SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )

 

 

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Definitive Proxy Statement

Definitive Additional Materials

Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

 

 

NAVIDEA BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

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

 

 

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2020 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

 

July 31, 2020

 

 

Dear Stockholder:

 

You are cordially invited to join us for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. on September 10, 2020 at 9:00 am Eastern Time. Due to the public health impact of the coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) pandemic, the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be a completely virtual meeting conducted via webcast. The matters on the meeting agenda are described in the Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and proxy statement which accompany this letter.

 

We hope you will be able join us for the meeting, but regardless of your plans, we ask that you please complete, sign, and date the enclosed proxy card and return it in the envelope provided, or take advantage of the opportunity to vote online or by telephone, so that your shares will be represented at the meeting.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ Jed A. Latkin

                                                                             

Jed A. Latkin

 

Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer

and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

NAVIDEA BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

4995 Bradenton Avenue, Suite 240

Dublin, Ohio 43017

 

NOTICE OF 2020 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

  

 

To the Stockholders of NAVIDEA BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC.:

 

The 2020 Annual Meeting of the Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be a completely virtual meeting conducted via webcast on September 10, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time for the following purposes:

 

 

1.

To elect two directors, each to serve for a term of three years or until their successor is duly elected and qualified;

 

 

2.

To amend the Company’s 2014 Stock Incentive Plan to increase the aggregate number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the plan by 1,000,000 shares;

 

 

4.

To ratify the appointment of Marcum LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2020; and

 

 

5.

To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

 

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on July 17, 2020, as the Record Date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote during the Annual Meeting and any adjournment thereof. A list of stockholders will be available for examination by any stockholder during the Annual Meeting and for a period of 10 days before the Annual Meeting at the executive offices of the Company. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person.

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to be Held on September 10, 2020: The proxy statement and annual report to security holders are available at www.proxyvote.com.

 

This is not a form for voting and presents only an overview of the more complete proxy materials, which contain important information and are available on the Internet or by mail. We encourage stockholders to access and review the proxy materials before voting.

 

Whether or not you plan to join us for the Annual Meeting, please complete, sign, and date the enclosed proxy card and return it in the envelope provided, or take advantage of the opportunity to vote your proxy online or by telephone.

 

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

 

/s/ Jed A. Latkin

 

Jed A. Latkin

 

Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer

and Chief Financial Officer

 

Dublin, Ohio

July 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

NAVIDEA BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

_______________________________

 

2020 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

September 10, 2020

_______________________________

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

Dated July 31, 2020

_______________________________

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

Date, Time and Place of Annual Meeting. The 2020 Annual Meeting of the Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. will be held on September 10, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Annual Meeting will be held on a virtual-only basis with no physical location. You will be able to participate in the virtual meeting online and vote your shares electronically during the meeting. The meeting may be accessed online at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/NAVB2020. When prompted, enter your 16-digit control number included in your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”), on your proxy card, or on the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials. Questions will not be taken during the meeting, however you may submit questions in advance of the meeting via the internet at www.proxyvote.com. Questions will be read and addressed during the meeting.

 

Solicitation. This proxy statement is furnished to the stockholders of Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Navidea,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”), in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”) of proxies to be voted at the Annual Meeting to be held on September 10, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, and any adjournment thereof. We have elected to furnish proxy materials and our 2019 annual report to many of our stockholders over the Internet pursuant to the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). On or about July 31, 2020, we mailed to most of our stockholders the Notice containing instructions on how to gain access to our proxy statement and annual report and how to vote online. A copy of the proxy statement and annual report were sent to all other stockholders by mail on or about July 31, 2020, while brokers, banks and other nominees who hold shares on behalf of beneficial owners will be sending their own similar notices to beneficial owners. The Notice also contains instructions on how you can elect to receive a printed copy of the proxy statement and our 2019 annual report, if you only received a Notice by mail. All expenses in connection with this solicitation of proxies will be paid by us. Proxies will be solicited principally by mail, but directors, officers and certain other individuals authorized by us may personally solicit proxies. We will reimburse custodians, nominees or other persons for their out-of-pocket expenses in sending proxy materials to beneficial owners.

 

You will need the 16-digit control number included on the Notice or your proxy card or on the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials or included in the email to you if you received the proxy materials by email in order to be able to vote your shares during the Annual Meeting. If you lose your 16-digit control number, you may join the Annual Meeting as a “Guest” but you will not be able to vote or access the list of stockholders as of the Record Date. You will need to obtain your own Internet access if you choose to attend the Annual Meeting online and/or vote over the Internet.

 

Company Address. The address of our principal executive offices is 4995 Bradenton Avenue, Suite 240, Dublin, Ohio 43017. Our telephone number is 614-793-7500.

 

Voting Rights. Stockholders of record at the close of business on July 17, 2020 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice of and to vote during the Annual Meeting. As of that date, there were 25,445,661 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”) outstanding and no shares of any series of preferred stock outstanding (“Preferred Stock”). Each holder of Common Stock of record on July 17, 2020, is entitled to one vote per share held with respect to all matters which may be brought before the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan to join us for the Annual Meeting, please carefully review the enclosed proxy statement and then cast your vote, regardless of the number of shares you hold. If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote over the Internet, by telephone, or by completing, signing, dating and mailing to us the accompanying proxy card in the postage-prepaid envelope provided.

 

Authorization. The shares represented by the accompanying proxy will be voted as directed if the proxy is properly completed, signed, and received by us or otherwise properly voted on the Internet or by telephone. The proxy will be voted at the discretion of the persons acting under the proxy to transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournment thereof. If you are a holder of record and you sign, date, and send in your proxy but do not indicate how you want to vote, your proxy will be voted “For” each of the proposals to be voted on during the Annual Meeting.

 

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Revocation. Any stockholder returning the accompanying proxy has the power to revoke it at any time before its exercise by giving notice of revocation to the Company, by duly executing and delivering to the Company a proxy card bearing a later date, or by voting online during the Annual Meeting. Please note, however, if your shares are held of record by a broker, bank, or other nominee and you wish to vote during the Annual Meeting, you must obtain from the record holder a proxy issued in your name.

 

Tabulation. Under Section 216 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) and our bylaws (“Bylaws”), the presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock is necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business during the Annual Meeting. Shares represented by signed proxies that are returned to the Company will be counted toward the quorum even if they are marked as “Abstain,” “Against” or “Withhold Authority” on one or more, or all matters, or they are not marked at all. Brokers, banks, or other nominees who hold their customers’ shares in street name, may, under the applicable rules of the exchanges and other self-regulatory organizations of which such brokers, banks, or other nominees are members, sign and submit proxies for such shares and may vote such shares on routine matters. The proposal to ratify the appointment of Marcum LLP (“Marcum”) as our independent registered public accounting firm is considered a routine matter. Brokers, banks, or other nominees may not vote on matters considered non-routine without specific instructions from the customer who owns the shares. The proposals to elect two directors and to amend our 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”) are not considered routine matters. Proxies signed and submitted by brokers, banks, or other nominees that have not been voted on certain matters are referred to as broker non-votes. Such proxies count toward the establishment of a quorum. We encourage you to provide voting instructions to any broker, bank or other nominee that holds your shares by carefully following the instructions provided in the notice from such entity.

 

Under the DGCL and our Bylaws, the election of each director nominee requires the favorable vote of a plurality of all votes cast by the holders of our Common Stock during a meeting for which a quorum is present. Proxies that are marked “Withhold Authority” and broker non-votes will not be counted toward a nominee’s achievement of a plurality and, thus, will have no effect.

 

Under the 2014 Plan, Section 711 of the NYSE American LLC Company Guide and our Bylaws, the amendment to the 2014 Plan requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of our Common Stock represented in person or by proxy during the Annual Meeting. For purposes of determining the number of shares of our Common Stock voting on the amendment, abstentions will be counted and will have the effect of a negative vote; broker non-votes will not be counted and thus will have the effect of a negative vote.

 

The ratification of Marcum as our independent registered public accounting firm requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of our Common Stock represented in person or by proxy during the Annual Meeting. Abstentions will be counted as represented and entitled to vote and will therefore have the effect of a vote “Against” each proposal. Broker non-votes are disregarded and will have no effect.

 

Please note that if your shares are held of record by a bank, broker, or other nominee and you provide instructions to that nominee on a form you received from the nominee, you may revoke or change your voting instructions only by contacting the nominee who holds your shares. You may not vote online during the Annual Meeting unless you obtain a legal proxy from the bank, broker, or other nominee. In such event, your online participation in the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke prior voting instructions.

 

Effect of Not Casting Your Vote. If you hold your shares in street name it is critical that you cast your vote if you want it to count. If you hold your shares in street name and you do not instruct your bank, broker, or other nominee how to vote, no votes will be cast on your behalf for any of the proposals to be considered during the Annual Meeting; except, your bank, broker, or other nominee will continue to have discretion to vote any uninstructed shares on the proposal to ratify the appointment of Marcum as our independent registered public accounting firm.

 

Virtual Meeting. We will be hosting the Annual Meeting live via the Internet, due to an abundance of caution related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We currently intend to resume holding in-person meetings for our 2021 annual meeting of stockholders and thereafter, assuming normal circumstances.

 

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A summary of the information you need to virtually participate in the Annual Meeting online is provided below:

 

 

Any stockholder on the record date can attend the Annual Meeting via the Internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/NAVB2020

 

 

Webcast starts at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time

 

 

Online check-in will begin at 8:45 a.m. Eastern Time

 

 

Please have the 16-digit number printed in the Notice, the proxy card or on the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials

 

 

Stockholders may vote while attending the Annual Meeting on the Internet

 

 

Webcast replay of the Annual Meeting will be available at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/NAVB2020 beginning September 11, 2020 until September 10, 2021

 

Technical assistance accessing or participating in the Annual Meeting. If you encounter any difficulties accessing the Annual Meeting during the check-in or meeting time, please call the technical support number that will be posted on the virtual stockholder meeting log-in page. Technical support will be available starting at 8:45 a.m. Eastern Time on September 10, 2020.

 

Questions at the Annual Meeting. If you would like to submit a question, you may do so in advance of the Annual Meeting at www.proxyvote.com after logging in with your 16-digit control number.

 

We ask that you limit your questions to those that are relevant to the Annual Meeting or our business. Questions may not be addressed if they are, among other things, profane, irrelevant to our business, related to pending or threatened litigation, disorderly, or repetitious of statements already made. In addition, questions may be grouped by topic by our management with a representative question read aloud and answered. Questions will be addressed in the Q&A portion of the Annual Meeting, and we may also respond to questions on an individual basis or by posting answers on our website after the Annual Meeting.

  

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PROPOSAL NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

Nominees for Election as Directors

 

We presently have five directors on our Board of Directors, comprised of three classes with terms expiring at the annual meetings in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively, and each containing, two, one and two director(s), respectively. During the Annual Meeting, the nominees to the Board of Directors receiving the highest number of votes will be elected as directors to a term of three years expiring in 2023.

 

Our Compensation, Nominating and Governance (“CNG”) Committee has nominated Mr. Adam D. Cutler and Mr. Jed A. Latkin for election as directors, each to serve for a term of three years. Stockholders may not vote for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named.

 

Only “For” or “Withhold Authority” votes are counted in determining whether a plurality has been cast in favor of a director nominee. You cannot abstain in the election of a director, and broker non-votes are not counted. We have no reason to believe that the nominees will not stand for election or serve as directors. In the event that a nominee fails to stand for election, the proxies will be voted for the election of another person designated by the persons named in the proxy. See the section of this proxy statement entitled “General Information—Tabulation.”

 

Set forth below is current biographical information about our directors, including the qualifications, experience and skills that make them suitable for service as a director. Each listed director’s respective experience and qualifications described below led the CNG Committee to conclude that such director is qualified to serve as a member of our Board of Directors.

 

The Board of Directors has nominated the following persons to serve as directors of the Company until the 2023 annual meeting:

 

 Adam D. Cutler has served as a director of Navidea since December 2018. Mr. Cutler is a biotechnology executive with over 20 years of experience in equity research, investor relations, capital markets, business development, finance, and management consulting.  Mr. Cutler joined Molecular Templates, Inc. as its Chief Financial Officer in November 2017. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Arbutus Biopharma Corporation, where he was responsible for investor relations and contributed to the company’s business development and corporate finance efforts from March 2015 to November 2017. From 2012 to 2015, he was a Managing Director for The Trout Group LLC and Trout Capital LLC, where he executed financings and advised public and private life science companies on investor relations and capital raising strategies.  From 2000 to 2012, Mr. Cutler worked as a biotechnology equity research analyst with Credit Suisse, Canaccord Genuity, JMP Securities, and Bank of America Securities.  He also worked in healthcare consulting as an Analyst at The Frankel Group and a Consultant for Ernst & Young LLP.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Inmed Pharmaceuticals.  He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Brandeis University.

 

Jed A. Latkin has served as Chief Executive Officer of Navidea since October 2018, and as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Navidea since May 2017. Mr. Latkin also served as Interim Chief Operating Officer of Navidea from April 2016 to April 2017. Mr. Latkin has more than twenty years of experience in the financial industry supporting many investments in major markets including biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. He most recently was employed by Nagel Avenue Capital, LLC since 2010 and in that capacity he provided contracted services as a Portfolio Manager, Asset Based Lending for Platinum Partners Value Arbitrage Fund L.P. Mr. Latkin has been responsible for a large diversified portfolio of asset-based investments in varying industries, including product manufacturing, agriculture, energy, and healthcare. In connection with this role, he served as Chief Executive Officer of End of Life Petroleum Holdings, LLC and Black Elk Energy, LLC, Chief Financial Officer of Viper Powersports, Inc. and West Ventures, LLC, and Portfolio Manager of Precious Capital, LLC. Mr. Latkin served on the board of directors for Viper Powersports, Inc. from 2012 to 2013 and served on the boards of directors of the Renewable Fuels Association and Buffalo Lake Advanced Biofuels. Mr. Latkin earned a B.A from Rutgers University and a M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.

 

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the director nominees named above.

 

Director whose term continues until the 2021 annual meeting:

 

Claudine Bruck, Ph.D., has served as a director of Navidea since March 2018. Dr. Bruck is co-founder and has served as Chief Executive Officer of Prolifagen LLC, a start-up company developing a microRNA-based medicine for tissue regeneration, since June 2016. She is also a course director at University of Pennsylvania’s Institute of Translational Medicine and Applied Technology, and Chief Scientific Officer of SAPVAX LLC for which she is a half-time employee to BioMotiv LLC. Dr. Bruck is a member of the board of directors of Annovis Bio, Inc. (ANVS), a biotechnology company focused on development of medicines for neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Bruck joined GlaxoSmithKline (“GSK”) in 1985 to build GSK’s HIV vaccine program. In her role in GSK’s vaccine group, Dr. Bruck was instrumental in the development of GSK’s HPV vaccine (Cervarix), and headed their cancer vaccine program from inception to Phase 2 before joining the drug discovery group of GSK. She held several roles in the drug discovery group, from Head of Clinical Immunology (2004-2005), to VP and Head of Biology for the Center of Excellence for External Drug Discovery (2005-2008), to VP and Head of a newly formed ophthalmology R&D group (2008-2015). Dr. Bruck holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Brussels.

 

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Directors whose terms continue until the 2022 annual meeting:

 

Y. Michael Rice has served as a director of Navidea since May 2016. Mr. Rice is a partner of LifeSci Advisors, LLC and LifeSci Capital, LLC, companies which he co-founded in March 2010. Prior to co-founding LifeSci Advisors and LifeSci Capital, Mr. Rice was the co-head of health care investment banking at Canaccord Adams, where he was involved in debt and equity financing. Mr. Rice was also a Managing Director at ThinkEquity Partners where he was responsible for managing Healthcare Capital Markets, including the structuring and execution of numerous transactions. Prior to that, Mr. Rice served as a Managing Director at Bank of America serving large hedge funds and private equity healthcare funds. Previously, he was a Managing Director at JPMorgan/Hambrecht & Quist. Mr. Rice currently serves on the board of directors of RDD Pharma, a specialty pharmaceuticals company. Mr. Rice received a B.A. from the University of Maryland.

 

S. Kathryn Rouan, Ph.D., has served as a director of Navidea since December 2018. Since July 2019, she has also served as a non-executive director of Viking Therapeutics, Inc. Dr. Rouan served as the SVP and Head of Projects, Clinical Platforms and Sciences (“PCPS”) at GlaxoSmithKline (“GSK”) from May 2016 to November 2018 following a 29-year career at GSK. From December 2013 to November 2018 she was also a member of the R&D Executive Management Team and R&D Governance Boards. The PCPS organization within GSK encompasses the Global Clinical Operations, Statistics and Programming, Clinical Pharmacology, GCP Quality, Third Party Resourcing and Project Management functions and includes approximately 1,800 staff in 20 countries. Dr. Rouan first joined GSK in 1989 with a background in Pharmaceutical Sciences, focusing on formulation development of protein pharmaceuticals.  In 1993, Dr. Rouan moved into Project Leadership and Management becoming VP and Head of Metabolism and Pulmonary Project Management in 1999. She continued to lead projects in a number of therapeutic areas including Cardiovascular, Immunoinflammation and Gastroenterology therapy. In 2007, Dr. Rouan led the development, submission and approval of Arzerra (ofatumumab) in refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In 2012, she became Head of Biopharmaceutical Development responsible for delivery of GSK’s portfolio of biopharmaceutical medicines. In December 2013, Dr. Rouan was appointed SVP and Head of R&D Stiefel, GSK’s Dermatology therapy area unit.  Dr. Rouan holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Rhode Island, and a B.Pharm. from the University of London.

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Directors

 

Set forth below are the names and committee assignments of the persons who constitute our Board of Directors.

 

Name

 

Age

 

Committee(s)

         

Claudine Bruck, Ph.D.

 

65

 

Audit; Compensation, Nominating and Governance (Chair)

         

Adam D. Cutler

 

46

 

Audit (Chair); Compensation, Nominating and Governance

         

Jed A. Latkin

 

46

 

         

Y. Michael Rice

 

55

 

Audit; Compensation, Nominating and Governance

         

S. Kathryn Rouan, Ph.D.

 

58

 

Compensation, Nominating and Governance

 

Director Qualifications

 

Our Board of Directors believes that individuals who serve on the Board of Directors should have demonstrated notable or significant achievements in their respective field; should possess the requisite intelligence, education and experience to make a significant contribution to the Board of Directors and bring a range of skills, diverse perspectives and backgrounds to its deliberations; and should have the highest ethical standards, a strong sense of professionalism and intense dedication to serving the interests of our stockholders. The following are qualifications, experience and skills for Board members which are important to our business and its future:

 

 

General Management. Directors who have served in senior leadership positions bring experience and perspective in analyzing, shaping, and overseeing the execution of important operational and policy issues at a senior level. These directors’ insights and guidance, and their ability to assess and respond to situations encountered in serving on our Board of Directors, are enhanced by their leadership experience developed at businesses or organizations that operated on a global scale, faced significant competition, or involved other evolving business models.

 

 

Industry Knowledge. Because we are a pharmaceutical development company, education or experience in our industry, including medicine, pharmaceutical development, marketing, distribution, or the regulatory environment, is important because such experience assists our Directors in understanding and advising our Company.

 

 

Business Development/Strategic Planning. Directors who have a background in strategic planning, business development, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, and teamwork and process improvement provide insight into developing and implementing strategies for growing our business.

 

 

Finance/Accounting/Control. Knowledge of capital markets, capital structure, financial control, audit, reporting, financial planning, and forecasting are important qualities of our directors because such qualities assist in understanding, advising, and overseeing our Company’s capital structure, financing and investing activities, financial reporting, and internal control of such activities.

 

 

Board Experience/Governance. Directors who have served on other public company boards can offer advice and insights with regard to the dynamics and operation of a board of directors, the relations of a board to the chief executive officer and other management personnel, the importance of particular agenda and oversight matters, and oversight of a changing mix of strategic, operational, and compliance-related matters.

 

Board of Directors Meetings

 

Our Board of Directors held a total of 14 meetings in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and each of the directors attended at least 75 percent of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board of Directors and committees (if any) on which he or she served. It is our policy that all directors attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. However, conflicts and unforeseen events may prevent the attendance of a director, or directors. All then-current members of our Board of Directors attended the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in person.

 

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Board of Directors Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight

 

Our Board of Directors has determined that it is generally in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders that the roles of the Chairman of the Board of Directors (the “Board Chair”) and Chief Executive Officer be held by different individuals within our organization. Our Chief Executive Officer is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the Company and the day-to-day leadership and performance of the Company, while the Board Chair provides strategic guidance, presides over meetings of the full Board of Directors, and acts as the lead independent director. The Board of Directors believes that this structure helps facilitate the role of the independent directors in the oversight of the Company and the active participation of the independent directors in setting agendas and establishing priorities and procedures that work for the Board of Directors. The Board Chair also acts as a key liaison between the Board of Directors and management. Moreover, in addition to feedback provided during the course of meetings of the Board of Directors, our independent directors have executive sessions led by the Board Chair. Our Board Chair acts as a liaison between the independent directors and the Chief Executive Officer regarding any specific feedback or issues following an executive session of independent directors, provides the Chief Executive Officer with input regarding agenda items for Board of Director and committee meetings, and coordinates with the Chief Executive Officer regarding information to be provided to the independent directors in performing their duties. From time to time, particularly during periods of leadership transition, a lead independent director may be appointed until an independent Board Chair is named. Mr. Y. Michael Rice is our current Board Chair.

 

Our Chief Executive Officer and senior management are responsible for the day-to-day management of the risks we face. Our Board of Directors, as a whole and through its committees, has responsibility for the oversight of risk management, including general oversight of (i) the financial exposure of the Company, (ii) risk exposure as related to overall company portfolio and impact on earnings, (iii), oversight for information technology security and risk, and (iv) all systems, processes, and organizational structures and people responsible for finance and risk functions. Certain risks are overseen by committees of the Board of Directors and these committees make reports to the full Board of Directors, including reports on noteworthy risk management issues. Financial risks are overseen by the Audit Committee which meets with management to review the Company’s major financial risk exposure and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures. Compensation risks are overseen by the CNG Committee.

 

Members of the Company’s senior management report to the full Board of Directors about their areas of responsibility, including reports regarding risk within such area of responsibility and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures. Additional review or reporting of risks is conducted as needed or as requested by the Board of Directors or committee.

 

Additionally, starting in the first quarter of 2020, the Board of Directors has included in their regular meetings consideration and discussion of the Company’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic, including with regard to the Company’s operations, financial position and liquidity, communications strategy, personnel management and government affairs engagement, among other items.

 

Director Independence

 

Our Board of Directors has adopted the definition of “independence” as described under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Section 301, Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act and Section 803A of the NYSE American Company Guide. Our Board of Directors has determined that Drs. Bruck and Rouan, and Messrs. Cutler and Rice, meet the independence requirements.

 

 Compensation, Nominating and Governance Committee

 

The CNG Committee of the Board of Directors discharges the Board of Director’s responsibilities relating to the compensation of the Company's directors, executive officers and associates, identifies and recommends to the Board of Directors nominees for election to the Board of Directors, and assists the Board of Directors in the implementation of sound corporate governance principles and practices. With respect to its compensation functions, the CNG Committee evaluates and approves executive officer compensation and reviews and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to director compensation, including incentive or equity-based compensation plans; reviews and evaluates any discussion and analysis of executive officer and director compensation included in the Company’s annual report or proxy statement, and prepares and approves any report on executive officer and director compensation for inclusion in the Company’s annual report or proxy statement required by applicable rules and regulations; and monitors and evaluates, at the Committee’s discretion, matters relating to the compensation and benefits structure of the Company and such other domestic and foreign subsidiaries or affiliates, as it deems appropriate. The members of our CNG Committee are: Claudine Bruck, Ph.D. (Chair), Adam D. Cutler, Y. Michael Rice, and S. Kathryn Rouan, Ph.D.

 

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The CNG Committee held two meetings in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. The Board of Directors adopted a written Compensation, Nominating and Governance Committee Charter on February 26, 2009. A copy of the Compensation, Nominating and Governance Committee Charter is posted on the Company’s website at www.navidea.com.

 

The CNG Committee strives to provide fair compensation to executive officers based on their performance and contribution to the Company and to provide incentives that attract and retain key executives, instill a long-term commitment to the Company, and develop a sense of pride and Company ownership, all in a manner consistent with stockholder interests. In addition, the CNG Committee strives to provide fair compensation to directors, taking into consideration compensation paid to directors of comparable companies and the specific duties of each director.

 

With respect to its nominating and governance functions, the CNG Committee’s purpose is to:

 

 

Assist the Board of Directors by identifying individuals qualified to become board members, and recommend to the Board of Directors the director nominees whenever directors are to be appointed or elected, whether at the next annual meeting of stockholders or otherwise;

 

 

Review the qualifications and independence of the members of the Board of Directors and its various committees on a periodic basis and make any recommendations to the Board of Directors which the CNG Committee may deem appropriate concerning any recommended changes in the composition or membership of the Board of Directors, or any of its committees;

 

 

Develop and recommend to the Board of Directors any policies it may deem appropriate with regard to consideration of director candidates to be recommended to security holders;

 

 

Develop and recommend to the Board of Directors corporate governance principles applicable to the Company;

 

 

Conduct the annual review of the performance of the Board of Directors, the committees of the Board of Directors and Company’s executive management;

 

 

Recommend to the Board of Directors director nominees for each committee; and

 

 

Develop and recommend to the Board of Directors any policies or processes it may deem appropriate for security holders to send communications to the Board of Directors.

 

Our directors play a critical role in guiding our strategic direction and overseeing the management of our Company. Board candidates are considered based on various criteria, such as their broad-based business and professional skills and experiences, a global business and social perspective, concern for long term interests of stockholders, and personal integrity and judgment. In addition, directors must have available time to devote to board activities and to enhance their knowledge of the industry. Accordingly, we seek to attract and retain highly qualified directors who have sufficient time to attend to their substantial duties and responsibilities to our Company. Recent developments in corporate governance and financial reporting have resulted in an increased demand for such highly qualified and productive public company directors. The CNG Committee does not have a formal policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees; however, how a specific nominee contributes to the diversity of the Board of Directors is considered by the CNG Committee in determining candidates for the Board of Directors.

 

The CNG Committee and the Board of Directors consider diversity by identifying a nominee’s experience and background and determining how such experience and background will complement the overall makeup of the Board of Directors. The CNG Committee and the Board of Directors prefer nominees who will contribute to a board that is diverse in terms of business training, experience across a range of industries, leadership, background, and education. We aim to develop a board whose membership is diverse in many ways, including race, gender, and ethnicity. The Board of Directors recognizes that these attributes can play a role in enhancing the dynamics of a board, and we are committed to continuing to make progress in achieving these goals.

 

In September 2017, the Board of Directors adopted formal resolutions requiring the Board of Directors to ensure that our board nominees are chosen from a pool that includes female or minority candidates, and affirming its commitment to a policy of inclusiveness to ensure that:

 

 

Female or minority candidates are routinely sought as part of every board search undertaken by the Company;

 

 

The Board of Directors strives to obtain diverse candidates by expanding director searches to include nominees from the non-traditional backgrounds, including those in government and academia; and

 

 

Board composition shall be periodically revisited to ensure that it reflects the knowledge, experience, skills, expertise, and diversity required for the Board of Directors to fulfill its duties.

 

Two of the Company’s five directors (50% of the non-employee directors) are women.

 

11

 

Our Board of Directors will consider the recommendations of stockholders regarding potential director candidates. In order for stockholder recommendations regarding possible director candidates to be considered by our Board of Directors:

 

 

such recommendations must be provided to the Board of Directors c/o Corporate Secretary, Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., 4995 Bradenton Avenue, Suite 240, Dublin, Ohio 43017, in writing at least 120 days prior to the one-year anniversary date of the Company’s proxy statement released to stockholders in connection with the Annual Meeting; provided, however, that if the date of the Annual Meeting is more than 30 days before or after the first anniversary of the most recently concluded annual meeting, such notice shall be delivered to the Company within a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and send its proxy materials, but not more than seven days after the date of the notice of the Annual Meeting.

 

 

the nominating stockholder must meet the eligibility requirements to submit a valid stockholder proposal under Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act;

 

 

the stockholder must describe the qualifications, attributes, skills or other qualities of the recommended director candidate; and

 

 

the stockholder must follow the procedures set forth in Article III, Section 2 of our Bylaws.

 

Audit Committee

 

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors selects our independent registered public accounting firm with whom the Audit Committee reviews the scope of audit and non-audit assignments and related fees, the accounting principles that we use in financial reporting, and the adequacy of our internal control procedures. The current members of our Audit Committee are: Adam D. Cutler (Chair), Claudine Bruck, Ph.D., and Y. Michael Rice, each of whom is “independent” under Section 803A of the NYSE American Company Guide. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Cutler and Mr. Rice meet the requirements of an “audit committee financial expert” as set forth in Section 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.

 

The Audit Committee held four meetings in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. The Board of Directors adopted a written Amended and Restated Audit Committee Charter on April 30, 2004. A copy of the Amended and Restated Audit Committee Charter is posted on the Company’s website at www.navidea.com.

 

Stockholder Communications

 

The Company welcomes and seeks stockholder engagement throughout the year. Management, as well as our directors, will answer questions from stockholders during the Annual Meeting. We provide regular updates regarding the Company’s performance and strategic actions to the investor community, and we participate in numerous investor conferences, one-on-one meetings, earnings calls, investor days, and educational investor and analyst conversations. Management also regularly engages with individual investors at investor conferences and industry events and participates in teleconferences. We also communicate with stockholders and other stakeholders through various media, including our annual report, proxy statement and other filings with the SEC, news releases and our website. We believe ongoing stockholder engagement allows us to communicate our strategy and respond effectively to any stockholder concerns.

 

Stockholders may send communications to our Board of Directors, or to individual directors or executive officers, by mailing communications in writing to Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., c/o Corporate Secretary, 4995 Bradenton Avenue, Suite 240, Dublin, OH 43017.

 

Executive Officers

 

In addition to Mr. Latkin, the following individual is a senior executive officer of Navidea and serves in the position indicated below:

 

Name

 

Age

 

Position

         

Michael S. Rosol, Ph.D.

 

52

 

Chief Medical Officer

 

Michael S. Rosol, Ph.D., has served as Chief Medical Officer of Navidea since December 2018. Prior to joining Navidea, Dr. Rosol served as Associate Director in the Clinical and Translational Imaging Group at Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research from November 2016 to December 2018. Before that, he held positions as Senior Director of Business Development at Elucid Bioimaging, Inc. where he drove adoption of its Computer-Aided Phenotyping applications from May 2016 to November 2016, and as Chief Scientific Officer of MediLumine, Inc. from October 2015 to May 2016. Prior to those roles, he was the Head of the Translational Imaging Group at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Group from October 2012 to March 2015. His training and experience lie in the fields of biophysics, physiology, and biological/medical imaging, and his work has focused on cardiovascular imaging, preclinical and clinical imaging instrumentation and applications, animal models of human disease, pathophysiology, biomarkers, and imaging in toxicological and clinical trials. He has also served as faculty in Radiology and Director of two academic research imaging facilities. Dr. Rosol holds a Ph.D. from Boston University School of Medicine.

 

12

 

PROPOSAL NO. 2 — APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT OF THE STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

The 2014 Plan currently provides that an aggregate of 750,000 shares of Common Stock are available for awards under the 2014 Plan. Stockholders are being asked to approve an amendment to the 2014 Plan to increase the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the plan by 1,000,000 shares. This proposed amendment of the 2014 Plan will be effective as of September 10, 2020, if approved by our stockholders during the Annual Meeting. The 2014 Plan as proposed to be amended is attached as Appendix B to this proxy statement.

 

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote during the Annual Meeting will be required to approve this amendment to the 2014 Plan as described in this Proposal 2. Abstentions will be counted toward the tabulation of votes cast on this proposal and will have the same effect as negative votes. Broker non-votes are counted towards a quorum, but are not counted for any purpose in determining whether this matter has been approved.

 

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” the adoption of the amendment to the 2014 Plan to increase the number of authorized shares. In making such recommendation, the Board of Directors considered a number of factors, including the following:

 

 

Equity-based compensation awards are a critical element of our overall compensation program. We believe that our long-term incentive compensation program aligns the interests of management, employees and the stockholders to create long-term stockholder value. The amendment to the 2014 Plan will allow us to continue to attract, motivate and retain the Company’s officers, key employees, non-employee directors and consultants.

 

 

We believe the current amount of shares remaining available for grant under the 2014 Plan may not be sufficient in light of our compensation structure and strategy, and that the additional 1,000,000 shares being sought will ensure that we continue to have a sufficient number of shares authorized and available for future awards issued under the 2014 Plan.

 

 

The additional shares will provide the CNG Committee flexibility to grant awards for approximately four years at a rate consistent with the Company’s average usage rate of approximately 250,000 shares per year over the past three fiscal years. Total potential dilution (as a percentage of basic shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding as of July 17, 2020) associated with the 1,000,000 additional shares of the Company’s common stock authorized for grant under the 2014 Plan is approximately 4%.

 

Stockholders are asked to approve the amendment to the 2014 Plan to satisfy NYSE requirements relating to stockholder approval of equity compensation.

 

Administration

 

The 2014 Plan will be administered by the CNG Committee, or such other committee as the Board of Directors shall appoint from time to time, which shall consist of two or more directors, all of whom are intended to satisfy the requirements for an “outside director” under Code Section 162(m), as applicable, a “non-employee director” within the meaning of SEC Rule 16b-3, and an “independent director” under the rules of the NYSE American. The CNG Committee has the discretion to interpret the 2014 Plan and any award or other agreement employed by the Company in the administration of the 2014 Plan. Subject to the provisions of the 2014 Plan, the CNG Committee has the power to:

 

 

determine when and to whom awards will be granted;

 

 

make awards under the 2014 Plan;

 

 

determine the fair market value of shares or other property, where applicable;

 

 

determine the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to each award and any shares acquired pursuant to such awards;

 

 

determine how an award will be settled;

 

 

approve one or more forms of award agreements;

 

 

amend, modify, extend, cancel, or renew any award or waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any award or any shares acquired upon the exercise of an award;

 

 

accelerate, continue, extend, or defer the exercisability of any award or the vesting of any shares acquired upon the exercise of an award;

 

 

prescribe, amend, or rescind any rules and regulations relating to the administration of the 2014 Plan; and

 

 

make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the 2014 Plan.

 

13

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall perform the functions of the CNG Committee for purposes of granting awards to non-employee directors.

 

Eligibility

 

The 2014 Plan gives the CNG Committee full discretion to designate any non-employee director of the Company, employee of the Company or an affiliate, or consultant of the Company or a subsidiary as a participant in the 2014 Plan. The Company currently has four non-employee directors, and the Company and its affiliates currently have approximately 15 employees eligible to participate in the 2014 Plan.

 

Number of Shares and Limitations

 

If our stockholders approve the amendment to the 2014 Plan, the total number of shares of common stock of the Company available for distribution under the 2014 Plan will be 15,000,000, all of which may be granted with respect to incentive stock options (subject to adjustment for future stock splits, stock dividends, and similar changes in the capitalization of the Company).

 

The following shares related to awards are available for issuance again under the 2014 Plan:

 

 

shares related to awards paid in cash;

 

 

shares related to awards that expire, are forfeited, are cancelled, or terminate for any other reason without the delivery of the shares;

 

 

shares equal in number to the shares withheld, surrendered or tendered in payment of the exercise price of an award; and

 

 

shares tendered or withheld in order to satisfy tax withholding obligations.

 

The maximum number of shares for which awards may be granted under the 2014 Plan during any calendar year to any one individual may not exceed 5,000,000 shares. The maximum aggregate cash-based award shall be $5,000,000 per year.

 

Performance Targets

 

Awards under the 2014 Plan may be conditioned upon the attainment of performance targets. Awards may be based on any number and type of performance targets that the CNG Committee determines are desirable. The performance measured may be that of the Company, its affiliates, or business units within the Company or affiliates. In setting performance targets, the CNG Committee may assign payout percentages to various levels of performance that will be applied to reduce or increase the payout connected to the award when performance over a performance period either falls short of or exceeds the performance target.

 

Types of Awards

 

The types of awards that may be granted under the 2014 Plan include incentive and nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units, cash-based awards, and other stock-based awards.

 

Subject to certain restrictions applicable to incentive stock options, awards granted under the 2014 Plan will be exercisable by the participants at such times as are determined by the CNG Committee, but in no event may the term of an award be longer than ten years after the date of grant. In addition to the general characteristics of all of the awards described above, the basic characteristics of awards that may be granted under the 2014 Plan are as follows:

 

Incentive and Nonqualified Stock Options (“ISOs” and “NSOs”). Both incentive and nonqualified stock options may be granted to participants at such exercise prices as the CNG Committee may determine, but the exercise price for any option may not be less than 100% of the fair market value (as defined in the 2014 Plan) of a share of common stock of the Company as of the date the option is granted. Stock options may be granted and exercised at such times as the CNG Committee may determine, except that (a) ISOs may be granted only to employees, (b) no ISOs may be granted more than ten years after the effective date of the 2014 Plan, (c) an option shall not be exercisable more than ten years after the date of grant, and (d) the aggregate grant date fair market value of the shares of common stock of the Company with respect to which ISOs granted under the 2014 Plan and any other plan of the Company first become exercisable in any calendar year for any employee may not exceed $100,000. Additional restrictions apply to an ISO granted to an individual who beneficially owns more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company. As of the Record Date, the closing price of a share of Common Stock was $4.15.

 

14

 

The purchase price payable upon exercise of options generally may be paid in any of the following methods: 

 

 

in cash;

 

 

by authorizing a third party with which the optionee has a brokerage or similar account to sell the shares (or a sufficient portion of such shares) acquired upon the exercise of the option and remit to the Company a portion of the sale proceeds sufficient to pay the entire option exercise price;

 

 

by delivering shares that have an aggregate fair market value on the date of exercise equal to the option exercise price;

 

 

by authorizing the Company to withhold from the total number of shares as to which the option is being exercised the number of shares having a fair market value on the date of exercise equal to the aggregate option exercise price for the total number of shares as to which the option is being exercised;

 

 

by such other means by which the CNG Committee determines to be consistent with the purpose of the 2014 Plan and applicable law; or

 

 

any combination of items listed above.

 

Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs”). The value of a SAR granted to a participant is determined by the appreciation in the number of shares of common stock of the Company subject to the SAR during its term, subject to any limitations upon the amount or percentage of total appreciation that the CNG Committee may determine at the time the right is granted. The participant receives all or a portion of the amount by which the fair market value of a specified number of shares, as of the date the SAR is exercised, exceeds a price specified by the CNG Committee at the time the right is granted. The price specified by the CNG Committee must be at least 100% of the fair market value of the specified number of shares of common stock of the Company to which the right relates, determined as of the date the SAR is granted. A SAR may be granted in connection with a previously or contemporaneously granted option, or independent of any option. A SAR may be paid in cash, shares of common stock of the Company or a combination of cash and shares as determined by the CNG Committee. No SAR may be exercised more than ten years after its date of grant.

 

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”). The CNG Committee may grant participants awards of restricted stock and RSUs. Restricted stock involves the granting of shares to participants subject to restrictions on transferability and any other restrictions the Committee may impose. The restrictions lapse if either the holder continues to perform services to the Company or its affiliates for a specified period of time established by the CNG Committee under the applicable award agreement or satisfies other restrictions, including performance-based restrictions, during the period of time established by the CNG Committee. RSUs are similar to restricted stock except that no shares actually are awarded to the participant on the date of grant, and the holder typically does not enjoy any stockholder rights with respect to the units. Restricted stock awards are settled in shares. RSU awards may be settled in cash, shares, or a combination of cash and shares, as determined by the CNG Committee and provided in the applicable award agreement.

 

Performance Shares. The CNG Committee may grant participants awards of performance shares. The period of time over which performance targets are measured will be of such duration as the CNG Committee shall determine in an award agreement. Upon satisfaction of the applicable performance targets during the performance period, the participant will be entitled to receive shares of common stock of the Company.

 

Performance Units. The CNG Committee may grant participants awards of performance units. The period of time over which the performance goals are measured will be no less than two years, unless otherwise determined by the CNG Committee in an award agreement. Upon satisfaction of the applicable performance targets during the performance period, the participant will be entitled to receive either shares, cash, or a combination of shares and cash as determined by the CNG Committee in an award agreement.

 

Cash-Based Awards. Cash-based awards entitle the participants to payments of amounts of cash determined by the CNG Committee based upon the achievement of specified performance targets during a specified performance period, which typically will be one year unless otherwise determined by the CNG Committee. Each cash-based award will have its value determined by the CNG Committee.

 

Other Stock-Based Awards. The CNG Committee may also grant other awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on and/or payable in, shares of common stock of the Company. Other stock-based awards are a catch-all category to provide for awards of stock-based compensation that do not fit within the scope of the other specifically described types of awards. Payments with respect to other stock-based awards may be made in cash, shares, or a combination of cash and shares as determined by the CNG Committee. The CNG Committee has the discretion to determine the terms and conditions of these other stock-based awards.

 

15

 

Transferability

 

In general, awards may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined in the Internal Revenue Code or Title 1 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act or the rules thereunder. Except as otherwise provided in the 2014 Plan, all rights with respect to an award granted to a participant shall be available during his or her lifetime only to such participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a participant, at any time prior to his death, may assign all or any portion of an NSO or SAR to: 

 

 

the participant’s spouse or lineal descendant;

 

 

the trustee of a trust for the primary benefit of the participant’s spouse or lineal descendant; or

 

 

a tax-exempt organization as described in Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, non-employee directors may assign all or any portion of any award granted to them to assignees described above. In the event of an assignment, the spouse, lineal descendant, trustee or tax-exempt organization shall be entitled to all of the rights of the participant with respect to the assigned portion of such award, and such portion of the award shall continue to be subject to all of the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to the award as set forth in the 2014 Plan and in the related award agreement, immediately prior to the effective date of the assignment. Any such assignment shall be permitted only if (i) the participant does not receive any consideration therefore, and (ii) the assignment is expressly approved by the Committee or its delegate. Further notwithstanding the foregoing, no incentive stock option may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or the laws of descent or distribution.

 

Duration, Adjustments, Modifications, Terminations

 

The 2014 Plan will remain in effect until July 16, 2024, or until the 2014 Plan is terminated as described below.

 

In the event of a recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, spin-off, spin-out or other distribution of assets to stockholders, stock distributions or combinations of shares, payment of stock dividends, other increase or decrease in the number of such shares outstanding effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, or any other occurrence for which the CNG Committee determines an adjustment is appropriate, the CNG Committee shall equitably adjust the number and type of shares available for awards or the number and type of shares and amount of cash subject to outstanding awards, the option exercise price of outstanding options, and provisions regarding payment with respect to outstanding awards. The CNG Committee has the discretion to make similar adjustments in connection with other changes in the Company’s capitalization, including due to a merger, reorganization, or consolidation.

 

The 2014 Plan also gives the Board of Directors and the CNG Committee the right to terminate, suspend or amend the 2014 Plan without the authorization of stockholders to the extent allowed by law, including without limitation any rules issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, insofar as stockholder approval thereof is required in order for the 2014 Plan to continue to satisfy the requirements of SEC Rule 16b-3, or the rules of any applicable stock exchange. No termination, suspension or amendment of the 2014 Plan shall adversely affect any right acquired by any participant under an award granted before the date of such termination, suspension or amendment, unless such participant shall consent; but it shall be conclusively presumed that any adjustment for changes in capitalization as provided for herein does not adversely affect any such right.

 

In no event may a stock option or SAR be amended or modified to decrease the exercise price thereof or be cancelled in exchange for cash or otherwise be subject to any action that would be treated for accounting purposes as a “repricing,” unless such action is approved by the stockholders.

 

Upon a change in control, all outstanding awards shall become fully exercisable and all restrictions thereon shall terminate; provided, however, that notwithstanding the above, with respect to performance shares, performance units, cash-based awards, and other stock-based awards, the Committee shall determine and provide through an award agreement or other means the extent of vesting and the treatment of partially completed performance periods for any such performance shares, performance units, cash-based awards, and other stock-based awards outstanding upon a change in control. Further, the CNG Committee, as constituted before such change in control, is authorized, and has sole discretion, as to any award, either at the time such award is granted or any time thereafter, to take any one or more of the following actions:

 

 

provide for the cancellation of any such award for an amount of cash equal to the difference between the exercise price and the then fair market value of the shares covered thereby had such award been currently exercisable;

 

 

make such adjustment to any such award then outstanding as the CNG Committee deems appropriate to reflect such change in control; or

 

 

cause any such award then outstanding to be assumed, by the acquiring or surviving corporation, after such change in control.

 

16

 

Federal Tax Considerations

 

The Company has been advised by its counsel that awards made under the 2014 Plan generally will result in the following tax events for United States citizens under current United States federal income tax laws.

 

Nonqualified Stock Options. A participant will have no taxable income, and the Company will not be entitled to any related deduction, at the time a NSO is granted under the 2014 Plan. At the time of exercise of NSOs, the participant will realize ordinary income, and the Company will be entitled to a deduction equal to the excess of the fair market value of the stock on the date of exercise over the option exercise price. Upon disposition of the shares, any additional gain or loss realized by the participant will be taxed as a capital gain or loss.

 

Incentive Stock Options. A participant will have no taxable income, and the Company will not be entitled to any related deduction, at the time an ISO is granted under the 2014 Plan. If a participant disposes of shares acquired from the exercise of an ISO no earlier than (a) two years after the grant of the option and (b) one year after the exercise of the option (both (a) and (b) collectively referred to as the “Holding Periods”), then no taxable income will result upon the exercise of such ISO, and the Company will not be entitled to any deduction in connection with such exercise. Upon disposition of the shares after expiration of the Holding Periods, any gain or loss realized by a participant will be a capital gain or loss. The Company will not be entitled to a deduction with respect to a disposition of the shares by a participant after the expiration of the Holding Periods.

 

Except in the event of death, if the participant disposes of the shares before the end of the Holding Periods (a “Disqualifying Disposition”), such participant will recognize a gain (taxable at ordinary income tax rates) which equals the lesser of (a) the difference between the fair market value on the exercise date and the option exercise price, or (b) the difference between the sale price of the shares and the option exercise price on the date of sale. The balance, if any, will be taxed as short-term or long-term capital gain, depending upon how long the participant held the shares. The Company will be entitled to a deduction at the same time and in the same amount as the participant is deemed to have realized ordinary income. If the participant pays the option exercise price with shares that were originally acquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO and the Holding Periods for such shares have not been met, the participant will be treated as having made a Disqualifying Disposition of such shares, and the tax consequence of such Disqualifying Disposition will be as described above.

 

For alternative minimum tax purposes, an ISO will be treated as if it were a nonqualified stock option, the tax consequences of which are discussed previously.

 

Stock Appreciation Rights. There will be no federal income tax consequences to either the participant or the Company upon the grant of an SAR. The participant, however, generally must recognize ordinary taxable income upon the exercise or surrender of an SAR in an amount equal to the fair market value (on the date of exercise) of the shares exercised, less the exercise price. Gain or loss recognized upon any later sale or other disposition of the acquired shares generally will be a capital gain or loss.

 

Restricted Stock. Unless the participant files an election to be taxed under Code Section 83(b), the participant will not realize income upon the grant of restricted stock. Instead, the participant will realize ordinary income, and the Company will be entitled to a corresponding deduction, when the restrictions lapse. The amount of such ordinary income and deduction will be the fair market value of the restricted stock on the date the restrictions lapse. If the participant files an election to be taxed under Code Section 83(b), the tax consequences to the participant and the Company will be determined as of the date of the grant of the restricted stock rather than as of the date of the lapse of the restrictions.

 

When the participant disposes of restricted stock, the difference between the amount received upon such disposition and the fair market value of such shares on the date the participant realizes ordinary income will be treated as a capital gain or loss.

 

Restricted Stock Units. A recipient of RSUs will not recognize taxable income upon the award of RSUs, and the Company will not be entitled to a deduction at such time. Upon payment or settlement of a RSU award, the participant will recognize ordinary income equal to the value of the shares or cash received and the Company will be entitled to a corresponding deduction. Upon disposition of shares received by a participant in payment of an award, the participant will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount received upon such disposition and the fair market value of the shares on the date they were originally received by the participant.

 

17

 

Performance Shares, Performance Units, and Cash-Based Awards. Generally, the participant will not realize taxable income on the date of grant of a performance share, performance unit, or cash-based award. Instead, the participant will realize ordinary income, and the Company will be entitled to a corresponding deduction, in the year cash, shares, or a combination of cash and shares are delivered to the participant in payment of the award. The amount of such ordinary income and deduction will be the amount of cash received plus the fair market value of the shares received, if any, on the date of issuance. Upon disposition of shares received by a participant in payment of an award, the participant will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount received upon such disposition and the fair market value of the shares on the date they were originally received by the participant.

 

Code Section 162(m). Code Section 162(m) disallows the deduction of certain compensation in excess of $1 million per year payable to any of the “covered employees” of a public company. The CNG Committee has granted awards under the 2014 Plan that were intended to be exempt from the $1 million deduction limit of Code Section 162(m). However, as a result of changes to Code Section 162(m) pursuant to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was enacted on December 22, 2017, compensation paid in 2018 or a later fiscal year to one of our covered employees generally will not be deductible by the Company to the extent that it exceeds $1 million, except as otherwise permitted by applicable transition rules.

 

Code Section 409A. Code Section 409A provides that covered amounts deferred under a nonqualified deferred compensation plan are includable in the participant’s gross income to the extent not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture and not previously included in income, unless certain requirements are met, including limitations on the timing of deferral elections and events that may trigger the distribution of deferred amounts. The 2014 Plan has been designed so that awards should be exempt from coverage under Code Section 409A. Certain terms have been defined in a manner so that if awards are subject to Code Section 409A, they should comply with Code Section 409A.

 

Forfeiture and Over/Under Payments

 

The CNG Committee may specify in an award agreement that the participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an award. Such events may include, but shall not be limited to, termination of service for cause or any act by a participant, whether before or after termination of service, that would constitute cause for termination of service.

 

If any participant or beneficiary receives an underpayment of shares or cash payable under the terms of any award, payment of any such shortfall shall be made as soon as administratively practicable. If any participant or beneficiary receives an overpayment of shares or cash payable under the terms of any award for any reason, the CNG Committee or its delegate shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to take whatever action it deems appropriate, including but not limited to the right to require repayment of such amount or to reduce future payments under the 2014 Plan, to recover any such overpayment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, and if the participant knowingly or through gross negligence engaged in the misconduct, or knowingly or through gross negligence failed to prevent the misconduct, or if the participant is one of the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the participant shall reimburse the Company the amount of any payment in settlement of an award earned or accrued during the twelve-month period following the first public issuance or filing with the SEC of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement.

 

Withholding

 

The 2014 Plan permits the Company to withhold from awards an amount sufficient to cover any required withholding taxes. The 2014 Plan also permits the Company to require a participant to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy any required withholding taxes. In lieu of cash, the CNG Committee may permit a participant to cover withholding obligations through a reduction in the number of shares to be delivered to such participant or by delivery of shares already owned by the participant.

 

Registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission

 

After approval of the amendment to the 2014 Plan by our stockholders, we intend to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-8 relating to the additional shares reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan.

 

18

 

New Plan Benefits

 

The CNG Committee has not yet made any determination with respect to awards that may be granted in the future pursuant to the 2014 Plan.

  

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

Additional information concerning shares of our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options and other rights under our existing equity compensation plans and arrangements as of December 31, 2019 is set forth in the table titled “Equity Compensation Plan Information” on page 32 of this proxy statement.

 

The Board of Directors recommends that our stockholders vote “FOR” the proposal to approve the Company’s 2014 Plan Amendment.

 

19

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

On April 26, 2019, the Company effected a one-for-twenty reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding shares of common stock. As a result of the reverse split, each twenty pre-split shares of common stock outstanding automatically combined into one new share of common stock. The number of outstanding common shares was reduced from approximately 201.0 million to approximately 10.1 million shares. Share amounts and prices disclosed in this proxy statement have been restated, as required, to reflect the reverse stock split as if it had occurred on January 1, 2018.

 

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

Overview of Compensation Program. The CNG Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for establishing and implementing our compensation policies applicable to senior executives and monitoring our compensation practices. The CNG Committee seeks to maintain compensation plans that are fair, reasonable and competitive. The CNG Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving senior executive compensation, awards under our cash bonus plan, and awards under our equity-based compensation plans.

 

Philosophy and Goals of Executive Compensation Plans. The CNG Committee’s philosophy for executive compensation is to:

 

 

Pay for performance: The CNG Committee believes that our executives should be compensated based upon their ability to achieve specific operational and strategic results. Therefore, our compensation plans are designed to provide rewards for the individual’s contribution to our performance.

 

 

Pay commensurate with other companies categorized as value creators: The CNG Committee has set a goal that the Company should move toward compensation levels for senior executives that are, at a minimum, at the 40th to 50th percentile for similar executives in the workforce while taking into account current market conditions and Company performance. This allows us to attract, hire, reward and retain senior executives who formulate and execute our strategic plans and drive exceptional results.

 

To assess whether our programs are competitive, the CNG Committee reviews compensation information of peer companies, national data and trends in executive compensation to help determine the appropriateness of our plans and compensation levels. These reviews, and the CNG Committee’s commitment to pay for performance, become the basis for the CNG Committee’s decisions on compensation plans and individual executive compensation payments.

 

The CNG Committee has approved a variety of programs that work together to provide a combination of basic compensation and strong incentives. While it is important for us to provide certain base level salaries and benefits to remain competitive, the CNG Committee’s objective is to provide compensation plans with incentive opportunities that motivate and reward executives for consistently achieving superior results. The CNG Committee designs our compensation plans to:

 

 

Reward executives based upon overall company performance, their individual contributions and creation of stockholder value;

 

 

Encourage executives to make a long-term commitment to our Company; and

 

 

Align executive incentive plans with the long-term interests of stockholders.

 

The CNG Committee reviews individual compensation levels at least annually. During the review process, the CNG Committee addresses the following questions:

 

 

Do any existing compensation plans need to be adjusted to reflect changes in competitive practices, different market circumstances or changes to our strategic initiatives?

 

 

Should any existing compensation plans be eliminated or new plans be added to the executive compensation programs?

 

 

What are the compensation-related objectives for our compensation plans for the upcoming fiscal year?

 

 

Based upon individual performance, what compensation modifications should be made to provide incentives for senior executives to perform at superior levels?

 

In addressing these questions, the CNG Committee considers input from management, outside compensation experts and published surveys of compensation levels and practices.

 

20

 

The CNG Committee does not believe that our compensation policies and practices for our employees give rise to risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. Our incentive-based compensation goals are generally tied to product development goals (e.g., clinical trial progress or regulatory milestones) or Company financial goals (e.g., budgeted expense targets or business partnerships). The CNG Committee believes that the existence of these performance incentives creates a strong motivation for Company employees to contribute towards the achievement of strong, sustainable performance, and believes that the Company has a strong set of internal controls that minimize the risk that financial performance can be misstated in order to achieve incentive compensation payouts.

 

In addition to the aforementioned considerations, the CNG Committee also takes into account the outcome of stockholder advisory (“say-on-pay”) votes on the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and our next three highest-paid executive officers (the “Named Executive Officers”). At the annual meeting of stockholders held on August 8, 2019, approximately 70% of our stockholders voted in favor of the resolution relating to the compensation of our Named Executive Officers. The CNG Committee believes this vote affirmed our stockholders’ support of the Company’s executive compensation program. The CNG Committee will continue to consider the results of future say-on-pay votes when making future compensation decisions for the executive officers. The Company currently holds an advisory vote to approve the compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers every two years. The two-year frequency of advisory “say-on-pay” votes will continue until the next required vote on the frequency of advisory votes on executive compensation at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2023.

 

Scope of Authority of the CNG Committee. The Board of Directors has authorized the CNG Committee to establish the compensation programs for all executive officers and to provide oversight for compliance with our compensation philosophy. Annually, the CNG Committee recommends the compensation for our executive officers, including objectives and awards under incentive plans. The Chief Executive Officer provides input for the CNG Committee regarding the performance and appropriate compensation of the other officers. The CNG Committee gives considerable weight to the Chief Executive Officer’s evaluation of the other officers because of his direct knowledge of each officer’s performance and contributions. The CNG Committee also makes recommendations to the Board of Directors on appropriate compensation for the non-employee directors. In addition to overseeing the compensation of executive officers, the CNG Committee recommends or approves awards under short-term cash incentive and long-term equity-based compensation plans for all other employees. For more information on the CNG Committee’s role, see the CNG Committee’s charter, which can be found on our website at www.navidea.com.

 

Independent Compensation Expertise. The CNG Committee is authorized to periodically retain independent experts to assist in evaluating executive compensation plans and in setting executive compensation levels. These experts provide information on trends and best practices so the CNG Committee can formulate ongoing plans for executive compensation. The CNG Committee retained Board Advisory, LLC (“Board Advisory”) as its independent consultant to assist in the determination of the reasonableness and competitiveness of the compensation levels of its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer, Chief Medical Officer, and Board of Directors for fiscal 2019. No conflict of interest exists that would prevent Board Advisory from serving as independent consultant to the CNG Committee.

 

For fiscal 2019, Board Advisory performed a benchmark compensation review of our key executive positions, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer, Chief Medical Officer, and our Board of Directors. Board Advisory utilized published survey and proxy reported data from compensation peers, with market data aged to January 1, 2019, by an annualized rate of 3.0%, the expected pay increase in 2019 for executives in the life sciences industry.

 

In evaluating appropriate executive compensation, it is common practice to set targets at a point within the competitive marketplace. The CNG Committee sets its competitive compensation levels based upon its compensation philosophy. Following completion of the Board Advisory study for 2019, the CNG Committee noted that the total cash compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer is between the 50th and 75th percentile for an established peer group of companies. The CNG Committee also noted that the total cash compensation of our Chief Medical Officer is significantly below the market rate for this position.

 

Peer Group Companies. In addition to independent survey analysis, in 2019 the CNG Committee reviewed the compensation levels at specific competitive benchmark companies. With input from management, the CNG Committee chose the peer companies because they are developmental life sciences companies, have market capitalization between approximately $20 million and $350 million and have comparable key executive positions. While the specific plans for these companies may or may not be used, it is helpful to review their compensation data to provide benchmarks for the overall compensation levels that will be used to attract, hire, retain and motivate our executives.

 

21

 

As competitors and similarly situated companies that compete for the same executive talent, the CNG Committee determined that the following peer group companies most closely matched the responsibilities and requirements of our executives:

 

AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Immune Design Corporation

Aradigm Corporation

Innovation Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Argos Therapeutics, Inc.

Invitae Corporation

CareDx, Inc.

Invuity, Inc.

Cascadian Therapeutics, Inc.

Lipocine, Inc.

ContraFect Corporation

Mirati Therapeutics, Inc.

Curis, Inc.

Sonoma Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

CytoDyn, Inc.

Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.

Endocyte, Inc.

T2 Biosystems, Inc.

Genocea Biosciences, Inc.

Utah Medical Products, Inc.

iCad, Inc.

 

 

Board Advisory and the CNG Committee used the publicly available compensation information for these companies to analyze our competitive position in the industry. Base salaries and short-term and long term incentive plans of the executives of these companies were reviewed to provide background and perspective in analyzing the compensation levels for our executives.

 

Specific Elements of Executive Compensation

 

Base Salary. Base salaries for senior executives are set using the CNG Committee’s philosophy that compensation should be competitive and based upon performance. Executives should expect that their base salaries, coupled with a cash bonus award, would provide them the opportunity to be compensated at or above the competitive market at the 40th to 60th percentile.

 

Based on competitive reviews of similar positions, industry salary trends, overall company results and individual performance, salary increases may be approved from time to time. The CNG Committee reviews and approves base salaries of all executive officers. In setting specific base salaries for fiscal 2019, the CNG Committee considered published proxy data for similar positions at peer group companies.

 

The following table shows the changes in base salaries for the Named Executive Officers that were approved for fiscal 2019 compared to the approved salaries for fiscal 2018:

 

Named Executive Officer

 

Fiscal 2019

Base Salary(a)

   

Fiscal 2018

Base Salary(a)

   

Change(b)

 

Jed A. Latkin

  $ 475,000     $ 475,000        

Michael S. Rosol, Ph.D.

    205,000       205,000        

 

 

(a)

The amount shown for fiscal 2019 and 2018 is the approved annual salary of the Named Executive Officer in effect at the end of each year. The actual amount paid to the Named Executive Officer during fiscal 2019 and 2018 is shown under “Salary” in the Summary Compensation table below.

 

(b)

Due to the Company’s financial difficulties, Named Executive Officers did not receive salary increases in 2019.

 

The following table shows the base salaries for the Named Executive Officers that were approved for fiscal 2020 compared to the approved salaries for fiscal 2019:

 

Named Executive Officer

 

Fiscal 2020

Base Salary

   

Fiscal 2019

Base Salary

   

Change

 

Jed A. Latkin

  $ 475,000     $ 475,000       0.0

%

Michael S. Rosol, Ph.D.(a)

    225,000       205,000       9.8

%

 

 

(a)

In February 2020, the CNG Committee recommended, and the Board of Directors approved, an increase in Dr. Rosol’s base salary effective February 1, 2020.

 

22

 

Short-Term Incentive Compensation. Our executive officers, along with all of our employees, are eligible to participate in our annual cash bonus program, which has four primary objectives:

 

 

Attract, retain and motivate top-quality executives who can add significant value to the Company;

 

 

Create an incentive compensation opportunity that is an integral part of the employee’s total compensation program;

 

 

Reward participants’ contributions to the achievement of our business results; and

 

 

Provide an incentive for individuals to achieve corporate objectives that are tied to our strategic goals.

 

The cash bonus compensation plan provides each participant with an opportunity to receive an annual cash bonus based on our Company’s performance during the fiscal year. Cash bonus targets for senior executives are determined as a percentage of base salary, based in part on published proxy data for similar positions at peer group companies. The following are the key provisions of the cash bonus compensation plan for our Named Executive Officers:

 

 

The plan is administered by the CNG Committee, which has the power and authority to establish, adjust, pay or decline to pay the cash bonus for each participant, including the power and authority to increase or decrease the cash bonus otherwise payable to a participant. However, the Committee does not have the power to increase, or make adjustments that would have the effect of increasing, the cash bonus otherwise payable to any executive officer.

 

 

The CNG Committee is responsible for specifying the terms and conditions for earning cash bonuses, including establishing specific performance objectives.

 

 

As soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each fiscal year, the CNG Committee determines whether and to what extent each specified business performance objective has been achieved and the amount of the cash bonus to be paid to each participant.

 

For fiscal 2019, the cash bonus for each executive officer was a function of the designated target bonus amount and certain business performance objectives, weighted as a percentage of the total target amount. The business performance objectives established for fiscal 2019 were as follows:

 

 

Achievement of various business development goals, subject to a maximum 40% reduction of bonus if not achieved, including:

 

 

o

Enter into a RA commercialization partnership agreement with an established pharma company; and

 

 

o

Enter into a research agreement with an academic institution, foundation, or other clinical research firm to explore clinical feasibility and commercial opportunities for alternative image and therapeutic indications.

 

 

Achievement of various clinical development goals, subject to a maximum 30% reduction of bonus if not achieved, including:

 

 

o

Advance commercialization program for RA imaging indications;

 

 

o

Secure opportunity with pharma to develop tilmanocept as a biomarker for disease indications;

 

 

o

Resolve a specified issue with tilmanocept synthesis; and

 

 

o

Explore the use with tilmanocept of agents other than Tc99m.

 

 

Achievement of various financial development goals, subject to a maximum 20% reduction of bonus if not achieved, including:

 

 

o

Regain compliance with NYSE American listing standards; and

 

 

o

Adhere to the 2019 corporate budget to within 5% of budgeted operating expenses.

 

 

Achievement of various intellectual property (“IP”) goals, subject to a maximum 10% reduction of bonus if not achieved, including:

 

 

o

Develop an IP infrastructure to facilitate cohesive and coherent IP strategy; and

 

 

o

File four specified provisional patents.

 

For fiscal 2019, the Board of Directors determined the cash bonus targets for Named Executive Officers as follows:

 

Named Executive Officer

 

Target Cash Bonus
(% of Salary)

   

Target Cash Bonus
($ Amount)

 

Jed A. Latkin

    75.0

%

  $ 356,250  

Michael S. Rosol, Ph.D.

    35.0

%

    71,750  

 

23

 

On January 30, 2020, the Board of Directors determined the amounts to be awarded as 2019 bonuses to all employees other than the Named Executive Officers under the 2019 Cash Bonus Plan, which was adopted on May 3, 2019. The Board of Directors recognized the achievement of approximately 50% of 2019 bonus goals and thus awarded bonuses at 50% of target amounts for all employees other than the Named Executive Officers, to be paid 50% in stock immediately using the closing price on the date of grant of $1.21 and 50% in cash at such time as the Company’s financial position allows a cash payment. The Board of Directors also determined that Mr. Latkin’s and Dr. Rosol’s bonus awards would not be paid until certain of the 2019 bonus goals that were not achieved during 2019 are achieved.

 

On June 2, 2020, the Board of Directors determined the bonus amounts for the Company’s Named Executive Officers under the 2019 Cash Bonus Plan. The Board of Directors recognized the achievement of approximately 50% of 2019 bonus goals and thus awarded bonuses at 50% of target amounts for the Named Executive Officers. Mr. Latkin and Dr. Rosol received bonuses in the amount of $178,143 and $35,879, respectively, to be paid 50% in cash and 50% in fully vested shares of the Company’s common stock using the closing price on the date of grant of $2.62 per share.

 

Long-Term Incentive Compensation. All Company employees are eligible to receive equity awards in the form of stock options or restricted stock. Equity instruments awarded under the Company’s equity-based compensation plan are based on the following criteria:

 

 

Analysis of competitive information for comparable positions;

 

 

Evaluation of the value added to the Company by hiring or retaining specific employees; and

 

 

Each employee’s long-term potential contributions to our Company.

 

Although equity awards may be made at any time as determined by the CNG Committee, they are generally made to all full-time employees once per year or on the recipient’s hire date in the case of new-hire grants.

 

Equity-based compensation is an effective method to align the interests of stockholders and management and focus management’s attention on long-term results. When awarding equity-based compensation the CNG Committee considers the impact the participant can have on our overall performance, strategic direction, financial results and stockholder value. Therefore, equity awards are primarily based upon the participant’s position in the organization, competitive necessity and individual performance. Stock option awards have vesting schedules over several years to promote long-term performance and retention of the recipient, and restricted stock awards may include specific performance criteria for vesting or vest over a specified period of time.

 

In January 2019, the Company awarded options to purchase 6,250 shares of Common Stock to Dr. Rosol in connection with his December 2018 appointment as Chief Medical Officer of Navidea. The options have an exercise price of $7.60 per share, and vest as to one-third of the options on January 2, 2019, July 2, 2019, and January 2, 2020. The options will expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant.

 

In February 2019, the Company awarded options to purchase 50,000 shares of Common Stock to Mr. Latkin in connection with his October 2018 appointment as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer of Navidea. The options will vest in accordance with the following terms, provided that Mr. Latkin has been an employee of the Company continuously from the date of award through the date of each vesting event: (1) 16,667 options with an exercise price of $3.00 will be exercisable on or after February 7, 2019, so long as the closing price of the underlying Common Stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per share; (2) 16,667 options with an exercise price of $6.00 will be exercisable on or after December 31, 2019, so long as the closing price of the underlying Common Stock equals or exceeds $14.00 per share; and (3) 16,666 options with an exercise price of $10.00 will be exercisable on or after December 31, 2020, so long as the closing price of the underlying Common Stock equals or exceeds $20.00 per share. The options will expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant.

 

Other Benefits and Perquisites. The Named Executive Officers are generally eligible to participate in other benefit plans on the same terms as other employees. These plans include medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance benefits, and our 401(k) retirement savings plan (the “401(k) Plan”).

 

Our paid time off (“PTO”) policy allows employees to carry up to 40 hours of unused PTO time forward to the next fiscal year. Any unused PTO time in excess of the amount eligible for rollover is generally forfeited.

 

Our Named Executive Officers are considered “key employees” for purposes of Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) Section 125 Plan non-discrimination testing. Based on such non-discrimination testing, we determined that our Section 125 Plan was “top-heavy” for fiscal 2017. Accordingly, our key employees were ineligible to participate in the Section 125 Plan and were unable to pay their portion of medical, dental, and vision premiums on a pre-tax basis during fiscal 2017. As a result, the Company reimbursed its key employees an amount equal to the lost tax benefit. For fiscal 2018, we determined that our Section 125 Plan is no longer “top-heavy.” Accordingly, our key employees are eligible to participate in the Section 125 Plan and may pay their portion of medical, dental and vision premiums on a pre-tax basis beginning January 1, 2018.

 

24

 

We pay group life insurance premiums on behalf of all employees, including the Named Executive Officers. The benefit provides life insurance coverage at two times the employee’s annual salary plus $10,000, up to a maximum of $400,000.

 

We also pay group long-term disability insurance premiums on behalf of all employees, including the Named Executive Officers. The benefit provides long-term disability insurance coverage at 60% of the employee’s annual salary, up to a maximum of $10,000 per month, beginning 180 days after the date of disability and continuing through age 65.

 

401(k) Retirement Plan. All employees are given an opportunity to participate in our 401(k) Plan, following a new-hire waiting period. The 401(k) Plan allows participants to have pre-tax amounts withheld from their pay and provides for a discretionary employer matching contribution (currently, a 40% match up to 5% of salary in the form of our common stock). Participants may invest their contributions in various fund options, but are prohibited from investing their contributions in our common stock. Participants are immediately vested in both their contributions and Company matching contributions. The 401(k) Plan qualifies under section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code, which provides that employee and company contributions and income earned on contributions are not taxable to the employee until withdrawn from the Plan, and that we may deduct our contributions when made.

 

Employment Agreements

 

Jed A. Latkin. Effective July 27, 2020, Mr. Latkin is employed under an employment agreement that provides for an annual base salary of $490,000. For the calendar year ending December 31, 2019, the CNG Committee determined that the maximum bonus payment to Mr. Latkin would be $356,250.

 

Mr. Latkin’s employment agreement also provides for post-employment compensation based on the reason for termination:

 

 

For Cause – All salary, benefits and other payments shall cease at the time of termination, and the Company shall have no further obligations to Mr. Latkin.

 

 

Resignation – All salary, benefits and other payments shall cease at the time of termination, and the Company shall have no further obligations to Mr. Latkin, except that the Company shall pay the value of any accrued but unused PTO, and the amount of all accrued but previously unpaid salary through the date of termination.

 

 

Death – All salary, benefits and other payments shall cease at the time of death, provided, however, that the Company shall pay such other benefits required to be paid or provided to Mr. Latkin’s estate under any plan, program, policy, practice, contract, or arrangement in which Mr. Latkin is eligible to receive such payments or benefits from the Company, for 12 months.  The Company shall also pay to Mr. Latkin’s estate the value of any accrued but unused PTO and the amount of any accrued but previously unpaid salary through the date of death.

 

 

Disability – All salary, benefits and other payments shall cease at the time of termination due to disability, provided, however, that the Company shall pay such other benefits required to be paid or provided to Mr. Latkin under any plan, program, policy, practice, contract, or arrangement in which Mr. Latkin is eligible to receive such payments or benefits from the Company, for 12 months.  In addition, the Company will pay the balance of Mr. Latkin’s regular salary not replaced by disability insurance coverage for six months following the date of disability.  The Company shall also pay to Mr. Latkin the value of any accrued but unused PTO and the amount of any accrued but previously unpaid salary through the date of such termination.

 

 

Without Cause or by Mr. Latkin for Good Reason – The Company shall pay the value of any accrued but unused PTO, and the amount of all accrued but previously unpaid salary through the date of termination.  In addition, the Company will pay a severance equal to base salary in effect at the time of termination during the period of time from the date of termination through the date that is 12 months following termination, plus an additional two months for every fully completed year of employment (the “Severance Period”). The Company will also pay the unpaid bonus, if any, for the year in which the termination occurs, prorated to the date of termination.  In addition, certain share options and restricted shares shall vest immediately and the share options shall be exercisable for the Severance Period (but not beyond the original expiration date).  The Company will also pay such other benefits required to be paid or provided to Mr. Latkin under any plan, program, policy, practice, contract, or arrangement in which Mr. Latkin is eligible to receive such payments or benefits from the Company, for the duration of the Severance Period.

 

 

Change in Control – The Company will pay a severance equal to: (1) base salary in effect at the time of termination during the Severance Period; (2) a bonus equal to one year of base salary in effect at the time of termination, plus an additional two months of base salary for every fully completed year of employment and a bonus equal to the maximum allowable bonus in effect at the time of termination, plus an additional two months of prorated bonus for every fully completed year of employment; and (3) the unpaid bonus, if any, for the year in which the termination occurs, prorated to the date of termination.  In addition, certain share options and restricted shares shall vest immediately and the share options shall be exercisable for the Severance Period (but not beyond the original expiration date).

 

25

 

Report of Compensation, Nominating and Governance Committee

 

The CNG Committee is responsible for establishing, reviewing and approving the Company’s compensation philosophy and policies, reviewing and making recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding forms of compensation provided to the Company’s directors and officers, reviewing and determining cash and equity awards for the Company’s officers and other employees, and administering the Company’s equity incentive plans.

 

In this context, the CNG Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis included in this proxy statement. In reliance on the review and discussions referred to above, the CNG Committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors has approved, that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement for filing with the SEC.

 

 

 

The Compensation, Nominating

 

and Governance Committee

 

 

 

Claudine Bruck, Ph.D., Chair

 

Adam D. Cutler

 

Y. Michael Rice

 

S. Kathryn Rouan, Ph.D.

 

Compensation, Nominating and Governance Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

The current members of our CNG Committee are: Claudine Bruck, Ph.D. (Chair), Adam D. Cutler, Y. Michael Rice, and S. Kathryn Rouan, Ph.D. None of these individuals were at any time during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, or at any other time, an officer or employee of the Company.

 

No director who served on the CNG Committee during 2019 had any relationships requiring disclosure by the Company under the SEC’s rules requiring disclosure of certain relationships and related-party transactions. None of the Company’s executive officers served as a director or a member of a compensation committee (or other committee serving an equivalent function) of any other entity, the executive officers of which served as a director of the Company or member of the CNG Committee during 2019.

  

26

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table sets forth certain information concerning the annual and long-term compensation of our Named Executive Officers for the last three fiscal years.

 

Summary Compensation Table for Fiscal 2017-2019

 

Named Executive Officer

 

Year

 

Salary

   

 

Stock

Awards

   

(a)

Option

Awards

   

(b)

Non-Equity

Incentive Plan

Compensation

   

(c)

All Other

Compensation

   

Total
Compensation

 

Jed A. Latkin

2019

  $ 475,000     $     $ 81,200     $ 178,143     $ 5,600     $ 739,943  

Chief Executive Officer,

2018

    362,500                   271,875       5,500       639,875  

Chief Operating Officer and

2017

    316,458             125,833       366,653       5,429       814,373  

Chief Financial Officer

                                                 
                                                   

Michael S. Rosol, Ph.D. (d)

2019

  $ 205,000     $     $ 6,316     $ 35,879     $ 2,915     $ 250,110  

Chief Medical Officer

2018

    8,542                   2,949             11,491  
 

2017

                                   

 

 

(a)

Amount represents the aggregate grant date fair value of stock options in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Assumptions made in the valuation of option awards are disclosed in Note 1(e) of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (“2019 Form 10-K”).

 

(b)

Amount represents the total non-equity incentive plan amounts which have been approved by the Board of Directors and are disclosed for the year in which they were earned (i.e., the year to which the service relates).

 

(c)

Amount represents the Company contribution to the 401(k) plan on behalf of our Named Executive Officers.

 

(d)

Dr. Rosol commenced employment with the Company effective December 17, 2018.

 

Chief Executive Officer Pay Ratio

 

As required by Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the following information with respect to our last completed fiscal year. The pay ratio information provided below is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with applicable SEC rules.

 

For 2019, we calculated (i) the annual total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, (ii) the median of the annual total compensation of all of our employees other than the Chief Executive Officer, and (iii) the ratio of the annual total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer to the median of the annual total compensation of all other employees, as follows:

 

 

The annual total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table, was $739,943;

 

 

The median of the annual total compensation of all of our employees, excluding the Chief Executive Officer, was $91,656; and

 

 

The ratio of the annual total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer to the median of the annual total compensation of all other employees was 8.1 to 1.

 

In determining the pay ratio information provided above, we first identified our median employee for 2019 by using the following methodology:

 

 

We selected December 31, 2019 as the date upon which we would identify our median employee, and we compiled a list of all full-time, part-time and temporary employees who were employed on that date.

 

 

We used base pay as a consistently applied compensation measure to identify our median employee from the employees on the list.

 

Once our median employee was identified in the manner described above, we calculated the annual total compensation of the median employee using the same methodology that we used to determine the annual total compensation of the Chief Executive Officer, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table.

 

27

 

Post-Employment Compensation

 

The following table sets forth the expected benefit to be received by our Chief Executive Officer in the event of his termination resulting from various scenarios, assuming a termination date of December 31, 2019 and a stock price of $1.26, our closing stock price on December 31, 2019.

 

Jed A. Latkin

 

   

For Cause

   

Resignation

   

Death

   

Disability

   

Good

Reason or

Without
Cause

   

End of
Term

   

Change in
Control

 

Cash payments:

                                                       

Severance (a)

  $     $     $     $     $ 712,500     $     $ 1,959,375  

Accrued bonus (b)

                         

(b)

         

(b)

 

Disability supplement (c)

                      231,500                    

Paid time off (d)

    9,135       9,135       9,135       9,135       9,135       9,135       9,135  

2019 401(k) match (e)

    5,600       5,600       5,600       5,600       5,600       5,600       5,600  

Continuation of benefits (f)

                548       548                    

Stock option vesting acceleration (g)

                                         

Total

  $ 14,735     $ 14,735     $ 15,283     $ 246,783     $ 727,235     $ 14,735     $ 1,974,110  

 

 

(a)

Severance amounts are pursuant to Mr. Latkin’s employment agreement.

 

(b)

Amount represents accrued but unpaid bonus as of December 31, 2019. The Board of Directors has not yet determined the 2019 non-equity incentive plan amounts for the Named Executive Officers.

 

(c)

During the first 6 months of disability, the Company will supplement disability insurance payments to Mr. Latkin to achieve 100% salary replacement. As of December 31, 2019, the Company’s short-term disability insurance policy pays $250 per week for a maximum of 24 weeks.

 

(d)

Amount represents the value of 40 hours of accrued but unused vacation time as of December 31, 2019.

 

(e)

Amount represents the value of 2,800 shares of Company stock which was accrued during 2019 as the Company’s 401(k) matching contribution but was unissued as of December 31, 2019.

 

(f)

Amount represents 12 months of dental insurance premiums at rates in effect at December 31, 2019.

 

(g)

Pursuant to Mr. Latkin’s stock option agreements, all unvested stock options outstanding will vest upon termination without cause or a change in control. Amount represents the value of the stock at $1.26, the closing price of the Company’s stock on December 31, 2019, less the exercise price of the options. Amount does not include stock options with an exercise price higher than $1.26, the closing price of the Company’s stock on December 31, 2019.

 

Tax Consequences

 

In making compensation decisions in 2017 and prior years, the CNG Committee often sought to structure certain incentive awards with the intention that they would be exempt from the $1 million deduction limit as “qualified performance-based compensation.” However, the committee never adopted a policy that would have required all compensation to be deductible, because the committee wanted to preserve the ability to pay compensation to our executives in appropriate circumstances, even if such compensation would not be deductible under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 162(m)”).

 

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was enacted on December 22, 2017, included a number of significant changes to Section 162(m), such as the repeal of the qualified performance-based compensation exemption and the expansion of the definition of “covered employees” (for example, by including the chief financial officer and certain former named executive officers as covered employees). As a result of these changes, except as otherwise provided in the transition relief provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, compensation paid to any of our covered employees generally will not be deductible in 2018, 2019 or future years, to the extent that it exceeds $1 million.

 

28

 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

 

The following table sets forth certain information about plan-based awards that we made to the Named Executive Officers during fiscal 2019. For information about the plans under which these awards were granted, see the discussion under “Short-Term Incentive Compensation” and “Long-Term Incentive Compensation” in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section above.

 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table for Fiscal 2019

 

           

Estimated Future

Payouts Under

Non-Equity Incentive

Plan Awards (a)

   

Estimated Future

Payouts Under

Equity Incentive

Plan Awards

   

All Other

Stock

Awards:

Number

of Shares

   

All Other

Option

Awards:

Number of

Securities

Underlying

   

Exercise

Price of

Option

   

Grant Date

Fair Value

of Stock

and Option

   

Named Executive Officer

 

Grant Date

   

Threshold

   

Maximum

   

Threshold

   

Maximum

   

of Stock

   

Options

   

Awards

   

Awards

   

Jed A. Latkin

    N/A     $     $ 356,250                             $     $  

(a)

   

2/7/2019

                                    16,667       3.00       33,101  

(b)

   

2/7/2019

                                    16,667       6.00       26,169  

(c)

   

2/7/2019

                                    16,666       10.00       21,935  

(d)

                                                                           

Michael S. Rosol, Ph.D.

    N/A     $     $ 71,750                                   $  

(a)

   

1/2/2019

                                    6,250       7.60       6,316  

(e)

 

 

(a)

The threshold amount reflects the possibility that no cash bonus awards will be payable. The maximum amount reflects the cash bonus awards payable if the Board of Directors, in its discretion, awards the maximum cash bonus.

 

(b)

These stock options vest when both of the following conditions have been met: Continued employment through February 7, 2019 and a closing market price of the Company’s Common Stock of at least $10.00, and expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant.

 

(c)

These stock options vest when both of the following conditions have been met: Continued employment through December 31, 2019 and a closing market price of the Company’s Common Stock of at least $14.00, and expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant.

 

(d)

These stock options vest when both of the following conditions have been met: Continued employment through December 31, 2020 and a closing market price of the Company’s Common Stock of at least $20.00, and expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant.

 

(e)

These stock options vest as to one-third of the options on January 2, 2019, July 2, 2019 and January 2, 2020, and expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant.

 

29

 

Outstanding Equity Awards

 

The following table presents certain information concerning outstanding equity awards held by the Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2019.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards Table at Fiscal 2019 Year-End

 

   

Option Awards

 

Stock Awards

 
   

Number of Securities

Underlying Unexercised

Options (#)

                         

Market
Value of
Shares of

   

Equity Incentive

Plan Awards

 

Named Executive
Officer

 

Exercisable

   

Unexercisable

   

Option

Exercise

Price

 

Option

Expiration

Date

 

Note

 

Number of

Shares of

Stock that

Have Not

Vested

   

Stock
that

Have
Not

Vested

   

Number of

Unearned

Shares

   

Market
Value

of Unearned

Shares

   

Note

 

Jed A. Latkin

    2,250           $ 30.00  

4/20/2026

 

(a)

                                       
      1,000           $ 20.00  

10/14/2026

 

(b)

                                       
            16,667     $ 13.00  

5/4/2027

 

(c)

                                       
            16,667     $ 15.00  

5/4/2027

 

(d)

                                       
            16,666     $ 20.00  

5/4/2027

 

(e)

                                       
            16,667     $ 3.00  

2/7/2029

 

(f)

                                       
            16,667     $ 6.00  

2/7/2029

 

(g)

                                       
            16,666     $ 10.00  

2/7/2029

 

(h)

                                       
                                                                       

Michael S. Rosol, Ph.D. (h)

    4,167       2,083     $ 7.60  

1/2/2029

 

(i)

                                       

 

 

(a)

Options were granted April 20, 2016 and vested as to one-sixth on the 20th day of each of the first six months following the date of grant.

 

(b)

Options were granted October 14, 2016 and vested as to one-half on the 20th day of each of the first two months following the date of grant.

 

(c)

Options were granted May 4, 2017 and vest 100% when both of the following conditions have been met: Continued employment through May 4, 2017 and a closing market price of the Company’s Common Stock of at least $17.00.

 

(d)

Options were granted May 4, 2017 and vest 100% when both of the following conditions have been met: Continued employment through December 31, 2017 and a closing market price of the Company’s Common Stock of at least $20.00.

 

(e)

Options were granted May 4, 2017 and vest 100% when both of the following conditions have been met: Continued employment through December 31, 2018 and a closing market price of the Company’s Common Stock of at least $25.00.

 

(f)

Options were granted February 7, 2019 and vest 100% when both of the following conditions have been met: Continued employment through February 7, 2019 and a closing market price of the Company’s Common Stock of at least $10.00.

 

(g)

Options were granted February 7, 2019 and vest 100% when both of the following conditions have been met: Continued employment through December 31, 2019 and a closing market price of the Company’s Common Stock of at least $14.00.

 

(h)

Options were granted February 7, 2019 and vest 100% when both of the following conditions have been met: Continued employment through December 31, 2020 and a closing market price of the Company’s Common Stock of at least $20.00.

 

(i)

Options were granted January 2, 2019 and vest as to one-third on January 2, 2019, July 2, 2019 and January 2, 2020.

 

Options Exercised and Stock Vested

 

The following table presents, with respect to the Named Executive Officers, certain information about option exercises and restricted stock vested during fiscal 2019.

 

Options Exercised and Stock Vested Table for Fiscal 2019

 

   

Option Awards

   

Stock Awards

   

Named Executive Officer

 

Number of

Shares

Acquired

on Exercise

   

Value

Realized on

Exercise

   

Number of

Shares

Acquired

on Vesting

   

Value

Realized

on

Vesting

 

Note

Jed. A. Latkin

        $           $    

Michael S. Rosol, Ph.D.

        $           $    

 

30

 

Compensation of Non-Employee Directors

 

Each non-employee director received an annual cash retainer of $50,000 during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. The Chair of the Company’s Board of Directors received an additional annual retainer of $30,000. Audit and CNG Committee members received an annual retainer of $2,500 for each committee on which they served. The Chair of the Audit Committee received an additional annual retainer of $7,500, and the Chair of the CNG Committee received an additional annual retainer of $5,000 for their services in those capacities during 2019. We also reimbursed non-employee directors for travel expenses for meetings attended during 2019.

 

Each non-employee director also received 2,500 shares of restricted stock and 2,500 options to purchase stock at $5.00 per share during 2019 as a part of the Company’s annual stock incentive grants, in accordance with the provisions of the Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan. In addition, Mr. Cutler and Dr. Rouan each received 2,500 shares of restricted stock and 2,500 options to purchase stock at $15.00 per share in January 2019 related to their December 1, 2018 appointments to the Board of Directors. The restricted stock and stock options granted will vest on the first anniversary of the date of grant.

 

The aggregate number of equity awards outstanding at January 31, 2020 for each Director is set forth in the footnotes to the beneficial ownership table provided in the section entitled “Principal Stockholders.” Directors who are also officers or employees of Navidea do not receive any compensation for their services as directors.

 

The CNG Committee has noted that the total compensation of our Board of Directors, including cash and equity awards, is at approximately the 50th percentile for our peer group of companies, while the total compensation of our Board Committee members is less than half of the competitive market rate.

 

The following table sets forth certain information concerning the compensation of non-employee Directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. 

 

Name

 

(a)

Fees

Earned or

Paid in

Cash

   

(b),(c)

Option

Awards

   

(d),(e)

Stock

Awards

   

All Other

Compensation

   

Total

Compensation

 

Claudine Bruck, Ph.D.

  $ 60,000     $ 4,382     $ 7,465     $     $ 71,847  

Adam D. Cutler (f)

    62,500       6,153       13,150             81,803  

Y. Michael Rice

    85,000       4,382       7,465             96,847  

S. Kathryn Rouan, Ph.D. (f)

    52,500       6,153       13,150             71,803  

 

 

(a)

Amount represents fees earned during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (i.e., the year to which the service relates). Quarterly retainers are paid during the quarter following the quarter in which they are earned.

 

(b)

Amount represents the aggregate grant date fair value in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Assumptions made in the valuation of these awards are disclosed in Note 1(e) of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2019 Form 10-K.

 

(c)

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the non-employee directors were awarded an aggregate of 15,000 options to purchase Common Stock which vest as to 100% of the shares on the first anniversary of the date of grant. At December 31, 2019, the non-employee directors held an aggregate of 22,500 options to purchase Common Stock. Mr. Rice held 7,500 options, and Dr. Bruck, Mr. Cutler, and Dr. Rouan each held 5,000 options to purchase shares of Common Stock.

 

(d)

Amount represents the aggregate grant date fair value in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Assumptions made in the valuation of these awards are disclosed in Note 1(e) of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2019 Form 10-K.

 

(e)

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the non-employee directors were issued an aggregate of 15,000 shares of restricted stock which vest as to 100% of the shares on the first anniversary of the date of grant. At December 31, 2019, the non-employee directors held an aggregate of 15,000 shares of unvested restricted stock. Mr. Cutler and Dr. Rouan each held 5,000 shares of unvested restricted stock, and Mr. Rice and Dr. Bruck each held 2,500 shares of unvested restricted stock.

 

(f)

Mr. Cutler and Dr. Rouan were appointed to the Board of Directors effective December 1, 2018, but did not receive their 2018 stock incentive grants until January 2019.

 

31

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The following table sets forth additional information as of December 31, 2019, concerning shares of our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options and other rights under our existing equity compensation plans and arrangements, divided between plans approved by our stockholders and plans or arrangements not submitted to our stockholders for approval. The information includes the number of shares covered by, and the weighted average exercise price of, outstanding options and other rights and the number of shares remaining available for future grants excluding the shares to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants, and other rights.

 

Plan Category

 

(1)

Number of

Securities to be

Issued Upon

Exercise of

Outstanding

Options, Warrants

and Rights

   

(2)

Weighted-Average

Exercise Price of

Outstanding

Options, Warrants

and Rights

   

(3)

Number of

Securities

Remaining Available

for Issuance Under

Equity

Compensation Plans

(Excluding

Securities Reflected

in Column (1))

 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (a)

    238,470     $ 17.38       14,664,528  

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

                 

Total

    238,470     $ 17.38       14,664,528  

 

 

(a)

Our stockholders ratified the 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”) at the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on July 17, 2014, and amended the 2014 Plan at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on August 16, 2018. The total number of shares available for awards under the 2014 Plan shall not exceed 15,000,000 shares, plus any shares subject to outstanding awards granted under prior plans and that expire or terminate for any reason. Although instruments are still outstanding under the Fourth Amended and Restated 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2002 Plan”), the plan has expired and no new grants may be made from it. The total number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options includes 207,890 issued under the 2014 Plan and 30,580 issued under the 2002 Plan.

 

32

 

REPORT OF AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

The Audit Committee consults with our Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer and other key members of our management and with our independent registered public accounting firm with regard to their year-end audit plan, the results of its quarterly reviews conducted in accordance with Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) Interim Standard AU 722, the auditor’s report of audit, and the accompanying management letter, if any; and consults with our Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer and other key members of our management and with our independent registered public accounting firm with regard to the adequacy of our internal accounting controls.

 

In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Audit Committee selected Marcum LLP (“Marcum”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for purposes of auditing our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management and Marcum our audited financial statements; discussed with Marcum the matters required to be discussed by PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 16 (Communications with Audit Committee); received the written disclosures and the letter from Marcum required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with Marcum its independence from our Company.

 

Based on the reviews and discussions with management and Marcum, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that our audited consolidated financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and filed with the SEC.

 

The Board of Directors evaluated the independence of each member of the Audit Committee. As part of its evaluation, the Board of Directors determined, in the exercise of its business judgment, that each of Messrs. Cutler and Rice, and Dr. Bruck, is independent under Section 803A of the NYSE American Company Guide and is financially literate.

 

Based upon its work and the information received in the inquiries outlined above, the Audit Committee is satisfied that its responsibilities under the charter for the period ended December 31, 2019, were met and that our financial reporting and audit processes are functioning effectively.

 

 

 

Submitted by the Audit Committee

of the Board of Directors:

 

Adam D. Cutler, Chair

Claudine Bruck, Ph.D.

Y. Michael Rice

 

33

 

PROPOSAL NO. 3 – RATIFICATION OF THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Marcum was engaged as the Company’s principal accountant on May 9, 2016, and audited the Company’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019. The Audit Committee has selected Marcum as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for purposes of auditing our financial statements for the current year ending December 31, 2020. Although not required, the Board of Directors is submitting its selection to the stockholders of the Company for ratification. The Board of Directors will reconsider the appointment of Marcum if its selection is not ratified by the stockholders. A representative of Marcum is expected to be available during the Annual Meeting. The representative will have an opportunity to make a statement if he or she so desires and is expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions of stockholders.

 

The Board of Directors recommends that our stockholders vote “FOR” ratification of the appointment of Marcum as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2020.

 

Fees of the independent registered public accounting firm

 

Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed and expected to be billed for professional services rendered by Marcum LLP, primarily related to the audit of the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements for the 2019 fiscal year, the reviews of the financial statements included in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the 2019 fiscal year, and review of other SEC filings, were $306,034 (including direct engagement expenses).

 

The aggregate fees billed and expected to be billed for professional services rendered by Marcum LLP, primarily related to the audit of the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements for the 2018 fiscal year, the reviews of the financial statements included in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the 2018 fiscal year, and review of other SEC filings, were $275,850 (including direct engagement expenses).

 

Audit-Related Fees. No fees were billed by Marcum for audit-related services for the 2019 or 2018 fiscal years.

 

Tax Fees. No fees were billed by Marcum for tax-related services for the 2019 or 2018 fiscal years.

 

All Other Fees. No fees were billed by Marcum for services other than the audit, audit-related and tax services for the 2019 or 2018 fiscal years.

 

Pre-Approval Policy. The Audit Committee is required to pre-approve all auditing services and permitted non-audit services (including the fees and terms thereof) to be performed for the Company by its independent auditor or other registered public accounting firm, subject to the de minimis exceptions for permitted non-audit services described in Section 10A(i)(1)(B) of the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee, through the function of the Chair, has given general pre-approval for 100% of specified audit, audit-related, tax and other services.

 

34

 

CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS

 

We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers and all employees. The code of business conduct and ethics is posted on our website at www.navidea.com. The code of business conduct and ethics may also be obtained free of charge by writing to Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., Attn: Chief Financial Officer, 4995 Bradenton Avenue, Suite 240, Dublin, Ohio 43017.

 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

We adhere to our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which states that no director, officer or employee of Navidea should have any personal interest that is incompatible with the loyalty and responsibility owed to our Company. We adopted a written policy regarding related party transactions in December 2015. When considering whether to enter into or ratify a related party transaction, the Audit Committee considers a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the nature and type of the proposed transaction, the potential value of the proposed transaction, the impact on the actual or perceived independence of the related party and the potential value to the Company of entering into such a transaction. All proposed transactions with a potential value of greater than $120,000 must be approved or ratified by the Audit Committee.

 

SEC disclosure rules regarding transactions with related persons require the Company to provide information about transactions with directors and executive officers as a related persons, even though they may not have been related persons at the time the Company entered into the transactions described below.

 

Dr. Goldberg and Platinum

 

Dr. Michael Goldberg, our former President and Chief Executive Officer, previously managed a portfolio of funds for Platinum from May 2007 until December 2013. In 2011, he made an initial investment of $1.5 million in PPVA as a passive investor. Dr. Goldberg was not a member of the management of any of the Platinum entities; rather he solely had control over the trading activities of a portfolio of health care investments from funds allocated to him from the Platinum funds. Dr. Goldberg was responsible for all investments made by Platinum in the Company and for the trading in the Company’s securities up until he joined the Company’s Board of Directors in November 2013, at which time he relinquished all control over the trading of the Company’s securities held by all of the Platinum entities. On December 13, 2013, Dr. Goldberg formally separated from Platinum and had no further role in managing their health care portfolio. As part of his separation from Platinum, Dr. Goldberg stated that he entered into a settlement agreement, dated March 28, 2014, and amended on June 11, 2015, with PPVA pursuant to which Dr. Goldberg was entitled to receive a beneficial ownership interest in 15% of (1) all securities held by Platinum at the time of his separation from Platinum which included, without limitation, warrants to purchase the Company’s Common Stock, and (2) the drawn amounts from the Platinum debt facility. In furtherance of the foregoing, on October 17, 2016, Platinum transferred warrants to acquire an aggregate of 5,411,850 shares of our Common Stock to Dr. Goldberg, which warrants were exercised in full by Dr. Goldberg on January 17, 2017 resulting in gross proceeds to the Company of $54,119. The Company is aware that PPVA has brought an action against Dr. Goldberg stating that these warrants were improperly exercised.

 

In connection with the closing of the Asset Sale to Cardinal Health 414, the Company repaid to PPCO an aggregate of approximately $7.7 million which was deemed by PPCO to be in full satisfaction of the Company’s liabilities, obligations and indebtedness under the Platinum Loan Agreement between the Company and Platinum-Montaur, which were transferred by Platinum-Montaur to PPCO.

 

In November 2017, Platinum-Montaur commenced an action against the Company in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York (the “New York Supreme Court”), seeking damages of approximately $1.9 million purportedly due as of March 3, 2017, plus interest accruing thereafter.  The claims asserted were for breach of contract and unjust enrichment in connection with funds received by the Company under the Platinum Loan Agreement.  The action was subsequently removed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (the “District Court”).  On October 31, 2018, the District Court granted judgment for Navidea and dismissed all claims in the case.  The District Court stated that Platinum-Montaur had no standing to assert any contractual interest in funds that might be due under the Platinum Loan Agreement.  The District Court also disagreed with Platinum-Montaur’s claim of unjust enrichment on similar grounds and found that Platinum-Montaur lacked any sufficient personal stake to maintain claims against Navidea.  The claims against Navidea were dismissed without prejudice on the grounds of lack of standing to pursue the claims asserted.

 

On November 30, 2018, Platinum-Montaur filed a notice of appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (the “Second Circuit”) claiming that the District Court erred in dismissing Platinum-Montaur’s claims for breach of contract and unjust enrichment. On January 22, 2019, Platinum-Montaur filed its brief in the Second Circuit, asking the Second Circuit to reverse the District Court and remand the case to the District Court for further proceedings. The Second Circuit held oral argument in this matter on September 5, 2019. On November 25, 2019, the Second Circuit issued a decision which remanded the case to the District Court for further consideration of whether the District Court had jurisdiction over the case following removal from the New York Supreme Court. The Second Circuit did not address the merits of Platinum-Montaur’s allegations against Navidea. By agreement of the parties, the case was remanded from the District Court to the New York Supreme Court. A preliminary conference was set for April 28, 2020 but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the New York Supreme Court stopped accepting non-emergency filings due to the pandemic emergency. At present, it is unknown how long the disruptions due to the pandemic emergency will last, and thus uncertain as to the timeline under which the matter will progress in the New York Supreme Court.

 

35

 

Goldberg Agreement and Litigation

 

In August 2018, Dr. Michael Goldberg resigned from his positions as an executive officer and a director of Navidea. In connection with Dr. Goldberg’s resignation, Navidea and Dr. Goldberg entered into the Goldberg Agreement, with the intent of entering into one or more additional definitive agreements, which set forth the terms of the separation from service. Among other things, the Goldberg Agreement provided that Dr. Goldberg would be entitled to 1,175,000 shares of our Common Stock, representing in part payment of accrued bonuses and payment of the balance of the Platinum debt. A portion of the 1,175,000 shares to be issued to Dr. Goldberg will be held in escrow for up to 18 months in order to reimburse Navidea in the event that Navidea is obligated to pay any portion of the Platinum debt to a party other than Dr. Goldberg. Further, the Goldberg Agreement provided that the Company’s subsidiary, MT, would redeem all of Dr. Goldberg’s preferred stock and issue to Dr. Goldberg super voting common stock equal to 5% of the outstanding shares of MT. In November 2018, the Company issued 925,000 shares of our Common Stock to Dr. Goldberg, 250,000 of which were placed in escrow in accordance with the Goldberg Agreement.

 

On February 11, 2019, Dr. Goldberg represented to the MT Board that he had, without MT Board or shareholder approval, created a subsidiary of MT, transferred all of the assets of MT into the subsidiary, and then issued himself stock in the subsidiary. On February 19, 2019, Navidea notified MT that it was terminating the sublicense in accordance with its terms, effective March 1, 2019, due to MT’s insolvency. On February 20, 2019, the MT Board removed Dr. Goldberg as President and Chief Executive Officer of MT and from any other office of MT to which he may have been appointed or in which he was serving. Dr. Goldberg remains a member of the MT Board, together with Michael Rice and Dr. Claudine Bruck. Mr. Rice and Dr. Bruck remain members of the Board of Directors. The MT Board then appointed Jed A. Latkin to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of MT.

 

New York Litigation Involving Dr. Goldberg

 

On February 20, 2019, Navidea filed a complaint against Dr. Goldberg in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, alleging breach of the Goldberg Agreement, as well as a breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing and to obtain a declaratory judgment that Navidea’s performance under the Goldberg Agreement is excused and that Navidea is entitled to terminate the Goldberg Agreement as a result of Dr. Goldberg’s actions. On April 26, 2019, Navidea filed an amended complaint against Dr. Goldberg which added a claim for breach of fiduciary duty seeking damages related to certain actions Dr. Goldberg took while CEO of Navidea. On June 13, 2019, Dr. Goldberg answered the amended complaint and asserted counterclaims against Navidea and third-party claims against MT for breach of the Goldberg Agreement, wrongful termination, injunctive relief, and quantum meruit.

 

On December 26, 2019, the District Court ruled on several motions related to Navidea and MT and Dr. Goldberg that substantially limited the claims that Dr. Goldberg can pursue against Navidea and MT. Specifically, the District Court found that certain portions of Dr. Goldberg’s counterclaims against Navidea and third-party claims against Macrophage failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Specifically, the District Court ruled that actions taken by Navidea and MT, including reconstituting the MT Board, replacing Dr. Goldberg with Mr. Latkin as Chief Executive Officer of MT, terminating the sublicense between Navidea and MT, terminating certain research projects, and allowing MT intellectual property to revert back to Navidea, were not breaches of the Goldberg Agreement.

 

The District Court also rejected Dr. Goldberg’s claim for wrongful termination as Chief Executive Officer of MT. In addition, the District Court found that Dr. Goldberg lacked standing to seek injunctive relief to force the removal of Dr. Claudine Bruck and Michael Rice from MT’s Board of Directors, to invalidate all actions taken by the MT Board on or after November 29, 2018 (the date upon which Dr. Bruck and Mr. Rice were appointed by Navidea to the board of directors of MT), or to reinstate the terminated sublicense between Navidea and MT.

 

In addition, the District Court found Navidea’s breach of fiduciary duty claim against Dr. Goldberg for conduct occurring more than three years prior to the filing of the complaint to be time-barred and that Dr. Goldberg is entitled to an advancement of attorneys’ fees solely with respect to that claim. The parties are in the process of submitting the issue to the District Court for resolution on how much in fees Dr. Goldberg is owed under the District Court’s order. On January 27, 2020, Dr. Goldberg filed a motion seeking additional advancement from Navidea for fees in connection with the New York Action and the Delaware Action. Navidea has opposed the motion and the District Court referred the matters to a Magistrate Judge. On July 9, 2020, the Magistrate Judge issued her Report and Recommendation which recommended that: (1) the District Court decline to exercise jurisdiction over Dr. Goldberg’s motion as it pertained to expenses and fees incurred in defense of the Delaware Action; (2) the District Court decline to award any fees to Dr. Goldberg for the breach of fiduciary duty without additional motion practice on the issue; (3) the District Court find that Dr. Goldberg is entitled to advancement of his expenses and fees reasonably incurred in the defense of the remainder of the New York action subject to Dr. Goldberg’s posting of an undertaking; and (4) establish a protocol by which Dr. Goldberg could establish the amounts due for advancement. On July 23, 2020 both Navidea and Dr. Goldberg objected to portions of the Report and Recommendation and following additional briefing, the Report and Recommendation will be considered by the District Court.

 

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On January 31, 2020, Dr. Goldberg filed a motion for leave to amend his complaint to add back in claims for breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, quantum meruit and injunctive relief. On April 1, 2020, the District Court denied Dr. Goldberg’s motion for leave to amend in its entirety. The discovery deadline in the New York Action is July 31, 2020, but is anticipated to be extended in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Delaware Litigation Involving Dr. Goldberg

 

On February 20, 2019, MT initiated a suit against Dr. Goldberg in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, alleging, among other things, breach of fiduciary duty as a director and officer of MT and conversion, and to obtain a declaratory judgment that the transactions Dr. Goldberg caused MT to effect are void. On June 12, 2019, the Delaware Court found that Dr. Goldberg’s actions were not authorized in compliance with the Delaware General Corporate Law. Specifically, the Delaware Court found that Dr. Goldberg’s creation of a new subsidiary of MT and the purported assignment by Dr. Goldberg of MT’s intellectual property to that subsidiary were void. The Delaware Court’s ruling follows the order on May 23, 2019 in the case, in which it found Dr. Goldberg in contempt of its prior order holding Dr. Goldberg responsible for the payment of MT’s fees and costs to cure the damages caused by Dr. Goldberg’s contempt. MT’s claims for breach of fiduciary duty and conversion against Dr. Goldberg remain pending. As a result of the Delaware Court’s ruling and Navidea’s prior termination of the sublicense between itself and MT, all of the intellectual property related to the Manocept platform is now directly controlled by Navidea. A trial on MT’s claims against Goldberg for breach of fiduciary duty and conversion is presently scheduled for December 2020.

 

Derivative Action Involving Dr. Goldberg

 

On July 26, 2019, Dr. Goldberg served shareholder demands on the boards of directors of Navidea and MT repeating many of the claims made in the lawsuits described above. On or about November 20, 2019, Dr. Goldberg commenced a derivative action purportedly on behalf of MT in the District Court against Dr. Claudine Bruck, Y. Michael Rice, and Jed Latkin alleging a claim for breach of fiduciary duty based on the actions alleged in the demands. On April 3, 2020, Dr. Goldberg dismissed the derivative action in New York without prejudice and retains the ability to re-file the action in Delaware.

 

Mr. Latkin and Platinum

 

Jed A. Latkin, our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, was an independent consultant that served as a portfolio manager from 2011 through 2015 for two entities, namely Precious Capital and West Ventures, each of which were during that time owned and controlled, respectively, by PPVA and PPCO. Mr. Latkin was party to a consulting agreement with each of Precious Capital and West Ventures pursuant to which, as of April 2015, an aggregate of approximately $13 million was owed to him, which amount was never paid and Mr. Latkin has no information as to the current value. Mr. Latkin’s consulting agreements were terminated upon his ceasing to be an independent consultant in April 2015 with such entities. During his consultancy, Mr. Latkin was granted a .5% ownership interest in each of Precious Capital and West Ventures, however, to his knowledge he no longer owns such interests. In addition, PPVA owes Mr. Latkin $350,000 for unpaid consulting fees earned and expenses accrued in 2015 in respect of multiple consulting roles with them. Except as set forth above, Mr. Latkin has no other past or present affiliations with Platinum.

 

Macrophage Therapeutics, Inc. and Platinum

 

In March 2015, MT, our previously wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement to sell up to 50 shares of its Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (“MT Preferred Stock”) and warrants to purchase up to 1,500 common shares of MT (“MT Common Stock”) to Platinum and Dr. Michael Goldberg (collectively, the “MT Investors”) for a purchase price of $50,000 per unit. A unit consisted of one share of MT Preferred Stock and 30 warrants to purchase MT Common Stock. Under the agreement, 40% of the MT Preferred Stock and warrants are committed to be purchased by Dr. Goldberg, and the balance by Platinum. The full 50 shares of MT Preferred Stock and warrants to be sold under the agreement are convertible into, and exercisable for, MT Common Stock representing an aggregate 1% interest on a fully converted and exercised basis. Navidea owns the remainder of the MT Common Stock. On March 11, 2015, definitive agreements with the MT Investors were signed for the sale of the first tranche of 10 shares of MT Preferred Stock and warrants to purchase 300 shares of MT Common Stock to the MT Investors, with gross proceeds to MT of $500,000.

 

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In addition, we entered into an exchange agreement with the MT Investors providing them an option to exchange their MT Preferred Stock for our Common Stock in the event that MT has not completed a public offering with gross proceeds to MT of at least $50 million by the second anniversary of the closing of the initial sale of MT Preferred Stock, at an exchange rate per share obtained by dividing $50,000 by the greater of (i) 80% of the twenty-day volume weighted average price per share of our Common Stock on the second anniversary of the initial closing or (ii) $3.00. To the extent that the MT Investors do not timely exercise their exchange right, we have the right to redeem their MT Preferred Stock for a price equal to $58,320 per share.

 

During 2019 and 2018, the largest aggregate amount of principal outstanding under the Platinum credit facility was $0 and $2.2 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the amount of principal outstanding was $0.

 

 Director Independence

 

Our Board of Directors has adopted the definition of “independence” as described under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Sarbanes-Oxley) Section 301, Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act and Section 803A of the NYSE American Company Guide. Our Board of Directors has determined that Drs. Bruck and Rouan, and Messrs. Cutler and Rice, meet the independence requirements.

 

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SECURITIES OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The following table sets forth, as of July 17, 2020, certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock by: (i) each person known to us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock, (ii) each director or nominee for director of our Company, (iii) each of the Named Executive Officers (see “Executive Compensation – Summary Compensation Table”), and (iv) our directors and executive officers as a group.

 

Beneficial Owner

 

Number of Shares

Beneficially Owned (*)

 

 

 

Percent

of Class (**)

 

 

Claudine Bruck, Ph.D.

 

 

12,550

 

(a)

 

 

 

(i)

Adam D. Cutler

 

 

10,000

 

(b)

 

 

 

(i)

Jed A. Latkin

 

 

57,997

 

(c)

 

 

 

(i)

Y. Michael Rice

 

 

15,000

 

(d)

 

 

 

(i)

Michael S. Rosol, Ph.D.

 

 

16,527

 

(e)

 

 

 

(i)

S. Kathryn Rouan, Ph.D.

 

 

13,350

 

(f)

 

 

 

(i)

All directors and executive officers as a group (6 persons)

 

 

125,424

 

(g)(j)

 

 

 

(i)

John K. Scott, Jr.

 

 

8,052,301

 

(h)

 

 

31.6

%

 

 

 

(*)

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC which generally attribute beneficial ownership of securities to persons who possess sole or shared voting power and/or investment power with respect to those securities. Unless otherwise indicated, voting and investment power are exercised solely by the person named above or shared with members of such person’s household.

 

(**)

Percent of class is calculated on the basis of the number of shares outstanding on July 17, 2020, plus the number of shares the person has the right to acquire within 60 days of July 17, 2020.

 

(a)

This amount includes 5,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options which are exercisable within 60 days, but does not include 2,500 shares of unvested restricted stock and 2,500 shares issuable upon exercise of options which are not exercisable within 60 days.

 

(b)

This amount includes 5,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options which are exercisable within 60 days, but does not include 2,500 shares of unvested restricted stock and 2,500 shares issuable upon exercise of options which are not exercisable within 60 days.

 

(c)

This amount includes 3,250 shares issuable upon exercise of options which are exercisable within 60 days and 4,342 shares in Mr. Latkin’s account in the 401(k) Plan, but does not include 200,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options which are not exercisable within 60 days.

 

(d)

This amount includes 7,500 shares issuable upon exercise of options which are exercisable within 60 days, but does not include 2,500 shares of unvested restricted stock and 2,500 shares issuable upon exercise of options which are not exercisable within 60 days.

 

(e)

This amount includes 6,250 shares issuable upon exercise of options which are exercisable within 60 days and 3,430 shares in Dr. Rosol’s account in the 401(k) Plan, but does not include 25,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options which are not exercisable within 60 days.

 

(f)

This amount includes 5,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options which are exercisable within 60 days, but does not include 2,500 shares of unvested restricted stock and 2,500 shares issuable upon exercise of options which are not exercisable within 60 days.

 

(g)

This amount includes 32,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options which are exercisable within 60 days, and 7,772 shares held in the 401(k) Plan on behalf of certain officers, but it does not include 10,000 shares of unvested restricted stock and 235,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of options which are not exercisable within 60 days. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Jed A. Latkin, is the trustee of the Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. 401(k) Plan and may, as such, share investment power over Common Stock held in such plan. Mr. Latkin disclaims any beneficial ownership of shares held by the 401(k) Plan. The 401(k) Plan holds an aggregate total of 45,478 shares of Common Stock.

 

(h)

The number of shares beneficially owned is based on a Form 4 filed by John K. Scott, Jr. with the SEC on February 19, 2020. The address of John K. Scott, Jr. is 5251 DTC Parkway, Suite 285, Greenwood Village, CO 80111.

 

(i)

Less than one percent.

 

(j)

The address of all directors and executive officers is c/o Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., 4995 Bradenton Avenue, Suite 240, Dublin, OH 43017.

 

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All of our employees and directors, or any of their designees, are prohibited from (i) purchasing financial instruments (including prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars, and exchange funds), or (ii) otherwise engaging in transactions (including “short sales” and arrangements involving a non-recourse pledge of securities), that hedge or offset, or are designed to hedge or offset, any decrease in the market value of shares of our common stock granted to such employee or director, or any of their designees, as part of their compensation, or held (directly or indirectly) by such employee or director, or any of their designees.

 

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DELINQUENT SECTION 16(a) REPORTS

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our officers and directors, and greater than 10% stockholders, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership of our securities with the SEC. Copies of the reports are required by SEC regulation to be furnished to us. Based on our review of these reports and written representations from reporting persons, we believe that all reporting persons complied with all filing requirements during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, except for: (1) Drs. Bruck and Rouan, and Messrs. Cutler and Rice, who each had one late Form 4 filing related to stock issued as part of their annual director compensation; and (2) John K. Scott, Jr., who had two late Form 4 filings related to stock purchased in public and private placements.

 

COST OF SOLICITATION OF PROXIES

 

We will pay the cost of this solicitation. We may request persons holding shares in their names for others to forward soliciting materials to their principals to obtain authorization for the execution of proxies, and we will reimburse such persons for their expenses in so doing.

 

GOVERNANCE MATERIALS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE

 

Stockholders may find the following information on the Company’s website at www.navidea.com.  

 

 

Navidea’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

 

 

Management and Board of Director biographies

 

 

Information regarding securities transactions by directors and officers

 

 

Standing Committee Charters for Audit Committee and Compensation and Nominating and Governance Committee

 

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

 

A stockholder proposal intended for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy for the annual meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held in 2021 must be received by the Company before April 2, 2021, at its executive offices, Attention: Corporate Secretary. Any stockholder proposal submitted outside the processes of Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange for presentation at our 2021 annual meeting will be considered untimely for purposes of Rule 14a-4 and 14a-5 if notice thereof is received by us after June 16, 2021.

 

A stockholder who wishes to nominate a candidate for election to the Board of Directors must follow the procedures set forth in Article III, Section 2 of our Bylaws. A copy of these procedures is available upon request from the Company at 4995 Bradenton Avenue, Suite 240, Dublin, OH 43017, Attention: Corporate Secretary. In order for a stockholder to nominate a candidate for the Board of Directors election at the 2021 annual meeting, notice of the nomination must be delivered to the Company’s executive offices, Attention: Corporate Secretary, before April 2, 2021.

 

OTHER BUSINESS

 

The Board of Directors does not intend to present, and has no knowledge that others will present, any other business during the Annual Meeting. If, however, any other matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, it is intended that the persons named in the enclosed proxy will vote the shares represented thereby in accordance with their best judgment.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION;

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

The Company files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under the Exchange Act. You may read and copy this information at, or obtain copies of this information by mail from, the SEC’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the public reference room. The Company’s filings with the SEC are also available to the public from commercial document retrieval services and at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.

 

No persons have been authorized to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this proxy statement and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by us or any other person. This proxy statement is dated July 31, 2020. You should not assume that the information contained in this proxy statement is accurate as of any date other than that date, and the mailing of this proxy statement to stockholders shall not create any implication to the contrary.

 

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please complete, sign and date the enclosed proxy card and return it promptly in the envelope provided or vote through the Internet or by telephone as described in the enclosed proxy card.

 

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Appendix A

 

NAVIDEA BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

September 10, 2020, 9:00 AM

This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors

 

The undersigned hereby appoints Jed A. Latkin as proxy for the undersigned, and hereby authorizes him to represent and to vote, as designated below, all of the shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. held of record by the undersigned on July 17, 2020, at an Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on September 10, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, or any adjournment thereof, with all the power the undersigned would possess if present in person.

 

In his discretion, the proxy is authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting of Stockholders or any adjournment thereof.

 

THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTIONS ARE MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS (PROPOSAL 1), FOR PROPOSALS 2 AND 3, AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXY AS TO ANY OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING.

 

Continued and to be signed on reverse side

 

 

 

THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.

 

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following:

 

1.

Election of Directors:

 

Nominees:

 

01     Adam D. Cutler   02     Jed A. Latkin

 

FOR all the nominees listed above (except as marked to the contrary)

WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed above.

 

The undersigned may withhold authority to vote for any nominee by lining through or otherwise striking out the name of any nominee.

 

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR proposals 2 AND 3.

 

2.

To amend the Company’s 2014 Stock Incentive Plan to increase the aggregate number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the plan by 1,000,000 shares.

 

FOR AGAINST   ABSTAIN

 

3.

To ratify the appointment of Marcum LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2020.

 

FOR AGAINST   ABSTAIN

 

NOTE: To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

 

Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, 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 officer.

 

 

       
Signature   Date  
       
       
       
Signature (Joint Owners)    Date  

 

 

 

 Appendix B

 

NAVIDEA BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

2014 Stock Incentive Plan

(As amended and restated as of September 10, 2020)

 

 

Article I

Establishment, Purpose, Duration

 

Section 1.1     Establishment of the Plan. Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) adopted the Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan, effective July 17, 2014 (the “Plan”). The Plan is hereby amended and restated, as set forth herein, as of September 10, 2020, subject to approval of the amended Plan by the stockholders of the Company.

 

Section 1.2     Purpose. The Plan is designed to promote the achievement of both short-term and long-term objectives of the Company by (a) aligning compensation of Participants with the interests of Company shareholders, (b) enhancing the interest of Participants in the growth and success of the Company, and (c) attracting and retaining Participants of outstanding competence.

 

Section 1.3     Effective Date and Duration. This Plan was approved by a majority of the votes cast by Company shareholders at the 2014 annual meeting and became effective at such date. The Plan shall remain in effect, subject to the right of the Board or the Committee to amend and terminate the Plan at any time as provided in this Plan, until July 16, 2024. In no event, however, may an ISO be granted under the Plan more than ten years after the date the Plan was approved by the shareholders.

 

 

Article II

Definitions

 

Whenever used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below and, when the meaning is intended, the initial letter of the word is capitalized:

 

Section 2.1     162(m) Award. “162(m) Award” means an Award that is intended to be deductible as “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m).

 

Section 2.2     1934 Act. “1934 Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Section 2.3     Affiliate. “Affiliate” means any entity that is a Subsidiary or a parent corporation, as defined in Code Section 424(e), of the Company, or any other entity designated by the Committee as covered by the Plan in which the Company has, directly or indirectly, at least a 20% voting interest.

 

Section 2.4     Award. “Award” means any Option, SAR, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit, or other Article XII stock-based award granted to a Participant under the Plan.

 

Section 2.5     Award Agreement. “Award Agreement” means a written or electronic statement or agreement prepared by the Company that sets forth the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to Awards granted under the Plan.

 

Section 2.6     Board or Board of Directors. “Board” or “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Section 2.7     Cash-Based Award. “Cash-Based Award” means an Award granted to a Participant, as described in Article XI herein.

 

Section 2.8     Cause. “Cause,” unless such term or an equivalent term is otherwise defined with respect to an Award by the Participant’s Award Agreement, shall be as defined in any employment agreement between the Company and a Participant; provided however, that if there is no such employment agreement, “Cause” shall mean any of the following: (a) the Participant’s conviction of any criminal violation involving dishonesty, fraud or breach of trust; (b) the Participant’s willful engagement in any misconduct in the performance of his or her duty that materially injures the Company; (c) the Participant’s performance of any act which would materially and adversely impact the business of the Company; or (d) the Participant’s willful and substantial nonperformance of assigned duties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall have sole discretion with respect to the application of the provisions of subsections (a)-(d) above, and such exercise of discretion shall be conclusive and binding upon the Participant and all other persons.

 

 

 

Section 2.9     Change in Control. A "Change in Control" will be deemed to have occurred if and when (i) a person, partnership, corporation, trust or other entity ("Person") acquires or combines with the Company, or 50 percent or more of its assets or earning power, in one or more transactions, and after such acquisition or combination, less than a majority of the outstanding voting shares of the Person surviving such transaction (or the ultimate parent of the surviving Person) is owned by the owners of the voting shares of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such acquisition or combination, unless the Change in Control transaction or transactions have been approved in advance by Board members representing at least two-thirds of the Board members; or (ii) during any period of two consecutive years during the term of this Plan, individuals who at the beginning of such period are members of the Board ("Original Board Members") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, unless the election of each Board member who was not an Original Board Member has been approved in advance by Board members representing at least two-thirds of the Board members then in office who were Original Board Members. This definition shall be interpreted in accordance with the guidance under Code Section 409A, that describes a change in control, change in effective control, and change in ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of a corporation.

 

Section 2.10     Code. “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

Section 2.11     Committee. “Committee” means the Compensation, Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors, or such other committee as the Board shall appoint from time to time, which shall consist of two or more directors, all of whom are intended to satisfy the requirements for an “outside director” under Code Section 162(m), a “nonemployee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3, and an “independent director” under the rules of NYSE American (or any other national securities exchange which is the principal exchange on which the Shares may then be traded); provided, however, that as to any Award intended to be a 162(m) Award, if any member of the Committee shall not satisfy such “outside director” requirements, “Committee” means a subcommittee (of two or more persons) of the Committee consisting of all members thereof who satisfy such “outside director” requirement; and further provided that any action taken by the Committee shall be valid and effective whether or not members of the Committee at the time of such action are later determined not to have satisfied the requirements for membership specified above.

 

Section 2.12     Company. “Company” means Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any current or future parent or subsidiary, or any successor thereto.

 

Section 2.13     Consultant. “Consultant” means any person who provides services to the Company or any Subsidiary (other than in connection with the offer or sale of securities of the Company or any Subsidiary, in a capital raising transaction), who is neither an Employee nor a Director and who is a consultant or advisor to the Company or any Subsidiary within the meaning of General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

Section 2.14     Covered Officer. “Covered Officer” means a Participant who, in the sole judgment of the Committee, may be treated as a “covered employee” under Code Section 162(m) at the time income is recognized by such Participant in connection with an Award that is intended to qualify as a 162(m) Award.

 

Section 2.15     Disability or Disabled. “Disability” or “Disabled” means a condition that (a) causes the Participant to be 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 12 months, (b) causes the Participant, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, to receive income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company or its Affiliates or (c) causes the Participant to be eligible to receive Social Security disability payments. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine the date of any Disability.

 

Section 2.16     Employee. “Employee” means any person who is an employee of the Company or any Affiliate; provided, however, that with respect to ISOs, “Employee” means any person who is considered an employee of the Company or any Affiliate for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h).

 

Section 2.17     Fair Market Value. “Fair Market Value” means, on any given date and as may be specified in an Award Agreement, (a) the closing sales price per share (or, if otherwise specified by the Committee, a price that is based on the opening, actual, high, low, or average sales prices per Share) of the Company’s common stock as reported on the NYSE American or such other established securities market on which the Shares are traded, or, if there were no reported sales of Shares on such date, then, unless otherwise required under the Code, the business day immediately preceding such date; or (b) if (a) does not apply, the price that the Committee in good faith determines through any reasonable valuation method that a Share might change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither being under compulsion to buy or to sell and both having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts. Notwithstanding the above, for purposes of broker-facilitated cashless exercises of Awards involving Shares under the Plan, “Fair Market Value” shall mean the real-time selling price of such Shares as reported by the broker facilitating such exercises.

 

Section 2.18     Grant Price. “Grant Price” means the price established at the time of grant of a SAR pursuant to Article VII (Stock Appreciation Rights), used to determine whether there is any payment due upon exercise of the SAR, which shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares at the time the SAR was granted.

 

 

 

Section 2.19     Incentive Stock Option or ISO. “Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” means an Option that is an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Code Section 422.

 

Section 2.20     Nonemployee Director. “Nonemployee Director” means a member of the Board who is not an Employee.

 

Section 2.21     Nonqualified Stock Option or NQSO. “Nonqualified Stock Option” or “NQSO” means an option to purchase Shares that does not constitute an Incentive Stock Option under Code Section 422 (or any successor Code Section).

 

Section 2.22     Option. “Option” means a right to purchase Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

Section 2.23     Option Exercise Price. “Option Exercise Price” means the price at which a Share may be purchased by a Participant pursuant to an Option.

 

Section 2.24     Participant. “Participant” means an Employee, Nonemployee Director, or Consultant who is selected to receive an Award or who has an outstanding Award granted under the Plan.

 

Section 2.25     Performance Measure. “Performance Measure” means one or more business criteria to be used by the Committee in establishing Performance Targets for 162(m) Awards under the Plan.

 

Section 2.26     Performance Shares. “Performance Shares” means an Award designated as Performance Shares and granted to a Participant in accordance with Article IX of the Plan.

 

Section 2.27     Performance Target. “Performance Target” means the specific, objective goal or goals that are timely set forth in writing by the Committee for grants of 162(m) Awards under the Plan with respect to any one or more Performance Measures.

 

Section 2.28     Performance Unit. “Performance Unit” means an Award designated as a Performance Unit and granted to a Participant in accordance with Article X of this Plan.

 

Section 2.29     Period of Restriction. “Period of Restriction” means the period during which the transfer of Shares underlying an Award is limited in some way, or the Shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.

 

Section 2.30     Plan. “Plan” means the Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time.

 

Section 2.31     Prior Plan. “Prior Plan” means the Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Fourth Amended and Restated 2002 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

Section 2.32     Restricted Stock. “Restricted Stock” means an Award that is a grant of Shares delivered to a Participant, subject to restrictions described in Article VIII of this Plan.

 

Section 2.33     Restricted Stock Unit or RSU. “Restricted Stock Unit” or “RSU” means an Award that is subject to the restrictions described in Article VIII of this Plan and is a promise of the Company to deliver at the end of a Period of Restrictions (a) one Share for each RSU, (b) cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share for each RSU, or (c) a combination of (a) and (b), as determined by the Committee.

 

Section 2.34     Retirement. “Retirement” means, with respect to Employees, termination of Service by reason of the Employee’s retirement at or after his or her having satisfied the requirements for retirement under the applicable Company qualified retirement plan, or in such other termination of Service determined to be a retirement by the Committee. With respect to a Nonemployee Director, “Retirement” means a termination of Service on the Board that is to qualify as a retirement with the consent of the remaining Nonemployee Directors. With respect to a Consultant, no termination of Service shall be deemed to be on account of Retirement.

 

Section 2.35     Rule 16b-3. “Rule 16b-3” means rule 16b-3 promulgated under the 1934 Act, as amended, and any future determination amending, supplementing, or superseding such regulation.

 

Section 2.36     Section 16 Person. “Section 16 Person” means a person who, with respect to shares, is subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act.

 

Section 2.37     Service. “Service” means a Participant’s work for the Company or an Affiliate, either as an Employee, Nonemployee Director, or Consultant.

 

Section 2.38     Shares. “Shares” means the shares of common stock of the Company, $0.001 par value per share.

 

 

 

Section 2.39     Stock Appreciation Right or SAR. “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means an Award designated as a SAR in accordance with the terms of Article VII of the Plan.

 

Section 2.40     Subsidiary. “Subsidiary” means any corporation, partnership, joint venture, or other entity in which the Company has a majority voting interest; provided, however, that with respect to ISOs, the term “Subsidiary” shall include only an entity that qualifies under Code Section 424(f) as a “subsidiary corporation” with respect to the Company.

 

Section 2.41     Tandem SAR. “Tandem SAR” means a SAR that is granted in connection with a related Option, the exercise of which shall require forfeiture of the right to purchase a Share under the related Option (with a similar cancellation of the Tandem SAR when a Share is purchased under the Option). Except for the medium of payment, the terms of a Tandem SAR shall be identical in all material respects to the terms of the related Option.

 

 

Article III

Administration

 

Section 3.1     Administration by the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. All questions of interpretation of the Plan, of any Award Agreement, or of any other form of agreement or other document employed by the Company in the administration of the Plan or of any Award, shall be determined by the Committee, and such determinations shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest in the Plan or such Award, unless fraudulent or made in bad faith. Any and all actions, decisions and determinations taken or made by the Committee in the exercise of its discretion pursuant to the Plan or Award Agreement or other agreement thereunder (other than determining questions of interpretation pursuant to the preceding sentence) shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall perform the functions of the Committee for purposes of granting Awards under the Plan to Nonemployee Directors.

 

Section 3.2     Powers of the Committee. In addition to any other powers set forth in the Plan and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the full and final power and authority, in its discretion:

 

 

(a)

to determine the persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted and the number of Shares to be subject to each Award;

 

 

(b)

to determine the type of Award granted;  

 

 

(c)

to determine the Fair Market Value of Shares or other property where applicable;

 

 

(d)

to determine the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to each Award (which need not be identical) and any Shares acquired pursuant thereto (other than the Options granted to Nonemployee Directors, as described under the Plan), including, without limitation, (i) the exercise or purchase price of Shares pursuant to any Award, (ii) the method of payment for Shares purchased pursuant to any Award, (iii) the method for satisfaction of any tax withholding obligation arising in connection with Award, including by the withholding or delivery of Shares, (iv) the timing, terms and conditions of the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any Shares acquired pursuant thereto, (v) the time of the expiration of any Award, (vi) the effect of the Participants termination of Service on any of the foregoing, (vii) adopt procedures and subplans as are necessary or appropriate to permit participation in the Plan by Employees, Consultants, and Nonemployee Directors who are foreign nationals or employed outside of the United States, and (viii) all other terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to any Award or Shares acquired pursuant thereto not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan;

 

 

(e)

to determine how an Award will be settled, as provided under an Award Agreement;

 

 

(f)

to approve one or more forms of Award Agreement;

 

 

(g)

to amend, modify, extend, cancel or renew any Award or to waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any Award or any Shares acquired upon the exercise thereof;

 

 

(h)

to accelerate, continue, extend or defer the exercisability of any Award or the vesting of any Shares acquired upon the exercise thereof, including with respect to the period following a Participants termination of Service;

 

 

(i)

to prescribe, amend or rescind rules, guidelines and policies relating to the Plan, or to adopt sub-plans or supplements to, or alternative versions of, the Plan, including, without limitation, as the Committee deems necessary or desirable to comply with the laws or regulations of or to accommodate the tax policy, accounting principles or custom of, foreign jurisdictions whose citizens may be granted Awards; and

 

 

(j)

to correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement and to make all other determinations and take such other actions with respect to the Plan or any Award as the Committee may deem advisable to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan or applicable law.

 

 

 

Section 3.3     Action by the Committee. A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for any meeting of the Committee, and the act of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present or the act approved in writing by a majority of all the members of the Committee shall be the act of the Committee. In the performance of their duties under this Plan, the Committee members shall be entitled to rely upon information and advice furnished by the Company’s officers, employees, accountants or counsel, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company or the Committee to assist in the administration of this Plan.

 

Section 3.4     Delegation by the Committee. The Committee, in its sole discretion and on such terms and conditions it may provide, may delegate all or any part of its authority and powers under the Plan to one or more officers or Nonemployee Directors; provided, however, that the Committee may not delegate its authority and powers (a) with respect to Section 16 Persons, or (b) in any way that would jeopardize the qualification of 162(m) Awards under Code Section 162(m) or the Plan’s qualification under Rule 16b-3.

 

Section 3.5     Nonemployee Directors. Notwithstanding any provisions of the Plan to the contrary, the Board shall administer Section 6.8 of the Plan, and the Committee shall exercise no discretion with respect to Section 6.8. In the Board’s administration of Section 6.8 are the Options and Shares granted to Nonemployee Directors, the Board shall have all of the authority and discretion otherwise granted to the Committee with respect to the administration of the Plan.

 

Section 3.6     Indemnification. The Company will indemnify each member of the Committee against costs, expenses and liabilities (other than amounts paid in settlements to which the Company does not consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) reasonably incurred by such member in connection with any action to which he or she may be a party by reason of service as a member of the Committee, except in relation to matters as to which he or she is adjudged in such action to be personally guilty of negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of his or her duties. The foregoing right to indemnification is in addition to such other rights as the Committee member may enjoy as a matter of law, by reason of insurance coverage of any kind, or otherwise.

 

 

Article IV

Stock Subject to the Plan

 

Section 4.1     Aggregate Shares. Subject to adjustment as provided under the Plan, the total number of Shares that are available for Awards under the Plan shall not exceed in the aggregate 1,750,000 Shares (all of which may be granted with respect to Incentive Stock Options), plus any Shares subject to outstanding awards granted under the Prior Plan and that expire or terminate for any reason, shall be available under this Plan. Such Shares may be authorized and unissued Shares, treasury Shares, or Shares acquired on the open market.

 

Section 4.2     Individual Award Limitations. Subject to adjustments as provided in herein, the maximum number of Shares for which Awards may be granted under the Plan to any one individual in any calendar year may not exceed 250,000 shares. The maximum aggregate Cash-Based Award shall be $5,000,000 per year.

 

Section 4.3     Share Counting. The following Shares related to Awards will be available for issuance again under the Plan: (a) Shares related to Awards paid in cash (b) Shares related to Awards that expire, are forfeited, are cancelled, or terminate for any other reason without the delivery of the Shares, (c) Shares equal in number to the Shares withheld, surrendered or tendered in payment of the exercise price of an Award, and (d) Shares tendered or withheld in order to satisfy tax withholding obligations.

 

Section 4.4     Adjustment to Number of Shares.

 

 

(a)

Appropriate adjustments in the aggregate number of Shares issuable pursuant to the Plan, the number of Shares subject to each outstanding award granted under the Plan, the Option price with respect to Options and Tandem SARs, the specified price of SARs not connected to Options, and the value for Performance Units, shall be made to give effect to any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from a subdivision or consolidation of Shares, whether through recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, spin-off, spin-out or other distribution of assets to shareholders, stock distributions or combinations of Shares, payment of stock dividends, other increase or decrease in the number of such Shares outstanding effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, or any other occurrence for which the Committee determines an adjustment is appropriate.

 

 

(b)

In the event of any merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Company with any other corporation or corporations, or an acquisition by the Company of the stock or assets of any other corporation or corporations, there shall be substituted on an equitable basis, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, for each Share then subject to the Plan, and for each Share then subject to an Award granted under the Plan, the number and kind of Shares of stock, other securities, cash or other property to which the holders of Shares of the Company are entitled pursuant to such transaction.

 

 

(c)

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, any such adjustment shall be deemed to have prevented any dilution or enlargement of a Participant’s rights, if such Participant receives in any such adjustment, rights that are substantially similar (after taking into account the fact that the Participant has not paid the applicable option price) to the rights the Participant would have received had he exercised his outstanding Award and become a shareholder of the Company immediately prior to the event giving rise to such adjustment. Adjustments under this paragraph shall be made by the Committee, whose decision as to the amount and timing of any such adjustment shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

 

 

 

Article V

Eligibility and Participation

 

Section 5.1     Eligibility to Receive Awards. Persons eligible to receive Awards under the Plan are Employees, Nonemployee Directors, and Consultants.

 

Section 5.2     Participation in the Plan. Subject to the other provisions of this Plan, the Committee has the full discretion to grant Awards to eligible persons described in Section 5.1. Eligible persons may be granted more than one Award. Eligibility in accordance with this Section, however, shall not entitle any person to be granted an Award, or, having been granted an Award, to be granted an additional Award.

 

 

Article VI

Options

 

Section 6.1     Grant of Options. Options shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form and not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall approve from time to time. Award Agreements shall specify the Option Exercise Price, the duration of the Option, the number of Shares to which the Option pertains, provisions for vesting and exercisability, whether the Option is an ISO or NQSO, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine. Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with the following terms and conditions. Except in accordance with equitable adjustments as provided in Section 4.4 of this Plan, no Option granted under the Plan shall at any time be repriced or subject to cancellation and replacement without shareholder approval.

 

Section 6.2     Option Exercise Price. The Option Exercise Price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the day the Option is granted.

 

Section 6.3     Exercise of Options. Each Award Agreement shall state the period or periods of time within which the Option may be exercised by the optionee, in whole or in part, which shall be such period or periods of time as may be determined by the Committee, provided that the Option exercise period shall not end later than ten years after the date of the grant for any ISO. The Committee shall have the power to permit in its discretion an acceleration of the previously determined exercise terms, within the terms of the Plan, under such circumstances and upon such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate.

 

Section 6.4     Payment of Option Exercise Price. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, or in any Award Agreement, the optionee shall pay the Option Exercise Price upon the exercise of any Option (i) in cash, (ii) by authorizing a third party with which the optionee has a brokerage or similar account to sell the Shares (or a sufficient portion of such Shares) acquired upon the exercise of the Option and remit to the Company a portion of the sale proceeds sufficient to pay the entire Option Exercise Price to the Company, (iii) by delivering Shares that have an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Option Exercise Price; (iv) by authorizing the Company to withhold from the total number of Shares as to which the Option is being exercised the number of Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the aggregate Option Exercise Price for the total number of Shares as to which the Option is being exercised, (v) by such other means by which the Committee determines to be consistent with the purpose of the Plan and applicable law, or (vi) by any combination of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v). In the case of an election pursuant to (i) above, cash shall mean cash or check issued by a federally insured bank or savings and loan association and made payable to Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. In the case of payment pursuant to (ii) or (iii) above, the optionee’s authorization must be made on or prior to the date of exercise and shall be irrevocable. In lieu of a separate election governing each exercise of an Option, an optionee may file a blanket election with the Committee, which shall govern all future exercises of Options until revoked by the optionee.

 

Section 6.5     Transfer of Shares. The Committee may impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares are then listed and/or traded, and under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to such Shares.

 

Section 6.6     Rights Upon Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in an Option Agreement, in the event that an optionee terminates Service for any reason other than death, Disability or Retirement, the right of the optionee to exercise the Option will terminate immediately, unless the Committee in its sole discretion elects to extend the exercisability of an Option during its term to not more than three (3) months from the date of the termination of service. In the event that an optionee dies, Retires, or becomes Disabled prior to termination of his option without having fully exercised his option, the optionee or his successor shall have the right to exercise the option during its term within a period of one year after the date of such termination due to death, Disability or Retirement, to the extent that the option was exercisable at the date of termination due to death, Disability or retirement, or during such other period and subject to such terms, including accelerated vesting, as may be determined by the Committee.

 

 

 

Section 6.7     Additional Rules for Incentive Stock Options.

 

 

(a)

Employees. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees of the Company or a Subsidiary and not to Employees of any Affiliate unless such entity is classified as a “disregarded entity” of the Company or the applicable Subsidiary under the Code. Incentive Stock Options may not be granted to Nonemployee Directors.

 

 

(b)

Exercise Limitations. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide in each Award Agreement the period or periods of time within which the Option may be exercised by the optionee, in whole or in part, provided that the Option period shall not end later than ten years after the date of the grant of the Option. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined with respect to each Incentive Stock Option at the time of grant) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an individual during any calendar year (under all incentive stock option plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries) shall not exceed $100,000. If the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of the Shares subject to an Option, which first becomes exercisable in any calendar year, exceeds this limitation, so much of the Option that does not exceed the applicable dollar limit shall be an Incentive Stock Option and the remainder shall be a Nonqualified Stock Option; but in all other respects, the original Award Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if an Incentive Stock Option is granted to an individual who owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of its parent or subsidiary corporations, within the meaning of Code Section 422(b)(6), (i) the purchase price of each Share subject to the Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Share on the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted, and (ii) the Incentive Stock Option shall expire, and all rights to purchase Shares thereunder shall cease, no later than the fifth anniversary of the date the Incentive Stock Option was granted.

 

 

(c)

Rights Upon Termination of Service. The rules under Section 6.6 of this Plan generally shall apply when an optionee holding an ISO terminates Service. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in accordance with Code Section 422, if an Incentive Stock Option is exercised more than ninety days after termination of Service, that portion of the Option exercised after such date shall automatically be a Nonqualified Stock Option, but, in all other respects, the original Award Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

Section 6.8     Additional Rules for Options Granted to Nonemployee Directors.

 

 

(a)

Granting of Options. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Board may grant Nonqualified Stock Options to purchase shares to Nonemployee Directors.

 

 

(b)

Terms of Options. The Board, in its sole discretion, shall determine the number of shares subject to each Option granted to a Nonemployee Director.

 

 

(c)

Option Agreement. Each Award granted pursuant to this subsection 9 shall be evidenced by a written Award Agreement which shall be executed by the Participant and the Company.

 

 

(d)

Exercise Price. The Grant Price for the Shares subject to each Option granted pursuant to this subsection shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the day of grant.

 

 

(e)

Exercisability. Each Option granted pursuant to this Section 6.8 shall become exercisable in full one year after the date the Option is granted. If a Nonemployee Director incurs a termination of Service for a reason other than Retirement, death or Disability, his or her Options which are not exercisable on the date of such termination of service shall never become exercisable. If the termination of Service is on account of Retirement, death or Disability, the Option shall become exercisable in full on the date of the termination of Service.

 

 

(f)

Expiration of Options. Each Option shall terminate upon the first to occur of the following events:

 

 

(1)

The expiration of ten (10) years from the date of grant; or

 

 

(2)

The expiration of three (3) months from the date of the Participant’s termination of Service for a reason other than death, Disability or Retirement; or

 

 

(3)

The expiration of one (1) year from the date of the Participant’s Termination of Service by reason of Disability or Retirement.

 

 

(g)

Death of Director. Notwithstanding subsection (e), if a Nonemployee Director dies prior to the expiration of his or her options in accordance with subsection (e), his or her Options shall terminate one (1) year after the date of his or her death.

 

 

 

 

(h)

Special Rule for Retirement. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (e), if the exercisability of an Option is accelerated under subsection (d) on account of the Participant’s Retirement, such Option shall terminate upon the first to occur of: (a) the expiration of ten (10) years from the date the Option was granted; or (b) the expiration of one year from the date of the Participant’s death.

 

 

(i)

Not Incentive Stock Options. Options granted pursuant to this Section 9 shall not be designated as Incentive Stock Options.

 

 

(j)

Other Terms. All provisions of the Plan not inconsistent with this Section 6.8, shall apply to Options granted to Nonemployee Directors.

 

 

(k)

Elections by Nonemployee Directors. Pursuant to such procedures as the Board (in its discretion) may adopt from time to time, each Nonemployee Director may elect to forego receipt of all or a portion of fees for service as a Director otherwise due to the Nonemployee Director in exchange for Shares. The number of Shares received by any Nonemployee Director shall equal the amount of foregone compensation divided by the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date that the compensation otherwise would have been paid to the Nonemployee Director, rounded up to the nearest whole number of Shares. The procedures adopted by the Board for elections under this subsection shall be designed to ensure that any such election by a Nonemployee Director will not disqualify him or her as a “nonemployee director” under Rule 16b-3.

 

 

Article VII

Stock Appreciation Rights

 

Section 7.1     Grant of SARs. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form and not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall approve from time to time. Award Agreements shall specify the Grant Price of the SAR, the duration of the SAR, the number of Shares to which the SAR pertains, provisions for vesting and exercisability, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine. Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with the following terms and conditions.

 

Section 7.2     Awards. A SAR shall entitle the grantee to receive upon exercise the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of a specified number of Shares at the time of exercise over (ii) the Grant Price, or, if connected with a previously issued Option, not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of Shares at the time such Option was granted. A SAR may be a Tandem SAR or may not be granted in connection with an Option.

 

Section 7.3     Term of SAR. SARs shall be granted for a period of not more than ten years, and shall be exercisable in whole or in part, at such time or times and subject to such other terms and conditions, as shall be prescribed by the Committee at the time of grant, subject to the provisions of this Plan.

 

Section 7.4     Termination of Service. SARs shall be exercisable only during a grantee’s period of Service, except that in the discretion of the Committee a SAR may be made exercisable for up to ninety days after the grantee’s Service is terminated for any reason other than death, Disability or Retirement. In the event that a grantee dies, Retires, or becomes Disabled without having fully exercised his SARs, the grantee or his successor shall have the right to exercise the SARs during their term within a period of one year after the date of such termination due to death, Disability or Retirement to the extent that the right was exercisable at the date of such termination or during such other period and subject to such terms as may be determined by the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall have the power to permit in its discretion an acceleration of previously determined exercise terms, within the terms of the Plan, under such circumstances and upon such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate.

 

Section 7.5     Special Rules for Exercise of Tandem SARs. Tandem SARs may be exercised for all or part of the Shares subject to the related Option upon the surrender of the right to exercise the equivalent portion of the related Option. A Tandem SAR may be exercised only with respect to Shares for which its related Option is then exercisable. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, with respect to a Tandem SAR granted in connection with an ISO: (i) the Tandem SAR will expire no later than the expiration of the underlying ISO; (ii) the value of the payout with respect to the Tandem SAR may be for no more than one hundred percent (100%) of the difference between the Option Price of the underlying ISO and the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the underlying ISO at the time the Tandem SAR is exercised; and (iii) the Tandem SAR may be exercised only when the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the ISO exceeds the Option Price of the ISO.

 

Section 7.6     Payment. Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Participant shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying: (i) the difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the Grant Price; by (ii) the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised. At the discretion of the Committee, payment shall be made in cash, in the form of Shares at Fair Market Value, or in a combination thereof, as the Committee may determine.

 

 

 

Article VIII

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units

 

Section 8.1     Grants. The Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock or grant Restricted Stock Units to Participants in such amounts as the Committee shall determine. Each Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Period(s) of Restriction, the number of Shares of Restricted Stock or the number of Restricted Stock Units issued to the Participant, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine. Such Award Agreements shall be consistent with the provisions of this Article VIII.

 

Section 8.2     Period of Restriction. The end of any Period of Restriction for Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units may be conditioned upon the satisfaction of such conditions as are satisfied by the Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in an applicable Award Agreement. Such conditions include, without limitation, restrictions based upon the continued Service of the Participant, the achievement of specific performance goals, time-based restrictions on vesting following the attainment of the performance goals, and/or restrictions under applicable federal or state securities laws, prohibitions against transfer, and repurchase by the Company or right of first refusal. The Committee shall have the power to permit in its discretion, an acceleration of the expiration of the applicable Period of Restriction with respect to any part or all of the Shares or number of Restricted Stock Units awarded to a Participant.

 

Section 8.3     Certificates. If a certificate is issued in respect of Shares awarded to a Participant, each certificate shall be deposited with the Company, or its designee, and shall bear the following legend:

 

“This certificate and the shares represented hereby are subject to the terms and conditions (including forfeiture and restrictions against transfer) contained in the Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan and an Award Agreement entered into by the registered owner. Release from such terms and conditions shall be obtained only in accordance with the provisions of the Plan and Award Agreement, a copy of each of which is on file in the office of the Secretary of said Company.”

 

Section 8.4     Lapse of Restrictions. A Restricted Stock Award Agreement or Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement shall specify the terms and conditions upon which any restrictions upon Shares awarded or RSUs awarded under the Plan shall lapse, as determined by the Committee. Upon the lapse of such restrictions, any Shares that have been awarded, free of the previously described restrictive legend, shall be issued to the Participant or his legal representative.

 

Section 8.5     Termination of Service. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement and Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement shall set forth the extent, if any, to which the Participant shall have the right to continued or accelerated vesting of Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units following termination of the Participant’s Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

 

Section 8.6     Code Section 83(b) Election. If a Participant makes an election pursuant to Code Section 83(b) with respect to a Restricted Stock Award, the Participant shall be required to promptly file a copy of such election with the Company.

 

Article IX

Performance Shares Awards

 

Section 9.1     Grants of Performance Shares. The Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Awards of Performance Shares to Participants in such amounts as the Committee shall determine. Each Performance Shares grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the applicable performance period, the number of Shares subject to a Performance Shares Award that are to be delivered to the Participant upon satisfaction of the performance targets by the expiration of the performance period, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine. Such Award Agreements shall be consistent with the provisions of this Article IX.

 

Section 9.2     Performance Period and Performance Goals. At the time of award, the Committee, in its sole discretion shall establish a performance period and the performance goals to be achieved during the applicable performance period with respect to an Award of Performance Shares.

 

Section 9.3     Delivery of Shares. Following the conclusion of each performance period, the Committee shall determine the extent to which performance goals have been attained for such period as well as the other terms and conditions established by the Committee. The Committee shall determine the amount of Shares, if any, to be delivered to the Participant in satisfaction of the Award.

 

Section 9.4     Termination of Service. Each Performance Shares Award Agreement shall set forth the extent, if any, to which the Participant shall have the right to continued or accelerated vesting of Performance Shares following termination of the Participant’s Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Performance Shares Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

 

 

 

Section 9.5     Code Section 162(m). If any Performance Shares are intended to be 162(m) Awards, the Committee shall follow the procedures set forth in Section 13.1 with respect to such Performance Shares.

 

 

Article X

Performance Units

 

Section 10.1     Grant of Performance Units. Subject to the terms of the Plan, Performance Units may be granted to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee. Performance Units shall be evidenced by Award Agreements that are subject to the terms of this Article X.

 

Section 10.2     Performance Period and Performance Goals. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, at the time of award, the Committee shall establish with respect to each Performance Unit a performance period of not less than two years. At the time of award, the Committee also shall establish, in its sole discretion, the performance goals to be achieved during the applicable performance period with respect to an Award of Performance Units.

 

Section 10.3     Value of Performance Units. At the time Performance Units are granted, the Committee shall establish with respect to each such Award a value for each Performance Unit, which may vary thereafter determinable from criteria specified by the Committee at the time of Award.

 

Section 10.4     Code Section 162(m). If any Performance Units are intended to be 162(m) Awards, the Committee shall follow the procedures set forth in Section 13.1 with respect to such Performance Units.

 

Section 10.5     Payment of Performance Units. Following the conclusion of each performance period, the Committee shall determine the extent to which performance targets have been attained for such period as well as the other terms and conditions established by the Committee. The Committee shall determine what, if any, payment is due on the Performance Units. Payment shall be made as soon as practicable after the end of the applicable performance period, but no later than the March 15th of the year after the year in which such performance period ends, in cash, in the form of Shares, or in a combination thereof, as the Committee may determine.

 

Section 10.6     Termination of Service. Each Performance Unit Award Agreement shall set forth the extent, if any, to which the Participant shall have the right to continued or accelerated vesting of Performance Units following termination of the Participant’s Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Performance Units Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

 

Section 10.7     Other Terms. The Award Agreements with respect to Performance Units shall contain such other terms and provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as shall be determined by the Committee.

 

 

Article XI

Cash-Based Awards

 

Section 11.1     Grant of Cash-Based Awards. Subject to the terms of the Plan, Cash-Based Awards may be granted to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee, subject to the terms of this Article XI. This Article does not limit the ability of the Committee or management to award bonuses or other cash-based awards other than under the terms of the Plan.

 

Section 11.2     Performance Period and Performance Goals. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the performance period for any Cash-Based Award shall be one year. At the time of award, the Committee also shall establish, in its sole discretion, the performance goals to be achieved during the applicable performance period with respect to Cash-Based Awards.

 

Section 11.3     Value of Cash-Based Awards. At the time Cash-Based Awards are granted, the Committee shall establish the value of such Awards, which may vary thereafter determinable from criteria specified by the Committee at the time of Award.

 

Section 11.4     Code Section 162(m). If the grant of any Cash-Based Awards are intended to be 162(m) Awards, the Committee shall follow the procedures set forth in Section 13.1 with respect to such Cash-Based Awards.

 

Section 11.5     Payment of Cash-Based Awards. If payable, the Participant’s Cash-Based Award will be distributed to the Participant, or the Participant’s estate in the event of the Participant’s death before payment, in cash in a single sum as soon after the end of the applicable performance period as practicable, but no later than March 15th after the end of the performance period, in accordance with the Company’s payroll practices.

 

 

 

Section 11.6     Termination of Service. With respect to Cash-Based Awards, the Committee shall set forth the extent, if any, to which the Participant shall have the right to continued or accelerated vesting of such Cash-Based Awards following termination of the Participant’s Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all Cash-Based Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

 

 

Article XII

Other Stock-Based Awards

 

The Committee may from time to time grant Shares and other Awards under the Plan that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based upon and/or payable in Shares. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards, which shall be consistent with the terms and purposes of the Plan.

 

 

Article XIII

Awards Under the Plan; Code Section 162(m)

 

Section 13.1     Compliance with Code Section 162(m).

 

 

(a)

General. The Committee may grant Awards that are designed to qualify as 162(m) Awards and Awards that are not 162(m) Awards. In the case of Awards granted to Covered Officers that are intended to be 162(m) Awards, the Committee shall make in writing all determinations necessary to establish the terms of such 162(m) Awards within 90 days of the beginning of the applicable performance period (or such other time period required under Code Section 162(m)), including, without limitation, the designation of the Covered Officers to whom such 162(m) Awards are made, the Performance Measures applicable to the Awards and the Performance Targets that relate to such Performance Measures, and the dollar amounts or number of Shares payable upon achieving the applicable Performance Targets. To the extent required by Code Section 162(m), the provisions of such 162(m) Awards must state, in terms of an objective formula or standard, the method of computing the amount of compensation payable to the Covered Officer. The specific Performance Targets established by the Committee shall be made while the achievement of such Performance Targets remains substantially uncertain in accordance with Code Section 162(m). Subject to the terms of this Plan, after each applicable performance period has ended, the Committee shall determine the extent to which the Performance Targets have been attained or a degree of achievement between minimum and maximum levels with respect to 162(m) Awards in order to establish the level of payment to be made, if any, with respect to such 162(m) Awards, and shall certify the results in writing prior to payment of such 162(m) Awards.

 

 

(b)

Performance Targets and Performance Measures. With respect to 162(m) Awards, at the time of grant of a 162(m) Award, the Committee shall establish in writing maximum and minimum Performance Targets to be achieved with respect to each Award during the performance period. The Participant shall be entitled to payment of the entire amount awarded if the maximum Performance Target is achieved during the performance period, but shall be entitled to payment with respect to a portion of the Award according to the level of achievement of Performance Targets, as specified by the Committee, for performance during the performance period that meets or exceeds the minimum Performance Target but fails to meet the maximum Performance Target. With respect to Cash-Based Awards, the Committee may assign payout percentages based upon various potential Performance Targets to be applied if the Performance Targets are met. The Committee has full discretion and authority to determine the Performance Target payouts for Cash-Based Award’s performance period.

 

The Performance Targets established by the Committee may relate to corporate, division, department, business unit, or individual performance and may be established in terms of any one or a combination of the following Performance Measures: price of Company Common Stock or the stock of any affiliate, shareholder return, return on equity, return on investment, return on capital, sales productivity, comparable store sales growth, economic profit, economic value added, net income, operating income, gross margin, sales, free cash flow, earnings per share, operating company contribution or market shares. Multiple Performance Targets may be used and may have the same or different weighting, and they may relate to absolute performance or relative performance as measured against other institutions or divisions or units thereof.

 

 

(c)

Calculation and Adjustments. The Committee may provide in any such Award that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude any of the following events that occur during a performance period: (a) asset write-downs, (b) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (c) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles or other laws or provisions affecting reported results, (d) any reorganization and restructuring programs, (e) mergers, acquisitions or divestitures, (f) foreign exchange gains and losses, and (g) extraordinary, unusual, or other nonrecurring items as described in U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s consolidated report to the investment community or investor letters.  To the extent such inclusions or exclusions affect Awards to Covered Officers, they shall be prescribed in a form that meets the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for deductibility except as otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. Awards that are intended to qualify as 162(m) Awards may not be adjusted upward from the amount otherwise payable to a Covered Officer under the pre-established Performance Target.  The Committee shall retain the discretion to adjust such Awards downward, either on a formulaic or discretionary basis or a combination of the two, as the Committee determines. If applicable tax and securities laws change to permit Committee discretion to alter the governing Performance Measures or Performance Targets without obtaining shareholder approval of such changes, the Committee shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining shareholder approval. 

 

 

 

Section 13.2     Non-Code Section 162(m) Awards. In the case of Awards that are not intended to be qualifying as “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m), the Committee may designate performance targets from among the previously described Performance Measures in this Article or such other business criteria as it determines in its sole discretion. The Committee also may make adjustments to such Performance Measures or other business criteria in any manner it deems appropriate in its discretion.

 

 

Article XIV

Dividends and Dividend Equivalents

 

No dividends or dividend equivalents may be awarded with respect to any Options or SARs. An Award (other than Options or SARs) may, if so determined by the Committee, provide the Participant with the right to receive dividend payments, or, in the case of Awards that do not involve the issuance of Shares concurrently with the grant of the Award, dividend equivalent payments with respect to Shares subject to the Award (both before and after the Shares are earned, vested or acquired), which payments may be either made currently, credited to an account for the Participant, or deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares which shall thereafter be deemed to be part of and subject to the underlying Award, including the same vesting and performance conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to Awards subject to performance conditions, any such dividend or dividend equivalent payments shall not be paid currently and instead shall either be credited to an account for the Participant or deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares. Dividend or dividend equivalent amounts credited to an account for the Participant may be settled in cash or Shares or a combination of both, as determined by the Committee, and shall be subject to the same vesting and performance conditions as the underlying Award.

Article XV

Beneficiary Designation

 

Each Participant under the Plan may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under the Plan is to be paid in case of his or her death before he or she receives any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. In the absence of any such designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Participant’s death shall be paid to the Participant’s estate.

 

 

Article XVI

Change in Control

 

Section 16.1     Effect of Change in Control. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or any Award Agreement granted hereunder, upon a Change in Control, all outstanding Awards shall become fully exercisable and all restrictions thereon shall terminate; provided, however, that the Committee may determine and provide through an Award Agreement or other means the extent of vesting and the treatment of partially completed performance periods (if any) for any Awards outstanding upon a Change in Control. Further, the Committee, as constituted before such Change in Control, is authorized, and has sole discretion, as to any Award, either at the time such Award is granted hereunder or any time thereafter, to take any one or more of the following actions: (i) provide for the cancellation of any such Award for an amount of cash equal to the difference between the exercise price and the then Fair Market Value of the Shares covered thereby had such Award been currently exercisable; (ii) make such adjustment to any such Award then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to reflect such Change in Control; or (iii) cause any such Award then outstanding to be assumed, by the acquiring or surviving corporation, after such Change in Control.

 

Section 16.2     Participant Elections to Minimize Code Section 4999 Excise Tax.

 

 

(a)

Excess Parachute Payment. In the event that any acceleration of vesting pursuant to an Award and any other payment or benefit received or to be received by a Participant would subject the Participant to any excise tax pursuant to Code Section 4999 due to the characterization of such acceleration of vesting, payment or benefit as an excess parachute payment under Code Section 280G, the Participant may elect, in his or her sole discretion, to reduce the amount of any acceleration of vesting called for under the Award in order to avoid such characterization. Such an election, however, may not change the time and form of any payment in a manner that would cause the Participant to incur additional taxes or penalties under Code Section 409A.

 

 

 

 

(b)

Determination by Independent Accountants. To aid the Participant in making any election called for under part (a) above, no later than the date of the occurrence of any event that might reasonably be anticipated to result in an excess parachute payment to the Participant as described in part (a) above, the Company shall request a determination in writing by independent public accountants selected by the Company (the “Accountants”). As soon as practicable thereafter, the Accountants shall determine and report to the Company and the Participant the amount of such acceleration of vesting, payments and benefits which would produce the greatest after-tax benefit to the Participant. For the purposes of such determination, the Accountants may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Code Sections 280G and 4999. The Company and the Participant shall furnish to the Accountants such information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably request in order to make their required determination. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses the Accountants may reasonably charge in connection with their services contemplated by this subpart (b).

 

 

Article XVII

Deferrals

 

The Committee may permit (upon timely election by the Participant) or require a Participant to defer such Participant’s receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant by virtue of the exercise of an Option or SAR, the lapse or waiver of restrictions with respect to Restricted Stock or Performance Shares, or the satisfaction of any requirements or goals with respect to Performance Units or Cash-Based Awards. If any such deferral election is required or permitted, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, establish rules and procedures for such payment deferrals in a manner consistent with Code Section 409A and the regulations thereunder.

 

 

 

Article XVIII

Withholding

 

Section 18.1     Tax Withholding. The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy Federal, state, and local taxes, domestic or foreign, required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of this Plan.

 

Section 18.2     Share Withholding. With respect to withholding required upon the exercise of Options or SARs, upon the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock, or upon any other taxable event arising as a result of Awards granted hereunder, Participants may elect, subject to the approval of the Committee, to satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by having the Company withhold Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date the tax is to be determined equal to the minimum statutory total tax which could be imposed on the transaction. All such elections shall be irrevocable, made in writing before the date in which income is realized by the recipient in connection with the particular transaction, signed by the Participant, and shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. The amount of required withholding shall be a specified rate not less than the statutory minimum federal, state and local (if any) withholding rate, and not greater than the maximum federal, state and local (if any) marginal tax rate applicable to the Participant and to the particular transaction.

 

 

Article XIX

Compliance with Code Section 409A

 

Section 19.1     Awards Subject to Code Section 409A. The provisions of this Section 19.1 shall apply to any Award or portion thereof that is or becomes subject to Code Section 409A, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in the Plan or the Award Agreement applicable to such Award. Awards subject to Code Section 409A include, without limitation:

 

 

(a)

Any Nonqualified Stock Option having an exercise price per share less than the Fair Market Value determined as of the date of grant of such Option or that permits the deferral of compensation other than the deferral of recognition of income until the exercise or transfer of the Option or the time the shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of the option first become substantially vested.

 

 

(b)

Any Award that either provides by its terms, or under which the Participant makes an election, for settlement of all or any portion of the Award either (i) on one or more dates following the end of the Short-Term Deferral Period (as defined below) or (ii) upon or after the occurrence of any event that will or may occur later than the end of the Short-Term Deferral Period.

 

Subject to U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated pursuant to Code Section 409A (“Section 409A Regulations”) or other applicable guidance, the term “Short-Term Deferral Period” means the period ending on the later of (i) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which the applicable portion of the Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture or (ii) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Participant’s taxable year in which the applicable portion of the Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. For this purpose, the term “substantial risk of forfeiture” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 409A Regulations or other applicable guidance.

 

Section 19.2     No Acceleration of Distributions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Plan does not permit the acceleration of the time or schedule of any distribution under this Plan pursuant to any Award subject to Code Section 409A, except as provided by Code Section 409A and Section 409A Regulations.

 

Section 19.3     Separation from Service. If any amount shall be payable with respect to any Award hereunder as a result of a Participant’s termination of employment or other Service and such amount is subject to the provisions of Code Section 409A, then notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, a termination of employment or other Service will be deemed to have occurred only at such time as the Participant has experienced a “separation from service” as such term is defined for purposes of Code Section 409A.

 

Section 19.4     Timing of Payment to a Specified Employee. If any amount shall be payable with respect to any Award hereunder as a result of a Participant’s separation from Service at such time as the Participant is a “specified employee” and such amount is subject to the provisions of Code Section 409A, then notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, no payment shall be made, except as permitted under Code Section 409A, prior to the first day of the seventh (7th) calendar month beginning after the Participant’s separation from Service (or the date of his or her earlier death). The Company may adopt a specified employee policy that will apply to identify the specified employees for all deferred compensation plans subject to Code Section 409A; otherwise, specified employees will be identified using the default standards contained in the regulations under Code Section 409A.

 

 

 

Article XX

Amendment and Termination

 

Section 20.1     Amendment, Modification, and Termination of the Plan. The Board or the Committee may at any time terminate, suspend or amend the Plan without the authorization of shareholders to the extent allowed by law, including without limitation any rules issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the 1934 Act, insofar as shareholder approval thereof is required in order for the Plan to continue to satisfy the requirements of Rule 16b-3 under the 1934 Act, or the rules of any applicable stock exchange. No termination, suspension or amendment of the Plan shall adversely affect any right acquired by any Participant under an Award granted before the date of such termination, suspension or amendment, unless such Participant shall consent; but it shall be conclusively presumed that any adjustment for changes in capitalization as provided for herein does not adversely affect any such right.

 

Section 20.2     Amendment of Awards. The Committee may unilaterally amend the terms of any Award Agreement previously granted, except that (i) no such amendment may materially impair the rights of any Participant under the applicable Award without the Participant’s consent, unless such amendment is necessary to comply with applicable law, stock exchange rules or accounting rules; and (ii) in no event may an Option or SAR be amended or modified, other than as provided in Section 4.4, to decrease the Option or SAR exercise or base price thereof, or be cancelled in exchange for cash, a new Option or SAR with a lower exercise price or base price, or other Awards, or otherwise be subject to any action that would be treated for accounting purposes as a “repricing” of such Option or SAR, unless such action is approved by the Company’s shareholders.

 

 

Article XXI

Miscellaneous

 

Section 21.1     Approval Restrictions. Each Award under the Plan shall be subject to the requirement that, if at any time the Committee shall determine that (i) the listing, registration or qualification of the Shares subject or related thereto upon any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or (ii) the consent or approval of any government regulatory body, or (iii) an agreement by the recipient of an Award with respect to the disposition of Shares is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the granting of such award or the issue or purchase of Shares thereunder, such Award may not be consummated in whole or in part unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent, approval or agreement shall have been effected or obtained, free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.

 

Section 21.2     Securities Law Compliance. With respect to Participants subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act, transactions under this Plan are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the 1934 Act. If any provision of this Plan or of any Award Agreement would otherwise frustrate or conflict with the intent expressed in the preceding sentence, that provision to the extent possible shall be interpreted and deemed amended in the manner determined by the Committee so as to avoid the conflict. To the extent of any remaining irreconcilable conflict with this intent, the provision shall be deemed void as applicable to Participants who are then subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act. In addition, no Shares will be issued or transferred pursuant to an Award unless and until all then applicable requirements imposed by federal and state securities and other laws, rules and regulations and by any regulatory agencies having jurisdiction, and by any stock exchanges upon which the Shares may be listed, have been fully met. As a condition precedent to the issuance of Shares pursuant to the grant, exercise, vesting or settlement of an Award, the Company may require the Participant to take any reasonable action to meet such requirements. The Committee may impose such conditions on any Shares issuable under the Plan as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, restrictions under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, under the requirements of any stock exchange upon which such Shares of the same class are then listed, and under any blue sky or other securities laws applicable to such Shares.

 

Section 21.3     Gender and Number. Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine, the plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural.

 

Section 21.4     Rights as a Shareholder.    The recipient of any Award under the Plan, unless otherwise provided by the Plan, shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect thereto unless and until certificates for Shares are issued to the recipient.

 

Section 21.5     Forfeiture. The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events may include, but shall not be limited to, termination of Service for Cause or any act by a Participant, whether before or after termination of Service, that would constitute Cause for termination of Service.

 

Section 21.6     Rights as Employee, Nonemployee Director, Consultant, or Adviser. No person, even though eligible pursuant to Article V, shall have a right to be selected as a Participant, or, having been so selected, to be selected again as a Participant. Nothing in the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan shall confer on any Participant a right to remain an Employee, Nonemployee Director, consultant, or adviser or interfere with or limit in any way any right of the Company or Affiliate to terminate the Participant’s Service at any time. To the extent that an Employee of an Affiliate receives an Award under the Plan, that Award shall in no event be understood or interpreted to mean that the Company is the Employee’s employer or that the Employee has an employment relationship with the Company.

 

 

 

Section 21.7     Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares upon the exercise or settlement of any Award.

 

Section 21.8     Effect on Other Plans.   Unless otherwise specifically provided, participation in the Plan shall not preclude a Participant’s eligibility to participate in any other benefit or incentive plan. Any Awards made pursuant to the Plan shall not be considered as compensation in determining the benefits provided under any other plan.

 

Section 21.9     No Constraint on Corporate Action. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to: (a) limit, impair, or otherwise affect the Company’s or an Affiliate’s right or power to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure, or to merge or consolidate, or dissolve, liquidate, sell, or transfer all or any part of its business or assets; or (b) limit the right or power of the Company or an Affiliate to take any action which such entity deems to be necessary or appropriate.

 

Section 21.10     Over/Under Payments. If any Participant or beneficiary receives an underpayment of Shares or cash payable under the terms of any Award, payment of any such shortfall shall be made as soon as administratively practicable. If any Participant or beneficiary receives an overpayment of Shares or cash payable under the terms of any Award for any reason, the Committee or its delegate shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to take whatever action it deems appropriate, including but not limited to the right to require repayment of such amount or to reduce future payments under this Plan, to recover any such overpayment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, and if the Participant knowingly or through gross negligence engaged in the misconduct, or knowingly or through gross negligence failed to prevent the misconduct, or if the Participant is one of the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Participant shall reimburse the Company the amount of any payment in settlement of an Award earned or accrued during the twelve- (12-) month period following the first public issuance or filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement.

 

Section 21.11     Unfunded Obligation. Participants shall have the status of general unsecured creditors of the Company. Any amounts payable to Participants pursuant to the Plan shall be unfunded and unsecured obligations for all purposes, including, without limitation, Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. No Affiliate shall be required to segregate any monies from its general funds, or to create any trusts, or establish any special accounts with respect to such obligations. The Company shall retain at all times beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments, which the Company may make to fulfill its payment obligations hereunder. Any investments or the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Participant account shall not create or constitute a trust or fiduciary relationship between the Committee or any Affiliate and a Participant, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Participant or the Participant’s creditors in any assets of any Affiliate. The Participants shall have no claim against any Affiliate for any changes in the value of any assets which may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to the Plan.

 

Section 21.12     No Liability With Respect to Adverse Tax Treatment. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, in no event shall the Company or any Affiliate be liable to a Participant on account of an Award’s failure to (i) qualify for favorable U.S., foreign, state, local, or other tax treatment or (ii) avoid adverse tax treatment under U.S., foreign, state, local, or other law, including, without limitation, Code Section 409A.

 

Section 21.13     Severability. In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

 

Section 21.14     Requirements of Law. The granting of Awards and the issuance 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.

 

Section 21.15     Governing Law. To the extent not preempted by federal law, the Plan, and all agreements hereunder, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the state of Ohio.

 

Section 21.16     Successors. All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company.

 

Section 21.17     Provisions Regarding Transferability of Awards.

 

 

(a)

General. Except as otherwise provided below, Awards may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined in the Code or Title 1 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act or the rules thereunder. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, all rights with respect to an Award granted to a Participant shall be available during his or her lifetime only to such Participant.

 

 

 

 

(b)

Nonqualified Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. No NQSO or SAR granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined in the Code or Title 1 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act or the rules thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything in part (a) above, a Participant, at any time prior to his death, may assign all or any portion of the NQSO or SAR to (i) his spouse or lineal descendant, (ii) the trustee of a trust for the primary benefit of his spouse or lineal descendant, or (iii) a tax-exempt organization as described in Code Section 501(c)(3). In such event the spouse, lineal descendant, trustee or tax-exempt organization shall be entitled to all of the rights of the Participant with respect to the assigned portion of such NQSO or SAR, and such portion of the NQSO or SAR shall continue to be subject to all of the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to the NQSO or SAR as set forth herein, and in the related Award Agreement, immediately prior to the effective date of the assignment. Any such assignment shall be permitted only if (i) the Participant does not receive any consideration therefore, and (ii) the assignment is expressly approved by the Committee or its delegate. Any such assignment shall be evidenced by an appropriate written document executed by the Participant, and a copy thereof shall be delivered to the Committee or its delegate on or prior to the effective date of the assignment.

 

 

(c)

Incentive Stock Options. Notwithstanding anything in part (a) and (b) above, no ISO may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or the laws of descent or distribution.

 

 

(d)

Nonemployee Directors. Notwithstanding anything in parts (a), (b), or (c) to the contrary, a Nonemployee Director at any time prior to his or her death, may assign all or any portion of an Award granted to him or her under the Plan to (i) his or her spouse or lineal descendant, (ii) the trustee of a trust for the primary benefit of his or her spouse or lineal descendant or (iii) a tax-exempt organization as described in Code Section 501(c)(3). In such event, the spouse, lineal descendant, trustee, or tax-exempt organization shall be entitled to all of the rights of the Participant with respect to the assigned portion of such Award, and such portion of the Award shall continue to be subject to all of the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to the Award as set forth herein, and in the related Award Agreement, immediately prior to the effective date of the assignment. Any such assignment shall be permitted only if (i) the Participant does not receive any consideration therefore, and (ii) the assignment is expressly approved by the Committee or its delegate. Any such assignment shall be evidenced by an appropriate written document executed by the Participant, and a copy thereof shall be delivered to the Committee or its delegate on or prior to the effective date of the assignment.