Committee. Limitation of Liability and Indemnification

Our Audit Committee consistscertificate of Dr. Kiener, Dr. McKnightincorporation limits the personal liability of directors for breach of fiduciary duty to the maximum extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law and Dr. Simon. The Boardprovides that no director will have personal liability to us or to our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of Directors has determinedfiduciary duty as a director.

Any amendment to or repeal of these provisions will not eliminate or reduce the effect of these provisions in respect of any act, omission or claim that each memberoccurred or arose prior to such amendment or repeal. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended to provide for further limitations on the personal liability of directors of corporations, then the personal liability of our directors will be further limited to the greatest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.

In addition, our certificate of incorporation provides that we must indemnify our directors and officers and we must advance expenses to our directors and officers in connection with legal proceedings.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, may be permitted to directors, executive officers or persons controlling us, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Report of the Audit Committee is independent within the meaning of the Nasdaq director independence standards and applicable rules of the SEC for audit committee members. The Board of Directors has elected Dr. Kiener as Chairperson of the Audit Committee and has determined that he qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” under the rules of the SEC. The Audit Committee is responsible for assisting the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to financial reports and other financial information. The Audit Committee (1) reviews, monitors and reports to the Board of Directors on the adequacy of the Company’s financial reporting process and system of internal controls over financial reporting, (2) has the ultimate authority to select, evaluate and replace the independent auditor and is the ultimate authority to which the independent auditors are accountable, (3) in consultation with management, periodically reviews the adequacy of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and approves any significant changes thereto, (4) provides the audit committee report for inclusion in our proxy statement for our annual meeting of stockholders and (5) recommends, establishes and monitors procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints relating to accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and the receipt of confidential, anonymous submissions by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. The Audit Committee was formed in December 2017 and did not meet in 2017.

Compensation Committee. Our Compensation Committee presently consists of Dr. Kiener, Dr. McKnight and Dr. Simon, each of whom is a non-employee director as defined in Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act. The Board has also determined that each member of the Compensation Committee is also an independent director within the meaning of Nasdaq’s director independence standards. Mr. McKnight serves as Chairperson of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee (1) discharges the responsibilities of the Board of Directors relating to the compensation of our directors and executive officers, (2) oversees the Company’s

15


procedures for consideration and determination of executive and director compensation, and reviews and approves all executive compensation, and (3) administers and implements the Company’s incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans. The Compensation Committee was formed in December 2017 and did not meet in 2017.

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee consists of Dr. Kiener, Dr. McKnight and Dr. Simon. The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is an independent director within the meaning of the Nasdaq director independence standards and applicable rules of the SEC. Dr. Simon serves as Chairperson of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee (1) recommends to the Board of Directors persons to serve as members of the Board of Directors and as members of and chairpersons for the committees of the Board of Directors, (2) considers the recommendation of candidates to serve as directors submitted from the stockholders of the Company, (3) assists the Board of Directors in evaluating the performance of the Board of Directors and the Board committees, (4) advises the Board of Directors regarding the appropriate board leadership structure for the Company, (5) reviews and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors on corporate governance and (6) reviews the size and composition of the Board of Directors and recommends to the Board of Directors any changes it deems advisable. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee was formed in December 2017 and did not meet in 2017.

Role of the Board of Directors in Risk Oversight

Enterprise risks are identified and prioritized by management and the Board receives periodic reports from the Company’s head of compliance regarding the most significant risks facing the Company. These risks include, without limitation, the following:

risks and exposures associated with strategic, financial and execution risks and other current matters that may present material risk to our operations, plans, prospects or reputation;

risks and exposures associated with financial matters, particularly financial reporting, tax, accounting, disclosure, internal control over financial reporting, financial policies, investment guidelines and credit and liquidity matters;

risks and exposures relating to corporate governance, and management and director succession planning; and

risks and exposures associated with leadership assessment, and compensation programs and arrangements, including incentive plans.

16


REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

The Audit Committee is comprised of Peter Kiener, Steven McKnight and Barry Simon. None of the current or former members of the Audit Committee is an officer or employee of the Company, and the Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee meets the independence requirements promulgated by The Nasdaq Stock Market and the SEC, including Rule 10A-3(b)(1) under the Exchange Act.

The Audit Committeeaudit committee oversees the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Boardboard of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the systems of internal controls and the certification of the integrity and reliability of the Company’s internal controls procedures. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee hasdirectors. We have reviewed the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017,2023 and has discussed them with bothCompany management and Gumbiner Savett, Inc. (“Gumbiner Savett”),RSM US LLP, or RSM, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee has also

We have received from, and discussed with, RSM, which is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, its 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 independent registered public accounting firmaudit committee under generally accepted auditing standards, including the matters required to be discussed by the Auditing Standard No. 1301,Communications with Audit Committees, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The Audit Committee has reviewed permitted services under rules of the SEC as currently in effect and discussed with Gumbiner Savett its independence from management and the Company, including the matters in the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or the PCAOB, and the SEC. In addition, we have received from RSM the written disclosures and the letter required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent accountant’sits communications with the Audit Committeeus concerning independence. The Audit Committee has alsoindependence, have considered and discussed the compatibility of non-audit services provided by Gumbiner Savett with that firm’s independence.the auditors’ independence and have discussed with RSM its independence from management and the Company.

Based on itsthe review of the financial statements and the aforementioned discussions the Audit Committee concluded that it would be reasonablereferred to recommend, and on that basis did recommend,above, we recommended to the Boardboard of Directorsdirectors that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report.Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Respectfully submittedThis report of the audit committee is not “soliciting material,” shall not be deemed “filed” with the SEC and shall not be incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such acts.

19


The foregoing report has been furnished by the audit committee.

Respectfully submitted,

The Audit Committee.Committee of the Board of Directors

THE AUDIT COMMITTEE:Frederick Driscoll (Chair)

Peter Kiener, ChairFrank Morich

Steven McKnightPatrick Verheyen

Barry Simon

20


EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers as of the date of this Proxy Statement:

 

Name

Age

Position(s)

Daniel R. Passeri

63

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Anish Suri

50

President and Chief Scientific Officer

Kerri-Ann Millar

54

Chief Financial Officer

Matteo Levisetti

55

Chief Medical Officer

Colin G. Sandercock

67

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

17

Daniel R. Passeri is discussed above under “Information Regarding Director Nominees.”

Anish Suri has been our Chief Scientific Officer since May 2018 and our President since October 2019. Prior to joining Cue Biopharma, he held roles of increasing responsibility at Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, or Janssen, most recently as Senior Director at Janssen Immunosciences in Beerse, Belgium from July 2015 to May 2018 and, prior to that, as Senior Director from January 2015 to July 2015 and as Scientific Director from April 2013 to January 2015. His core responsibilities at Janssen included providing strategic leadership and guidance for new initiatives focused on parsing the specificity and diversity of the immune repertoire to enable antigen-specific immuno-therapies and related applications in cancer immunity; tolerogenic approaches for autoimmune diseases; and harnessing immune-monitoring to enable a deeper understanding of transition states from health to disease. Dr. Suri joined Janssen from Bristol-Myers Squibb, or BMS, in 2013, where he was responsible for providing strategic guidance to immuno-oncology and immunology drug-discovery programs. Prior to BMS, Dr. Suri was an Assistant Professor of Pathology and Immunology at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis. Dr. Suri received his B.S. in Biology from Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX and his Ph.D. in Immunology from Washington University in St. Louis.

Kerri-Ann Millar has been our Chief Financial Officer since August 2020. Previously, she served as Vice President of Finance since May 2018 and as Corporate Controller from September 2017 to May 2018. Prior to joining Cue Biopharma, Ms. Millar served as Corporate Controller of Flexion Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company, from March 2014 to September 2017. From May 2005 to March 2014, Ms. Millar served as Finance Specialist for Curis. Ms. Millar holds a B.S. in accounting and finance from Boston University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Matteo Levisetti has served as our Chief Medical Officer since January 2023. Prior to that, Dr. Levisetti served as our Senior Vice President of Clinical Development from February 2021 until January 2023. Prior to joining Cue Biopharma, he held Chief Medical Officer positions at DNAtrix, Inc., a biotechnology company, from May 2019 to February 2021 and Dauntless Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a therapeutics company, from May 2017 to June 2018, where he directed and managed clinical development and operations, and regulatory strategy for a number of endocrinology and oncology assets. Previously, he directed immuno-oncology programs as executive director of clinical development at Mirati Therapeutics, Inc., or Mirati. Before joining Mirati, Dr. Levisetti served as Global Head & Vice President, Translational Medicine, Immunology and Inflammation at Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, a division of Roche Holding AG. Prior to that, he held several senior clinical development positions at Pfizer Inc., where he led multiple early clinical development programs across several therapeutic areas, including endocrinology, immunology and oncology. Dr. Levisetti received his M.D. from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and served on the faculty at Washington University School of Medicine prior to his transition to leadership roles in industry.

Colin G. Sandercock has been our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since December 2017. Prior to joining Cue Biopharma, he was a partner at Perkins Coie LLP from July 2010 to December 2017, practicing in the areas of patent litigation, procurement, management and enforcement of domestic and foreign patent portfolio, licensing disputes, trademark disputes, and opinions relating to infringement, validity and freedom to operate. Mr. Sandercock holds a B.S. in Chemistry and Mathematics from Moravian College, a Materials Science & Engineering (M.S.E.) degree in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from Catholic University, Columbus School of Law.

21


EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION


COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Our compensation philosophy is to offer our executive officers compensation and benefits that are competitive and meet our goals of attracting, retaining and motivating highly skilled management, which is necessary to achieve our financial and strategic objectives and create long-term value for our stockholders. We believe the levels of compensation we provide should be competitive, reasonable and appropriate for our business needs and circumstances. The principal elements of our executive compensation program have to date included base salary, bonus and long-term equity compensation in the form of stock options. We believe successful long-term Companycompany performance is more critical to enhancing stockholder value than short-term results. For this reason and to conserve cash and better align the interests of management and our stockholders, we emphasize long-term performance-based equity compensation over base annual salaries.salaries and annual bonuses.

The following table sets forth information concerningOur executive compensation program is administered by our compensation committee, subject to the oversight and approval of our full board of directors. Our compensation committee reviews our executive compensation practices on an annual basis and based on this review approves or, as appropriate, makes recommendations to our board of directors for approval of our executive compensation program. Our chief executive officer recommends annual executive salary increases, annual equity awards and bonuses, if any, for the other executive officers, which are then reviewed and approved or adjusted by the compensation committee.

In designing our executive compensation program, our compensation committee considers publicly available compensation data for national and regional companies in the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry to help guide its executive compensation decisions at the time of hiring and for subsequent adjustments in compensation. In 2022 and 2023, our compensation committee retained Radford, an AON Hewitt company, as its independent compensation consultant to provide comparative data on executive compensation practices in our industry and to advise on our executive compensation program generally. The compensation committee also retained Radford for recommendations and review of non-employee director compensation in 2023. Although our compensation committee considers the advice and recommendations of Radford as to our executive compensation program, our compensation committee ultimately makes their own decisions about these matters. In the future, we expect that our compensation committee will continue to engage independent compensation consultants to provide additional guidance on our executive compensation programs and to conduct further competitive benchmarking against a peer group of publicly traded companies.

This section describes the material elements of compensation awarded to, or earned by, the individual that served as our Principal Executive Officerprincipal executive officer during 20172023 and our three most highly compensated executive officers other than our principal executive officer during 2023, who we refer to collectively as the individual who served as our Principal Executive Officer during 2017 (collectively, the “namednamed executive officers”):officers:

Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information regarding compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to each of our named executive officers for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

 

Name and

Principal Position

  Year  Salary
($)
   Bonus
($)
   Option
Awards
($)(1)
   All Other
Compensation
($)(4)
   TOTAL ($) 

Daniel R. Passeri

   2017   325,000    81,218    —      4,153    406,218 

Chief Executive Officer, President

   2016(2)   112,027    57,500    2,289,178    1,200    2,458,705 

Colin G. Sandercock

   2017(3)   22,917    6,248    1,208,659    —      1,237,824 

Senior Vice President & General Counsel

   2016   —      —      —      —      —   

Rodolfo J. Chaparro

   2017   250,000    62,475    —      4,153    312,475 

Executive Vice President, Head of Immunology

   2016   203,333    50,000    504,135    3,580    757,468 

Ronald D. Seidel

   2017   250,000    62,475    —      4,153    312,475 

Executive Vice President, Head of Research & Development

   2016   203,333    50,000    504,135    3,580    757,468 

Name and Principal Position

 

Year

 

Salary
($)(1)

 

 

Bonus
($)(2)

 

 

Option
Awards
($)(3)

 

 

All Other
Compensation
($)(4)

 

 

Total ($)

 

Daniel R. Passeri

 

2023

 

 

604,824

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,407,500

 

 

 

3,156

 

 

 

3,015,480

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

2022

 

 

747,507

 

 

 

234,637

 

 

 

388,130

 

 

 

3,576

 

 

 

1,373,850

 

Kerri-Ann Millar

 

2023

 

 

444,181

 

 

 

 

 

 

715,201

 

 

 

3,156

 

 

 

1,162,538

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

2022

 

 

418,459

 

 

 

137,000

 

 

 

497,890

 

 

 

3,576

 

 

 

1,056,925

 

Anish Suri

 

2023

 

 

481,486

 

 

 

 

 

 

757,826

 

 

 

3,156

 

 

 

1,242,468

 

President and Chief Scientific Officer

 

2022

 

 

489,832

 

 

 

148,572

 

 

 

525,674

 

 

 

3,576

 

 

 

1,167,654

 

 

(1)The amounts shown in this column indicate the grant date fair value of option awards granted in the subject year computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For additional information regarding the assumptions made in calculating these amounts, see note 7 to our audited financial statements included with our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the SEC.
(2)Represents a partial year of employment. Mr. Passeri joined us on August 29, 2016.
(3)Represents a partial year of employment. Mr. Sandercock joined us on December 1, 2017.
(4)The amounts shown in this column indicate parking fees paid by the Company.
(1)
Salary refers to base salary compensation paid through our normal payroll process in the calendar year.
(2)
Bonus refers to bonuses paid in the following year based on achievement of corporate goals in the year shown. Our board of directors has not yet determined the 2023 bonus amounts for our named executive officers.
(3)
The amounts shown in this column indicate the grant date fair value of option awards granted in the subject year computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For additional information regarding the assumptions made in calculating these amounts, see Note 9 to our audited financial statements included with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC.
(4)
The amounts shown in this column consist of parking fees and executive disability benefit premiums paid by the Company in 2023.

22


 

18Narrative to Summary Compensation Table

Base Salary. We use base salaries to recognize the experience, skills, knowledge and responsibilities required of all our employees, including our named executive officers. None of our named executive officers are currently party to an employment agreement or other agreement or arrangement that provides for automatic or scheduled increases in base salary.

In February 2023, the board of directors increased the base salary, effective January 1, 2023, for Mr. Passeri, Ms. Millar and Dr. Suri to $610,000, $445,000 and $483,000, respectively.

In February 2024, the board of directors increased the base salary, effective January 1, 2024, for Mr. Passeri, Ms. Millar and Dr. Suri to $622,200, $463,000 and $502,320, respectively.

Annual Bonus. Our board of directors may, in its discretion, award bonuses to our named executive officers from time to time. Our letter agreements with our named executive officers provide that they will be eligible for annual performance-based bonuses up to a specified percentage of their salary, subject to approval by our board of directors. We typically establish annual bonus targets based around a set of specified corporate goals for our named executive officers and conduct an annual performance review to determine the attainment of such goals. Our management may propose bonus awards to our compensation committee primarily based on such review process. Our board of directors makes the final determination of the eligibility requirements for and the amount of such bonus awards based on the recommendation of the compensation committee. The final evaluation made by our board of directors does not involve a predetermined mathematical formula.

Target bonuses as a percentage of annual base salary for 2023 were 50% for Mr. Passeri, and 40% for Ms. Millar and Dr. Suri.

For 2023, the categories of corporate goals that we used to propose performance-based bonuses to our compensation committee included corporate strategy, advancing our portfolio and platform, clinical development, corporate development, financing, and organizational effectiveness. Based on our achievement or partial achievement, on or before our projected timeline, of specific goals within each category, the board of directors determined that we achieved 81% of the specified corporate goals for 2023. The board of directors approves performance-based bonuses for our named executive officers upon consideration of these corporate achievements, along with subjective factors related to each named executive officer’s individual performance, responsibilities and then-existing compensation levels. Our board of directors has not yet determined the 2023 bonus amounts for our named executive officers.

In February 2024, target bonuses as a percentage of annual base salary for 2023 for Mr. Passeri, Ms. Millar and Dr. Suri were set at 50%, 40% and 40%, respectively.

Equity Incentives. Although we do not have a formal policy with respect to the grant of equity incentive awards to our executive officers, or any formal equity ownership guidelines applicable to them, we believe that equity grants provide our executives with a strong link to our long-term performance, create an ownership culture and help to align the interests of our executives and our stockholders. In addition, we believe that equity grants with a time-based vesting feature promote executive retention because this feature incents our executive officers to remain in our employment during the vesting period. Accordingly, our board of directors periodically reviews the equity incentive compensation of our named executive officers and generally plans to annually grant equity incentive awards to them in the form of stock option awards. In addition to our annual grants to current employees, we typically grant stock option awards at the start of employment to each executive and our other employees. We have retained discretion to provide additional targeted grants in certain circumstances.

We typically award our stock options on the date our board of directors approves the grant. We set the option exercise price and grant-date fair value based on our per-share estimated valuation on the date of grant. For grants in connection with initial employment, vesting begins on the initial date of employment. Time vested stock option grants to our executives and other employees typically vest in eight equal semi-annual installments, through the fourth anniversary of the vesting commencement date, and have a term of ten years from the grant date.

In February 2023, we granted options to purchase 324,000, 124,000 and 125,500 shares of our common stock to Mr. Passeri, Ms. Millar and Dr. Suri, respectively, at an exercise price of $3.21. Such options vest in eight equal semi-annual installments beginning August 16, 2023.

In July 2023, we granted options to purchase 450,000, 113,000 and 124,125 shares of our common stock to Mr. Passeri, Ms. Millar and Dr. Suri, respectively, at an exercise price of $4.20 Such options vest in twenty-four equal monthly installments beginning on August 21, 2023.

23


In March 2024, we granted options to purchase 400,000, 250,000 and 300,000 shares of our common stock to Mr. Passeri, Ms. Millar and Dr. Suri, respectively, at an exercise price of $1.94. Such options vest in eight equal semi-annual installments beginning September 6, 2024.


Outstanding Equity Awards at 2017 Fiscal Year-EndYear End 2023

The following table providessets forth information regarding equity awardsall outstanding stock options held by theeach of our named executive officers as of December 31, 2017.2023.

 

Name

  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
  Option
Exercise
Price ($)
   Option
Expiration
Date
 

Daniel R. Passeri

Chief Executive Officer

   136,183    408,549(1)   2.86    8/29/2023 

Colin G. Sandercock

Senior Vice President & General Counsel

   —      150,000(2)   7.50    12/27/2024 
   —      100,000(3)   7.50    12/27/2024 

Rodolfo Chaparro

Executive Vice President, Head of Immunology

   30,000    90,000(4)   2.86    9/7/2023 

Ronald Seidel

Executive Vice President, Head of Research & Development

   30,000    90,000(4)   2.86    9/7/2023 

 

Option Awards

Name

 

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable

 

 

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable

 

 

 

 

Option
Exercise
Price ($)

 

 

Option
Expiration
Date

Daniel R. Passeri

 

 

50,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11.54

 

 

7/22/2025

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

125,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.42

 

 

3/5/2029

 

 

131,250

 

 

 

18,750

 

 

(1

)

 

 

16.26

 

 

2/9/2030

 

 

53,125

 

 

 

31,875

 

 

(2

)

 

 

15.55

 

 

2/9/2031

 

 

37,500

 

 

 

62,500

 

 

(3

)

 

 

5.01

 

 

3/24/2032

 

 

40,500

 

 

 

283,500

 

 

(4

)

 

 

3.21

 

 

2/15/2033

 

 

93,750

 

 

 

356,250

 

 

(5

)

 

 

4.20

 

 

7/20/2033

Kerri-Ann Millar

 

 

53,749

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.50

 

 

12/27/2024

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

50,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11.54

 

 

7/23/2025

 

 

30,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.42

 

 

3/5/2029

 

 

26,250

 

 

 

3,750

 

 

(6

)

 

 

16.26

 

 

2/4/2030

 

 

48,750

 

 

 

16,250

 

 

(7

)

 

 

19.87

 

 

8/20/2030

 

 

43,750

 

 

 

26,250

 

 

(2

)

 

 

15.55

 

 

2/9/2031

 

 

31,875

 

 

 

53,125

 

 

(8

)

 

 

6.91

 

 

2/8/2032

 

 

3,750

 

 

 

6,250

 

 

(3

)

 

 

5.01

 

 

3/24/2032

 

 

15,500

 

 

 

108,500

 

 

(4

)

 

 

3.21

 

 

2/15/2033

 

 

23,541

 

 

 

89,459

 

 

(5

)

 

 

4.20

 

 

7/20/2033

Anish Suri

 

 

250,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14.32

 

 

5/13/2025

President and Chief Scientific Officer

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.26

 

 

8/13/2025

 

 

50,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11.54

 

 

7/22/2025

 

 

105,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.42

 

 

3/5/2029

 

 

400,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.53

 

 

10/2/2029

 

 

56,875

 

 

 

8,125

 

 

(6

)

 

 

16.26

 

 

2/4/2030

 

 

46,875

 

 

 

28,125

 

 

(2

)

 

 

15.55

 

 

2/9/2031

 

 

30,750

 

 

 

51,250

 

 

(8

)

 

 

6.91

 

 

2/8/2032

 

 

7,999

 

 

 

13,334

 

 

(3

)

 

 

5.01

 

 

3/24/2032

 

 

15,687

 

 

 

109,813

 

 

(4

)

 

 

3.21

 

 

2/15/2033

 

 

25,859

 

 

 

98,266

 

 

(5

)

 

 

4.20

 

 

7/20/2033

 

(1)These unvested options vest in six equal semi-annual installments on February 28 and August 28 of 2018, 2019 and 2020.
(2)These unvested options vest in eight equal semi-annual installments on June 1 and December 1 of 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
(3)These unvested options shall vest based upon the achievement of certain performance based vesting conditions.
(4)These unvested options vest in six equal semi-annual installments on March 7 and September 7 of 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table presents information

(1)
This option was granted on February 5, 2020, and the Company’s equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2017. All outstanding awards relateshares underlying the option are scheduled to our common stock.vest in eight equal semi-annual installments from August 5, 2020.
(2)
This option was granted on February 10, 2021, and the shares underlying the option are scheduled to vest in eight equal semi-annual installments from August 10, 2021.
(3)
This option was granted on March 25, 2022, and the shares underlying the option are scheduled to vest in eight equal semi-annual installments from September 25, 2022.
(4)
This option was granted on February 16, 2023, and the shares underlying the option are scheduled to vest in eight equal semi-annual installments from August 16, 2023.
(5)
This option was granted on July 21, 2023, and the shares underlying the option are scheduled to vest in twenty-four equal monthly installments from August 21, 2023.
(6)
This option was granted on February 5, 2020, and the shares underlying the option are scheduled to vest in eight equal semi-annual installments from August 5, 2020.

24


 

Plan Category

  Number of Securities
to Be Issued upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
Options, Warrants
and Rights
  Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights
   Number of Securities
Remaining Available
for Future Issuance
under Equity
Compensation Plans
(Excluding Securities
Outstanding)
 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

   2,732,221(1)  $4.07    567,779(2) 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

   —     —      —   

Total

   2,732,221  $4.07    567,779 
(7)
This option was granted on August 21, 2020, and the shares underlying the option are scheduled to vest in eight equal semi-annual installments from February 21, 2021.
(8)
This option was granted on February 9, 2022, and the shares underlying the option are scheduled to vest in eight equal semi-annual installments from August 9, 2022.

(1)Includes outstanding stock options exercisable for 2,362,221 shares of common stock issued under our 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Omnibus Plan”) and outstanding stock options exercisable for 370,000 shares of common stock issued under our 2016 Non-Employee Equity Compensation Plan (the “Non-Employee Plan”).
(2)Consists of 437,779 shares of common stock available for future issuance under the Omnibus Plan and 130,000 shares of common stock available for future issuance under the Non-Employee Plan.

19


Employment Agreements and Change of Control Arrangements

Employment Agreements

The following is a summary of the employment arrangements with our named executive officers.

Daniel R. Passeri.Passeri. We entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Passeri effective August 29, 2016.2016, which was subsequently amended and restated on October 3, 2019, February 10, 2020, and March 4, 2021, or, as so amended and restated, the Passeri Employment Agreement. The initial term of the employment agreementPasseri Employment Agreement continues through December 31, 2018until and unless terminated sooner pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement, continues on a year-to-year basis thereafter. its terms.

Mr. Passeri’s current annual base salary is $325,000,$622,200, and he is eligible for an annual incentive bonus of up to 30%50% of his base salary based upon achievement of performance-based objectives established by our board of directors. Upon entering into the employment agreement, Mr. Passeri received a one-time cash payment of $25,000. Pursuant to Mr. Passeri’s employment agreement, he was granted a seven-year option to purchase a number of shares ofdirectors or our common stock equal to 5% of the common stock issued and outstanding as of the effective date of the employment agreement. Mr. Passeri’s stock option becomes exercisable over four years in eight equal semi-annual installments beginning six months after the option’s date of grant.compensation committee.

If Mr. Passeri’s employment is terminated due to his death or disability, Mr. Passeri will be entitled to receive (i) any unpaid base salary through the date of termination, (ii) any annual bonus earned but unpaid prior to the date of termination, (iii) reimbursement of any unreimbursed business expenses incurred through the date of termination, (iv) any accrued but unused vacation time in accordance with Cue policy, which shall be prorated for any year in which Mr. Passeri’s employment is terminated, (v) all other payments, benefits or fringe benefits to which Mr. Passeri is entitled under the terms of any applicable compensation arrangement or benefit, equity or fringe benefit plan or program or grant, and (vi) an annual bonus for the year in which such termination occurs, determined and payable as though no such termination had occurred. If Mr. Passeri’s employment is terminated without Cause or he resigns for Good Reason (as such terms are defined in the Passeri Employment Agreement), he will be entitled to receive each of the benefits described in the foregoing clauses (i)-(v) and, (a) subject to the terms and provisions of the Passeri Employment Agreement, a lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to the sum of (1) the target annual bonus for the year of termination, prorated based on the number of days that Mr. Passeri is employed in such year through the date of termination plus (2) 12 months of base salary, (b) subject to the terms and provisions of the Passeri Employment Agreement, if Mr. Passeri elects COBRA coverage for health and/or dental insurance, monthly premium payments for such coverage until the earliest of: (1) 18 months from the termination date; (2) the date he obtains new employment that offers health and/or dental coverage that is reasonably comparable to that offered by Cue; or (3) the date COBRA continuation coverage would otherwise terminate; and (c) the acceleration of outstanding equity awards by a period of twelve (12) months; provided, for purposes of that equity awards with performance-based vesting conditions, or Performance Awards, Mr. Passeri will be treated as having remained in service for an additional 12 months following actual termination/resignation, provided that Performance Awards will not become vested or earned solely as a result of such treatment, and the vesting and earning of all Performance Awards will remain subject to the attainment of all applicable performance goals, and such awards, if and to the extent they become earned and vested, will be payable at the same time as under the applicable award agreement. If Mr. Passeri’s employment is terminated for Cause or he resigns without Good Reason, he will be entitled to receive (i) any unpaid base salary through the date of termination, (ii) reimbursement of any unreimbursed business expenses incurred through the date of termination, (iii) any accrued but unused vacation time in accordance with Cue policy, which shall be prorated for any year in which Mr. Passeri’s employment is terminated, (iv) all other payments, benefits or fringe benefits to which Mr. Passeri is entitled under the terms of any applicable compensation arrangement or benefit, equity or fringe benefit plan or program or grant.

Pursuant to the Passeri Employment Agreement, if Mr. Passeri’s employment is terminated by Cue other than for Cause or his death or disability or by Mr. Passeri for Good Reason 90 days prior to or upon or within 24 months following a Change of Control (as defined in our 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan, or the Plan), (i) 100% of his equity awards other than Performance Awards will become fully vested as of the date of such termination/resignation and remain exercisable (if exercisable) until the earlier of one year following such termination/resignation or the expiration of such equity awards pursuant to the terms of the applicable award agreements and (ii) the service-based vesting conditions of any Performance Awards will be deemed fully satisfied and such performance goals applicable to the Performance Awards will be deemed to be achieved at the greater of target or actual performance as of the Change of Control, and such Performance Awards will remain exercisable (if exercisable) until the earlier of one year from such termination/resignation or the expiration of the Performance Awards pursuant to the terms of the applicable award agreements.

Under the Passeri Employment Agreement, Mr. Passeri is subject to confidentiality, noncompetition and nonsolicitation provisions that survive the term of his employment.

25


Kerri-Ann Millar. We entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Millar effective August 21, 2020 in connection with her appointment as Chief Financial Officer. The term of the employment agreement continues on a year-to-year basis unless terminated sooner pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement.

Ms. Millar’s current annual base salary is $463,000, and she is eligible for an annual incentive bonus of up to 40% of her base salary based upon achievement of performance-based objectives established by our board of directors or our compensation committee.

If Ms. Millar’s employment is terminated due to her death or disability, Ms. Millar will be entitled to receive (i) any unpaid salary through the date of termination, (ii) any annual bonus earned but unpaid prior to the date of termination, (iii) reimbursement of any business expenses incurred through the date of termination, (iv) any accrued but unused vacation time, (v) all other payments, benefits or fringe benefits to which Mr. Passeri is entitled under the terms of any applicable compensation arrangement or benefit plan, and (vi) an annual bonus for the year in which such termination occurs, determined and payable as though no such termination had occurred. If Mr. Passeri’s employment is terminated without Cause or for Good Reason, he will be entitled to receive each of the benefits described in the foregoing clauses (i)-(v) and, subject to the terms and provisions of the employment agreement, a lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to (A) the annual bonus, prorated based on the number of days that Mr. Passeri is employed in such year through the date of termination plus (B) twelve (12) months of base salary. If Mr. Passeri’s employment is terminated for Cause or without Good Reason, he will be entitled to receive (i) any unpaid salary through the date of termination, (ii) reimbursement of any business expenses incurred through the date of termination, (iii) any accrued but unused vacation time, and (iv) all other payments, benefits or fringe benefits to which Mr. Passeri is entitled under the terms of any applicable compensation arrangement or benefit plan.

Under his employment agreement, Mr. Passeri is subject to confidentiality, noncompetition and nonsolicitation provisions that survive the term of his employment.

Colin Sandercock. We entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Sandercock effective December 4, 2017. The initial term of the employment agreement continues through December 31, 2018 and, unless terminated sooner pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement, continues on a year-to-year basis thereafter. Mr. Sandercock’s current annual base salary is $275,000, and he is eligible for an annual incentive bonus of up to 20% of his base salary based upon achievement of performance-based objectives established by the Compensation Committee of our board of directors. Upon the completion of our initial public offering, Mr. Sandercock was granted (i) a seven-year option to purchase 150,000 shares of our common stock, which becomes exercisable over four years in eight equal semi-annual installments beginning six months after the option’s date of grant and (ii) a seven-year option to purchase 100,000 shares of our common stock, which becomes exercisable at each of the first two anniversaries of Mr. Sandercock’s hiring date upon the Compensation Committee’s determination that certain prescribed goals have been obtained.

If Mr. Sandercock’s employment is terminated due to his death or disability, Mr. Sandercock will be entitled to receive (i) any unpaid salary through the date of termination, (ii) any annual bonus earned but unpaid prior to the date of termination, (iii) reimbursement of any business expenses incurred through the date of termination, (iv) any accrued but unused vacation time, (v) all other payments, benefits or fringe benefits to which Mr. SandercockMs. Millar is entitled under the terms of any applicable compensation arrangement or benefit plan, (vi) an annual bonus for the year in which such termination occurs, determined and payable as though no such

20


termination had occurred, and (vii) three months of base salary, with such lump sum payable on the first payroll date that occurs more than 60 days after termination.occurred. If Mr. Sandercock’sMs. Millar’s employment is terminated without Cause or she resigns for Good Reason, heshe will be entitled to receive each of the benefits described in the foregoing clauses (i)-(v) and, subject to the terms and provisions of the employment agreement, (a) a lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to (A)(1) the annual bonus, prorated based on the number of days that Mr. SandercockMs. Millar is employed in such year through the date of termination plus (B) six (6)(2) nine (9) months of base salary plus (C)salary; and (b) if Mr. SandercockMs. Millar elects to continueCOBRA coverage for health and/or dental insurance, under COBRA following termination, premiumsmonthly premium payments for such coverage foruntil the six-month period after termination.earliest of: (1) 9 months from the termination date; (2) the date she obtains new employment that offers health and/or dental coverage that is reasonably comparable to that offered by Cue; or (3) the date COBRA continuation coverage would otherwise terminate. If Mr. Sandercock’sMs. Millar’s employment is terminated for Cause or she resigns without Good Reason, heshe will be entitled to receive (i) any unpaid salary through the date of termination, (ii) reimbursement of any unreimbursed business expenses incurred through the date of termination, (iii) any accrued but unused vacation time, and (iv) all other payments, benefits or fringe benefits to which Mr. SandercockMs. Millar is entitled under the terms of any applicable compensation arrangement or benefit plan. Any severance to which Ms. Millar may be entitled pursuant to her employment agreement is subject to her timely execution and non-revocation of a release agreement with Cue.

Under her employment agreement, Ms. Millar is subject to confidentiality, noncompetition and nonsolicitation provisions that survive the term of her employment.

Anish Suri. We entered into an employment agreement with Dr. Suri effective April 10, 2018, which was subsequently amended and restated on October 3, 2019, or, as so amended and restated, the Suri Employment Agreement. The term of the Suri Employment Agreement continued through December 31, 2022 and, unless terminated sooner pursuant to its terms, continues on a year-to-year basis thereafter.

Dr. Suri’s current annual base salary is $502,320, and he is eligible for an annual incentive bonus of up to 40% of his base salary based upon achievement of performance-based objectives established by our board of directors or our compensation committee.

If Dr. Suri’s employment is terminated due to his death or disability, Dr. Suri will be entitled to receive (i) any unpaid base salary through the date of termination, (ii) any annual bonus earned but unpaid prior to the date of termination, (iii) reimbursement of any unreimbursed business expenses incurred through the date of termination, (iv) any accrued but unused vacation time in accordance with Cue policy, which shall be prorated for any year in which Dr. Suri’s employment is terminated, (v) all other payments, benefits or fringe benefits to which Dr. Suri is entitled under the terms of any applicable compensation arrangement or benefit, equity or fringe benefit plan or program or grant, and (vi) an annual bonus for the year in which such termination occurs, determined and payable as though no such termination had occurred. If Dr. Suri’s employment is terminated without Cause or he resigns for Good Reason (as such terms are defined in the Suri Employment Agreement), he will be entitled to receive each of the benefits described in the foregoing clauses (i)-(v) and, (a) subject to the terms and provisions of the Suri Employment Agreement, a lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to the sum of (1) the target annual bonus for the year of termination plus (2) 12 months of base salary, (b) subject to the terms and provisions of the Suri Employment Agreement, if Dr. Suri elects COBRA coverage for health and/or dental insurance, monthly premium payments for such coverage until the earliest of: (1) 12 months from the termination date; (2) the date he obtains new employment that offers health and/or dental coverage that is reasonably comparable to that offered by Cue; or (3) the date COBRA continuation coverage would otherwise terminate; and (c) the potential partial or full acceleration of outstanding equity awards in certain termination events by a period of twelve (12) months; provided, for purposes of that Performance Awards, Dr. Suri will be treated as having remained in service for an additional 12 months following actual termination/resignation, provided that Performance Awards will not become vested or earned solely as a result of such treatment, and the vesting and earning of all Performance Awards will remain subject to the attainment of all applicable performance goals, and such awards, if and to the extent they become earned and vested, will be payable at the same time as under the applicable award agreement. If Dr. Suri’s employment is terminated for Cause or he resigns without Good Reason, he will be entitled to receive (i) any unpaid base salary through the date of termination, (ii) reimbursement of any unreimbursed

26


business expenses incurred through the date of termination, (iii) any accrued but unused vacation time in accordance with Cue policy, which shall be prorated for any year in which Dr. Suri’s employment is terminated, (iv) all other payments, benefits or fringe benefits to which Dr. Suri is entitled under the terms of any applicable compensation arrangement or benefit, equity or fringe benefit plan or program or grant.

Pursuant to the Suri Employment Agreement, if Dr. Suri’s employment is terminated by Cue other than for Cause or his death or disability or by Dr. Suri for Good Reason 90 days prior to or upon or within 24 months following a Change of Control (as defined in the Plan), (i) 100% of his equity awards other than Performance Awards will become fully vested as of the date of such termination/resignation and remain exercisable (if exercisable) until the earlier of one year following such termination/resignation or the expiration of such equity awards pursuant to the terms of the applicable award agreements and (ii) the service-based vesting conditions of any Performance Awards will be deemed fully satisfied and such performance goals applicable to the Performance Awards will be deemed to be achieved at the greater of target or actual performance as of the Change of Control, and such Performance Awards will remain exercisable (if exercisable) until the earlier of one year from such termination/resignation or the expiration of the Performance Awards pursuant to the terms of the applicable award agreements.

Under his employment agreement, Mr. SandercockDr. Suri is subject to confidentiality, noncompetition and nonsolicitation provisions that survive the term of his employment.

Rodolfo Chaparro. Effective as of the closing of the private placement of our common stock on June 15, 2015, the Company entered into an employment agreementPay Versus Performance Disclosure

In accordance with Dr. Chaparro. The employment agreement has no specific term and constitutes at-will employment. Under the employment agreement, Mr. Chaparro is paid an annual salary of $250,000. Under the employment agreement, Mr. Chaparro is entitled to bonus compensation and equity award grants with the value and terms generally commensurate with those of other senior executives of the Company, including incentive stock options in an amount customary for senior executives of biotechnology companies as determinedrules adopted by the boardSecurities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of directors2010, we provide the following disclosure regarding executive compensation for our principal executive officer, or PEO, and our non-PEO named executive officers, or Non-PEO NEOs, and our performance for the fiscal years listed below. This disclosure has been prepared in its sole discretion.

If Mr. Chaparro’s employment is terminatedaccordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act and does not necessarily reflect value actually realized by the Companyexecutives or how our compensation committee evaluates compensation decisions in light of company or individual performance.

Year

 

Summary
Compensation
Table Total
for PEO ($)(1)

 

 

Compensation
Actually Paid
to PEO ($)(2)

 

 

Average
Summary
Compensation
Table Total for
Non-PEO
NEOs ($)(1)

 

 

Average
Compensation
Actually Paid to
Non-PEO
NEOs ($)(2)(3)

 

 

Value of
Initial Fixed
$100
Investment
based on:
Total
Shareholder
Return ($)(4)

 

 

Net
Income
($ Millions)

 

2023

 

 

3,015,480

 

 

 

1,356,650

 

 

 

1,202,503

 

 

 

117,009

 

 

 

21.10

 

 

 

(51

)

2022

 

 

1,373,850

 

 

 

(610,573

)

 

 

1,112,289

 

 

 

(996,435

)

 

 

22.78

 

 

 

(53

)

2021

 

 

1,820,756

 

 

 

1,276,706

 

 

 

1,436,619

 

 

 

812,687

 

 

 

91.13

 

 

 

(44

)

(1)
Daniel Passeri was our PEO for any reason other than Cause, death or Disability or if Mr. Chaparro resigns for Good Reason (as such terms are definedall years in the employment agreement), Mr. Chaparro will be entitledtable. The Non-PEO NEOs were Kerri-Ann Millar and Anish Suri for all years in the table.
(2)
The amounts shown for Compensation Actually Paid have been calculated in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K and do not reflect compensation actually earned, realized, or received by the Company’s named executive officers during the applicable years. These amounts reflect the Summary Compensation Table Total with certain adjustments made in accordance with Item 402(v) and as described in footnote 3 below.
(3)
Compensation Actually Paid reflects the exclusions and inclusions of certain amounts for the PEOs and the Non-PEO NEOs as set forth below. Equity values are calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Amounts in the Exclusion of Option Awards column are the totals from the Option Awards column set forth in the Summary Compensation Table.

Year

 

Summary
Compensation
Table Total
for PEO ($)

 

 

Exclusion of
Option Awards
for PEO ($)

 

 

Inclusion of
Equity Value
for PEO ($)

 

 

Compensation
Actually Paid
to PEO ($)

 

2023

 

 

3,015,480

 

 

 

(2,407,500

)

 

 

748,670

 

 

 

1,356,650

 

2022

 

 

1,373,850

 

 

 

(388,130

)

 

 

(1,596,293

)

 

 

(610,573

)

2021

 

 

1,820,756

 

 

 

(1,046,053

)

 

 

502,003

 

 

 

1,276,706

 

27


Year

 

Average Summary
Compensation Table
Total for Non-PEO
NEOs ($)

 

 

Average Exclusion
of Option Awards
for Non-PEO
NEOs ($)

 

 

Average Inclusion of
Equity Values for
Non-PEO NEOs ($)

 

 

Average
Compensation
Actually Paid to
Non-PEO
NEOs ($)

 

2023

 

 

1,202,503

 

 

 

(736,514

)

 

 

(348,981

)

 

 

117,009

 

2022

 

 

1,112,289

 

 

 

(511,782

)

 

 

(1,596,942

)

 

 

(996,435

)

2021

 

 

1,439,619

 

 

 

(892,221

)

 

 

265,289

 

 

 

812,687

 

The amounts in the Inclusion of Equity Values in the tables above are derived from the amounts set forth in the following tables:

Year

 

Year-End Fair
Value of Equity
Awards Granted
During Year That
Remained
Outstanding and
Unvested as of
Last Day of Year
for PEO ($)

 

 

Change in Fair
Value from Last
Day of Prior Year
to Last Day of
Year of
Outstanding and
Unvested Equity
Awards Granted
in any Prior Year
for PEO ($)

 

 

Vesting-
Date Fair
Value of
Equity
Awards
Granted
During Year
that Vested
During Year
for PEO ($)

 

 

Change in Fair
Value from Last
Day of Prior
Year to Vesting
Date of
Unvested
Equity Awards
Granted in any
Prior Year that
Vested During
Year for PEO

 

 

Fair Value
at Last Day
of Prior
Year Equity
Awards
Forfeited
During Year
for PEO

 

 

Total –
Inclusion of
Equity
Values for
PEO ($)

 

2023

 

 

1,190,794

 

 

 

(245,681

)

 

 

247,336

 

 

 

(443,779

)

 

 

 

 

 

748,670

 

2022

 

 

172,343

 

 

 

(825,671

)

 

 

18,280

 

 

 

(961,245

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,596,293

)

2021

 

 

583,257

 

 

 

(326,805

)

 

 

73,383

 

 

 

172,168

 

 

 

 

 

 

502,003

 

Year

 

Average Year-
End Fair Value
of Equity
Awards Granted
During Year
That Remained
Outstanding and
Unvested as of
Last Day of
Year for Non-
PEO NEOs ($)

 

 

Average Change
in Fair Value
from Last Day of
Prior Year to Last
Day of Year of
Outstanding and
Unvested Equity
Awards Granted
in any Prior Year
for Non-PEO
NEOs ($)

 

 

Average
Vesting-
Date Fair
Value of
Equity
Awards
Granted
During Year
that Vested
During Year
for Non-
PEO NEOs
($)

 

 

Average
Change in Fair
Value from
Last Day of
Prior Year to
Vesting Date of
Unvested
Equity Awards
Granted in any
Prior Year that
Vested During
Year for Non-
PEO NEOs ($)

 

 

Average
Fair Value at
Last Day of
Prior Year
of Equity
Awards
Forfeited
During Year
for Non-
PEO NEOs
($)

 

 

Total –
Average
Inclusion of
Equity
Values for
Non-PEO
NEOs ($)

 

2023

 

 

439,267

 

 

 

(199,605

)

 

 

88,257

 

 

 

(676,900

)

 

 

 

 

 

(348,981

)

2022

 

 

159,862

 

 

 

(970,523

)

 

 

20,142

 

 

 

(806,423

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,596,942

)

2021

 

 

497,484

 

 

 

(358,675

)

 

 

62,591

 

 

 

63,889

 

 

 

 

 

 

265,289

 

Valuation assumptions used to receive six months’ continuationcalculate fair values did not materially differ from those used to calculate fair values at the time of his then-current base salary and a cash lump-sum paymentgrant as reflected in an amount equal to accrued unpaid bonusesthe amounts set forth in the Summary Compensation Table.

(4) Assumes $100 was invested for the period starting December 31, 2020 through the end of the fiscal halflisted year in whichour common stock. Historical stock performance is not necessarily indicative of future stock performance.

28


Description of Relationship Between PEO and Non-PEO NEO Compensation Actually Paid and Company Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”)

The following chart sets forth the termination occurs. Additionally, any unvested portion of any options will vest immediately upon such termination or resignationrelationship between Compensation Actually Paid to our PEOs, the average Compensation Actually Paid to our Non-PEO NEOs, and will remain exercisable thereafter for the period prescribed in the applicable equity award plan. If Mr. Chaparro elects continuation healthcare coverage under COBRA, the Company will reimburse his monthly premiums until the earlier of Mr. Chaparro and his dependents regaining coverage under a healthcare plan or the date upon which Mr. Chaparro is no longer eligible for coverage under COBRA.

Mr. Chaparro is eligible to receive benefits that are substantially similar to those of the Company’s other senior executive officerscumulative TSR over the two most recently completed fiscal years.

img88781609_3.jpg 

29


Description of Relationship Between PEO and is also reimbursed for pre-approved expenses incurred in furtheranceNon-PEO NEO Compensation Actually Paid and Net Loss

The following chart sets forth the relationship between Compensation Actually Paid to our PEOs, the average Compensation Actually Paid to our Non-PEO NEOs, and our Net Loss during the two most recently completed fiscal years.

img88781609_4.jpg 

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table presents information on the Company’s equity compensation plans as of his duties under the employment agreement. Mr. Chaparro is also entitled paid vacationDecember 31, 2023. As of not less than four weeks per year,December 31, 2023, we had two weeksequity compensation plans, our 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan and our 2016 Non-Employee Equity Incentive Plan, each of which may be rolled overwas approved by our stockholders. All outstanding awards relate to the following year, provided that accrued unused vacation in any one year does not exceed six weeks. Mr. Chaparro is subject to certain restrictive covenants, including non-solicitationshares of employees for a periodour common stock.

Plan category

 

Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options,
warrants and rights

 

 

Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights

 

 

Number of securities
Remaining available
for future issuance
under equity
compensation plans
(excluding securities
outstanding)
(1)

 

Equity compensation plans
   approved by security holders

 

 

18,212,763

 

 

$

5.44

 

 

 

3,307,462

 

Equity compensation plans not
   approved by security holders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

18,212,763

 

 

$

5.44

 

 

 

3,307,462

 

(1)
As of one year following termination of his employment with the Company and non-competition for a period of six months following termination of his employment with the Company. Mr. Chaparro has also entered into our standard inventions assignment and confidentiality agreement.

Ronald Seidel. Effective as of the closing of the private placementDecember 31, 2023, 3,302,062 shares of our common stock were available for issuance under the 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan and 5,400 shares of our common stock were available for issuance under the 2016 Non-Employee Equity Incentive Plan. The number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan will be increased on June 15, 2015,each January 1 through January 1, 2027 by the Company entered into an employment agreement with Dr. Seidel. The employment agreement has no specific term and constitutes at-will employment. Underlower of (i) the employment agreement, Mr. Seidel is paid an annual salarynumber of $250,000. Undershares necessary such that the employment agreement, Mr. Seidel is entitledaggregate number

30


of shares available to bonus compensation and equity award grants withbe issued under the value and terms generally commensurate with those of other senior executivesplan equals 20% of the Company, including incentivenumber of fully diluted outstanding shares on such date (assuming the conversion of all outstanding shares of preferred stock and other outstanding convertible securities and exercise of all outstanding options inand warrants to purchase shares) or (ii) an amount customary for senior executives of biotechnology companies as determined by the board of directors in its sole discretion.

If Mr. Seidel’s employment is terminated by the Company for any reason other than Cause, death or Disability or if Mr. Seidel resigns for Good Reason (as such terms are defined in the employment agreement), Mr. Seidel will be entitled to receive six months’ continuation of his then-current base salary and a cash lump-

21


sum payment in an amount equal to accrued unpaid bonuses through the end of the fiscal half year in which the termination occurs. Additionally, any unvested portion of any options will vest immediately upon such termination or resignation and will remain exercisable thereafter for the period prescribed in the applicable equity award plan. If Mr. Seidel elects continuation healthcare coverage under COBRA, the Company will reimburse his monthly premiums until the earlier of Mr. Seidel and his dependents regaining coverage under a healthcare plan or the date upon which Mr. Seidel is no longer eligible for coverage under COBRA.

Mr. Seidel is eligible to receive benefits that are substantially similar to those of the Company’s other senior executive officers and is also reimbursed for pre-approved expenses incurred in furtherance of his duties under the employment agreement. Mr. Seidel is also entitled paid vacation of not less than four weeks per year, two weeks of which may be rolled over to the following year, provided that accrued unused vacation in any one year does not exceed six weeks. Mr. Seidel is subject to certain restrictive covenants, including non-solicitation of employees for a period of one year following termination of his employment with the Company and non-competition for a period of six months following termination of his employment with the Company. Mr. Seidel has also entered into our standard inventions assignment and confidentiality agreement.

Director Compensation

In 2016, independent members of our board of directors received a one-time grant of stock options for their service as directors since their appointment todirectors. On January 1, 2024, the board of directors. These stock options vest in five annual installments beginning in March 2017. On July 27,shares under the 2016 we adopted a director compensation policyOmnibus Incentive Plan were increased by 1,206,040 shares pursuant to which our independent directors receive on anthis annual basis a $30,000 retainer paid in cash. Pursuant to the director compensation policy, as revised on June 14, 2017, an independent director who also serves as Chairman of the board of directors receives on an annual basis an additional $45,000 retainer paid in cash.increase.

The following table sets forth information with respect to compensation earned by or awarded to each of our independent directors who served on our board of directors during the year ended December 31, 2017. In 2017, our non-independent directors did not receive any compensation for serving on our board of directors.

Name

  Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash ($)
   Option
Awards
($)(1)
   Total ($) 

Peter A. Kiener

   75,000    297,341    372,341 

Steven McKnight

   30,000    —      30,000 

Barry Simon

   30,000    —      30,000 

(1)The amounts shown in this column indicate the grant date fair value of option awards granted in the subject year computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For additional information regarding the assumptions made in calculating these amounts, see note 7 to our audited financial statements included with our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the SEC. The following table shows the number of shares subject to outstanding option awards held by each non-employee director as of December 31, 2017:

Name

  Shares Subject to
Outstanding
Stock Option
Awards (#)
   Grant Date
Fair Market
Value of
Outstanding
Stock
Option
Awards ($)
 

Peter A. Kiener

   185,920    832,523 

Steven McKnight

   125,920    535,182 

Barry Simon

   125,920    535,182 

22


PROPOSAL 2—RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has appointed Gumbiner Savett Inc. (“Gumbiner Savett”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018. We are presenting this selection to our stockholders for ratification at the annual meeting.

Gumbiner Savett audited our financial statements for 2017. Representatives of Gumbiner Savett are not expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will not have the opportunity to make a statement if they so desire, and will not be available to respond to appropriate questions.

The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed or expected to be billed by Gumbiner Savett for audit and non-audit services related to 2017 and 2016, including “out-of-pocket” expenses incurred in rendering these services. The nature of the services provided for each category is described following the table.

Fee Category

  2017   2016 

Audit Fees(1)

  $156,745   $72,022 

Audit-Related Fees

   —      —   

Tax Fees

 �� —      —   

All Other Fees

   —      —   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $156,745   $72,022 

(1)Audit fees include fees for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual statements, quarterly reviews, consents and assistance with and review of documents filed with the SEC.

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

The Audit Committee has adopted a policy that requires that all services to be provided by the Company’s independent public accounting firm, including audit services and permitted non-audit services, to be pre-approved by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee was formed in December 2017 and therefore did not pre-approve any services provided by Gumbiner Savett during 2017.

Vote Required for Approval

Ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the voting stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon. If our stockholders fail to ratify the selection of Gumbiner Savett as the independent registered public accounting firm for 2018, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether to retain that firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee may, in its discretion, direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year.

Board Recommendation

The Board unanimously recommends that the stockholders voteFOR ratification of the appointment of Gumbiner Savett as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2018.

23


CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

In December 2017, our Board of Directors adopted a written policy with regard to related person transactions, which sets forth our procedures and standards for the review, approval or ratification of any transaction required to be reported in our filings with the SEC or in which one of our executive officers or directors has a direct or indirect material financial interest, with limited exceptions. Our policy is that the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee shall review the material facts of all related person transactions (as defined in the related person transaction approval policy) and either approve or disapprove of the entry into any related person transaction. In the event that obtaining the advance approval of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is not feasible, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee shall consider the related person transaction and, if the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee determines it to be appropriate, may ratify the related person transaction. In determining whether to approve or ratify a related person transaction, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will take into account, among other factors it deems appropriate, whether the related person transaction is on terms comparable to those available from an unaffiliated third party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related person’s interest in the transaction. If our Board of Directors finds that a conflict of interest exists, then it will determine the appropriate action or remedial action, if any. Our Board of Directors approves or ratifies a transaction if it determines that the transaction is in, or is not inconsistent with, our best interests and the best interest of our stockholders.

Other than as described below, and compensation agreements and other arrangements, which are described as required by applicable SEC rules under the headingExecutive Compensation And Other Information Concerning Directors And Officers” beginning on page 18, in 2017 above, and as set forth below, since January 1, 2022, there washas not been, and there is not currently proposed, any transaction or series of similar transactions to which we were or will be a party in which the amount involved exceeded or will exceed $120,000 in which any director, executive officer, holder of five percent5% or more of any class of our capital stock or any member of their immediate families had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

Participation in Private Placement

In December 2017,November 2022, we completed the initial public offeringissued and sold to accredited investors in a private placement an aggregate of 7,656,966 shares of our common stock and, in lieu of shares of common stock, pre-funded warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,531,440 shares of our common stock, and accompanying warrants to purchase an aggregate of up to 9,188,406 additional shares of common stock (or pre-funded warrants to purchase common stock in lieu thereof) at a price of $3.265 per unit, consisting of a share of our common stock and an accompanying warrant to purchase one share of our common stock, or $3.2649 per unit, consisting of a pre-funded warrant to purchase a share of our common stock and an accompanying warrant to purchase one share of our common stock. MDB,A holder of which Christopher Marlett and Anthony DiGiandomenico are co-founders and owners, acted asour common stock became a holder of more than 5% of our voting securities at the underwritertime of the offeringprivate placement. The following table sets forth the number of shares of our common stock and received underwriting commissions of approximately $3.5 million. In addition, we compensated MDB for offering expenses of approximately $298,000. In conjunction with the offering, we issued to MDBaccompanying warrants to purchase 833,312shares of our common stock purchased by such 5% holder and the aggregate purchase price paid for such securities.

Purchaser(1)

 

Shares of
Common
Stock
Purchased

 

 

Warrant
Shares
Underlying
Warrant
Purchased

 

 

Aggregate
Purchase
Price

 

Slate Path Master Fund LP

 

 

918,836

 

 

 

918,836

 

 

$

2,999,999

 

(1) See the “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” section for additional information about securities held by this entity.

31


SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership of our voting stock as of April 12, 2024 by:

each person, or group of affiliated persons, known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock;
each of our directors and nominees for director;
each of our named executive officers; and
all of our directors and executive officers as a group.

The percentage of shares beneficially owned is computed on the basis of 48,643,316 shares of our common stock outstanding as of April 12, 2024. The number of shares beneficially owned by each stockholder is determined under rules of the SEC. Under these rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which the individual or entity has sole or shared voting power or investment power. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by an individual or entity and the percentage ownership of that person, shares of common stock subject to options or other rights held by such person that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of April 12, 2024 are considered outstanding, although these shares are not considered outstanding for a cash considerationpurposes of $1,000. The warrants are exercisable for a periodcomputing the percentage ownership of five yearsany other person. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of all listed stockholders is Cue Biopharma, Inc. at $9.38 per share. MDB subsequently assigned one-half40 Guest Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02135. Each of the warrantsstockholders listed has sole voting and investment power with respect to four MDB employees, including warrantsthe shares beneficially owned by the stockholder unless noted otherwise, subject to purchase 24,999community property laws where applicable.

Name of Beneficial Owner

 

Shares of
Common
Stock Owned

 

 

Shares
Underlying
Options
and RSUs
(1)

 

 

Shares
Underlying
Warrants

 

 

Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned

 

 

Percentage
of Class

 

Directors and Named Executive Officers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daniel R. Passeri

 

 

134,578

 

 

 

857,250

 

 

 

 

 

 

991,828

 

 

 

2.00

%

Kerri-Ann Millar

 

 

14,311

 

 

 

419,958

 

 

 

 

 

 

434,269

 

 

*

 

Anish Suri

 

 

135,638

 

 

 

1,276,009

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,411,647

 

 

 

2.83

%

Frederick Driscoll

 

 

 

 

 

96,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

96,000

 

 

*

 

Pamela Garzone

 

 

 

 

 

13,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

13,200

 

 

*

 

Peter Kiener

 

 

357

 

 

 

145,458

 

 

 

 

 

 

145,815

 

 

*

 

Frank Morich

 

 

28,000

 

 

 

97,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

125,200

 

 

*

 

Patrick Verheyen

 

 

8,174

 

 

 

13,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

21,374

 

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Directors and Executive Officers as a
   group (10 persons)

 

 

347,413

 

 

 

3,563,874

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,911,287

 

 

 

7.49

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Five Percent Stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Slate Path Capital LP(2)

 

 

2,402,455

 

 

 

 

 

 

28,712

 

 

 

2,431,167

 

 

 

4.99

%

Bleichroeder Holdings LLC(3)

 

 

2,755,028

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,755,028

 

 

 

5.66

%

* Less than 1%

(1)
This column represents shares of common stock to Gary Schuman, our former interim Chief Financial Officer,underlying options and warrants to purchase 192,495RSUs acquirable within 60 days of April 12, 2024.

(2)
Slate Path Capital LP, a Delaware limited partnership, or Slate Path, is the investment manager of (A) Slate Path Master Fund LP, a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, or the Master Fund, which directly holds: (i) 2,402,455 shares of common stock, and (ii) warrants to Cameron Gray,purchase 815,929 shares of common stock, and (B) SPB Master Fund LP, or SPB, which directly holds warrants to purchase 102,907 shares of common stock. David Greenspan is the managing partner of Jades GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of Slate Path. Master Fund and SPB are prohibited from exercising such warrants, if, as a result of such exercise, Master Fund or SPB would beneficially own more than 4.99% of the total number of shares of common stock then issued and outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, which we refer to as the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. The shares reported under “Shares of Common Stock Owned, “Shares Underlying Warrants” and “Number of Shares Beneficially Owned” consist of (i) 2,402,455 shares of common stock, and (ii) warrants to purchase 28,712 shares of common stock issuable to Master Fund upon exercise of the warrants. The shares reported under “Shares Underlying Warrants” and “Number of Shares Beneficially Owned” do not include the remaining 787,217 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the warrants held by Master Fund and 102,907 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the warrants held by SPB, in each case, due to the

32


application of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. Master Fund, SPB and its affiliates disclaim beneficial ownership of any shares of common stock the issuance of which would violate such Beneficial Ownership Limitation. The address for Slate Path and Mr. Greenspan is 717 Fifth Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10022. For information regarding Slate Path, Master Fund and Mr. Greenspan and the shares of common stock held, we have relied solely on the Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 14, 2023.

(3)
Bleichroeder LP, a Delaware limited partnership, directly holds: (i) 2,755,028 shares of common stock, and (ii) warrants to purchase 306,278 shares of common stock. Bleichroeder LP is a subsidiary of Bleichroeder Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The exercise of warrants by Bleichroeder LP is subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. The shares reported under “Shares of Common Stock Owned, “Shares Underlying Warrants” and “Number of Shares Beneficially Owned” consist of 2,755,028 shares of common stock. The shares reported under “Shares Underlying Warrants” and “Number of Shares Beneficially Owned” do not include the 306,278 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the warrants due to the application of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. The address for Bleichroeder Holdings LLC and Bleichroeder LP is 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 47th Floor, New York, NY 10105. For information regarding Bleichroeder LP and Bleichroeder Holdings LLC and the shares of common stock held, we have relied solely on the Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on March 11, 2024.

33


PROPOSAL 2:

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The audit committee has appointed RSM US LLP, or RSM, as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024 and the board of directors has directed that management submit the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm for ratification by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting. RSM has served as the company’s registered public accountant since 2018. Representatives of RSM are expected to be present online at the Annual Meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire, and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Stockholder ratification of the appointment of RSM as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm is not required by Delaware law, our director.certificate of incorporation or our bylaws. However, the board of directors is submitting the audit committee’s selection of RSM to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the stockholders fail to ratify the selection, the audit committee will reconsider whether to retain that firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the audit committee in its discretion may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if the audit committee determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the company and its stockholders.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Fees and Other Matters

RSM was our independent registered public accounting firm for the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. The following table summarizes the fees of RSM billed to us for each of the last two fiscal years. All such services and fees were pre-approved by our audit committee in accordance with the “Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures” described below.

 

 

2023 ($)

 

 

2022 ($)

 

Audit Fees(1)

 

 

391,086

 

 

 

352,500

 

Audit Related Fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax Fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Other Fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

391,086

 

 

 

352,500

 

24

(1)
Audit Fees include fees for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements, quarterly reviews, consents and assistance with and review of documents filed with the SEC.

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

All audit and non-audit services, other than de minimis non-audit services, to be provided to us by our independent registered public accounting firm must be approved in advance by our audit committee. During our 2023 and 2022 fiscal years, all of the services provided by RSM were pre-approved by our audit committee.

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF RSM US LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2024.

34


PROPOSAL 3:


SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCEADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

We are providing our stockholders the opportunity to vote to approve, on an advisory, non-binding basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with the SEC’s rules. This proposal, which is commonly referred to as “say-on-pay,” is required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, or Dodd-Frank Act, which added Section 16(a)14A to the Exchange Act. Section 14A of the Exchange Act also requires that stockholders have the opportunity to cast an advisory vote with respect to whether future advisory votes on the compensation paid to our directors,named executive officers and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered classwill be held every one, two or three years. At the 2023 annual meeting, our stockholders approved, on an advisory, non-binding basis, an annual advisory vote on the compensation of our equity securities to file reports of ownership and changes in ownershipnamed executive officers. In accordance with the SEC. Such persons are required by SEC regulationsresults of this vote, our board of directors determined to furnish us with copiesimplement an advisory vote on the compensation of allour named executive officers every year until the next vote in 2029 on the preferred frequency of such filings. Based solely on our review of the copies of the reports that we receivedadvisory votes.

Our executive compensation program is designed to reward value creation for stockholders and written representations that no other reports were required, we believe thatto attract, motivate, and retain our executive officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders complied with all applicable filing requirements on a timely basis during 2017, except that (i) each of directors andwho are critical to our success. Under this program, our named executive officers failed to file timely a Form 3 uponare rewarded for the effectiveness of the registrationachievement of our common stock under Section 12(b)short- and long-term strategic and financial goals, which we believe serves to enhance short- and long-term value creation for our stockholders. The program contains elements of cash and equity-based compensation and is designed to align the Exchange Act, (ii) Ken Pienta failedinterests of our executives with those of our stockholders and paying for performance.

The section of this proxy statement titled “Executive Compensation” beginning on page 22 including “Narrative to file timely one Form 4 with respect to common stock he purchasedSummary Compensation Table,” describes in detail our initial public offeringexecutive compensation program and (iii) Christopher Marlett, Cameron Graythe decisions made by our compensation committee and Gary Schuman each failed to file timely a Form 4our board of directors with respect to the assignmentfiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Our executive compensation program rewards value creation for stockholders and progress towards achieving our mission and that promotes company performance. At the same time, we believe our program does not encourage excessive risk-taking by MDBmanagement. While we do not have a formal or informal policy for allocating between long-term and short-term compensation, between cash and non-cash compensation or among different forms of warrants issuednon-cash compensation, we generally strive to underwritersprovide our named executive officers with a mix of short-term and long-term performance-based incentives to encourage consistently strong performance, and our board of directors believes that this link between compensation and the achievement of our short- and long-term business goals has helped drive our performance over time.

Our board of directors is asking stockholders to approve a non-binding advisory vote on the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the compensation tables and any related material disclosed in connectionthis proxy statement, is hereby approved.

As an advisory vote, this proposal is not binding. The outcome of this advisory vote does not overrule any decision by the company or the board of directors (or any committee thereof), create or imply any change to the fiduciary duties of the company or the board of directors (or any committee thereof), or create or imply any additional fiduciary duties for the company or the board of directors (or any committee thereof). However, our compensation committee and board of directors value the opinions expressed by our stockholders in their vote on this proposal and intend to consider carefully the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions for named executive officers.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.

35


STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR OUR 2025 ANNUAL MEETING

Stockholder Proposals Included in Proxy Statement

In order to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement and proxy card relating to our 2025 annual meeting of stockholders, stockholder proposals must be received by us no later than December 27, 2024, which is 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the mailing date of this proxy, unless the date of the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders is changed by more than 30 days from the anniversary of the Annual Meeting, in which case, the deadline for such proposals will be a reasonable time before we begin to print and send our proxy materials. Upon receipt of any such proposal, we will determine whether or not to include such proposal in the proxy statement and proxy card in accordance with regulations governing the solicitation of proxies.

Stockholder Proposals Not Included in Proxy Statement

In addition, our initialbylaws establish an advance notice procedure for nominations for election to our board of directors and other matters that stockholders wish to present for action at an annual meeting other than those to be included in our proxy statement. In general, we must receive other proposals of stockholders (including director nominations) intended to be presented at the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders but not included in the proxy statement by March 7, 2025, but not before February 5, 2025, which is not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting. However, if the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 70 days after such anniversary date, notice must be received no earlier than the close of business 120 calendar days prior to such annual meeting, and no later than the later of the close of business on the later of 90 days prior to such annual meeting and 10 days following the day on which notice of the date of such annual meeting was mailed or public offering.announcement of the date of such annual meeting was first made. If the stockholder fails to give notice by these dates, then the persons named as proxies in the proxies solicited by the board of directors for the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders may exercise discretionary voting power regarding any such proposal. Stockholders are advised to review our bylaws which also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice.

In addition to satisfying the advance notice provisions in our bylaws relating to director nominations, including the earlier notice deadlines set out above, to comply with the SEC’s universal proxy rule, stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than our nominees in compliance with Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act must also provide notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 no later than April 7, 2025. If the date of the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders changes by more than 30 days from the anniversary of this year’s Annual Meeting, such notice must instead be provided by the later of 60 days prior to the date of the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders or the 10th day following public announcement by us of the date of the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders.

Stockholder proposals must be delivered to the Company’s Secretary at 40 Guest Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02135.

HOUSEHOLDING OF ANNUAL MEETING MATERIALS

Some brokers and other nominee record holders may be “householding” our proxy materials. This means a single notice and, if applicable, the proxy materials, will be delivered to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received. We will promptly deliver a separate copy of the Notice and, if applicable, the proxy materials and our 2023 Annual Report, which consists of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, to you if you write us at Secretary, Cue Biopharma, Inc. 40 Guest Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02135 or call us at (617) 949-2680. If you would like to receive separate copies of our proxy materials and annual reports in the future, or if you are receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy for your household, you should contact your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee record holder, or you may contact us at the above address and telephone number.

OTHER BUSINESSMATTERS

The Board knowsWe do not know of noany business that will be presented for consideration or action by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting other than those items stated above.that described in this Proxy Statement. If, however, any other business is properly brought before the meeting, shares represented by proxies will be voted in accordance with the best judgment of the persons named in the proxies or their substitutes.

We hope that you will attend the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend, we urge you to vote your shares over the Internet or by telephone, or to complete, date, sign and return the proxy card in the postage-prepaid envelope. A prompt response will greatly facilitate arrangements for the meeting, and your cooperation will be appreciated.

36


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styleINA

Scan QR for

digital voting

P.O. BOX 8016, CARY, NC 27512-9903

Your vote

matters!

Cue Biopharma, Inc.

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Wednesday, June 5, 2024 9:00 AM, Eastern Time

Annual Meeting to be held virtually via the internet - please visit www.proxydocs.com/CUE for

more details.

You must pre-register to attend the meeting online and/or participate at

www.proxydocs.com/CUE.

For a convenient way to view proxy materials, VOTE, and obtain

directions to attend the meeting, go to www.proxydocs.com/CUE

To vote your proxy while visiting this site, you will need the 12 digit

control number in the box below.

This communication presents only an overview of the more complete proxy materials that are

available to you on the Internet. This is not a ballot. You cannot use this notice to vote your

shares. We encourage you to access and review all of the important information contained in

the proxy materials before voting.

Under United States Securities and Exchange Commission rules, proxy materials do not have

to be delivered in paper, unless requested. Proxy materials can be distributed by making them

available on the internet.

If you want to receive a paper or e-mail copy of the proxy materials, you must request one.

There is no charge to you for requesting a copy. In order to receive paper materials in time for

this year's meeting, you must make this request on or before May 24, 2024.

Proxy Materials Available to View or Receive: Proxy

Statement, Proxy Card & Annual Report

Important Notice Regarding the Availability

of Proxy Materials for the Stockholders

Meeting To Be Held On June 5, 2024 For

Stockholders of Record on April 12, 2024

To order paper materials, use one of the

following methods.

Internet:

www.investorelections.com/CUE

Call:

1-866-648-8133

Email:

paper@investorelections.com

* If requesting material by e-mail, please send a blank e-mail with the

12 digit control number (located below) in the subject line. No other

requests, instructions OR other inquiries should be included with your

e-mail requesting material.

Your control number

Have the 12 digit control number located in the

box above available when you access the

website and follow the instructions.

SEE REVERSE FOR FULL AGENDA

Copyright © 2024 BetaNXT, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved

Cue Biopharma, Inc. Annual Meeting of Stockholders

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE:

FOR EACH NOMINEE IN PROPOSAL 1, FOR PROPOSAL 2, AND FOR PROPOSAL 3

PROPOSAL

1. Election of six directors to our board of directors, each to serve until the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders:

1.01 Daniel R. Passeri

1.02 Frank Morich

1.03 Frederick Driscoll

1.04 Pamela Garzone

1.05 Peter A. Kiener

1.06 Patrick Verheyen

2. The ratification of the appointment of RSM US LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31,

2024.

3. The approval, on a non-binding advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers.

NOTE: The proxies are authorized to vote, in their discretion, upon such other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting votes may be cast pursuant to proxies in respect to or

any such business in the best judgment of the personadjournment or persons acting under the proxies.postponement thereof.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON JUNE 12, 2018

The proxy statement and annual report to stockholders are available atwww.proxypush.com/CUE.

A copy of the Company’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 is available without charge upon written request to: Secretary, Cue Biopharma, Inc., P.O. Box 390509, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139.

25


 

LOGO

ANNUAL MEETING OF CUE BIOPHARMA, INC.

Date:

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Time:

9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time)

Place:

K&L Gates LLP, State Street Financial Center, 19th Floor, One Lincoln Street,

Boston, MA 02111

Please make your marks like this:      Use dark black pencil or pen only

The Board of Directors Recommends a VoteFOReach of the director nominees listed in proposal 1 andFOR proposal 2.

1:

To elect seven nominees to the board of directors.

Nominees:

(01) Daniel R. Passeri

(05) Christopher Marlett

(02) Peter A. Kiener

(06) Steven McKnight

(03) Anthony DiGiandomencio

(07) Barry Simon

(04) Cameron Gray

Vote For

All Nominees

Withhold Vote From

All Nominees

Vote For

All Except

INSTRUCTIONS:To withhold authority to vote for any nominee, mark the “Vote For All Except” box and write the number(s) in the space provided to the right.

ForAgainstAbstain

2:

To ratify the selection of Gumbiner Savett Inc. as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for its fiscal year ending December 31, 2018.
To attend the meeting and vote your sharesin person, please mark this box.
Authorized Signatures - This section must becompleted for your Instructions to be executed.

Please Sign HerePlease Date Above

Please Sign HerePlease Date Above

Please sign exactly as your name(s) appears on your stock certificate. If held in joint tenancy, all persons should sign. Trustees, administrators, etc., should include title and authority. Corporations should provide full name of corporation and title of authorized officer signing the proxy.

LOGO   Please separate carefully at the perforation and return just this portion in the envelope provided.  LOGO

LOGO

Annual Meeting of Cue Biopharma, Inc.

to be held on Tuesday, June 12, 2018

for Holders as of April 23, 2018

This proxy is being solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors

VOTE BY:
              LOGO     INTERNET            LOGO     TELEPHONE

Go To

Call

www.proxypush.com/cue

      866-474-7505

Cast your vote online 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

OR

Use any touch-tone telephone toll-free 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

Have your Proxy Card/Voting Instructions Form ready.

LOGOMAIL


Have your Proxy Card/Voting Instruction Form ready.

Follow the simple recorded instructions.

View Meeting Documents.

          OR

Mark, sign and date your Proxy Card/Voting Instruction Form.

Detach your Proxy Card/Voting Instruction Form.

Return your Proxy Card/Voting Instruction Form in the

postage-paid envelope provided.

The undersigned hereby appoints Daniel R. Passeri and Colin Sandercock and each or either of them, as the true and lawful attorneys-in-fact of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and revocation, and authorizes them, and each of them, to vote all the shares of common stock of Cue Biopharma, Inc. which the undersigned is entitled to vote at said meeting and any adjournment thereof upon the matters specified and upon such other matters as may be properly brought before the meeting or any adjournment thereof, conferring authority upon such true and lawful attorneys-in-fact to vote in their discretion on such other matters as may properly come before the meeting and revoking any proxy heretofore given.

THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, SHARES WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES IN ITEM 1 AND FOR THE PROPOSAL IN ITEM 2. THE PROXIES WILL VOTE IN THEIR DISCRETION ON ANY OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING AND ANY ADJOURNMENT THEREOF.

All votes must be received by 5:00 P.M., Eastern Time, June 11, 2018.

PROXY TABULATOR FOR

CUE BIOPHARMA, INC.

c/o MEDIANT COMMUNICATIONS

P.O. BOX 8016

CARY, NC 27512-9903

EVENT #

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