CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Information about the Board of Directors and its Committees
Board of Directors Composition
Our Board currently consists of six members. Directors elected at this meeting and each subsequent annual meeting will be elected for one-year terms or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
We separate the positions of Chairman, currently held by independent director Myron Kaplan, and that of Chief Executive Officer, held by Khoso Baluch until October 4, 2021 and currently held by Matthew David on an interim basis. While the Board believes that separation of these positions serves our Company well, and intends to maintain this separation where appropriate and practicable, the Board does not believe that it is appropriate to prohibit one person from serving as both Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Selection of Nominees for our Board of Directors
To be considered as a director nominee, an individual must have, among other attributes: high personal and professional ethics, integrity and values; commitment to our Company and its stockholders; an inquisitive and objective perspective and mature judgment; availability to perform all Board and committee responsibilities; and independence. In addition to these minimum requirements, the Nominating and Governance Committee will also evaluate whether the nominee’s skills are complementary to the existing directors’ skills and the Board’s need for operational, management, financial, international, industry-specific or other expertise. We do not have a specific written policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees. We recognize and will take into account the need to comply with rules and regulations relating to diversity requirements, including those adopted by Nasdaq. We focus on identifying nominees with experience, qualifications, attributes and skills to work with the other directors to serve the long-term interests of our stockholders. All those matters being equal, we do and will consider diversity a positive additional characteristic in potential nominees.
The Nominating and Governance Committee invites Board members to submit nominations for director. In addition to candidates submitted by Board members, director nominees recommended by stockholders will be considered. Stockholder recommendations must be made in accordance with the procedures described in the section titled “Stockholder Proposals” below and will receive the same consideration that other nominees receive. All nominees are evaluated by the Nominating and Governance Committee to determine whether they meet the minimum qualifications outlined in the immediately preceding paragraph and whether they will satisfy the Board’s needs for specific expertise at that time. The Committee recommends to the full Board the slate of nominees for election as directors at our annual meeting of stockholders.
Board Committees
Our Board has established an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Governance Committee. Our Audit Committee currently consists of Mr. Lefkowitz (Chair), Dr. Dunton and Mr. Duncan. Our Compensation Committee currently consists of Ms. Dillione (Chair), Dr. Dunton and Mr. Duncan. Our Nominating and Governance Committee currently consists of Mr. Costa (Chair), Mr. Kaplan and Ms. Dillione. The membership of these Committees may be changed after our next annual meeting.
Our Board has undertaken a review of the independence of our directors and has determined that (i) all current directors are independent within the meaning of Section 5605(b) of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules, (ii) all members of our Audit Committee meet the additional test for independence for audit committee members imposed by SEC regulation and Section 5605(c) of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules, (iii) all of the members of our Compensation Committee are independent within the meaning of Section 5605(d) of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules, and (iv) all of the members of our Nominating and Governance Committee are independent within the meaning of Section 5605(e) of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules.
Each of the above-referenced committees operates pursuant to a formal written charter. The charters for each committee, which have been adopted by our Board, contain a detailed description of the respective committee’s duties and responsibilities and are available on our website at www.cormedix.com under the “Investor Relations — Corporate Governance” tab.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee monitors our corporate financial statements and reporting and our external audits, including, among other things, our internal controls and audit functions, the results and scope of the annual audit and other services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm and our compliance with legal matters that have a significant impact on our financial statements. The Audit Committee also consults with our management and our independent registered public accounting firm prior to the presentation of financial statements to stockholders and, as appropriate, initiates inquiries into aspects of our financial affairs. The Audit Committee is responsible for establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and for the confidential, anonymous submission by our employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. In addition, the Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, retention, compensation and oversight of the work of our independent registered public accounting firm, including approving services and fee arrangements. All related party transactions will be approved by the Audit Committee before we enter into them.
Both our independent registered public accounting firm and internal financial personnel regularly meet with, and have unrestricted access to, the Audit Committee.
The Board has determined that each of Mr. Lefkowitz, Dr. Dunton and Mr. Duncan qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as that term is defined in the rules and regulations of the SEC. The designation of each of Mr. Lefkowitz, Dr. Dunton and Mr. Duncan as an “audit committee financial expert” does not impose on them any duties, obligations or liability that are greater than those that are generally imposed on them as a member of the Audit Committee and the Board, and their designation as an “audit committee financial expert” pursuant to this SEC requirement does not affect the duties, obligations or liability of any other member of the Audit Committee or the Board.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee reviews and approves our compensation policies and all forms of compensation to be provided to our executive officers and directors, including, among other things, annual salaries, bonuses, and other incentive compensation arrangements. In addition, the Compensation Committee administers our stock option and employee stock purchase plans, including granting stock options to our executive officers and directors. The Compensation Committee also reviews and approves employment agreements with executive officers and other compensation policies and matters.
Since 2016, we have periodically engaged Frederic W. Cook & Co., an independent compensation consultant, for input on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers and directors. The Compensation Committee assessed the independence of Frederic W. Cook & Co., considering the factors required by the Nasdaq Global Market Listing Rules and concluded that no conflict of interest exists that would prevent Frederic W. Cook & Co. from independently representing our Company. In the future, we, or the Compensation Committee, may engage or seek the advice of Frederic W. Cook & Co., or another compensation consultant.
Each member of the Compensation Committee is a non-employee director, as defined pursuant to Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
Nominating and Governance Committee
The Nominating and Governance Committee identifies, evaluates and recommends nominees to the Board and committees of the Board, conducts searches for appropriate directors and evaluates the performance of the Board and of individual directors. The Nominating and Governance Committee also is responsible for reviewing developments in corporate governance practices, evaluating the adequacy of our corporate governance practices and reporting and making recommendations to the Board concerning corporate governance matters.
Information Regarding Meetings of the Board and Committees
The business of our Company is under the general oversight of our Board as provided by the laws of Delaware and our bylaws. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, the Board held eighteen meetings and also conducted business by written consent, the Audit Committee held four meetings and also conducted business by written consent, the Compensation Committee held three meetings and also conducted business by written consent, and the Nominating and Governance Committee held no meetings. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of these meetings were held virtually. Each director nominee attended at least 75% of the Board meetings and the meetings of the committee on which he or she served since being appointed to the Board and respective committees. We do not have a formal written policy with respect to Board members’ attendance at our annual meetings of stockholders, but we encourage them to do so.
Risk Oversight
Our Board is responsible for our Company’s risk oversight and has delegated that role to the Audit Committee. In fulfilling that role, the Audit Committee focuses on our general risk-management strategy, the most significant risks facing our Company, and ensures that risk-mitigation strategies are implemented by management. The Compensation Committee oversees risks related to our compensation and benefit plans and policies to ensure sound pay practices that do not cause risks to arise that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our Company. The Nominating and Governance Committee seeks to minimize risks related to governance structure by implementing sound corporate governance principles and practices. Each of the committees regularly reports to the full Board as appropriate on its efforts at risk oversight, and will report any matter that rises to the level of a material or enterprise-level risk.
Stockholder Proposals
The bylaws establish procedures for stockholder nominations for elections of directors and bringing business before any annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders. A stockholder entitled to vote in the election of directors may nominate one or more persons for election as directors at a meeting only if written notice of such stockholder’s intent to make such nomination or nominations has been delivered to our Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the prior year’s annual meeting. In the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after the anniversary date of the prior year’s annual meeting, the stockholder notice must be given not more than 120 days nor less than the later of 90 days prior to the date of the annual meeting or, if it is later, the 10th day following the date on which the date of the annual meeting is first publicly announced or disclosed by us.
A stockholder’s notice must set forth: (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); (b) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on our books, and of such beneficial owner, and (ii) the class and number of shares of our Company that are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner; and (d) any additional information reasonably requested by the Board.
Notwithstanding anything in the previous paragraph to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board is increased and there is no public announcement by us naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board at least 70 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by the bylaws will also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it is delivered to our Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by us.
The chairman of the meeting has the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with the bylaws, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination will be disregarded.
Stockholder Communications with the Board
Stockholders who wish to do so may communicate directly with the Board or specified individual directors by writing to:
Board of Directors (or name of individual director)
c/o Corporate Secretary
CorMedix Inc.
300 Connell Drive, Suite 4200
Berkeley Heights, New Jersey 07922
We will forward all communications from stockholders to the full Board, to non-management directors, to an individual director or to the chairperson of the Board committee that is most closely related to the subject matter of the communication, except for the following types of communications: (i) communications that advocate that we engage in illegal activity; (ii) communications that, under community standards, contain offensive or abusive content; (iii) communications that have no relevance to our business or operations; and (iv) mass mailings, solicitations and advertisements. The Corporate Secretary will determine when a communication is not to be forwarded. Our acceptance and forwarding of communications to directors does not imply that directors owe or assume any fiduciary duties to persons submitting the communications.
Stock Ownership Requirements
We adopted stock ownership guidelines for our non-employee directors in October 2014 with the objective of more closely aligning the interests of our non-employee directors with those of our stockholders. The stock ownership guidelines require each non-employee director to acquire $100,000 worth of our common stock within five years of October 20, 2014 for then-current directors and within five years of joining the Board for directors joining the Board after that date. This requirement may be met with the purchase of shares under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors, vesting of shares underlying restricted stock units and the exercise of stock options.
Hedging Policy
We do not have any practices or policies regarding hedging to date.
Executive Officers
The following table sets forth information concerning our current executive officers as of October 15, 2021:
Name
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Age
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Position(s) with CorMedix
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Matthew David
|
|
44
|
|
Interim Chief Executive Officer, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
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Phoebe Mounts
|
|
71
|
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Executive Vice President and General Counsel and Head of Regulatory, Compliance and Legal
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Elizabeth Masson-Hurlburt
|
|
42
|
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Executive Vice President and Head of Clinical Operations
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Thomas Nusbickel
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|
64
|
|
Chief Commercial Officer
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Matthew David became our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in May 2020 and is currently serving as interim Chief Executive Officer since the resignation of Mr. Baluch on October 4, 2021. Prior to joining us, he most recently served as Head of Strategy at Ovid Therapeutics Inc, a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for rare neurological disorders, where he was responsible for financing strategy and investor relations, and joined in October 2018. Prior to Ovid, Dr. David was a Strategic Advisor to Frequency Therapeutics, advising on financing, investor relations and strategic initiatives from 2017 to early 2019. Prior to Frequency, Dr. David spent the majority of his career as an investment banker specialized in the life sciences
sectors, including at Piper Jaffray, Thomas Weisel Partners, Ferghana Partners and most recently at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. As part of his experience as an investment banker, Dr. David has advised on a broad range of capital raising and strategic transactions. Earlier in his career, Dr. David was part of the equity research team at Lehman Brothers, focusing on Large Pharma. Dr. David began his career as a surgical resident at Beth Israel Hospital, after receiving an M.D. from NYU School of Medicine. Dr. David earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry, magna cum laude, from Dartmouth College.
Phoebe Mounts became our Executive Vice President and General Counsel and Head of Regulatory, Compliance and Legal in May 2019. Prior to her employment with us, Dr. Mounts was a partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, where she provided legal counsel to life sciences companies for over 20 years. As part of her work at Morgan Lewis, Dr. Mounts had been providing us legal services as outside counsel since 2013, with responsibility for developing our FDA regulatory strategies for DefenCath. Prior to graduating from Georgetown University Law Center, Dr. Mounts was on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health for 16 years, specializing in molecular biology and infectious disease. She received her Ph.D. in molecular biology from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.
Elizabeth Masson-Hurlburt became our Executive Vice President and Head of Clinical Operations in March 2018. Prior to her employment, Ms. Masson-Hurlburt had been providing us clinical operations expertise as a consultant since late November 2017. Before she began her consulting career, she held several progressive management roles in clinical operations, most recently at Gemphire Therapeutics, as a Senior Director, Clinical Operations from April 2015 to October 2016, then as Vice President, Clinical Operations from October 2016 to March 2018. Ms. Masson-Hurlburt received her B.A. in Leadership and Organizational Management from Bay Path College.
Thomas Nusbickel became our Chief Commercial Officer in May 2021. Prior to his employment, Mr. Nusbickel held several leadership roles in the commercial strategy and renal disease space, most recently at Coherus Biosciences, as Vice President of Market Access and Government Affairs, Opko Inc., as Chief Commercial Officer, and served for more than two decades at Amgen. Mr. Nusbickel has an undergraduate degree from Eckerd College and an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University.
On October 1, 2021, the Company and Khoso Baluch came to a mutual agreement pursuant to which Mr. Baluch retired from his position as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, effective October 4, 2021. Mr. Baluch also resigned from the Company’s Board of Directors. Matthew David, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, is serving as interim Chief Executive Officer, until a new Chief Executive Officer is appointed. The Board is initiating a search process with a leading executive search firm to identify a new Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Baluch will serve the Company in an advisory capacity to facilitate a smooth transition.
On October 4, 2021, the Company and John L. Armstrong, Jr. came to a mutual agreement pursuant to which Mr. Armstrong retired from his position as the Company’s Executive Vice President, Technical Operations, effective October 4, 2021.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Components of Compensation
The key components of our executive compensation package are cash compensation (salary and annual bonuses), long-term equity incentive awards and change in control and other severance agreements. These components are administered with the goal of providing total compensation that recognizes meaningful differences in individual performance, is competitive, varies the opportunity based on individual and corporate performance, and is valued by our Named Executive Officers. For 2020, our Named Executive Officers were Khoso Baluch, Matthew David, John Armstrong, Phoebe Mounts, and Elizabeth Masson-Hurlburt, as well as Robert Cook, who served as our Chief Financial Officer until January 31, 2020. After the departure of Mr. Cook, Mr. Baluch performed the functions of principal financial officer and principal accounting officer on an interim basis until the appointment of Dr. David as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Baluch retired as our Chief Executive Officer effective October 4, 2021, and Mr. Armstrong retired as our Executive Vice President for Technical Operations effective October 4, 2021. Dr. David, who has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since May 11, 2020, has from October 4, 2021, also served as our interim Chief Executive Officer in addition to his role as Chief Financial Officer.
Base Salary
It is the Compensation Committee’s objective to set a competitive rate of annual base salary for each Named Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee believes competitive base salaries are necessary to attract and retain top quality executives, since it is common practice for public companies to provide their named executive officers with a guaranteed annual component of compensation that is not subject to performance risk. The Compensation Committee, on its own or with outside consultants, may establish salary ranges for the Named Executive Officers, with minimum to maximum opportunities that cover the normal range of market variability. The actual base salary for each Named Executive Officer is then derived from those salary ranges based on his or her responsibility, tenure and past performance and market comparability. Annual base salaries for the Named Executive Officers are reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee in the first quarter following the end of the previous performance year. Changes in base salary are based on the scope of an individual’s current job responsibilities, individual performance in the previous performance year, target pay position relative to the peer group, and our salary budget guidelines. The Compensation Committee reviews established goals and objectives, and determines an individual’s achievement of those goals and objectives and considers the recommendations provided by the Chief Executive Officer to assist it in determining appropriate salaries for the Named Executive Officers other than the Chief Executive Officer. For the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, with the advice of outside consultants, including Frederic W. Cook & Co., the Compensation Committee increased the salaries of certain of our Named Executive Officers to account for adjustments in the market.
The base salary information for our Named Executive Officers for 2019 and 2020 is set forth in the Summary Compensation Table below. In September 2019, February 2017, May 2020, March 2019, April 2020 and March 2021, respectively, we entered into an employment agreement with each of Khoso Baluch, our Chief Executive Officer (at such time), Robert Cook, our Chief Financial Officer (at such time), Matthew David, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Phoebe Mounts, our Executive Vice President and General Counsel and Head of Regulatory, Compliance and Legal, John Armstrong, our Executive Vice President for Technical Operations (at such time), and Elizabeth Masson-Hurlburt, our Executive Vice President and Head of Clinical Operations. These agreements provide for a salary for each Named Executive Officer and are described under the caption “Employment Agreements.”
Annual Bonuses
As part of their compensation package, our Named Executive Officers generally have the opportunity to earn annual non-equity incentive bonuses. Annual non-equity bonuses are designed to reward superior executive performance while reinforcing our short-term strategic operating goals. The Board approves, based on the Compensation Committee’s recommendation, an annual corporate target award for the Named Executive Officers based on a percentage of base salary and any applicable terms in any individual employment agreements. Annual bonus targets as a percentage of base salary increase with executive rank so that for the more senior executives, a greater proportion of their total cash compensation is contingent upon annual performance. For 2020, Messrs. Baluch and Armstrong, Dr. David, Dr. Mounts and Ms. Masson-Hurlburt were each eligible for an annual target bonus of 80%, 35%, 30%, 30% and 30%, respectively, of his or her base salary then in effect.
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At the beginning of the performance year, the Board approves annual corporate goals and objectives, based on the recommendations of the Compensation Committee. The Board approves bonus awards, if any, for each Named Executive Officer based on the achievement of these pre-established corporate goals and such other factors as our Board deems appropriate, based on recommendations of the Compensation Committee. For any given performance year, proposed annual bonuses may range from 0% to 100% of target, or higher under certain circumstances. Corporate performance has a significant impact on the annual bonus amounts because the Compensation Committee and Board believe it is an appropriate measure of how the Named Executive Officer contributed to business results.
We paid our Named Executive Officers annual bonuses equal to their target annual bonuses for 2020, and we paid Dr. Mounts and Ms. Masson-Hurlburt each a special bonus equal to two months of base salary on account of their work on the submission of the New Drug Application for DefenCath. The Board, based on the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, approved bonuses at these levels as a result of corporate and individual performance and the submission of the New Drug Application for DefenCath.
Long-Term Incentive Equity Awards
We believe that long-term performance is achieved through an ownership culture that encourages high performance by our Named Executive Officers through the use of stock-based awards. Our long-term incentive plans were established to provide our employees, including our Named Executive Officers, with incentives to help align employees’ interests with the interests of our stockholders. The Compensation Committee believes that the use of stock-based awards offers the best approach to achieving our long-term compensation goals. We have historically elected to use stock options as the primary long-term equity incentive vehicle; however, the Compensation Committee has used restricted stock in the past and may in the future utilize restricted stock or other forms of equity grants as part of our long-term incentive program. We have selected the Black-Scholes method of valuation for share-based compensation. Due to the early stage of our business and our desire to preserve cash, we may provide a greater portion of total compensation to our Named Executive Officers through stock options and other equity grants than through cash-based compensation. The Compensation Committee generally oversees the administration of our equity plans.
Stock Options
Our 2019 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan (the 2019 Plan), which was approved by the shareholders on November 26, 2019 authorizes us to grant options to purchase shares of our common stock and other equity awards to our employees, directors and consultants.
The Compensation Committee reviews and recommends to the Board stock option awards to Named Executive Officers based upon a review of competitive compensation data, its assessment of individual performance, a review of each Named Executive Officer’s existing long-term incentives, and retention considerations. Periodic stock option grants are made at the discretion of the Compensation Committee to eligible employees and, in appropriate circumstances, the Compensation Committee considers the recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer. Stock option grants made to Named Executive Officers are approved by the Board, based on the Compensation Committee’s recommendations.
Stock options granted to employees have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the day of grant, typically vest based on continued employment and, for performance-based grants, upon the achievement of certain performance-based milestones, and generally expire 10 years after the date of grant. The fair value of the options granted to the Named Executive Officers in the Summary Compensation Table is determined in accordance with the Black-Scholes method of valuation for share-based compensation. Incentive stock options also include certain other terms necessary to ensure compliance with the Code.
In 2020, the Board, based on the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, granted a mix of time-based and performance-based stock options to our Named Executive Officers. The time-based stock options vest annually in four increments while the executive remains employed by the Company. The performance-based stock options vest based upon achievement of performance milestones and continued employment. The options do not include any tandem feature, reload feature, tax-reimbursement feature, or, except in connection with a corporate transaction or similar event or with stockholder approval, any provision that could cause the exercise price to be lowered.
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In February 2021, the Compensation Committee amended outstanding time-based stock options held by our Named Executive Officers to extend the post-termination exercise periods with respect to such stock options that are vested as of the date of termination of employment: (i) from 90 days to 12 months following the date of termination in the event of an involuntary termination without Cause, a termination for Good Reason, death or disability and (ii) by implementing a new three-year post-termination exercise period following the date of termination of employment in the event of a termination by reason of retirement (i.e., termination after reaching age 62 with five years of continuous service or age 55 with ten years of continuous service), but not beyond the date of expiration of the term of the option in either case. The amendment did not apply to outstanding incentive stock option so as to not affect their tax status.
We expect to continue to use stock options as a long-term incentive vehicle because:
• Stock options align the interests of our Named Executive Officers with those of our stockholders, supporting a pay-for performance culture, foster employee stock ownership, and focus the management team on increasing value for our stockholders.
• Stock options are performance-based. All of the value received by the recipient of a stock option is based on the growth of the stock price. In addition, stock options can be issued with vesting based on the achievement of specified milestones.
• Stock options help to provide balance to the overall executive compensation program as base salary and annual bonuses focus on short-term compensation, while the vesting of stock options increases stockholder value over the longer term.
• The vesting period of stock options encourages executive retention and the preservation of stockholder value. In determining the number of stock options to be granted to our Named Executive Officers, we take into account the individual’s position, scope of responsibility, ability to affect profits and stockholder value and the individual’s historic and recent performance and the value of stock options in relation to other elements of the individual Named Executive Officer’s total compensation.
Executive Benefits and Perquisites
Our Named Executive Officers are parties to employment agreements as described below. In addition, consistent with our compensation philosophy, we intend to continue to maintain our current benefits for our Named Executive Officers, including medical, dental and life insurance and the ability to contribute to a 401(k) plan; however, the Compensation Committee in its discretion may revise, amend, or add to the officer’s executive benefits if it deems it advisable. We believe these benefits are currently comparable to benefit levels for comparable companies.
Employment Agreements
Employment Agreements with Current Named Executive Officers
On September 27, 2016, we entered into an employment agreement with Khoso Baluch, our former Chief Executive Officer, which, upon its expiration in September 2019, was replaced with a new agreement, dated September 26, 2019. On October 4, 2021, Mr. Baluch retired from the Company and his employment agreement was terminated. In connection with his separation from service, the Company and Mr. Baluch entered into a separation agreement and release dated as of October 1, 2021 (the “Baluch Separation Agreement”). Mr. Baluch’s retirement was treated as a termination without Cause (as defined below) under the employment agreement. Under the Baluch Separation Agreement, Mr. Baluch will receive the severance payments and benefits described below with respect to a termination by the Company without Cause. Mr. Baluch met the eligibility requirements for retirement as of the date of his separation, so certain of Mr. Baluch’s vested stock options will be exercisable for up to three years after the date of his separation under the terms of the applicable grant agreements. The Baluch Separation Agreement provides this retirement treatment for all of Mr. Baluch’s outstanding vested options. The Company has agreed to reimburse Mr. Baluch for legal fees incurred in connection with the review of the Baluch Separation Agreement. Mr. Baluch is bound by confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-competition covenants under his employment agreement, and an extended covenant not to solicit employees under the Baluch Separation Agreement, among other terms.
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On March 1, 2017, we entered into an employment agreement with John Armstrong to serve as our Executive Vice President for Technical Operations, which upon its expiration in March 2020, was replaced with a new agreement dated April 17, 2020. On October 4, 2021, Mr. Armstrong retired from the Company and his employment agreement was terminated. In connection with his separation from service, the Company and Mr. Armstrong entered into a separation agreement and release dated as of October 4, 2021 (the “Armstrong Separation Agreement”). Mr. Armstrong’s retirement was treated as a termination without Cause under the employment agreement. Under the Armstrong Separation Agreement, Mr. Armstrong will receive the severance payments and benefits described below with respect to a termination by the Company without Cause. Mr. Armstrong met the eligibility requirements for retirement as of the date of his separation, so certain of Mr. Armstrong’s vested stock options will be exercisable for up to three years after the date of his separation under the terms of the applicable grant agreements. The Armstrong Separation Agreement provides this retirement treatment for all outstanding vested options. The Company has agreed to reimburse Mr. Armstrong for legal fees incurred in connection with the review of the Armstrong Separation Agreement. Mr. Armstrong is bound by confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-competition covenants under his employment agreement, and an extended covenant not to solicit employees under the Armstrong Separation Agreement, among other terms.
On March 19, 2018, we entered into an employment agreement with Elizabeth Masson-Hurlburt to serve as our Executive Vice President and Head of Clinical Operations, which upon its expiration in March 2021, was replaced with a new agreement dated March 10, 2021. On March 19, 2019, we entered into an employment agreement with Phoebe Mounts to serve as our Executive Vice President and General Counsel and Head of Regulatory, Compliance and Legal, effective May 1, 2019.
On May 11, 2020, we entered into an employment agreement with Matthew David to serve as our Chief Financial Officer. After the initial three-year term of each employment agreement, the term of the employment agreement will automatically renew for additional successive one-year periods, unless either party notifies the other in writing at least 90 days before the expiration of the then-current term that the term will not be renewed. On October 26, 2021, we entered into a letter agreement with Dr. David which modified certain terms of his employment agreement and provided other compensation as a result of Dr. David serving as interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective as of October 4, 2021. Pursuant to the letter agreement, during the period in which Dr. David serves as interim Chief Executive Officer, his base salary will increase to $425,000 from $330,000, which is the amount set forth in his employment agreement and will be reviewed and increased, if appropriate, by our Compensation Committee six months following October 4, 2021 if Dr. David continues to serve as interim Chief Executive Officer on such date. After Dr. David ceases to serve as interim Chief Executive Officer, and as he continues to serve as Chief Financial Officer, the Company will provide him with an annual base salary of $375,000, representing a $45,000 increase from his current salary level under the employment agreement. The Board, or our Compensation Committee, will review such base salary to determine whether an increase is appropriate in 2022 as part of the 2022 compensation review cycle and benchmarking review. Under the letter agreement, Dr. David’s target annual bonus with respect to the period during which he serves as interim Chief Executive Officer is increased to 60% from 30% of his base salary, which is otherwise set forth in his employment agreement. After Dr. David ceases to serve as interim Chief Executive Officer, and as he continues to serve as Chief Financial Officer, his target annual bonus will increase to 40% of his base salary. Under the letter agreement, in the event Dr. David’s employment is terminated by the Company other than as a result of his death or disability or notice of nonrenewal of the employment agreement, and other than for Cause, or if he resigns for Good Reason, in either case during the period he serves as interim Chief Executive Officer, he will be eligible for severance equal to his base salary for a period of 12 months following his termination date, which is increased from nine months as is otherwise provided for in his employment agreement. Dr. David has agreed to waive any rights he may have under his employment agreement to a Good Reason termination as a result of his ceasing to serve as interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company at a future date. In connection with Dr. David serving as interim Chief Executive Officer, the Board will grant Dr. David a stock option with respect to 125,000 shares of our common stock with an exercise price equal to the closing price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of grant. The option will vest over four years in four equal annual installments beginning on the date of grant, subject to Dr. David’s continued employment, consistent with the terms of the standard form of option agreement used by the Company.
On January 30, 2017, we entered into an employment agreement, effective February 1, 2017, with Robert Cook to serve as our Chief Financial Officer. On November 6, 2019, Mr. Cook and the Company mutually agreed not to renew his employment agreement, which expired on January 31, 2020. In connection with his termination of employment with the Company, Mr. Cook and the Company entered into a consulting agreement, which continued until August 20, 2021. Mr. Cook received $215,938 of consulting fees for the period from February 1, 2020 until August 20, 2021, and did not receive any severance pay.
25
Pursuant to their respective employment agreements, Mr. Baluch received an annual salary of $425,000, Mr. Armstrong received an annual salary of $325,000, Ms. Masson-Hurlburt receives an annual salary of $315,000 (effective March 2021), Dr. Mounts receives an annual salary of $350,000 (amended to $375,000 in January 2021) and Dr. David receives an annual salary of $330,000 (amended to $425,000 while he serves as interim Chief Executive Officer). Such salaries cannot be decreased unless all officers and/or members of our executive management team experience an equal or greater percentage reduction in base salary and/or total compensation, provided that any reduction in an executive’s salary may be no greater than 25%. Each executive will be eligible for an annual bonus, which may equal up to 80% for Mr. Baluch (the target amount is 80%, but the bonus may exceed that amount), up to 35% for Mr. Armstrong, up to 30% for Ms. Masson-Hurlburt, up to 30% for Dr. Mounts and up to 30% for Dr. David (and up to 60% while he serves as interim Chief Executive Officer), of his or her base salary then in effect, as determined by our Board or the Compensation Committee. In determining such bonus payment, our Board or the Compensation Committee will take into consideration the achievement of specified Company objectives, predetermined by our Board or the Compensation Committee and Chief Executive Officer, and such other factors as our Board or the Compensation Committee deems appropriate. Each executive must be employed through December 31 of a given year to be eligible to earn that year’s annual bonus.
The following provisions of the employment agreements with Messrs. Baluch and Armstrong, Ms. Masson-Hurlburt, Dr. Mounts and Dr. David are identical except where noted.
If we terminate the executive’s employment for Cause, the executive will be entitled to receive only the accrued compensation due to him or her as of the date of such termination, rights to indemnification and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, and as otherwise required by law, and certain equity awards will be forfeited.
If we terminate the executive’s employment other than for Cause, and other than for death, disability or notice of nonrenewal, or if the executive resigns for Good Reason (as defined below), the executive will receive the following benefits: (i) payment of any accrued compensation and any unpaid bonus relating to the completed prior year, as well as rights to indemnification and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and any rights or privilege otherwise required by law; (ii) we will continue to pay his or her base salary for a period of twelve months in the case of Mr. Baluch and Dr. David while he is serving as interim Chief Executive Officer, and nine months for the other executives following the effective date of the termination of employment; (iii) payment on a prorated basis for any target bonus for the year of termination based on the actual achievement of the specified bonus objectives; (iv) if the executive timely elects continued health insurance coverage under COBRA, then we will pay the premium to continue such coverage for him or her and his or her eligible dependents in an amount equal to the portion paid for by us during the executive’s employment until the conclusion of the time when he or she is receiving continuation of base salary payments or until he or she becomes eligible for group health insurance coverage under another employer’s plan, whichever occurs first, provided however that we have the right to terminate such payment of COBRA premiums on behalf of the executive and instead pay him or her a lump sum amount equal to the COBRA premium times the number of months remaining in the specified period if we determine in our discretion that continued payment of the COBRA premiums is or may be discriminatory under Section 105(h) of the Code; and (v) unvested equity awards that are scheduled to vest on or before the next succeeding anniversary of the date of termination shall be accelerated and deemed to have vested as of the termination date; provided that any performance based equity awards or stock options whose vesting requirements have not been successfully met as of the date of termination of employment or resignation with Good Reason will not accelerate. In addition, the event of a termination by the Company without Cause or the executive’s resignation of employment for Good Reason, in either case within 24 months following a Corporate Transaction (as defined in the employment agreement), all equity awards and stock options shall become fully vested and exercisable, and vested stock options will remain exercisable for a specified period of time following termination or resignation or, if earlier, the expiration date of the stock option. The separation benefits set forth above are conditioned upon the executive executing a release of claims against us, our parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates, and each such entities’ officers, directors, employees, agents, successors, and assigns in a form acceptable to us, within a time specified therein, which release is not revoked within any time period allowed for revocation under applicable law.
For purposes of the agreement, “Cause” is defined as: (i) the willful failure, disregard, or refusal by the executive to perform his or her material duties or obligations under the employment agreement (other than as a result of executive’s mental incapacity or illness; (ii) any willful, intentional, or grossly negligent act by the executive having the effect of materially injuring (whether financially or otherwise) our business or reputation or any of our affiliates; (iii) executive’s conviction of any felony involving moral turpitude (including entry of a guilty or nolo contendere plea); (iv) the executive’s qualification as a “bad actor,” as defined by 17 CFR 230.506(a); (v) the good
26
faith determination by the Board, after a reasonable and good-faith investigation by us that the executive engaged in some form of harassment or discrimination prohibited by law (including, without limitation, harassment on the basis of age, sex or race) unless the executive’s actions were specifically directed by the Board; (vi) any material misappropriation or embezzlement by the executive of our or our affiliates’ property (whether or not a misdemeanor or felony); or (vii) material breach by the executive of the employment agreement that is materially injurious to the Company and that is not cured, to the extent subject to cure, by executive to our reasonable satisfaction.
For purposes of the agreement, “Good Reason” is defined as any of the following without the executive’s consent: (i) any material breach of the employment agreement by us; (ii) any material diminution by us of the executive’s duties, responsibilities, or authority; (iii) a material reduction in the executive’s annual base salary unless all officers and/or members of our executive management team experience an equal or greater percentage reduction in annual base salary and/or total compensation, provided that any reduction may be no greater than 25%; (iv) a material reduction in the executive’s target bonus level unless all officers and/or members of our executive management team experience an equal or greater percentage reduction related to target bonus levels, provided that any reduction may be no greater than 25%.
If the executive terminates his or her employment by written notice of termination or if the executive or we terminate his or her employment by providing a notice of nonrenewal at least 90 days before the employment agreement is set to expire, the executive will not be entitled to receive any payments or benefits other than any accrued compensation, any unpaid prior year’s bonus, rights to indemnification and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and as otherwise required by law.
If the executive’s employment is terminated as a result of his or her death or disability, we will pay him or her or his or her estate, as applicable, any accrued compensation and any unpaid prior year’s bonus.
Our employment agreements with Messrs. Baluch and Armstrong, Ms. Masson-Hurlburt, Dr. Mounts and Dr. David each contain a non-compete provision that provides that during the employment and for a specified period immediately following the executive’s separation from employment for any reason, the executive is prohibited from engaging in any business involving the development or commercialization of a preventive anti-infective product that would be a direct competitor of Neutrolin or a product containing taurolidine or any other product being actively developed or produced by us within the United States and the European Union (or in the case of Mr. Baluch, Dr. David, Ms. Masson-Hurlburt and Mr. Armstrong, worldwide) on the date of termination of his or her employment.
Tax and Accounting Considerations
U.S. federal income tax generally limits the tax deductibility of compensation we pay to our Named Executive Officers and certain other officers to $1.0 million each in the year the compensation becomes taxable to the executive officers. Although deductibility of compensation is preferred, tax deductibility is not a primary objective of our compensation programs. Rather, we seek to maintain flexibility in how we compensate our executive officers so as to meet a broader set of corporate and strategic goals and the needs of stockholders, and as such, we may be limited in our ability to deduct amounts of compensation from time to time. Accounting rules require us to expense the cost of our stock option grants. Because of option expensing and the impact of dilution on our stockholders, we pay close attention to, among other factors, the type of equity awards we grant and the number and value of the shares underlying such awards.
Pension Benefits
We do not maintain any qualified or nonqualified defined benefit pension plans. As a result, none of our Named Executive Officers participate in or have benefits under qualified or nonqualified defined benefit pension plans sponsored by us. Our Compensation Committee may elect to adopt qualified or nonqualified benefit plans in the future if it determines that doing so is in our best interests.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
None of our Named Executive Officers participate in nonqualified defined contribution plans or other nonqualified deferred compensation plans maintained by us. Our Compensation Committee may elect to provide our officers and other employees with nonqualified defined contribution or other nonqualified deferred compensation benefits in the future if it determines that doing so is in our best interests.
27
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth information with respect to compensation earned by our Named Executive Officers in the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
($)
|
|
Option Awards
($)
|
|
Restricted
Stock
Units
Awards
($)
|
|
Non-equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
|
|
All Other
Compensation
($)
|
|
Total
($)
|
Khoso Baluch
|
|
2020
|
|
425,000
|
|
|
428,583
|
|
—
|
|
340,000
|
(5)
|
|
40,088
|
(6)
|
|
1,233,671
|
Chief Executive Officer(1)
|
|
2019
|
|
387,885
|
|
|
1,133,600
|
|
—
|
|
248,000
|
(5)
|
|
26,344
|
(6)
|
|
1,795,829
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Matthew David(2)
|
|
2020
|
|
209,423
|
|
|
768,386
|
|
—
|
|
99,000
|
(4)
|
|
20,866
|
(7)
|
|
1,097,675
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
2019
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Phoebe Mounts(3)
|
|
2020
|
|
350,000
|
|
|
408,070
|
|
—
|
|
163,333
|
(5)
|
|
9,745
|
(7)
|
|
931,148
|
Executive Vice President and General Counsel and Head of Regulatory, Compliance and Legal
|
|
2019
|
|
232,885
|
|
|
426,790
|
|
—
|
|
84,000
|
(5)
|
|
2,479
|
(7)
|
|
746,154
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Armstrong(4)
|
|
2020
|
|
322,635
|
|
|
332,420
|
|
—
|
|
112,875
|
(5)
|
|
19,388
|
(8)
|
|
787,318
|
Executive Vice President for Technical Operations
|
|
2019
|
|
310,000
|
|
|
57,195
|
|
—
|
|
86,800
|
(5)
|
|
11,001
|
(8)
|
|
464,996
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elizabeth Masson-Hurlburt
|
|
2020
|
|
291,792
|
|
|
332,420
|
|
—
|
|
136,500
|
(5)
|
|
35,561
|
(7)
|
|
796,273
|
Executive Vice President and Head of Clinical Operations
|
|
2019
|
|
280,000
|
|
|
298,504
|
|
—
|
|
67,200
|
(5)
|
|
25,734
|
(7)
|
|
671,438
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert W. Cook
|
|
2020
|
|
242,403
|
(10)
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
2,615
|
(7)
|
|
245,018
|
Chief Financial Officer(9)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2020
The following table contains certain information concerning unexercised options for the Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2020.
Name
|
|
Number of
Shares
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#) –
Exercisable
|
|
Number of
Shares
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#) –
Unexercisable
|
|
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards: Number of
Shares
Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options
(#)
|
|
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
|
|
Option Expiration
Date
|
Khoso Baluch(1)
|
|
310,000
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
12.60
|
|
10/03/2026
|
|
|
55,600
|
|
14,000
|
|
—
|
|
8.30
|
|
01/10/2029
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
90,000
|
|
—
|
|
6.82
|
|
09/26/2029
|
|
|
25,157
|
|
75,473
|
|
—
|
|
5.63
|
|
02/25/2030
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Matthew David
|
|
22,167
|
|
83,000
|
|
19,833
|
|
4.08
|
|
05/11/2030
|
|
|
22,167
|
|
83,000
|
|
19,833
|
|
5.63
|
|
05/11/2030
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Phoebe Mounts
|
|
28,500
|
|
31,500
|
|
10,000
|
|
7.92
|
|
05/01/2029
|
|
|
6,191
|
|
18,573
|
|
—
|
|
5.63
|
|
02/25/2030
|
|
|
12,500
|
|
37,500
|
|
—
|
|
4.08
|
|
05/11/2030
|
|
|
12,500
|
|
37,500
|
|
—
|
|
5.63
|
|
05/11/2030
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Armstrong(2)
|
|
2,000
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
7.60
|
|
11/14/2024
|
|
|
3,000
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
16.25
|
|
07/28/2025
|
|
|
40,000
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
12.55
|
|
03/08/2026
|
|
|
6,600
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
10.90
|
|
03/01/2027
|
|
|
6,255
|
|
1,575
|
|
—
|
|
8.30
|
|
01/10/2029
|
|
|
6,191
|
|
18,573
|
|
—
|
|
5.63
|
|
02/25/2030
|
|
|
9,375
|
|
28,125
|
|
—
|
|
4.08
|
|
05/11/2030
|
|
|
9,375
|
|
28,125
|
|
—
|
|
5.63
|
|
05/11/2030
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elizabeth Masson-Hurlburt
|
|
35,400
|
|
18,600
|
|
—
|
|
1.45
|
|
3/19/2028
|
|
|
16,680
|
|
4,200
|
|
—
|
|
8.30
|
|
01/10/2029
|
|
|
6,191
|
|
18,573
|
|
—
|
|
5.63
|
|
02/25/2030
|
|
|
9,375
|
|
28,125
|
|
—
|
|
4.08
|
|
05/11/2030
|
|
|
9,375
|
|
28,125
|
|
—
|
|
5.63
|
|
05/11/2030
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert Cook
|
|
11,300
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
8.30
|
|
11/18/2021
|
|
|
44,900
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
8.45
|
|
11/18/2021
|
29
Option Repricings
We did not engage in any repricings or other modifications to any of our Named Executive Officers’ outstanding options during the year ended December 31, 2020.
Potential Payments on a Qualifying Termination
If the severance payments called for in our employment agreements with our Named Executive Officers had been triggered on December 31, 2020, we would have been obligated to make the following payments:
Name
|
|
Cash Severance Payment
($ per month) and (# of months paid)
|
|
Benefits
($ per month) and
(# of months paid)
|
|
Number of Options
(# that would vest) and
($ market value)(1)
|
Khoso Baluch
|
|
$
|
35,417
|
(2)
|
|
12 mos.
|
|
$
|
2,952
|
|
12 mos.
|
|
179,473
|
|
$
|
190,751
|
Matthew David
|
|
$
|
27,500
|
(3)
|
|
9 mos.
|
|
$
|
3,711
|
|
9 mos.
|
|
166,000
|
|
$
|
427,450
|
Phoebe Mounts
|
|
$
|
29,167
|
(4)
|
|
9 mos.
|
|
$
|
936
|
|
9 mos.
|
|
125,073
|
|
$
|
226,556
|
John Armstrong
|
|
$
|
27,083
|
(5)
|
|
9 mos.
|
|
$
|
2,186
|
|
9 mos.
|
|
76,398
|
|
$
|
178,275
|
Elizabeth Masson-Hurlburt
|
|
$
|
24,500
|
(6)
|
|
9 mos.
|
|
$
|
3,720
|
|
9 mos.
|
|
97,623
|
|
$
|
289,503
|
30
AUDITOR AND AUDIT COMMITTEE MATTERS
Report of the Audit Committee
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, which were audited by Friedman LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee discussed with Friedman LLP the matters required to be discussed pursuant to Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) Auditing Standard 16 (Communication with Audit Committee) and the SEC. The Audit Committee received the written disclosures and letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence. The Audit Committee also considered whether the provision of services other than the audit of our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 were compatible with maintaining Friedman LLP’s independence.
Based on the review and discussions referred to in the foregoing paragraph, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 for filing with the SEC.
All members of our Audit Committee are independent under SEC regulation and Rule 5605(c) of the Nasdaq Global Markets Listing Rules. The financial literacy requirements of the SEC require that each member of our Audit Committee be able to read and understand fundamental financial statements. In addition, at least one member of our Audit Committee must qualify as an audit committee financial expert, as defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC, and have financial sophistication in accordance with the Nasdaq Global Markets Listing Rules 5605(c). Our Board has determined that each of Mr. Lefkowitz, Mr. Duncan and Dr. Dunton qualifies as an audit committee financial expert.
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
Steven Lefkowitz, Chairman
Gregory Duncan
Alan W. Dunton
31
Fees Paid to the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The following table sets forth fees billed to us by Friedman LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, for services relating to: auditing our annual financial statements; reviewing our financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q; reviewing registration statements during 2020 and 2019; financing activities in 2020 and 2019; and services rendered in connection with tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning, and all other fees for services rendered.
|
|
2020
|
|
2019
|
Audit Fees(1)
|
|
$
|
153,000
|
|
$
|
188,790
|
Audit Related Fees(2)
|
|
|
37,000
|
|
|
—
|
Tax Fees(3)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
All Other Fees
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
Total
|
|
$
|
190,000
|
|
$
|
188,790
|
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
Pursuant to its charter, the Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving in advance any audit and any permissible non-audit engagement or relationship between us and our independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee may delegate to one or more designated members of the Audit Committee the authority to grant pre-approvals, provided such approvals are presented to the Audit Committee at a subsequent meeting. If the Audit Committee elects to establish pre-approval policies and procedures regarding non-audit services, the Audit Committee must be informed of each non-audit service provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. Audit Committee pre-approval of audit and non-audit services will not be required if the engagement for the services is entered into pursuant to pre-approval policies and procedures, provided the policies and procedures are detailed as to the particular service, the Audit Committee is informed of each service provided and such policies and procedures do not include delegation of the Audit Committee’s responsibilities under the Exchange Act to our management. Audit Committee pre-approval of non-audit services (other than review and attestation services) also will not be required if such services fall within available exceptions established by the SEC. All services performed by our independent registered public accounting firm during 2020 were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
32
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Related Party Transactions
None since the beginning of 2020.
Procedures for Review and Approval of Transactions with Related Persons
Pursuant to the Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving all related party transactions as defined under Item 404 of Regulation S-K, after reviewing each such transaction for potential conflicts of interests and other improprieties. Our policies and procedures for review and approval of transactions with related persons are in writing in our Code of Conduct and Ethics available on our website at www.cormedix.com under the “Investor Relations — Corporate Governance” tab.
STOCKHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS
Stockholders may send any communications regarding our Company’s business to the Board in care of our Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices located at 300 Connell Drive, Suite 4200, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey 07922. The Corporate Secretary will forward all such communications to the addressee.
33
DEADLINE FOR STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2022 ANNUAL MEETING
Stockholders who intend to present proposals at the Company’s 2022 annual meeting of stockholders under SEC Rule 14a-8 must ensure that such proposals are received by the Secretary of the Company no later than July 1, 2022. Such proposals must meet the requirements of the SEC to be eligible for inclusion in the Company’s 2022 proxy materials. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the date of annual meeting for 2022 is changed by more than 30 days from the date of the Annual Meeting for 2021, all stockholder proposals must be submitted a reasonable time before a solicitation is made.
In accordance with our bylaws, stockholder proposals, including stockholder nominations for candidates for election as directors, that are intended to be presented by stockholders at the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders but not submitted for inclusion in the proxy statement for our 2022 Annual Meeting of stockholders pursuant to Rule 14a-8, must be received by us no earlier than August 11, 2022 and no later than September 10, 2022, unless we change the date of our 2022 annual meeting more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after December 9, 2022, in which case stockholder proposals must be received by us not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by us.
DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO STOCKHOLDERS SHARING AN ADDRESS
The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies to deliver a single copy of proxy materials to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless a company has received contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders at that address. Upon request, we will promptly deliver a separate copy of proxy materials to one or more stockholders at a shared address to which a single copy of proxy materials was delivered. Stockholders may request a separate copy of proxy materials by contacting us either by calling (908) 517-9500 or by mailing a request to 300 Connell Drive, Suite 4200, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey 07922. Stockholders at a shared address who receive multiple copies of proxy materials may request to receive a single copy of proxy materials in the future in the same manner as described above.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 as filed with the SEC is accessible free of charge on its website at www.sec.gov. It contains audited financial statements covering the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. You can request a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K free of charge by calling (908) 517-9500 or by mailing a request to our Corporate Secretary, 300 Connell Drive, Suite 4200, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey 07922. Please include your contact information with the request.
INSTRUCTIONS TO CORMEDIX INC. 2021 VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING
To attend the 2021 Annual Meeting, stockholders will need to access www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/
CRMD2021 and enter your control number found on your proxy card.
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Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date Signature (Joint Owners) Date TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. D61631-P62797 Nominees: 01) Janet Dillione 02) Alan W. Dunton 03) Myron Kaplan 04) Steven Lefkowitz 05) Paulo F. Costa 06) Greg Duncan 4. To ratify the appointment of Friedman LLP as our independent registered public accounting rm for the scal year ending December 31, 2021.1. 3. To approve on a non-binding advisory basis the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation. The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR proposal 2. The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR proposal 4. The Board of Directors recommends you vote 3 YEARS on proposal 3. 2. To approve on a non-binding advisory basis our executive compensation. NOTE: To act upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. 1. Election of Directors For All Withhold All For All Except For Against Abstain For Against Abstain Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other duciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized ofcer.. CORMEDIX INC. To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below. The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following: CORMEDIX INC. 300 CONNELL DRIVE SUITE 4200 BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ 07922 3 Years 1 Year 2 Years Abstain VOTE BY INTERNET Before The Meeting - Go to www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information. Vote by 11:59 P.M. ET on December 8, 2021. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. During The Meeting - Go to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ CRMD2021 You may attend the meeting via the Internet and vote during the meeting. Have the information that is printed in the box marked by the arrow available and follow the instructions. VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions. Vote by 11:59 P.M. ET on December 8, 2021. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting: The Notice and Proxy Statement and Form 10-K are available at www.proxyvote.com D61632-P62797 CORMEDIX INC. Annual Meeting of Stockholders December 9, 2021 9:00 AM This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors The stockholder(s) hereby appoint(s) Matthew David and Phoebe Mounts, or either of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint his or her substitute, and hereby authorize(s) them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this ballot, all of the shares of common stock of CORMEDIX INC. that the stockholder(s) is/are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 9:00 AM, EST on December 9, 2021, virtually at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CRMD2021, and any adjournment or postponement thereof. This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein. If no such direction is made, this proxy will be voted in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendations. Continued and to be signed on reverse side