UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrant

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐

Check the appropriate box:

Preliminary Proxy Statement

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

Definitive Proxy Statement

Definitive Additional Materials

☐ Preliminary Proxy Statement

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

☒ Definitive Proxy Statement

☐ Definitive Additional Materials

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

SAB BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.


(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 


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

Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):

 

☒ No fee required

☐ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials

☐ Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11

No fee required.

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11

 




 

May 19,October 30, 2023

To Our Stockholders:

You are cordially invited to attend the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”), of SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc. tospecial meeting of stockholders (the “Special Meeting”). The Special Meeting will be held on Thursday, June 29,Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time, at https://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SABS2023. The AnnualSABS2023SM. At the Special Meeting, you will be asked to:

(1)
to approve an amendment of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the total number of authorized shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”) from 490,000,000 shares to 800,000,000;
(2)
to approve the potential issuance in excess of 19.99% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock upon the conversion of the Company’s Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series A-1 Preferred Stock”), Series A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series A-2 Preferred Stock”), and Series A-3 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series A-3 Preferred Stock” and, together with the Series A-1 Preferred Stock and Series A-2 Preferred Stock, the “Series A Preferred Stock”) at less than the “minimum price” under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), and which may deemed a completely virtual meeting“change of stockholders, which will be conducted exclusively oncontrol” under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635, pursuant to the internet. No physical meeting will be held. 

Details regarding how terms of the Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series A Convertible Voting Preferred Stock governing the Series A Preferred Stock; and

(3)
to attendtransact such other business as may properly come before the virtual AnnualSpecial Meeting and the business to be conducted at the annual meeting are more fully described in the accompanying notice of annual meeting of stockholders and proxy statement.

or any adjournments thereof.

Your vote is important. Regardless of whether you plan to attend the virtual AnnualSpecial Meeting, it is important that your shares be represented and voted at the AnnualSpecial Meeting, and we hope you will vote as soon as possible. You may vote by proxy over the Internet, by telephone or by mail by following the instructions on the proxy card or voting instruction card. Voting over the Internet, by telephone, written proxy or voting instruction card will ensure your representation at the AnnualSpecial Meeting regardless of whether you attend the virtual annualspecial meeting.

Thank you for your ongoing support of, and continued interest in, SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc.

Sincerely,

/s/ Eddie J. Sullivan

Eddie J. Sullivan

Director and Chief Executive Officer



2100 East 54th Street North

Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 22, 2023

To the Stockholders of SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc.:

Notice is hereby given that the Special Meeting of Stockholders of SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be held virtually at 10:00 AM Eastern Time on November 22, 2023 (the “Special Meeting”). There will not be an option to attend the Special Meeting at a physical location.

At the Special Meeting, the stockholders of the Company will be asked to consider and take action on the following proposals:

(1)
to approve an amendment of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the total number of authorized shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”) from 490,000,000 shares to 800,000,000;
(2)
to approve the potential issuance in excess of 19.99% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock upon the conversion of the Company’s Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series A-1 Preferred Stock”), Series A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series A-2 Preferred Stock”), and Series A-3 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series A-3 Preferred Stock” and, together with the Series A-1 Preferred Stock and Series A-2 Preferred Stock, the “Series A Preferred Stock”) at less than the “minimum price” under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), and which may deemed a “change of control” under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635, pursuant to the terms of the Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series A Convertible Voting Preferred Stock governing the Series A Preferred Stock; and
(3)
to transact such other business as may properly come before the Special Meeting or any adjournments thereof.

The matters listed in this Notice are described in detail in the accompanying Proxy Statement. The Board of Directors is not aware of any other business to come before the Special Meeting.

Our Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on October 12, 2023 as the record date (the “Record Date”) for determining those stockholders who are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Special Meeting or any adjournment of our Special Meeting. Stockholders on the Record Date will be able to attend the Special Meeting virtually and to vote and submit questions during the Special Meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SABS2023SM and entering the sixteen-digit control number on the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, on your proxy card or on the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 22, 2023 AT 10:00 AM EASTERN TIME

This Notice, the accompany Proxy Statement and the Special Meeting, and any other materials concerning the Special Meeting, together with any amendments to any of these materials, are available on the Internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SABS2023SM.

Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Special Meeting virtually, please vote over the telephone or via the internet as instructed in Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or by completing, signing and returning the proxy card mailed to as promptly as possible to ensure your representation at the Special Meeting. To ensure that your vote will be counted, please cast your vote before 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on November 21, 2023. Even if you have voted by proxy, you may still vote online if you attend the Special Meeting. Stockholders who attend the Special Meeting should follow the instructions at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SABS2023SM to vote online at the Special Meeting. Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a bank, broker or other nominee and you wish to vote at the Special Meeting, you must obtain a proxy issued in your name from that record holder.


By order of the Board of Directors,

/s/ Samuel Reich

/s/ Eddie Sullivan

Samuel Reich

Eddie Sullivan

October 30, 2023

Chairman of the Board

Chief Executive Officer

 


 

SAB BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.

PROXY STATEMENT

NOTICETABLE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

May 19, 2023CONTENTS

 

Time and Date:

Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time.Page

Place:INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING AND VOTING

The Annual Meeting will be held virtually, at https://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SABS2023.1

Items of Business:PROPOSAL 1: TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT OF THE COMPANY’S AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK FROM 490,000,000 TO 800,000,000 SHARES

5

PROPOSAL 2: TO APPROVE THE POTENTIAL ISSUANCE IN EXCESS OF 19.99% OF OUR OUTSTANDING COMMON STOCK UPON THE CONVERSION OF THE SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK AT LESS THAN THE “MINIMUM PRICE” UNDER NASDAQ LISTING RULE 5635(D), AND WHICH MAY BE DEEMED A “CHANGE OF CONTROL” UNDER NASDAQ LISTING RULE 5635(B), PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF PREFERENCES, RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS OF SERIES A CONVERTIBLE VOTING PREFERRED STOCK GOVERNING THE SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK

1.8

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

11

HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS

Elect the two Class II directors listed in the accompanying proxy statement, each13

OTHER MATTERS

13

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

13

APPENDIX A: FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF SAB BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.

A-1


img5587186_0.jpg 

2100 East 54th Street North

Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104

PROXY STATEMENT

INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING AND VOTING

The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc. (“SAB,” “we,” “our,” “us” or “the Company”) to be voted at our Special Meeting of Stockholders (the “Special Meeting”) to be held on November 22, 2023 at 10:00 AM Eastern Time in a virtual meeting format only at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SABS2023SM. The Board knows of no matters to come before the Special Meeting other than those described in this Proxy Statement. If any other matters properly come before the Special Meeting (or any adjournment thereof), the persons named in the proxy card as proxies will vote on such matters in their discretion in accordance with their best judgment.

Matters to serve a three-year term expiringbe Voted on at the 2026 annual meetingSpecial Meeting.

At the Special Meeting, the stockholders of stockholders or untilthe Company will be asked to consider and take action on the following proposals:

(1)
to approve an amendment of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the total number of authorized shares of Common Stock from 490,000,000 to 800,000,000 (the “Charter Amendment Proposal”);
(2)
to approve the potential issuance in excess of 19.99% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock upon the conversion of the Company’s Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series A-1 Preferred Stock”), Series A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series A-2 Preferred Stock”), and Series A-3 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series A-3 Preferred Stock” and, together with the Series A-1 Preferred Stock and Series A-2 Preferred Stock, the “Series A Preferred Stock”) at less than the “minimum price” under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), and which may deemed a “change of control” under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635, pursuant to the terms of the Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series A Convertible Voting Preferred Stock governing the Series A Preferred Stock; (the “Series A Nasdaq Conversion Proposal”); and
(3)
to transact such director’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal.

2.

Ratify the appointment of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. as the independent registered public accounting firm of SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc. for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023.

3.

Transact any other business as may properly come before the AnnualSpecial Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting.

thereof.

Record Date:Stockholders entitled to vote.

Only holdersstockholders of record of common stockour Common Stock at the close of business on May 5,October 12, 2023 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice of and to vote at the AnnualSpecial Meeting. At the close of business on the Record Date, there were 52,319,156 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

Common Stock: Each share of our Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date is entitled to one vote per share on all matters properly brought before the Special Meeting.

A complete list of registered stockholders entitled to vote at the Special Meeting will be available for ten days prior to the Special Meeting for any purposes germane to the Special Meeting between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and any adjournments thereof.5:00 p.m., at our principal executive offices at 2100 East 54th Street North, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104, by contacting the Secretary of the Company.


Voting:Number of votes.

You may vote by proxy over the internet, by telephone or by mail by following the instructions on the proxy card or voting instruction card. With respect to all matters that will come before the Annual Meeting, each holderHolders of shares of common stock is entitled toCommon Stock have one vote for each share of common stock heldCommon Stock held.

As of the Record Date, the following shares of the Company are issued and outstanding:

52,319,156 shares of Common Stock;

Therefore, for purposes of the Charter Amendment Proposal and Series A Nasdaq Conversion Proposal, there are 52,319,156shares entitled to vote as of the closeRecord Date, consisting of business on May 5, 2023,all shares of Common Stock outstanding.

Shares of Series A Preferred Stock are not entitled to vote at the record date.

For questions regarding your stock ownership, you may contact us through our Investor Relations section of our website https://www.sab.bio, or, if you are a registered holder, contact our transfer agent by writing Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 1 State Street, 30th Floor, New York, NY 10014. You may also contact our transfer agent via emailmatters to be voted upon at cstmail@continentalstock.com or by telephone at (212) 509-4000.

By Order of the Board of Directors, 

/s/ Samuel J. Reich

Samuel J. Reich

Director and Executive Chairman


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Pagethis Special Meeting.

INFORMATION ABOUT SOLICITATION AND VOTING

1

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MEETING

1

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

1

NOMINATIONS PROCESS AND DIRECTOR QUALIFICATIONS

9

PROPOSAL NUMBER 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

10

PROPOSAL NUMBER 2: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

14

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

15

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

16

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

19

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

19

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

20

DELINQUENT SECTION 16(A) REPORTS

22

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

22

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

22

OTHER MATTERS

22


SAB BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.

PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE 2023 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023

May 19, 2023

INFORMATION ABOUT SOLICITATION AND VOTING

The accompanying proxy is solicited on behalf of the board of directors of SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc. (“SAB”) for use at the SAB 2023 Virtual Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting” or “meeting”) to be held virtually on Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time, at https://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SABS2023.

References in the proxy statement to “we,” “us,” “our,” “the Company” or “SAB” refer to SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc. 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MEETING

Q:

Why did I receive a notice inAttending the mail regarding the Internet availability of the proxy materials instead of a paper copy of the proxy materials?

A:virtual meeting.

In accordance with rules adopted by the SEC, we have elected to furnish to our stockholders this Proxy Statement and our Annual Report by providing access to these documents on the Internet rather than mailing printed copies. Accordingly, a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) is being mailed to our stockholders of record and beneficial owners, which will direct stockholders to a website where they can access our proxy materials and view instructions on how to vote online or by telephone. If you would prefer to receive a paper copy of our proxy materials, please follow the instructions included in the Notice.

Q:

What is the purpose of the meeting?

A:

At the meeting, stockholders will act upon the proposals described in this proxy statement. In addition, following the formal portion of the meeting, management will be available to respond to questions from stockholders. 

Q:

What proposals are scheduled to be voted on at the meeting?

A:

 

Stockholders will be asked to vote on the following two proposals at the meeting: 

1.to elect Jeffrey Spragens and David Link as Class II directors to serve for a term of three years or until such director’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal; and
2.to ratify the appointment of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023.

Q:

Could matters other than Proposal 1 and Proposal 2 be decided at the meeting?

A:

Our bylaws require that we receive advance notice of any proposal to be brought before the meeting by stockholders of SAB, and we have not received notice of any such proposals. If any other matter were to come before the meeting, the proxy holders appointed by our board of directors will have the discretion to vote on those matters for you. 

Q:

How does the board of directors recommend I vote on these proposals?

A:

Our board of directors recommends that you vote your shares:

“FOR” all nominees to the board of directors (Proposal 1); and
“FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 (Proposal 2).

1

Q:

How do I gain admission to the Annual Meeting or vote my shares at the Annual Meeting?

A:

You are entitled to attend the virtual Annual Meeting only if you were a stockholder of record as of October 12, 2023 will be able to participate in the record dateSpecial Meeting by visiting the Special Meeting website at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SABS2023SM. To participate in the Special Meeting, you will need the 16-digit control number included on your proxy card or on the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials.

The Special Meeting will begin promptly at 10:00 AM Eastern time on November 22, 2023.

Online check-in will begin at 9:45 AM Eastern time on November 22, 2023, and you should allow approximately 15 minutes for the Annualonline check-in procedures.

How to vote.

Whether or not you plan to virtually attend the Special Meeting which was May 5, 2023, orand regardless of the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock that you hold a valid proxy for the Annual Meeting.own, please vote as soon as possible.

 

Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name

 

If, on the Record Date, your shares arewere registered directly in your name with SAB’s transfer agent and you wish to attend the virtual meeting, go to https://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SABS2023, enter the control number you received on your proxy card or notice of the meeting and click on the “Click here to preregister for the online meeting” link at the top of the page. Just prior to the start of the meeting you will need to log back into the meeting site using your control number. Pre-registration is recommended but is not required in order to attend.

Beneficial Owner of Shares Held in Street Name: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or Nominee

Beneficial stockholders who wish to attend the virtual meeting must obtain a legal proxy by contacting their account representative at the bank, broker, or other nominee that holds their shares and e-mail a copy (a legible photograph is sufficient) of their legal proxy to our transfer agent, Continental at proxy@continentalstock.com. Beneficial stockholders who e-mailStock Transfer & Trust Company, you are a valid legal proxy will be issuedstockholder of record. As a meeting control number that will allow them to register to attend and participate in the virtual meeting. After contacting Continental, a beneficial holder will receive an e-mail prior to the meeting with a link and instructions for entering the virtual meeting. Beneficial stockholders should contact Continental at least five business days prior to the meeting date.

Q:

Can I vote my shares without attending the virtual annual meeting?

A:

Stockholdersstockholder of record, you may vote their sharesonline during the Special Meeting, vote by proxy by mail, bythrough the internet or telephone or Internet.vote by proxy using a proxy card that you may request or that was delivered to you. Whether or not you planintend to attend the virtual AnnualSpecial Meeting, we urge you to vote by proxy to ensure your vote is counted. through the internet or telephone as instructed below, or by completing a proxy card as soon as possible.

You may choose one ofvote using the following voting methods to cast your vote.methods:

img5587186_1.jpg 

1.To vote by mail, simply mark

Go to http://www.proxyvote.com to complete an electronic proxy card. You will be asked to provide the 16-digit control number included on your proxy date and sign it, and return itcard that was delivered to the Company in the postage-paid envelope provided.you. Your vote must be received by 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on November 21, 2023 to be counted.

img5587186_2.jpg 

2.

To vote over the telephone, dial 1-800-690-6903 using a touch-tone telephone and follow the recorded instructions (have your proxy card in hand when you call). Telephone voting is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on June 28,November 21, 2023.

img5587186_3.jpg 

Complete, sign, date and return the proxy card that you may request or that was delivered to you and return it promptly in the envelope provided. If you return your signed proxy card to use before the Special Meeting, your shares will be voted as you direct.

3.

In addition, you may vote online before the Special Meeting. To vote by Internet,do so, during the Special Meeting, visit our Special Meeting website at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SABS2023SM. You will be asked to provide the 16-digit control number included on your proxy card that you request or that was delivered to you or the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials. Once you have logged onto the Special Meeting, please follow the instructions on the proxy card. Internet voting priorto vote your shares. If you do not have your 16-digit control number, you will be able to access and listen to the virtual annual meeting is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time, on June 28, 2023.

The method by whichSpecial Meeting, but you vote now will in no way limit your rightnot be able to vote electronically at the virtual Annual Meeting if you later decide to attend. However, as discussed above, if you are a beneficial owner, you may not vote your shares virtually at the annual meeting unless you obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other nominee.

Q:

Can I change my vote or revoke my proxy?

A:

Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Namesubmit questions.

 

If you are a stockholder of record, you can change your vote or revoke your proxy at any time before the Annual Meeting by:

entering a new vote over the Internet (until the applicable deadline set forth above);
entering a new vote over the Telephone (until the applicable deadline set forth above);
returning a later-dated proxy card (which automatically revokes the earlier proxy);
providing a written notice of revocation to our corporate secretary at SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc., 2100 East 54th Street North, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, Attn: Corporate Secretary; or
attending the annual meeting and voting virtually.

Beneficial Owner:Ownership: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker, Bank, broker or Other Nomineeother nominee

 

If, on the Record Date, your shares were held not in your name, but rather in an account at a bank, broker or other nominee, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name.” Your bank, broker or


other nominee is considered to be the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Special Meeting. As a beneficial owner, you should have received a notice containing voting instructions from your shares, you must contact thebank, broker bank or other nominee holdingrather than from us. Simply follow the instructions in the notice to ensure that your vote is counted. Please also note that since you are not the stockholder of record, you may only vote your shares during the Special Meeting if you request and obtain a valid 16-digit control number from your bank, broker or other nominee. Beneficial owners who attend the Special Meeting should follow theirthe instructions to change your vote or revoke your proxy.

Q:

What is the effect of giving a proxy?

A:

Proxies are solicited by, and on behalf of, our Board. Eddie J. Sullivan, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Samuel J. Reich, our Chairman, have been designated as proxies for the annual meeting by our Board. When proxies are properly dated, executed and returned, the shares represented by such proxies will be voted at the annual meeting in accordance with the instruction of the stockholder. If no specific instructions are given, however, the shares will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of our Board as described above and, if any other matters are properly brought before the annual meeting, the shares will be voted in accordance with the proxies’ judgment.

Q:

What shares can I vote?

A:

Each share of SAB common stock issued and outstanding as of the close of business on May 5, 2023 is entitledwww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SABS2023SM to vote on all items being voted on atduring the meeting. You may vote allSpecial Meeting.

If your shares owned by you as of May 5, 2023, including (1) shares heldare registered directly in your name as thewith our transfer agent, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder of record, and (2) shares held for you may vote online during the Special Meeting, vote by proxy through the internet or telephone or vote by proxy using a proxy card that you may request or that was delivered to you. Whether or not you intend to attend the Special Meeting, we urge you to vote by proxy through the internet or telephone as the beneficial owner in street name throughinstructed below, or by completing a broker, bank, trustee, or other nominee. 

Q:

How many votes am I entitled to per share?proxy card as soon as possible.

A:

Each holder of shares of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held as of May 5, 2023. 

2

Q:Quorum.

 

What is the quorum requirement for the meeting?

A:

The holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stockCommon Stock entitled to vote at the AnnualSpecial Meeting as of the record dateRecord Date must be virtually present or represented by proxy at the AnnualSpecial Meeting in order to hold the AnnualSpecial Meeting and conduct business. This presence is called a quorum. Your shares are counted as present at the AnnualSpecial Meeting if you are virtually present and vote at the AnnualSpecial Meeting or if you have properly submitted a proxy.

 

Q:

How are abstentions and broker non-votes treated?

A:

Abstentions (i.e. shares present at the AnnualSpecial Meeting and marked “abstain”) are deemed to be shares presented or represented by proxy and entitled to vote, and are counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present. However, abstentions are not counted as a vote either for or against a proposal, and have no effect on the outcome of the matters voted upon.

Broker non-votes.

 

A broker non-vote occurs when the beneficial owner of shares failsBanks and brokers acting as nominees are permitted to provide the broker, bank or other nominee that holds the shares with specific instructions on howuse discretionary voting authority to vote proxies for proposals that are deemed “routine” by the New York Stock Exchange, which means that they can submit a proxy or cast a ballot on any “non-routine” matters broughtbehalf of stockholders who do not provide a specific voting instruction. Brokers and banks are not permitted to a vote at the Annual Meeting. In this situation, the broker, bank or other nominee will not vote on the “non-routine” matter. Broker non-votes are counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present and have no effect on the outcome of the matters voted upon. 

Note that if you are a beneficial holder, brokers and other nominees will be entitleduse discretionary voting authority to vote your shares onproxies for proposals that are deemed “non-routine” by the New York Stock Exchange. The determination of which proposals are deemed “routine” matters without instructions from you. The only proposal that would be considered “routine” in such event is the proposal for the ratification of the appointment of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 (Proposal 2). A broker or other nominee willversus “non-routine” may not be entitledmade by the New York Stock Exchange until after the date on which this Proxy Statement has been mailed to vote your shares on any “non-routine” matters, absent instructions from you. “Non-routine” matters include all proposals other than Proposal 2, including the election of directors. Accordingly, we encourageAs such, it is important that you to provide voting instructions to your bank, broker or other nominee, whetherif you wish to ensure that your shares are present and voted at the Special Meeting on all matters and if you wish to direct the voting of your shares on “routine” matters.

When there is at least one “routine” matter to be considered at a meeting, a broker “non-vote” occurs when a proposal is deemed “non-routine” and a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not have discretionary voting authority with respect to the “non-routine” matter being considered and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner.

Under the applicable rules governing brokers, we believe the Charter Amendment Proposal is likely to be considered a “routine” matter. If such proposal is “routine,” a bank or broker may be able to vote on this proposal even if it does not receive instructions from you, planso long as it holds your shares in its name. If, however, the Charter Amendment Proposal is deemed by the New York Stock Exchange to attendbe a “non-routine” matter, brokers will not be permitted to vote on the meeting.Charter Amendment Proposal if the broker has not received instructions from the beneficial owner.

 

Q:

WhatThe approval of the Series A Nasdaq Conversion Proposal is generally not considered to be a “routine” matter and banks or brokers are not permitted to vote on these matters if the bank or broker has not received instructions from the beneficial owner. Accordingly, it is particularly important that beneficial owners instruct their brokers how they wish to vote requiredtheir shares for each proposal?the Series A Nasdaq Conversion Proposal.

A:Vote Required to Approve each Proposal

TheAssuming that a quorum is present, the following votes will be required:

Charter Amendment Proposal. With respect to the Charter Amendment Proposal, the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock is required to approve eachthis proposal. Abstentions, if any, and, if this proposal are as follows:is deemed to be “non-routine,” broker non-votes with respect to this proposal will


have the same effect as an “against” vote on this proposal. If this proposal is deemed to be “routine,” no broker non-votes will occur on this proposal.

Series A Nasdaq Conversion Proposal. With respect to the Series A Nasdaq Conversion Proposal, 1: Each director shall be elected bythe affirmative vote of a pluralitymajority of the votes properly cast on the election of directors, meaning that the two individuals nominated for election to our board of directorsby all stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the AnnualSpecial Meeting receiving the highest number of “FOR” votes will be elected.

Proposal 2: Approval will be obtained if the number of votes cast “FOR” the proposal at the Annual Meeting exceeds the number of votes “AGAINST” the proposal.

Q:

Is there a list of stockholdersand entitled to vote on the proposal is required to approve this proposal. Shares that are not represented at the Annual Meeting?Special Meeting, abstentions, if any, and, if this proposal is deemed to be “non-routine,” broker non-votes with respect to this proposal will not affect the outcome of the vote on this proposal. If this proposal is deemed to be “routine,” no broker non-votes will occur on this proposal.

A:How to revoke your proxy.

Your proxy is revocable. The names of stockholders of record entitledprocedure you must follow to vote will be available for inspection by stockholders of record for ten (10) days prior to the meeting and during the Annual Meeting. revoke your proxy depends on how you hold your shares.

If you are a stockholderregistered holder of record and wantour Common Stock, you may revoke a previously submitted proxy by submitting another valid proxy (whether by telephone, the Internet or mail) or by providing a signed letter of revocation to inspect the stockholder list, please send a written request to our corporate secretary at 2100 East 54th Street North, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104, Attn: Corporate Secretary to arrange for inspection of the list.

Q:

WhoCompany before the closing of the polls at the virtual special meeting on November 22, 2023. Only the latest-dated validly executed proxy will tabulatecount. You also may revoke any previously submitted proxy and vote your shares online during the votes?virtual special meeting; however, simply attending the Special Meeting in virtual format without taking one of the above actions will not revoke your proxy.

If you hold shares in “street name,” in general, you may revoke a previously submitted voting instruction by submitting to your bank, broker or other nominee another valid voting instruction (whether by telephone, the Internet or mail) or a signed letter of revocation. Please contact your bank, broker or other nominee for detailed instructions on how to revoke your voting instruction and the applicable deadlines. Please note that your attendance at the virtual special meeting in and of itself will not be sufficient to revoke your proxy.

A:Expenses and solicitation.

An individual duly appointed by the board of directors will serve as the Inspector of Elections and will tabulate the votes at the Annual Meeting. 

 

Q:

Where can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting?

A:

We will announce preliminary voting resultsbear the cost for the solicitation of proxies, including printing and mailing costs. In addition to the solicitation of proxies by mail, proxies may also be solicited personally by directors, officers and employees of the Company, without additional compensation to these individuals. We will request that banks, brokers and other firms holding shares in their names that are beneficially owned by others forward proxy materials to and obtain proxies from such beneficial owners, and will, upon request, reimburse such banks, brokers and other firms for their reasonable out-of-pocket costs.

Other matters.

We are not aware of any matters to be presented at the AnnualSpecial Meeting other than those described in this Proxy Statement. If any matters not described in this Proxy Statement are properly presented at the Special Meeting, the proxy holders will use their own judgment to determine how to vote your shares. If the Special Meeting is adjourned or postponed, the proxy holders can vote your shares at the new meeting as well unless you have subsequently revoked your proxy.

Vote results.

The preliminary results of the voting on the proposals will be reported at the Special Meeting. WeThe final certified results of the voting will also disclose voting results onbe reported in a Current Report on Form 8-K that we will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), within four business days after the AnnualSpecial Meeting.

Q:

I share an address with another stockholder, and we received only one paper copy of the proxy materials. How may I obtain an additional copy of the proxy materials?

A:

The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries (e.g., brokers) to satisfy the delivery requirements for proxy statements and annual reports with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single proxy statement addressed to those stockholders. This process is commonly referred to as “householding.” 

Brokers with account holders who are SAB stockholders may be householding our proxy materials. A single set of proxy materials may be delivered to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected stockholders. Once you have received notice from your broker that it will be householding communications to your address, householding will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you notify your broker or SAB that you no longer wish to participate in householding. 

If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in householding and would prefer to receive a separate proxy statement and annual report, you may (1) notify your broker, (2) direct your written request to: Investor Relations, SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc., 2100 East 54th Street North, Sioux Falls, SD 57104 or (3) contact our Investor Relations department by email at SABIR@westwicke.com. Stockholders who currently receive multiple copies of the proxy statement or annual report at their address and would like to request householding of their communicationsWho should contact their broker. In addition, we will promptly deliver, upon written or oral request to the address or telephone number above, a separate copy of the annual report and proxy statement to a stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the documents was delivered. 

Q:

WhatI call if I have questions about my SAB shares or need to change my mailing address?

A:additional questions?

You may contact our transfer agent by writing Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 1 State Street, 30th Floor, New York, NY 10014. You may also contact our transfer agent via email at cstmail@continentalstock.com or by telephone at (212) 509-4000.

3

 

Q:

Who is soliciting my proxy and paying for the expense of solicitation?

A:

The proxy for the Annual Meeting is being solicited on behalf of our board of directors. We will pay the cost of preparing, assembling, printing, mailing and distributing these proxy materials and soliciting votes. We may, on request, reimburse brokerage firms and other nominees for their expenses in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners. In addition to soliciting proxies by mail, we expect that our directors, officers and employees may solicit proxies in person or by telephone or facsimile. None of these individuals will receive any additional or special compensation for doing this, although we may reimburse these individuals for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. We do not expect to, but have the option to, retain a proxy solicitor. If you choose to access the proxy materials or vote via the Internet or by telephone, you are responsible for any Internet access or phone charges you may incur. 

 

Q:

How are proxies solicited for the Annual Meeting?

A:

This year we are furnishing our proxy materials to our stockholders primarily via “Notice and Access” delivery pursuant to SEC rules. On May 19, 2023, we mailed to our stockholders a “Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials” (the “Notice”) containing instructions on how to access the proxy materials via the Internet. Utilizing this method of proxy delivery expedites receipt of proxy materials by our stockholders, reduces the cost of producing and mailing the full set of proxy materials and helps us contribute to sustainable practices.

If you receive a Notice by mail, you will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials in the mail. Instead, the Notice instructs you on how to access the proxy materials and vote over the Internet. If you received a Notice by mail and would like to receive paper copies of our proxy materials in the mail, you may follow the instructions in the Notice for making this request. The Notice also contains instructions on how you may request to receive an electronic copy of our proxy materials by email or phone.

Q:

What does it mean if I receive more than one set of Notices?

A:

If you receive more than one set of Notices, your shares may be registered in more than one name and/or are registered in different accounts. Please follow the voting instructions on each Notice to ensure that all of your shares are voted.

Q:

How can I contact SABs transfer agent?

A:

You may contact our transfer agent by writing Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 1 State Street, 30th Floor, New York, NY 10014. You may also contact our transfer agent via email at cstmail@continentalstock.com or by telephone at (212) 509-4000.

Q:

What are the requirements to propose actions to be included in our proxy materials for next years annual meeting of stockholders, or our 2024 Annual Meeting, or for consideration at our 2024 Annual Meeting?

A:

Requirements for Stockholder Proposals to be considered for inclusion in our proxy materials for our 2024 Annual Meeting:

Our amended and restated bylaws provide that stockholders may present proposals for inclusion in our proxy statement by submitting their proposals in writing to the attention of our corporate secretary at our principal executive office. Our current principal executive office is located at 2100 East 54th Street North, Sioux Falls, SD 57104. In addition, stockholder proposals must comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and related SEC regulations under Rule 14a-8 regarding the inclusion of stockholder proposals in company-sponsored proxy materials. In order to be included in the proxy statement for our 2024 Annual Meeting, stockholder proposals must be received by our corporate secretary no later than January 12, 2024 and must otherwise comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act. 

Requirements for Stockholder Proposals to be presented at our 2024 Annual Meeting:

Our amended and restated bylaws provide that stockholders may present proposals to be considered at an annual meeting by providing timely notice to our corporate secretary at our principal executive office. To be timely for our 2023 Annual Meeting, our corporate secretary must receive the written notice at our principal executive office:

not earlier than the close of business on March 1, 2024, and
not later than the close of business on March 31, 2024.
If we hold our 2024 annual meeting of stockholders more than 30 days before or more than 70 days after June 29, 2024 (the one-year anniversary date of the Annual Meeting), then notice of a stockholder proposal that is not intended to be included in our proxy statement must be received by our corporate secretary at our principal executive office not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day before the meeting and not later than the later of (x) the close of business on the 90th day before the meeting or (y) the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the annual meeting is first made. A stockholder’s notice to the corporate secretary must set forth, as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting, the information required by our amended and restated bylaws. If a stockholder who has notified SAB of such stockholder’s intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting does not appear to present such stockholder’s proposal at such meeting, SAB does not need to present the proposal for vote at such meeting. 

 

4


 

BOARDPROPOSAL 1: TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT OF DIRECTORSTHE COMPANY’S AMENDED AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCERESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK FROM 490,000,000 TO 800,000,000 SHARES

We are asking our stockholders to approve an amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase our authorized number of shares of Common Stock from 490,000,000 shares to 800,000,000 shares (the “Charter Amendment Proposal”). In October 2023, the Board adopted resolutions unanimously approving the proposed amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in substantially the form of Appendix A hereto. At that time, the Board determined the proposed amendment and increase of the Common Stock to be advisable and in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders and is accordingly submitting the proposed amendment and increase of the Common Stock for approval by our stockholders.

If stockholders approve this proposal, we expect to file the amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to increase the total number of authorized shares of our Common Stock as soon as practicable following stockholder approval. In this regard, upon filing of the amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, Section 4.1 of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation would be amended as follows, with the proposed additions double-underlined and proposed deletions stricken through:

“Section 4.1 Authorized Capital Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Corporation is authorized to issue is 810,000,000 shares, consisting of (a) 800,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) and (b) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).”

As of the close of business on October 26, 2023, of our 490,000,000 authorized shares of common stock, there were 52,319,156 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. In addition to the 52,319,156 shares of Common Stock outstanding on October 26, 2023, there were 39,450,787 shares reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock, there were 13,832,890 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding warrants, there were 1,507,124 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to contingently issuable earnout shares, and there were 21,238,667 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under our various equity compensation plans. As of October 26, 2023, there were 361,651,376 shares unreserved for any specific purpose remaining available for issuance. Accordingly, at present, there are not sufficient available unissued and unreserved authorized shares of our common stock to meet the needs of our business described below under “ — Reasons for the Increase in Authorized Shares”.

The proposed amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation would increase the number of shares of Common Stock that we are authorized to issue from 490,000,000 shares of Common Stock to 800,000,000 shares of Common Stock, representing an increase of 310,000,000 shares of authorized Common Stock. The proposed amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation would not increase the number of shares of preferred stock that we are authorized to issue.

Reasons for the Increase in Authorized Shares

We have had minimal revenue to date, and have a strong commitmentsubstantial accumulated deficit, recurring operating losses and negative cash flow. We are not profitable and have incurred losses in each year since commencing operations. For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, we incurred net losses of approximately $18.7 million and $17.1 million, respectively and expect to good corporate governance practices. These practices provide an important framework within which our boardcontinue to incur losses in 2023. To date, we have funded operations through a combination of directors, its committeesprivate placements and our management can pursue our strategic objectives in order to promote the interestspublic offerings of our stockholders. securities, debt financing including convertible notes. If we continue to incur losses, we may exhaust our capital resources, and as a result may be unable to complete our clinical trials, engage in product development and the regulatory approval process and commercialization of our product candidates.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

If we are unable to raise capital or generate sufficient revenue, we may not be able to pay our debts when they become due and may have to seek protection under federal bankruptcy law or enter into a receivership. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, other than future issuances under the Company’s equity compensation plans and future issuances of the Company’s securities under the Purchase Agreement (as defined below and described in Proposal 2), including issuance of shares upon exercise of outstanding warrants of the Company, the Company currently has no plans or arrangements to issue the additional authorized shares of Common Stock that would be available as a result of the approval of the Authorized Share Increase Proposal. Our boardBoard believes it is appropriate to increase our authorized shares of directors has adopted Corporate Governance GuidelinesCommon Stock so that set forth expectationswe have shares of Common Stock available to provide additional flexibility to promptly and appropriately use our Common Stock for directors, director independence standards, board committee structurebusiness and functionsfinancial purposes in the future, as well as to have sufficient shares available to provide appropriate equity incentives for our employees and other policieseligible service providers. The


additional shares of Common Stock, if approved, may be used for various purposes without further stockholder approval. These purposes may include: raising capital; providing equity incentives to employees, officers, directors, consultants and/or advisers; establishing collaborative or partnering arrangements with other companies; expanding our business through the governanceacquisition of other businesses, products or technologies; and other purposes. In light of our company. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines are available without charge on the Investor Relations section of our website, which is located at https://www.sab.bio in the “Governance” section of our website. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines are subject to modificationcapital needs, we regularly consider fund raising opportunities and may decide, from time to time, byto raise capital based on various factors, including market conditions and our boardplans of directors pursuantoperation.

In this regard, if the Board determines that raising additional capital through issuing the additional shares of Common Stock is desirable, we want to be able to act quickly if market conditions are favorable. Given the recommendationslack of sufficient available unissued and unreserved authorized shares of our nominating and corporate governance committee. 

Directors

The following persons are serving as our directors:

Name

Age

Position(s)

Samuel J. Reich

48

Class III Director and Executive Chairman of the Board

Christine Hamilton, MBA

67

Class III Director

Eddie J. Sullivan, PhD

57

Class III Director, President and Chief Executive Officer

Jeffrey G. Spragens

81

Class II Director

David Link, MBA

68

Class II Director

William Polvino, MD

62

Class I Director

Scott Giberson

54

Class I Director

Erick Lucera

55

Class I Director

Russell P. Beyer, MBA, CMA

68

Chief Financial Officer

Christoph Bausch, PhD

52

Chief Operating Officer

Alexandra Kropotova, MD

50

Chief Medical Officer

Board Composition

Our business and affairs are organized under the direction of our board of directors. Our board currently consists of eight directors divided into three classes as follows:

each Class I director having a term that expires immediately following our annual meeting of stockholderscommon stock, if this Proposal 1 is not approved, we will not be able to raise future capital without first obtaining stockholder approval for the calendar year ended December 31, 2025;

each Class II director having a term that expires immediately following our annual meeting of stockholders for the calendar year ended December 31, 2023; and

each Class III director having a term that expires immediately following our annual meeting of stockholders for the calendar year ended December 31, 2024.

Messrs. Dr. Polvino, Mr. Lucera and Mr. Giberson currently serve as the Class I directors, Messrs. Link and Spragens currently serve as the Class II directors, and Mrs. Hamilton and Messrs. Reich and Sullivan currently serve as Class III directors.

At each annual meeting of stockholders, the successors to directors whose terms then expire will serve until the third annual meeting following their election and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The authorized size of the board of directors will be fixed exclusively by resolutions of the board of directors. The authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board of directors. Any additional directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors willauthorized shares of Common Stock. The cost, prior notice requirements and delay involved in obtaining stockholder approval at the time that corporate action may be distributed betweennecessary or desirable could completely eliminate our ability to opportunistically capitalize on favorable market windows, which could delay or preclude our ability to advance our development and potential commercialization efforts. In addition, our success depends in part on our continued ability to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified management and clinical personnel, and if the three classes soAuthorized Share Increase Proposal is not approved by our stockholders, the lack of unissued and unreserved authorized shares of Common Stock to provide future equity incentive opportunities that as nearly as possible, each class will consist of one-thirdthe Compensation Committee of the directors. This classificationBoard (the “Compensation Committee”) deems appropriate could adversely impact our ability to achieve these goals. In summary, if our stockholders do not approve this Proposal 1, we may not be able to access the capital markets; continue to conduct the research and development and clinical and regulatory activities necessary to bring any other product candidates to market; complete future corporate collaborations and partnerships; attract, retain and motivate employees, officers, directors, consultants and/or advisers; and pursue other business opportunities integral to our growth and success, all of which could severely harm our business and our prospects.

The Board believes that the proposed increase in authorized common stock will make sufficient shares available for the conversion of the boardSeries A Preferred Stock (as defined below and described in Proposal 2) and to provide the additional flexibility necessary to pursue our strategic objectives. Over the past several years, our authorized Common Stock has allowed us the flexibility to pursue a number of directorsfinancing transactions that were key to enabling our support of our development programs while at the same time enabling us to continue to provide the employee equity incentives that we deem necessary to attract and retain key employees. Unless our stockholders approve this Proposal 1, we will not have any unissued and unreserved authorized shares of Common Stock to support the growth needed for development of our product candidates by engaging in similar transactions in the future and to respond to compensatory needs by implementing new or revised equity compensation plans or arrangements, all of which could severely harm our business and our prospects.

Effects of the Increase in Authorized Shares

The additional Common Stock to be authorized by adoption of the amendment would have rights identical to the current outstanding Common Stock of the Company. Adoption of the proposed amendment and issuance of the Common Stock would not affect the rights of the holders of currently outstanding Common Stock, except for effects incidental to increasing the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding, such as dilution of the earnings per share and voting rights of current holders of Common Stock. The additional shares of Common Stock authorized by the approval of this proposal could be issued by the Board without further vote of our stockholders except as may be required in particular cases by our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, applicable law, regulatory agencies or Nasdaq listing rules. Under our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, stockholders do not have preemptive rights to subscribe to additional securities that may be issued by us, which means that current stockholders do not have a prior right thereunder to purchase any new issue of Common Stock in order to maintain their proportionate ownership interests in the Company.

The increase in our authorized shares of Common Stock could also have an anti-takeover effect, in that additional shares could be issued (within the limits imposed by applicable law) in one or more transactions that could make a change in control or takeover of the Company difficult. For example, additional shares could be issued by us so as to dilute the stock ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of the Company. Similarly, the issuance of additional shares to certain persons allied with our management could have the effect of delayingmaking it more difficult to remove our management by diluting the stock ownership or preventing changes in its control or management. Our boardvoting rights of directors may be removed forpersons seeking to cause bysuch removal. Although this proposal to approve the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of its voting stock.

Director Independence

Our board of directors has undertaken a review of its composition, the composition of its committees and the independenceamendment of our directorsAmended and considered whether any director has a material relationship with us that could compromise his or her abilityRestated Certificate of Incorporation to exercise independent judgment in carrying out his or her responsibilities. Based upon information requested from and provided by each director concerning his or her background, employment and affiliations, including family relationships, our board of directors has determined that none of Christine Hamilton, Jeffrey Spragens, William Polvino, David Link, Scott Giberson. and Erick Lucera (representing six of our eight directors), has a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director and that they each are an “independent director” as that term is defined under the Nasdaq listing rules. In making this determination, our board of directors considered the relationships that each non-employee director has with us and all other facts and circumstances our board of directors deemed relevant in determining their independence, including the beneficial ownership of our common stock and/or convertible preferred stock by certain non-employee directors and the relationships of certain non-employee directors with certain of our significant stockholders. Mr. Reich, as Executive Chairman of the Board, and Dr. Sullivan, as President and Chief Executive Officer, are not “independent” under the rules of Nasdaq.

5

Board Diversity

We believe the board is most effective when it embodies a diverse range of views, backgrounds and experience. Diversity is considered in the broadest sense, including, among other attributes, reflecting geography, age, gender, leadership, perspectives, educational background, other board experience and commitments, business and professional achievements, skills and experience in the context of the needs of the Board. While the nominating and corporate governance committee does not have a formal policy on diversity with regard to consideration of director nominees, the nominating and corporate governance committee considers diversity in its selection of nominees and endeavors to include women and minority candidates in the qualified pool from which Board candidates are chosen.

The below table provides information related to the composition of our board members as of May 12, 2023. Each of the categories listed in the table has the meaning as it is used in Nasdaq Rule 5605(f).

Board Diversity Matrix (As of May 12, 2023)*

 

Total Number of Directors

  

8

 
   

Female

   

Male

   

Non-Binary

   

Did Not Disclose Gender

 

Part I: Gender Identity

    

    

    

    

Directors

  1 

  7 

   

   

Part II: Demographic Background

    

    

    

    

White

  1 

  6 

   

   

Two or More Races or Ethnicities

   

   

   

   

Did Not Disclose Demographic Background

   

  1 

   

   


*

Per Nasdaq’s board diversity requirements, inapplicable categories have been omitted.

Committees of the Board of Directors

Our board of directors has three standing committees: an audit committee, a nominating and corporate governance committee (“nominating committee”) and a compensation committee. Subject to phase-in rules and a limited exception, Nasdaq rules and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act require that the audit committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors, and Nasdaq rules require that the compensation committee and nominating committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors. Each of our committees is comprised entirely of independent directors.

Audit Committee

On October 22, 2021, we established an audit committee of the board of directors. Jeffrey Spragens, William Polvino, David Link, and Erick Lucera serve as members of the audit committee, with Jeffrey Spragens serving as the Chairman of the audit committee. Under the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have at least three members of the audit committee, all of whom must be independent. Each of Dr. Polvino, Mr. Spragens, Mr. Link and Mr. Lucera meet the independent director standard under Nasdaq listing standards and under Rule 10A-3(b)(1) of the Exchange Act.

Each member of the audit committee is financially literate, and our board of directors has determined that Mr. Spragens qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules.

We adopted a restated audit committee charter on October 22, 2021 which details the principal functions of the audit committee, including:

the appointment, compensation, retention, replacement, and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm engaged by us;

pre-approving all audit and permitted non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm engaged by us, and establishing pre-approval policies and procedures;

setting clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the independent registered public accounting firm, including but not limited to, as required by applicable laws and regulations;

setting clear policies for audit partner rotation in compliance with applicable laws and regulations;

obtaining and reviewing a report, at least annually, from the independent registered public accounting firm describing (i) the independent registered public accounting firm’s internal quality-control procedures, (ii) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the audit firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities within the preceding five years respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm and any steps taken to deal with such issues and (iii)all relationships between the independent registered public accounting firm and us to assess the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence;

reviewing and approving any related party transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC prior to us entering into such transaction; and

reviewing with management, the independent registered public accounting firm, and our legal advisors, as appropriate, any legal, regulatory or compliance matters, including any correspondence with regulators or government agencies and any employee complaints or published reports that raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies and any significant changes in accounting standards or rules promulgated by the FASB, the SEC or other regulatory authorities.

The audit committee charter is available on the corporate governance section of our website, which is located at https://ir.sab.bio/corporate-governance/governance-overview.

6

Compensation Committee

On October 22, 2021, we established a compensation committee of the board of directors. Christine Hamilton, Scott Giberson and William Polvino serve as members of the compensation committee. Christine Hamilton serves as the Chairman of the compensation committee. Under the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have at least two members of the compensation committee, all of whom must be independent. Each of Dr. Polvino. Mr. Giberson and Ms. Hamilton are independent.

We adopted a restated compensation committee charter on October 22, 2021, which details the principal functions of the compensation committee, including:

reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, if any is paid by us, evaluating our Chief Executive Officer’s performance considering such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration (if any) of our Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluation;

reviewing and approving on an annual basis the compensation, if any is paid by us, of all our other officers;

reviewing on an annual basis our executive compensation policies and plans;

implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans;

assisting management in complying with our proxy statement and Form 10-K disclosure requirements;

approving all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for our officers and employees;

if required, producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement; and

reviewing, evaluating, and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, other than as indicated in this Annual Report, no compensation of any kind, including finders, consulting, or other similar fees, will be paid to any of our existing stockholders, officers, directors, or any of their respective affiliates, prior to, or for any services they render to effectuate the offering.

The charter also provides that the compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser and will be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any such adviser. However, before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the compensation committee will consider the independence of each such adviser, including the factors required by Nasdaq and the SEC.

The compensation committee charter is available on the corporate governance section of our website, which is located at https://ir.sab.bio/corporate-governance/governance-overview.

Nominating Committee

On October 22, 2021, we established a nominating committee of the board of directors. David Link, Christine Hamilton, Scott Giberson and Jeff Spragens serve as members of the Nominating and Governance Committee. David Link serves as the Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee. Under the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have at least two members of the nominating committee, all of whom must be independent. Each of Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Link, Mr. Giberson and Mr. Spragens are independent.

We adopted a restated nominating committee charter on October 22, 2021, which details the purpose and responsibilities of the nominating committee, including:

screening and reviewing individuals qualified to serve as directors, consistent with criteria approved by the board, and recommending to the board of directors’ candidates for nomination for election at the annual meeting of stockholders or to fill vacancies on the board of directors;

developing and recommending to the board of directors and overseeing implementation of our corporate governance guidelines; and

reviewing on a regular basis our overall corporate governance and recommending improvements as and when necessary.

The nominating committee will consider several qualifications relating to management and leadership experience, diversity, background and integrity and professionalism in evaluating a person’s candidacy for membership on the board of directors. The nominating committee may require certain skills or attributes, such as financial or accounting experience, to meet specific board needs that arise from time to time and will also consider the overall experience and makeup of its members to obtain a broad and diverse mix of board members. The nominating committee does not distinguish among nominees recommended by stockholders and other persons.

We have not formally established any specific, minimum qualifications that must be met or skills that are necessary for directors to possess. In general, in identifying and evaluating nominees for director, the board of directors considers educational background, diversity of professional experience, knowledge of our business, integrity, professional reputation, independence, wisdom, and the ability to represent the best interests of our stockholders.

The nominating committee charter is available on the corporate governance section of our website, which is located at https://ir.sab.bio/corporate-governance/governance-overview.

7

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

No person who served as a member of the compensation committee during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 was a current or former officer or employee of the Company or engaged in certain transactions with the Company required to be disclosed by regulations of the SEC. Additionally, there were no compensation committee “interlocks” during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, which generally means that no executive officer of the Company served as a director or member of the compensation committee of another entity, one of whose executive officers served as a director or member of the compensation committee of the Company.

Board Meetings and Attendance

During 2022, our board of directors held six (6) meetings, and each director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of (i)increase the total number of meetingsauthorized shares of Common Stock has been prompted by business and financial considerations and not by the threat of any hostile takeover attempt (nor is the Board currently aware of any such attempts directed at us), and the Board does not intend or view the proposed increase in the number of authorized shares of our boardCommon Stock as an anti-takeover measure, stockholders should nevertheless be aware that approval of directors held during the period forthis proposal could facilitate future efforts by us to deter or prevent changes in control, including transactions in which he or she has been a director and (ii) the total number of meetings held by all committees of our board of directors on which he or she served during the periods that he or she served.

Board Attendance at Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Our policy is to invite and encourage each member of our board of directors to be present at our annual meetings of stockholders.  

Communication with Directors

Stockholders and interested parties who wish to communicate with our board of directors, non-management members of our board of directors as a group, a committee of our board of directors or a specific member of our board of directors (including our Chairman and independent directors) may do so by letters addressed to the attention of our corporate secretary. 

All communications are reviewed by the corporate secretary and provided to the members of our board of directors as appropriate. Unsolicited items, sales materials, abusive, threatening or otherwise inappropriate materials and other routine items and items unrelated to the duties and responsibilities of our board of directors will not be provided to directors. 

The address for these communications is: 

SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc.

2100 East 54th Street North 

Sioux Falls, SD 57104

Attn: Corporate Secretary 

8

Code of Ethics

To further promote corporate governance, we adopted a restated Code of Conduct and Ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) applicable to our directors, officers, and employees. A copy of our Code of Ethics and copies of our audit, nominating and compensation committee charters are available on our website at https://www.sab.bio.

In addition, a copy of the Code of Ethics will be provided without charge upon written request, addressed to: SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc., 2100 East 54th Street North, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, Attn: Corporate Secretary. 

We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers of certain provisions of our Code of Ethics in a Current Report on Form 8-K. Please see “Where You Can Find Additional Information” for additional information.

NOMINATIONS PROCESS AND DIRECTOR QUALIFICATIONS

Director Nominations

The process of recommending director nominees for selection by the board of directors is undertaken by the nominating committee (see above).

The board of directors will also consider director candidates recommended for nomination by our stockholders during such times as they are seeking proposed nominees to standmight otherwise receive a premium for election at the next annual meeting of stockholders (or, if applicable, a special meeting of stockholders). Our stockholders that wish to nominate a director for election to our board of directors should follow the procedures set forth in our bylaws. Additional information regarding the process for properly submitting stockholder nominations for candidates for nomination to our board of directors is set forth below under “Requirements for Stockholder Proposals to be considered for inclusion in our proxy materials for our 2024 Annual Meeting” and “Requirements for Stockholder Proposals to be presented at our 2024 Annual Meeting.” 

Director Qualifications

With the goal of developing a diverse, experienced and highly qualified board of directors, our nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for developing and recommending to our board of directors the desired qualifications, expertise and characteristics of members of our board of directors, including any specific minimum qualifications that the committee believes must be met by a committee-recommended nominee for membership on our board of directors and any specific qualities or skills that the committee believes are necessary for one or more of the members of our board of directors to possess. 

Because the identification, evaluation and selection of qualified directors is a complex and subjective process that requires consideration of many intangible factors, and will be significantly influenced by the particular needs of our board of directors from time to time, our board of directors has not adopted a specific set of minimum qualifications, qualities or skills that are necessary for a nominee to possess, other than those that are necessary to meet U.S. legal, regulatory and Nasdaq listing requirements and the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, our Corporate Governance Guidelines and the charters of the committees of our board of directors. When considering nominees, our nominating and corporate governance committee may take into consideration many factors including, among other things, a candidate’s independence, integrity, diversity, skills, financial and other expertise, breadth of experience, knowledge about our business or industry and ability to devote adequate time and effort to responsibilities of our board of directors in the context of its existing composition. The brief biographical description of each director set forth in “Proposal 1: Election of Directors” below includes the primary individual experience, qualifications, attributes and skills of each of our directors that led to the conclusion that each director should serve as a member of our board of directors at this time. 

their shares over then-current market prices.

9


PROPOSAL NUMBER 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Our board of directors currently consists of eight directors and is divided into three classes, with staggered three-year terms, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws. Directors in Class II will stand for election at the Annual Meeting. The terms of office of directors in Class I and Class III expire at our Annual Meetings of Stockholders to be held in 2025 and 2024, respectively. At the recommendation of our nominating and corporate governance committee, our board of directors proposes that each of the two Class II nominees named below be elected as a Class II director for a three-year term expiring at our 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until such director’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. 

Shares represented by proxies will be voted “FOR” the election of each of the two nominees named below, unless the proxy is marked to withhold authority to so vote. If any nominee for any reason is unable to serve or for good cause will not serve, the proxies may be voted for such substitute nominee as the proxy holder might determine. Each nominee has consented to being named in this proxy statement and to serve if elected. Proxies may not be voted for more than two directors. Stockholders may not cumulate votes for the election of directors. 

Nominees to Our Board of Directors

Vote Required

The nominees and their ages, occupations and lengths of service on our board of directors as of May 12, 2023 are provided in the table below and in the additional biographical descriptions set forth in the text below the table. 

Name

 

Age

 

Position

 

Director Since

Jeffrey G. Spragens

81

Director and Director Nominee

2020

David Link

68

Director and Director Nominee

2018

Jeffrey G. Spragens has served as a member of our board of directors since November 2020. From 2005 through 2013, Mr. Spragens was a Co-Founder and the CEO of SafeStitch Medical, Inc., a medical device company that pioneered incisionless surgery techniques that helps to relieve GERD and obesity. In 2013, SafeStitch merged with TransEnterix, Inc. (NYSE: TRXC). In addition, Mr. Spragens was one of the three founding board members of North American Vaccine, which became a publicly traded company in 1990. At North American Vaccine, Mr. Spragens was responsible for securing initial financing and building a commercial manufacturing facility. Mr. Spragens was instrumental in North American Vaccine’s acquisition by Baxter International (NYSE: BAX) in 1999. Mr. Spragens has also been a successful real estate developer and entrepreneur. Mr. Spragens was President of FCH services from 1973 until 1986. FCH developed and managed units of coop and condo housing financed with HUD financing with offices in several major cities. In 1986, Mr. Spragens converted to condo ownership 1,000 apartment units in San Mateo, California, resulting in one of the largest residential projects in California at that time. Mr. Spragens was Managing Partner of Gateway Associates, Inc. from 1990 to 2000. In addition, Mr. Spragens is President and 50% owner of Mint Management Company, a residential property management company he co-founded in 1987, which develops, owns and operates apartment units in New Jersey, Michigan and Kansas. Mr. Spragens developed and continues to own and operate Inman Grove Shopping Center in Edison, New Jersey. Mr. Spragens is also a well-known and respected philanthropist. Mr. Spragens is a Founding Board Member and Treasurer of Foundation for Peace. Foundation for Peace provides healthcare, education, and clean water to those in need in Dominican Republic and Haiti. He is also a member of the Board of Directors and Finance Committee of Hernia Help, which provides free hernia surgery to underserved children and adults in developing countries. Mr. Spragens has a BA from the University of Cincinnati, a Law Degree from George Washington University, and an MA from American University.

Our board of directors believes that Mr. Spragens is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his extensive public company management and multi-sector investment experience, and his public company board experience.

David Link, MBA, has served as a member of our board of directors since 2018 and is currently Vice-Chairman. Mr. Link is the former executive vice president and chief strategy office at Sanford Health with more than three decades of experience in strategy, planning and financial operations. During his tenure, Mr. Link contributed significantly to growing the organization from a regional health system into one of the nation’s largest non-profit, integrated health care delivery systems. He was also charged with overseeing Sanford Health Plan, Sanford Foundation and research and development, including Sanford Research. Under his leadership, the initial Sanford Clinic was created as well as the development of Sanford World Clinics, an initiative designed to provide communities around the world with permanent, sustainable health care infrastructure. Currently, Dave serves as an appointed program director in the President’s Office at Dakota State University, one of the nation’s leading programs in cyber security. Dave holds board or committee positions with Enterprise 605, the South Dakota REACH Committee, South Dakota Research and Commercialization Council and Sanford Research. In 2019, he was honored for his exemplary leadership and support of the state’s bioscience industry with the LIVE Award at the South Dakota Biotech. Dave holds a bachelor’s degree in data processing and computer science, an MBA from the University of South Dakota and a master’s in healthcare administration from the University of Minnesota.

Our board of directors believes that Mr. Link is qualified to serve on our board of directors because extensive experience in the biotechnology industry and his extensive public company board experience. 

10

Continuing Directors

The directors who are serving for terms that end following the Annual Meeting and their ages, occupations and lengths of service on our board of directors as of May 12, 2023 are provided in the table below and in the additional biographical descriptions set forth in the text below the table. 

Name

 

Age

 

Position

 

Director Since

Class I Directors:

      

Samuel J. Reich

 

48

Director and Executive Chairman of the Board

2020

Christine Hamilton

 

67

Director

2014

Eddie J. Sullivan

 

57

 

Director, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

2014

       

Class III Directors:

      

William Polvino

 

62

Director

2019

Scott Giberson

 

54

Director

2022

Erick Lucera

55

Director

2023

Dr. William J. Polvino, MD, has served as a member of our board of directors since 2019, after having served as our business advisor for several years. Dr. Polvino is pharmaceutical entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience in the healthcare arena. He is currently chief executive officer of Bridge Medicines, a pioneering drug discovery company focused on advancing promising early technologies from concept to clinic. Prior to Bridge Medicines, Dr. Polvino was president and chief executive officer of Veloxis Pharmaceuticals A/S (NASDAQ-OMX: VELO), a public biotechnology company that deployed proprietary formulation technology to develop and commercialize an innovative oral drug product for transplant patients. He also served as president and CEO of Helsinn Therapeutics (formerly Sapphire Therapeutics) and has held executive and senior-level positions in drug development at Merck, Wyeth and Theravance. Dr. Polvino earned his medical degree from Rutgers Medical School and a B.S. in Biology from Boston College. He trained in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and was a fellow in clinical pharmacology at the National Institutes of Health prior to entering the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry.

Dr. Polvino is well qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his extensive experience in the biotechnology industry and his extensive public company management experience. 

Scott Giberson, RPh, MPH, D.Sc., Rear Admiral (retired), joined the SAB board of directors in July 2022. He is currently the President of AMI Expeditionary Healthcare, a private global healthcare solutions company where he fosters global client relations at the highest levels. Clients include senior leadership of multiple U.S. and foreign government entities, the WHO, UN and private industry partners such as the Gates Foundation. RADM Giberson retired after 27 years as two-star admiral and as an Assistant U.S. Surgeon General. RADM (ret.) Giberson served as the acting Deputy Surgeon General of the United States (2013-2014), he was the Surgeon General's principal liaison with health leadership in multiple U.S. Departments. He also held executive positions as the Senior Advisor to the Office of Surgeon General, Director of Commissioned Corps Headquarters, Chief Pharmacist of the USPHS (2010-2014), Director of the IHS National HIV/AIDS Program and Senior Public Health Advisor for Pacific Command's Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (2003-2006). He served as overall Commander of the Commissioned Corps' Ebola Response in West Africa. RADM Giberson has authored numerous articles and delivered well over 100 keynote lectures on leadership, global health, and public health at numerous venues both domestically and internationally. RADM Giberson has received many awards including the Presidential Unit Citation from President Obama in the Oval Office for leadership during the West African Ebola response. The Military Officers Association of America selected him as on the of the “Top 100 Veterans in the Last 100 Years You Need to Know”. RADM Giberson is a graduate of Temple University and U. of Massachusetts/Amherst, holds a Pharmacy degree and licensure, MPH, and graduate certificate in Health Emergencies in Large Populations from the International Committee of the Red Cross. He has received three honorary Doctoral degrees (one for his pioneering work in interprofessional practice). He is also a Fellow of Wharton Business School (U. of Pennsylvania) Executive Leadership Program.

Mr. Giberson is well qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his extensive experience in the medical industry. 

Erick Lucera, joined the SAB board of directors in April 2023. From 2020 to February 2023, Mr. Lucera served as Chief Financial Officer of AVEO Oncology, a public biotech company, and subsequent to the close of its acquisition, worked on integration with LG Chem, Ltd. From 2016 to 2020, Mr. Lucera served as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary of VALERITAS, a publicly traded commercial-stage medical technology company where he led multiple successful public offerings. From 2017 to the present, Mr. Lucera has served as a member of the Board of Directors and Audit Committee Chairman of Beyond Air, a publicly held commercial-stage medical device and biopharmaceutical company developing a platform of nitric oxide generators and delivery systems. From 2021 to the present, Mr. Lucera has served as a member of the Board of Directors and Audit Committee Chairman of Bone Biologics Corporation, a publicly held company focusing on regenerative medicine therapies to treat bone disorders. From 2015 to 2016, Mr. Lucera served as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary of VIVENTIA Bio, acquired by Eleven Biotherapeutics, Inc., now Sesen Bio, a biotechnology company focused on developing targeted protein therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Early in his career, Mr. Lucera spent more than 15 years covering healthcare and the life sciences in investment management. 

Given Mr. Lucera’s extensive experience in strategic planning and finance, we believe that Mr. Lucera is well qualified to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

11

Samuel J. Reich has served as executive chairman of our board of directors since our business combination with Big Cypress Acquisition Corp in October 2021 and prior to that was Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and a member on the board of directors of Big Cypress Acquisition Corp since its inception in November 2020. Mr. Reich co-founded Biscayne Neurotherapeutics, Inc. in 2011 and served as its Executive Chairman until its sale to Supernus Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: SUPN) in October 2018. Biscayne Neurotherapeutics was focused on novel treatments for seizure disorders. Previously, Mr. Reich was the Executive Vice President of OPKO Ophthalmologics, a division of OPKO Health, Inc. (Nasdaq:OPK) from March 2007 to November 2008, where Mr. Reich served on the executive committee and lead the Ophthalmologics business division. Prior to his position at OPKO, Mr. Reich was the Founder and Executive Vice President of Acuity Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where he worked from July 2002 through March 2007, at which time Acuity Pharmaceuticals merged with OPKO Health. Mr. Reich was a doctoral candidate in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. He left graduate school prior to the completion of his Ph.D. to establish Acuity. Prior to that, he was a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania in the Biomedical Studies graduate program. He has authored six peer- reviewed scientific publications and is currently an inventor on sixteen issued U.S. patents and over 50 issued foreign patents. Mr. Reich holds a B.A. with High Honors in Biochemistry from Clark University, cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa.

Our board of directors believes that Mr. Reich is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of the perspective and experience he brings as Executive Chairman and extensive background in the life sciences industry.

Christine Hamilton, MBA, is our co-founder and has served as a member of our board of directors since 2014. Ms. Hamilton is the co-owner and managing partner of Christiansen Land and Cattle, Ltd., a large diversified farming and ranching operation in central South Dakota, and is also the co-owner of Dakota Packing, Inc., a wholesale meat distribution business. Ms. Hamilton is a director of Titan Machinery, a publicly traded Farm and Construction Equipment Company, and a former director for the Federal Reserve Bank, Ninth District, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Among other attributes, skills and qualifications, the Board believes that Ms. Hamilton is uniquely qualified to serve as a director based on her extensive experience in the agri-business sector and in management roles and her knowledge of operating strategies and priorities and challenges in business decision-making. Ms. Hamilton has an MBA in Entrepreneurship from the University of Arizona and an AB in Philosophy from Smith College. 

Our board of directors believes that Ms. Hamilton is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to her extensive experience as a biotechnology entrepreneur and leader for innovative biotech ventures, as well as her leadership experience in expediting growth, profitability, and fundraising.

Eddie J. Sullivan, PhD, is our co-founder and has served as our president and CEO since 2014. Dr. Sullivan has served in biopharma leadership positions for more than 25 years. Prior to joining us, he held the CEO role or other leadership roles in our predecessor entities, including CEO of Hematech, a subsidiary of Kyowa Hakko Kirin. During that time, he led initiatives to develop infectious disease, cancer, and autoimmune immunotherapies. In addition to raising over $250 million in capital to develop biopharmaceutical platform technologies, he has also led several successful mergers and acquisitions. A recognized thought leader in antibodies and transgenic animals, Dr. Sullivan serves on the board of directors for the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and has served on its executive committee. He has worked with industry committees and discussion groups that have focused on animal biotechnology, regulatory framework, human immunotherapies, and global health threats. Dr. Sullivan was governor-appointed to South Dakota’s Research Commercialization Council and is Chairman of the state’s National Science Foundation-EPSCoR committee. He also founded, served as president, and remains an advisor to the state affiliate of BIO, South Dakota Biotech, and in 2014 was honored for his leadership, innovation, vision, and entrepreneurship with the inaugural LIVE award. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona and graduate degrees from Brigham Young University, Kennedy-Western University, and Utah State University in both reproduction and business.

Our board of directors believes that Dr. Sullivan is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his experience as our co-founder, president and CEO as well as his extensive and innovative biopharmaceutical experience.

Family Relationships

There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers. Edward Hamilton, our former Executive Chairman, retired from such role as of the consummation of the Business Combination. Mr. Hamilton was named as a board observer in October 2021. Edward Hamilton is Christine Hamilton’s husband.

12

Director Compensation

Director Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information regarding the compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

  

Fees Earned or Paid in Cash

  

Option Awards (1)

  

Stock Awards (2)

  

Total

 

Name

 

($)

  

($)

  

($)

  

($)

 

Samuel J. Reich

     304,600      304,600 

Christine Hamilton, MBA

  25,000         25,000 

Eddie J. Sullivan, PhD

     44,725      44,725 

Jeffrey G. Spragens

  23,408         23,408 

William Polvino, MD

  25,000         25,000 

David Link, MBA

  25,000         25,000 

Scott Giberson

  5,928   14,000      19,928 

Erick Lucera

            


(1)

Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of stock option awards granted in the respective fiscal year as computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation. The fair value of each stock option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. A discussion of the assumptions used in calculating the amounts in this column may be found in the Notes to our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022 set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. These amounts do not represent the actual amounts paid to or realized by the executives during the fiscal years presented.

(2)

Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock units granted in the respective fiscal year as computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation. Restricted stock units are valued at market price of the Company’s common stock at the closing price at the date of grant. These amounts do not represent the actual amounts paid to or realized by the executives during the fiscal years presented.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ALL NOMINEES FOR THE ELECTION OF THE TWO CLASS I DIRECTORS SET FORTH IN THIS PROPOSAL NUMBER 1.

13

PROPOSAL NUMBER 2: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Our audit committee has selected Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. (“MHM”) as our independent registered public accounting firm to perform the audit of our financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 and recommends that our stockholders vote for the ratification of such selection. The ratification of the selection of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock is required to approve this proposal. Abstentions, if any, and, if this proposal is deemed to be “non-routine,” broker non-votes with respect to this proposal will have the same effect as an “against” vote on this proposal. If this proposal is deemed to be “routine,” no broker non-votes will occur on this proposal.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF PROPOSAL 1.


PROPOSAL 2: TO APPROVE THE POTENTIAL ISSUANCE IN EXCESS OF 19.99% OF OUR OUTSTANDING COMMON STOCK UPON THE CONVERSION OF THE SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK AT LESS THAN THE “MINIMUM PRICE” UNDER NASDAQ LISTING RULE 5635(D), AND WHICH MAY BE DEEMED A “CHANGE OF CONTROL” UNDER NASDAQ LISTING RULE 5635(B), PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF PREFERENCES, RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS OF SERIES A CONVERTIBLE VOTING PREFERRED STOCK GOVERNING THE SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK

We are asking our stockholders to consider and vote upon a proposal that provides for the potential issuance of a number of shares of our Common Stock in excess of 19.99% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock upon the conversion of Series A Preferred Stock that we issued in a private placement in October 2023 at less than the “minimum price” under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), and which may be deemed a “change of control” under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(b), pursuant to the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock (the “Series A Nasdaq Conversion Proposal”).

On September 29, 2023, we entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with certain accredited investors (the “Investors”), pursuant to which we agreed to issue and sell, in a private placement (the “Offering”), (i) 7,500 shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock for an aggregate offering price of $7.5 million (the “Series A-1 Preferred Stock”), (ii) tranche A warrants (the “Preferred Tranche A Warrants”) to acquire shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock or Series A-3 Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, for an aggregate exercise price of $70.5 million (the “Series A-3 Preferred Stock”), (iii) tranche B warrants to acquire shares of Series A-3 Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, for an aggregate exercise price of $52.0 million (the “Preferred Tranche B Warrants”), and (iv) tranche C warrants to purchase Series A-3 Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, for an aggregate exercise price of $130.0 million (the “Preferred Tranche C Warrants” and together with the Preferred Tranche A Warrants, and Preferred Tranche B Warrants, the “Preferred Warrants” and the shares underlying the Preferred Warrants, the “Preferred Warrant Shares”). Pursuant to the Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of the Series A Convertible Voting Preferred Stock, which was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 2, 2023 (the “Series A Certificate of Designation”), each share of Series A-1 Preferred Stock, subject to stockholder approval at this Special Meeting, converts automatically into shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) and/or, if applicable, shares of Series A-2 Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Series A-2 Preferred Stock” and together with the Series A-1 Preferred Stock, the “Issued Preferred Stock”), in lieu of Common Stock. The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties, and covenants of the Company and the purchasers.

The aggregate exercise prices of the Preferred Tranche A Warrants is approximately $70.5 million, exercisable for an aggregate of 70,500 shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock or Series A-3 Preferred Stock, as set forth in the Preferred Tranche A Warrants, commencing on the Issuance Date (as defined in the Form of Preferred Tranche A Warrant) until the earlier of (i) fifteen (15) trading days following the date of public announcement of the fulsome data set from the Sanofi S.A. Protect trial and (ii) December 15, 2023. If any purchaser in the Offering fails to exercise their Preferred Tranche A Warrant in full prior to its expiration date, such purchaser will forfeit all Preferred Tranche A Warrants, Preferred Tranche B Warrants and Preferred Tranche C Warrants issued to such purchaser.

The aggregate exercise price of the Preferred Tranche B Warrants is approximately $52.0 million, exercisable for an aggregate of 52,000 shares of Series A-3 Preferred Stock commencing on the Exercisability Date (as defined in the Form of Preferred Tranche B Warrant) until the later of (i) 21 days following the Company’s announcement of data from its SAB-142-101 clinical trial and (ii) March 31, 2025.

Subject to the terms and limitations contained in the Certificate of Designation, the Series A-1 Preferred Stock issued in the Offering will not become convertible until the Company’s stockholders approve Proposal 1 and Proposal 2 at this Special Meeting On the first trading day following the announcement of the stockholder approval, each share of Series A-1 Preferred Stock shall automatically convert into Common Stock, at the conversion price of $0.63 per share (the “Conversion Price”), subject to the terms and limitations contained in the Series A Certificate of Designation, provided that to the extent such conversion would cause a holder of Series A-1 Preferred Stock to exceed the applicable beneficial ownership limitation, such holder will receive shares of Series A-2 Preferred Stock in lieu of Common Stock. Subject to the limitations set forth in the Series A Certificate of Designation, at the option of the holder, each share of Series A-2 Preferred Stock and Series A-3 Preferred Stock shall be convertible into Common Stock, at the Conversion Price, in each case subject to the terms and limitations contained in the Series A Certificate of Designation.

Holders of Series A Preferred Stock are generally entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock into which their Series A Preferred Stock is then-convertible on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, but are not entitled to vote on the Charter Amendment Proposal and this Series A Nasdaq Conversion Proposal, as described herein; provided that until the stockholder approval is obtained, the number of shares of Common Stock that shall be deemed issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock (for purposes of calculating the aggregate votes cast “FOR”the holders of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to on an as-converted Common Stock


basis) will be subject to the Share Cap, which is equal to the number of shares of Common Stock equal to 19.9% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock on October 2, 2023 (or 10,411,512 shares of Common Stock).

The Series A Certificate of Designation provides that holder of Series A Preferred Stock shall not effect any conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock and “AGAINST”such Series A Preferred Stock shall not be automatically converted, to the proposal.extent that, after giving effect to the conversion, the holder and its affiliates and Attribution Parties would beneficially own in excess of the “Maximum Percentage Limitation” as defined in the Series A Certificate of Designation. For purposes of determining the Maximum Percentage Limitation, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such holder and its affiliates and Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to which such determination is being made, but will exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which are issuable upon (i) exercise of the remaining unconverted portion of the Series A Preferred Stock beneficially owned by such holder or any of its affiliates or Attribution Parties and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Company subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained in the Series A Certificate of Designation, beneficially owned by such holder or any of its affiliates or Attribution Parties. To the extent that the Maximum Percentage Limitation applies, the determination of whether the Series A Preferred Stock is convertible (in relation to other securities owned by such holder together with any affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of how many shares of Series A Preferred Stock are convertible is in the sole discretion of such holder. The “Maximum Percentage Limitation” is 4.99% or 9.99% at the election of the holder (or, upon written election by a holder which is delivered to the Company prior to the issuance of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock to such holder, any other percentage not in excess of 19.99% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock immediately after giving effect to the issuance of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock if exceeding that limit would result in a change of control under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(b)) of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Series A Preferred Stock held by the applicable holder; provided that (i) any such increase in the Maximum Percentage Limitation will not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company and (ii) any such increase or decrease will apply only to such holder (together with its affiliates) and not to any other holder of Series A Preferred Stock.

Why We Need Stockholder Approval

Our Common Stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market, and as a result, we are subject to Nasdaq’s Listing Rules, including Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635. Below is an overview of the relevant provisions of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635 as they relate to the issuance of Common Stock upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock and the Series A Nasdaq Conversion Proposal.

Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d)(2)

Pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d)(2), stockholder approval is required prior to the issuance of securities in connection with a transaction (or a series of related transactions) other than a public offering involving the sale, issuance or potential issuance of Common Stock (or securities convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock) equal to 20% or more of the Common Stock or 20% or more of the voting power outstanding before the issuance at a price that is less than the lower of (i) the Nasdaq Official Closing Price (as reflected on Nasdaq.com) immediately preceding the signing of the binding agreement; or (ii) the average Nasdaq Official Closing Price of the Common Stock (as reflected on Nasdaq.com) for the five trading days immediately preceding the signing of the binding agreement (the “Minimum Price”). On September 29, 2023, the last trading date prior to the signing of the Purchase Agreement, the closing price of our Common Stock was $0.63 and the average closing price of our Common Stock for the five trading days immediately preceding September 29, 2023 was $0.40. As described above, upon Stockholder Approval, each share of Series A-1 Preferred Stock shall automatically convert into Common Stock, at the conversion price of $0.63 per share, and/or, if applicable, shares of Series A-2 Preferred Stock, subject to the terms and limitations contained in the Series A Certificate of Designation. Subject to the limitations set forth in the Series A Certificate of Designation, at the option of the holder, each share of Series A-2 Preferred Stock, and upon exercise of the Tranche A Warrant, Tranche B Warrant, Tranche C Warrants, and Series A-3 Preferred Stock, respectively, shall be convertible into Common Stock, at the conversion price of $0.63 per share, rounded down to the nearest whole share, and in each case subject to the terms and limitations contained in the Series A Certificate of Designation.

However, Nasdaq attributes a value of $0.125 to each warrant plus any amount that a warrant is currently in the money or could be in the money due to adjustments. Therefore, in order for the Offering to have been conducted at or above the Minimum Price, each purchaser would have been required to pay $0.125 per warrant, which amount was not paid by the purchasers in the Offering. Therefore, the conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock may result in the issuance of Common Stock in excess of 19.99% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock at less than the Minimum Price. Accordingly, we are seeking stockholder approval pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d)(2). The stockholder approval requirement described above was included in the Purchase Agreement and Series A Certificate of Designation to comply with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d)(2).


Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(b)

Pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(b), stockholder approval is required prior to an issuance of securities that could result in a “change of control” of a listed company, which for Nasdaq purposes, is generally deemed to occur when, as a result of an issuance, an investor or a group of investors acquires, or has the right to acquire, 20% or more of the outstanding equity or voting power of the company and such ownership or voting power would be the company’s largest ownership position. As described above, upon Stockholder Approval, each share of Series A-1 Preferred Stock shall automatically convert into Common Stock, and, if applicable, shares of Series A-2 Preferred Stock, and at the option of the holder, each share of Series A-2 Preferred Stock, and upon exercise of the Tranche A Warrants, Tranche B Warrants, Tranche C Warrants or Series A-3 Preferred Stock, respectively, shall be convertible into Common Stock, in each case subject to the terms and limitations contained in the Series A Certificate of Designation. As a result, the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon the conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement may result in the issuance of shares of Common Stock in excess of 19.99% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock as of the date of the Purchase Agreement. Accordingly, we are also seeking stockholder approval pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(b).

Potential Effects of Approval of this Proposal

If the Series A Nasdaq Conversion Proposal is approved, the issuance of shares of our Common Stock upon conversion of Series A Preferred Stock would dilute, and thereby reduce, each existing stockholder’s proportionate ownership in our Common Stock. For example, the Purchase Agreement provides that immediately upon the Company’s announcement of Stockholder Approval, the Series A-1 Preferred Stock shall automatically convert into Common Stock, at the conversion price of $0.63 per share, subject to the terms and limitations contained in the Series A Certificate of Designation, resulting in the issuance of approximately 39.5 million shares of Common Stock, which would increase our Common Stock outstanding as of October 26, 2023 from 52,865,814 shares to 91,769,943 shares (an increase of 75.4%); provided that if the issuance of Common Stock upon conversion of Series A-1 Preferred Stock would result in a holder exceeding the Maximum Percentage Limitation, such excess shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock shall convert into Series A-2 Preferred Stock. Furthermore, conversion of all Series A-1 Preferred Stock and/or Series A-3 Preferred Stock and/or A-3 Preferred Stock, subject to the terms and limitations contained in the Series A Certificate of Designation, would result in the issuance of approximately 206.3 million shares of Common Stock which would increase our Common Stock Outstanding as of October 26, 2023 from 52,865,814 shares to 258,668,346 shares (an increase of 394.4%). Our stockholders do not have preemptive rights to subscribe to additional shares that may be issued by us upon conversion of Series A Preferred Stock in order to maintain their proportionate ownership of the Common Stock. Such issuances could also dilute the voting power of a person seeking control of the Company, thereby deterring or rendering more difficult a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or an extraordinary corporate transaction opposed by the Company. In addition, upon conversion of the event that Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C.Series A Preferred Stock there would be a greater number of shares of our Common Stock eligible for sale in the public markets. Any such sales, or the anticipation of the possibility of such sales, represents an overhang on the market and could depress the market price of our Common Stock.

Potential Effects of Non-Approval of this Proposal

If the Series A Nasdaq Conversion Proposal is not ratifiedapproved by our stockholders the audit committee will review its future selection of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. as our independent registered public accounting firm. 

Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. audited our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. Representatives of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. are expected to be present at the AnnualSpecial Meeting, the Series A-1 Preferred Stock will not become convertible into Common Stock and theySeries A-2 Preferred Stock, if applicable, and the Tranche A Warrants, Tranche B Warrants and Tranche C will not become exercisable for Series A-1 and A-3 Preferred Stock. Accordingly, we will be given an opportunityunable to make a statement atissue any shares of Common Stock underlying the Annual Meeting if they desire to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions. 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees and Services

We regularly review the services and fees from our independent registered public accounting firm. These services and fees are also reviewed with our audit committee annually. The following table provides information regarding the fees billed for professional services rendered by Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C., our independent registered public accounting firm, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021:

  

Year Ended December 31,

 

(US Dollars)

 

2022

  

2021

 

Audit fees

 $710,644  $662,887 

Audit-related fees

      

Tax fees

      

All other fees

      

Total

 $710,644  $662,887 

Audit fees for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 rendered by MHM relate to professional services rendered for the audits of our financial statements, quarterly reviews, issuance of consents, the Business Combination and review of documents filed with the SEC.

Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Audit Committee has adopted a policy that sets forth the procedures and conditions pursuant to which audit and non-audit services proposed to be performed by the independent auditor may be pre-approved. The policy generally provides that we will not engage MHM to render any audit, audit-related, tax or permissible non-audit service unless the service is either (i) explicitly approved by the Audit Committee (“specific pre-approval”) or (ii) entered intoSeries A Preferred Stock. Additionally, pursuant to the pre-approval policiesterms of the Purchase Agreement we are obligated to submit the Series A Nasdaq Conversion Proposal for approval of our stockholders at least semi-annually until such approval is obtained.

Vote Required

The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by all stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Special Meeting and procedures described inentitled to vote on the policy (“general pre-approval”). Unless a type of serviceproposal is required to approve this proposal. Shares that are not represented at the Special Meeting, abstentions, if any, and, if this proposal is deemed to be provided by MHM has received general pre-approval under“non-routine,” broker non-votes with respect to this proposal will not affect the policy, it requires specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee or by a designated memberoutcome of the Audit Committeevote on this proposal. If this proposal is deemed to whom the committee has delegated the authority to grant pre-approvals. Any proposed services exceeding pre-approved cost levels or budgeted amountsbe “routine,” no broker non-votes will also require specific pre-approval. For both types of pre-approval, the Audit Committee will consider whether such services are consistent with the SEC’s rulesoccur on auditor independence.this proposal.

OURTHE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS ATHAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR“FOR” THE APPROVAL OF PROPOSAL NUMBER 2.

14


SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stockCommon Stock and Series A-1 Preferred Stock as of May 12,October 26, 2023 (unless otherwise indicated), held by:

each person known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding common stock;

each of our executive officers and directors; and

(i) each director; (ii) each of the named executive officers; (iii) all of our executive officers and directors as a group.

Beneficial ownership is determined according to the rules of the SEC, which generally provide that a person has beneficial ownership of a security if he, she or it possesses sole or shared voting or investment power over that security. Under those rules, beneficial ownership includes securities that the individual or entity has the right to acquire, such as through the exercise of stock options, within 60 days. Shares subject to options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days are considered outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding such options for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Unless otherwise indicated, the Company believes that the persons and entities named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by them. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the directors and executive officers as a group; and (iv) each additional person or group who is known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of the Company is 2100 East 54th Street North, Sioux Falls, SD 57104.

The percentageoutstanding shares of beneficial ownershipeach class of our voting securities. Except as indicated in the footnotes below, the address of the Companypersons or groups named below is calculated based on 50,397,762 shares of common stock outstanding as of May 12, 2023. c/o SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc.

Shares of common stock subject to warrants, options or rights currently exercisable, or exercisable within 60 days of May 12, 2023 are counted as beneficially owned by the selling stockholder.Beneficially Owned(1)

Beneficial Owner

 

Common Stock

 

 

Percent

 

Series A-1
Preferred
Stock

 

 

Percent

 

Percent
of
Total
Voting
Power

Executive Officers and Directors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christine Hamilton (2)

 

 

8,812,481

 

 

 

16.62

 

%

 

 

 

 

*

 

%

 

9.53

 

%

Eddie J. Sullivan, PhD (3)

 

 

5,751,268

 

 

 

10.88

 

%

 

 

 

 

*

 

%

 

6.23

 

%

Samuel J. Reich (4)

 

 

1,189,506

 

 

 

2.25

 

%

 

 

 

 

*

 

%

 

1.29

 

%

Jeffrey G. Spragens (5)

 

 

497,912

 

 

*

 

%

 

 

 

 

*

 

%

 

*

 

%

William Polvino, MD (6)

 

 

139,585

 

 

*

 

%

 

 

 

 

*

 

%

 

*

 

%

David Link, MBA (7)

 

 

203,960

 

 

*

 

%

 

 

 

 

*

 

%

 

*

 

%

Scott Giberson (8)

 

 

11,805

 

 

*

 

%

 

 

 

 

*

 

%

 

*

 

%

Erick Lucera (9)

 

 

5,555

 

 

*

 

%

 

 

 

 

*

 

%

 

*

 

%

Andrew Moin (10)

 

 

 

 

*

 

%

 

 

18,000

 

 

72.42

 

%

 

23.74

 

%

Alexandra Kropotova (11)

 

 

118,227

 

 

*

 

%

 

 

 

 

*

 

%

 

*

 

%

All directors and executive officers
     as a group (12 persons)

 

 

17,108,708

 

 

 

31.18

 

%

 

 

18,000

 

 

 

72.42

 

%

 

 

37.17

 

%

 

Beneficial Owner

 

Number of Shares Beneficially Owned

  

Percentage of Common Stock Beneficially Owned

 

Five Percent Stockholders

         

Christine Hamilton, MBA (1)

  8,800,848   17.2

%

 

Eddie J. Sullivan, PhD (2)

  5,740,331   11.3

%

 
          

Executive Officers and Directors

         

Christine Hamilton, MBA (1)

  8,800,848   17.2

%

 

Eddie J. Sullivan, PhD (2)

  5,740,331   11.3

%

 

Samuel J. Reich (3)

  967,111   1.9

%

 

Jeffrey G. Spragens (4)

  497,912   1.0

%

 

William Polvino, MD (5)

  116,320   *

%

 

David Link, MBA (6)

  192,327   *

%

 

Scott Giberson (7)

  8,333   *

%

 

Erick Lucera (8)

  2,083   *

%

 

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

  16,755,646   31.9

%

 


*

Represents beneficial ownership of less than one percent (1%).

(1)

Except as indicated in these footnotes: (i) each person named in this table has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock and Series A-1 Preferred Stock beneficially owned by such person; (ii) the number of shares beneficially owned by each person includes any restricted shares of Common Stock, shares of Common Stock that may be acquired through the exercise of options and warrants that such person has the right to acquire as of, or within 60 days of October 26, 2023, and after giving effect to any applicable limitations on beneficial ownership described in the footnotes below; and (iii) the beneficial ownership percentages shown above are based on a total of 91,769,943 eligible voting shares outstanding as of October 26, 2023, being comprised of (a) 52,319,156 shares of Common Stock and (b) 39,450,787 shares of Common Stock assuming conversion of 18,000 shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock.

(2)

Consists of (i) 4,993,090 shares of common stock held by Ms. Hamilton; (ii) 174,248 shares of common stock held as a co-owner by Ms. Hamilton with her spouse, Dr. Edward Hamilton; (iii) 2,909,022 shares of common stock held by Ms. Hamilton’s spouse, Dr. Edward Hamilton; (iv) 25,000 shares held by Christiansen Investments; (v) 82,987 shares of common stock underlying warrants that are exercisable within 60 days of May 12,October 26, 2023; (vi) 151,216162,849 shares of common stock underlying stock options held by Ms. Hamilton exercisable within 60 days of March 28,October 26, 2023; and (vii) 465,285 shares of common stock underlying stock options held by her spouse, Dr. Edward Hamilton, exercisable within 60 days of May 12,October 26, 2023. Ms. Hamilton is a control person with voting and dispositive power over shares of Christiansen Investments and is deemed to have beneficial ownership of the shares held by Christiansen Investments. Ms. Hamilton disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities except to the extent of her pecuniary interest therein, directly or indirectly.

(2)(3)

Consists of (i) 5,230,564 shares of common stock held by Dr. Sullivan; and (ii) 509,767520,704 shares of common stock underlying stock options held by Dr. Sullivan exercisable within 60 days of May 12,October 26, 2023.

(3)(4)

Consists of (i) 207,001 shares of common stock held by Mr. Reich; (ii) 1,000 shares of common stock held jointly by Mr. Reich and Mr. Reich’s spouse; (iii) 547,698 of shares of common stock held by Big Cypress Holdings, LLC that are subject to vesting during a period of up to five years after October 22, 2021, which is the Business Combination Closing Date; (iv) 9,968 shares of common stock underlying warrants that are currently exercisable; and (v) 201,444423,839 shares of common stock underlying stock options held by Mr. Reich exercisable within 60 days of May 12,October 26, 2023. Mr. Reich is a managing member with voting and dispositive power over shares of Big Cypress Holdings, LLC and is deemed to have beneficial ownership of the shares held by Big Cypress Holdings, LLC. Mr. Reich disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, directly or indirectly.


(4)(5)

Consists of (i) 95,987394,989 shares of common stock held by Mr. Spragens; and (ii) 299,002 shares of common stock distributed to Mr. Spragens as a member of Big Cypress Holdings, LLC; and (iii) 102,92382,987 shares of common stock underlying warrants that are currently exercisable.

(5)(6)

Consists of 116,320 shares139,585shares of common stock underlying stock options held by Dr. Polvino exercisable within 60 days of May 12,October 26, 2023.

(6)(7)

Consists of (i) 57,313 shares of common stock held by Mr. Link; (ii) 12,097 of shares of common stock held by Iron Horse Investments, LLC; (iii) 41,493 shares of common stock underlying warrants that are currently exercisable; and (iv) 81,42493,057 shares of common stock underlying stock options held by Mr. Link exercisable within 60 days of May 12,October 26, 2023. Mr. Link is a control person with voting and dispositive power over shares of Iron Horse Investments, LLC and is deemed to have beneficial ownership of the shares held by Iron Horse Investments, LLC. Mr. Link disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, directly or indirectly.

(7)(8)

Consists of 8,33311,805 shares of common stock underlying stock options held by Mr. Giberson exercisable within 60 days of May 12,October 26, 2023.

(9)

(8)

Consists of 2,0835,555 shares of common stock underlying stock options held by Mr. Lucera exercisable within 60 days of May 12,October 26, 2023.

15

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Our executive officers and their ages as of May 23, 2022 and positions with SAB are provided in the table below and in the additional biographical descriptions set forth in the text below the table. 

Name

Age

Position(s)

Samuel J. Reich(10)

Based on information provided on a Form 3 jointly filed with the SEC on October 10, 2023. Represents an aggregate of 18,000 shares of the Company’s Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock. These securities are beneficially owned by (i) Sessa Capital, directly, (ii) Sessa Capital GP, LLC, indirectly as a result of being the sole general partner of Sessa Capital, (iii) Sessa Capital IM, L.P., indirectly as a result of being the investment adviser for Sessa Capital, (iv) Sessa Capital IM GP, LLC, indirectly as a result of being the sole general partner of Sessa Capital IM, L.P., and (v) John Petry, indirectly as a result of being the manager of Sessa Capital GP, LLC and Sessa Capital IM GP, LLC. Andrew Moin, an Analyst and Partner with Sessa Capital, is a member of the board of directors of the Registrant. Mr. Moin disclaims beneficial ownership of any securities reported by any person except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

(11)

48Consists of (i) 5,727 shares of common stock underlying stock options held by Ms. Kropotova exercisable within 60 days of October 26, 2023; and (ii) 112,500 shares of common stock underlying restricted stock units that will vest within 60 days of October 26, 2023.


HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS

The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries (e.g., brokers) to satisfy the delivery requirements for Notices of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or other Special Meeting materials with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or other Special Meeting materials addressed to those stockholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as “householding,” potentially means extra convenience for stockholders and cost savings for companies.

This year, a number of brokers with account holders who are our stockholders will be “householding” our proxy materials. A single Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials will be delivered to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected stockholders. Once you have received notice from your broker that they will be “householding” communications to your address, “householding” will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in “householding” and would prefer to receive a separate Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, please notify your broker or notify us by sending a written request to: the Corporate Secretary, 2100 East 54th Street North, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104. You will be removed from the householding program, after which you will receive an individual copy of the proxy materials promptly.

Stockholders who currently receive multiple copies of the Notices of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials at their addresses and would like to request “householding” of their communications should contact their brokers.

OTHER MATTERS

We know of no other matters to be brought before the Special Meeting. However, if any other matters do properly come before the Special Meeting, it is intended that the proxy holders will vote the shares represented by the proxies in the accompanying form as recommended by the Board or, if no recommendation is given, in accordance with the best judgment of the person voting the proxies.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We file annual and quarterly reports and other reports and information with the SEC. We distribute to our stockholders annual reports containing financial statements audited by our independent registered public accounting firm and, upon request, quarterly reports for the first three quarters of each fiscal year containing unaudited financial information. In addition, the reports and other information are filed through Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (known as “EDGAR”) system and are publicly available on the SEC’s site on the Internet, located at www.sec.gov.

We will provide, without charge, to each person to whom this Proxy Statement is delivered, upon written or oral request of such person and by first class mail or other equally prompt means within one business day of receipt of such request, a copy of any and all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in the Proxy Statement (not including exhibits to the information that is incorporated by reference unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into the information that the Proxy Statement incorporates). Please direct such request in writing or by telephone at the following address:

SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc.

2100 East 54th Street North

Sioux Falls, SD 57104

Attn: Investor Relations


You may also access such documents free of charge at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SABS2023SM as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Our website and the information contained on that site, or connected to that site, are not incorporated into and are not a part of this Proxy Statement.

Your cooperation in giving these matters your immediate attention and in returning your proxy promptly will be appreciated.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

/s/ Eddie J. Sullivan

Executive Chairman of the Board

Eddie J. Sullivan PhD

57

PresidentDirector and Chief Executive Officer


Appendix A

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO THE

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF SAB BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.

Pursuant to Section 242 of the General

Corporation Law of the State of Delaware

SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the “Corporation”), does hereby certify:

FIRST: Upon the filing and effectiveness pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) of this Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be amended by deleting Section 4.1 in its entirety and substituting in lieu thereof the following new Section 4.1:

“Section 4.1 Authorized Capital Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Corporation is authorized to issue is 810,000,000 shares, consisting of (a) 800,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) and (b) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).”

SECOND: This Certificate of Amendment has been duly adopted in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 242 of the DGCL.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate of Amendment as of this [ ] day of [ ], 2023.

Russell P. Beyer, MBA, CMA

68

Chief Financial OfficerSAB BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.

Christoph Bausch, PhD/s/ Eddie J. Sullivan

52

Chief Operating Officer

Alexandra Kropotova, MDEddie J. Sullivan

50

Title: Chief MedicalExecutive Officer

 


Our boardimg5587186_4.jpg 

SCAN TO VIEW MATERIALS & VOTE VOTE BY INTERNET Before The Meeting - Go to www.proxyvote.com or scan the QR Barcode above Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of directors chooses our executive officers, who then serve atinformation up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time the discretion of our board of directors. 

Samuel J. Reich.For a brief biography of Mr. Reich, please see Proposal 1: Election of Directors-Continuing Directors.” 

Eddie J. Sullivan.For a brief biography of Dr. Sullivan, please see Proposal 1: Election of Directors-Continuing Directors.” 

Russell P. Beyer, MBA, CMA, has served as our Chief Financial Officer since September 2021. Mr. Beyerday before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. During The Meeting - Go to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SABS2023SM You may attend the meeting via the Internet and vote during the meeting. Have the information that is a global strategic business leader, bringing more than 20 years of experience working with Fortune 100 companiesprinted in the pharmaceutical industry, such as Teva, AstraZeneca,box marked by the arrow available and IPR Pharmaceuticals. In additionfollow the instructions. VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to workingtransmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the pharmaceutical industry, Mr. Beyer also served in strategic financial leadership roles for World Fuel Services and Hewlett-Packard. His professional background encompasses extensive experience in fostering a team-based approachpostage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to leading merger and post-merger integration activities, developing shared services operations, implementing global ERP platforms, and delivering strong profitability for the companies he served. He received his MBA from Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester, and his BA from St. Lawrence University.

Christoph Bausch, PhD, MBA, served as our Chief Science Officer from March 2017 to May 2022, and currently serves as our Chief Operating Officer. Dr. Christoph Bausch is an experienced research scientist, biotech entrepreneur and business development executive who has led the successful discovery, development, and commercialization of platform technologies in the life sciences. Since September 2011, he has been the Founder and Director of Nanopore Diagnostics, a molecular diagnostic company commercializing platform sensor technology for rapid microbial diagnostics. Since October 2011, he has acted as President of Keion Group, LLC, a life science consulting firm. Dr. Bausch held several science-based business development positions prior to joiningVote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. SAB most recently for multi-billion-dollar global biorefining leader POET, LLC, where he structured strategic partnerships, prospected, and vetted new technologies and streamlined research and development activities. He also worked in both research and commercialization roles for Fortune 500 life science and high technology company Sigma-Aldrich, now MilliporeSigma.

Dr. Bausch is a microbiologist by training and received his Ph.D. in Microbiology atBIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC. 2100 EAST 54TH STREET NORTH SIOUX FALLS, SD 57104 V25139-Z86291 SAB BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC. For Against Abstain The Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio), completed Post-Doctoral Training at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research (Kansas City, Missouri). He earned an M.B.A. from St. Louis University (St. Louis, Missouri) and a B.A. in Biology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Lincoln, Nebraska). 

Alexandra Kropotova, M.D., is our Executive Vice President & Chief Medical Officer, joining SAB in June, 2022 to lead the strategy, direction, and execution of the company’s clinical development for the entire portfolio. Dr. Kropotova is a biopharmaceutical executive with expertise in all phases of global clinical development, translational medicine and medical affairs. Prior to joining SAB Biotherapeutics, as a Therapeutic Area Head of Global Specialty R&D at Teva Pharmaceuticals, Alexandra led innovative drug development focused on delivering a broad portfolio of immunology, respiratory, and immuno-oncology assets spanning from pre-IND to BLA/NDA filing of biologics and complex drug-device combination products. Prior to Teva, Dr. Kropotova served in various roles at Sanofi, including Vice President, Strategy & Strategic Planning Head, North American Medical Affairs; Associate Vice President and subsequently Vice President, Immuno-Inflammation, Global R&D Clinical Development; and Senior Medical Director, Respiratory, Allergy & Anti-Infectives. She also served in various roles at Pfizer Inc., most recently as Director & Head of Global Clinical Respiratory and Analgesics. She continues to serve on the Board of Directors at iBio, a global leader in plant-based biologics manufacturing and development of novel biopharmaceuticals. Dr. Kropotova received her MBA from Ohio University Graduate School of Business, Athens, Ohio; and her M.D. in Internal Medicine fromrecommends you vote FOR the Vladivostok State Medical University, Vladivostok, Russia.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The following is a discussion and analysis of compensation arrangementsproposals: 1. Approve an amendment of the Company’s named executive officers. This discussion may contain forward-looking statements that are based onAmended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the Company’s current plans, considerations, expectations and determinations regarding future compensation programs. The actual compensation programs thattotal number of authorized shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”) from 490,000,000 shares to 800,000,000. 2. Approve the Company adopts may differ materially from the currently planned programs that are summarizedpotential issuance in this discussion. As an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act, we are not required to include a Compensation Discussion and Analysis section and have elected to comply with the scaled disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies. 

Summary Compensation Table

he following table sets forth information regarding the compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our named executive officers for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.

      

Salary

  

Option Awards (1)

   

Stock Awards (2)

   

Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation

  

All Other Compensation

  

Total

 

Name and Principal Position

 

Year

  

($)

  

($)

   

($)

   

($)

  

($)

  

($)

 

Eddie J. Sullivan, PhD.

 

2022

   377,200   44,725 

(3)

      42,435   10,982   475,342 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

2021

   376,154           140,000   9,750   525,904 

Samuel J. Reich

 

2022

   350,000   304,600 

(4)

      14,000   12,200   680,800 

Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

2021

   52,731   2,741,235           1,660   2,795,626 

Alexandra Kropotova, MD

 

2022

   282,692   13,029    567,000 

(5)

     2,423   865,144 

EVP, Chief of Medical Officer

 2021                     


(1)

Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of stock option awards granted in the respective fiscal year as computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation. The fair value of each stock option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. A discussion of the assumptions used in calculating the amounts in this column may be found in the Notes to our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022 set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. These amounts do not represent the actual amounts paid to or realized by the executives during the fiscal years presented.

(2)

Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock units granted in the respective fiscal year as computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation. Restricted stock units are valued at market price of the Company’s common stock at the closing price at the date of grant. These amounts do not represent the actual amounts paid to or realized by the executives during the fiscal years presented.

(3)

We granted Eddie Sullivan a stock option to purchase up to 21,218 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $1.78 per share, the closing price of our common stock on March 16, 2022. The shares subject to this stock option award will vest 100% of the shares on the one-year anniversary of the grant date and We granted Eddie Sullivan a stock option to purchase up to 35,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.71 per share, the closing price of our common stock on September 13, 2022. The shares subject to this stock option will vest as to 25% of the shares one-year anniversary of the grant date, and vest as to the remainder of the shares in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter.

(4)

We granted Samuel J. Reich a stock option to purchase up to 7,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $1.78 per share, the closing price of our common stock on March 16, 2022. The shares subject to this stock option award will vest 100% of the shares on the one-year anniversary of the grant date and We granted Samuel J. Reich a stock option to purchase up to 525,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.71 per share, the closing price of our common stock on September 13, 2022. The shares subject to this stock option will vest as to 25% of the shares one-year anniversary of the grant date, and vest as to the remainder of the shares in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter.

(5)

We granted Alexandra Kropotova 300,000 restricted shares of our common stock under our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan. The shares subject to this stock award will vest as to 25% of the RSU’s on the one-year anniversary of the grant date, and the remainder of the RSU’s in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter.

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Named Executive Officer Employment Arrangements

Below are descriptionsexcess of the current employment agreements with our named executive officers.

Eddie J. Sullivan

On March 1, 2021, we entered into an Executive Employment Agreement with Dr. Sullivan to continue to serve as our President & Chief Executive Officer. The agreement provides Dr. Sullivan an annual base salary of $377,200, and his eligibility to participate in the Company’s benefit plans generally. The agreement also subjects Dr. Sullivan to standard nondisclosure, invention assignment, and arbitration provisions. If Dr. Sullivan’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined in the employment agreement) (other than for death or disability) or the term of his employment is not renewed, Dr. Sullivan will receive (i) a severance payment equal to 1 year of his then base salary, payable either in a lump sum or in accordance with the Company’s then-current payroll practices and (ii) the applicable bonus amounts prorated for the portion of the calendar year Dr. Sullivan was employed so long as he was employed by the Company as of April 1st of the year of termination and the board of directors has approved a bonus plan for that year (such bonus amount payable by the end19.99% of the Company’s fiscal year followingoutstanding Common Stock upon the termination).

Samuel J. Reich

On November 17, 2021, we entered into an Executive Employment Agreement with Mr. Reich to serve as our Executive Chairmanconversion of the BoardCompany’s Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series A-1 Preferred Stock”), Series A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series A-2 Preferred Stock”), and Series A-3 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series A-3 Preferred Stock” and, together with the Series A-1 Preferred Stock and Series A-2 Preferred Stock, the “Series A Preferred Stock”) at less than the “minimum price” under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), and which may deemed a “change of Directors. The agreement provides Mr. Reich an annual base salary of $350,000, and his eligibility to participate in the Company’s benefit plans generally. The agreement also subjects Mr. Reich to standard nondisclosure, invention assignment, and arbitration provisions. If Mr. Reich's employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined in the employment agreement) (other than for death or disability) or the term of his employment is not renewed, Mr. Reich will receive (i) a severance payment equal to 1 year of his then base salary, payable in a lump sum five business days after his release becomes final, (ii) the applicable accrued but unpaid annual bonus, if any, for the fiscal year ended prior to his date of termination, payable at the same time annual bonuses for such fiscal year are paid to other key executives of the Company, (iii) one hundred percent of his outstanding unvested equity awards as of the date of termination will be fully vested and exercisable, and (iv) reimbursement of the COBRA premiums, if any, for continuation coverage for Mr. Reich, his spouse and dependentscontrol” under the Company’s group health, dental and vision plans for a twelve month period from the date of termination. 

Alexandra Kropotova

On May 20, 2022, we entered into an Executive Employment Agreement with Dr. Kropotova to serve as our Executive Vice President – Chief Medical Officer.  The agreement provides Dr. Kropotova an annual base salary of $525,000, and her eligibility to participate in the Company’s benefit plans generally.  The agreement also subjects Dr. Kropotova to standard nondisclosure, invention assignment, and arbitration provisions.  If Dr. Kropotova’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined in the employment agreement) (other than for death or disability) or the term of her employment is not renewed, Dr. Kropotova will receive (i) the applicable accrued but unpaid Annual Bonus, if any, for the calendar year ended prior to her Date of Termination payable at the same time annual bonuses for such calendar year are paid to other key Employees of the CompanyNasdaq Listing Rule 5635, pursuant to the terms of the Bonus Plan (ii) one hundred percent (100%)Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series A Convertible Voting Preferred Stock governing the Series A Preferred Stock. NOTE: Transact any other business as may properly come before the Special Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Employee’s outstanding unvested Equity AwardsSpecial Meeting. 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.


img5587186_5.jpg 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of the Date of Termination will be fully vested and exercisable (iii) a severance payment payable in a single lump sum within five (5) business days after the Employee’s Release becomes final, binding and irrevocable in accordance with Section 10 of the Employment Agreement, in an amount equal to twelve (12) months of Base Salary (iv) Reimbursement of the COBRA premiums, if any, paid by the Employee for continuation coverageProxy Materials for the Employee, her spouseSpecial Meeting: The Notice and dependents underProxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com. V25140-Z86291 SAB BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC. Special Meeting of Stockholders November 22, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time This proxy is solicited by the Company’s group health, dental and vision plans for six (6) month period from the Date of Termination.

Retirement Plans

We sponsor a defined contribution retirement plan. All our employees are eligible to be enrolled in the employer-sponsored contributory retirement savings plan, which include features under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and provides for Company matching contributions. Our contributions to the plan are determined by our Board of Directors subject to certain minimum requirements specified in the plan. For the years ended December 31, 2022The undersigned appoints Eddie J. Sullivan and 2021 we made matching contributionsSamuel J. Reich, and each of 100% on 3%them, agents and proxies of the employee contributions,undersigned, with an additional 50% match on the next 2%full power of employee contributions, resulting in approximately $410,000 and $325,000, respectively, of matching contributions paid by us. 

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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table

The following table sets forth information regarding outstanding equity awards held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2022.

  

Option Awards

  

Stock Awards

 

 

 Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options  Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options   Option Exercise Price  Option Expiration Date  Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested   Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested 

Name

 

(#) Exercisable

  

(#) Unexercisable

   

($)

  

 

  

(#) Exercisable

   

($)

 

Eddie J. Sullivan, PhD.

  139,585       0.54  

8/4/2024

        
   162,850       0.54  

12/11/2024

        
   162,850       0.54  

12/11/2024

        
   23,264       2.69  

4/26/2030

        
      21,218 

(1)

  1.78  

3/16/2032

        
      35,000 

(2)

  0.71  

9/13/2032

        

Samuel J. Reich

  136,110   213,890 

(3)

  11.17  

11/16/2031

        
      7,000 

(4)

  1.78  

3/16/2032

        
      525,000 

(5)

  0.71  

9/13/2032

        

Alexandra Kropotova, MD

     18,325 

(6)

  0.71  

9/13/2032

        
                300,000 

(7)

  177,000 


(1)

The shares subjectsubstitution to this stock option award will vest 100% of the shares on the one-year anniversary of the grant date.

(2)

The shares subject to this stock option award will vest as to 25% of the shares on one-year anniversary of the grant date, and vest as to the remainder of the shares in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter.

(3)

The shares subject to this stock option award will vest in 22 equal monthly installments.

(4)

The shares subject to this stock option award will vest 100% of the shares on the one-year anniversary of the grant date.

(5)

The shares subject to this stock option award will vest as to 25% of the shares on one-year anniversary of the grant date, and vest as to the remainder of the shares in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter.

(6)

The shares subject to this stock option award will vest as to 25% of the shares on one-year anniversary of the grant date, and vest as to the remainder of the shares in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter.

(7)

The shares subject to this stock award will vest as to 25% of the RSU’s on the one-year anniversary of the grant date, and the remainder of the RSU’s in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter.

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

We currently maintain the following equity compensation plans that provide for the issuance of shares of our common stock to our officers and other employees, directors and consultants, each of which has been approved by our stockholders: our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (“2021 Plan”)them, to represent and our 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). We also maintain our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (“2014 Plan”), which was not approved by our securityholders and was in place prior to us being a public company. 

The following table presents information as of December 31, 2022 with respect to compensation plans under which shares of our common stock may be issued. 

  

(a)

 

(b)

 

(c)

  

Number of Securities
to be Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
Options and Awards

 

Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding securities

 

Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans

    

($)

 

(1)

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (2)

 

3,210,306

 

2.49

 

9,659,440

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders (3)

 

4,235,156

 

1.44

 

3,106,880

Total

 

7,445,462

 

1.89

 

12,766,320


(1)Excluding securities reflected in column (a).

(2)

Consists of our 2021 Plan and our ESPP.

(3)

Consists of our 2014 Plan. 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The following includes a summary of transactions since January 1, 2021 to which the Company has been a party, in which the amount involved in the transaction exceeded $120,000, and in which any of its directors, executive officers or, to its knowledge, beneficial owners of more than 5% of its capital stock or any membervote on behalf of the immediate familyundersigned, all of any of the foregoing persons had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than equity and other compensation, termination, change in control and other arrangements, which are described under “Executive Compensation.” Upon the Closing, agreements of Legacy SAB were assumed by the Company.

Defined Terms

The following terms used in this section Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions shall have the following meanings: 

“BCYP” refers to Big Cypress Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation, prior to the completion of the Business Combination on October 22, 2021.

“BCYP IPO” or “IPO” means BCYP’s initial public offering of units, consummated on January 14, 2021.

“Business Combination” means the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement.

“Business Combination Agreement” means the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of June 21, 2021 and as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Business Combination Agreement, as may be amended, by and among BCYP, Merger Sub and SAB Biotherapeutics.

“Closing” means the consummation of the Business Combination.

“Closing Date” means the date upon which the Closing occurred.

“Founder Shares” means the 2,875,000 shares of BCYP Common Stock issued to the Initial Stockholders prior to the BCYP IPO.

“Legacy SAB” means the entity formerly known as SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc. a Delaware corporation, which was renamed SAB Sciences, Inc.

“Sponsor” means Big Cypress Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement

In connection with the completion of the Business Combination, we entered into an amended and restated registration rights agreement with the Sponsor, certain of our stockholders, certain stockholders of Legacy SAB and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. (Ladenburg), pursuant to which, among other things, Sponsor, certain of our stockholders and certain stockholders of Legacy SAB (i) agreed not to effect any sale or distribution of our common stock held by any of them during the specified lock-up period of 180 days after the closing of the Business Combination and (ii) were granted certain registration rights with respect to their shares of our common stock. We also agreed that Edward Hamilton will be entitled to have a board observer attend meetings of our board of directors (and any committee thereof) for so long as certain of his affiliates continue to own at least 75% of the shares held by such affiliates on the closing date of the Business Combination. The amended and restated registration rights agreement will terminate on the earlier of (i) the date that all registrable securities covered by the amended and restated registration rights agreement have sold pursuant to a registration statement effected pursuant to the terms of the amended and restated registration rights agreement or (ii) the date that all registrable securities covered by the amended and restated registration rights agreement are permitted to be sold under Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act.

Indemnification Agreements

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. Each indemnification agreement provides for indemnification and advancements by us of certain expenses and costs relating to claims, suits or proceedings arising from his or her service to us or, at our request, service to other entities, as officers or directors to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

Sponsor Support Agreement

Concurrently with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, we entered into a sponsor support agreement with Sponsor, Ladenburg and certain of our stockholders, pursuant to which Sponsor, Ladenburg and certain of our stockholders agreed to, among other things, (i) vote in favor of the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby (including the Business Combination) and against any competing transaction, (ii) waive any anti-dilution or similar protection that could be triggered in connection with the Business Combination, (iii) be bound by certain transfer restrictions with respect to our shares of common stock priorof SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc. which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the closingSpecial Meeting of the Business Combination and (iv) agree to certain forfeiture provisions with respect to up to 598,580Stockholders of the shares owned by them (Restricted Shares) during a period of up to five years from the closing of the Business Combination (Vesting Period) as follows:

149,645 of the Restricted Shares will become fully vested and unrestricted if, within the Vesting Period, the volume weighted share price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $15.00 during at least 20 trading days within a 30-day trading period;

149,645 of the Restricted Shares will become fully vested and unrestricted if, within the Vesting Period, the volume weighted share price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $20.00 during at least 20 trading days within a 30-day trading period; 

149,645 of the Restricted Shares will become fully vested and unrestricted if, within the Vesting Period, the volume weighted share price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $25.00 during at least 20 trading days within a 30-day trading period; and

149,645 of the Restricted Shares will become fully vested and unrestricted if, within the Vesting Period, the volume weighted share price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $30.00 during at least 20 trading days within a 30-day trading period.

Each tranche of Restricted Shares will also become fully vested and unrestricted in the event of a change in control of the Company during the Vesting Period that results in the holders of the Company’s common stock receiving a per-share aggregate consideration equal to or in excess of the applicable tranche of Restricted Shares.

The sponsor support agreement terminated upon the closing of the Business Combination, other than with respect to the Restricted Shares, which will continue to become vested and unrestricted as described above.

20

Pre-Business Combination Related Party Transactions – BCYP

Founder Shares

On January 3, 2021, our legal predecessor, BCYP, effected a stock dividend of 1/3 of a share of common stock for every share of common stock outstanding, resulting in an aggregate of 2,875,000 founder shares outstanding (including up to 375,000 shares subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment was not exercised in full or in part). As a result of the underwriters’ election to fully exercise their over-allotment option on January 14, 2021, the 375,000 shares were no longer subject to forfeiture.

As discussed further below, on January 4, 2021, Sponsor forfeited 28,750 founder shares to BCYP and Ladenburg and certain of its employees purchased an aggregate of 28,750 shares from BCYP at an average purchase price of approximately $0.008 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $230.

Private Placement

Simultaneously with the closing of our initial public offering of units, consisting of one share of common stock and one-half of a detachable warrant (the “Public Warrants”) to purchase shares of common stock, on January 14, 2021, Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 417,200 private placement units, at a price of $10.00 per private placement unit, for an aggregate purchase price of $4,172,000, in a private placement. Each private placement unit was identical to the units sold in our legal predecessor's initial public offering, except that the detachable private warrants (the "Private Placement Warrants") are exercisable on a cashless so long as they are held by the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees.

Promissory Note

On November 19, 2020, Sponsor agreed to loan BCYP an aggregate of up to $250,000 to cover expenses related to the initial public offering pursuant to a promissory note (the “Sponsor Note”). This loan was non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of December 31, 2021 or the completion of the initial public offering. Sponsor paid an aggregate of approximately $150,000 to cover for expenses on our behalf under the Note. On January 14, 2021, we repaid the Sponsor Note in full.

Administrative Services

BCYP agreed to pay an affiliate of Sponsor a monthly fee of an aggregate of $10,000 for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support. Upon completion of the Business Combination, the Company ceased paying these monthly fees.

Policies and Procedures for Transactions with Related Parties

The Company has adopted a written Related Party Transaction Policy that set forth its procedures for the identification, review, consideration and approval or ratification of related person transactions. A related person includes directors, executive officers, beneficial owners of 5% or more of any class of the Company’s voting securities, immediate family members of any of the foregoing persons, and any entities in which any of the foregoing is an executive officer or is an owner of 5% or more ownership interest. Under the Related Party Transaction Policy, if a transaction involving an amount in excess of $120,000 has been identified as a related person transaction, including any transaction that was not a related person transaction when originally consummated or any transaction that was not initially identified as a related person transaction prior to consummation, information regarding the related person transaction must be reviewed and approved by the Company’s audit committee

In considering related person transactions, the Company’s audit committee will take into account the relevant available facts and circumstances including, but not limited to:

the related person’s interest in the related person transaction;

the approximate dollar value of the amount involved in the related person transaction;

the approximate dollar value of the amount of the related person’s interest in the transaction without regard to the amount of any profit or loss;

whether the transaction was undertaken in the ordinary course of business of the Company;

whether the transaction with the related person is proposed to be, or was, entered into on terms no less favorable to the Company than terms that could have been reached with an unrelated third party;

the purpose of, and the potential benefits to the Company of, the transaction; and

any other information regarding the related person transaction or the related person in the context of the proposed transaction that would be material to investors in light of the circumstances of the particular transaction.

The Related Party Transaction Policy requires that, in determining whether to approve, ratify or reject a related person transaction, the audit committee must review all relevant information available to it about such transaction, and that it may approve or ratify the related person transaction only if it determines that, under all of the circumstances, the transaction is in, or is not inconsistent with, the best interests of the Company.

21

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company’s officers, as defined by Section 16, directors, and persons or entities who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities, to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership with the SEC. Such persons or entities are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. To our knowledge, based on our review of the copies of such filings and based on written representations, we believe that all such persons and entities complied on a timely basis with all Section 16(a) filing requirements during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

The information contained in the following report of our audit committee is not consideredSAB Biotherapeutics, Inc. to be soliciting material,filedheld on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, and at any adjournments or incorporated by reference in any past or future filing by us under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act unless and only to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference.

Our audit committee has reviewed and discussed with our management and Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. Our audit committee has also discussed with Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or the PCAOB, and the SEC. 

Our audit committee has received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent accountant’s communications with our audit committee concerning independence and has discussed with Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. its independence from us. 

Based on the review and discussions referred to above, our audit committee recommended to our board of directors that the audited financial statements be included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 filing with the SEC.

Submitted by the Audit Committee

Jeffrey Spragens, Chair 

William Polvino 

David Link

Erick Lucera

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We will mail, without charge, upon written request, a copy of our annual report on Form 10-K, and Amendment No. 1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, including the financial statements and list of exhibits, and any exhibit specifically requested. Requests should be sent to: 

SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc.

2100 East 54th Street North 

Sioux Falls, SD 57104

Attn: Investor Relations

Our annual report on Form 10-K and amendment no. 1 to our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 is also available at https://www.sab.bio under “SEC Filings” in the “Financial” section of our website. 

OTHER MATTERS

Our board of directors does not presently intend to bring any other business before the Annual Meeting and, so far as is known to our board of directors, no matters are to be brought before the Annual Meeting except as specified in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. As to any business that may arise andpostponements thereof. This proxy, when properly come before the Annual Meeting, however, it is intended that proxies, in the form enclosed,executed, will be voted in respect thereofthe manner directed herein. If no such direction is made, this proxy will be voted in accordance with the judgmentBoard of the persons voting such proxies. Directors' recommendations. Continued and to be signed on reverse side

 

By Order of the Board of Directors, 

/s/ Samuel J. Reich

Samuel J. Reich 

Director and Chairman of the Board

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

May 19, 2023

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