DEF 14A 1 d814474ddef14a.htm DEF 14A DEF 14A
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United States

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(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 §240.14a-12

GALECTIN THERAPEUTICS INC.

(Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

  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:

 

     

  (2)  

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

     

  (3)  

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

     

  (4)  

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

     

  (5)  

Total fee paid:

 

     

  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
  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)  

Amount Previously Paid:

 

     

  (2)  

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

     

  (3)  

Filing Party:

 

     

  (4)  

Date Filed:

 

     


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LOGO

October 17, 2019

Dear Stockholder:

You are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting of stockholders of Galectin Therapeutics Inc. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at 9:00 a.m., local time, at the offices of Dentons US LLP, located at 303 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 5300, Atlanta, GA 30308.

The meeting will be held for the following purposes:

 

  1.

To elect the nine (9) nominees for director named in the accompanying proxy statement to hold office until the 2020 annual meeting of our stockholders.

 

  2.

To vote on a non-binding advisory resolution to approve the compensation paid to Galectin’s named executive officers, as disclosed in the proxy statement accompanying this letter.

 

  3.

To recommend, by non-binding vote, the frequency with which Galectin will conduct stockholder advisory votes on executive compensation.

 

  4.

To ratify the selection by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Cherry Bekaert LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019.

 

  5.

To approve the 2019 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan and reserve 4,000,000 shares for issuance under the plan.

 

  6.

To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments of the meeting.

If you plan on attending the meeting in person, we encourage you to email us in advance at callicutt@galectintherapeutics.com, so that we can add your name to the list of attendees for building security purposes. You must bring valid government-issued photo identification such as a valid driver’s license or passport to be admitted to into the building, and proof of ownership of the Company’s Common Stock or Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock to be admitted to the Annual Meeting.

These items of business are more fully described in the proxy statement accompanying this letter.

In addition, the proxy statement contains other important information about Galectin Therapeutics, including information about the role and responsibilities of our Board of Directors and its committees, information about executive compensation, and information about the beneficial ownership of Galectin Therapeutics’ securities.

Your vote is very important. Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting in person, please complete and return the enclosed proxy card.

 

Sincerely yours,

LOGO

Harold H. Shlevin, Ph.D.

President and Chief Executive Officer


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GALECTIN THERAPEUTICS INC.

4960 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suite 240

Norcross, Georgia 30071

NOTICE OF THE 2019 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Time:

   9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Place:

  

Dentons US LLP

303 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 5300,

Atlanta, GA 30308

Items of Business:

  

(1)   To elect the nine (9) nominees for director named in the proxy statement accompanying this Notice to serve until our 2020 annual meeting of stockholders.

  

(2)   To vote on a non-binding advisory resolution to approve the compensation paid to Galectin’s named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement.

  

(3)   To recommend, by non-binding vote, the frequency with which Galectin will conduct stockholder advisory votes on executive compensation.

 

(4)   To ratify the selection by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Cherry Bekaert LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019.

  

(5)   To approve the 2019 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan and reserve 4,000,000 shares for issuance under the plan.

  

(6)   To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments of the meeting.

Who Can Vote:

   You can vote if you were a stockholder of record of our Common Stock or our Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock, as of the close of business on October 10, 2019.

Annual Report:

   A copy of our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K is included with the proxy statement accompanying this Notice.

Web site:

   You may also read our Annual Report and this Notice and proxy statement at www.proxyvote.com and on our website at www.galectintherapeutics.com.

Date of Mailing:

   This Notice, the proxy statement and the form of proxy are first being mailed to stockholders on or about October 17, 2019.

WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR PROXY PROMPTLY BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PROXY CARD.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials

for the Annual Stockholder Meeting to be Held December 4, 2019.

The Letter to Stockholders, Notice of Meeting, Proxy Statement, and Annual Report on Form 10-K, are available at: www.proxyvote.com

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

 

 

LOGO

Jack W. Callicutt

Chief Financial Officer and

Corporate Secretary

 


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

PROXY STATEMENT FOR 2019 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS To Be Held on December 4, 2019

     1  

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING

     1  

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

     6  

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

     9  

PROPOSAL NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

     10  

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND SIGNIFCANT EMPLOYEES

     14  

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

     15  

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

     21  

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

     22  

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

     27  

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

     28  

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS IN 2018

     29  

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2018

     30  

PROPOSAL NO. 2 NON-BINDING ADVISORY RESOLUTION TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     35  

PROPOSAL NO. 3 NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     36  

PROPOSAL NO. 4 RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

     37  

FEES PAID TO CHERRY BEKAERT LLP

     37  

PROPOSAL NO. 5 THE 2019 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN AND TO RESERVE 4,000,000 SHARES FOR ISSUANCE UNDER THE PLAN

     38  

PROPOSALS OF STOCKHOLDERS

     43  

ANNUAL REPORT

     43  

HOW TO ATTEND THE 2019 ANNUAL MEETING

     44  
APPENDIX A—GALECTIN THERAPEUTICS INC. 2019 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN      A-1  

 

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GALECTIN THERAPEUTICS INC.

4960 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suite 240

Norcross, Georgia 30071

PROXY STATEMENT

FOR THE 2019 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held on December 4, 2019

This proxy statement contains information about the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders (“2019 Annual Meeting”) of Galectin Therapeutics Inc. (referred to in this proxy statement as “Galectin”, “Galectin Therapeutics”, “the Company”, “we”, “our” or “us”). The 2019 Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 4, 2019, beginning at 9:00 a.m. local time, at the offices of Dentons US LLP, located at 303 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 5300, Atlanta, GA 30308.

This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our Board of Directors for use at the 2019 Annual Meeting and at any adjournment 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.

These proxy materials, together with our Annual Report to stockholders on Form 10-K for our 2018 fiscal year, are first being mailed to stockholders on or about October 17, 2019 and are also available online at www.proxyvote.com and at www.galectintherapeutics.com. For ease of voting, stockholders are encouraged to vote using the Internet. We encourage you to access and review all of the important information in the proxy materials before voting.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING

What is the purpose of the annual meeting?

Our 2019 Annual Meeting will be held for the following purposes:

 

  1.

To elect the nine nominees named in this proxy statement for director to hold office until the 2020 annual meeting of our stockholders.

 

  2.

To vote on a non-binding advisory resolution to approve the compensation paid to Galectin’s named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement.

 

  3.

To recommend, by non-binding vote, the frequency with which Galectin will conduct stockholder advisory votes on executive compensation.

 

  4.

To ratify the selection by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Cherry Bekaert LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019.

 

  5.

To approve the 2019 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan and reserve 4,000,000 shares for issuance under the plan.

 

  6.

To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments of the meeting.

Who can vote?

You may vote if you were a stockholder of Galectin Therapeutics as of the close of business on the record date, October 10, 2019. Shares outstanding on the record date are the following:

 

   

56,783,859 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”)

 

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1,327,500 shares of Series A 12% Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Series A Preferred Stock”).

The shares of Series A Preferred Stock vote on an as-converted basis with the shares of Common Stock. The shares of our Series C Super Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Series C Preferred Stock”) do not have voting rights prior to conversion to Common Stock. The shares of the Series A Preferred Stock and the Series C Preferred Stock are hereafter referred to as the “Preferred Stock”.

How many votes do I have?

Each share of our Common Stock that you own on the record date entitles you to one vote on each matter subject to a vote. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock that you own on the record date entitles you to one-sixth vote (i.e. six shares of Series A Preferred Stock equals one vote) on each matter that is submitted to a vote of holders of our Common Stock.

Directors and executive officers of Galectin Therapeutics own or control the voting of 16,608,728 shares of Common Stock or the common equivalent of voting Preferred Stock, representing approximately 29% of the total outstanding voting shares at the record date. We expect all of these shares will be voted FOR all of the proposals as described in this proxy statement.

How do I vote?

If you are the record holder of your shares, meaning that you own your shares in your own name and not through a bank or brokerage firm, you may vote as follows:

 

  1.

You may vote by mail. You may vote by completing and signing the proxy card enclosed with this proxy statement (or by requesting a paper copy of the materials if you only received an electronic version) and promptly mailing it in the enclosed postage-prepaid envelope. You do not need to put a stamp on the enclosed envelope if you mail it from the United States. The shares you own will be voted according to your instructions on the proxy card you mail. If you return the proxy card, but do not give any instructions on a particular matter described in this proxy statement, the shares you own will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of our Board of Directors.

 

  2.

You may vote by Internet. You may vote over the Internet as instructed on the proxy card enclosed with this proxy statement and accessing www.proxyvote.com. The shares you own will be voted according to your instructions on the proxy card submitted electronically. If you return the proxy card, but do not give any instructions on a particular matter described in this proxy statement, the shares you own will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of our Board of Directors.

 

  3.

You may vote in person. If you attend the meeting, you may vote by delivering your completed proxy card in person or by completing a ballot. Ballots will be available at the meeting.

How does the Board of Directors recommend that I vote on the proposals?

The Board of Directors recommends that you vote:

FOR the election of each of the nine nominees to serve as directors on the Board of Directors until our 2020 annual meeting of stockholders.

FOR approving, on a nonbinding advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers.

FOR the recommendation, by non-binding vote, that Galectin conduct a stockholder advisory vote on executive compensation every THREE YEARS.

FOR the ratification of the selection of Cherry Bekaert LLP, as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2019 fiscal year.

 

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FOR approving the 2019 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan and reserve 4,000,000 shares for issuance under the plan.

Is my vote important?

Your vote is important no matter how many shares you own. Please take the time to vote. Take a moment to read the instructions in this proxy statement. Choose the way to vote that is the easiest and most convenient for you and cast your vote as soon as possible.

What if I return a proxy card but do not make specific choices?

Any proxy card returned without directions given will be voted (1) “FOR” the election of the nominees presented in this proxy statement to the Board of Directors, (2) “FOR” approving, on a nonbinding advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive offices, (3) “FOR” approving, on a nonbinding advisory basis, an advisory vote on executive compensation every “THREE YEARS”, (4) “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Cherry Bekaert LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm to audit the financial statements for our 2019 fiscal year, (5) “FOR” approving the 2019 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan and reserving 4,000,000 shares for issuance under the plan, and (6) as to any other business that may come before the 2019 Annual Meeting, in accordance with the judgment of the person or persons named in the proxy.

Will my shares be voted if I do not provide my proxy?

Your shares may be voted if they are held in the name of a brokerage firm, even if you do not provide the brokerage firm with voting instructions. Brokerage firms have the authority to vote shares for which their customers do not provide voting instructions on certain “routine” matters.

The proposal to ratify the selection of Cherry Bekaert LLP as our independent auditor for fiscal year 2019 is considered a routine matter for which brokerage firms may vote shares for which they have not received voting instructions. The other proposals to be voted on at our 2019 Annual Meeting are not considered “routine” under applicable rules. When a proposal is not a routine matter and the brokerage firm has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner of the shares with respect to that proposal, the brokerage firm cannot vote the shares on that proposal. This is called a “broker non-vote.”

Can I change my vote after I have mailed my proxy card or after I have voted my shares?

Yes. You can change your vote and revoke your proxy at any time before the polls close at the meeting by doing any one of the following things:

 

   

signing another proxy with a later date;

 

   

giving our Corporate Secretary, Jack W. Callicutt, written notice to that effect. He may be contacted at 4960 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suite 240, Norcross, GA 30071; telephone: 678-620-3186; e-mail: callicutt@galectintherapeutics.com;

 

   

voting again prior to the time at which the Internet voting facilities close by following the procedures applicable to that method of voting, as directed on the enclosed proxy card; or

 

   

voting in person at the meeting.

How can I access the proxy materials over the internet?

You may view and also download our proxy materials, including the 2018 Annual Report, our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, and the Notice by accessing www.proxyvote.com and on our website at www.galectintherapeutics.com

 

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Who pays for the solicitation of Proxies?

The solicitation of proxies in the enclosed form is made on behalf of the Board of Directors. We pay all costs to solicit these proxies. Our officers, directors and employees may solicit proxies but will not be additionally compensated for such activities. We are also working with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of shares held of record by such institutions and persons. We will reimburse their reasonable expenses.

What is the quorum requirement?

A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be present if at least one-third of the outstanding shares entitled to vote are represented by stockholders present at the meeting or by proxy. On the record date, there were 57,005,121 shares of Common Stock outstanding or deemed outstanding based on voting rights of Series A Preferred Stock on an as-converted basis. Thus, 19,001,707 shares must be represented by stockholders present at the meeting or by proxy to have a quorum.

Your shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy (or one is submitted on your behalf by your broker, bank or other nominee) or if you vote in person at the meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted towards the quorum requirement. If a quorum is not present, the meeting will be adjourned until a quorum is obtained.

What vote is required for each item to pass?

Election of Directors. Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote in the election. There are nine nominees and nine positions to be filled; this means that the nine individuals receiving the most votes will be elected. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be relevant to the outcome.

Advisory approval of executive compensation. The advisory vote regarding the approval of executive compensation will be determined by a majority of votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote in the election. Accordingly, abstentions and broker non-votes will not be relevant to the outcome.

Advisory approval of frequency of stockholder advisory vote on executive compensation. The advisory vote regarding the frequency with which Galectin will conduct shareholder advisory votes on executive compensation will be determined by a plurality of votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote in the election. Accordingly, abstentions and broker non-votes will not be relevant to the outcome. Stockholders may choose an annual, biennial, or triennial frequency, i.e., every year, every two years, every three years, or they may abstain. The frequency option that receives the most votes will be deemed the option chosen by the advisory vote.

Ratification of independent registered public accounting firm. The votes cast “for” must exceed the votes cast “against” in order to ratify the selection of Cherry Bekaert LLP, as our independent registered public accounting firm. Abstentions will not be relevant to the outcome.

Approval of 2019 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan and reserving 4,000,000 shares. The votes cast “for” must exceed the votes cast “against” in order to approve the adoption of our 2019 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan and reserve 4,000,000 shares for issuance under the plan. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect.

Adjournment of Annual Meeting. The votes cast “for” must exceed the votes cast “against” in order to approve the authorization of the adjournment of the 2019 Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be relevant to the outcome.

 

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If your shares are held in street name and you do not provide voting instructions to your broker, bank or other nominee, your broker is entitled to vote your shares with respect to the proposal to ratify the selection of Cherry Bekaert LLP as our independent auditor for fiscal year 2019. Otherwise, they will be treated as broker non-votes and, except as noted above with respect to ratify the selection of Cherry Bekaert LLP as our independent auditor for fiscal year 2019, will not be counted for purposes of determining the outcome of a proposal. Abstentions and votes “withheld” are counted for the purpose of establishing a quorum.

What is “householding”?

SEC rules permit companies and intermediaries such as brokers to satisfy delivery requirements for proxy statements with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single proxy statement addressed to those stockholders. This process is called “householding.” This reduces the volume of duplicate information received at your household and helps to reduce costs. We may household your materials based on your prior express or implied consent. A number of brokerage firms have instituted householding. Once a stockholder has received notice from his or her broker that the broker will be householding communications to the stockholder’s address, householding will continue until the stockholder is notified otherwise or until one or more of the stockholders revokes his or her consent.

If you would like to receive your own set of our proxy statement and related materials now or in the future, or if you share an address with another Galectin Therapeutics stockholder and together both of you would like to receive only a single set of our proxy materials in the future, please contact your broker (if you hold your shares in “street name”). Be sure to indicate your name, the name of your brokerage firm or bank, and your account number(s). You can also request prompt delivery of a copy of the proxy statement and related materials by contacting our Corporate Secretary at Galectin Therapeutics, 4960 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suite 240, Norcross, GA 30071, Attention: Corporate Secretary; telephone: 678-620-3186; e-mail: callicutt@galectintherapeutics.com.

How and when may I submit a stockholder proposal for next year’s annual meeting?

To be considered for inclusion in next year’s proxy materials, your proposal must be submitted in writing to our Corporate Secretary at 4960 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suite 240, Norcross, GA 30071. With respect to proposals made pursuant to Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), the proposal must be received by our Corporate Secretary by June 19, 2020 for inclusion in our proxy statement and form of proxy. In addition, all stockholder proposals submitted outside of the stockholder proposal rules promulgated pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, including nominations of director candidates, must be received by our Corporate Secretary by no later than September 5, 2020 nor earlier than August 6, 2020, in order to be considered timely.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the date of the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders is scheduled to take place on a date that is more than 30 calendar days from the one year anniversary of the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, then we will promptly disclose, by filing a current report on Form 8-K, the date by which a nominating stockholder or nominating-stockholder group must submit a proposal to us (i) pursuant to Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange Act or (ii) outside of the stockholder proposal rules promulgated pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, including nominations of director candidates.

You are also advised to review our bylaws, which contain additional requirements about advance notice of stockholder proposals and director nominations.

Where can I find the voting results?

We will report the voting results on Form 8-K within four business days after the end of our 2019 Annual Meeting of stockholders. If final voting results are not available to us in time to file a current report on Form 8-K within four business days after the 2019 Annual Meeting, we intend to file a current report on Form 8-K to publish preliminary results and, within four business days after the final results are known to us, file an additional current report on Form 8-K to publish the final results.

 

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth, as of October 10, 2019, certain information concerning the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock by (i) each person known by us to own beneficially five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding shares of each class, (ii) each of our directors, new director nominee and named executive officers, and (iii) all of our executive officers, directors and new director nominee as a group. The table also sets forth, in its final column, the combined voting power of the voting securities on all matters presented to the stockholders for their approval at the 2019 Annual Meeting.

The number of shares beneficially owned by each 5% stockholder, director or executive officer is determined under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under those rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which the individual or entity has sole or shared voting power or investment power and also any shares that the individual or entity has the right to acquire within 60 days after October 10, 2019 through the exercise of any stock option, warrant or other right, or the conversion of any security. Unless otherwise indicated, each person or entity has sole voting and investment power (or shares such power with his or her spouse) with respect to the shares set forth in the following table. The inclusion in the table below of any shares deemed beneficially owned does not constitute an admission of beneficial ownership of those shares.

 

Name and Address(1)

   Shares of
Common
Stock
Beneficially
Owned(2)
    Percent of
Common
Stock(3)
    Shares of
Series A
Preferred
Stock
Beneficially
Owned
    Percent of
Series A
Preferred
Stock(4)
 

5% Stockholders

        

James C. Czirr

     13,741,465 (5)      21.7     100,000       7.5

10X Fund, L.P. (9)

     12,135,043 (6)      19.4     —         —    

David Smith (10)

     —         —         175,000       13.2

Early Equities LLC (10)

     —         —         100,000 (8)      7.5

Richard E. Uihlein (12)

     11,095,688 (13)      18.8     —         —    

Directors, New Director

Nominee and Other Named

Executive Officers

        

James C. Czirr

     13,741,465 (6)      21.7     100,000       7.5

Gilbert F. Amelio, Ph.D.

     124,614       *       —         —    

Kevin Freeman

     846,684 (11)      1.5     —         —    

Joel Lewis

     144,111       *       —         —    

Gilbert S. Omenn, M.D., Ph.D.

     183,496       *       50,000       3.8

Marc Rubin, M.D.

     63,146       *       —         —    

Stephen Shulman

     58,875       *       —         —    

Richard E. Uihlein

     11,095,688 (13)      18.8     —         —    

Kary Eldred

     856,575 (14)      1.5     —         —    

Harold H. Shlevin, Ph.D.

     270,412       *       —         —    

Jack W. Callicutt

     218,905       *       —         —    

All executive officers and directors as a group (11 persons)

     27,600,971 (7)      40.7     150,000       11.3

 

*

Less than 1%.

(1)

Except as otherwise indicated, the address for each named person is c/o Galectin Therapeutics Inc., 4960 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suite 240, Norcross, GA 30071.

 

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(2)

Includes the following number of shares of our Common Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options granted to our named executive officers and directors that are exercisable within 60 days after October 10, 2019.

 

Directors, Nominees and Named Executive Officers

   Options Exercisable Within 60 Days  

James C. Czirr

     700,125  

Gilbert F. Amelio, Ph.D.

     0  

Marc Rubin, M.D.

     49,565  

Gilbert S. Omenn, M.D., Ph.D.

     103,750  

Kevin Freeman

     94,839  

Joel Lewis

     62,250  

Richard E. Uihlein

     46,875  

Kary Eldred

     46,875  

Stephen Shulman

     46,875  

Harold Shlevin, Ph.D.

     261,706  

Jack Callicutt

     214,706  

All executive officers and directors as a group

     1,627,566  

 

(3)

For each named person and group included in this table, percentage ownership of our Common Stock is calculated by dividing the number of shares of our Common Stock beneficially owned by such person or group by the sum of (i) 56,783,859 shares of our Common Stock outstanding as of October 10, 2019 and (ii) the number of shares of our Common Stock that such person has the right to acquire within 60 days after October 10, 2019.

(4)

Based on 1,327,500 shares of Series A preferred stock outstanding as of October 10, 2019.

(5)

Includes (i) 6,402,790 common shares, and (ii) 5,732,253 common shares issuable upon exercise of warrants, as to which Mr. Czirr, in his capacity as a managing member of 10X Capital Management Fund, LLC, a Florida limited liability company and general partner of 10X Fund (referred to herein as 10X Management) has shared voting and investment power, and disclaims beneficial ownership; also includes 889,630 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Czirr, 700,125 shares issuable upon the exercise of vested stock options owned by Mr. Czirr, and 16,667 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Series A preferred stock owned by Mr. Czirr

(6)

Includes (i) 6,402,790 common shares, and (ii) 5,732,253 common shares issuable upon exercise of warrants.

(7)

Includes (i) 5,732,253 common shares issuable upon exercise of warrants and (ii) 6,402,790 common shares owned by 10X Fund, as to which Mr. Czirr has voting and investment control but are counted one time for purposes of this total. For additional information about the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by Mr. Czirr, see note 5.

(8)

Mr. Smith is the manager of Early Equities LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company, and may be deemed to have voting and investment control over, but disclaims beneficial ownership of, the shares of Series A preferred stock.

(9)

Contact: c/o 10X Capital Management, LLC at Davis Gillett Mottern & Sims LLC attn: Bob Mottern 545 Dutch Valley Road, N.E., Suite A, Atlanta, GA 30309.

(10)

Contact: c/o David Smith 34 Shorehaven Road E., Norwalk, CT 06855.

(11)

Includes 622,944 shares of the Company’s Common Stock and warrants for the purchase of 73,148 shares of the Company’s Common Stock managed by Cross Consulting and Services, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, d/b/a Freeman Global Investment Counsel. Mr. Freeman, in his capacity as CEO of Freeman Global Investment Counsel, has voting and investment control over, but disclaims beneficial ownership of, these shares.

(12)

Contact: c/o Uline Corporation, 12575 Uline Drive, Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158

(13)

Includes (i) 7,829,095 shares of common stock, (ii) 3,136,384 common shares issuable upon the exercise of Common Stock purchase warrants, (iii) 83,334 common shares issuable upon conversion of Series C

 

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  preferred non-voting stock, and (iv) 46,875 common shares issuable upon the exercise of common stock options.
(14)

Includes 44,915 shares of Common Stock and 16,869 Common Stock purchase warrants personally owned by Mr. Eldred, 431,527 shares of Common Stock and 311,964 Common Stock purchase warrants owned by two private foundations over which Mr. Eldred shares management control, and 4,425 shares of Common Stock held in a trust or for a minor child; however, Mr. Eldred disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares and warrants owned by such private foundations or trusts.

 

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SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our officers and directors, and persons who beneficially own more than ten percent of our Common Stock, to file reports of ownership and changes of ownership of such securities with the SEC. Except as set forth below, which we have disclosed in our Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, all reports were timely filed during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.

On May 29, 2018, Kary Eldred filed a Form 3 relating to his appointment as a director of the Company on May 22, 2018. Upon the reporting person’s appointment as a director, he also received a grant of stock options on May 22, 2018. The reporting person filed a Form 4 relating to such grant on May 29, 2018. Both of these referenced filings should have been made within two business days of the date of grant of the stock options.

On June 20, 2018, each of 10X Fund, L.P. and 10X Capital Management, LLC, the general partner of 10X Fund, L.P., filing jointly, and James C. Czirr, the managing member of 10X Capital Management, LLC, filing separately, reported on Forms 4 (i) the disposition by 10X Fund, L.P. of 31,860 shares of Common Stock on June 14, 2018, (ii) a separate disposition by 10X Fund, L.P. of 44,525 shares of Common Stock also on June 14, 2018, (iii) a disposition of 15,475 shares of Common Stock by 10X Fund, L.P. on June 15, 2018, and (iv) a disposition of 60,000 shares of Common Stock by 10X Fund, L.P. on June 18, 2018. The above transactions on June 14, 2018 and June 15, 2018, should have been reported on Forms 4 within two business days of the respective transactions

 

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PROPOSAL NO. 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of our Board of Directors, or “Board”, has nominated seven members currently serving on our Board, identified below, to be re-elected, and one individual, Harold H. Shlevin, Ph.D. our president and Chief Executive Officer who is not currently a director, to be newly elected, in each case at the 2019 Annual Meeting to serve until the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors are elected and qualified. James C. Czirr is being nominated by 10X Fund L.P., pursuant to contractual rights set forth in certain warrants to purchase Common Stock that 10X Fund L.P. holds. Each of the director nominees has agreed to serve on the Board, if elected.

Set forth below is information regarding the nominees, as of October 10, 2019, including their ages, positions with Galectin Therapeutics, recent employment and other directorships.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION TO THE BOARD OF EACH NOMINEE.

The persons who have been nominated for election at the 2019 Annual Meeting to serve on our Board of Directors are named in the table below. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named.

Company Nominees

 

Name

   Age      Director Since  

Gilbert F. Amelio, Ph.D (2)(3)

     76        2009  

James C. Czirr

     65        2009  

Kary Eldred (1)

     45        2018  

Kevin D. Freeman (1)(3)

     58        2011  

Joel Lewis (1) (2)

     49        2017  

Gilbert S. Omenn, M.D., Ph.D. (2)

     78        2014  

Marc Rubin, M.D (3)

     64        2011  

Harold H. Shlevin, Ph.D..

     70        n/a  

Richard E. Uihlein, Chairman

     74        2017  

 

(1)

Member of audit committee

(2)

Member of compensation committee

(3)

Member of nominating and governance committee

Nominees

Gilbert F. Amelio, Ph.D., a director since February 2009, began his career at Bell Labs in Murray Hill, New Jersey. Since January 1, 2012, Dr. Amelio has provided consulting and advisory services through GFA, LLC, a California limited liability company. He was a Senior Partner of Sienna Ventures (a privately held venture capital firm in Sausalito, California) from April 2001 until the fund closed per plan on December 31, 2011. Dr. Amelio was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Jazz Technologies, Inc. (now a wholly owned subsidiary of Tower Semiconductor Ltd., an independent specialty wafer foundry) from August 2005 until his retirement in September 2008 (when he was named Chairman Emeritus). Dr. Amelio was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Beneventure Capital, LLC (a full-service venture capital firm in San Francisco, California) from 1999 to 2005 and was Principal of Aircraft Ventures, LLC (a consulting firm in Newport Beach, California) from April 1997 to December 2004. Dr. Amelio was elected a Director of AT&T in February 2001 and had previously served as an Advisory Director of AT&T (then known as SBC Communications Inc.) from April 1997 to

 

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February 2001. He served as a Director of Pacific Telesis Group from 1995 until the company was acquired by AT&T in 1997. Prior to 1997, he served as Chairman, President and CEO of National Semiconductor (1991-1996) and Apple Computer (1996-1997). We believe Dr. Amelio’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include his executive leadership and management experience, as well as his extensive experience with global companies, his financial expertise and his years of experience providing strategic advisory services to organizations.

James C. Czirr, is being nominated by 10X Fund L.P., pursuant to contractual rights set forth in certain warrants to purchase Common Stock that 10X Fund L.P. holds. Mr. Czirr has served as a director since February 2009, served as Chairman of the Board from February 2009 until January 2016 and Executive Chairman from February 2010 until January 2016, is a co-founder of 10X Fund, L.P. and is a managing member of 10X Capital Management LLC, the general partner of 10X Fund, L.P. Mr. Czirr was a co-founder of Galectin Therapeutics in July 2000. Mr. Czirr was instrumental in the early stage development of Safe Science Inc., a developer of anti-cancer drugs; served from 2005 to 2008 as Chief Executive Officer of Minerva Biotechnologies Corporation, a developer of nano particle bio chips to determine the cause of solid tumors; and was a consultant to Metalline Mining Company Inc., now known as Silver Bull Resources, Inc., (AMEX: SVBL), a mineral exploration company seeking to become a low cost producer of zinc. Mr. Czirr received a B.B.A. degree from the University of Michigan. We believe that Mr. Czirr is best situated to sit on our Board because he is the director who was a co-founder of the Company and is familiar with our business and industry.

Kary Eldred, is a director since 2018 and Chief Investment Officer for the Living Stones Foundation since July 2015 and has been an active private equity investor for many years. In these capacities, he serves and has served on a number of corporate boards of companies with potential for and driving toward initial public offerings and is currently serving as a board member in Buy It Installed (since 2017), Babywise and Wise King Media (since 2015). Kary Eldred also served on the board and audit committee of GCT Semiconductor. From January 2011 through October 2014, Mr. Eldred was CEO & Chairman of Altadona, S.A. a software integration company based in Europe and prior to that was a principal in Parakletos Ventures, an institutional venture capital firm with several investments in companies that went on to be acquired or become publicly listed on different exchanges around the world including the NASDAQ, KOSDAQ and the GEM market. Mr. Eldred has an Executive MBA from IE Business School and a BA in Foreign Service from Baylor University. We believe that Mr. Eldred’s qualifications to sit on our board include his experience serving on boards of several companies and experience in venture capital and private equity investing.

Kevin D. Freeman, a director since May 2011, holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is Chief Executive Officer of Cross Consulting and Services, LLC, an investment advisory and consulting firm founded in 2004. He is also author of a New York Times best-selling book about the stock market and economy and the host of a television program (Economic War Room with Kevin Freeman) that airs on BlazeTV. Formerly he was Chairman of Separate Account Solutions, Inc. and held several offices at Franklin Templeton Investment Services from 1991 to 2000. He holds a B.S. in business administration from University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma. We believe Mr. Freeman’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors includes his extensive financial expertise and his years of experience providing financial advisory services.

Joel Lewis, a director since 2017, is the Managing Director of Shareholder Services at Uline, Inc. (a distributor of shipping, packaging and industrial supplies), a position he has held since 2007. Mr. Lewis is a financial executive with over 25 years of experience started his career in public accounting in 1992. Prior to his employment with Uline Inc., Mr. Lewis served as a Tax and Accounting Manager for Century America LLC from 2001 to 2006 and a Tax Manager for Deloitte & Touche from 1998 to 2001. After spending a decade in public accounting where he specialized in both financial reporting and taxation, Mr. Lewis migrated to privately held companies focusing on high net worth family businesses. Mr. Lewis has a wide range of expertise including working in a variety of industries and disciplines including taxation, restructuring, acquisition and private equity ventures. Mr. Lewis is a registered CPA in the state of Illinois. He holds a B.S. in Accountancy from the University of Illinois and a Masters in Taxation from DePaul University. We believe that Mr. Lewis’

 

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qualifications to sit on our Board include his business and financial expertise and his service as a board observer on our Board during 2017.

Gilbert S. Omenn, M.D., Ph.D., a director since September 2014, served on the board of directors of Amgen Inc. for 27 years and of Rohm & Haas Company for 22 years. He currently serves on the boards of Oncofusion Therapeutics and MedsynBio LLC of Ann Arbor, MI. Dr. Omenn is the Harold T. Shapiro Distinguished University Professor of Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics, Internal Medicine, Human Genetics, and Public Health and Director of the university-wide Center for Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics at the University of Michigan. Dr. Omenn served as executive vice president for medical affairs and as chief executive officer of the University of Michigan Health System from 1997 to 2002. Prior, he was dean of the School of Public Health and Community Medicine and professor of medicine and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at the University of Washington and Member of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Earlier he was Associate Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and of the Office of Management and Budget. He is the author of 600 research papers and scientific reviews and author/editor of 18 books. Dr. Omenn received his B.A. summa cum laude from Princeton University, M.D. magna cum laude from Harvard Medical School, and Ph.D. in genetics from the University of Washington. We believe Dr. Omenn’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include his extensive executive leadership and management experience in the medical industry and his continuing cutting-edge research.

Marc Rubin, M.D, a director since October 2011 and Chairman of the Board from January 2016 through May 2018, is Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (TTNP: OTC BB) and served as its President and Chief Executive Officer from October 2007 to January 2009. Until February 2007, Dr. Rubin served as Head of Global Research and Development for Bayer Schering Pharma, as well as a member of the Executive Committee of Bayer Healthcare and the Board of Management of Bayer Schering Pharma. Prior to the merger of Bayer Pharmaceuticals and Schering AG in June 2006, Dr. Rubin was a member of the Executive Board of Schering AG since joining the company in October 2003, as well as Chairman of Schering Berlin Inc. and President of Berlex Pharmaceuticals, a division of Schering AG. From 1990 until August 2003, Dr. Rubin was employed by GlaxoSmithKline where he held positions of responsibility in global clinical and commercial development overseeing programs in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America. From 2001 through 2003 at GlaxoSmithKline, he was Senior Vice President of Global Clinical Pharmacology & Discovery Medicine. Dr. Rubin holds an M.D. from Cornell University Medical College and is board certified in internal medicine with subspecialties in medical oncology and infectious diseases. Dr. Rubin is a member of the Board of Directors of Curis Inc. (Nasdaq: CRIS) and formerly served on the Board of Directors of Medarex, Inc., now a subsidiary of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. We believe Dr. Rubin’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include his extensive executive leadership and management experience in the pharmaceutical industry.

Harold Shlevin, Ph.D., became our President and Chief Executive Officer on June 14, 2018 after previously serving as our Chief Operating Officer and Secretary from October 1, 2012. Dr. Shlevin previously had been employed at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Advanced Technology Development Center as Principle and Manager of bioscience commercialization efforts since November 2009, where he has assisted faculty in identifying technology worthy of commercialization, catalyzed formation of new start-up bioscience companies, and mentored new company management. From October 2008 to November 2009, he served as Head of Operations and Commercial Development for Altea Therapeutics Corporation, an advanced drug delivery company focused on the delivery of therapeutic levels of water-soluble biotherapeutics and small drugs through the skin. At Altea, he was responsible for pharmaceutical research and development, clinical research, regulatory affairs, engineering, clinical and commercial manufacturing, quality assurance, information technology, facility operations and finance. From July 2006 to September 2008, Dr. Shlevin served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Tikvah Therapeutics, Inc., a start-up pharmaceutical enterprise focused on later-stage development of neuroscience therapeutics. From May 2000 to January 2006, he served as President and CEO of Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (US). In January 2006, he was promoted to a global senior Vice President role within Solvay Pharmaceuticals, SA and member of the Board of Solvay Pharmaceuticals, SA. Previously, Dr. Shlevin served on the Board of Directors of Cardiome Pharma Corporation (NASDAQ: CRME), now known

 

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as Correvio Pharma Corp. (NASDAQ: CORV) from 2004 to June 2016. He was Chair of the Compensation Committee and member of the Corporate Governance Committee and Audit Committees.    We believe Dr. Shlevin’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include his extensive executive leadership and management experience in the pharmaceutical industry.

Richard E. Uihlein, a director since 2017 and Chairman since May 2018, co-founded Uline, Inc. (a leading distributor of shipping, packaging and industrial supplies) in 1980, and has served as its Chief Executive Officer and Chairman since its founding. Prior to founding Uline Inc., Mr. Uihlein was employed at General Bindings Corp., Northbrook, IL from 1967 to 1980. Mr. Uihlein graduated from Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA. with a BA degree in history in 1967. We believe Mr. Uihlein’s qualifications to sit on our Board includes his extensive executive leadership and management experience.

 

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Harold Shlevin, Ph.D., see above under directors.

Jack W. Callicutt, age 52, became our Chief Financial Officer on July 1, 2013. From August 2012 through June 2012, Mr. Callicutt was the Chief Financial Officer of REACH Health, Inc., a telemedicine technology company headquartered in Alpharetta, GA. From April 2010 through August 2012, Mr. Callicutt was the Chief Financial Officer of Vystar Corporation, a publicly traded company that holds proprietary technology to remove antigenic proteins from natural rubber latex. Prior to that Mr. Callicutt was Chief Financial Officer of IVOX, Inc., Tikvah Therapeutics and Corautus Genetics, a publicly traded biotechnology company which was developing gene therapy for treatment of cardiovascular disease. Mr. Callicutt previously spent more than fourteen years in public accounting, most recently as a senior manager at Deloitte, where he specialized in technology companies from 1989 to 2003. Mr. Callicutt is a Certified Public Accountant and graduated with honors from Delta State University with a B.B.A. in accounting and computer information systems.

SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYEES

The following employees are not executive officers of the Company but make significant contributions to the Company.

J. Rex Horton, age 50, became the Company’s Executive Director of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance in January 2013. Mr. Horton most recently was Director of Regulatory Affairs at Chelsea Therapeutics, where he successfully led the organization through its first NDA filing and favorable FDA Advisory Committee Meeting. In past leadership roles at Solvay Pharmaceuticals and Abbott Laboratories, he led approval efforts for key products including Androgel® Stickpack, Creon® Capsules and Luvox® CR Capsules. He has also provided chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC) regulatory leadership and support of INDs and NDAs, including Estrogel® and Androgel® Pump. Mr. Horton was a member of the executive leadership team that successfully implemented solutions to significant regulatory issues encountered by Solvay in its interactions with the FDA. Mr. Horton earned his Bachelor’s degree in industrial/manufacturing & systems engineering from The Georgia Institute of Technology. He is a member of the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society (RAPS), Drug Information Association (DIA) and American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS).

Eliezer Zomer, Ph.D., age 73, has been our Executive Vice President of Manufacturing and Product Development since the Company’s inception in 2000. Prior to joining our Company, Dr. Zomer had been the founder of Alicon Biological Control, where he served from November 2000 to July 2002. From December 1998 to July 2000, Dr. Zomer served as Vice President of Product Development at SafeScience, Inc. and Vice President of Research and Development at Charm Sciences, Inc. from June 1987 to November 1998. Dr. Zomer received a B. Sc. degree in industrial microbiology from the University of Tel Aviv in 1972, a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Massachusetts in 1978 and undertook a post-doctoral study at the National Institute of Health.

Adam E. Allgood, Pharm.D., R.Ph, age 55, became our Executive Director of Clinical Development on June 29, 2015. Dr. Allgood was most recently associate director of global pharmaceutical regulatory affairs at UCB Inc., a multinational biopharmaceutical company, from October 2011 to May 2015. His prior positions include leadership roles at Abbott Laboratories from February 2009 to September 2011 in regulatory affairs and Solvay Pharmaceuticals from January 1988 to January 2009 in clinical development and medical affairs, spanning a variety of therapeutic areas including gastroenterology, immunology, rheumatology, neurology, and women’s health. Dr. Allgood earned his Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree summa cum laude from Mercer University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Atlanta and is a Registered Pharmacist (R.Ph.). He is a member of the American Pharmacists Association (APHA), and the Association of the United States Army (AUSA). None of the directors, executive officers and key employees share any familial relationship.

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Board of Directors

We believe that good corporate governance is important to ensure that Galectin Therapeutics is managed for the long-term benefit of our stockholders. Our Board of Directors is responsible for establishing our corporate policies and overseeing the management of the Company. Senior management, including our President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, are responsible for our day-to-day operations. The Board evaluates our corporate performance and approves, among other things, corporate strategies, objectives, operating plans, significant policies and major commitments of corporate resources. The Board also evaluates and elects our executive officers and determines their compensation.

Committees of the Board

Our Board has a standing Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. From time to time, the Board may also create various ad hoc committees for special purposes. The membership during the last fiscal year and the function of each of the Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance committees are described below. The Board has determined that all of the members of each of the Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees are independent as defined under the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market, including, in the case of all members of the Audit Committee, the independence requirements contemplated by Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. The charters of each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are available on the Company’s website at www.galectintherapeutics.com.

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee met three times in 2018 in addition to meeting twice in joint meetings with the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Dr. Gilbert S. Omenn (chair), Gilbert F. Amelio, Ph.D. and Joel Lewis were the members of the Compensation Committee in 2018. The Committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending compensation policies and programs, management and corporate goals, as well as salary and benefit levels for our executive officers and other significant employees. Its responsibilities include supervision and oversight of the administration of our incentive compensation and stock programs. As such, the Compensation Committee is responsible for administration of grants and awards to directors, officers, employees, consultants and advisors under the Galectin Therapeutics Inc. Amended and Restated 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2009 Incentive Compensation Plan”), and the predecessor Galectin Therapeutics Inc. 2001 Stock Incentive Plan and the 2003 Non-employee Director Stock Incentive Plan.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee met four times in 2018. The members of this committee in 2018, until May 22, 2018, were Joel Lewis (chair), Kevin D. Freeman and Stephen Shulman. On May 22, 2018, Kary Eldred replaced Stephen Shulman on the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is responsible for oversight of the quality and integrity of the accounting, auditing and reporting practices of Galectin Therapeutics. More specifically, it assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities relating to (i) the quality and integrity of our financial statements, reports and related information provided to stockholders, regulators and others, (ii) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (iii) the qualifications, independence and performance of our independent registered public accounting firm, (iv) the internal control over financial reporting that management and the Board have established, and (v) our audit, accounting and financial reporting processes generally. The Committee is also responsible for review and approval of related-party transactions. The Board had determined that, Mr. Lewis is an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of SEC rules. The Audit Committee has the authority to obtain advice and assistance from, and receive appropriate funding from the Company for, outside legal, accounting or other advisors as it deems necessary to carry out its duties.

 

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Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met once in 2018 and met twice in joint meetings with the Compensation Committee. Gilbert F. Amelio, Ph.D. (chair), and Kevin Freeman were the sole members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee until May 22, 2018 when Marc Rubin joined the committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for identifying individuals qualified to become members of the Board, recommending to the Board candidates for election or re-election as directors, and reviewing our governance policies in light of the corporate governance rules of the SEC. Under its charter, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is required to establish and recommend criteria for service as a director, including matters relating to professional skills and experience, Board composition, potential conflicts of interest and manner of consideration of individuals proposed by management or stockholders for nomination. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes candidates for the Board should have the ability to exercise objectivity and independence in making informed business decisions; extensive knowledge, experience and judgment; the highest integrity; loyalty to the interests of Galectin Therapeutics and its stockholders; a willingness to devote the extensive time necessary to fulfill a director’s duties; the ability to contribute to the diversity of perspectives present in board deliberations, and an appreciation of the role of the corporation in society. The Committee will consider candidates meeting these criteria who are suggested by directors, management, stockholders and other advisers hired to identify and evaluate qualified candidates. This committee also monitors the ethical behavior of our employees, officers and directors.

Board Determination of Director Independence

Our Board of Directors has reviewed the materiality of any relationship that each of our directors has with the Company, either directly or indirectly. Based upon this review, our Board has determined that all of our directors other than Mr. Czirr and Dr. Shlevin are “independent directors” as defined by The NASDAQ Stock Market. Our Board of Directors also determined that Drs. Amelio, Rubin and Mr. Freeman, who comprise our nominating and governance committee, all satisfy the independence standards for such committees established by the SEC and the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules, as applicable. With respect to our audit committee, our Board of Directors has determined that Messrs. Lewis, Freeman and Eldred satisfy the independence standards for such committee established by Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, the SEC and the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules, as applicable. Furthermore, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, with concurrence by the Board, has determined that Mr. Lewis is an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of SEC rules. With respect to our Compensation Committee, our Board of Directors has determined that Drs. Omenn, Amelio and Mr. Lewis satisfy the independence standards for such committee established by Rule 10C-1 under the Exchange Act, the SEC and the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules, as applicable.

In making such determinations, the Board of Directors considered the relationships that each such non-employee director or director nominee has with our Company and all other facts and circumstances that the Board deemed relevant in determining their independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each non-employee director. In considering the independence of our directors, our Board of Directors considered the association of each such non-employee director has with us and all other facts and circumstances our Board of Directors deemed relevant in determining independence.

Code of Ethics

We have adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all our directors, officers and employees. The Code of Ethics is publicly available on our website at www.galectintherapeutics.com. Amendments to the Code of Ethics and any grant of a waiver from a provision of the Code of Ethics requiring disclosure under applicable SEC rules will be disclosed on our website.

Policies with Respect to Transactions with Related Persons

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board have adopted a Code of Ethics, which is available at www.galectintherapeutics.com, that sets forth various policies and procedures intended to promote

 

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the ethical behavior of the Company’s employees, officers and directors. The Code of Ethics describes our policy on conflicts of interest.

The executive officers and the Board are also required to complete a questionnaire on an annual basis that requires them to disclose any related person transactions and potential conflicts of interest. The responses to these questionnaires are reviewed by outside corporate counsel, and, if a transaction is reported by an independent director or executive officer, the questionnaire is submitted to the Chairperson of the Audit Committee for review. If necessary, the Audit Committee will determine whether the relationship is material and will have any effect on the director’s independence. After making such determination, the Audit Committee will report its recommendation on whether the transaction should be approved or ratified by the entire Board.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

Except as set forth below, since the beginning of fiscal year 2018 through December 31, 2018, we did not participate in any transactions in which any of the director nominees, executive officers, any beneficial owner of more than 5% of our Common Stock, nor any of their immediate family members, had a direct or indirect material interest.

Our Audit Committee Charter requires that members of the Audit Committee, all of whom are independent directors, conduct an appropriate review of, and be responsible for the oversight of, all related party transactions on an ongoing basis. Except as set forth below, there were no related party transactions during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.

On December 19, 2017, the Company entered into a $10 million Line of Credit arrangement with Richard E. Uihlein, a director and stockholder who had an approximate 7% ownership interest in the Company on a fully diluted basis at December 31, 2017. Originally, borrowings may be made by the Company through December 31, 2018. Borrowings bear interest at the Applicable Federal Rate for short term loans published by the Internal Revenue Service (2.7% in January 2019). All borrowings and interest are due on December 31, 2019 but may be prepaid without penalty. In connection with the Line of Credit agreement, the Company issued to Mr. Uihlein warrants to purchase one million shares of the Company’s Common Stock for $5 per share. Half of the warrants vested at closing of the Line of Credit and the other half vest ratably with borrowings under the agreement. As of the date of this proxy statement, there have been no borrowings under the Line of Credit.

On December 20, 2018, the Line of Credit arrangement was extended for one year for both borrowings and maturity. Further, on January 15, 2019, the Line of Credit arrangement was extended for an additional two years for both borrowings and maturity. After the second amendment to the Line of Credit arrangement, borrowings may be made through December 31, 2021 with repayment due on December 31, 2022. There was no additional consideration or benefits provided to Mr. Uihlein for any of the extensions of the Line of Credit.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of our executive officers or directors serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.

Director Nomination Process

The Nominating and Corporate Governance, or Nominating Committee, is responsible for, among other things, selection of candidates for the annual slate of directors other than nominees, if any, nominated by parties that have a contractual right to nominate persons for election. For the 2019 Annual Meeting, 10X Fund L.P., pursuant to its contractual right under warrants that it holds, nominated James C. Czirr, who has been a director since February 2009. Mr. Czirr’s nomination has been accepted by each of the Nominating Committee and the Board.

 

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When identifying and evaluating candidates, the Nominating Committee first determines whether there are any evolving needs of the Board that require an expert in a particular field. The Nominating Committee may retain a third-party search firm to assist it in locating qualified candidates that meet the needs of the Board at that time. The search firm would provide information on a number of candidates, which the Nominating Committee discusses. The Nominating Committee chair and some or all of the members of the Nominating Committee, and the Chief Executive Officer, will interview potential candidates that the Nominating Committee deems appropriate. If the Nominating Committee determines that a potential candidate meets the needs of the Board, has the qualifications, and meets the independence standards required by NASDAQ rules, it will recommend the nomination of the candidate to the Board. It is the Nominating Committee’s policy to consider director candidates recommended by stockholders, if such recommendations are properly submitted to the Company. Stockholders wishing to recommend persons for consideration by the Nominating Committee as nominees for election to the Board can do so by writing to the Corporate Secretary of Galectin Therapeutics Inc. at 4960 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suite 240, Norcross, GA 30071. Recommendations must include the proposed nominee’s name, biographical data and qualifications, as well as a written statement from the proposed nominee consenting to be named and, if nominated and elected, to serve as a director. Recommendations must also follow the Company’s procedures for nomination of directors by stockholders (see the information under the subheadings “Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee” and “Criteria and Diversity”). The Nominating Committee will consider the candidate and the candidate’s qualifications in the same manner in which it evaluates nominees identified by the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee may contact the stockholder making the nomination to discuss the qualifications of the candidate and the stockholder’s reasons for making the nomination. The Nominating Committee may then interview the candidate if it deems the candidate to be appropriate. The Nominating Committee may use the services of a third-party search firm to provide additional information about the candidate prior to making a recommendation to the Board.

The Nominating Committee’s nomination process is designed to ensure that the Nominating Committee fulfills its responsibility to recommend candidates who are properly qualified to serve the Company for the benefit of all of its stockholders, consistent with the standards established by the Nominating Committee under our corporate governance principles. The Nominating Committee did not receive any director nominee recommendations from stockholders for the 2019 Annual Meeting.

Communication with the Board

The Board and management encourage communication from our stockholders. Stockholders who wish to communicate with our management should direct their communication to the Corporate Secretary of the Company, 4960 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suite 240, Norcross, GA 30071. Stockholders, or other interested parties, who wish to communicate with the non-management directors or any individual director should direct their communication c/o the Corporate Secretary at the address above. The Secretary will forward communications intended for the Board to the Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, currently Dr. Amelio, or, if intended for an individual director, to that director. If multiple communications are received on a similar topic, the Secretary may, in his or her discretion, forward only representative correspondence. Any communications that are abusive, in bad taste or present safety or security concerns may be handled differently.

Board Leadership Structure

Our Board structure, which separates the positions of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, allows the Chairman to focus on the management of the Board of Directors and the CEO to focus on the management of the Company and the research and clinical trials that it is undertaking. Independent directors and management have different perspectives and roles in strategy development. Our independent directors bring experience, oversight and expertise from outside the Company and industry. Our Chief Executive Officer brings company-specific experience and expertise and a scientific background. The Board believes that the separation of the roles of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer promotes strategy development and execution, and facilitates information flow between management and the Board, which are essential to effective governance.

 

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Executive Sessions

Pursuant to our corporate governance principles or as required by NASDAQ rules, non-management directors of the Board meet from time to time without the presence of management. The Chairman generally chairs these sessions.

Meeting Attendance

During 2018, there were 10 meetings of the Board. Each currently serving director attended at least 75% of the total meetings of the Board and committees of the Board of which the director was a member, during the time such person was a director. In addition to participation at Board and committee meetings, our directors discharge their responsibilities throughout the year through personal meetings and other communications, including considerable telephone contact with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and others regarding matters of interest and concern to the Company.

We do not have a formal policy requiring members of the Board to attend the annual meeting, although all directors are strongly encouraged to attend. At the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders, all of the then current board members were present.

Risk Management

The Board has an active role, as a whole and also at the committee level, in overseeing management of our risks. The Board regularly reviews information regarding our credit, liquidity and operations, as well as the risks associated with each. The Compensation Committee of our Board is responsible for overseeing the management of risks relating to our executive compensation plans and arrangements. The Audit Committee of our Board oversees management of financial risks. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of our Board manages risks associated with the independence of the Board members and potential conflicts of interest. While each committee is responsible for evaluating certain risks and overseeing the management of such risks, the entire Board of Directors is regularly informed through committee reports about such risks.

We believe that any risks arising from our policies and programs are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. Our programs reflect sound risk management practices including:

 

   

Use of multiple compensation vehicles that provide a balance of long- and short-term incentives with fixed and variable components; and

 

   

Equity incentive awards that generally vest over several years, so while the potential compensation payable for equity incentive awards is tied directly to appreciation of our stock price, taking excessive risk for a short term gain is discouraged because it would not maximize the value of equity incentive awards over the long-term.

Criteria and Diversity

In considering whether to recommend any candidate for inclusion in the Board’s slate of recommended director nominees (other than the candidate nominated by 10X Fund L.P.), the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will apply the criteria set forth in governance guidelines. These criteria include the candidate’s integrity, business acumen, age, experience, commitment, diligence, conflicts of interest and the ability to act in the interests of all stockholders. Our guidelines specify that the value of diversity on the Board should be considered by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in the director identification and nomination process. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee seeks nominees with a broad diversity of experience, professions, skills, geographic representation and backgrounds. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not assign specific weights to particular criteria, and no particular criterion is necessarily applicable to all prospective nominees. We believe that the backgrounds and

 

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qualifications of the directors, considered as a group, should provide a significant composite mix of experience, knowledge and abilities that will allow the Board to fulfill its responsibilities. Nominees are not discriminated against on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability or any other basis proscribed by law.

Report of the Audit Committee

The Audit Committee is responsible for providing independent, objective oversight of Galectin Therapeutics’ accounting functions and internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed audited financial statements for Galectin Therapeutics with management. The Audit Committee also has discussed with Cherry Bekaert LLP the matters required to be discussed by the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication With Audit Committees (as amended), which includes, among other items, matters related to the conduct of the annual audit of our Company’s financial statements. The Audit Committee has also received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from Cherry Bekaert LLP, as required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, regarding the communications by Cherry Bekaert LLP with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with Cherry Bekaert LLP its independence from Galectin Therapeutics.

Based upon the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to our Board of Directors that the audited financial statements of Galectin Therapeutics for the 2018 fiscal year be included in the Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

By the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Galectin Therapeutic Inc.

Joel Lewis, Chair

Kevin D. Freeman

Kary Eldred

 

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The following table details the total compensation earned by our non-employee directors during the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

Name

   Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash ($)
     Restricted
Stock
Awards
($)(5)
     Option
Awards
($)(3)
     Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
     All Other
Compensation
($)(4)
     Total
($)
 

Gilbert F. Amelio, Ph.D.

     47,000        —          —          —          —          47,000  

James C. Czirr

     38,500        —          —          —          —          38,500  

Kevin D. Freeman

     46,000        —          —          —          —          46,000  

Kary Eldred (1)

     25,819        —          158,535        —          —          184,354  

Joel Lewis

     —          55,000        —          —          —          55,000  

Gilbert S. Omenn, M.D., Ph.D.

     45,000        —          —          —          —          45,000  

Marc Rubin, M.D.

     50,864        —          —          —          —          50,864  

Stephen Shulman

     41,444        —          —          —          —          41,444  

Richard Uihlein

     —          35,000        —          —          —          35,000  

Theodore Zucconi, Ph.D. (2)

     9,625        —          —          —          —          9,625  

 

(1)

Mr. Eldred was elected to the Board for the first time on May 22, 2018.

(2)

Dr. Zucconi was not nominated for reelection to the Board and his service ended on May 22, 2018.

(3)

Represents the grant date fair value of option awards based upon the Black Scholes valuation model made in 2018. Options were granted on May 22, 2018 and will vest in full on May 22, 2019. For a description of the assumptions used to determine these amounts, see Note 7 to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements herein our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.

(4)

Excludes travel expense reimbursements.

(5)

Mr. Lewis and Mr. Uihlein elected to receive restricted stock in lieu of cash retainer for their service. The restricted shares vested in full on December 14, 2018.

 

Name

   Number of
Shares Subject
to Option
Awards Held as of
December 31,
2018
 

Gilbert F. Amelio, Ph.D.

     103,750  

James C. Czirr

     700,125  

Kary Eldred

     46,875  

Kevin D. Freeman

     94,839  

Joel Lewis

     62,250  

Gilbert S. Omenn, M.D., Ph.D.

     103,750  

Marc Rubin, M.D.

     93,750  

Stephen Shulman

     46,875  

Richard Uihlein

     46,875  

Theodore Zucconi, Ph.D.

     36,893  

TOTAL

     1,335,982  

For a more detailed description of the assumptions used for purposes of determining grant date fair value, see Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Stock-Based Compensation” included in the Form 10-K for the 2018 fiscal year.

We also reimburse our directors for reasonable travel and other related expenses.

Pursuant to the Company’s cash compensation program for directors, non-employee directors of the Company will receive an annual cash retainer of $35,000. Each Nominating and Corporate Governance

 

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Committee member will receive an additional cash retainer of $3,500; each Compensation Committee member will receive an additional cash retainer of $5,000; and each Audit Committee member will receive an additional cash retainer of $7,500. In addition to the annual fee and committee membership retainers, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chairman will receive an annual cash retainer of $3,500; the Compensation Committee Chairman will receive an annual cash retainer of $5,000; and the Audit Committee Chairman will receive an annual cash retainer of $7,500.

On January 16, 2019, stock option grants were made to non-employee directors which vest 100% on January 16, 2020. The Chairman was granted 40,000 stock options, the chairs of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee were each granted 35,000 stock options and remaining non-employee directors were each granted 25,000 stock options.

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2018 about the securities issued, or authorized for future issuance, under our equity compensation plans, consisting of our 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, our 2003 Non-Employee Director Stock Incentive Plan, and our 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan.

 

Plan Category

   Number of Securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options
     Weighted-
average
exercise price of
outstanding
options
     Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans  (excluding
securities reflected in
column (a))
 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

     2,213,979      $ 4.14        889,920  

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders (1)

     500,000      $ 7.02        —    

Total

     2,713,979      $ 4.67        889,920  

 

(1)

Represents grants by our Board for stock options granted to employees and consultants that are outside of the stockholder approved compensation plans. The shares underlying these grants are not registered upon exercise and have six month holding restrictions under Rule 144 of the SEC.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

The Compensation Committee is responsible for creating and reviewing the compensation of the Company’s executive officers, as well as overseeing the Company’s compensation and benefit plans and policies and administering the Company’s equity incentive plans. The following Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) describes our 2018 executive compensation program and explains the Company’s compensation philosophy, policies, and practices, focusing primarily on the compensation of our named executive officers, or NEOs. This CD&A is intended to be read in conjunction with the tables that follow, which provide detailed historical compensation information for our following NEOs:

 

Name

 

Title

Peter G. Traber, M.D.

 

Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Medical Officer

until June 14, 2018

Harold H. Shlevin, Ph.D.

 

Chief Operating Officer until June 14, 2018, then Chief

Executive Officer and President

Jack W. Callicutt

  Chief Financial Officer

 

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Compensation Philosophy

The Company believes in providing a competitive total compensation package to its executives through a combination of base salary, annual performance bonuses, and long-term equity awards. The executive compensation program is designed to achieve the following objectives:

 

   

provide competitive compensation that will help attract, retain and reward qualified executives;

 

   

align executives’ interests with our success by making a portion of the executive’s compensation dependent upon corporate performance; and

 

   

align executives’ interests with the interests of stockholders by including long-term equity incentives.

The Compensation Committee believes that the Company’s executive compensation program should include annual and long-term components, including cash and equity-based compensation, and should reward consistent performance that meets or exceeds expectations. The Compensation Committee evaluates both performance and compensation to make sure that the compensation provided to executives remains competitive relative to compensation paid by companies of similar size and stage of development operating in the life sciences industry and taking into account the Company’s relative performance and its own strategic objectives.

Executive Compensation Review and Design

The Company has historically conducted a review of the aggregate level of its executive compensation, as well as the mix of elements used to compensate its NEOs. The Company has based this review primarily on the experience of the members of the Compensation Committee and our Board, many of whom sit on the boards of directors of, or have previously advised, numerous companies, including companies in the life sciences industry.

At our 2016 annual meeting of stockholders, the holders of approximately 91% of our outstanding Common Stock voting on the matter voted in favor of the compensation of our NEOs, as disclosed in the proxy materials for the 2016 annual meeting. At our 2013 annual meeting, the holders of approximately 62% of our outstanding Common Stock voting on the matter voted in favor of holding the stockholder advisory vote every three years. As a result of such vote, our Board decided to hold the “Say-on-Pay” advisory vote every three years. Accordingly, the Company’s next “Say-on-Pay” advisory vote on the compensation of our NEOs is being held this year at our 2019 Annual Meeting.

In 2014 and 2015, the Compensation Committee undertook a review of our compensation policies and practices and retained the compensation consulting firm of Barney & Barney LLC to provide compensation information and analysis with respect to the life science and healthcare industry and with respect to our peer companies within the industry. Barney & Barney LLC reviewed information from industry and other sources, surveys and databases, including publicly available compensation information of other companies with which we compete, to gauge the competitiveness of our compensation programs. Barney & Barney LLC then reported its findings to the Compensation Committee, with recommendations to bring the Company’s executive compensation closer to the 50th percentile of the total compensation of our competitor companies. These findings continued to inform the Compensation Committee’s decisions on compensation in subsequent years, including 2018.

The Compensation Committee plans to use a compensation consultant in the future and to take into account publicly available data relating to the compensation practices and policies of other companies within and outside our industry. For 2019 and future years, the Compensation Committee intends to benchmark its executive compensation program to target the 50th percentile of the total compensation programs of our competitor companies; however, adjusted as deemed to be in the best interest of the Company to assure retention of key employees as the Phase 3 clinical trial is designed and commenced.

 

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Elements of Executive Compensation

The compensation program for the Company’s NEOs consists principally of three components:

 

   

base salary;

 

   

performance and retention bonuses;

 

   

long-term compensation in the form of equity-based awards.

Base Salary

Base salary is the only fixed-pay component in our executive compensation program. Base salaries for the NEOs are initially established through arm’s-length negotiation at the time the NEO is hired, taking into account such NEO’s qualifications, experience, prior salary, the scope of his or her responsibilities, and known competitive market compensation paid by other companies for similar positions within the industry. Base salaries are reviewed annually and adjusted from time to time to realign salaries with market levels after taking into account individual responsibilities, performance, and experience. In making decisions regarding salary increases, the Company may also draw upon the experience of members of the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors, many of whom sit on the boards of directors of, or have previously advised, numerous companies, including companies in the life sciences industry. The Compensation Committee has not previously applied specific formulas to determine increases. This strategy is consistent with the Company’s intent of offering base salaries that are cost-effective while remaining competitive.

In June 2018 after the announcement of Dr. Traber’s resignation from his position as Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Medical Officer, the Compensation Committee reviewed the base salaries of our NEOs, taking into account the considerations described above. As a result of his election as Chief Executive Officer and President, Dr. Shlevin’s base salary was adjusted to $500,000 effective June 8, 2018. As a result of his election to Secretary, Mr. Callicutt’s base salary was adjusted to $285,000.

 

Name

   2018 Base Salary      2017 Base Salary  

Peter G. Traber, M.D.

   $ 512,500      $ 512,500  

Harold H. Shlevin, Ph.D.

   $ 500,000      $ 260,000  

Jack W. Callicutt

   $ 285,000      $ 260,000  

For 2019, the Compensation Committee made no adjustments to the base salaries of our NEO’s.

Performance Bonuses

In addition to the payment of base salaries, the Company believes that annual performance bonuses can play an important role in providing appropriate incentives to its NEOs to achieve the Company’s strategic objectives. In prior years, performance bonuses were awarded based on the Company’s Employee Short-Term and Long-Term Incentive Program (the “Program”), which was adopted for executives and employees of the Company. The Program is a performance-based program and was adopted in recognition of the importance of aligning executive and employee interests with that of our stockholders. The Program is designed to reward the efforts of our executives and employees and to be competitive in attracting and retaining them. There are two elements of the Program: (1) a short-term incentive in the form of cash bonuses and (2) a long-term incentive in the form of stock option grants. The cash bonus incentive is targeted to be up to 30% to 50% of the NEO’s base salary as of the end of the applicable year. Half of each NEO’s annual performance bonus is based upon achievement of the Company’s documented performance objectives for the year and the other half is based upon achievement of individual performance objectives set for the year. In 2018, however, in lieu of the standard individual performance objectives, the Board approved potential cash incentive bonuses (the “Transaction Bonuses”) applicable only to employees who were employed by the Company on January 1, 2018, including Peter G. Traber, Harold H. Shlevin and Jack W. Callicutt.

 

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The potential Transaction Bonuses are payable in connection with a “Transaction.” A “Transaction” is (i) any licensing, development, partnership, or similar arrangements relating to any of the Company’s drug candidates (a “Partnership Transaction”) or (ii) the acquisition of the Company or any of its material assets (an “Acquisition Transaction”). The amounts payable pursuant to the Transaction Bonuses will be equal to 10% of the recipient’s 2018 base salary for each $50 million payable to the Company or the Company’s stockholders, as applicable, pursuant to the Transaction to the extent paid in cash or marketable securities, up to a maximum payment of 300% of base salary. If a Transaction is a Partnership Transaction and payments to the Company are deferred or otherwise made over time, the amount of the Transaction Bonuses will be based on the Board’s reasonable estimate of the value of the Transaction. To be entitled to receive a Transaction Bonus, if the Transaction is an Acquisition Transaction, an individual must be employed by the Company on the date the Transaction is consummated, or, if the Transaction is a Partnership Transaction, an individual must be employed by the Company on the date that the definitive transaction agreement(s) are executed. No Transaction Bonuses were earned in 2018.

Additionally, the Board also approved retention bonuses payable to all employees of the Company, including Dr. Traber, Dr. Shlevin and Mr. Callicutt, equal to 75% of each such employee’s 2018 salary (the “Retention Bonuses”), if such employees remained employed by the Company through December 31, 2018, and based upon the annualized salary level in effect on such date. If no Transaction was consummated on or prior to December 31, 2018, then the Retention Bonuses was payable no later than January 15, 2019. If a Transaction was consummated on or prior to December 31, 2018, each eligible employee was to receive that portion of the Retention Bonus equal to any cash bonuses paid to such employee for 2017 on or before January 15, 2019. The balance of the Retention Bonus was to be payable in equal monthly installments over a period of six months, but only if the employee remains employed by the Company on the applicable payment date unless the employee’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause (or as a result of the death or disability of the employee), in which case any unpaid portion of the Retention Bonus was to be paid immediately upon such termination. As stated above, Dr. Traber resigned from the Company effective July 6, 2018, and, therefore, no bonuses of any kind were paid to him for 2018.

 

Name

   Retention Bonus Amount      Awarded Amount As % of Base Salary  

Peter G. Traber, M.D.

   $ 0        0

Harold H. Shlevin, Ph.D.

   $ 375,000        75

Jack W. Callicutt

   $ 213,750        75

Long-Term Incentive Compensation

The Company believes that by providing its NEOs the opportunity to increase their ownership of Company stock, the interests of its NEOs will be more closely aligned with the best interests of the Company’s stockholders and it will encourage long-term performance. The stock awards enable the NEOs to participate in the appreciation in the value of the Company’s stock, while personally participating in the risks of business setbacks.

Under the long-term incentive portion of the Program, the NEOs are granted options based upon achievement of the Company performance and individual performance objectives and rank in the Company. All option grants under the Program have been made under the 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan.

 

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There were no grants to NEO’s in 2017; however, on January 15, 2018, the NEOs were awarded the options described below based on 2017 performance. Of the options, 25% vested immediately upon grant, 25% vested on June 30, 2018 and 50% vested on December 31, 2018. The exercise price of the options is set at the closing price of our stock as of the grant date.

 

Name

   Grant Date      Number of Securities
Underlying Options
     Exercise Price  

Peter G. Traber, M.D.

     1/5/2018        125,000      $ 5.87  

Harold H. Shlevin, Ph.D.

     1/5/2018        90,000      $ 5.87  

Jack W. Callicutt

     1/5/2018        90,000      $ 5.87  

On May 22, 2018, the NEOs were awarded the options noted below for 2018. Of the options, 25% vested immediately upon grant, 25% vested on June 30, 2018 and 50% vested on December 31, 2018. The exercise price of the options is set at the closing price of our stock as of the grant date.

 

Name

   Grant Date      Number of Securities
Underlying Options
     Exercise Price  

Peter G. Traber, M.D.

     5/22/2018        125,000      $ 4.16  

Harold H. Shlevin, Ph.D.

     5/22/2018        90,000      $ 4.16  

Jack W. Callicutt

     5/22/2018        90,000      $ 4.16  

Additionally, in conjunction with his election to Chief Executive Officer and President effective June 6, 2018, Dr. Shlevin was awarded an additional stock option grant on that date for 35,000 options with an exercise price of $6.17. Of the options, 25% vested on June 30, 2018 and 25% vested on September 30, 2018, and 50% vested on December 31, 2018. The exercise price of the options is set at the closing price of our stock as of the grant date.

Material Terms of Employment Contracts of Named Executive Officers

Set forth below are descriptions of the principal terms of the employment agreements for each of our NEOs. Each employment agreement provides for post-termination restrictive covenants and payments due upon termination of employment or change in control of the Company, which is provided in further detail under the section entitled “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.” We had an employment agreement with Dr. Traber however due to his resignation effective July 6, 2018 the material terms are not presented below.

Harold H. Shlevin, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer

We entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with Dr. Shlevin on December 11, 2014. The agreement provides for an initial term from December 11, 2014 through December 31, 2015, and automatically renews for additional one-year periods, unless otherwise terminated by either party. In accordance with the terms of the agreement, Dr. Shlevin received a base salary of $230,000 per year beginning in 2015 and received an annual performance bonus based on attainment of one or more pre-established individual and/or Company performance goals established by the Compensation Committee. Effective March 31, 2015, Dr. Shlevin’s annual base salary was increased to $250,000 and was increased again to $260,000 in February 2016. Dr. Shlevin’s target performance bonus opportunity in a given year may not be less than 30% of his base salary in such year.

On June 8, 2018, we entered into a first amendment to the employment agreement with Dr. Shlevin in recognition of his appointment as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company. In accordance with the amendment, Dr. Shlevin will receive a base salary of $500,000, was granted 35,000 stock options as noted above, and his target bonus opportunity was increased to 50% of his base salary.

Certain terms of Dr. Shlevin’s employment agreement are more fully described on pg. 28 below.

 

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Jack W. Callicutt, Chief Financial Officer

We entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Callicutt dated July 1, 2013 (the “Callicutt Employment Agreement”), in conjunction with Mr. Callicutt’s appointment as our Chief Financial Officer. Pursuant to the terms of the Callicutt Employment Agreement, Mr. Callicutt received an initial base salary of $175,000 and was eligible to receive a performance bonus equal to 20% of his base salary. Effective March 31, 2015, Mr. Callicutt’s annual base salary was increased to $240,000, and his annual base salary was increased again to $260,000 in February 2016. In June 2018, Mr. Callicutt’s annual base salary increased to $285,000. He also received a signing bonus of $10,000. In addition to his cash compensation, the Company awarded Mr. Callicutt a grant of options to purchase 200,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock at an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on July 1, 2013, with 25,000 shares vesting on December 31, 2013, 50,000 shares vesting on December 31, 2014, 50,000 shares vesting on December 31, 2015 and 75,000 shares vesting on December 31, 2016. The options were granted pursuant to the 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan and expire ten years after the date of grant.

On August 11, 2017, we entered into an amendment to the Callicutt Employment Agreement with Mr. Callicutt (the “Amendment”). Pursuant to the Amendment, (i) Mr. Callicutt’s target bonus opportunity was increased to 30% of his base salary and (ii) an error in the severance provision of the Callicutt Employment Agreement was corrected. Prior to the Amendment, the Callicutt Employment Agreement did not provide for any severance if Mr. Callicutt’s employment was terminated by the Company “without cause,” or by Mr. Callicutt for “good reason” after the date that was 24 months after the Commencement Date. The terms of the severance provisions set forth in the Amendment are more fully described on pg. 28 below.

Employee Benefits & Perquisites

From time to time, the Company has provided the NEOs with employee benefits and perquisites that our Board believes are reasonable. Our NEOs are eligible to participate in the same broad-based employee benefit plans that are offered to our other employees, such as health insurance, disability insurance, life insurance and a 401(k) plan. These benefits are provided as part of the basic conditions of employment for all of our employees, and therefore providing them to our NEOs does not represent a significant incremental cost to us. The Company does not view employee benefits and perquisites as a significant element of its comprehensive compensation structure, but does believe they can be useful in attracting, motivating, and retaining the executive talent for which the Company competes. The Company believes that these additional benefits may assist the NEOs in performing their duties and provide time efficiencies for the NEOs in appropriate circumstances, and the Company may consider providing additional employee benefits and perquisites in the future. All future practices regarding employee benefits and perquisites will be approved and subject to periodic review by the Compensation Committee.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The following report is not deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC or subject to the SEC’s proxy rules or the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, and the report shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any prior or subsequent filing by us under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis included in this proxy statement. Based on this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

Gilbert S. Omenn, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman

Gilbert F. Amelio, Ph.D.

Joel Lewis

 

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SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

The following table summarizes the compensation paid to our NEOs for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.

 

Name and Principal Position

  Year     Salary
($)
    Bonus
($)(1)
    Option
Awards
($)(2)
    All Other
Compensation
($)
    Total
($)
 

Peter G. Traber, M.D.

    2018 (3)      270,211       —         993,499       44,899 (4)      1,308,609  

Former Chief Executive Officer & President

    2017       512,500       299,492       —         65,397 (5)      877,389  
    2016       512,500       160,877       288,136       60,567 (6)      1,022,080  

Harold H. Shlevin, Ph.D.,

    2018       395,833       375,000       891,113       60,634 (7)      1,730,815  

Chief Executive Officer & President

    2017       260,000       131,163       —         53,992 (8)      445,155  
    2016       260,000       50,920       140,587       48,118 (9)      499,625  

Jack W. Callicutt,

    2018       275,278       213,750       715,319       62,150 (10)      1,266,497  

Chief Financial Officer

    2017       260,000       141,163       —         54,848 (11)      456,011  
    2016       260,000       54,172       140,587       49,097 (12)      503,856  

 

(1)

Bonuses for 2018 were paid in January 2019. Bonuses for 2017 were paid in January 2018. Bonuses for 2016 were paid in February 2017.

(2)

Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of option awards made during 2018, 2017 and 2016 computed in accordance with the Stock Compensation Topic of the FASB ASC, as modified of supplemented. Fair value was calculated using the Black-Scholes options pricing model. For a description of the assumptions used to determine these amounts, see Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K (or Form 10-K/A, as applicable) for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.

(3)

Dr. Traber resigned from the Company effective July 6, 2018. He received no compensation after that date.

(4)

Includes $33,899 for health and other insurance and $11,000 for 401(k) plan contributions.

(5)

Includes $54,597 for health and other insurance and $10,800 for 401(k) plan contributions.

(6)

Includes $49,967 for health and other insurance and $10,600 for 401(k) plan contributions.

(7)

Includes $52,399 for health and other insurance and $8,235 for 401(k) plan contributions.

(8)

Includes $45,927 for health and other insurance and $8,065 for 401(k) plan contributions.

(9)

Includes $39,994 for health and other insurance and $8,124 for 401(k) plan contributions.

(10)

Includes $51,910 for health and other insurance and $10,240 for 401(k) plan contributions.

(11)

Includes $46,765 for health and other insurance and $8,083 for 401(k) plan contributions.

(12)

Includes $40,972 for health and other insurance and $8,125 for 401(k) plan contributions.

 

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GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS IN 2018

 

         

 

Estimated Possible Payouts
Under Non-Equity Incentive
Plan  Awards

   

 

Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards

    All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number
of Shares
of Stock
or Units
(#)
    All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
(#)
    Exercise or
Base Price
of Option
Awards
($/Sh)
    Grant
Date Fair
Value of
Stock and
Option
Awards
 

Name

  Grant
Date
    Threshold
($)
    Target
($)
    Maximum
($)
    Threshold
(#)
    Target
(#)
    Maximum
(#)
 

Peter G. Traber, M.D.

    01/15/2018 (1)                    125,000     $ 5.87     $ 570,738 (2) 
    5/22/2018 (1)                    125,000     $ 4.16     $ 422,761 (2) 
    —                        

Harold H. Shlevin, Ph.D.

    01/15/2018 (1)                    90,000     $ 5.87     $ 410,931 (2) 
    5/22/2018 (1)                    90,000     $ 4.16     $ 304,388 (2) 
    6/8/2018 (1)                    35,000     $ 6.17     $ 175,793 (2) 
    —                        

Jack W. Callicutt

    01/15/2018 (1)                    90,000     $ 5.87     $ 410,931 (2) 
    5/22/2018 (1)                    90,000     $ 4.16     $ 304,388 (2) 
    —                        

 

(1)

Grants of stock options under our 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan in accordance with the Program.

(2)

Represents the grant date fair value of option awards based upon the Black Scholes valuation model made in 2018. For a description of the assumptions used to determine these amounts, see footnote 7 to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.

 

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OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END 2018

The following table sets forth information regarding all outstanding equity awards held by the NEOs at December 31, 2018. The exercise price of the options is set at the closing price of our stock at the date prior to or as of the date of grant. Outstanding options have been approved by our Compensation Committee and our Board.

 

    Option Awards     Stock Awards  

Name

  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Exercisable
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Unexercisable
    Equity
Incentive
Plan

Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options
(#)
    Option
Exercise
Price
($)
    Option
Expiration
Date
    Number
of Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
    Market
Value of
Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have Not
Vested
($)
    Equity
Incentive
Plan

Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That  Have
Not
Vested
(#)
    Equity
Incentive
Plan

Awards:
Market
or Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units  or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested
($)
 

Peter G. Traber, M.D. (5)

    —         —           —           —         —         —         —    

Harold H. Shlevin, Ph.D.

    38,000 (1)      —           13.38       01/21/2024       —         —         —         —    
    7,915 (2)      791 (2)        1.37       01/20/2026          
    90,000 (3)      —           5.87       01/15/2028          
    90,000 (4)      —           4.16       05/22/2028          
    35,000 (4)      —           6.17       06/08/2028          

Jack W. Callicutt

    26,000 (1)      —           13.38       01/21/2024       —         —         —         —    
    7,915 (2)      791 (2)        1.37       01/20/2026          
    90,000 (3)      —           5.87       01/15/2028          
    90,000 (4)      —           4.16       05/22/2028          

 

(1)

25% of the options vested on January 21, 2014, the grant date with the remainder vested ratably on a monthly basis over a three-year period.

(2)

25% of the options vested on January 29, 2015, the grant date, with the remainder vesting ratably on a monthly basis over a three-year period.

(3)

25% of the options vested on January 15, 2018 (grant date), 25% vested on June 30, 2018, and 50% vested on December 31, 2018.

(4)

25% of the options vested on June 30, 2018, 25% vested on September 30, 2018, and 50% vested on December 31, 2018.

(5)

Dr. Traber resigned from the Company effective July 6, 2018 and had no outstanding stock options or stock awards as of December 31, 2018.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table in 2018

The following table sets forth the number of shares and value realized by the named executive officers during 2018 on the exercise of stock options and the vesting of restricted stock (or restricted stock units).

 

     Option Awards      Stock Awards  

Name

   Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Exercise
(#)
     Value
Realized on
Exercise
($)(1)
     Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Vesting
(#)
     Value
Realized
on Vesting
($)(2)
 

Peter G. Traber, M.D. (3)

     170,000        1,013,263        —          —    

Harold H. Shlevin, Ph.D

     367,294        1,394,518        —          —    

Jack W. Callicutt

     405,294        1,820,755        —          —    

 

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(1)

The value realized on the exercise of options was calculated by multiplying the number of options exercised on the applicable exercise date by the difference between the closing market price of the shares on such date and the exercise price of the options.

(2)

The value realized on the vesting of restricted stock (or restricted stock units) was calculated by multiplying the number of shares vesting on the applicable vesting date by the closing market price of the shares on such date.

(3)

Represents transactions occurring prior to Dr. Traber’s resignation as an officer of the Company on June 14, 2018.

Pension Benefits

None of our NEOs are covered by a pension plan or similar benefit plan that provides for payment or other benefits at, following, or in connection with retirement.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

None of our NEOs are covered by a deferred contribution or other plan that provides for the deferral of compensation on a basis that is not tax qualified.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

This section describes the limited benefits that would be provided to our NEOs under our executive compensation plans upon a change of control of the Company or following termination of employment (provided, in some cases further described below, the termination must be a “separation from service” as defined in Code Section 409A). We also provide a table below showing the potential benefits payable to each of our NEOs upon a change of control of the Company or following termination of employment as of December 31, 2018.

2001 Stock Incentive Plan

Under our 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, upon a change of control, the Compensation Committee has discretion to provide for the acceleration of options held by an executive, which acceleration may be conditioned on the subsequent termination of the executive’s employment with the Company. Options remain exercisable for one year following termination due to the executive’s death or disability or retirement, or for three months after termination for any other reason other than for cause.

Under the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, change of control is defined as a change in ownership or control of the Company effected through either:

 

  (1)

the acquisition by any person or related group of persons (other than the Company or a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Company) of beneficial ownership of securities possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly to the Company’s stockholders that the Board does not recommend such stockholders to accept; or

 

  (2)

during any period of 36 consecutive months or less, there is a change in the composition of the Board of Directors such that a majority of the directors ceases, by reason of one or more proxy contests for the election of directors, to be composed of individuals who either have been directors continuously since the beginning of such period, or have been elected or nominated for election as directors during such period by at least a majority of the continuously serving directors who were still in office at the time such election or nomination.

 

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2009 Incentive Compensation Plan

Under our 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan, the options we have granted will become immediately vested and exercisable upon a change of control. Upon termination of employment for cause, all outstanding options immediately terminate. Options remain exercisable for one year following termination due to the executive’s death or disability or retirement, or for twelve months after termination for any other reason other than for cause.

Under the 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan, change of control is defined as:

 

  (1)

the acquisition of beneficial ownership of 50% or more of either the value of then outstanding equity securities of the Company or the combined voting power of our securities, except for any acquisition directly from us, any acquisition by us or any person that owns a controlling interest in the Company, or any acquisition by any of our employee benefit plans;

 

  (2)

during any period of three consecutive years, a majority of the Board is no longer comprised of individuals who, as of the beginning of that period, constituted our Board and individuals whose nomination for election was approved by the Board;

 

  (3)

a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar transaction, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or equity of another entity by the Company, in each case unless (i) substantially all of the owners, respectively, of our outstanding shares of Common Stock or the combined voting power of our securities immediately before the transaction beneficially own more than 50% of, respectively, the Common Stock and the combined voting power of the securities of the resulting corporation, in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to the transaction, (ii) no person owns 50% of, respectively, the Common Stock and the combined voting power of the securities of the resulting corporation, unless such ownership existed prior to the transaction and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the resulting entity were members of the Board of Directors of the Company at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board providing for such transaction ; or

 

  (4)

approval by the stockholders of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

“Disability” is defined as a permanent and total disability (within the meaning of Code Section 22(e)), as determined by a medical doctor satisfactory to the Compensation Committee.

“Cause” means (i) the failure by the executive to perform, in a reasonable manner, his or her duties as assigned by the Company, (ii) any violation or breach by the executive of his or her employment, consulting or other similar agreement with the Company, if any, (iii) any violation or breach by the executive of any non-competition, non-solicitation, non-disclosure and/or other similar agreement with the Company, (iv) any act by the executive of dishonesty or bad faith with respect to the Company, (v) use of alcohol, drugs or other similar substances in a manner that adversely affects the executive’s work performance, or (vi) the commission by the executive of any act, misdemeanor, or crime reflecting unfavorably upon the executive or the Company.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control Under Our Named Executive Officers’ Employment Contracts

Harold H. Shlevin, PhD

Dr. Shlevin’s employment agreement provides that he shall receive severance equal to nine months of his then base salary paid in a lump sum, medical coverage for the remaining portion of the term of his agreement and a lump sum payment of a portion of the performance bonus for the then-current year based on the number of days elapsed in the year if his employment is terminated (i) by the Company “without cause,” (ii) by Dr. Shlevin for “good reason,” or (iii) following a “change of control” (as defined in his agreement). If his employment is terminated “for cause”, subject to “cure rights” in certain instances, he is not entitled to severance. If the

 

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agreement is terminated within 12 months after a change of control by the Company “without cause,” or by Dr. Shlevin for “good reason,” Dr. Shlevin is entitled to receive severance equal to 24 months’ salary paid in a lump sum, medical coverage for the remaining portion of the term of his agreement and immediate vesting of all unvested options.

The agreement provides that during its term Dr. Shlevin shall not engage in any business competitive with the Company. Following termination of employment, Dr. Shlevin shall not, for 18 months (i) solicit customers or employees of the Company or (ii) render services to any “competing business” (as defined in the agreement). The agreement also contains provisions binding on Dr. Shlevin with respect to protection of our confidential information.

Jack W. Callicutt

Under the Callicutt Employment Agreement, as amended by the Amendment (as such terms are defined on pg. 24 above), if Mr. Callicutt’s employment is terminated by the Company “without cause,” or by Mr. Callicutt for “good reason,” (as such terms are defined in the Callicutt Employment Agreement, as amended) he shall receive severance equal to: 3 months’ base salary if such termination occurred within 12 months of July 1, 2013 (the “Commencement Date”); 6 months’ base salary if such termination occurred between 12 and 18 months after the Commencement Date; 9 months’ base salary if such termination occurs after 18 months after the Commencement Date, plus, in each case, a portion of the performance bonus for the then-current year based on the number of days elapsed in the year. If Mr. Callicutt’s employment is terminated “for cause”, subject to “cure rights” in certain instances, he is not entitled to severance. If the Callicutt Employment Agreement, as amended, is terminated within 12 months after a change of control by the Company “without cause,” or by Mr. Callicutt for “good reason,” Mr. Callicutt shall receive severance equal to 12 months’ base salary, a portion of the performance bonus for the then-current year based on the number of days elapsed in the year and immediate vesting of all unvested options.

The Callicutt Employment Agreement, as amended, provides that during its term, Mr. Callicutt shall not engage in any business competitive with the Company. Following termination of employment, Mr. Callicutt shall not, for 18 months (i) solicit customers or employees of the Company or (ii) render services to any “competing business” (as defined in the agreement). The Callicutt Employment Agreement also contains provisions binding on Mr. Callicutt with respect to protection of our confidential information.

The following table sets forth the potential benefits payable to our NEOs pursuant to the arrangements described above, assuming termination of employment or a change of control had occurred on December 31, 2018.

 

Benefit/Plan/Program

  Peter G.
Traber, M.D. (6)
    Harold H.
Shlevin, Ph.D.
    Jack W.
Callicutt
 

Options (1)

  $ —       $ 1,629     $ 1,629  

Employment Agreement Change of Control Severance (2)

  $ —       $ 500,000     $ 285,000  

Employment Agreement Termination Severance (3)

  $ —       $ 375,000     $ 213,750  

Total value upon a change of control (4)

  $ —       $ 501,629     $ 286,629  

Total value upon termination of employment due to death or disability (5)

  $ —       $ 0     $ 0  

 

(1)

Amounts represent the potential value of unvested stock options held by the NEOs under the 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan that would have vested upon a change of control or upon termination of employment by reason of death or disability on December 31, 2018, based on a price of $3.43 per share, the closing price of our Common Stock on December 31, 2018.

(2)

Represents the amount of the severance and bonus payments that would have been payable to each participant upon a change of control on December 31, 2018.

 

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(3)

Represents the amount of the severance and bonus payments that would have been payable to each participant upon a termination of employment by the Company without “cause” or by the executive for “good reason”.

(4)

Reflects the sum of (1) the value of accelerated vesting of options; (2) the value of shares of Common Stock received upon partial vesting of unvested performance shares; and (3) severance and bonus payments that would have been payable to each participant upon a change of control, in each case as of December 31, 2018.

(5)

Reflects the amounts payable under the executive’s employment agreement as a result of termination of employment due to death or disability as of December 31, 2018.

(6)

Amounts for Dr. Traber reflect actual amounts payable to Dr. Traber upon termination of his employment on July 6, 2018.

 

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PROPOSAL NO. 2

NON-BINDING ADVISORY RESOLUTION TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act amended Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which now requires that we provide our stockholders with the opportunity to vote to approve, on a nonbinding, advisory basis, on the compensation of our named executives officers as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with the Compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

As described in more detail above under “Executive Compensation”, we seek to closely align the interests of our named executive officers with the interests of our stockholders. Our compensation programs are designed to reward our named executive officers for the achievement of short-term and long-term strategic and operational goals and the achievement of increased total stockholder return.

This vote is advisory, which means that the vote on executive compensation is not binding on the Company, our Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. However, we welcome input from our stockholders regarding executive compensation and other matters related to the company’s success generally. We believe in a corporate governance structure that is responsive to stockholder concerns, and we view this vote as a meaningful opportunity to gauge stockholder approval of our executive compensation policies.

GIVEN THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ASKS YOU TO APPROVE AND VOTE FOR THE FOLLOWING NON-BINDING RESOLUTION AT OUR MEETING:

“RESOLVED, that the Company’s stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers, as disclosed in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Summary Compensation Table and the other related tables and disclosure.”

 

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PROPOSAL NO. 3

NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY

OF STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act and recently enacted SEC rules, at least once every six years we are required to submit for stockholder vote a non-binding resolution to determine whether we should conduct our stockholder advisory vote on executive compensation every year, every two years, or every three years.

After careful consideration of the various arguments supporting each frequency level, the Board of Directors believes that submitting the advisory vote on executive compensation to stockholders every three years is appropriate for the Company and its stockholders at this time.

The proxy card provides four choices (every three, two, or one years, or abstain). Stockholders are being asked for their vote on the frequency of the advisory vote on executive compensation and are not voting to approve or disapprove the Board’s recommendation. As such, stockholders may choose an annual, biennial, or triennial frequency, i.e., every year, every two years, every three years, or they may abstain. The frequency option that receives the most votes will be deemed the option chosen by the advisory vote.

As with your vote on Proposal No. 2 above, your vote on this Proposal No. 3 is advisory, and therefore not binding on the Company or our Board of Directors. The vote will not be construed to create or imply any change to the fiduciary duties of the Company or our Board of Directors, or to create or imply any additional fiduciary duties for the Company or our Board of Directors. Although the vote is non-binding, our Board of Directors will consider the outcome of the frequency vote and other communications from stockholders when making future decisions regarding the frequency of such advisory votes regarding executive compensation.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” FOR FUTURE ADVISORY STOCKHOLDER VOTES ON COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS TO OCCUR TRIENNIALLY (EVERY THREE YEARS).

 

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PROPOSAL NO. 4

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The Board of Directors has appointed Cherry Bekaert LLP as our independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019. We expect that a representative from Cherry Bekaert LLP will be present at the 2019 Annual Meeting, and accordingly, the representative will be given the opportunity to make a statement and respond to any questions.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF CHERRY BEKAERT LLP, AS GALECTIN THERAPEUTICS’ INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2019.

FEES PAID TO CHERRY BEKAERT LLP

 

     Fiscal Year
2018
     Fiscal Year
2017
 

Audit Fees (1)

   $ 155,000      $ 123,000  

Audit-Related Fees (2)

     23,300        3,550  

Tax Fees

     16,400        15,080  

All Other Fees

     —          —    

Total Fees

   $ 191,700      $ 141,630  

 

(1)

Audit Fees.    These are fees for professional services for the audit of our annual financial statements dated December 31, 2018 and 2017 and the and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting for the Company as of December 31, 2018 included in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K for fiscal years then ended, and review of financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for each fiscal quarter during the 2018 and 2017 fiscal years.

(2)

Audit-Related Fees.    These are fees for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements, including financial disclosures made in our equity finance documentation and registration statements filed with the SEC that incorporate financial statements and the auditors’ report thereon and reviewed with our Audit Committee on financial accounting/reporting standards.

The Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-core audit services to Galectin Therapeutics by Cherry Bekaert LLP is compatible with maintaining independence.

Pre-Approval Policy and Procedures

The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors has adopted policies and procedures which set forth the manner in which the Committee will review and approve all services to be provided by the independent auditor before the auditor is retained to provide such services. The policy requires Audit Committee pre-approval of the terms and fees of the annual audit services engagement, as well as any changes in terms and fees resulting from changes in audit scope or other items. The Audit Committee also pre-approves, on an annual basis, other audit services, and audit-related and tax services set forth in the policy, subject to estimated fee levels, on a project basis and aggregate annual basis, which have been pre-approved by the Committee.

All other services performed by the auditor that are not prohibited non-audit services under SEC or other regulatory authority rules must be separately pre-approved by the Audit Committee. Amounts in excess of pre-approved limits for audit services, audit-related services and tax services require separate pre-approval of the Audit Committee.

Our Chief Financial Officer reports quarterly to the Audit Committee on the status of pre-approved services, including projected fees. All of the services reflected in the above table were approved by the Audit Committee.

 

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PROPOSAL NO. 5

TO APPROVE THE 2019 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN AND TO RESERVE

4,000,000 SHARES FOR ISSUANCE UNDER THE PLAN

On September 25, 2019 upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board approved, subject to stockholder approval, the adoption of the 2019 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and the reservation of 4,000,000 shares for issuance under the Plan.

The Plan, as proposed to be adopted, is attached hereto as Appendix A, and we urge stockholders to review the Plan carefully.

Under applicable NASDAQ rules, the Company is required to obtain stockholder approval of the of the Plan. Stockholder approval of the Plan is also required to comply with the incentive stock options rules under Section 422 of the Code. On October 15, 2019, the closing price of our Common Stock as reported by NASDAQ was $3.91.

If approved by the Company’s stockholders, the Plan would authorize 4,000,000 shares for issuance under the Plan. The material terms of the Plan are as follows:

Objectives of the Plan

The Plan is intended (a) to allow selected employees of and consultants to the Company and its affiliates to acquire or increase equity ownership in the Company, thereby strengthening their commitment to the success of the Company and stimulating their efforts on behalf of the Company, and to assist the Company and its affiliates in attracting new employees, officers and consultants and retaining existing employees and consultants, (b) to optimize the growth of the Company and its affiliates through incentives which are consistent with the Company’s goals, (c) to provide grantees with an incentive for excellence in individual performance, (d) to promote teamwork among employees, consultants and non-Employee directors, and (e) to attract and retain highly qualified persons to serve as non-employee directors and to promote ownership by such non-employee directors of a greater proprietary interest in the Company, thereby aligning such non-employee directors’ interests more closely with the interests of the Company’s stockholders.

Summary of the Plan

The following is a summary of certain principal features of the Plan, as proposed to be adopted. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Plan. Stockholders are urged to read the actual text of the Plan, as proposed to be adopted, in its entirety which is set forth as Appendix A to this proxy statement.

The Plan will be administered by a committee (the “Incentive Plan Committee” or the “Committee”), which will consist of directors of the Company. However, the Board or the Compensation Committee, as applicable, may reserve administrative powers to itself as the Committee or exercise any of the administrative powers of the Committee. Further, the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee may delegate any or all of its administrative authority to our Chief Executive Officer or to a management committee, except with respect to awards to executive officers who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

The stock delivered to settle awards made under the Plan may be authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares, including shares repurchased by us for purposes of the Plan. If any shares subject to any award granted under the Plan (other than a substitute award) are forfeited or otherwise terminated without delivery of such shares (or if such shares are returned to us due to a forfeiture restriction under such award), the shares subject to such awards will again be available for issuance under the Plan. If any option or other award granted under the Plan is exercised through the tendering of shares or by the withholding of shares by the Company, or withholding

 

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tax liabilities arising from such option or other award are satisfied by the tendering of shares (either actually or by attestation) or by the withholding of shares by the Company, then only the number of shares issued net of the shares tendered or withheld shall be counted for purposes of determining the maximum number of shares available for grant under the Plan.

If a dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, shares of Common Stock or other property), recapitalization, forward or reverse stock split, subdivision, consolidation or reduction of capital, reorganization, merger, consolidation, scheme of arrangement, split-up, spin-off or combination involving us or repurchase or exchange of our shares or other securities, or other rights to purchase shares of our securities or other similar transaction or event affects our Common Stock such that the Committee determines that an adjustment is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits (or potential benefits) provided to grantees under the Plan, the committee will make an equitable change or adjustment as it deems appropriate in the number and kind of securities subject to awards and the related exercise price relating to an award.

Types of Awards

The Plan permits the granting of any or all of the following types of awards to all grantees:

 

   

stock options, including incentive stock options, or ISO;

 

   

stock appreciation rights, or SARs;

 

   

restricted shares;

 

   

deferred stock and restricted stock units;

 

   

performance units and performance shares;

 

   

dividend equivalents;

 

   

bonus shares; and

 

   

other stock based awards.

Awards under the Plan may be granted for no consideration other than prior and future services. Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution for, any other Award granted under the Plan unless such tandem or substitution Award would subject the Grantee to tax penalties imposed under Section 409A of the Code. The material terms of each award will be set forth in a written award agreement between the grantee and us.

Stock Options and SARs

The Committee is authorized to grant SARs and stock options (including ISOs except that an ISO may only be granted to an employee of ours or one of our subsidiary corporations). A stock option allows a grantee to purchase a specified number of shares of our Common Stock at a predetermined price per share (the “exercise price”) during a fixed period measured from the date of grant. An SAR entitles the grantee to receive the excess of the fair market value of a specified number of shares on the date of exercise over a predetermined exercise price per share. The exercise price of an option or an SAR will be determined by the Committee and will be set forth in the award agreement, but the exercise price may not be less than the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the grant date. The term of each option or SAR is determined by the Committee and set forth in the award agreement, except that the term may not exceed 10 years. Options may be exercised by payment of the purchase price through one or more of the following means: payment in cash (including personal check or wire transfer), by delivering shares of our Common Stock previously owned by the grantee, or with the approval of the Committee, by delivery of shares of our Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of such option or by delivering restricted shares. The Committee may also permit a grantee to pay the exercise price of an option through the sale of shares acquired upon exercise of the option through a broker-dealer to whom the grantee has delivered irrevocable instructions to deliver sales proceeds sufficient to pay the purchase price to us.

 

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Restricted Shares

The Committee may award restricted shares consisting of shares of our Common Stock that remain subject to a risk of forfeiture and may not be disposed of by grantees until certain restrictions established by the Committee lapse. The vesting conditions may be service-based (i.e., requiring continuous service for a specified period) or performance-based (i.e., requiring achievement of certain specified performance objectives) or both. A grantee receiving restricted shares will have all of the rights of a stockholder, including the right to vote the shares and the right to receive any dividends, except as otherwise provided in the award agreement. Upon termination of the grantee’s affiliation with us during the restriction period (or, if applicable, upon the failure to satisfy the specified performance objectives during the restriction period), the restricted shares will be forfeited as provided in the award agreement.

Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock

The Committee may also grant restricted stock unit awards and/or deferred stock awards. A deferred stock award is the grant of a right to receive a specified number of shares of our Common Stock at the end of specified deferral periods or upon the occurrence of a specified event, which satisfies the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. A restricted stock unit award is the grant of a right to receive a specified number of shares of our Common Stock upon lapse of a specified forfeiture condition (such as completion of a specified period of service or achievement of certain specified performance objectives). If the service condition and/or specified performance objectives are not satisfied during the restriction period, the award will be lapse without the issuance of the shares underlying such award.

Restricted stock units and deferred stock awards carry no voting or other rights associated with stock ownership. The award agreement will provide whether grantees may receive dividend equivalents with respect to restricted stock units or deferred stock, and if so, whether such dividend equivalents are distributed when credited or deemed to be reinvested in additional shares of restricted stock units or deferred stock.

Performance Units

The Committee may grant performance units, which entitle a grantee to cash or shares conditioned upon the fulfillment of certain performance conditions and other restrictions as specified by the Committee and reflected in the award agreement. The initial value of a performance unit will be determined by the Committee at the time of grant. The Committee will determine the terms and conditions of such awards, including performance and other restrictions placed on these awards, which will be reflected in the award agreement

Performance Shares

The Committee may grant performance shares, which entitle a grantee to a certain number of shares of common stock, conditioned upon the fulfillment of certain performance conditions and other restrictions as specified by the Committee and reflected in the award agreement. The Committee will determine the terms and conditions of such awards, including performance and other restrictions placed on these awards, which will be reflected in the award agreement.

Bonus Shares

The Committee may grant fully vested shares of our Common Stock as bonus shares on such terms and conditions as specified in the award agreement.

Dividend Equivalents

The Committee is authorized to grant dividend equivalents which provide a grantee the right to receive payment equal to the dividends paid on a specified number of shares of our common stock. Dividend equivalents

 

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may be paid directly to grantees or may be deferred for later delivery under the Plan. If deferred such dividend equivalents may be credited with interest or may be deemed to be invested in shares of our Common Stock or in other property. Dividend equivalents may be granted in conjunction with other awards.

Other Stock-Based Awards

In order to enable us to respond to material developments in the area of taxes and other legislation and regulations and interpretations thereof, and to trends in executive compensation practices, the Plan authorizes the Committee to grant awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to or otherwise based on our securities. The Committee determines the terms and conditions of such awards, including consideration paid for awards granted as share purchase rights and whether awards are paid in shares or cash.

Performance-Based Awards

The Committee may require satisfaction of pre-established performance goals, consisting of one or more business criteria and a targeted performance level with respect to such criteria, as a condition of awards being granted or becoming exercisable or payable under the Plan, or as a condition to accelerating the timing of such events. The Committee has the discretion to adjust the determinations of the degree of attainment of the pre-established performance goals. The Committee retains the discretion in all events to adjust such awards downward. Awards may be settled in cash, stock, other awards or other property, in the discretion of the Committee.

Corporate Transactions

If there is a merger or consolidation of us with or into another corporation or a sale of substantially all of our stock (a “Corporate Transaction”), and the outstanding awards are not assumed by surviving company (or its parent company) or replaced with economically equivalent awards granted by the surviving company (or its parent company), the Committee will cancel any outstanding awards that are not vested and nonforfeitable as of the consummation of such Corporate Transaction (unless the Committee accelerates the vesting of any such awards) and with respect to any vested and nonforfeitable awards, the Committee may either (i) allow all grantees to exercise options and SARs within a reasonable period prior to the consummation of the Corporate Transaction and cancel any outstanding options or SARs that remain unexercised upon consummation of the Corporate Transaction, or (ii) cancel any or all of such outstanding awards (including options and SARs) in exchange for a payment (in cash, or in securities or other property) in an amount equal to the amount that the grantee would have received (net of the exercise price with respect to any options or SARs) if the vested awards were settled or distributed or such vested options and SARs were exercised immediately prior to the consummation of the Corporate Transaction. If an exercise price of the option or SAR exceeds the fair market value of our Common Stock and the option or SAR is not assumed or replaced by the surviving company (or its parent company), such options and SARs will be cancelled without any payment to the grantee.

Amendment to and Termination of the Plan

The Board may, at any time and from time to time, alter, amend, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan in whole or in part without the approval of the Company’s stockholders, except that (a) any amendment or alteration shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders if such stockholder approval is required by any federal or state law or regulation or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares may then be listed or quoted, and (b) the Board may otherwise, in its discretion, determine to submit other such amendments or alterations to stockholders for approval.

In addition, subject to the terms of the Plan, no amendment or termination of the Plan may materially and adversely affect the right of a grantee under any award granted under the Plan, without the written consent of the grantee of such award.

 

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Certain Interests of Directors

In considering the recommendation of the Board with respect to the Plan, stockholders of the Company should be aware that members of the Board may from time to time have interests that present them with conflicts of interest in connection with the proposal to approve the Plan. The Board believes that approval of the Plan will advance the interests of the Company and its stockholders by encouraging employees and directors to make significant contributions to the long-term success of the Company.

Equity Compensation Plans of the Company

Information about the securities issued, or authorized for future issuance, under our equity compensation plans is set forth in the table under the heading “Equity Compensation Plan Information” above.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ADOPTION OF THE 2019 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN AND THE RESERVATION OF 4,000,000 SHARES FOR ISSUANCE UNDER THE PLAN

 

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PROPOSALS OF STOCKHOLDERS

To be considered for inclusion in next year’s proxy materials, your proposal must be submitted in writing to our Corporate Secretary at 4960 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suite 240, Norcross, GA 30071. With respect to proposals made pursuant to Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the proposal must be received by our Corporate Secretary by June 19, 2020 for inclusion in our proxy statement and form of proxy. In addition, all stockholder proposals submitted outside of the stockholder proposal rules promulgated pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, including nominations of director candidates, must be received by our Corporate Secretary by no later than September 5, 2020 nor earlier than August 6, 2020, in order to be considered timely.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the date of the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders is scheduled to take place on a date that is more than 30 calendar days from the one year anniversary of the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, then we will promptly disclose, by filing a current report on Form 8-K, the date by which a nominating stockholder or nominating-stockholder group must submit a proposal to us (i) pursuant to Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange Act or (ii) outside of the stockholder proposal rules promulgated pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, including nominations of director candidates.

You are also advised to review our bylaws, which contain additional requirements about advance notice of stockholder proposals and director nominations.

ANNUAL REPORT

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, may be obtained by our stockholders without charge, upon written request to our Corporate Secretary. You may also download a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K by vising our corporate website at investor.galectintherapeutics.com/financial-information or at www.proxyvote.com.

SEC rules permit companies and intermediaries such as brokers to satisfy delivery requirements for proxy statements with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single proxy statement addressed to those stockholders. This process is called “householding.” This reduces the volume of duplicate information received at your household and helps to reduce costs. We may “household” your materials based on your prior express or implied consent. A number of brokerage firms have instituted householding. Once a stockholder has received notice from his or her broker that the broker will be householding communications to the stockholder’s address, householding will continue until the stockholder is notified otherwise or until one or more of the stockholders revokes his or her consent.

If you would like to receive your own set of our proxy statement and related materials now or in the future, or if you share an address with another Galectin Therapeutics stockholder and together both of you would like to receive only a single set of our proxy materials in the future, please contact your broker (if you hold your shares in “street name”). Be sure to indicate your name, the name of your brokerage firm or bank, and your account number(s). You can also request prompt delivery of a copy of the proxy statement and related materials by contacting our Corporate Secretary at Galectin Therapeutics, 4960 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suite 240, Norcross, GA 30071, Attention: Corporate Secretary; telephone: 678-620-3186; e-mail: callicutt@galectintherapeutics.com.

 

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

 

 

 

LOGO

 

Jack W. Callicutt

 

Chief Financial Officer and

Corporate Secretary

 

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HOW TO ATTEND THE 2019 ANNUAL MEETING

If you plan on attending the meeting in person, we encourage you to email us in advance at callicutt@galectintherapeutics.com, so that we can add your name to the list of attendees for building security purposes. You must bring valid government-issued photo identification such as a valid driver’s license or passport to be admitted to into the building, and proof of ownership of the Company’s Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock to be admitted to the 2019 Annual Meeting.

If you are a “stockholder of record” (meaning that you have a stock certificate registered in your own name, or that you otherwise appear on the books of the Company), your name will appear on our stockholder list. You will be admitted to the 2019 Annual Meeting upon showing your proxy card, driver’s license, or other identification. You will be required to show a valid state issued identification card to enter the building where the annual meeting is held.

If you are a “street name” stockholder (meaning that your shares are held in an account at a broker-dealer firm) your name will not appear on our stockholder list. If you plan to attend the 2019 Annual Meeting, you should ask your broker for a “legal proxy.” You will be admitted to the 2019 Annual Meeting by showing your legal proxy. You probably received a proxy form from your broker along with your proxy statement, but that form can only be used by your broker to vote your shares, and it is not a “legal proxy” that will permit you to vote your shares directly at the 2019 Annual Meeting. If you cannot obtain a legal proxy in time, you will be admitted to the 2019 Annual Meeting if you bring a copy of your most recent brokerage account statement showing that you own shares of Galectin Therapeutics. However, if you do not obtain a legal proxy, you can only vote your shares by returning to your broker, before the 2019 Annual Meeting, the proxy form that accompanied your proxy statement.

 

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Appendix A

 

 

GALECTIN THERAPEUTICS INC.

2019 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         PAGE  

Article 1. Effective Date, Objectives and Duration

     A-1  

        1.1

  Effective Date of the Plan      A-1  

1.2

  Objectives of the Plan      A-1  

1.3

  Duration of the Plan      A-1  

Article 2. Definitions

     A-1  

2.1

  “Affiliate”      A-1  

2.2

  “Award”      A-1  

2.3

  “Award Agreement”      A-1  

2.4

  “Board”      A-1  

2.5

  “Bonus Shares”      A-2  

2.6

  “Cause”      A-2  

2.7

  “CEO”      A-2  

2.8

  “Change in Control”      A-2  

2.9

  “Code”      A-2  

2.10

  “Committee” or “Incentive Plan Committee”      A-2  

2.11

  “Compensation Committee”      A-2  

2.12

  “Common Stock”      A-2  

2.13

  “Corporate Transaction”      A-2  

2.14

  “Deferred Stock”      A-2  

2.15

  “Disability” or “Disabled”      A-2  

2.16

  “Dividend Equivalent”      A-3  

2.17

  “Effective Date”      A-3  

2.18

  “Eligible Person”      A-3  

2.19

  “Exchange Act”      A-3  

2.20

  “Exercise Price”      A-3  

2.21

  “Fair Market Value”      A-3  

2.22

  “Grant Date”      A-3  

2.23

  “Grantee”      A-3  

2.24

  “Incentive Stock Option”      A-4  

2.25

  “Including” or “includes”      A-4  

2.26

  “Management Committee”      A-4  

2.27

  “Non-Employee Director”      A-4  

2.28

  “Option”      A-4  

2.29

  “Other Stock-Based Award”      A-4  

2.30

  “Performance Period”      A-4  

2.31

  “Performance Share”      A-4  

2.32

  “Performance Unit”      A-4  

2.33

  “Period of Restriction”      A-4  

2.34

  “Person”      A-4  

2.35

  “Restricted Shares”      A-4  

2.36

  “Restricted Stock Units”      A-4  

2.37

  “Rule 16b-3”      A-4  

2.38

  “SEC”      A-4  

2.39

  “Section 16 Non-Employee Director”      A-4  

2.40

  “Section 16 Person”      A-5  

2.41

  “Separation from Service”      A-5  

2.42

  “Share”      A-5  

 

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         PAGE  

2.43

  “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR”      A-5  

2.44

  “Subsidiary Corporation”      A-5  

2.45

  “Surviving Company”      A-5  

2.46

  “Term”      A-5  

2.47

  “Termination of Affiliation”      A-5  

Article 3. Administration

     A-6  

3.1

  Committee      A-6  

3.2

  Powers of Committee      A-6  

3.3

  No Repricings      A-8  

Article 4. Shares Subject to the Plan

     A-8  

4.1

  Number of Shares Available for Grants      A-8  

4.2

  Adjustments in Authorized Shares and Awards; Corporate Transaction, Liquidation or Dissolution      A-8  

Article 5. Eligibility and General Conditions of Awards

     A-9  

5.1

  Eligibility      A-9  

5.2

  Award Agreement      A-9  

5.3

  General Terms and Termination of Affiliation      A-10  

5.4

  Nontransferability of Awards      A-10  

5.5

  Cancellation and Rescission of Awards      A-10  

5.6

  Stand-Alone, Tandem and Substitute Awards      A-11  

5.7

  Compliance with Rule 16b-3      A-11  

5.8

  Deferral of Award Payouts      A-12  

Article 6. Stock Options

     A-12  

6.1

  Grant of Options      A-12  

6.2

  Award Agreement      A-12  

6.3

  Option Exercise Price      A-12  

6.4

  Grant of Incentive Stock Options      A-12  

6.5

  Payment of Exercise Price      A-13  

Article 7. Stock Appreciation Rights

     A-13  

7.1

  Issuance      A-13  

7.2

  Award Agreements      A-14  

7.3

  SAR Exercise Price      A-14  

7.4

  Exercise and Payment      A-14  

Article 8. Restricted Shares

     A-14  

8.1

  Grant of Restricted Shares      A-14  

8.2

  Award Agreement      A-14  

8.3

  Consideration for Restricted Shares      A-14  

8.4

  Effect of Forfeiture      A-14  

8.5

  Escrow; Legends      A-15  

Article 9. Performance Units and Performance Shares

     A-15  

9.1

  Grant of Performance Units and Performance Shares      A-15  

9.2

  Value/Performance Goals      A-15  

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         PAGE  

9.3

  Earning of Performance Units and Performance Shares      A-15  

Article 10. Deferred Stock and Restricted Stock Units

     A-15  

10.1

  Grant of Deferred Stock and Restricted Stock Units      A-15  

10.2

  Vesting and Delivery      A-16  

10.3

  Voting and Dividend Equivalent Rights Attributable to Deferred Stock and Restricted Stock Units      A-16  

Article 11. Dividend Equivalents

     A-16  

Article 12. Bonus Shares

     A-16  

Article 13. Other Stock-Based Awards

     A-17  

Article 14. Non-Employee Director Awards

     A-17  

Article 15. Amendment, Modification, and Termination

     A-17  

15.1

  Amendment, Modification, and Termination      A-17  

15.2

  Awards Previously Granted      A-17  

Article 16. Compliance with Code Section 409A

     A-17  

16.1

  Awards Subject to Code Section 409A      A-17  

16.2

  Deferral and/or Distribution Elections      A-17  

16.3

  Subsequent Elections      A-18  

16.4

  Distributions Pursuant to Deferral Elections      A-18  

16.5

  Six Month Delay      A-18  

16.6

  Death or Disability      A-18  

16.7

  No Acceleration of Distributions      A-19  

Article 17. Withholding

     A-19  

17.1

  Required Withholding      A-19  

17.2

  Notification under Code Section 83(b)      A-19  

Article 18. Additional Provisions

     A-20  

18.1

  Successors      A-20  

18.2

  Severability      A-20  

18.3

  Requirements of Law      A-20  

18.4

  Securities Law Compliance      A-20  

18.5

  Forfeiture Events      A-20  

18.6

  No Rights as a Stockholder      A-21  

18.7

  Nature of Payments      A-21  

18.8

  Non-Exclusivity of Plan      A-21  

18.9

  Governing Law      A-21  

18.10

  Unfunded Status of Awards; Creation of Trusts      A-21  

18.11

  Affiliation      A-21  

18.12

  Participation      A-22  

18.13

  Military Service      A-22  

18.14

  Construction      A-22  

18.15

  Headings      A-22  

18.16

  Obligations      A-22  

18.17

  Stockholder Approval      A-22  

 

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GALECTIN THERAPEUTICS INC.

2019 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

Article 1.

Effective Date, Objectives and Duration

1.1    Effective Date of the Plan. The Board of Directors of Galectin Therapeutics Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), adopted the 2019 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) effective as of September 25, 2019 (the “Effective Date”), subject to approval by the Company’s stockholders.

1.2    Objectives of the Plan. The Plan is intended (a) to allow selected employees of and consultants to the Company and its Affiliates to acquire or increase equity ownership in the Company, thereby strengthening their commitment to the success of the Company and stimulating their efforts on behalf of the Company, and to assist the Company and its Affiliates in attracting new employees, officers and consultants and retaining existing employees and consultants, (b) to optimize growth of the Company and its Affiliates through incentives which are consistent with the Company’s goals, (c) to provide Grantees with an incentive for excellence in individual performance, (d) to promote teamwork among employees, consultants and Non-Employee Directors, and (e) to attract and retain highly qualified persons to serve as Non-Employee Directors and to promote ownership by such Non-Employee Directors of a greater proprietary interest in the Company, thereby aligning such Non-Employee Directors’ interests more closely with the interests of the Company’s stockholders.

1.3    Duration of the Plan. The Plan shall commence on the Effective Date and shall remain in effect, subject to the right of the Board to amend or terminate the Plan at any time pursuant to Article 15 hereof, until the earlier of the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, or the date all Shares subject to the Plan shall have been purchased or acquired and the restrictions on all Restricted Shares granted under the Plan shall have lapsed, according to the Plan’s provisions.

Article 2.

Definitions

Whenever used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

2.1    “Affiliate” means any corporation or other entity, including but not limited to partnerships, limited liability companies and joint ventures, with respect to which the Company, directly or indirectly, owns as applicable (a) stock possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote, or more than fifty percent (50%) of the total value of all shares of all classes of stock of such corporation, or (b) an aggregate of more than fifty percent (50%) of the profits interest or capital interest of a non-corporate entity.

2.2    “Award” means Options (including non-qualified options and Incentive Stock Options), SARs, Restricted Shares, Performance Units (which may be paid in cash), Performance Shares, Deferred Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Dividend Equivalents, Bonus Shares or Other Stock-Based Awards granted under the Plan.

2.3    “Award Agreement” means either (a) a written agreement entered into by the Company and a Grantee setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award granted under this Plan, or (b) a written statement issued by the Company to a Grantee describing the terms and provisions of such Award, including any amendment or modification thereof. The Committee may provide for the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper Award Agreements and the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper means for the acceptance thereof and actions thereunder by the Grantee.

2.4    “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

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2.5    “Bonus Shares” means Shares that are awarded to a Grantee with or without cost and without restrictions either in recognition of past performance (whether determined by reference to another employee benefit plan of the Company or otherwise), as an inducement to become an Eligible Person or, with the consent of the Grantee, as payment in lieu of any cash remuneration otherwise payable to the Grantee.

2.6    “Cause” means, except as otherwise defined in an Award Agreement:

(a)    the failure by the Grantee to perform, in a reasonable manner, his or her duties as assigned by the Company or an Affiliate,

(b)    any violation or breach by the Grantee of his or her employment, consulting or other similar agreement with the Company or an Affiliate, if any,

(c)    any violation or breach by the Grantee of any non-competition, non-solicitation, non-disclosure and/or other similar agreement with the Company or an Affiliate,

(d)    any act by the Grantee of dishonesty or bad faith with respect to the Company or an Affiliate

(e)    use of alcohol, drugs or other similar substances in a manner that adversely affects the Grantee’s work performance, or

(f)    the commission by the Grantee of any act, misdemeanor, or crime reflecting unfavorably upon the Grantee or the Company or any Affiliate; or

(g)    any material misconduct in violation of the Company’s or an Affiliate’s written policies regarding ethical standards, conduct in workplace or safety;

provided, however, that if the Grantee has a written employment or consulting agreement with the Company or any of its Affiliates or participates in any severance plan established by the Company that includes a definition of “cause,” Cause shall have the meaning set forth in such employment or consulting agreement or severance plan. The good faith determination by the Committee of whether a Grantee’s actions or omissions constitute grounds to terminate his or her service with the Company or an Affiliate for “Cause” shall be final and binding for all purposes hereunder.

2.7    “CEO” means the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

2.8    “Change in Control” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 16.4(e).

2.9    “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. References to a particular section of the Code include references to regulations and rulings thereunder and to successor provisions.

2.10    “Committee” or “Incentive Plan Committee” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a).

2.11    “Compensation Committee” means the compensation committee of the Board.

2.12    “Common Stock” means the common stock, $0.001 par value, of the Company.

2.13    “Corporate Transaction” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b).

2.14    “Deferred Stock” means a right, granted under Article 10, to receive Shares at the end of a specified deferral period.

2.15    “Disability” or “Disabled” means, unless otherwise defined in an Award Agreement, or as otherwise determined under procedures established by the Committee for purposes of the Plan:

(a)    Except as provided in (b) below, a disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code; and

 

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(b)    In the case of any Award that constitutes deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, a disability as defined in regulations under Code Section 409A. For purpose of Code Section 409A, a Grantee will be considered Disabled if:

(i)    the Grantee is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, or

(ii)    the Grantee is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Grantee’s employer.

2.16    “Dividend Equivalent” means a right to receive payments equal to dividends or property, if and when paid or distributed, on a specified number of Shares.

2.17    “Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.

2.18    “Eligible Person” means any individual who is an employee (including any officer) of, a non-employee consultant to, or a Non-Employee Director of, the Company or any Affiliate; provided, however, that solely with respect to the grant of an Incentive Stock Option, an Eligible Person shall be any employee (including any officer) of the Company or any Subsidiary Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Eligible Person shall also include an individual who is expected to become an employee to, non-employee consultant of or Non-Employee Director of the Company or any Affiliate within a reasonable period of time after the grant of an Award (other than an Incentive Stock Option); provided that any Award granted to any such individual shall be automatically terminated and cancelled without consideration if the individual does not begin performing services for the Company or any Affiliate within twelve (12) months after the Grant Date. Solely for purposes of Section 5.6(b), current or former employees or non-employee directors of, or consultants to, of an Acquired Entity who receive Substitute Awards in substitution for Acquired Entity Awards shall be considered Eligible Persons under this Plan with respect to such Substitute Awards.

2.19    “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time. References to a particular section of the Exchange Act include references to successor provisions.

2.20    “Exercise Price” means (a) with respect to an Option, the price at which a Share may be purchased by a Grantee pursuant to such Option or (b) with respect to an SAR, the price established at the time an SAR is granted pursuant to Article 7, which is used to determine the amount, if any, of the payment due to a Grantee upon exercise of the SAR.

2.21    “Fair Market Value” of a Share means a price that is based on the opening, closing, actual, high, low, or the arithmetic mean of selling prices of a Share reported on an established stock exchange which is the principal exchange upon which the Shares are traded on the applicable date or the preceding trading day. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, if the Shares are traded over the counter at the time a determination of its Fair Market Value is required to be made hereunder, Fair Market Value shall be deemed to be equal to the arithmetic mean between the reported high and low or closing bid and asked prices of a Share on the applicable date, or if no such trades were made that day then the most recent date on which Shares were publicly traded. In the event Shares are not publicly traded at the time a determination of their value is required to be made hereunder, the determination of their Fair Market Value shall be made by the Committee in such manner as it deems appropriate provided such manner is consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iv)(B).

2.22    “Grant Date” means the date on which an Award is granted or such later date as specified in advance by the Committee.

2.23    “Grantee” means a person who has been granted an Award.

 

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2.24    “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

2.25    “Including” or “includes” means “including, without limitation,” or “includes, without limitation,” respectively.

2.26    “Management Committee” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).

2.27    “Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company or any Affiliate.

2.28    “Option” means an option granted under Article 6 of the Plan.

2.29    “Other Stock-Based Award” means a right, granted under Article 13 hereof, that relates to or is valued by reference to Shares or other Awards relating to Shares.

2.30    “Performance Period” means, with respect to an Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units, the period of time during which the performance vesting conditions applicable to such Award must be satisfied.

2.31    “Performance Share” means any grant pursuant to Article 9 of a unit valued by reference to a designated number of Shares, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine, including cash, Shares, other property, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such performance goals during the Performance Period as the Committee shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.

2.32    “Performance Unit” means any grant pursuant to Article 9 of a unit valued by reference to a designated amount of property (including cash) other than Shares, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine, including cash, Shares, other property, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such performance goals during the Performance Period as the Committee shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.

2.33    “Period of Restriction” means the period during which Restricted Shares are subject to forfeiture if the conditions specified in the Award Agreement are not satisfied.

2.34    “Person” means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, association, corporation, institution, public benefit corporation, entity or government instrumentality, division, agency, body or department.

2.35    “Restricted Shares” means Shares, granted under Article 8, that are both subject to forfeiture and are nontransferable if the Grantee does not satisfy the conditions specified in the Award Agreement applicable to such Shares.

2.36    “Restricted Stock Units” are rights, granted under Article 10, to receive Shares if the Grantee satisfies the conditions specified in the Award Agreement applicable to such rights.

2.37    “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time, together with any successor rule.

2.38    “SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or any successor thereto.

2.39    “Section 16 Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who satisfies the requirements to qualify as a “non-employee director” under Rule 16b-3.

 

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2.40    “Section 16 Person” means a person who is subject to potential liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act with respect to transactions involving equity securities of the Company.

2.41    “Separation from Service” means, with respect to any Award that constitutes deferred compensation within the meaning of Code Section 409A, a “separation from service” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h). For this purpose, a “separation from service” is deemed to occur on the date that the Company and the Grantee reasonably anticipate that the level of bona fide services the Grantee would perform for the Company and/or any Affiliates after that date (whether as an employee, Non-Employee Director or consultant or independent contractor) would permanently decrease to a level that, based on the facts and circumstances, would constitute a separation from service; provided that a decrease to a level that is 50% or more of the average level of bona fide services provided over the prior 36 months shall not be a separation from service, and a decrease to a level that is 20% or less of the average level of such bona fide services shall be a separation from service. The Committee retains the right and discretion to specify, and may specify, whether a separation from service occurs with respect to those individuals who are performing services for the Company or an Affiliate immediately prior to an asset purchase transaction in which the Company or an Affiliate is the seller and who continue to perform services for the buyer (or an affiliate thereof) immediately following such asset purchase transaction; provided, such specification is made in accordance with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(4).

2.42    “Share” means a share of Common Stock, and such other securities of the Company, as may be substituted or resubstituted for Shares pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof.

2.43    “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means an Award granted under Article 7 of the Plan.

2.44    “Subsidiary Corporation” means a corporation other than the Company in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if, at the time of granting the Option, each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

2.45    “Surviving Company” means (a) the surviving corporation in any merger, consolidation or similar transaction, involving the Company (including the Company if the Company is the surviving corporation), (b) or the direct or indirect parent company of such surviving corporation or (c) the direct or indirect parent company of the Company following a sale of substantially all of the outstanding stock of the Company.

2.46    “Term” of any Option or SAR means the period beginning on the Grant Date of an Option or SAR and ending on the date such Option or SAR expires, terminates or is cancelled. No Option or SAR granted under this Plan shall have a Term exceeding 10 years

2.47    “Termination of Affiliation” occurs on the first day on which an individual is for any reason no longer performing services for the Company or any Affiliate in the capacity of an employee of, a non-employee consultant to, or a Non-Employee Director of, the Company or any Affiliate (other than an Eligible Person who is on a bona fide leave of absence) or with respect to an individual who is an employee of, a non-employee consultant to or a Non-Employee Director of an Affiliate, the first day on which such entity ceases to be an Affiliate of the Company unless such individual continues to perform Services for the Company or another Affiliate without interruption after such entity ceases to be an Affiliate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Award constitutes deferred compensation within the meaning of Code Section 409A, Termination of Affiliation with respect to such Award shall mean the Grantee’s Separation from Service.

 

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Article 3.

Administration

3.1    Committee.

(a)    Subject to Article 14, and to Section 3.2, the Plan shall be administered by a Committee (the “Incentive Plan Committee” or the “Committee”) of directors of the Company appointed by the Board from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either the Board or the Compensation Committee may at any time and in one or more instances reserve administrative powers to itself as the Committee or exercise any of the administrative powers of the Committee. The number of members of the Committee may from time to time be increased or decreased as the Board or Compensation Committee deems appropriate. To the extent the Board or Compensation Committee considers it desirable to comply with Rule 16b-3, the Committee shall consist of two or more directors of the Company, all of whom qualify as Section 16 Non-Employee Directors.

(b)    The Board or the Compensation Committee may appoint and delegate to another committee (“Management Committee”), or to the CEO, any or all of the authority of the Board or the Committee, as applicable, with respect to Awards to Grantees other than Grantees who are executive officers, Non-Employee Directors, or Section 16 Persons at the time any such delegated authority is exercised.

(c)    Unless the context requires otherwise, any references herein to “Committee” include references to the Incentive Plan Committee, the Board or the Compensation Committee to the extent Incentive Plan Committee, the Board or the Compensation Committee, as applicable, has assumed or exercises administrative powers itself as the Committee pursuant to subsection (a), and to the Management Committee or the CEO to the extent either has been delegated authority pursuant to subsection (b), as applicable; provided that (i) for purposes of Awards to Non-Employee Directors, “Committee” shall include only the full Board, and (ii) for purposes of Awards intended to comply with Rule 16b-3, the “Committee” shall include only the Incentive Plan Committee or the Compensation Committee.

3.2    Powers of Committee. Subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan (including Article 14), the Committee has full and final authority and sole discretion as follows; provided that any such authority or discretion exercised with respect to a specific Non-Employee Director shall be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Board, even if not a quorum, but excluding the Non-Employee Director with respect to whom such authority or discretion is exercised:

(a)    to determine when, to whom and in what types and amounts Awards should be granted;

(b)    to grant Awards to Eligible Persons in any number and to determine the terms and conditions applicable to each Award (including the number of Shares or the amount of cash or other property to which an Award will relate, any Exercise Price or purchase price, any limitation or restriction, any schedule for or performance conditions relating to the earning of the Award or the lapse of limitations, forfeiture restrictions, restrictions on exercisability or transferability, any performance goals including those relating to the Company and/or an Affiliate and/or any division thereof and/or an individual, and/or vesting based on the passage of time, based in each case on such considerations as the Committee shall determine);

(c)    to determine the benefit payable under any Performance Unit, Performance Share, Dividend Equivalent, Other Stock-Based Award or Cash Incentive Award and to determine whether any performance or vesting conditions have been satisfied;

(d)    to determine whether or not specific Awards shall be granted in connection with other specific Awards, and if so, whether they shall be exercisable cumulatively with, or alternatively to, such other specific Awards and all other matters to be determined in connection with an Award;

(e)    to determine the Term of any Option or SAR;

(f)    to determine the amount, if any, that a Grantee shall pay for Restricted Shares, whether to permit or require the payment of cash dividends thereon to be deferred and the terms related thereto, when

 

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Restricted Shares (including Restricted Shares acquired upon the exercise of an Option) shall be forfeited and whether such shares shall be held in escrow;

(g)    to determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in, cash, Shares, other Awards or other property, or an Award may be accelerated, vested, canceled, forfeited or surrendered or any terms of the Award may be waived, and to accelerate the exercisability of, and to accelerate or waive any or all of the terms and conditions applicable to, any Award or any group of Awards for any reason and at any time;

(h)    to determine with respect to Awards granted to Eligible Persons whether, to what extent and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other Awards, other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award will be deferred, either at the election of the Grantee or automatically pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement;

(i)    to offer to exchange or buy out any previously granted Award for a payment in cash, Shares or other Award;

(j)    to construe and interpret the Plan and to make all determinations, including factual determinations, necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan;

(k)    to make, amend, suspend, waive and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan;

(l)    to appoint such agents as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;

(m)    to determine the terms and conditions of all Award Agreements applicable to Eligible Persons (which need not be identical) and, with the consent of the Grantee, to amend any such Award Agreement at any time, among other things, to permit transfers of such Awards to the extent permitted by the Plan; provided that the consent of the Grantee shall not be required for any amendment (i) which does not adversely affect the rights of the Grantee, or (ii) which is necessary or advisable (as determined by the Committee) to carry out the purpose of the Award as a result of any new applicable law or change in an existing applicable law, or (iii) to the extent the Award Agreement specifically permits amendment without consent;

(n)    to cancel, with the consent of the Grantee, outstanding Awards and to grant new Awards in substitution therefor;

(o)    to impose such additional terms and conditions upon the grant, exercise or retention of Awards as the Committee may, before or concurrently with the grant thereof, deem appropriate, including limiting the percentage of Awards which may from time to time be exercised by a Grantee;

(p)    to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including events described in Section 4.2) affecting the Company or an Affiliate or the financial statements of the Company or an Affiliate, or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles;

(q)    to correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency, and to construe and interpret the Plan, the rules and regulations, and Award Agreement or any other instrument entered into or relating to an Award under the Plan; and

(r)    to take any other action with respect to any matters relating to the Plan for which it is responsible and to make all other decisions and determinations as may be required under the terms of the Plan or as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

Any action of the Committee with respect to the Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, its Affiliates, any Grantee, any person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any Grantee, and stockholders, except to the extent the Committee may subsequently modify, or take further action not consistent with, its prior action. If not specified in the Plan, the time at which the Committee must or may make any determination shall be determined by the Committee, and any such determination may

 

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thereafter be modified by the Committee. The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee. Subject to Section 3.1(b), the Committee may delegate to officers of the Company or any Affiliate the authority, subject to such terms as the Committee shall determine, to perform specified functions under the Plan.

3.3    No Repricings. Notwithstanding any provision in Section 3.2 to the contrary, the terms of any outstanding Option or SAR may not be amended to reduce the Exercise Price of such Option or SAR or cancel any outstanding Option or SAR in exchange for other Options or SARs with an Exercise Price that is less than the Exercise Price of the cancelled Option or SAR or for any cash payment (or Shares having with a Fair Market Value) in an amount that exceeds the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Shares underlying such cancelled Option or SAR over the aggregate Exercise Price of such Option or SAR or for any other Award, without stockholder approval; provided, however, that the restrictions set forth in this Section 3.3, shall not apply (i) unless the Company has a class of stock that is registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act or (ii) to any adjustment allowed under to Section  4.2.

Article 4.

Shares Subject to the Plan

4.1    Number of Shares Available for Grants. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2 and except as provided in Section 5.6(b), the maximum number of Shares hereby reserved for delivery under the Plan shall be 4,000,000 Shares. Up to a maximum of 4,000,000 Shares may be delivered pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options granted hereunder.

If any Shares subject to an Award granted hereunder (other than a Substitute Award granted pursuant to Section 5.6(b)) are forfeited or such Award otherwise terminates without payment or delivery of such Shares or if such Award is settled in cash, the Shares subject to such Award, to the extent of any such forfeiture, termination or cash settlement, shall again be available for grant under the Plan. In the event that any Option or other Award granted hereunder is exercised through the tendering of Shares (either actually or by attestation) or by the withholding of Shares by the Company, or withholding tax liabilities arising from such option or other award are satisfied by the tendering of Shares (either actually or by attestation) or by the withholding of Shares by the Company, then only the number of Shares issued net of the Shares tendered or withheld shall be counted for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares available for grant under the Plan.

The number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan may not be increased through the Company’s purchase of Shares on the open market with the proceeds obtained from the exercise of any Options granted hereunder.

Shares delivered pursuant to the Plan may be, in whole or in part, authorized and unissued Shares, or treasury Shares, including Shares repurchased by the Company for purposes of the Plan.

4.2    Adjustments in Authorized Shares and Awards; Corporate Transaction, Liquidation or Dissolution.

(a)    Adjustment in Authorized Shares and Awards. In the event that the Committee determines that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, or other property), recapitalization, forward or reverse stock split, subdivision, consolidation or reduction of capital, reorganization, merger, consolidation, scheme of arrangement, split-up, spin-off or combination involving the Company or repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares such that any adjustment is determined by the Committee to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the Committee shall,

 

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in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the number and type of Shares (or other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted, (ii) the number and type of Shares (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, (iii) the Exercise Price with respect to any Option or SAR or, if deemed appropriate, make provision for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding Award, and (iv) the number and kind of Shares of outstanding Restricted Shares, or the Shares underlying any other form of Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such adjustment shall be authorized with respect to any Options or SARs to the extent that such adjustment would cause the Option or SAR to violate Section 424(a) of the Code or otherwise subject any Grantee to taxation under Section 409A of the Code; and provided further that the number of Shares subject to any Award denominated in Shares shall always be a whole number.

(b)    Merger, Consolidation or Similar Corporate Transaction. In the event of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation or a sale of substantially all of the stock of the Company (a “Corporate Transaction”), unless an outstanding Award is assumed by the Surviving Company or replaced with an equivalent Award granted by the Surviving Company in substitution for such outstanding Award, the Committee shall cancel any outstanding Awards that are not vested and nonforfeitable as of the consummation of such Corporate Transaction (unless the Committee accelerates the vesting of any such Awards) and with respect to any vested and nonforfeitable Awards, the Committee may either (i) allow all Grantees to exercise such Awards of Options and SARs within a reasonable period prior to the consummation of the Corporate Transaction and cancel any outstanding Options or SARs that remain unexercised upon consummation of the Corporate Transaction, or (ii) cancel any or all of such outstanding Awards in exchange for a payment (in cash, or in securities or other property) in an amount equal to the amount that the Grantee would have received (net of the Exercise Price with respect to any Options or SARs) if such vested Awards were settled or distributed or such vested Options and SARs were exercised immediately prior to the consummation of the Corporate Transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Option or SAR is not assumed by the Surviving Company or replaced with an equivalent Award issued by the Surviving Company and the Exercise Price with respect to any outstanding Option or SAR exceeds the Fair Market Value of the Shares immediately prior to the consummation of the Corporation Transaction, such Awards shall be cancelled without any payment to the Grantee.

(c)    Liquidation or Dissolution of the Company. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, each Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action, unless otherwise provided by the Committee. Additionally, the Committee may, in the exercise of its sole discretion, cause Awards to be vested and non-forfeitable and cause any conditions on any such Award to lapse, as to all or any part of such Award, including Shares as to which the Award would not otherwise be exercisable or non-forfeitable and allow all Grantees to exercise such Awards of Options and SARs within a reasonable period prior to the consummation of such proposed action. Any Awards that remain unexercised upon consummation of such proposed action shall be cancelled.

(d)    Deferred Compensation. Notwithstanding the forgoing provisions of this Section 4.2, if an Award constitutes deferred compensation within the meaning of Code Section 409A, no payment or settlement of such Award shall be made pursuant to Section 4.2(b) or (c), unless the Corporate Transaction or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, as applicable, constitutes a Change in Control.

Article 5.

Eligibility and General Conditions of Awards

5.1    Eligibility. The Committee may in its discretion grant Awards to any Eligible Person, whether or not he or she has previously received an Award; provided, however, that all Awards made to Non-Employee Directors shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion.

5.2    Award Agreement. To the extent not set forth in the Plan, the terms and conditions of each Award shall be set forth in an Award Agreement.

 

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5.3    General Terms and Termination of Affiliation. The Committee may impose on any Award or the exercise or settlement thereof, at the date of grant or, subject to the provisions of Section 15.2, thereafter, such additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as the Committee shall determine, including terms requiring forfeiture, acceleration or pro-rata acceleration of Awards in the event of a Termination of Affiliation by the Grantee. Except as may be required under the Delaware General Corporation Law, Awards may be granted for no consideration other than prior and future services. Except as set forth in an Award Agreement or as otherwise determined by the Committee, (a) all Options and SARs that are not vested and exercisable at the time of a Grantee’s Termination of Affiliation, and any other Awards that remain subject to a risk of forfeiture or which are not otherwise vested at the time of the Grantee’s Termination of Affiliation shall be forfeited to the Company unless the Committee accelerates vesting of such Awards within thirty (30) days after such Grantee’s Termination of Affiliation and (b) all outstanding Options and SARs not previously exercised shall expire three months after the Grantee’s Termination of Affiliation.

5.4    Nontransferability of Awards.

(a)    Each Award and each right under any Award shall be exercisable only by the Grantee during the Grantee’s lifetime, or, if permissible under applicable law, by the Grantee’s guardian or legal representative or by a transferee receiving such Award pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order (a “QDRO”) as defined in the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or the rules thereunder.

(b)    No Award (prior to the time, if applicable, Shares are delivered in respect of such Award), and no right under any Award, may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Grantee otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution (or in the case of Restricted Shares, to the Company) or pursuant to a QDRO, and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate; provided that the designation of a beneficiary to receive benefits in the event of the Grantee’s death shall not constitute an assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance.

(c)    Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) above, to the extent provided in the Award Agreement or as otherwise approved by the Committee, Options (other than Incentive Stock Options) and Restricted Shares, may be transferred, without consideration, to a Permitted Transferee. For this purpose, a “Permitted Transferee” in respect of any Grantee means any member of the Immediate Family of such Grantee, any trust of which all of the primary beneficiaries are such Grantee or members of his or her Immediate Family, or any partnership (including limited liability companies and similar entities) of which all of the partners or members are such Grantee or members of his or her Immediate Family; and the “Immediate Family” of a Grantee means the Grantee’s spouse, children, stepchildren, grandchildren, parents, stepparents, siblings, grandparents, nieces and nephews. Such Option may be exercised by such transferee in accordance with the terms of the Award Agreement. If so determined by the Committee, a Grantee may, in the manner established by the Committee, designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise the rights of the Grantee, and to receive any distribution with respect to any Award upon the death of the Grantee. A transferee, beneficiary, guardian, legal representative or other person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any Grantee shall be subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, except to the extent the Plan and Award Agreement otherwise provide with respect to such persons, and to any additional restrictions or limitations deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.

(d)    Nothing herein shall be construed as requiring the Committee to honor a QDRO except to the extent required under applicable law.

5.5    Cancellation and Rescission of Awards. Unless the Award Agreement specifies otherwise, the Committee may cancel, rescind, suspend, withhold, or otherwise limit or restrict any unexercised Award at any time if the Grantee is not in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan or if the Grantee has a Termination of Affiliation.

 

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5.6    Stand-Alone, Tandem and Substitute Awards.

(a)    Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution for, any other Award granted under the Plan unless such tandem or substitution Award would subject the Grantee to tax penalties imposed under Section 409A of the Code. If an Award is granted in substitution for another Award or any non-Plan award or benefit, the Committee shall require the surrender of such other Award or non-Plan award or benefit in consideration for the grant of the new Award. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards or non-Plan awards or benefits may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or non-Plan awards or benefits; provided, however, that if any SAR is granted in tandem with an Incentive Stock Option, such SAR and Incentive Stock Option must have the same Grant Date, Term and the Exercise Price of the SAR may not be less than the Exercise Price of the Incentive Stock Option.

(b)    The Committee may, in its discretion and on such terms and conditions as the Committee considers appropriate in the circumstances, grant Awards under the Plan (“Substitute Awards”) in substitution for stock and stock-based awards (“Acquired Entity Awards”) held by current or former employees or non-employee directors of, or consultants to, another corporation or entity who become Eligible Persons as the result of a merger or consolidation of the employing corporation or other entity (the “Acquired Entity”) with the Company or an Affiliate or the acquisition by the Company or an Affiliate of property or stock of the Acquired Entity immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or acquisition in order to preserve for the Grantee the economic value of all or a portion of such Acquired Entity Award at such price as the Committee determines necessary to achieve preservation of economic value. The limitations in Section 4.1 on the number of Shares reserved or available for grants shall not apply to Substitute Awards granted under this Section 5.6(b).

5.7    Compliance with Rule 16b-3.

(a)    Six-Month Holding Period Advice. Unless a Grantee could otherwise dispose of or exercise a derivative security or dispose of Shares delivered under the Plan without incurring liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the Committee may advise or require a Grantee to comply with the following in order to avoid incurring liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act: (i) at least six months must elapse from the date of acquisition of a derivative security under the Plan to the date of disposition of the derivative security (other than upon exercise or conversion) or its underlying equity security, and (ii) Shares granted or awarded under the Plan other than upon exercise or conversion of a derivative security must be held for at least six months from the date of grant of an Award.

(b)    Reformation to Comply with Exchange Act Rules. To the extent the Committee determines that a grant or other transaction by a Section 16 Person should comply with applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 (except for transactions exempted under alternative Exchange Act rules), the Committee shall take such actions as necessary to make such grant or other transaction so comply, and if any provision of this Plan or any Award Agreement relating to a given Award does not comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 as then applicable to any such grant or transaction, such provision will be construed or deemed amended, if the Committee so determines, to the extent necessary to conform to the then applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3.

(c)    Rule 16b-3 Administration. Any function relating to a Section 16 Person shall be performed solely by the Committee or the Board if necessary to ensure compliance with applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3, to the extent the Committee determines that such compliance is desired. Each member of the Committee or person acting on behalf of the Committee shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him by any officer, manager or other employee of the Company or any Affiliate, the Company’s independent certified public accountants or any executive compensation consultant or attorney or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan.

 

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5.8    Deferral of Award Payouts. The Committee may permit a Grantee to defer, or if and to the extent specified in an Award Agreement require the Grantee to defer, receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that would otherwise be due by virtue of the lapse or waiver of restrictions with respect to Restricted Stock Units, the satisfaction of any requirements or goals with respect to Performance Units or Performance Shares, the lapse or waiver of the deferral period for Deferred Stock, or the lapse or waiver of restrictions with respect to Other Stock-Based Awards or Cash Incentive Awards. If the Committee permits such deferrals, the Committee shall establish rules and procedures for making such deferral elections and for the payment of such deferrals, which shall conform in form and substance with applicable regulations promulgated under Section 409A of the Code and Article 16 to ensure that the Grantee is not subjected to tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code with respect to such deferrals. Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, any payment or any Shares that are subject to such deferral shall be made or delivered to the Grantee as specified in the Award Agreement or pursuant to the Grantee’s deferral election.

Article 6.

Stock Options

6.1    Grant of Options. Subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan, Options may be granted to any Eligible Person in such number, and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee.

6.2    Award Agreement. Each Option grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Exercise Price, the Term of the Option, the number of Shares to which the Option pertains, the time or times at which such Option shall be exercisable and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine.

6.3    Option Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of an Option under this Plan shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee but may not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date.

6.4    Grant of Incentive Stock Options. At the time of the grant of any Option, the Committee may in its discretion designate that such Option shall be made subject to additional restrictions to permit it to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. Any Option designated as an Incentive Stock Option:

(a)    shall be granted only to an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary Corporation;

(b)    shall have an Exercise Price of not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date, and, if granted to a person who owns capital stock (including stock treated as owned under Section 424(d) of the Code) possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary Corporation (a “More Than 10% Owner”), have an Exercise Price not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on its Grant Date;

(c)    shall be for a period of not more than 10 years (five years if the Grantee is a More Than 10% Owner) from its Grant Date, and shall be subject to earlier termination as provided herein or in the applicable Award Agreement;

(d)    shall not have an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the Grant Date) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options (whether granted under the Plan or any other stock option plan of the Grantee’s employer or any parent or Subsidiary Corporation (“Other Plans”)) are exercisable for the first time by such Grantee during any calendar year (“Current Grant”), determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code, which exceeds $100,000 (the “$100,000 Limit”);

(e)    shall, if the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares (determined on the Grant Date) with respect to the Current Grant and all Incentive Stock Options previously granted under the Plan and any Other Plans which are exercisable for the first time during a calendar year (“Prior Grants”) would exceed the $100,000 Limit, be, as to the portion in excess of the $100,000 Limit, exercisable as a separate option that is not an Incentive Stock Option at such date or dates as are provided in the Current Grant;

 

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(f)    shall require the Grantee to notify the Committee of any disposition of any Shares delivered pursuant to the exercise of the Incentive Stock Option under the circumstances described in Section 421(b) of the Code (relating to holding periods and certain disqualifying dispositions) (“Disqualifying Disposition”) within 10 days of such a Disqualifying Disposition;

(g)    shall by its terms not be assignable or transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and may be exercised, during the Grantee’s lifetime, only by the Grantee; provided, however, that the Grantee may, to the extent provided in the Plan in any manner specified by the Committee, designate in writing a beneficiary to exercise his or her Incentive Stock Option after the Grantee’s death; and

(h)    shall, if such Option nevertheless fails to meet the foregoing requirements, or otherwise fails to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code for an Incentive Stock Option, be treated for all purposes of this Plan, except as otherwise provided in subsections (d) and (e) above, as an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

Notwithstanding the foregoing and Section 3.2, the Committee may, without the consent of the Grantee, at any time before the exercise of an Option (whether or not an Incentive Stock Option), take any action necessary to prevent such Option from being treated as an Incentive Stock Option.

6.5    Payment of Exercise Price. Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, Options shall be exercised by the delivery of a written notice of exercise to the Company, setting forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, accompanied by full payment for the Shares made by any one or more of the following means:

(a)    cash, personal check or wire transfer;

(b)    with the approval of the Committee, delivery of Common Stock owned by the Grantee prior to exercise, valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise;

(c)    with the approval of the Committee, Shares acquired upon the exercise of such Option, such Shares valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise;

(d)    with the approval of the Committee, Restricted Shares held by the Grantee prior to the exercise of the Option, valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise; or

(e)    subject to applicable law (including the prohibited loan provisions of Section 402 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002), through the sale of the Shares acquired on exercise of the Option through a broker-dealer to whom the Grantee has submitted an irrevocable notice of exercise and irrevocable instructions to deliver promptly to the Company the amount of sale proceeds sufficient to pay for such Shares, together with, if requested by the Company, the amount of federal, state, local or foreign withholding taxes payable by Grantee by reason of such exercise.

The Committee may in its discretion specify that, if any Restricted Shares (“Tendered Restricted Shares”) are used to pay the Exercise Price, (x) all the Shares acquired on exercise of the Option shall be subject to the same restrictions as the Tendered Restricted Shares, determined as of the date of exercise of the Option, or (y) a number of Shares acquired on exercise of the Option equal to the number of Tendered Restricted Shares shall be subject to the same restrictions as the Tendered Restricted Shares, determined as of the date of exercise of the Option.

Article 7.

Stock Appreciation Rights

7.1    Issuance. Subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant SARs to any Eligible Person either alone or in addition to other Awards granted

 

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under the Plan. Such SARs may, but need not, be granted in connection with a specific Option granted under Article 6. The Committee may impose such conditions or restrictions on the exercise of any SAR as it shall deem appropriate.

7.2    Award Agreements. Each SAR grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in such form as the Committee may approve and shall contain such terms and conditions not inconsistent with other provisions of the Plan as shall be determined from time to time by the Committee.

7.3    SAR Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of a SAR shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion; provided that the Exercise Price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of the grant of the SAR.

7.4    Exercise and Payment. Upon the exercise of an SAR, a Grantee shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying:

(a)    The excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price; by

(b)    The number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised.

SARs shall be deemed exercised on the date written notice of exercise in a form acceptable to the Committee is received by the Secretary of the Company. The Company shall make payment in respect of any SAR within five (5) days of the date the SAR is exercised. Any payment by the Company in respect of a SAR may be made in cash, Shares, other property, or any combination thereof, as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine or, to the extent permitted under the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, at the election of the Grantee.

Article 8.

Restricted Shares

8.1    Grant of Restricted Shares. Subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Restricted Shares to any Eligible Person in such amounts as the Committee shall determine.

8.2    Award Agreement. Each grant of Restricted Shares shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Period(s) of Restriction, the number of Restricted Shares granted, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine. The Committee may impose such conditions and/or restrictions on any Restricted Shares granted pursuant to the Plan as it may deem advisable, including restrictions based upon the achievement of specific performance goals, time-based restrictions on vesting following the attainment of the performance goals, and/or restrictions under applicable securities laws; provided that such conditions and/or restrictions may lapse, if so determined by the Committee, in the event of the Grantee’s Termination of Affiliation due to death, Disability, or involuntary termination by the Company or an Affiliate without Cause.

8.3    Consideration for Restricted Shares. The Committee shall determine the amount, if any, that a Grantee shall pay for Restricted Shares.

8.4    Effect of Forfeiture. If Restricted Shares are forfeited, and if the Grantee was required to pay for such shares or acquired such Restricted Shares upon the exercise of an Option, the Grantee shall be deemed to have resold such Restricted Shares to the Company at a price equal to the lesser of (x) the amount paid by the Grantee for such Restricted Shares, or (y) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of such forfeiture. The Company shall pay to the Grantee the deemed sale price as soon as is administratively practical. Such Restricted Shares shall cease to be outstanding and shall no longer confer on the Grantee thereof any rights as a stockholder of the Company, from and after the date of the event causing the forfeiture, whether or not the Grantee accepts the Company’s tender of payment for such Restricted Shares.

 

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8.5    Escrow; Legends. The Committee may provide that the certificates for any Restricted Shares (x) shall be held (together with a stock power executed in blank by the Grantee) in escrow by the Secretary of the Company until such Restricted Shares become nonforfeitable or are forfeited and/or (y) shall bear an appropriate legend restricting the transfer of such Restricted Shares under the Plan. If any Restricted Shares become nonforfeitable, the Company shall cause certificates for such shares to be delivered without such legend.

Article 9.

Performance Units and Performance Shares

9.1    Grant of Performance Units and Performance Shares. Subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan, Performance Units or Performance Shares may be granted to any Eligible Person in such amounts and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee.

9.2    Value/Performance Goals. The Committee shall set performance goals in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number or value of Performance Units or Performance Shares that will be paid to the Grantee.

(a)    Performance Unit. Each Performance Unit shall have an initial value that is established by the Committee at the time of grant.

(b)    Performance Share. Each Performance Share shall have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.

9.3    Earning of Performance Units and Performance Shares. After the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Units or Performance Shares shall be entitled to payment based on the level of achievement of performance goals set by the Committee.

At the discretion of the Committee, the settlement of Performance Units or Performance Shares may be in cash, Shares of equivalent value, or in some combination thereof, as set forth in the Award Agreement.

If a Grantee is promoted, demoted or transferred to a different business unit of the Company during a Performance Period, then, to the extent the Committee determines that the Award, the performance goals, or the Performance Period are no longer appropriate, the Committee may adjust, change, eliminate or cancel the Award, the performance goals, or the applicable Performance Period, as it deems appropriate in order to make them appropriate and comparable to the initial Award, the performance goals, or the Performance Period.

At the discretion of the Committee, a Grantee may be entitled to receive any dividends or Dividend Equivalents declared with respect to Shares deliverable in connection with vested Performance Shares which have been earned, but not yet delivered to the Grantee.

Article 10.

Deferred Stock and Restricted Stock Units

10.1    Grant of Deferred Stock and Restricted Stock Units. Subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Deferred Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units to any Eligible Person, in such amount and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine. Deferred Stock must conform in form and substance with applicable regulations promulgated under Section 409A of the Code and with Article 16 to ensure that the Grantee is not subjected to tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code with respect to such Deferred Stock.

 

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10.2    Vesting and Delivery.

(a)    Delivery with Respect to Deferred Stock. Delivery of Shares subject to a Deferred Stock grant will occur upon expiration of the deferral period or upon the occurrence of one or more of the distribution events described in Section 409A(a)(2) of the Code as specified by the Committee in the Grantee’s Award Agreement for the Award of Deferred Stock. An Award of Deferred Stock may be subject to such substantial risk of forfeiture conditions as the Committee may impose, which conditions may lapse at such times or upon the achievement of such objectives as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant or thereafter. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, to the extent that the Grantee has a Termination of Affiliation while the Deferred Stock remains subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, such Deferred Shares shall be forfeited, unless the Committee determines that such substantial risk of forfeiture shall lapse in the event of the Grantee’s Termination of Affiliation due to death, Disability, or involuntary termination by the Company or an Affiliate without “cause.”

(b)    Delivery with Respect to Restricted Stock Units. Delivery of Shares subject to a grant of Restricted Stock Units shall occur no later than the 15th day of the third month following the end of the taxable year of the Grantee or the fiscal year of the Company in which the Grantee’s rights under such Restricted Stock Units are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture as defined in final regulations under Section 409A of the Code. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, to the extent that the Grantee has a Termination of Affiliation while the Restricted Stock Units remains subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, such Restricted Stock Units shall be forfeited, unless the Committee determines that such substantial risk of forfeiture shall lapse in the event of the Grantee’s Termination of Affiliation due to death, Disability, or involuntary termination by the Company or an Affiliate without “cause.”

10.3    Voting and Dividend Equivalent Rights Attributable to Deferred Stock and Restricted Stock Units. A Grantee awarded Deferred Stock or Restricted Stock Units will have no voting rights with respect to such Deferred Stock or Restricted Stock Units prior to the delivery of Shares in settlement of such Deferred Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, a Grantee will have the rights to receive Dividend Equivalents in respect of Deferred Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units, which Dividend Equivalents shall be deemed reinvested in additional Shares of Deferred Stock or Restricted Stock Units, as applicable, which shall remain subject to the same forfeiture conditions applicable to the Deferred Stock or Restricted Stock Units to which such Dividend Equivalents relate.

Article 11.

Dividend Equivalents

The Committee is authorized to grant Awards of Dividend Equivalents alone or in conjunction with other Awards. The Committee may provide that Dividend Equivalents shall be paid or distributed when accrued or shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares or additional Awards or otherwise reinvested subject to distribution at the same time and subject to the same conditions as the Award to which it relates; provided, however, that any Dividend Equivalents granted in conjunction with any Award that is subject to forfeiture conditions shall remain subject to the same forfeiture conditions applicable to the Award to which such Dividend Equivalents relate and any payments in respect of any Dividend Equivalents granted in conjunction with any Options or SARs may not be conditioned, directly or indirectly, on the Grantee’s exercise of the Options or SARs or paid at the same time that the Options or SARs are exercised. The timing of payment or distribution of Dividend Equivalents must comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

Article 12.

Bonus Shares

Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee may grant Bonus Shares to any Eligible Person, in such amount and upon such terms and at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee.

 

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Article 13.

Other Stock-Based Awards

The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant such other Awards that are denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Shares, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan, including Shares awarded which are not subject to any restrictions or conditions, convertible or exchangeable debt securities or other rights convertible or exchangeable into Shares, and Awards valued by reference to the value of securities of or the performance of specified Affiliates. Subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards. Except as provided by the Committee, Shares delivered pursuant to a purchase right granted under this Article 13 shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for by such methods and in such forms, including cash, Shares, outstanding Awards or other property, as the Committee shall determine.

Article 14.

Non-Employee Director Awards

Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Board may grant Awards to any Non-Employee Director, in such amount and upon such terms and at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the full Board in its sole discretion. Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.6(b), a Non-Employee Director may not be granted Awards with respect to Shares that have a Fair Market Value (determined as of the date of grant) in excess of $250,000 in a single calendar year.

Article 15.

Amendment, Modification, and Termination

15.1    Amendment, Modification, and Termination. Subject to Section 15.2, the Board may, at any time and from time to time, alter, amend, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan in whole or in part without the approval of the Company’s stockholders, except that (a) any amendment or alteration shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders if such stockholder approval is required by any federal or state law or regulation or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares may then be listed or quoted, and (b) the Board may otherwise, in its discretion, determine to submit other such amendments or alterations to stockholders for approval.

15.2    Awards Previously Granted. Except as otherwise specifically permitted in the Plan or an Award Agreement, no termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted under the Plan, without the written consent of the Grantee of such Award.

Article 16.

Compliance with Code Section 409A

16.1    Awards Subject to Code Section 409A. The provisions of this Article 16 shall apply to any Award or portion thereof that is or becomes deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A (a “409A Award”), notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in the Plan or the Award Agreement applicable to such Award.

16.2    Deferral and/or Distribution Elections. Except as otherwise permitted or required by Code Section 409A, the following rules shall apply to any deferral and/or elections as to the form or timing of

 

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distributions (each, an “Election”) that may be permitted or required by the Committee with respect to a 409A Award:

(a)    Any Election must be in writing and specify the amount being deferred, and the time and form of distribution (i.e., lump sum or installments) as permitted by this Plan. An Election may but need not specify whether payment will be made in cash, Shares or other property.

(b)    Any Election shall become irrevocable as of the deadline specified by the Committee, which shall not be later than December 31 of the year preceding the year in which services relating to the Award commence; provided, however, that if the Award qualifies as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A and is based on services performed over a period of at least twelve (12) months, then the deadline may be no later than six (6) months prior to the end of such Performance Period.

(c)    Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, an Election shall continue in effect until a written election to revoke or change such Election is received by the Committee, prior to the last day for making an Election for the subsequent year.

16.3    Subsequent Elections. Except as otherwise permitted or required by Code Section 409A, any 409A Award which permits a subsequent Election to further defer the distribution or change the form of distribution shall comply with the following requirements:

(a)    No subsequent Election may take effect until at least twelve (12) months after the date on which the subsequent Election is made;

(b)    Each subsequent Election related to a distribution upon separation from service, a specified time, or a Change in Control must result in a delay of the distribution for a period of not less than five (5) years from the date such distribution would otherwise have been made; and

(c)    No subsequent Election related to a distribution to be made at a specified time or pursuant to a fixed schedule shall be made less than twelve (12)  months prior to the date the first scheduled payment would otherwise be made.

16.4     Distributions Pursuant to Deferral Elections. Except as otherwise permitted or required by Code Section 409A, no distribution in settlement of a 409A Award may commence earlier than:

(a)    Separation from Service;

(b)    The date the Participant becomes Disabled (as defined in Section 2.15(b);

(c)    The Participant’s death;

(d)    A specified time (or pursuant to a fixed schedule) that is either (i) specified by the Committee upon the grant of the Award and set forth in the Award Agreement or (ii) specified by the Grantee in an Election complying with the requirements of Section 16.2 and/or 16.3, as applicable; or

(e)    A change in ownership of the Company or a substantial portion of its assets within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(v) or (vii) or a change in effective control of the Company within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(vi) (a “Change in Control”).

16.5    Six Month Delay. Notwithstanding anything herein or in any Award Agreement or Election to the contrary, to the extent that distribution of a 409A Award is triggered by a Grantee’s Separation from Service, if the Grantee is then a “specified employee” (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i)), no distribution may be made before the date which is six (6) months after such Grantee’s Separation from Service, or, if earlier, the date of the Grantee’s death.

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amounts, to the extent vested, shall be distributed as provided in the Participants Election. If the Participant has made no Election with respect to distributions upon death or Disability, all such distributions shall be paid in a lump sum within 90 days following the date of the Participant’s death or Disability.

16.7    No Acceleration of Distributions. This Plan does not permit the acceleration of the time or schedule of any distribution under a 409A Award, except as provided by Code Section 409A and/or applicable regulations or rulings issued thereunder.

Article 17.

Withholding

17.1    Required Withholding.

(a)    The Committee in its sole discretion may provide that when taxes are to be withheld in connection with the exercise of an Option or SAR, or upon the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Shares, or upon the transfer of Shares, or upon payment of any other benefit or right under this Plan (the date on which such exercise occurs or such restrictions lapse or such payment of any other benefit or right occurs hereinafter referred to as the “Tax Date”), the Grantee may elect to make payment for the withholding of federal, state and local taxes, including Social Security and Medicare (“FICA”) taxes by one or a combination of the following methods:

(i)    payment of an amount in cash equal to the amount to be withheld (including cash obtained through the sale of the Shares acquired on exercise of an Option or SAR, upon the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Shares, or upon the transfer of Shares, through a broker-dealer to whom the Grantee has submitted an irrevocable instructions to deliver promptly to the Company, the amount to be withheld);

(ii)    delivering part or all of the amount to be withheld in the form of Common Stock valued at its Fair Market Value on the Tax Date;

(iii)    requesting the Company to withhold from those Shares that would otherwise be received upon exercise of the Option or SAR, upon the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock, or upon the transfer of Shares, a number of Shares having a Fair Market Value on the Tax Date equal to the amount to be withheld; or

(iv)    withholding from any compensation otherwise due to the Grantee.

The Committee in its sole discretion may provide that the maximum amount of tax withholding upon exercise of an Option or SARs, upon the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Shares, or upon the transfer of Shares, to be satisfied by withholding Shares upon exercise of such Option or SAR, upon the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Shares, or upon the transfer of Shares, pursuant to clause (iii) above shall not exceed the minimum amount of taxes, including FICA taxes, required to be withheld under federal, state and local law. An election by Grantee under this subsection is irrevocable. Any fractional share amount and any additional withholding not paid by the withholding or surrender of Shares must be paid in cash. If no timely election is made, the Grantee must deliver cash to satisfy all tax withholding requirements.

(b)    Any Grantee who makes a Disqualifying Disposition (as defined in Section 6.4(f)) or an election under Section 83(b) of the Code shall remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy all resulting tax withholding requirements in the same manner as set forth in subsection (a).

17.2    Notification under Code Section 83(b). If the Grantee, in connection with the exercise of any Option, or the grant of Restricted Shares, makes the election permitted under Section 83(b) of the Code to include in such Grantee’s gross income in the year of transfer the amounts specified in Section 83(b) of the Code, then such Grantee shall notify the Company of such election within 10 days of filing the notice of the election with the Internal Revenue Service, in addition to any filing and notification required pursuant to regulations issued under Section 83(b) of the Code. The Committee may, in connection with the grant of an Award or at any time thereafter, prohibit a Grantee from making the election described above.

 

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Article 18.

Additional Provisions

18.1    Successors. Subject to Section 4.2(b), all obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

18.2    Severability. If any part of the Plan is declared by any court or governmental authority to be unlawful or invalid, such unlawfulness or invalidity shall not invalidate any other part of the Plan. Any Section or part of a Section so declared to be unlawful or invalid shall, if possible, be construed in a manner which will give effect to the terms of such Section or part of a Section to the fullest extent possible while remaining lawful and valid.

18.3    Requirements of Law. The granting of Awards and the delivery of Shares under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or any Award, Grantees shall not be entitled to exercise, or receive benefits under, any Award, and the Company (and any Affiliate) shall not be obligated to deliver any Shares or deliver benefits to a Grantee, if such exercise or delivery would constitute a violation by the Grantee or the Company of any applicable law or regulation.

18.4    Securities Law Compliance.

(a)    If the Committee deems it necessary to comply with any applicable securities law, or the requirements of any stock exchange upon which Shares may be listed, the Committee may impose any restriction on Awards or Shares acquired pursuant to Awards under the Plan as it may deem advisable. In addition, if requested by the Company and any underwriter engaged by the Company, Shares acquired pursuant to Awards may not be sold or otherwise transferred or disposed of for such period following the effective date of any registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act as the Company or such underwriter shall specify reasonably and in good faith, not to exceed 180 days in the case of the Company’s initial public offering or 90 days in the case of any other public offering. All certificates for Shares delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the SEC, any stock exchange upon which Shares are then listed, any applicable securities law, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. If so requested by the Company, the Grantee shall make a written representation to the Company that he or she will not sell or offer to sell any Shares unless a registration statement shall be in effect with respect to such Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any applicable state securities law or unless he or she shall have furnished to the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, that such registration is not required.

(b)    If the Committee determines that the exercise or nonforfeitability of, or delivery of benefits pursuant to, any Award would violate any applicable provision of securities laws or the listing requirements of any national securities exchange or national market system on which are listed any of the Company’s equity securities, then the Committee may postpone any such exercise, nonforfeitability or delivery, as applicable, but the Company shall use all reasonable efforts to cause such exercise, nonforfeitability or delivery to comply with all such provisions at the earliest practicable date.

18.5    Forfeiture Events. Notwithstanding any provisions herein to the contrary, the Committee shall have the authority to determine (and may so provide in any Award Agreement) that a Grantee’s (including his or her estate’s, beneficiary’s or transferee’s) rights (including the right to exercise any Option or SAR), payments and benefits with respect to any Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment (to the extent permitted by applicable law) in the event of the Participant’s termination for Cause; serious misconduct; violation of the Company’s or an Affiliate’s policies; breach of fiduciary duty; unauthorized disclosure of any

 

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trade secret or confidential information of the Company or an Affiliate; breach of applicable noncompetition, nonsolicitation, confidentiality or other restrictive covenants; or other conduct or activity that is in competition with the business of the Company or an Affiliate, or otherwise detrimental to the business, reputation or interests of the Company and/or an Affiliate; or upon the occurrence of certain events specified in the applicable Award Agreement (in any such case, whether or not the Grantee is then an Employee or Non-Employee Director). The determination of whether a Grantee’s conduct, activities or circumstances are described in the immediately preceding sentence shall be made by the Committee in its discretion, and pending any such determination, the Committee shall have the authority to suspend the exercise, payment, delivery or settlement of all or any portion of such Grantee’s outstanding Awards pending any investigation of the matter.

18.6    No Rights as a Stockholder. No Grantee shall have any rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to the Shares (other than Restricted Shares) which may be deliverable upon exercise or payment of such Award until such Shares have been delivered to him or her. Restricted Shares, whether held by a Grantee or in escrow by the Secretary of the Company, shall confer on the Grantee all rights of a stockholder of the Company, except as otherwise provided in the Plan or Award Agreement. At the time of a grant of Restricted Shares, the Committee may require the payment of cash dividends thereon to be deferred and, if the Committee so determines, reinvested in additional Restricted Shares. Stock dividends and deferred cash dividends issued with respect to Restricted Shares shall be subject to the same restrictions and other terms as apply to the Restricted Shares with respect to which such dividends are issued. The Committee may in its discretion provide for payment of interest on deferred cash dividends.

18.7    Nature of Payments. Unless otherwise specified in the Award Agreement, Awards shall be special incentive payments to the Grantee and shall not be taken into account in computing the amount of salary or compensation of the Grantee for purposes of determining any pension, retirement, death or other benefit under (a) any pension, retirement, profit sharing, bonus, insurance or other employee benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate, except as such plan shall otherwise expressly provide, or (b) any agreement between (i) the Company or any Affiliate and (ii) the Grantee, except as such agreement shall otherwise expressly provide.

18.8    Non-Exclusivity of Plan. Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor its submission to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other compensatory arrangements for employees or Non-Employee Directors as it may deem desirable.

18.9    Governing Law. The Plan, and all agreements hereunder, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, other than its laws respecting choice or conflicts of law rule or principles that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of the Plan to the substantive law of another jurisdiction. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, Participants are deemed to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal or state courts of the State of Delaware, to resolve any and all issues that may arise out of or relate to the Plan or any related Award Agreement.

18.10    Unfunded Status of Awards; Creation of Trusts. The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Grantee pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall give any such Grantee any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company; provided, however, that the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or make other arrangements to meet the Company’s obligations under the Plan to deliver cash, Shares or other property pursuant to any Award which trusts or other arrangements shall be consistent with the “unfunded” status of the Plan unless the Committee otherwise determines.

18.11    Affiliation. Nothing in the Plan or an Award Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate any Grantee’s employment or consulting contract at any time, nor confer upon any Grantee the right to continue in the employ of or as an officer of or as a consultant to or Non-Employee Director of the Company or any Affiliate.

 

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18.12    Participation. No employee or officer shall have the right to be selected to receive an Award under this Plan or, having been so selected, to be selected to receive a future Award.

18.13    Military Service. Awards shall be administered in accordance with Section 414(u) of the Code and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994.

18.14    Construction. The following rules of construction will apply to the Plan: (a) the word “or” is disjunctive but not necessarily exclusive, and (b) words in the singular include the plural, words in the plural include the singular, and words in the neuter gender include the masculine and feminine genders and words in the masculine or feminine gender include the other neuter genders.

18.15    Headings. The headings of articles and sections are included solely for convenience of reference, and if there is any conflict between such headings and the text of this Plan, the text shall control.

18.16    Obligations. Unless otherwise specified in the Award Agreement, the obligation to deliver, pay or transfer any amount of money or other property pursuant to Awards under this Plan shall be the sole obligation of a Grantee’s employer; provided that the obligation to deliver or transfer any Shares pursuant to Awards under this Plan shall be the sole obligation of the Company.

18.17    Stockholder Approval. All Incentive Stock Options granted on or after the Effective Date and prior to the date the Company’s stockholders approve the Plan are expressly conditioned upon and subject to approval of the Plan by the Company’s stockholders.

 

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YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE VOTE TODAY.
   

 

GALECTIN

THERAPEUTICS INC.

 

2019 Annual Meeting of

Stockholders

 

 

December 4, 2019,

9:00 A.M. local time

 

 

This Proxy is Solicited On Behalf

Of The Board Of Directors

 

 

 

  Please Be Sure To Mark, Sign, Date and Return Your Proxy Card  

in the Envelope Provided

 

 

 

p FOLD HERE  •  DO NOT SEPARATE  •  INSERT IN ENVELOPE PROVIDED p

PROXY

 

1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

   Please mark your votes like this     

    

 

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” the listed nominees.        The Board of Directors recommends you vote
FOR the following proposal(s):

      (1) Gilbert F. Amelio, Ph.D.

      (2) James C. Czirr

      (3) Kary Eldred

      (4) Kevin D. Freeman

      (5) Joel Lewis

      (6) Gilbert S. Omenn, M.D.

      (7) Marc Rubin, M.D.

      (8) Harold H. Shlevin, Ph.D

      (9) Richard E. Uihlein

   

 

VOTE

FOR ALL NOMINEES

 

 

WITHHOLD

ALL

 

VOTE FOR

ALL EXCEPT (see instructions below)

    

4. To ratify the selection by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Cherry Bekaert LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019.

 

5. To approve the 2019 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan and reserve 4,000,000 shares for issuance under the plan.

 

FOR


 

 

 

 

FOR

 

AGAINST


 

 

 

AGAINST

 

ABSTAIN


 

 

 

ABSTAIN

To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike a line through that nominee’s name in the list above.     

 

6. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting.

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following proposal(s):

 

  

2. To vote on a non-binding advisory resolution to approve the compensation paid to Galectins named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement.

 

FOR

 

 

AGAINST

 

 

ABSTAIN

 

  

 

THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED. IF NO DIRECTION IS INDICATED FOR THE PROPOSALS, EACH PROPOSAL WILL BE VOTED “FOR” THE PROPOSAL.

  

 

The Board of Directors recommends you vote 3 YEARS on the following proposal:

 

    

3. To recommend, by non-binding vote, the frequency with which Galectin will conduct stockholder advisory votes on executive compensation.

   

THREE

YEARS

 

 

TWO

YEARS

 

 

ONE YEAR

 

 

 

        ABSTAIN

 

       

 

  

 

CONTROL NUMBER

 

 
  

 

                                         

 

      

 

 
Signature        Signature, if held jointly       Date       , 2019.

Note: Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. When shares are held by joint owners, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, or corporate officer, please give title as such.


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Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the

2019 annual meeting of stockholders of Galectin Therapeutics Inc.

to be held at the offices of Dentons US LLP, located at

303 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 5300, Atlanta, GA 30308

on December 4, 2019 at 9:00 A.M. local time.

 

The Proxy Statement and Annual Report to Stockholders are available at:

http://www.galectintherapeutics.com

 

To Vote Your Proxy

Mark, sign and date your Proxy Card on the reverse side, and return it in the

postage-paid envelope provided.

p FOLD HERE  •  DO NOT SEPARATE  •  INSERT IN ENVELOPE PROVIDED p

PROXY

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

GALECTIN THERAPEUTICS INC.

The undersigned appoints Jack W. Callicutt and Harold Shlevin, Ph.D. and each of them, as proxies, each with the power of substitution, and authorizes each of them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse hereof, all of the shares of voting stock of Galectin Therapeutics Inc. held of record by the undersigned at the close of business on October 10, 2019 at the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders to be held at the offices of Dentons US LLP, located at 303 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 5300, Atlanta, GA 30308 on December 4, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. (local time) or at any adjournment thereof.

(Continued and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side)