Transition, Separation, and Consulting Agreement with Dr. Jay B. Saoud
Dr. Saoud resigned from the position of Senior Vice President, Head of Research and Development, effective September 15, 2021. In connection with his resignation, Dr. Saoud and the Company entered into a Transition, Separation, and Consulting Agreement, as amended by that certain First Amendment effective July 1, 2022, that certain Second Amendment effective January 1, 2023, that certain Third Amendment effective July 1, 2023, that certain Fourth Amendment effective August 4, 2023, and that certain Fifth Amendment effective April 1, 2024, pursuant to which Dr. Saoud continued providing services as a consultant to the Company from September 15, 2021. Dr. Saoud’s consulting services will end on December 31, 2024, subject to termination or renewal. Effective as of January 1, 2023 and through March 15, 2023, Dr. Saoud was entitled to receive $24,000 for up to fifteen hours of consulting services per week for a four-week period. Effective March 16, 2023 and through March 31, 2024, Dr. Saoud was entitled to receive $27,000 for up to fifteen hours of consulting services per week for a four-week period. Effective April 1, 2024 and through December 31, 2024, Dr. Saoud will be entitled to receive $30,000 for up to fifteen hours of consulting services per week for a four-week period. In the event that Dr. Saoud performs more than fifteen hours of consulting services per week, the Company will pay Dr. Saoud $550 per hour for the period from April 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024.
In 2022 and 2023, the Company paid Dr. Saoud approximately $603,000 and $541,000, respectively, for consulting services.
Compensation Arrangements and Equity Awards for Executive Officers and Directors
We have employment arrangements with our executive officers that, among other things, provide for certain change in control benefits, as well as severance benefits for executive officers. For a description of these agreements with our named executive officers, see “Executive Compensation.”
We have granted stock options and performance-based restricted stock units to our executive officers and our directors. For a description of these equity awards to our named executive officers and directors, see “Item 11. Executive Compensation.”
Indemnification Agreements for Executive Officers and Directors
We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and certain of our executive officers. These agreements require us to indemnify these individuals and, in certain cases, affiliates of such individuals, to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to us, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.
Director Independence
Under the Nasdaq listing standards, a majority of the members of our Board must qualify as “independent,” as affirmatively determined by our Board.
Based on information provided by each director concerning his or her background, employment and affiliations, the Board has determined that none of our directors, other than Dr. Luthringer, has any relationships that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director, and affirmatively determined that each of our directors, other than Dr. Luthringer, is “independent” as that term is defined under the Nasdaq listing standards. In making these determinations, the Board considered the current and prior relationships that each non-employee director has with our company and all other facts and circumstances our Board deemed relevant in determining their independence, including the beneficial ownership of securities of our company by each non-employee director and the transactions described in the section titled “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions.” The Board also determined that each member of our Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees satisfies the independence standards for such committees established by the SEC and the Nasdaq listing standards, as applicable.
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