If for any reason either of the nominees becomes unavailable for election, the persons designated in the proxy card may vote the shares represented by proxy for the election of a substitute nominated by the Board of Directors. Each of the nominees has consented to serve as a director if elected, and we currently have no reason to believe that a nominee will be unable to serve.
Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote. The nominees receiving the greatest number of votes “FOR” election will be elected as Class I directors. Broker non-votes are not considered votes entitled to vote and therefore will not affect the outcome of the vote.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF DR. GRAIS AND MR. LO.
The sections titled “Information About Our Board of Directors and Management—Board Composition” and “Information About Our Board of Directors and Management—Board Committees” in the Proxy Statement are replaced with the following:
INFORMATION ABOUT OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT
Board Composition
Our Board of Directors currently consists of eight members, and there are no contractual obligations regarding the election of our directors. Each of our directors holds office until the director’s successor has been elected and qualified or until the director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.
Our Certificate of Incorporation and our Bylaws provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution adopted by a majority of the authorized number of directors constituting the Board of Directors. Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws also provide that a director may be removed only for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally at an election of directors, and that any vacancy on our Board of Directors, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the authorized number of directors constituting the Board of Directors, may be filled only by vote of a majority of our directors then in office.
In accordance with the terms of our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, our Board of Directors is divided into three classes, designated as Class I, Class II and Class III, with members of each Class serving staggered three-year terms, divided as follows:
| • | | the Class I directors are Dr. Grais, Mr. Lo and Mr. Walker, whose terms will expire at this year’s annual meeting of stockholders; |
| • | | the Class II directors are Mr. Elms, Mr. Greathouse and Ms. McGee, whose terms will expire at our annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2022; and |
| • | | the Class III directors are Mr. Hagan and Dr. Xanthopoulos, whose terms will expire at our annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2023. |
Upon the expiration of the term of a Class of directors, directors in that Class are eligible, if nominated, to be elected for a new three-year term at the annual meeting of stockholders in the year in which their term expires.
On March 8, 2021, Mr. Walker delivered notice of his intention to retire from the Board of Directors effective as of, and not stand for reelection at, this year’s annual meeting of stockholders. After the resignation of Mr. Walker, our Board of Directors will consist of seven members.
On April 23, 2021, Mr. Lo resigned as a Class III director and the Board of Directors appointed Mr. Lo as a Class I director, effective as of immediately prior to the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, in order to allocate directors among classes in as nearly equal number as possible.
On May 24, 2021, the Board appointed Ms. McGee as a Class II director.
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