On February 23, 2024, in connection with the Private Placement, John A. Fry agreed to resign as a member of the Board, the Audit Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board and Howard L. Weiner agreed to resign as a member of the Board and the Audit Committee of the Board, effective as of the filing of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Each of Mr. Fry and Dr. Weiner’s resignations is not the result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.
On February 23, 2024, in connection with the Private Placement, Keith Harris agreed to resign as a member of the Board and the Audit Committee of the Board, effective following the later of (a) the filing of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and (b) the appointment of a director pursuant to Section 7.9(c) of the Securities Purchase Agreement. Dr. Harris’s resignation is not the result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.
(d)
Director Appointments
On February 23, 2024, in connection with the Private Placement, Raymond Cheong and Srinivas Akkaraju were each elected as directors of the Company, effective and contingent on the closing of the Private Placement. Drs. Cheong and Akkaraju were elected as directors pursuant to the director designation rights granted to the lead Purchasers pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement.
Drs. Cheong and Akkaraju have no familial relationships with any executive officer or director of the Company.
Both Dr. Cheong and Dr. Akkaraju will enter into the Company’s standard form of indemnification agreement in connection with their election to the Board, the form of which is attached as Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-204951), originally filed with the SEC on June 15, 2015.
As previously disclosed in this Current Report, on February 27, 2024, the Company entered into the Securities Purchase Agreement with the Purchasers, pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell and issue the Shares and Pre-Funded Warrants in the Private Placement. Each of Dr. Cheong and Dr. Akkaraju is affiliated with a Purchaser.
(e)
On February 23, 2024, upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”), the Board approved an increase in Paul Sekhri, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer’s, base annual salary from $480,000 to $650,000, a one time bonus in the amount of $471,042 and a reduction in Mr. Sekhri’s target annual cash bonus percentage from 75% to 60% of his annual base salary, effective as of January 1, 2024. The Board also approved, upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the grant to Mr. Sekhri of a stock option to purchase 89,212 shares of Common Stock, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the option award agreement. The exercise price of the option is $11.81 per share and the option shall vest, subject to the Company’s stockholders’ approval of the Company’s 2024 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2024 Plan”), in 12 equal installments on a quarterly basis, commencing on the first quarter following the date of grant, with the final tranche vesting on the third anniversary thereof, subject to Mr. Sekhri’s continued employment or service with the Company through each such vesting date.
On February 23, 2024, upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Board, the Board approved the grant to Steven Tuch, the Company’s SVP, Chief Financial Officer, of stock options to purchase an aggregate of 62,159 shares of Common Stock, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the option award agreements. The exercise price of the options is $11.81 per share and each option shall vest, subject to the Company’s stockholders’ approval of the 2024 Plan, in 12 equal installments on a quarterly basis, commencing on the first quarter following the date of grant, with the final tranche vesting on the third anniversary thereof, subject to Mr. Tuch’s continued employment or service with the Company through each such vesting date.
On February 28, 2024, the Company issued a press release announcing the Private Placement. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.