UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

(RULE14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

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Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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NeoGenomics, Inc.

LOGO

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LOGO


PROXY STATEMENT

NEOGENOMICS, INC.NeoGenomics, Inc.

12701 Commonwealth Drive

Suite 9

Fort Myers, Florida 33913

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERSTo our Stockholders:

TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY JUNE 7, 2016

Dear Stockholder:

You are invitedIt is our pleasure to invite you to attend the 2016our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of NeoGenomics, Inc. to, which will be held onThursday, June 7, 2016, 6, 2019, 10:00 a.m., local time, at the Ritz Carlton GolfHyatt Coconut Point Resort at 2600 Tiburon Drive, Naples, Florida 34109.5001 Coconut Road Bonita Springs, FL 34134.

Details regarding the meeting and the business to be conducted are described in the accompanying proxy statement. In addition to considering the matters described in the proxy statement, we will report on matters of interest to our stockholders.

We are pleased to inform you that instead of a paper copy of our proxy materials, most of our stockholders will be mailed a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (“Notice of Internet Availability”). The Notice of Internet Availability contains instructions on how to access proxy materials and how to submit your proxy over the Internet. The Notice of Internet Availability also contains instructions on how to request a paper copy of our proxy materials, if desired. All stockholders who do not receive a Notice of Internet Availability will be mailed a paper copy of the proxy materials. Furnishing proxy materials over the internet allows us to provide our stockholders with the information they need in a timely manner, while reducing the environmental impact and lowering the costs of printing and distributing our proxy materials.

Your vote is very important to us. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, we encourage you to vote as soon as possible to ensure that your shares are represented at the meeting. The proxy statement explains more about proxy voting, so please read it carefully.

We look forward tothank you for your continued support.support and confidence in NeoGenomics.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Douglas M. VanOort

Chief Executive Officer

Sincerely,

Douglas M. VanOort

Chief Executive Officer

April 29, 201622, 2019


LOGO

Notice of 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

April 29, 2016Thursday, June 6, 2019

12701 Commonwealth Drive Suite 910:00am, Eastern Daylight Time

Fort Myers, Florida 33913ITEMS OF BUSINESS:

1. To elect eight directors from among the nominees named in the attached Proxy Statement.

2. To approve, on anon-binding advisory basis, executive compensation.

3. To approve, on anon-binding advisory basis, the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation paid to our named executive officers.

4. To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2019.

5. To consider any other business properly brought before the Annual Meeting.

RECORD DATE:

You can vote if you were a stockholder of record as of the close of business on April 12, 2019.

PROXY VOTING:

It is important that your shares be represented at the meetingAnnual Meeting regardless of the number of shares you hold.Whether or not you expect to attend the meeting in person, please complete, date, sign and return the accompanying proxy card in the enclosed envelope or use the telephone or internet method of voting as described on your proxy card to ensure the presence of a quorum at the meeting. Even if you have voted by proxy and you attend the meeting, you may, if you prefer, revoke your proxy and vote your shares in person.Please note, however, that if your shares are held

By Order of record by a broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to vote at the meeting, you will not be permitted to vote in person at the meeting unless you first obtain a legal proxy issued in your name from the record holder.Board of Directors

This proxy statement is dated April 29, 2016 and is going to be first mailed to stockholders of NeoGenomics, Inc. on or about May 6, 2016. This proxy statement contains information on matters to be voted upon at the annual meeting or any adjournments of that meeting.Denise Pedulla

Corporate Secretary

Important Notice Regardingnotice regarding the Availabilityavailability of Proxy Materialsproxy materials for the Annual Meeting of

Stockholders to Be Heldbe held on Thursday, June 7, 2016.

The proxy statement6, 2019. Our Proxy Statement and 2015 annual reportAnnual Report to stockholdersStockholders are available at https://materials.proxyvote.com/64049M.www.proxyvote.com.



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE 20162019 ANNUAL MEETING

1

PROPOSAL 1 - 1—ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

4

5

General

4

5

Information as to Nominees and Other Directors

4

5

Corporate Governance

6

8

Information Regarding Meetings and Committees of the Board

7

9

Stockholder Recommendations For Board Candidates

9

11

Stockholder Communications with the Board

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11

Board Recommendation

9

PROPOSAL 2 - ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

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Vote Required for Approval

10

11

Board Recommendation

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PROPOSAL 2 —ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

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10General

12

Vote Required for Approval

12

Board Recommendation

12

PROPOSAL 3 —ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

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General

13

Vote Required for Approval

13

Board Recommendation

13

PROPOSAL 4—RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

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Vote Required for Approval

15

Board Recommendation

15

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS

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AUDIT COMMITTEE MATTERS

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17

Audit Committee Report

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17

INFORMATION CONCERNING EXECUTIVE OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT DIRECTORS

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EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATIONOFFICERS

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COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

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15Overview and Philosophy

23

Compensation Design

24

Compensation Governance

26

2018 Compensation Decisions and Outcomes

30

Additional Information

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Compensation Committee Report

36

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TABLES

37

Summary Compensation Table

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Narrative to the Summary Compensation Table

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CEO Pay Ratio

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

23

43

SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

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44

FUTURE STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

45

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

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46

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS

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47

CODE OF ETHICS AND CONDUCT

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49

OTHER MATTERS

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49

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

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49

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE 20162019 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JUNE 7, 20166, 2019

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50

2019 ANNUAL MEETING PROXY MATERIAL RESULTS

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PROXY CARDDELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO STOCKHOLDERS SHARING AN ADDRESS

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i


NEOGENOMICS, INC.

PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE

20162019 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

NeoGenomics, Inc. (“we ,”,”us ,”,”our ,”,”NeoGenomics ,”,” or the “Company ”)”), having its principal executive offices at 12701 Commonwealth Drive, Suite 9, Fort Myers, Florida 33913, is providing these proxy materials in connection with the 20162019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of NeoGenomics, Inc. (the “20162019 Annual Meeting”). This proxy statement contains important information for you to consider when deciding how to vote on the matters brought before the 20162019 Annual Meeting.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE 20162019 ANNUAL MEETING

Q:  When and where is the 2019 Annual Meeting?

A:  The 2019 Annual Meeting is being held at the Hyatt Coconut Point Resort, 5001 Coconut Road Bonita Springs, FL 34134, at 10:00 a.m., local time, on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

Q:  Who is entitled to vote at the 2019 Annual Meeting?

A:  Holders of NeoGenomics, Inc. common stock at the close of business on April 12, 2019, the record date for the 2019 Annual Meeting (the “Record Date”) established by our board of directors (the “Board”), are entitled to receive notice of the 2019 Annual Meeting (the “Meeting Notice”), and to vote their shares at the 2019 Annual Meeting and any related adjournments or postponements. The Meeting Notice, proxy statement and form of proxy are first expected to be made available to stockholders on or about April 22, 2019.

When and where is the 2016 Annual Meeting?

A:

The 2016 Annual Meeting is being held at the Ritz Carlton Golf Resort at 2600 Tiburon Drive, Naples, Florida 34109, at 10:00 a.m., local time, on June 7, 2016. Driving directions to the 2016 Annual Meeting may be obtained by contacting the Company at (866) 776-5907.

Q:

Who is entitled to vote at the 2016 Annual Meeting?

A:

Holders of NeoGenomics, Inc. common stock and Series A Preferred Stock at the close of business on April 20, 2016, the record date for the 2016 Annual Meeting (the “Record Date”) established by our board of directors (the “Board”), are entitled to receive notice of the 2016 Annual Meeting (the “Meeting Notice”), and to vote their shares at the 2016 Annual Meeting and any related adjournments or postponements. The Meeting Notice, proxy statement and form of proxy are first expected to be made available to stockholders on or about April 29, 2016.

As of the close of business on the Record Date, there were 77,117,67895,321,508 shares of our common stock and 14,666,667 shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding, andeach entitled to one vote.  Holders of our common stock and of our Series A Preferred Stock will vote together as a single class on all matters being presented in this Proxy Statement, for up to an aggregate 91,784,345 votes. The common stock and Series A Preferred Stock collectively constitute all of our voting shares (the “Voting Stock”). We refer to the holders of shares of our common stock and of shares of our Series A Preferred Stock (which are convertible into shares of our common stock) as “stockholders” throughout this Proxy Statement.

Q:

Who can attend the 2016 Annual Meeting?

A:

Admission to the 2016 Annual Meeting is limited to:

·

stockholders as of the close of business on the Record Date;

·

holders of valid proxies for the 2016 Annual Meeting; and

·

our invited guests.

Each stockholder may be asked to present valid picture identification such as a driver’s license or passport and proof of stock ownership as of the Record Date.

Q:  Who can attend the 2019 Annual Meeting?

A:  Admission to the 2019 Annual Meeting is limited to:

• stockholders as of the close of business on the Record Date;

• holders of valid proxies for the 2019 Annual Meeting; and

• our invited guests.

Q:  What is the difference between a stockholder of record and a stockholder who holds stock in street name?

A:  If your shares are registered in your name, as evidenced and recorded in the stock ledger maintained by the Company and our transfer agent, you are a stockholder of record. If your shares are held in the name of your broker, bank or other nominee, these shares are held in street name.

Q:

Can I vote my shares by filling out and returning the Meeting Notice?

A:

No. The Meeting Notice identifies the items to be voted on at the 2016 Annual Meeting, but you cannot vote by marking the Meeting Notice and returning it.

Q:

What is the difference between a stockholder of record and a stockholder who holds stock in street name?

A:

If your shares are registered in your name as evidenced and recorded in the stock ledger maintained by the Company and our transfer agent, you are a stockholder of record. If your shares are held in the name of your broker, bank or other nominee, these shares are held in street name.

1


If you are a stockholder of record and you have requested printed proxy materials, we have enclosed a proxy card for you to use.use for voting. If you hold our shares in street name through one or more banks, brokers or other nominees, you will receive the Meeting Notice, together with voting instructions, from the third party or parties through which you hold your shares. If you requested printed proxy materials, your broker, bank or other nominee has enclosed a voting instruction card for you to use in directing the broker, bank or other nominee regarding how to vote your shares.

Q:  What are the quorum requirements for the 2019 Annual Meeting?

A: The presence in person or by proxy of persons entitled to vote a majority of shares of our outstanding common stock at the 2019 Annual Meeting constitutes a quorum. Your shares of our common stock will be counted as present at the 2019 Annual Meeting for purposes of determining

whether there is a quorum if a proxy card has been properly submitted by you or on your behalf, or you vote in person at the 2019 Annual Meeting. Abstaining votes and brokernon-votes are counted for purposes of establishing a quorum.

Q:

What are the quorum requirements for the 2016 Annual Meeting?

A:

The presence in person or by proxy of persons entitled to vote a majority of shares of our outstanding Voting Stock at the 2016 Annual Meeting constitutes a quorum. Your shares of our Voting Stock will be counted as present at the 2016 Annual Meeting for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum, if a proxy card has been properly submitted by you or on your behalf, or you vote in person at the 2016 Annual Meeting. Abstaining votes and broker non-votes are counted for purposes of establishing a quorum.

Q:

What matters will the stockholders vote on at the 2016 Annual Meeting?

Q:  What matters will the stockholders vote on at the 2019 Annual Meeting?

A:  The stockholders will vote on the following proposals:

• Proposal 1 - Election of Directors.

To elect eight members of our Board, each to hold office for a one year term ending on the date of the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders or until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

• Proposal 2 - Advisory Vote on the Compensation Paid to our Named Executive Officers.

An advisory vote on the compensation paid to our named executive officers.

• Proposal 3 - Advisory Vote on the Frequency of Future Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation.

An advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation.

• Proposal 4 - Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

Q:  What vote is required to approve each proposal?

A:   Provided a quorum is present, the following are the voting requirements for each proposal:

• Proposal 1 - Election of Directors.

The eight nominees receiving a majority number of votes “FOR” from the holders of votes of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of directors will be elected.

• Proposal 2 - Advisory Vote on the Compensation Paid to our Named Executive Officers.

Proposal 2 will be approved if holders of a majority of the shares present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting vote “FOR” the proposal.

• Proposal 3 - Advisory Vote on the Frequency of Future Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation.

If the majority of the votes cast by stockholders in person or via proxy with respect to this matter are cast in favor of a particular frequency alternative (whether every year, every two (2) years or every three (3) years) such frequency will be considered to be the recommendation of the stockholders on the advisory vote regarding the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation paid to our named executive officers.

• Proposal 4. Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

Proposal 4 will be approved if a majority of the votes cast by stockholders in person or via proxy with respect to this matter are cast in favor of the proposal.

Q:  What are the Board’s voting recommendations?

A:  Our Board recommends that you vote your shares:

“FOR” the eight directors nominated by our Board, each to serve until the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders or until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

“FOR” the approval of the proposal regarding the compensation paid to our named executive officers.

“EVERY YEAR”for the proposal regarding the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation paid to our named executive officers;

“FOR” the ratification of Appointment of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

·

Proposal 1. Election of Directors. To elect nine members of our Board, each to hold office for a one year term ending on the date of the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders or until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

·

Proposal 2.  Advisory Vote on the Compensation Paid to our Named Executive Officers. The advisory vote will pass if holders of a majority of the shares present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting vote “FOR” the proposal.

Q:

What vote is required to approve these proposals?

A:

Provided a quorum is present, the following are the voting requirements for each proposal:

·

Proposal 1. Election of Directors. The nine nominees receiving a majority number of votes “FOR” from the holders of votes of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of directors will be elected.

·

Proposal 2.  Advisory Vote on the Compensation Paid to our Named Executive Officers. An advisory vote on the compensation paid to our named executive officers.

Q:

What are the Board’s voting recommendations?

A:

Our Board recommends that you vote your shares:

·

“FOR” the nine directors nominated by our Board as directors, each to serve until the 2016 annual meeting of stockholders or until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

·

“FOR” the approval of the proposal regarding the compensation paid to our named executive officers.

Q:

How do I vote?

A:

You may vote by any of the following methods:

·

In Person. Stockholders of record and beneficial stockholders with shares held in street name may vote in person at the 2016 Annual Meeting. If you hold shares in street name, you must obtain a proxy from the stockholder of record authorizing you to vote your shares and bring it to the meeting along with proof of beneficial ownership of your shares. A photo ID is required to vote in person.

·

By mail. If you elected to receive printed proxy materials by mail, you may vote by signing and returning the proxy card provided. Please allow sufficient time for mailing if you decide to vote by mail.

·

By internet or telephone. You may also vote over the internet at www.proxyvote.com or vote by telephone at 1-(800) 690-6903. Please see proxy card for voting instructions.

2Q:  How do I vote?


Q:

How can I change or revoke my vote?

A:

You may change your vote as follows:

·

Stockholders of record. You may change or revoke your vote by submitting a written notice of revocation to NeoGenomics, Inc., 12701 Commonwealth Drive, Suite 9, Fort Myers, Florida 33913, Attention: Denise Pedulla, Corporate Secretary, or by submitting another proxy card before the conclusion of the 2016 Annual Meeting. For all methods of voting, the last vote cast will supersede all previous votes.

·

Beneficial owners of shares held in “street name.” You may change or revoke your voting instructions by following the specific directions provided to you by your bank or broker or other nominee.

Q:

What if I do not specify a choice for a matter when returning a proxy?

A:

Your proxy will be treated as follows:

A:  You may vote by any of the following methods:

In Person. Stockholders of record and beneficial stockholders with shares held in street name may vote in person at the 2019 Annual Meeting. If you hold shares in street name, you must obtain a proxy from the stockholder of record authorizing you to vote your shares and bring it to the meeting along with proof of beneficial ownership of your shares. A photo ID is required to vote in person.

By mail. If you elected to receive printed proxy materials by mail, you may vote by signing and returning the proxy card provided. Please allow sufficient time for mailing if you decide to vote by mail.

By internet or telephone. You may also vote over the internet atwww.proxyvote.com or vote by telephone at1-(800) 690-6903. Please see proxy card for voting instructions.

Q:  How can I change or revoke my vote?

A: You may change your vote as follows:

Stockholders of record. You may change or revoke your vote by submitting a written notice of revocation to NeoGenomics, Inc., 12701 Commonwealth Drive, Suite 9, Fort Myers, Florida 33913, Attention: Denise Pedulla, Corporate Secretary, or by submitting another proxy card before the conclusion of the 2019 Annual Meeting. For all methods of voting, the last vote cast will supersede all previous votes.

Beneficial owners of shares held in “street name.” You may change or revoke your voting instructions by following the specific directions provided to you by your bank or broker or other nominee.

Q:  What if I do not specify a choice for a matter when returning a proxy?

A:  Your proxy will be treated as follows:

Stockholders of record. If you are a stockholder of record and you sign and return a proxy card without giving specific voting instructions, then the proxy holders will vote your shares in the manner recommended by the Board on all matters presented in this proxy statement and as the proxy holders may determine in their discretion for any other matters properly presented for a vote at the meeting.

Beneficial owners of shares held in “street name.” If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name and do not provide the organization that holds your shares with specific voting instructions, the organization that holds your shares may generally vote on routine matters but cannot vote onnon-routine matters. If the organization that holds your shares does not receive instructions from you on how to vote your shares on anon-routine matter, the organization that holds your shares will inform the inspector of election that it does not have the authority to vote on this matter with respect to your shares. This is referred to as a “brokernon-vote.”

Q:  Which ballot measures are considered “routine” or“non-routine?

A:  The ratification of appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (“Proposal 4”) is considered to be a routine matter under applicable rules. Abstentions, if any, will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on this proposal because they are not considered to be present or entitled to vote on the proposal, and brokernon-votes are not expected to occur on this proposal.

The election of directors (“Proposal 1”), the advisory vote on the compensation paid to our named executive officers (“Proposal 2”), and the advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation paid to our named executive officers (“Proposal 3”) are considered to benon-routine matters under applicable rules. A broker or other nominee cannot vote without instructions onnon-routine matters, and therefore there may be brokernon-votes on Proposals 1, 2, and 3.

Q:

Which ballot measures are considered “routine” or “non-routine?”

A:

The election of directors (“Proposal 1”) and the advisory vote on the compensation paid to our named executive officers (‘Proposal 2”) are considered to be non-routine matters under applicable rules. A broker or other nominee cannot vote without instructions on non-routine matters, and therefore there may be broker non-votes on Proposals 1 and 2.

Q:

Could other matters be decided at the 2016 Annual Meeting?

A:

As of the date of the filing of this proxy statement, we were not aware of any matters to be raised at the 2016 Annual Meeting other than those referred to in this proxy statement.

Q:  Could other matters be decided at the 2019 Annual Meeting?

A:  As of the date of the filing of this proxy statement, we were not aware of any matters to be raised at the 2019 Annual Meeting other than those referred to in this proxy statement. If other matters are properly presented at the 20162019 Annual Meeting for consideration, the proxy holders for the 20162019 Annual Meeting will have the discretion to vote on those matters for stockholders who have submitted a proxy card.

Q:  Who is soliciting proxies and what is the cost?

A:  We are making, and will bear all expenses incurred in connection with, the solicitation of proxies. Although we do not currently contemplate doing so, we may engage a proxy solicitation firm to assist us in soliciting proxies, and if we do so we will pay the fees of any such firm. In addition to solicitation by mail, our directors, officers and employees may solicit proxies from stockholders by telephone, letter, electronic mail, facsimile or in person. Following the original mailing of the Meeting Notice, we will request brokers, custodians, nominees and other record holders to forward their own notice and, upon request, to forward copies of the proxy statement and related soliciting materials to persons for whom they hold shares of our common stock and to request authority for the exercise of proxies. In such cases, upon the request of the record holders, we will reimburse such holders for their reasonable expenses.

Q:  What should I do if I have questions regarding the 2019 Annual Meeting?

A:  If you have any questions about the 2019 Annual Meeting, would like to obtain directions to be able to attend the 2019 Annual Meeting and vote in person or would like additional copies of any of the documents referred to in this proxy statement, you should call our Investor Relations department at(239) 768-0600.

Q:

Who is soliciting proxies and what is the cost?

A:

We are making, and will bear all expenses incurred in connection with, the solicitation of proxies. Although we do not currently contemplate doing so, we may engage a proxy solicitation firm to assist us in soliciting proxies, and if we do so we will pay the fees of any such firm. In addition to solicitation by mail, our directors, officers and employees may solicit proxies from stockholders by telephone, letter, electronic mail, and facsimile or in person. Following the original mailing of the Meeting Notice, we will request brokers, custodians, nominees and other record holders to forward their own notice and, upon request, to forward copies of the proxy statement and related soliciting materials to persons for whom they hold shares of our Voting Stock and to request authority for the exercise of proxies. In such cases, upon the request of the record holders, we will reimburse such holders for their reasonable expenses.

Q:

What should I do if I have questions regarding the 2016 Annual Meeting?

A:

If you have any questions about the 2016 Annual Meeting, would like to obtain directions to be able to attend the 2016 Annual Meeting and vote in person or would like additional copies of any of the documents referred to in this proxy statement, you should call our Investor Relations department at (239) 768-0600.

3


PROPOSAL 1—ELECTIONELECTION OF DIRECTORS

General

At the 20162019 Annual Meeting, a board of nineeight directors will be elected, each to hold office until the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders or until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified (or, if earlier, such director’s removal or resignation from our Board). Information concerning all director nominees appears below. Although management does not anticipate that any of the persons named below will be unable or unwilling to stand for election, in the event of such an occurrence, proxies may be voted for a substitute designated by the Board.

Information as to Nominees and Other Directors

Background information, as of April 29, 2016,22, 2019, about the Board’s nominees for election, as well as information regarding additional experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led the Board to conclude that the nominee should serve on the Board, is set forth below.

Douglas M. VanOort, age 60.63. Mr. VanOort has served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of NeoGenomicsthe Company since October 28, 2009. For seven months prior to October 2009, he served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Executive Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining NeoGenomics,the Company, Mr. VanOort was a General Partner with a private equity firm, and a Founding Managing Partner of a venture capital firm. From 1982 through 1999, Mr. VanOort served in various positions at Corning Incorporated (“Corning”) and at itsspin-off company, Quest Diagnostics, Inc. (“Quest Diagnostics”). During the period from 1995 through 1999, he served as the Senior Vice President Operations for Quest Diagnostics Inc. which was then a $1.5 billion newly formed NYSE-traded Company. During the period of 1989 to 1995, he held senior executive positions at Corning Life Sciences, Inc., including Executive Vice President. Corning Life Sciences Inc. had revenues of approximately $2 billion and wasspun-off in a public transaction to create both Quest Diagnostics and Covance, Incorporated.Inc. From 1982 to 1989, Mr. VanOort served in various executive positions at Corning, Incorporated, including Director of Mergers & Acquisitions. Mr. VanOort currently serves as the Chair of the American Clinical Laboratory Association where he previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of several privately-held companies, and is a principal owner of a privately-held retail hardware store chain.Board. Mr. VanOort is a graduate of Bentley University.

Steven C. Jones, age 53.55. Mr. Jones has served as a director since October 2003, and as Executive Vice President offrom 2016 until 2019. He served as Executive Vice President - Finance since November 30,from 2009 until 2016, and as Chief Compliance Officer since February 7, 2013.from 2013 until 2018. Mr. Jones served as Chief Financial Officer for the Company from October 2003 until November 30, 2009. He is a Managing Director in Medical Venture Partners, LLC, a venture capital firm established in 2003 for the purpose of making investments in the healthcare industry.2009, and was Executive Vice President - Finance from November 30, 2009 to November 4, 2016. Mr. Jones is also the founder and Chairman of the Aspen Capital Group, a private equity investment firm, and has been President and Managing Director of Aspen Capital Advisors since January 2001. Prior to that Mr. Jones was a chief financial officer at various public and private companies and was a Vice President in the Investment Banking Group at Merrill Lynch & Co. Mr. Jones received his B.S. degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1985 and his MBA degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1991. He also serves as Chairmanon the Boards of the Board of T3 Communications, Inc. and he is a member of the BoardDirectors of XG Sciences, Inc., an advanced materials company, and ERP Maestro, Inc., a company that provides software services to corporations.

Kevin C. Johnson, age 61.64. Mr. Johnson has served as a director since October 2010. Mr. Johnson was the Chief Executive Officer for United Allergy Services, a provider of allergy testing and immunotherapy services, from September 2014 through July 2015. From January 2003 until September 2014 Mr. Johnson was retired. From May 1996 until January 2003, Mr. Johnson was

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of DIANON Systems, Inc., (“DIANON”), a publicly-traded cancer diagnostic services company providing anatomic pathology and molecular genetic testing services to physicians nationwide. During that time, DIANON grew annual revenues from approximately $56 million in 1996 to approximately $200 million in 2002. DIANON was sold to Laboratory Corporation of America (NYSE: LH) in January of 2003. Prior to joining DIANON in 1996, Mr. Johnson was employed by Quest Diagnostics Inc. and itsQuest’s predecessor, the Life Sciences Division of Corning, Incorporated, for 18 years, and held numerous management and executive level positions. Mr. Johnson is currently serving on the Board of Directors of ClearPath Diagnostics, a private company.

Raymond R. Hipp, age 73.76. Mr. Hipp has served as a director since February 2011. Mr. Hipp is a retired senior executive that has been involved in consulting work over the last few years involving mergers and acquisitions as well as being a memberserving on the board of a number ofdirectors for several public company boards of directors.companies. From July 1998 until his retirement in June 2002, Mr. Hipp served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive OfficerCEO of Alternative Resources Corporation, a provider of information technology outsourcing services. From August 1996 until May 1998, Mr. Hipp was the Chief Executive Officer of ITI Marketing Services, a provider of marketing services. Prior to that, Mr. Hipp held senior executive positions with several other firms. Mr. Hipp has a B.S. from Southeast Missouri State University. Mr. Hipp served on the Boardboard of Directorsdirectors and on the Audit Committeeaudit committee of Gardner Denver, Inc. (NYSE: GDI), an industrial manufacturing company, for over 14 years.

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Bruce K. Crowther, age 64.67. Mr. Crowther has served as a Directordirector since October 2014. Mr. Crowther recently retired in 2013 as President and Chief Executive Officer of Northwest Community Healthcare where he has served for the last 23 years. Northwest Community Healthcare is an award winning hospital offering a complete system of care. Mr. Crowther has a B.S. in Biology and an M.B.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University. Mr. Crowther serves on the Boardboard of Directorsdirectors of Wintrust Financial Corporation, a public financial holding company and serves on the Boardboard of Directorsdirectors of Barrington Bank and Trust which is a Wintrust Financial Corporation owned Company. He also serves aswas previously the Chairman and currently a Director of the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation;Foundation, a not for profit organization committed to conservation education and research.

William J. Robison, age 80. Mr. RobisonCrowther has also served as a director since May 2007. Mr. Robison, who is retired, spent his entire 41 year career with Pfizer, Inc. At Pfizer, he rose through the ranks of the sales organization and became Senior Vice President of Pfizer Labs in 1986. In 1990, he became General Manager of Pratt Pharmaceuticals, a then new division of the U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group, and in 1992 he became the President of the Consumer Health Care Group. In 1996 he became a member of Pfizer’s Corporate Management Committee and was promoted to the position of Executive Vice President and head of Worldwide Corporate Employee Resources. Mr. Robison retired from Pfizer in 2001 and currently serves on the Board of Directors of MWI Veterinary Supply Company, Inc. (NASD: MWIV). He is also on the board of trustees of University of Louisiana – Monroe. Mr. Robison was previously a board member and an executive committee member of the USO of Metropolitan New York,Gray Matter Analytics, Inc., the Human Resources Roundtable Group, the Pharmaceutical Human Resource Council, the Personnel Round Table, and the Employee Relations Steering Committee for The Business Round Table.a privately owned company, since 2018. Gray Matter provides analytical tools to health systems.

Lynn A. Tetrault, age 53. Mrs.56. Ms. Tetrault has served as a director since June 2015. Mrs.Ms. Tetrault is currently a consultant.founder and principal of Anahata Leadership, an advisory firm focused on supporting the leadership effectiveness and development of executive women. She worked from 1993 to 2014 with AstraZeneca, PLC most recently as Executive Vice President Human Resources and Corporate Affairs. Mrs.Ms. Tetrault was responsible for all human resources strategy, talent management, executive compensation and related activities, internal and external communications, government affairs, corporate reputation and corporate social responsibility for the Company. Mrs. Tetrault has previous board experience having been a director of Women’s Way as well as a Board Member of MedImmune.  Mrs. Tetrault is currently President of the Board of The Timbers Club, a non-profit organization.  Mrs.Ms. Tetrault has an undergraduate degree from Princeton University and a J.D. from the University of Virginia Law School.

Alison L. Hannah, age 55.58. Dr. Hannah has served as a director since June 2015. Dr. Hannah has over 25 years'years’ experience in the development of investigational cancer chemotherapies. Since 2000, she has served as a consultant to the pharmaceutical industry, working with over 20 companies with a focus on molecularly targeted therapy. Prior to this, she worked as Senior Medical Director at SUGEN on various compounds, including Sutent approved in kidney cancer, and Quintiles, a global Contract Research Organization. Dr. Hannah specializes in clinical development strategy, and has filed over 30 Investigational New Drug applications for new molecular entities and 78 successful New Drug Applications. She participates in Data Monitoring Committees, Scientific Advisory Boards and Independent Review Committees for clinical trials. She has a bachelor'sbachelor’s degree in biochemistry and immunology from Harvard University and her medical degree from the University of Saint Andrews. She is a member of ASCO, AACR, ASH, ESMO and a Fellow with the Royal Society of Medicine.

Kieran P. Murphy,

Stephen M. Kanovsky, age 53.56. Mr. MurphyKanovsky has served as a director since July 2017. Mr. Kanovsky is President and Chief Executive OfficerGeneral Counsel, Global Innovation of GE Healthcare, Life Sciences, a $4.0 billion molecular medicine business unit of General Electric that provides medical technologies and solutions to the global healthcare industry and supports customers in over 100 countries with a broad range of industry-leading technologiesservices and services for drug discovery, pre-clinicalsystems, from diagnostic imaging and clinical developmenthealthcare IT through to molecular diagnostics and biopharmaceutical manufacturing, as well as molecular tools for therapy selection and treatment monitoring in patient care.life sciences. Mr. Murphy has over twenty-five years of experience in the global life sciences and biotechnology industry.  Mr. MurphyKanovsky earned his bachelor’s degree in 1984 from the University College, Dublin.of Pennsylvania. He subsequently graduated from the UniversityTemple University’s School of Manchester Institute of Science and TechnologyPharmacy with a master’s degree in Marketing.

Pharmacology and Temple University’s School of Law with a juris doctorate degree. Mr. Murphy was appointed to the Board pursuant to the Investor Board Rights, Lockup and Standstill Agreement with GE Medical Systems, under which the Company is, subject to certain limitations, required to appointKanovsky also holds a director designated by GE Medical Systems to the Board.master’s degree in business administration from Saint Joseph’s University’s Haub School of Business.

Nomination Criteria

The following is a summary of certain of the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led the Company’s Board of Directors to conclude that such person should serve as a director at the time each was nominated. This information supplements the biographical information provided above.

Douglas M. VanOort, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. VanOort has significant experience in the laboratory industry, including experience obtained as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and as Senior Vice President Operations for Quest Diagnostics. Mr. VanOort also has significant financial experience, having served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Corning Life Sciences, Inc. and as an Operating Partner with a private equity firm and a Founding Managing Partner of a venture capital firm. Mr. VanOort is an experienced executive officer and manager as illustrated by the above described positions and others included in the biographical information provided above.

Steven C. Jones, Board Member. Mr. Jones has a background in investment banking and in investing in the healthcare industry. He has also served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive Officer of various companies, including service to the Company from 2003 to 2009 as its Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Jones provides valuable experience to the Company with respect to strategic and financial matters.

Kevin C. Johnson, Board Member. Mr. Johnson spent the majority of his career in the laboratory business and was the Chief Executive Officer and President of DIANON before it was sold to Laboratory Corporation of America. His experience as a Chief Executive Officer of a rapidly growing laboratory company operating in a similar niche of our industry enables him to provide significant and valuable insights as to running a laboratory company and strategies we should pursue.

Raymond R. Hipp, Board Member and Chairman of the Audit Committee. Mr. Hipp has experience in mergers and acquisitions, information technology and as a Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Hipp fills an important role with the Company as the Chairman of the Audit Committee and as an audit committee financial expert.

Bruce K. Crowther, Board Member and Chairman of the Compliance Committee. Mr. Crowther has experience in the healthcare industry and a strong knowledge of the hospital market having served as Chief Executive Officer of a healthcare system for over 23 years. His experience in this role allows him to provide insight into how the Company should manage the hospital market. He also has experience serving on the board of directors of other public companies.

Lynn A. Tetrault, Board Member and Chairwoman of the Compensation Committee. Lynn Tetrault is a dynamic, seasoned executive in the pharmaceutical industry. Having progressed through numerous senior management roles at Astra Zeneca she acquired extensive human resource and corporate governance experience at the highest level of the company. As the

·

Douglas M. VanOort, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer.  Mr. VanOort has significant experience in the laboratory industry, including experience obtained as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and as Senior Vice President Operations for Quest Diagnostics, Incorporated. Mr. VanOort also has significant financial experience having served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Corning Life Sciences, Inc. and as an Operating Partner with a private equity firm and a Founding Managing

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Partner of a venture capital firm. Mr. VanOort is an experienced executive officer and manager as illustrated by the above described positions and others included in the biographical information provided above.

·

Steven C. Jones, Executive Vice President of Finance and Board Member.  Mr. Jones has a background in investment banking and in investing in the healthcare industry. He has also served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive Officer of various companies, including service to NeoGenomics from 2003 to 2009 as its Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Jones provides valuable experience to NeoGenomics with respect to strategic and financial matters.

·

Kevin C. Johnson, Board Member.  Mr. Johnson spent the majority of his career in the laboratory business and was the Chief Executive Officer and President of DIANON before it was sold to Laboratory Corporation of America. His experience as a Chief Executive Officer of a rapidly growing laboratory company operating in a similar niche of our industry enables him to provide significant and valuable insights as to running a laboratory company and strategies we should pursue.

·

Raymond R. Hipp, Board Member and Chairman of the Audit Committee.  Mr. Hipp has experience in mergers and acquisitions, information technology and as Chief Executive Officer of a Company. Mr. Hipp fills an important role with the Company as the Chairman of the Audit Committee and as an audit committee financial expert. Mr. Hipp has valuable experience with the Audit Committee of Gardner Denver, Inc.

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Bruce K. Crowther, Board Member and Chairman of the Compliance Committee.  Mr. Crowther has experience in the healthcare industry and a strong knowledge of the hospital market having served as Chief Executive Officer of a healthcare system for over 23 years. His experience in this role allows him to provide insight into how the Company should manage the hospital market. He also has experience serving on the board of directors of other public companies.

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William J. Robison, Board Member and Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee. Mr. Robison spent his entire 41 year career with Pfizer, Inc. which included a position as Executive Vice President and head of Worldwide Corporate Employee Resources and he was a member of the Company’s Corporate Management Committee. This experience makes Mr. Robison highly qualified to be a member of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Robison has extensive health care knowledge and offers valuable insight and recommendations with respect to managing our sales-force, our personnel and compensation policies.

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Lynn A. Tetrault, Board Member and Chairwoman of the Compensation Committee. Lynn Tetrault is a dynamic, seasoned executive in the pharmaceutical industry.  Having progressed through numerous senior management roles at Astra Zenaca she acquired extensive human resource and corporate governance experience at the highest level of the company.  As NeoGenomics continues to grow, Ms. Tetrault’s experience will help shape human resource policies and operations as well as themake-up of the board of directors and its governance policies.

Alison L. Hannah, Board Member. Dr. Hannah has significant healthcare knowledge having spent the last 15 years as a consultant in the field of oncology drug development with over 20 years of experience working with biopharmaceutical companies. She has extensive knowledge of the clinical trials marketplace and we believe she will be able to offer guidance on how the Company should position itself to obtain clinical trials diagnostic testing volumes as the Company continues to grow its revenue in that area.

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Alison L. Hannah, Board Member. Dr. Hannah has significant healthcare knowledge having spent the last 15 years as a consultant in the field of oncology drug development with significant experience working with over 20 years of experience with biopharmaceutical companies. She has extensive knowledge of the clinical trials marketplace and we believe she will be able to offer guidance on how the Company should position itself to obtain clinical trials diagnostic testing volumes as the Company continues to grow its revenue in that area.

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Kieran P. Murphy, Board Member. Mr. Murphy has over 25 years of experience in the global life sciences and biotechnology industry and currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Healthcare Life Sciences.  Mr. Murphy brings valuable experience to our board in the areas of oncology and biopharma.  As the leader of GE Healthcare and Life Sciences, Mr. Murphy has visibility into many different aspects of the healthcare space including international developments.  His experience in the areas of pre-clinical and clinical development of biopharmaceuticals will assist us as we work to build our own BioPharmaceutical business.

Stephen Kanovsky, Board Member and Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.Mr. Kanovsky has over 25 years of legal experience in the global life sciences and pharmaceutical industry. He brings valuable experience to our Board through his prior involvement with Clarient, prior to the NeoGenomics acquisition in December of 2015.

Corporate Governance

Director Independence. Under the NASDAQ Stock Market Rules, the Board has a responsibility to make an affirmative determination that those members of its Board that serve as independent directors do not have any relationships with the Company and its businesses that would impair their independence. In connection with these determinations, the Board reviews information regarding transactions, relationships and arrangements involving the Company and its businesses and each director that it deems relevant to independence, including those required by the NASDAQ Stock Market Rules.

The Board has determined that each of Mr. Johnson, Mr. Hipp, Mr. Crowther, Mrs. Tetrault, Mrs.Dr. Hannah, and Mr. Robison isKanovsky are independent. The Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee are each composed entirely of directors who are independent under the NASDAQ Stock Market Rules and the applicable rules of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

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Director Nominations. Our Board has a standing Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the “Nominating Committee”). The Nominating Committee considers and recommends candidates for election to the Board and nominees for committee memberships and committee chairs.

Director candidates are considered based upon a variety of criteria, including demonstrated business and professional skills and experiences relevant to our business and strategic direction, concern for long-term stockholder interests, personal integrity and sound business judgment. The Nominating Committee seeks men and women from diverse professional backgrounds who combine a broad spectrum of relevant industry and strategic experience and expertise that, in concert, offer us and our stockholders diversity of opinion and insight in the areas most important to us and our corporate mission. However, we do not have a formal policy concerning the diversity of the Board. All director candidates must have time available to devote to the activities of the Board. We also consider the independence of director candidates, including the appearance of any conflict in serving as a director. A director who does not meet all of these criteria may still be considered for nomination to the Board if our independent directors believe that the candidate will make an exceptional contribution to us and our stockholders.

Generally, when evaluating and recommending candidates for election to the Board, the Nominating Committee will conduct candidate interviews, evaluate biographical information and background material, and assess the skills and experience of candidates in the context of the then currentthen-current needs of the Company. In identifying potential director candidates, the Board may also seek input from the

executive officers and may also consider recommendations by employees, community leaders, business contacts, third-party search firms, and any other sources deemed appropriate by the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee will also consider director candidates recommended by stockholders to stand for election at the annual meeting of stockholders so long as such recommendations are submitted in accordance with the procedures described below under “Stockholder Recommendations for Board Candidates.Candidates.

Board Leadership Structure. Our Board does not havehas a policy on whetherthat allows the offices of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer shouldto be separate or combined and, if they are to be separate, whether theallows Chairman of the Board shouldrole to be either selected from among the independent directors.directors or an executive officer. Our Board believes that it should have the flexibility to make these determinations at any given time in the way that it believes best to provide appropriate leadership for the Company at that time. Our Board has reviewed our current Board leadership structure in light of the composition of the Board, the Company’s size, the nature of the Company’s business, the regulatory framework under which the Company operates, and other relevant factors. Considering these factors, the Company has determined to have the same individual, Douglas VanOort, serve as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. The Board does not have nor have they appointed a lead independent director.

Board Role in Risk Oversight. The Board administers its risk oversight function directly and through the Audit Committee. The Board and the Audit Committee regularly discuss with management the Company’s major risk exposures, and their potential financial impact on the Company, and the steps taken to monitor and control those risks.

Information Regarding Meetings and Committees of the Board

The Board. The Board met four times for regular meetings during 2015.2018. All four (4) of such meetings were regularly scheduled meetings and telephonic calls were held as needed. In addition, the Board held three (3)two special meetingsmeeting via teleconference during 2015.2018. During 2015,2018, each incumbent director attended 75% or more of the Board and applicable committee meetings for the periods during which each such director served. Directors are not required to attend annual meetings of our stockholders. We held an annual meeting of stockholders in 2015,2018, which was attended by two of the directors then serving on the Board.  We also held a special meeting of the stockholders in 2015, which was attended by three of the directors then serving on the Board.

The Board currently has four (4) standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Compliance Committee.

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Board Committees. The following table sets forth the current members of each standing Committee:

Director Name

Audit
Committee

Nominating
and
Corporate
Governance
Committee

Compensation
Committee

Compliance
Committee

Steven C. Jones

X

Kevin C. Johnson

X

X

X

William J. Robison

X (Chair)

X

Raymond R. Hipp

X (Chair)

X

Bruce K. Crowther

X

X (Chair)

Lynn A. Tetrault

X

X

X (Chair)

Alison L. Hannah

X

X

Kieran P. MurphyStephen Kanovsky

X

 (Chair)

X

Audit Committee. The Audit Committee functions pursuant to a written charter adopted by the Board, a copy of which may be found at our websitewww.neogenomics.com under the heading Investors. The

Audit Committee is appointed by the Board to assist the Board with a variety of matters described in its charter, which include monitoring (1) the integrity of our financial statements, (2) the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, (3) the qualifications and independence of our independent registered public accounting firm, (4) the performance of our independent registered public accounting firm, and (5) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The Audit Committee met 12ten times during 2015.2018 including fourin-person meetings. The formal report of the Audit Committee is set forth beginning on page 1217 of this proxy statement.

The Board has determined that Raymond Hipp is independent and an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined under applicable SEC rules.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating Committee functions pursuant to a written charter adopted by the Board, a copy of which may be found at our websitewww.neogenomics.com under the heading Investors. Our Nominating Committee is responsible for (1) reviewing and evaluating the size, composition, function, and duties of the Board consistent with its needs; (2) establishing criteria for the selection of candidates to the Board and its committees, and identify individuals qualified to become Board members consistent with such criteria, including the consideration of nominees submitted by stockholders; (3) recommending to the Board, director nominees for election at the next annual or special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected or to fill any vacancies or newly created directorships that may occur between such meetings; (4) recommending directors for appointment to Board committees; (5) making recommendations to the Board as to determinations of director independence; (6) overseeing the evaluation of the Board; (7) developing and recommending to the Board the Corporate Governance Guidelines for the Company and overseeing compliance with such Guidelines; and (8) monitoring significant developments in the law and practice of corporate governance and of the duties and responsibilities of directors of public companies. The Nominating Committee identifies and evaluates nominee candidates as described above under “Director Nominations”. The Nominating Committee met fivefour times during 2015.2018.

Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee functions pursuant to a written charter adopted by the Board, a copy of which may be found at our websitewww.neogenomics.com under the heading Investors. The Compensation Committee is responsible for discharging the Board’s responsibilities relating to compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and our other executive officers and has overall responsibility for approving and evaluating all of our compensation plans, policies and programs as they affect our executive officers. All of the members of the committee are independent directors within the meaning of the applicable NASDAQ Stock Market Rules. The Compensation Committee met ten7 times during 2015.2018 including three in person meetings.

The Compensation Committee engaged independent compensation consultants during 2015in 2018 to provide long term incentive plan recommendations,advise the fees paid during 2015 for these services were $7,500.  The Compensation Committee also engaged consultants during 2015 to prepare aon peer group development, market practices, industry trends, investor views and benchmark compensation benchmark study for senior executives,data. In addition, they reviewed and provided the fees for these services are to be paidCompensation Committee with an independent perspective of management recommendations. These duties were consistent with those performed in 2016.  prior years.

The decision to engage this firm as a consultant was made by the compensation committeeCompensation Committee and approved by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Compliance Committee. Our Compliance Committee functions pursuant to a written charter adopted by the Board, a copy of which may be found at our websitewww.neogenomics.com under the heading Investors. The Compliance Committee is responsible for monitoring and administering ouroverseeing the Company’s activities in the area of corporate compliance with applicable laws and regulations related to our provision of medical related services.medical-related services and assessing management’s implementation of the Company’s Corporate Compliance Program. The Compliance Committee met four times during 2015.2018.

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Stockholder RecommendationsRecommendations for Board Candidates

The Board will consider qualified candidates for director that are recommended and submitted by stockholders. Submissions that meet the current criteria for board membership are forwarded to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for further review and consideration. The Committee will consider a recommendation only if appropriate biographical information and background material is provided on a timely basis, accompanied by a statement as to whether the stockholder or group of stockholders making the recommendation has beneficially owned more than five percent of our common stock for at least one year as of the date that the recommendation is made. To submit a recommendation for a nomination, a stockholder may write to the Board at our principal executive office, Attention: Denise Pedulla, Corporate Secretary.

The Committee will evaluate any such candidates by following substantially the same process, and applying substantially the same criteria, as for candidates submitted by Board members, assuming that appropriate biographical and background material is provided for candidates recommended by stockholders and the process for submitting the recommendation is followed.

Stockholder Communications with the Board

Stockholders may, at any time, communicate with any of our directors by mailing a written communication to NeoGenomics, Inc., 12701 Commonwealth Drive, Suite 9, Fort Myers, Florida, 33913, Attention: Denise Pedulla, Corporate Secretary. The mailing envelope must contain a clear notation indicating that the enclosed letter is a “Stockholder-Board Communication” or “Stockholder-Director Communication.” All such letters must identify the author as a stockholder, provide evidence of the sender’s stock ownership and clearly state whether the intended recipients are all members of the Board or a particular director or directors. The Corporate Secretary will then forward such correspondence, without editing or alteration, to the Board or to the specified director(s) on or prior to the next scheduled meeting of the Board. The Board will determine the method by which such submission will be reviewed and considered. The Board may also request the submitting stockholder to furnish additional information it may reasonably require or deem necessary to sufficiently review and consider the submission of such stockholder.

Board RecommendationVote Required for Approval

The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” each nominee.

The nineeight nominees receiving the majority of votes cast “FOR” by stockholders in person or by proxy will be elected. This Proposal 1 is a “non-discretionary”“non-discretionary” or “non-routine”“non-routine” item, meaning that brokerage firms cannot vote shares in their discretion on behalf of a client if the client has not given voting instructions. Accordingly, if you hold your shares in street name and fail to instruct your broker to vote your shares, your shares will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the outcome of this Proposal 1.

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Board Recommendation

The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” each nominee.

PROPOSAL 2.   2—ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION PAID TO OUR NAMESNAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

General

We are providing our stockholders with the opportunity to express their views on our named executive officers’ compensation as set forth under “Executive and Director Compensation” by casting their vote on this Proposal 2. Thisnon-binding, advisory vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers as described in this proxy statement. We provide a stockholder advisory vote on executive compensation every three years. After the advisory vote on executive compensation held at

The Board of Directors believes our 2016 annual meeting of stockholders, the next such vote will occur at our 2019 annual meeting of stockholders.

Our executive compensation program, which is described in detail in the “Executive and Director Compensation” section beginning on page 15, is designed to balance the goals of attracting and retaining talented executives who are motivated to achieve our annual and long-term strategic goals, while keeping the program affordable and appropriately aligned with stockholder interests. We believe that our executive compensation program accomplishes these goals in a way that is consistent with our purpose and core values, and the long-term interests of the Company and its stockholders. Our equity compensation (which is awarded in the form of stock options and restricted stock) is designed to build executive ownership and align financial incentives focused on the achievement of our long-term strategic goals (both financial andnon-financial).

Although the vote on this Proposal 2 regarding the compensation of our named executive officers is not binding, wethe Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee value the opinions of our stockholders and will consider the result of the vote when determining future executive compensation arrangements.

If this proposal is approved, our stockholders will be approving the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of RegulationS-K in the Company’s proxy statement for the 20162019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, is hereby approved.

Vote Required for Approval

The compensation paid to our named executive officers will be considered approved if a majority of the votes cast by stockholders in person or via proxy with respect to this matter are cast in favor of the proposal. This Proposal 2 is a “non-discretionary”“non-discretionary” or “non-routine”“non-routine” item, meaning that brokerage firms cannot vote shares in their discretion on behalf of a client if the client has not given voting instructions. Accordingly, if you hold your shares in street name and fail to instruct your broker to vote your shares for the proposal, your shares will not be counted as votes cast for the proposal and will have no effect on the outcome of this Proposal 2. Abstentions will have no effect on the outcome of the proposal.

Board Recommendation

The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” this Proposal 2.

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PROPOSAL 3—ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

General

We are providing our stockholders with the opportunity to express their views on the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation paid to our named executive officers by casting their vote on Proposal 3. Under Proposal 3, stockholders may vote in favor of holding this advisory vote every year, every two years or every three years beginning with the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders. The advisory vote on executive compensation described in Proposal 2 is referred to as a“say-on-pay vote.

We currently provide a stockholder“say-on-pay” vote on executive compensation every three years, however, the Board believes that a change to an annual vote is in the best interests of our stockholders. We believe an annual“say-on-pay” vote will enhance stockholder communication by encouraging our stockholders to provide regular input on our executive compensation policies, practices and plans.

An annual vote is also consistent with our desire to constructively engage with our stockholders on important issues such as executive compensation.

Although as an advisory vote, this proposal is not binding on the Company or the Board, the Board values the opinions that our stockholders express through their votes and will carefully consider the stockholder vote, even if none of the options obtains a majority vote, along with all other views expressed by our stockholders, when considering how frequently we should hold thesay-on-pay vote. The Board may decide that it is in the best interests of the stockholders and the Company to hold an advisory vote on executive compensation more or less frequently than the option that receives the highest number of votes by our stockholders.

If this proposal is approved, our stockholders will be approving the following resolution:

RESOLVED, the change from an advisory vote on executive compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers every three years to an annual advisory vote, beginning with the 2020 Proxy Statement is hereby approved.

Vote Required for Approval

The compensation paid to our named executive officers will be considered approved if a majority of the votes cast by stockholders in person or via proxy with respect to this matter are cast in favor of the proposal. Proposal 3 is a“non-discretionary” or“non-routine” item, meaning that brokerage firms cannot vote shares in their discretion on behalf of a client if the client has not given voting instructions. Accordingly, if you hold your shares in street name and fail to instruct your broker to vote your shares for the proposal, your shares will not be counted as votes cast for the proposal and will have no effect on the outcome of Proposal 3. Abstentions will have no effect on the outcome of the proposal.

Board Recommendation

The Board unanimously recommends a vote of “EVERY YEAR” for Proposal 3.

PROPOSAL 4—RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP on February 27, 2019 to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019.

Although ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm is not required by our Amended and Restated Bylaws or otherwise, the Board is submitting the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP to our stockholders for ratification because we value the views of our stockholders. In the event that stockholders fail to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Audit Committee will review its future selection of its independent registered public accounting firm. Even if the appointment is ratified, the ratification is not binding and the Audit Committee may in its discretion select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of our Company and our stockholders.

Representatives from Deloitte & Touche LLP are expected to be present at the 2019 Annual Meeting.

Former Auditors

Crowe LLP has served as our principal auditor for the previous five years. On February 27, 2019, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of NeoGenomics, Inc. (the “Company”) dismissed Crowe LLP (“Crowe”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, effective following the issuance of the Company’s Annual Report on Form10-K for the period ended December 31, 2018.

Crowe’s reports on the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles.

During the Company’s two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 and the subsequent interim period through February 27, 2019, there were:

(i) No “disagreements” (within the meaning of Item 304(a) of RegulationS-K) with Crowe on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Crowe, would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in its reports on the consolidated financial statements of the Company; and

(ii) No “reportable events” (as such term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of RegulationS-K).

We requested Crowe LLP to furnish us with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether they agreed with the above statements. A copy of that letter was filed with the Commission on a Form8-K filed on March 5, 2019.

During the two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the subsequent interim periods through February 27, 2019, neither the Company nor anyone on its behalf consulted Deloitte regarding either the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements or any matter that was either the subject of a “disagreement” (within the meaning of Item 304(a) of RegulationS-K) or a “reportable event” (as such term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of RegulationS-K).

Vote Required for Approval

The ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019 will be approved if a majority of the votes cast by stockholders in person or via proxy with respect to this matter are cast in favor of the proposal. Abstentions and brokernon-votes, if any, will not be treated as votes cast and will have no impact on the proposal.

Board Recommendation

The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of the Deloitte & Touche LLP as our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019.

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table provides information, as of December 31, 2015,2018, regarding the number of shares of Company common stock that may be issued under the Company’s equity compensation plans.

 

Plan Category

 

Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights

 

 

Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights

 

 

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

 

 

 Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
 warrants and rights 
 Weighted average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
 warrants and rights 
 Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under equity
 compensation plans 
 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan

(“Equity Incentive Plan”)

 

 

4,526,506

 

 

$

3.31

 

 

 

4,081,940

 

(d)

 6,839,417  $                    7.63  3,298,645  (a)  

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”)

 

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

339,958

 

 

    N/A  505,084  (b)  

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

(a), (b), (c)

 

 

1,450,000

 

 

$

1.61

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

  

Total

 

 

5,976,506

 

 

$

2.90

 

 

 

4,081,940

 

 

 6,839,417  $7.63  3,803,729  
 

 

   

 

  

 

(a)

Includes outstanding options to purchase 800,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.71 per share granted to Douglas M. VanOort on February 14, 2012. These options vest based on the passage of time with 200,000 shares vesting each year on the anniversary of the grant date. In the event of a change of control of the Company with a share price in excess of $4.00 per share, all unvested options will vest immediately. Unless sooner terminated pursuant to the terms of the stock option agreement, the options will terminate on February 14, 2017.

(b)

Includes outstanding warrants to purchase 450,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.50 per share granted to Steven C. Jones on May 3, 2010. These warrants vest based on the passage of time and based on the achievement of certain milestones. In the event of a change of control of the Company all unvested warrants will vest immediately. Unless sooner terminated pursuant to the terms of the warrant agreement, the warrants will terminate on May 3, 2017.

(c)

Includes outstanding warrants to purchase 200,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.43 per share granted to Maher Albitar on January 9, 2012. These warrants vest based on the achievement of certain milestones. In the event of a change of control of the Company with a share price in excess of $4.00 per share, all unvested warrants will vest immediately. Unless sooner terminated pursuant to the terms of the warrant agreement, the warrants will terminate on January 9, 2017.

(d)

a.

The Company’s Equity Incentive Plan was amended, and restated on April 16, 2013 and subsequently approved by a majority of stockholders.  The plan allowed for the issuance of an aggregate number of shares of up to 7,000,000.  The plan was further amended on May 4, 2015 and subsequently approved by stockholders to allow for an additional 2,500,000 shares bringing the maximum aggregate number of shares reserved and available for issuance to 9,500,000.  The plan was most recently amended and restated on December 21, 2015 and subsequently approved by stockholders, increasingMay 25, 2017. The most recent amendment increased the maximum aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock reserved and available for issuance under the Amended Plan to 12,500,000.18,650,000.

b.

The Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan was amended, restated and subsequently approved by a majority of stockholders on June 6, 2013, May 25, 2017 and June 1, 2018. The most recent amendment increased the maximum aggregate number of shares reserved and available for issuance under the Plan to 1,500,000.

Currently, the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated on December 21, 2015May 25, 2017 and the Company’s ESPP, as Amended and Restated, dated April 16, 2013amended on June 1, 2018, are the only equity compensation plans in effect.

11


AUDIT COMMITTEECOMMITTEE MATTERS

Audit Committee Report

The Audit Committee operates under a written charter, which has been adopted by the Board. The Audit Committee charter governs the operations of the Audit Committee and sets forth its responsibilities, which include providing assistance to the Board with the monitoring of (1) the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, (2) the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, (3) the qualifications and independence of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, (4) the performance of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and (5) the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. It is not the duty of the Audit Committee to plan or conduct audits or to determine that the Company’s financial statements and disclosures are complete, accurate and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable rules and regulations. These responsibilities rest with management and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015, 20142018, 2017 and 20132016 with management and Crowe Horwath LLP.,LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2014 and 2015those fiscal year, and with Kingery and Crouse P.A., the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2013.years.

The Audit Committee has discussed with Crowe Horwath LLP the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1. AU section 380), as adopted by theunder applicable Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (““PCAOB” standards, as adopted by the PCAOB”) in Rule 3200T. In addition, the Committee has received during the past fiscal year the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed with Crowe Horwath LLP its independence from the Company and its management.

In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited consolidated financial statements for the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20152018 be included in its Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 20152018 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

MEMBERS OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

Raymond R. Hipp (Chair)

Bruce K. Crowther

Lynn A. Tetrault

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Executive OfficerAgePosition

Douglas M. VanOort

63Chief Executive Officer

Submitted by the Audit Committee of the Board.Sharon A. Virag

52Chief Financial Officer

Robert J. Shovlin

48President, Clinical Services

Raymond R. Hipp (Chair)George A. Cardoza

57President, Pharma Services

Kevin C. JohnsonLawrence M. Weiss, MD

62Chief Scientific Officer

BruceMaher Albitar, MD1

64Chief Medical Officer and Director of Research and Development

Kathryn B. McKenzie

34Chief Accounting Officer

Stephanie K. CrowtherBywater

48Chief Compliance Officer

Jennifer M. Balliet

42Chief Culture Officer

Steven A. Ross

55Chief Information Officer

William B. Bonello

54Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer; Director Investor Relations

John S. Park

50Chief Marketing Officer

(1) Resigned effective October 2018

12


INFORMATIONon-DirectorN CONCERNING EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Executive Officers

WHO ARE NOT DIRECTORS

Background information as of April 29, 2016,22, 2019 about our executive officers who are not nominees for election as directors is set forth below.

Steven Brodie, Ph.D., age 55. Mr. BrodieSharon A. Virag

Chief Financial Officer

Ms. Virag has served as the Chief Scientific Officer of NeoGenomics since April 2015. Dr. Brodie is also the Laboratory Director for our Fort Myers, FL lab facility, a role he has held since 2014. He also has served as our Director of Molecular Genetics and Cytogenetics since 2011. Prior to joining NeoGenomics, Dr. Brodie served as a Senior Director of Cytogenetics, Assistant Director of Molecular Genetics, and Scientific Director of Maternal Serum Screening at Quest Diagnostics (Specialty Laboratories) in Valencia Ca. In addition to his clinical responsibilities, he trained Pathology residents in genetic testing for Loma Linda University Medical Center as the Affiliate Rotation Director and the University of Southern California, Keck SOM as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pathology. Prior to joining Quest Diagnostics, he held a variety of research and clinical positions at the National Institutes of Health, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, and the University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School Of Medicine. Dr. Brodie was trained in Genetics at the University of California Los Angeles/Cedar-Sinai Medical Center medical genetics training program. He received a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and Clinical Molecular Genetics and Cytogenetics training at the University of California Los Angeles. Dr. Brodie is Board Certified by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics and holds Directors Licenses in California, Florida, Tennessee, and New York.

George A. Cardoza, age 54. Mr. Cardoza has servedcompany as Chief Financial Officer since November 2009.March 2018. Prior to thatjoining the Company, Ms. Virag was the Vice President of Corporate Finance and Chief Accounting Officer at Aetna Inc., a Fortune 500 diversified health-care benefits’ company. In this role, she was responsible for controllership, tax, treasury, finance transformation and finance shared services from March2015 to 2017. Prior to Aetna, Ms. Virag held various positions in finance, including: Chief Accounting Officer at AES Corporation, Global Controller for several General Electric businesses and Assistant Corporate Controller at General Motors. In addition to her private sector experience, Ms. Virag worked for the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) from 2005 to 2008, to November 2009, Mr. Cardozawhere she served as the Chief Financial Officerproject leader for Auditing Standard No. 5. She also worked in public accounting, for Deloitte & Touche, LLP where she was an Audit Senior Manager. Ms. Virag has a Bachelor of Protocol Global Solutions, Inc., a privately held international marketing company. Science degree in Accounting from California State University.

Robert J. Shovlin

President, Clinical Services

Mr. Cardoza alsoShovlin has served as the ControllerPresident of Protocol Global Solutions from March 2006 to March 2008. From April 1991 to March 2006, Mr. Cardoza was employed by Quest Diagnostics Inc., a diagnostic testing, information and services company, in a number of positions, including the position of Controller, Central Region from 2001 to March 2006. At Quest Mr. Cardoza was responsible for overseeing all the financial operations of the Central Region, which had revenue of over $1.2 billion in 2006.our Clinical Services Division since September, 2016. Prior to his time with Quest,this, he worked for Sony Music Entertainment Inc. and the Continental Grain Company in various financial roles. Mr. Cardoza received his B.S. from Syracuse University in finance and accounting and has received his M.B.A. from Michigan State University.

Robert J. Shovlin, age 45. Mr. Shovlin hashad served as our Chief Growth Officer since the acquisition of Clarient.Clarient Inc. (“Clarient”) in 2015. From his hire date in October 2014 until the Clarient acquisition, Mr. Shovlin served as the Chief Operating Officer of NeoGenomics. From 2012 until October 2014, Mr. Shovlin served as Chief Development officer for Bostwick Laboratories, a provider of anatomic pathology testing services targeting urologists and other clinicians, where he was responsible for Sales, Marketing, Managed Care, Business Development, and Clinical Trials. From 2005 until 2011, he served in progressively more responsible positions, including

President and Chief Executive Officer, for Aureon Biosciences, Inc., a venture-backed diagnostics company focused on developing novel and proprietary prostate cancer tests. Mr. Shovlin also served as Executive Director for Anatomic Pathology and Director of Managed Care for Quest Diagnostics from 2003 until 2005, and held sales leadership positions at Dianon Systems from 1997 until 2003. Mr. Shovlin served as a Captain, Infantry Officer in the United States Marine Corps from 1992 until 1997 where he served as a Platoon and Company Commander with 1st Battalion 4th Marines and as an Instructor and Staff Platoon Commander at the Basic School. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Pennsylvania State University, and a Masters of Business Administration from Rutgers University.

George A. Cardoza

Maher Albitar, M.D., age 61President, Pharma Services

Mr. Cardoza has served the Company as the President of Pharma Services since March 2018. He has been with NeoGenomics since November 2009, serving as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer through March 2018. Prior to that, he was the Chief Financial Officer at Protocol Integrated Direct Marketing. Mr. Cardoza spent fifteen years with Quest Diagnostics, including years when it was still part of Corning Inc. With Corning Inc. he worked with the Corning Life Sciences Division, which did several acquisitions in the Pharma services space. These acquisitions formed the pieces of Covance, which Corning spun out at the same time as Quest in 1996. Mr. Cardoza has worked closely with NeoGenomics Pharmaceutical Services and Clinical Trials division, which was combined into the Clinical Trials arm of Clarient Inc. when it was acquired from General Electric Healthcare in December 2015. Mr. Cardoza received his B.S. from Syracuse University in finance and accounting and has received his M.B.A. from Michigan State University.

. Lawrence M. Weiss, MD.

Chief Scientific Officer

Dr. AlbitarWeiss has served the Company as Chief Scientific Officer since December 2018. Prior to this, he has served as Chief Medical OfficerDirector and Director of ResearchPathology Services since December 2015. Prior to joining the Company, Dr. Weiss served at Clarient Diagnostic Services, Inc. as a Pathologist and Developmentsubsequently as Laboratory Director from 2011 through 2016. Dr. Weiss is currently a Visiting Professor in the Department of Pathology and Medicine for the University of California at Irvine. Dr. Weiss received his B.S. and M.D. summa cum laude from the University of Maryland.

Kathryn B. McKenzie

Chief Accounting Officer

Ms. McKenzie has served as our Principal Accounting Officer and Vice President of Finance since January 2012. From 2008October 2017. Prior to 2011, Dr. Albitarjoining the Company, Ms. McKenzie served at Chico’s FAS, Inc. in various roles including Assistant Controller and Director of Financial Reporting and Treasury. Ms. McKenzie also previously served as Audit Manager for Ernst and Young. Ms. McKenzie is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Master’s of Science in Accountancy from the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Stephanie K. Bywater

Chief Compliance Officer

Ms. Bywater has served the Company as the Compliance Officer since May 2017 and was appointed Chief Compliance Officer in March 2018. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Bywater was the Global Compliance Operations & Americas Compliance Officer at Varian Medical Systems Inc., a radiation oncology medical device company. In this role, she was responsible for developing strategy for and overseeing global compliance operations and served as the Medical Directorcompliance officer for Hematopathologyone of three global regions, with a focus on international anti-corruption and Oncology, Nichols Instituteanti-competition laws from 2015 to 2017. Prior to Varian, Ms. Bywater was the Compliance and Privacy Officer for Myriad Genetic Laboratories,

where she implemented and provided oversight for programs supporting Anti-kickback Statute, Stark Law, billing and reimbursement, FDA, research, and global data privacy and protection requirements from 2010 to 2015. In addition to her private sector experience, since 2016, Ms. Bywater has served on the Advisory Board for the Center for Genomic Interpretation, anon-profit organization, where she consults and advises on compliance related matters. Ms. Bywater has a Bachelor of Quest Diagnostics,Science degree in Healthcare Administration from Northern Illinois University and is a Certified Healthcare Professional (CHP), Certified in Healthcare Privacy (CHP), and a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA).

Jennifer M. Balliet

Chief R&D Director for Hematopathology and Oncology for Quest Diagnostics, a diagnostic testing, information and services company. From 2003 to 2008, Dr. AlbitarCulture Officer

Ms. Balliet has served as the Director of Hematopathology for the Nichols Institute of Quest Diagnostics. From 2005our Chief Culture Officer since September 2016. Prior to 2011, Dr. Albitar also served as a Board member of Associated Diagnostics Pathologists, Inc. From 1991 to 2003, Dr. Albitar held various faculty positions at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Albitar previously served as the Chief Medical Officer of Health Discovery Corporation (“HDC”) and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of HDC. Dr. Albitar has also served as a consultant to multiple companies. Dr. Albitar received his medical degree in 1979 from Damascus Medical School in Damascus, Syria.

13


Mark A. Machulcz, age 52.  Mr. Machulcz hasthat, she had served as our Vice President of OperationsHuman Resources since January 2016.  From 2011 until our acquisition of ClarientApril 2015. Ms. Balliet joined NeoGenomics in December 2015, he2008 and has steadily increased her responsibilities; she also previously served as Vice PresidentDirector of International Operations at GE Healthcare, Clarient Diagnostic Services, a leading providerHuman Resources. During her time with NeoGenomics, she managed the Human Resources process as the Company grew from 100 employees to approximately 1,500 employees. As Chief Culture Officer, Ms. Balliet has responsibility for all areas of comprehensive cancer-diagnostic laboratory services where he was responsible for theour Human Resources including recruiting, training, development, compensation, incentive plans and execution of the international and domestic expansion strategy for the clinical and bio pharmaceutical business.  From 2009 until 2011, he served as Executive Vice President of Operations at PLUS Diagnostics, a pathology laboratory where was responsible for lab operations, customer service, logistics and information technology.  Prior to joining PLUS Diagnostics, Mr. Machulcz directed the India operations at Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, where he was involved in the launch of their clinical trials service and was responsible for clinical and Anatomical Pathology Laboratories and prior to that role he served in various other positions at Quest Diagnostics with progressive levels of responsibility.  Mr. Machulczorganizational development. Ms. Balliet received his Bachelor'sher B.S. degree in Medical Technology from St. Louis UniversityPsychology and his Master'sM.S. degree in Business AdministrationManagement from Johns Hopkins University. the University of Florida.

Steven A. Ross age 52.

Chief Information Officer

Mr. Ross has served as Chief Information Officer since April 2013. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Ross served as Vice President Technology at Chico’s FAS, Inc. during the period from 2003 to 2013, where he participated in the direction of all information technology resource planning, budgeting, technology associate development coaching and operation initiatives for the $2.5 billion dollar global consumer products company. Prior to that Mr. Ross worked for Zinn Corporation as a Project Director, assisting Target Inc. Mr. Ross has his Bachelor of ScienceB.A. from New Mexico State University.

William B. Bonello

Jennifer Balliet, age 39. Mrs. BallietChief Strategy Officer, Corporate Development and Investor Relations

Mr. Bonello has served as the Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer, Treasurer, and Director of Corporate Development since April 2017. Prior to joining NeoGenomics, Mr. Bonello spent nearly twenty years as a healthcare equity analyst covering diagnostic services and product stocks for Piper Jaffray, Wachovia Securities, RBC, and Craig Hallum Capital Group. Mr. Bonello also worked for many years at LabCorp as the Senior Vice President for Investor Relations. Mr. Bonello has an undergraduate degree from Carleton College and earned his MBA from the Kellogg School of Human Resources since April 2015. Mrs. Balliet joined NeoGenomics in 2008, having previouslyManagement at Northwestern University.

John Park

Chief Marketing Officer

Mr. Park has served as Director of Human Resources. During her time withthe Chief Marketing Officer since 2018. Prior to joining NeoGenomics, she managed the Human Resources process as the Company grew from 100 employees to 450 employees. AsMr. Park was Vice President & General Manager of Human Resources, Mrs. Balliet has responsibilitythe Healthcare Consumables business at PDC Healthcare, responsible for all areasleading sales and marketing. Prior to this role, Mr. Park spend over 10 years at Baxter BioScience (currently known as Takeda) in a variety of our Human Resources including recruiting, training, development, compensation, incentive planscommercial positions. His last position at the company was as Vice President, Global Marketing. Prior to Baxter, John spent six years as a management consultant with CSC Healthcare Group (APM Management Consultants) working with payers, providers and organizational development. Mrs. Balliet received her B.S. degree in Psychology and M.S. degree in Business Managementlife science clients on strategic as well as operational improvement projects. John graduated from the University of Florida.Southern California with a dual-degree Doctor of Pharmacy and Master of Business Administration. His undergraduate degree is in Biological Sciences from UC Santa Barbara. John is active

on a variety ofnon-profit boards including Adventist Healthcare Simi Valley Hospital Foundation and City Scholars Foundation. John is adjunct faculty/lecturer at USC, UCLA and Brown University.

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

Edwin F. Weidig III, age 46Each of our. Edwin F. Weidig IIInon-employee directors, other than Stephen Kanovsky, who served in 2018 as a representative of General Electric (“GE”) and declined director compensation while GE was a stockholder of NeoGenomics, is entitled to receive compensation. Subsequent to GE’s divestment of its ownership position in NeoGenomics, Mr. Kanovsky began to accept compensation as an independent director. For the year ended December 31, 2018, each eligiblenon-employee director received Board compensation of $45,000. In addition, eligiblenon-employee directors who serve on committees receive the following compensation:

Directors serving as committee members receive additional annual compensation of $5,000 (per committee)

Directors serving as chair for a committee receive additional annual compensation of $20,000 (per committee)

All directors are entitled to reimbursement of their reasonableout-of-pocket expenses for attendance at Board and Committee meetings.

The Board has servedthe discretion to grant equity awards tonon-employee directors as Directorpart of Financetheir compensation. On June 1, 2018, the Board granted 3,017 stock options and Principal Accounting Officer since January 2012. Mr. Weidig served6,897 shares of restricted stock to eachnon-employee director, except Stephen Kanovsky. Both the stock options and the restricted stock awards vest on June 1, 2019.

Share Ownership Guidelines and Share Retention Requirements

NeoGenomics has adopted share ownership guidelines for its directors and executive officers to further align the interests of our senior leaders with those of our stockholders. The guidelines require directors to hold NeoGenomics stock worth a value expressed as a multiple of their salary within five years of the guideline applying to them.

The table below summarizes the current share ownership guidelines as well as the Company’s Corporate Controller from October 2007current share ownership of our board as a multiple of base compensation for Board services as of December 31, 2018:

Role  Share Ownership Guideline    Current Share Ownership

Chairman of the Board

  3.0   56.2

Board Member and previous Executive Vice President

  3.0   207.3

Other Board Members

  3.0   39.8 (1)

(1) Share ownership calculated as an average of all Board Members except the CEO and Executive Vice President who are shown separately.

Directors who are yet to achieve their share ownership amount are required to retain an amount equal to 25% of the net shares received as the result of the exercise, vesting, or payment of any equity awards they have received. If an individual’s amount is not attained by the end of the initial five-year period (or at any time thereafter), they will be required to retain an amount equal to 100% of the net shares received as the result of the exercise, vesting, or payment of any equity awards granted to them, until January 2012. Prior to that, from May 2005 to October 2007, he was a Division Controller for Meritage Homes Corporation (NYSE:MTH)the applicable guideline level is achieved. As of December 31, 2018, all board members were in Fort Myers, Florida, and prior to that from January 1999 to May 2005 he worked in public accounting for a local firm in Fort Myers, Florida and for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Weidig earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Merrimack College. Mr. Weidig holds an active CPA licensecompliance with the Stateshare ownership guidelines.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLES

The following table provides information concerning the compensation of Massachusetts.ournon-employee directors for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Name

 Fees
Earned
or Paid
in Cash
  Stock
Awards
(1)
  Option
Awards
(1)
  Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
  Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified

Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
  All
Other
Compensation
  Total 

Kevin C. Johnson (2)(3)

 $55,000  $  80,005  $  11,284  $              —  $              —  $              —  $  146,289 

William J. Robison (2)(3)(7)

  52,500                  52,500 

Raymond R. Hipp (2)(3)

  70,000   80,005   11,284            161,289 

Bruce K. Crowther (2)(3)

  70,000   80,005   11,284            161,289 

Lynn A. Tetrault (2)(3)

  70,000   80,005   11,284            161,289 

Alison L. Hannah (2) (3) (5)

  85,000   80,005   11,284            176,289 

Steven C. Jones (2) (3) (4)

  271,763   80,005   11,284         1,750   364,802 

Stephen M. Kanovsky (6)

                     

(1)

Amounts shown represent grant date fair value computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718, with respect to stock awards and stock options granted to thenon-employee directors. The amounts shown disregard the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. Each stock option was granted with an exercise price equal to the closing value of our common stock on the day prior to the grant date. See Item 8, Note K of our Annual Report on Form10-K for a description of the valuation methodology of stock and option awards.

The aggregate number of stock awards and stock option awards granted to each of ournon-employee directors for the year ended December 31, 2018 was as follows:

Name     Stock Awards(#)      Stock Option Awards(#) 

Kevin C. Johnson

    6,897     3,017 

William J. Robison (7)

          

Raymond R. Hipp

    6,897     3,017 

Bruce K. Crowther

    6,897     3,017 

Lynn A. Tetrault

    6,897     3,017 

Alison L. Hannah

    6,897     3,017 

Steven C. Jones

    6,897     3,017 

Stephen M. Kanovsky (6)

          

(2)

On June 1, 2018, the Company granted each of the directors above, 6,897 shares of restricted common stock. Such restricted common stock vests on the anniversary of the grant date as long as the director continues to serve as a member of the Board of Directors. The fair market value of each restricted stock grant on the award date was deemed to be $80,005 or $11.60 per share, which was the closing price of our common stock on the day before the grant was approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.

(3)

On June 1, 2018, the Company granted each of the directors above 3,017 stock options with an exercise price of $11.60, which was the closing price of our common stock on the day before the grant was approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. These options vest on the anniversary of the grant date as long as the director continues to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

(4)

Includes $221,763 in fees and bonuses earned for consulting work performed as Executive Vice President.

(5)

Includes $30,000 as compensation for serving on an advisory board in 2018.

(6)

Served as a Director pursuant to the Investor Board Rights Lockup and Standstill Agreement between NeoGenomics and GE. During the year ended December 31, 2018, Stephen M. Kanovsky declined compensation including fees, stock awards, and warrant/option awards.

(7)

Resigned from the Board effective June 1, 2018.

COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

Overview and Philosophy

The Compensation Committee strives to create a compensation structure that supports apay-for-performance culture and strongly believes that executive compensation should be tied to the performance of the Company and stockholder returns.

Our compensation philosophy is focused on providing our executive officers with compensation and benefits that are competitive, and that meet our goals of attracting, retaining and motivating highly skilled management. The levels of compensation we provide should be competitive, reasonable and appropriate for our business needs and circumstances.

Our executive compensation program focuses on both short and long-term results and is composed of three key elements: (1) base salaries, which reflect various factors including market-competitive pay levels, scope of the position, experience, individual performance and strategic criticality; (2) annual cash incentive opportunities, which reflect Company and individual performance; and (3) longer-term stock-based incentive opportunities under our equity incentive plans, generally in the form of stock options and/or restricted stock grants, which link the interests of senior management with our other stockholders. Equity incentive grants are subject to three or four year vesting provisions. Each of our compensation elements is designed to simultaneously fulfill one or more of our core objectives.

Our compensation program is administered under a rigorous process that includes the solicitation by the Compensation Committee of advice of an independent third-party consultant (which reports directly to the Compensation Committee, not to management) and long-standing, consistently applied policies with respect to the timing of equity grants, the pricing of stock options, and the periodic review of peer group practices.

We believe our overall program, and, in particular, our focus on granting long-term awards, is consistent with current best practices in compensation design.

2018 Performance Highlights

Most of our compensation decisions are determined in the first few months of our fiscal year, after evaluation of Company performance and the performance of our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers. We believe the compensation of all of our Named Executive Officers for 2018 aligned well with both our performance in 2018 and the objectives of our executive compensation policies. The Company achieved strong operational and financial performance across a broad range of measures.

Measure (in thousands)    2018     2017     % Change from
Prior Year
 

Clinical Services Revenue

  $        241,873    $        213,097     13.5% 

Pharma Services Revenue

   34,868     27,154     28.4% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total Revenue

   276,741     240,251     15.2% 

Net Income (Loss)

  $2,640    $(396)    766.7% 

EBITDA(non-GAAP)

  $31,786    $25,481     24.7% 

Adjusted EBITDA(non-GAAP)

  $43,552    $33,600     29.6% 

Record Revenue for both Clinical and Pharma Segments.Consolidated net revenues for 2018 were $276.7 million, a 15.2% increase compared to 2017. Excluding the impact of Genoptix, this increase was 13.3% which reflects an 11.3% increase in clinical services revenue and a 28.4% increase in pharma services revenue. Pharma backlog also increased year over year to $98.9 million as of December 31, 2018.

Volume Growth. Test volume increased by 14.1% year over year and average revenue per clinical test increased by 1.2% to $323.

Significant Growth in Adjusted EBITDA.Top-line growth, in addition to continued reductions in cost per test increased gross margins from 42.4% in 2017 to 46.0% in 2018. Adjusted EBITDA increased to $43.6 million, a 29.6% increase from prior year.

Closing of Genoptix Acquisition.The acquisition of Genoptix, Inc. was completed in December 2018 for $125 million in cash and one million shares of NeoGenomics common stock. The acquisition expands NeoGenomics’ reach into oncology practices, and significantly accelerates the company’s progress towards key scale and growth objectives. Genoptix is expected to contribute $85 million of revenue and break-even EBITDA in year one, $25 million of cost synergies over time, and 25% EBITDA margin by the end of year three.

Execution of FOCUS Initiatives Continued to Drive Growth.The Company remained focused on its key critical success factors, which include: maintaining a world-class culture, delivering uncompromising quality, and providing exceptional service and growth.

EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATIONCompensation Design

Compensation Strategy

We believe that having the right management team leading NeoGenomics and our employees globally is critical in our ability to achieve our financial and strategic objectives. Our compensation philosophy is to offer our executive officers compensation and benefits that are competitive and meet our goals of attracting, retaining and motivating highly skilled management, which is necessary to achieve our financial and strategic

14


objectives and create long-term value for our stockholders. We believe the levels of compensation we provide should be competitive, reasonable, and appropriate for our business needs and circumstances.

2015Alignment with NeoGenomics’ Strategy

NeoGenomics is a premier cancer diagnostics and pharma services company serving oncologists, pathologists, pharmaceutical companies, academic centers, and others with innovative diagnostic, prognostic and predictive testing. By providing uncompromising quality, exceptional service, and innovative solutions, we will be the world’s leading cancer testing and information company.

Underpinned by our values of Quality, Integrity, Accountability, Teamwork, and Innovation, we believe that focusing on saving lives by improving patient care will drive profitable growth for our stockholders to the benefit of all our stakeholders.

This vision is reflected in how we have designed our compensation programs, with performance metrics that focus on our achievements.

Metric

How we Use it

Why it Matters

Revenue

Financial metric

(in annual incentive plan)

Our vision is to be the world’s leading cancer testing and information company. Increases in revenue through organic growth and execution of strategic opportunities, aligns management performance with the achievement of that vision and stockholder value realization.

Adjusted EBITDA

Financial metric

(in annual incentive plan)

We continue to seek profitable growth in order to achieve outstanding performance for our stockholders. Adjusted EBITDA focuses our management team on improving the profitability of our ongoing operations, while allowing for implementation of strategic initiatives to provide for future growth.

Strategic

Critical Success Factors

(see details below)

Company metric

(in annual incentive plan)

We believe that a culture of motivated and engaged employees will deliver superior service to our clients, leading to customer satisfaction and retention, which will continue to increase stockholder value. Annual focus areas are established each year to align with our strategic critical success factors of: maintaining a world-class culture, providing uncompromising quality and delivering exceptional service and growth. Measurement against the achievement of these focus areas provides for continuous alignment with our common purpose and vision.

Individual Performance

Individual metric

(in annual incentive plan)

Each executive that participates in the management incentive plan plays a unique role in the Company’s strategic objectives. Including individual performance goals for each executive that are in line with the executive’s major responsibilities ensures that incentive payments relate to both Company performance as well as individual performance.

Compensation Elements

Our compensation program is purposefully straightforward. In accordance with our compensation philosophy, we provide competitive fixed cash compensation, an annual incentive program that aligns pay within-year progress against our longer term goals, and stock options and/or restricted stock that provide clear and transparent alignment to sustainable stockholder value creation, while retaining our executives over the long-term.

Element

Purpose

Key Features

Base Salary

Provide competitive baseline compensation for role

•  Fixed cash compensation

•  Amounts informed by levels in the market, taking account of the role, scope of the position, experience, performance and strategic criticality

•  Target competitive range around market median

Annual Incentive

Reward for the achievement of both NeoGenomics and individual performance during the year

•  Variable cash compensation

•  Target opportunity informed by levels in the market

•  Actual value based on financial performance (revenue, Adjusted EBITDA) and individually defined strategic critical success factors

Element

Purpose

Key Features

Long-Term Incentives

Align with the long-term interests of NeoGenomics, our stockholders and our employees, while rewarding long-term sustainable value creation and driving retention

•  Grants of stock options generally made annually to Named Executive Officers and/or grants of restricted stock made periodically to certain Named Executive Officers.

•  Variable equity-based compensation

•  Target opportunity informed by levels in the market

•  Options have three or four year ratable vesting with a five-year term

The aggregate value of base salary, target bonus and long-term incentives is generally positioned within a competitive range around market median.

As the following charts show, the majority of our CEO and other named executive officers’ compensation is variable and performance based:

LOGO

Compensation Governance

Compensation Oversight

The Compensation Committee, chaired by Lynn A. Tetrault and comprised of three independent Directors, is responsible for discharging the Board’s responsibilities relating to compensation of our executive officers, including the Chief Executive Officer. The Committee has overall responsibility for approving and evaluating all of our compensation plans, policies and programs as they affect our executive officers. This includes reviewing and approving the compensation of the Named Executive Officers, approving performance goals, and reviewing the achievement of performance goals at year end.

In exercising its duties, the Compensation Committee receives information and support from management, and guidance from an independent advisor.

The Compensation Committee is wholly accountable for any changes in compensation for the Chief Executive Officer, and the Chief Executive Officer is not included in any discussions regarding changes to his own compensation. For other Named Executive Officers, recommendations are made by the Chief Executive Officer and subsequently reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee.

The Annual Process

The Compensation Committee typically meets four times a year to consider the following items:

Quarter

Typical Meeting Topics

Q1

•  Review and approve executive benchmarking and pay recommendations, including salary adjustments, annual bonus payouts and LTI award values

•  Approve annual company and individual performance goals for the year ahead

•  Assess compliance versus stock ownership guidelines

•  Review historical equity awards and resulting burn rates

Q2

•  Review and finalize relevant proxy content

•  Review and approve proposed annual equity grants

•  Undertake Compensation Committee self-evaluation

Q3

•  Review and discuss proxy advisor reports and any other investor feedback

•  Receive update on legislative, regulatory and governance environments

•  Review current compensation philosophy

•  Review Compensation Committee charter

Q4

•  Conduct annual peer group review

•  Discuss potential CD&A enhancements and review planning timeline

Additional meetings are scheduled on an as needed basis.

Use of an Independent Advisor

As outlined in its Charter, the Compensation Committee has the authority to select, retain, and/or replace, as needed, compensation and benefits consultants and other outside consultants to provide independent advice to the Compensation Committee.

In 2016, the Compensation Committee appointed Willis Towers Watson as an independent outside compensation consultant. During 2018, Willis Towers Watson advised the Compensation Committee on peer group development, market practices, industry trends, investor views and benchmark compensation data. In addition, they reviewed and provided the Compensation Committee with an independent perspective of management recommendations. These duties were consistent with those performed in prior years.

The Compensation Committee considered the six factors specified by the Securities and Exchange Commission to monitor the independence of their compensation advisors. As was the case in 2016 and 2017, the Compensation Committee determined that Willis Towers Watson’s services during 2018 did not raise a conflict of interest.

Managing Compensation-Related Risks

NeoGenomics operates in a highly regulated, competitive and fast-moving field, meaning that risk management is core to our success. It is the common purpose of all NeoGenomics employees to save lives by improving patient care; and this shared common purpose underscores our commitment to performance excellence in a risk-appropriate manner.

The Compensation Committee’s role relative to risk mitigation is to review the risks associated with NeoGenomics’ compensation policies and practices to determine whether any risks associated with such policies and practices encourage unnecessary or excessive risk-taking or are reasonably likely to

have a material adverse effect on the company. The Compensation Committee also oversees an annual review of the Corporation’s risk assessment of its compensation policies and practices for its employees.

The risk-mitigating features that NeoGenomics has adopted within our executive compensation programs are summarized below.

Clawback

In the event of a restatement of the NeoGenomics’ financials due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the law, whether such noncompliance is the result of misconduct or other circumstances, a Participant shall be required to reimburse the Company for any amounts earned or payable with respect to an Award to the extent required by law and any applicable Company policies.

Share Ownership Guidelines and Share Retention Requirements

NeoGenomics has adopted share ownership guidelines to further align the interests of our senior executives with those of our stockholders. The guidelines require covered roles to hold NeoGenomics stock worth a value expressed as a multiple of their salary within five years of the guideline applying to them.

The table below summarizes the current share ownership guidelines for our Named Executive Officers as a multiple of salary as of December 31, 2018:

Role

 

  Share Ownership Guideline

 

  Current Share Ownership  

 

Chief Executive Officer

  3.0  56.2

Named Executive Officers (1)

  1.0  7.2

(1) Share ownership calculated as an average of all Named Executive Officers except CEO who is shown separately.

Individuals who are yet to achieve their required ownership amounts are required to retain an amount equal to 25% of the net shares received as the result of the exercise, vesting, or payment of any equity awards they have received. If an individual’s share ownership level is not attained by the end of the initial five-year period (or at any time thereafter), they will be required to retain an amount equal to 100% of the net shares received as the result of the exercise, vesting, or payment of any equity awards granted to them, until the applicable guideline level is achieved. As of December 31, 2018, all Named Executive Officers were either in compliance with the share ownership guidelines or not yet required to be in compliance due to hire date.

Views of our Stockholders

Prior to 2019, NeoGeonomics has provided its stockholders with the opportunity to vote on executive compensation every three years. On June 7, 2016, the most recent Annual Meeting during which a vote was held, 94.2% of the votes cast were in favor of our Named Executive Officers’ compensation. This positive vote and feedback, coupled with alignment of pay and performance under NeoGenomics’ compensation programs, has guided the Compensation Committee’s discussions on executive compensation and is a significant factor in the programs remaining largely unchanged in the intervening years.

In light of stockholder expectations, predominant market practice, and a desire to receive more frequent insight on stockholder views regarding our Named Executive Officers’ compensation, subject to approval at the 2019 Annual Meeting, NeoGenomics will move to an annual vote on Named Executive Officers’ compensation. The outcomes of these advisory votes will continue to inform the Compensation Committee’s thinking as it evaluates the appropriateness and effectiveness of NeoGenomics’ approach to executive compensation.

Compensation Peer Group

In evaluating executive compensation, the Compensation Committee considers a number of factors including:

Absolute company performance;

Company performance relative to our established peer group;

Compensation practices observed in our established peer group; and

Stockholder views.

Given the fast-changing nature of our industry, the Compensation Committee reviews the compensation peer group annually, with input from Willis Towers Watson. Consideration is given to relative size (revenue, number of employees and market capitalization) and nature of business (business focus and model) of the organizations.

The Compensation Committee has consciously chosen to adopt a compensation peer group that is, on the whole, different from the group of companies with which our business competes. This is primarily due to the fact that many of our direct business competitors are either much larger or smaller than us in terms of size and scope, meaning the compensation data would not necessarily be appropriate to inform decision-making regarding executive compensation levels at NeoGenomics.

The 2018 compensation peer group comprised the following 20 companies:

•  AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

•  AngioDynamics, Inc.

•  AtriCure, Inc.

•  Cambrex Corporation

•  Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

•  Enzo Biochem, Inc.

•  Fluidigm Corporation

•  Foundation Medicine, Inc.*

•  Genomic Health, Inc.

•  Harvard Bioscience, Inc.

•  Luminex Corporation

•  Medpace Holdings, Inc.*

•  Myriad Genetics, Inc.

•  NanoString Technologies, Inc.

•  Natera, Inc.*

•  OraSure Technologies, Inc.

•  Pacific Biosciences of CA, Inc.

•  Quidel Corporation

•  Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

•  Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*

* Indicates companies excluded from CEO pay vs. performance graph below as three years of stock data is not available.

CTO Biopharma and NewLink Genetics were removed for 2018 because they fell outside the desired range of revenue and market capitalization. Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Nanostring Technologies, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, and Sucampo Pharmaceuticals were added for 2018 because they met industry selection criteria and fell within the desired ranges for revenue and market capitalization.

Assessment of the Chief Executive Officer’s Compensation

As noted above, one of the Compensation Committee’s annual activities is to assess the total compensation of the Chief Executive Officer related to our compensation peer group.

Each year, the Compensation Committee assesses the total compensation of our CEO in relation to the total compensation of the CEO of our peers. The peer group used for this purpose is our compensation peer group as defined above.

The following graph shows the relationship of our CEO’s total compensation as set forth in the 2017 Summary Compensation Table and the change in stock price for the three years ended December 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017 (annualized) as compared to the companies included in our peer group, as defined above. Data for the most recent year ended December 31, 2018 was not used in this graph as the CEO compensation was not available for this period for all companies presented.

LOGO

Establishing Performance Targets

Performance targets are set in the first quarter at the time of the Board’s annual budgeting session to ensure that our executives’ compensation opportunities are aligned with our short and long-term strategic goals. The performance targets are designed to reward achievement of specific financial, strategic and individual performance goals. We use an annual performance management process for our executives to assess individual performance, as well as a variety of distinct performance metrics that are shared among the executive team. As part of this process, each executive, including each of our NEOs, establishes his or her performance goals with input and approval from the CEO. Shared performance metrics are reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee.

2018 Compensation Decisions and Outcomes

An Overview of Performance in 2018

The Compensation Committee considers the financial performance of the Company in making compensation decisions. The Compensation Committee believes that compensation should be tied to the performance of the Company as well as the return to stockholders.

The primary metrics used in the evaluation of financial performance of the Company are revenue and adjusted EBITDA. During 2018, we reported record revenue of $277 million, representing 15.2% year over year growth. Revenue per test also improved 1.2% while we were able to reduce cost per test 4.6% year over year. Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $43.6 million, which represents an increase of 29.6% year over year.

These performance achievements in addition to company and individual goals, resulted in annual incentive awards ranging from 110% - 150% of target.

We have presented below the cumulative total return to our stockholders of $100 during the period from December 31, 2013 through December 31, 2018 in comparison to the cumulative return of the S&P 500 Index and a customized group of six publicly traded companies (Cancer Genetics, Inc., Enzo Biochem, Inc., Genomic Health, Inc., Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Myriad Genetics, Inc., and Quest Diagnostics, Inc.) during that same time period. As outlined above, while this peer group represents our direct business competitors, a number of them are either much larger or smaller than us in terms of size and scope, so they are not all included in our compensation peer group.

LOGO

The results assume that $100 (with reinvestment of all dividends) was invested in our common stock, the index, and in the peer group and relative performance tracked through December 31, 2018.

Our Named Executive Officers in 2018

The following individuals were Named Executive Officers in 2018.

Named Executive OfficerTitle

Date of Appointment

to Current Role

Douglas M. VanOort

Chief Executive Officer & ChairmanOctober 2009

Sharon A. Virag

Chief Financial OfficerMarch 2018

George A. Cardoza (1)

President, Pharma ServicesMarch 2018

Robert J. Shovlin

President, Clinical ServicesSeptember 2016

William B. Bonello

Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer;

Director, Investor Relations

April 2018

Lawrence M. Weiss

Chief Scientific OfficerDecember 2018

(1) Served as Chief Financial Officer from 2009 to March 2018.

2018 Base Salary

Named Executive OfficerBase SalaryEffective Date

Douglas M. VanOort

$645,000February 18, 2018

Sharon A. Virag

$400,000March 27, 2018

George A. Cardoza

$370,000February 18, 2018

Robert J. Shovlin

$380,000February 18, 2018

William B. Bonello

$340,000February 18, 2018

Lawrence M. Weiss

$576,000December 12, 2018

2018 Annual Incentive

The annual incentive is a performance bonus, paid in cash that is designed to incentivize and reward Named Executive Officers for operating results, both financial and strategic. The 2018 performance goals were approved by the Compensation Committee at the start of the fiscal year and communicated to each of our Named Executive Officers. In 2018, bonus opportunities and outcomes for the Named Executive Officers were as follows:

Named Executive Officer

  Target Bonus 
(% of salary)
 Maximum
Bonus

 (% of salary) 
  Actual Bonus 
(% of salary)
  Actual Bonus 
(% of target)

Douglas M. VanOort

 80% 160% 120% 150%

Sharon A. Virag (1)

 50% 100% 62% 123%

George A. Cardoza

 40% 80% 53% 131%

Robert J. Shovlin

 50% 100% 56% 112%

William B. Bonello

 40% 80% 51% 128%

Lawrence M. Weiss (1)

 30% 60% 33% 110%

(1) Appointed as executive in 2018; salary used for bonus calculations waspro-rated to reflect date of appointment/terms of offer letter.

The 2018 annual incentive is determined based on a combination of NeoGenomics’ financial performance as well as individual performance, including attainment of strategic critical success objectives and individual performance. The relative weightings of each have been carefully established to reflect the role of each Named Executive Officer and the areas on which they are able to have the most influence and impact. All Named Executive Officers have a corporate financial performance component, reflecting the importance of our senior management working collectively as a team to deliver results, and their collective accountability to our stockholders.

The weight of each measure for 2018 was as follows:

    

Corporate Performance

 

   Individual
  Performance  

Named Executive Officer

 

   

    Revenue    

 

   

    EBITDA    

 

   

Strategic Critical

  Success Factors  

 

   

Individual
Goals

 

Douglas M. VanOort

 

  40%

 

  40%

 

  10%

 

  10%

 

Sharon A. Virag

 

  35%

 

  35%

 

  10%

 

  20%

 

George A. Cardoza (1)

 

  10%

 

  30%

 

  10%

 

  50%

 

Robert J. Shovlin (2)

 

  10%

 

  30%

 

  10%

 

  50%

 

William B. Bonello

 

  35%

 

  35%

 

  10%

 

  20%

 

Lawrence M. Weiss

 

  35%

 

  35%

 

  10%

 

  20%

 

(1) The individual goal for George Cardoza is largely tied to the financial performance of the Pharma Services division. 35% of George Cardoza’s annual incentive in 2018 is based on achieving the Pharma Services division revenue goals set forth.

(2) The individual goal for Robert Shovlin is largely tied to the financial performance of the Clinical Services division, 30% of Robert Shovlin’s annual incentive in 2018 is based on achieving the Clinical Services revenue goals set forth.

Corporate Performance

The corporate performance component of the Annual Bonus Plan resulted in a payout of 101% of target for revenue 106% of target for EBITDA and 175% of target for achievement of 2018 strategic critical success factors. These results were driven by:

Record revenue of $277 million, representing 15.2% year over year growth;

Revenue per test improvement of 1.2%;

Adjusted EBITDA of $43.6 million, representing an increase of 29.6% year over year;

Attainment of critical success factors including:

Strengthening our world class culture by improving teamwork and emphasizing effective communication

Providing uncompromising quality through company-wide leadership, training, and employee engagement

Pursuing exceptional service and growth through customer engagement

Individual Performance

The individual performance component of the Annual Bonus Plan includes specific goals for each Named Executive Officer. Key achievements in the following areas were factored into determining the performance outcomes:

Completion of strategic initiatives including the acquisition of Genoptix as well as expanding into Singapore;

Achievement of operating segment revenue goals (where indicated in table above);

Achievement of 2018 company-wide focus initiatives and critical success factors including:

Advancing the careers of NEO employees through mentoring and training

Driving profitable growth

Achieving high levels of stockholder satisfaction

Improving processes through automation and innovation

Enhancing the customer experience

Developing new and enhanced tests including FDA approval of assays

Our Compensation Committee approved the CEO’s recommendations for the individual performance ratings of executives (other than the CEO). Individual performance ratings of the CEO were approved based on an evaluation of performance by the Compensation Committee. Individual performance ratings were based on individual goals, some of the key achievements included the following:

Named Executive OfficerKey Achievements

Individual

Performance

Factor

Douglas M. VanOort

•Identified and negotiated strategic acquisition target, Genoptix

•Integral in the successful completion of $135 million equity offering

•Created management succession process to develop succession-ready executives for all senior roles

•Achieved strong operational and financial performance

10%

Sharon A. Virag

•Negotiated and completed a $30 million bank re-financing

•Assumed leadership role in the successful $48 million redemption of Preferred Stock

•Led due diligence, evaluation, and successful acquisition of Genoptix

•Assumed leadership role in the successful $135 million equity offering

20%

George A. Cardoza

•Achieved >20% profitable Pharma revenue growth, exceeding 100% of goal

•Opened a laboratory in Singapore and gained momentum in Switzerland

•Ended the year with nearly $100 million in backlog

•Signed strategic alliance with PPD and began to operationalize

50%

Robert J. Shovlin

•Achieved Clinical revenue growth, exceeding 100% of goal

•Generated strong improvements in productivity and cost per test

•Led integration planning efforts for Genoptix

•Exceeded customer satisfaction survey goal

50%

William B. Bonello

•Developed and successfully executed PPD strategic alliance

•Developed and provided strong leadership for emerging alliances with large provider and payer organizations

•Completely repositioned our investor relations strategy and approach

20%

Lawrence M. Weiss, MD.

•Maintained outstanding relationships with our client base

•Transitioned from Medical Director to Chief Scientific Officer in December 2018

20%

The combination of corporate and individual performance resulted in the following awards based on 2018 performance:

Named Executive Officer        Actual Bonus        

    Actual Bonus    

(% of salary)

   

    Actual Bonus  

(% of target)

Douglas M. VanOort

  $            774,000   120%  150%

Sharon A. Virag (1)

   190,000   62%  123%

George A. Cardoza

   194,364   53%  131%

Robert J. Shovlin

   212,756   56%  112%

William B. Bonello

   174,375   51%  128%

Lawrence M. Weiss (1)

   32,276   33%  110%

(1) Appointed as executive in 2018; salary used for bonus calculations waspro-rated to reflect date of appointment/terms of offer letter.

Although the formulaic outcome for the Chief Executive Officer would have resulted in an actual bonus payout equal to 88% of salary, the Compensation Committee felt it appropriate to apply positive discretion (as permitted by the Annual Incentive Plan) to increase the payout to 120% of salary in light of the Chief Executive Officer’s outstanding performance in 2018. The factors the Compensation Committee considered in determining it appropriate to do so included the successful closing of the Genoptix acquisition and the significant shareholder returns achieved during 2018, neither of which influenced the formulaic outcome of the plan. As outlined above, the actual payout of 120% of salary for the Chief Executive Officer was well below the maximum bonus potential of 160% of salary.

2018 Long-Term Incentive Awards

2018 long-term incentive (“LTI’”) awards are primarily made in the form of stock options, and, from time to time, we grant time-based restricted stock to recognize contributions to the Company. This directly reflects our strategy, and, in turn, our compensation philosophy by delivering an appropriate balance of retention and motivation to deliver strong strategic performance, with a view to long-term value creation for our stockholders.

The amount of LTI awards granted to each executive is determined based on his or her individual performance, potential future contributions, market competitiveness, and other factors. Our Compensation Committee reviews our LTI awards against LTI awards of our peer group and also reviews the overall total compensation of our executive officers against our peer group. On average, annual LTI grant awards for our Named Executive Officers position their overall compensation at or around the median values of our peer group, in cases where there are comparable positions at the peer companies.

Other Elements of Compensation

Perquisites

We do not provide significant perquisites or personal benefits to Named Executive Officers. We provide competitive relocation benefits to newly hired officers, in keeping with industry practices. We value perquisites at their incremental cost to us in accordance with SEC regulations. These amounts, if applicable, are reflected in the Summary Compensation Table below under the column entitled “All Other Compensation” and the related footnotes.

Benefits

Named Executive Officers are provided with health benefits and access to our 401(k) Plan. Under the 401(k) Plan, NeoGenomics matches contributions at the rate of 100% of every dollar contributed up to 3% of the respective employee’s compensation and an additional 50% of every dollar contributed on the next 2% of compensation (4% maximum Company match). The Named Executive Officers participate in the same plan as the broader employee population.

Additional Information

Tax and Accounting Considerations

Section 162(m) of the Code limits the deductibility of compensation in excess of $1 million paid to any one named executive officer in any calendar year. Under the tax rules in effect before 2018, compensation that qualified as “performance-based” under Section 162(m) was deductible without regard to this $1 million limit. However, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was signed into law December 22, 2017, eliminated this performance-based compensation exception effective January 1, 2018, subject to a special rule that “grandfathers” certain awards and arrangements that were in effect on or before November 2, 2017. As a result, compensation that is paid on or after January 1, 2018 may not be fully deductible, depending on the application of the special grandfather rules. Moreover, from and after January 1, 2018, compensation awarded in excess of $1 million to our Named Executive Officers generally will not be deductible.

While the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will limit the deductibility of compensation paid to the Named Executive Officers, the Compensation Committee will, consistent with its past practice, design compensation programs that are intended to be in the best long-term interests of the Company and our stockholders, with deductibility of compensation being one of a variety of considerations taken into account.

Compensation Committee Report

The members of the Company’s Compensation Committee hereby state:

We have reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion & Analysis contained in this Proxy Statement with NeoGenomics’ management and, based on such review and discussions, we have recommended to the Company’s Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion & Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.

MEMBERS OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

Lynn A. Tetrault, Chair

Raymond R. Hipp

Stephen M. Kanovsky

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TABLES

Summary Compensation Table

The following Summary Compensation Table sets forth all compensation earned and accrued, in all capacities, during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015, 20142018, 2017, and 2013,2016, by the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and our fourthree other most highly compensated executive officers in 2015;2018, together “Named Executive Officers”.Officers.”

Name and

Principal Position

 

Year

 

Salary

($)

 

 

Bonus

($)(1)

 

 

Stock Award

($)(2)

 

 

Option Award

($)(2)

 

 

Non-Equity

Incentive Plan

Compensation

($)(3)

 

 

Non-qualified

Deferred

Compensation

Earnings

($)

 

 

All Other

Compensation

($)

 

 

Total

($)

 

Douglas M. VanOort

 

2015

 

 

475,000

 

 

 

600,000

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

206,447

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,385

 

 

 

1,282,832

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

2014

 

 

441,346

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

381,250

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

305,157

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,127,753

 

and Chairman of the Board

 

2013

 

 

425,000

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

139,429

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

564,429

 

George A. Cardoza

 

2015

 

 

270,000

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

359,740

 

 

 

80,925

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

810,665

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

2014

 

 

266,539

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

34,600

 

 

 

84,258

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

385,397

 

 

 

2013

 

 

245,500

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

64,290

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

309,790

 

Dr. Maher Albitar (4)

 

2015

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,183,537

 

 

 

150,000

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

460,000

 

 

 

1,793,537

 

Chief Medical Officer

 

2014

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

75,620

 

 

 

141,287

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

453,077

 

 

 

669,984

 

 

 

2013

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

100,140

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

435,385

 

 

 

535,525

 

Steven A. Ross (5)

 

2015

 

 

256,760

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

179,870

 

 

 

70,000

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,385

 

 

 

508,015

 

Chief Information Officer

 

2014

 

 

254,250

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

74,446

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

328,696

 

 

 

2013

 

 

156,923

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

192,251

 

 

 

32,580

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

24,840

 

 

 

406,594

 

Robert J. Shovlin (6)

 

2015

 

 

331,250

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

9,816

 

 

 

441,066

 

Chief Growth Officer

 

2014

 

 

68,750

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

502,925

 

 

 

21,450

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

593,125

 

 

 

2013

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Steven C. Jones (7)

 

2015

 

 

-

 

 

 

500,000

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

866,188

 

 

 

78,910

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

261,750

 

 

 

1,706,848

 

Executive Vice President, Finance

 

2014

 

 

-

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

77,500

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

257,500

 

 

 

435,000

 

 

 

2013

 

 

-

 

 

 

25,000

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

51,894

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

250,001

 

 

 

326,895

 

Name and
Principal Position
 Year  Salary
($)
  Bonus
($)(1)
  Stock
Award
($)(2)
  Option
Award
($)(2)
  Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)(3)
  Non-
qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
  All Other
Compensation
($)
  Total
($)
 

Douglas M. VanOort

  2018  $  641,923  $  $650,006  $  1,278,290  $  774,000  $              —  $          3,000  $  3,347,219 

Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board

 

  2017   616,346      1,432,495   1,231,667   200,000      3,000   3,483,508 
  2016   600,000         1,181,979   310,950      26,077   2,119,006 

Sharon A. Virag (4)

  2018   298,462   120,000      485,100   190,000         1,093,562 

Chief Financial Officer

 

  2017                         
  2016                         

George A. Cardoza (5)

  2018   370,000         492,158   194,364         1,056,522 

President of Pharma Services

  2017   352,692      181,750   492,667   80,000         1,107,109 
  2016   293,077         500,280   120,000         913,357 

Robert J. Shovlin

  2018   375,385         737,598   212,756      3,000   1,328,739 

President of Clinical Services

 

  2017   350,000      363,500   492,667   95,000      3,000   1,304,167 
  2016   335,962         500,280   115,000      9,731   960,973 

William B. Bonello (7)

  2018   337,692         308,078   174,375         820,145 

Chief Strategy and Corp Development Officer

Director, Investor Relations

  2017                         
  2016                         

Lawrence M. Weiss (6)(7)

  2018   571,519   100,000      152,100   32,276       855,895 

Chief Scientific Officer

  2017                         
  2016                         

(1)

AmountsAmount shown for 2015 consistSharon A. Virag in 2018 consists of asign-on bonus paid in accordance with her employment agreement. Amount shown for Lawrence M. Weiss consists of a discretionary cash bonusesbonus as well as a bonus paid to the applicable Named Executive Officer in recognition of the officer’saccordance with his medical services in connection with the Company’s acquisition of the business of Clarient, Inc. and related financing in December 2015.agreement.

(2)

Amounts shown represent grant date fair value computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718, with respect to stock awards and stock options granted to the Named Executive Officers. Pursuant to SEC rules, theThe amounts shown disregard the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. Each stock option was granted with an exercise price equal to the fair marketclosing value of our common stock on the day prior to the grant date. See the Financial Statements,Item 8, Note JL of our Annual Report on Form10-K for a description onof the valuation methodology of stock and option awards.

(3)

Amounts shown consist of awards based on performance under our Award Bonus Plansmanagement incentive bonus plans for each respective year.

(4)

Dr. Albitar acts as a consultant to the Company in his role as Chief Medical Officer as a result of the California Corporate Practice of Medicine restriction. As a result all payments to him in that role are included in All Other Compensation. See Item 8, Note H of our Annual Report for a description on the valuation methodology of stock option awards. Dr. Albitar was granted warrants to purchase 200,000 shares of common stock and the stock compensation expense related to these warrants has been included in option awards.

(5)

StevenSharon A. RossVirag joined the Company as Chief Financial Officer in April 2013.March 2018. On an annualized basis, hisher annual salary for 20132018 would have been $240,000.$400,000.

(5)

George Cardoza was Chief Financial Officer of the Company through March 2018.

(6)

Lawrence M. Weiss was appointed Chief Scientific Officer in December 2018.

(7)

In February 2019, management determined these individuals to be Named Executive Officers at December 31, 2018 based on the finalization of total compensation, includingnon-equity incentive plan compensation that was approved by the Compensation Committee.

(6)

Robert J. Shovlin joined the Company in October 2014. On an annualized basis, his annual salary for 2014 would have been $325,000.

(7)     Steven C. Jones acts as a consultantNarrative to the Company in his role as Executive Vice President, Finance.  As a result all payments to him in that role are included in All Other Compensation.

Employment Agreements and Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

The Company is a party to employment contracts with Douglas VanOort, our Chief Executive Officer and George Cardoza, our Chief Financial Officer, each described below.

15


On March 16, 2009, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Douglas M. VanOort to employ Mr. VanOort in the capacity of Executive Chairman and interim Chief Executive Officer. Such employment agreement was amended on October 28, 2009 to appoint Mr. VanOort as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (the employment agreement, as amended, hereafter, the “Employment Agreement”). The Employment Agreement had an initial term from March 16, 2009 through March 16, 2013, which subsequent to the initial term automatically renews for one year periods. Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Mr. VanOort receives a base salary of $325,000 per year and is eligible to receive an annual cash bonus for any given fiscal year in an amount equal to 60% of his base salary if he meets certain goals established for him by theSummary Compensation Committee of the Board. Such bonus is eligible to be increased to up to 150% of the target bonus in any fiscal year in which he meets certain performance thresholds established by the Compensation Committee. Mr. VanOort is also entitled to participate in all of the Company’s employee benefit plans and any other benefit programs established for officers of the Company. In the event that Mr. VanOort is terminated without cause by the Company, the Company has agreed to pay Mr. VanOort’s base salary and maintain his benefits for a period of a year.Table

The Employment Agreement also provides that Mr. VanOort was granted an option to purchase 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock under the Company’s Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan (the “Amended Plan”). The exercise price of such option is $0.80 per share. 500,000 shares of common stock subject to the option vested according to the following schedule (i) 200,000 shares vested on March 16, 2011; (ii) 12,500 shares vested each month beginning on April 16, 2011 until March 16, 2012; (iii) 8,000 shares vested each month beginning on April 16, 2012 until March 16, 2012 and (iv) 4,500 shares vested each month beginning on April 16, 2012 until March 16, 2013. 500,000 shares of common stock subject to the option vest based on the achievement of certain performance metrics by the Company.  The option grant expired five years from the grant date, and as of December 31, 2015 all of the options were vested.  On March 8, 2016, Mr. VanOort exercised all 1,000,000 options.

Either party may terminate Mr. VanOort’s employment with the Company at any time upon giving sixty days advance written notice to the other party. The Company and Mr. VanOort also entered into a Confidentiality, Non-Solicitation and Non-Compete Agreement in connection with the Employment Agreement.

On February 14, 2012, Mr. VanOort had his annual salary raised to $425,000 per year and was granted a supplemental non-qualified stock option to purchase 800,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.71 per share, which option has a five year term (the “Supplemental Options”). These Supplemental Options vested according to the passage of time with 200,000 shares vesting each year on the anniversary of the grant date for the first four years after the grant.  On March 12, 2014 Mr. VanOort exercised 375,000 warrants to purchase shares of NeoGenomics common stock at an exercise price of $1.05 per share. On March 16, 2014, 250,000 warrants expired unvested because performance requirements were not met.

In the event of a change of control of the Company in which the consideration payable to common stockholders of the Company in connection with such change of control has a deemed value of at least $4.00 per share, any Supplemental Options shall immediately vest in full. In the event that Mr. VanOort resigns his employment with the Company or the Company terminates Mr. VanOort’s employment for “cause” at any time prior to the time when all Supplemental Options have vested, then the rights under the Supplemental Options with respect to the unvested portion of each will immediately terminate as of the date of termination.

On April 15, 2014, the Company granted 125,000 shares of restricted stock to Douglas M. VanOort. Such restricted shares vest on the third anniversary of the grant date so long as Mr. VanOort remains Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The fair market value of the grant of restricted stock on award date was deemed to be $381,250 or $3.05 per share, which was the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the day before the grant was approved by the board of directors.

On November 1, 2015, Mr. VanOort had his annual salary increased to $600,000 per year.

On November 30, 2009, we entered into an employment agreement with George Cardoza, our Chief Financial Officer. The Employment Agreement has an initial term from November 30, 2009 through November 29, 2013, which initial term automatically renews for one year periods. The employment agreement specifies an initial base salary of $190,000 per year, which was subsequently increased to $250,000 per year in April 2013. Mr. Cardoza is also entitled to receive cash bonuses for any given fiscal year in an amount equal to 30% of his base salary if he meets certain goals established by our Chief Executive Officer and approved by the Board of Directors. Such bonus is eligible to be increased to up to 150% of the target bonus in any fiscal year in which he meets certain performance thresholds established by our Chief Executive Officer and approved by the Board of Directors. In addition, Mr. Cardoza was granted 150,000 stock options at an exercise price of $1.55 and with a five year term so long as Mr. Cardoza remains an employee of the Company. These options were scheduled to vest according to the passage of time; 37,500 shares were to vest on the grant date of each year beginning on November 30, 2010 through November 30, 2013.  Mr. Cardoza’s employment agreement also specifies that he is entitled to four weeks of paid vacation per year and other insurance benefits. In the event that Mr. Cardoza is terminated without cause by the Company, the Company has agreed to pay Mr. Cardoza’s base salary and maintain his benefits for a period of six months. On April 14, 2011 Mr. Cardoza was granted an additional option to purchase 100,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.46 per share. Such option had a five year term and vested 25,000 shares per year on the anniversary of the grant date for the first four years after the grant. On March 5, 2014 Mr. Cardoza was granted an additional option to purchase 30,000 shares

16


of common stock at an exercise price of $3.45 per share. Such option has a five year term and vests 10,000 shares per year on the anniversary of the grant date for the first three years after the grant.  On May 6, 2015 Mr. Cardoza was granted an additional option to purchase 200,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $4.78 per share.  Such option has a five year term and vests ratably on the anniversary of the grant date for the first three years after the grant date.  In the event of a change of control of the Company, all of Mr. Cardoza’s unvested options shall immediately vest.

On September 18, 2014, we entered in to an employment agreement with Robert Shovlin, our Chief Growth Officer.  The employment agreement specifies an initial base salary of $325,000 per year.  Mr. Shovlin is also entitled to receive performance based bonuses for any given fiscal year in an amount equal to 40% of his base salary if he meets certain goals established by our Chief Executive Officer and approved by the Board of Directors. Such bonus is eligible to be increased to up to 150% of the target bonus in any fiscal year in which he meets certain performance thresholds established by our Chief Executive Officer and approved by the Board of Directors. In addition, on October 13, 2014, Mr. Shovlin was granted 300,000 stock options at an exercise price of $4.79 and with a five year term so long as Mr. Shovlin remains an employee of the Company. These options were scheduled to vest according to the passage of time; 75,000 will vest on the first anniversary of the grant date and 6,250 will vest each month beginning on the 13th month after the grant date and continuing on each monthly anniversary thereafter until the fourth anniversary of the grant date.  Mr. Shovlin’s employment agreement also specifies that he is entitled to four weeks of paid vacation per year and other insurance benefits. In the event that Mr. Shovlin is terminated without cause by the Company, the Company has agreed to pay Mr. Shovlin’s base for a period of twelve months.

17


Grants of Plan Based Awards Named Executive Officers

The following table shows information regarding grants ofnon-equity and equity awards that we made during the fiscal year ended December 31, 20152018 to each of our Named Executive Officers.

 Name

 

Grant Date

 

Estimated Future Payouts Under

Non-Equity Incentive Plan (2)

($)

 

 

All Other

Stock

Awards:

Number

of Shares

of Stock

or Units

 

 

All Other

Option

Awards:

Number of

Securities

Underlying

Options

(#)

 

 

Exercise

or Base

Price of

Option

Awards

($/Sh)

 

 

Grant

Date Fair

Value of

Stock and

Option

Awards (1)

($)

 

 

 

 

 

Threshold

 

 

Target

 

 

Maximum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Douglas M. VanOort

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chairman of the Board

 

FY 2015 Annual Bonus

 

 

 

 

 

285,000

 

 

 

399,000

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

George Cardoza

 

5/6/2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

200,000

 

 

 

4.78

 

 

 

359,740

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

FY 2015 Annual Bonus

 

 

 

 

 

104,000

 

 

 

135,200

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Dr. Maher Albitar

 

5/6/2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

300,000

 

 

 

4.78

 

 

 

1,183,537

 

Chief Medical Officer

 

FY 2015 Annual Bonus

 

 

 

 

 

181,715

 

 

 

236,229

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Steven A. Ross

 

5/6/2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

4.78

 

 

 

179,870

 

Chief Information Officer

 

FY 2015 Annual Bonus

 

 

 

 

 

74,175

 

 

 

96,428

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Robert J. Shovlin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Chief Growth Officer

 

FY 2015 Annual Bonus

 

 

 

 

 

130,000

 

 

 

188,500

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Steven C. Jones

 

5/6/2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

225,000

 

 

 

4.78

 

 

 

866,188

 

Executive Vice President Finance

 

FY 2015 Annual Bonus

 

 

 

 

 

104,000

 

 

 

145,600

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

Name

 Grant Date    Estimated Future Payouts Under  
Non-Equity Incentive Plan (1)($)
  All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units (#)
  Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options (#)
  Exercise
or

Base
Price

of  Option
Awards
($/Sh)
  Grant
Date Fair
Value of
Stock and
Option
Awards
(2)($)
 
 

 

Threshold

  Target  Maximum 

Douglas M. VanOort

  2/26/2018          80        160       500,000  $8.03  $  1,278,290 

Chief Executive Officer and

Chairman of the Board

  8/1/2018                46,429        $650,006 
                      

Sharon A. Virag

  3/27/2018      50  100     192,500  $8.22  $485,100 

Chief Financial Officer

                    

George A. Cardoza

  2/26/2018      40  80     192,500  $8.03  $492,158 

Chief Financial Officer

                      

Robert J. Shovlin

  2/26/2018      50  100     288,500  $8.03  $737,598 

President, Clinical Services

                      

William B. Bonello

  2/26/2018      40  80     120,500  $8.03  $308,078 

Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer, Director of Investor Relations

                      

Lawrence M. Weiss

  4/19/2018      30  60     20,000  $9.22  $43,933 

Chief Scientific Officer

  12/12/2018               25,000  $  13.87  $108,167 

(1)

(1)The Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Bonus ofnon-equity incentive plan awards sets forth the target and maximum of the amounts awarded as an annual bonus in fiscal year 2018 under the management incentive plan. The actual amount earned is reflected in the Summary Compensation in the“Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column.

(2)

Represents the grant date fair value calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Information regarding the assumptions used in the valuation of option awards can be found in the footnotes to our financial statements entitled Stock Options, Stock Purchase Plan and Warrants inItem 8, Note K of our Annual Report on Form10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015,2018, filed with the SEC. Our executive officers will not realize the value of these awards in cash unless these awards are exercised and the underlying shares are subsequently sold. See also our discussion of stock based compensation under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting PoliciesPolicies” in our Annual Report on Form10-K.

(2)

The FY15 Annual Bonus of non-equity incentive plan awards sets forth the target and maximum of the amounts awarded as an annual bonus in fiscal 2015 under the management incentive plan. The actual amount earned is reflected in the Summary Compensation in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column.

18


Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year EndDecember 31, 2018

The Compensation Committee has been given the authority to set all performance metrics for the vesting of performance-based equity awards and has the authority to adjust any target financial metrics used for such vesting if it deems it appropriate to do so. The following table sets forth information with respect to outstanding equity awards related to stock options held by our Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2015:2018:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name and

Principal Position

  

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Exercisable

#

 

  

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Un-exercisable

#

 

 

Equity Incentive
Plan Awards-
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised &
Unearned
Options

 

  

Option
Exercise
Price

 

  

Option
Expiration
Date

 

Douglas M. VanOort

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

  

 
 

600,000
1,000,000

  
  

  

 

 

200,000

—  

(1) 

 

 

 
 

—  
—  

  
 

  

$

$

1.71

0.80

  

  

  

 
 

2/14/2017
3/16/2016

  
(2)  

 

 

 

 

 

 

George A. Cardoza

Chief Financial Officer

  

 
 

100,000
10,000

 

  
  

  

 

 

—  

20,000

200,000

  

(1)

(1) 

 

 
 

—  
—  

  
 

  

$

$

$

1.46

3.45

4.78

  

  

  

 
 

4/15/2016
3/05/2019

5/06/2020

  
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steven A. Ross

Chief Information Officer

  

 

75,000

  

  

 

75,000

100,000

(1)

(1) 

 

 

—  

    —  

  

  

$

$

3.93

4.78

  

  

 

4/22/2018

5/06/2020

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert J. Shovlin

Chief Operating Officer

  

 

87,500  

  

  

 

212,500

(1) 

 

 

—  

  

  

$

4.79

  

  

 

10/13/2019

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steven C. Jones

Executive Vice President of Finance

 

 

— 

 

 

 

225,000

(1)

 

 

—  

—  

 

 

$

 

 

4.78

 

 

 

 

5/06/2020

 

Dr. Maher Albitar

Chief Medical Officer

  

 

 

187,500

10,000

 

  

  

  

 

 

62,500

20,000

300,000

(1) 

(1)

(1) 

 

 

 

—  

       —

—  

  

 

  

$

$

$

1.43

3.45

4.78

  

  

  

 
 

1/09/2017
3/05/2019

5/06/2020

  
  

Option Awards

  Stock Awards 

Name and

Principal Position

 Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Exercisable
(#)
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Unexercisable
(#)
     Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Exercisable
(#)
  Option
Exercise
Price
($)
  Option
Expiration
Date
  Number
of
Shares
or Units
of Stock
that
have  not
Vested
(#)
  Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock that
have not
Vested
($)
     Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number
of
Unearned
Shares,
Units  or
Other
Rights
that  have
not
Vested
(#)
  Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value  of
Unearned
Shares,
Units  or
Other
Rights
that  have
not
Vested
(#)
 

Douglas M. VanOort

  315,018   157,509   (4)     $7.15   4/20/2021   131,362  $  1,656,475   

(1

(3


      

Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board

  166,666   333,334   (5)     $7.52   4/28/2022   46,429  $585,470   

(2

(3


      
   500,000   (6)     $8.03   2/26/2023              

Sharon A. Virag

     192,500   (7)     $8.22   3/27/2023              

Chief Financial Officer

                             

George A. Cardoza

  30,000      (8)     $3.45   3/5/2019   16,667  $210,171   

(1

(3


      

President of Pharma Services

  200,000      (9)     $4.78   5/6/2020              
  133,334   66,666   (4)     $7.15   4/20/2021              
  66,666   133,334   (5)     $7.52   4/28/2022              
     192,500   (6)     $8.03   2/26/2023              

Robert J. Shovlin

 

 

133,334

 

 

 

66,666

 

 

 

(4)

 

 

 

 

 

$

7.15

 

 

 

4/20/2021

 

 

 

33,334

 

 

$

420,342

 

  

(1

(3


 

 

 

 

 

 

President of Clinical Services

 

  66,666   133,334   (5)     $7.52   4/28/2022              
     288,500   (6)     $8.03   2/26/2023      

William B. Bonello

  34,000   66,000   (5)     $7.52   4/28/2022              

Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer Director, Investor Relations

     120,500   (6)     $8.03   2/26/2023              

Lawrence M. Weiss

  25,000   25,000   (10)      6.98   3/1/2021              

Chief Scientific Officer

  6,666   13,334   (11)      7.27   5/25/2022              
     20,000   (12)      9.22   4/19/2023              
     25,000   (13)      13.87   12/12/2023              

 

(1)

(1)Stock awards vest ratably on May 25, 2019 and May 25, 2020.

(2)

See Note J of the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report for a vesting detail.Stock awards vest ratably on August 1, 2019, August 1, 2020 and August 1, 2021.

(3)

Market value based on stock price at December 31, 2018.

(4)

Option awards vest ratably April 20, 2017, April 20, 2018 and April 20, 2019.

(5)

Option awards vest ratably on April 28, 2018, April 28, 2019 and April 28, 2020.

(6)

Option awards vest ratably on February 26, 2019, February 26, 2020 and February 26, 2021.

(7)

Option awards vest ratably on March 27, 2019, March 27, 2020 and March 27, 2021.

(8)

(2)

The options were exercised prior to expirationOption award vested ratably on 3/16/16.March 5, 2015, March 5, 2016 and March 5, 2017.

(9)

Option award vested ratably on May 6, 2016, May 6, 2017 and May 6, 2018.

(10)

Option award vests ratably on March 1, 2017, March 1, 2018, March 1, 2019 and March 1, 2020.

(11)

Option award vests ratably on May 25, 2018, May 25, 2019 and May 25, 2020.

(12)

Option award vests ratably on April 19, 2019, April 19, 2020 and April 19, 2021.

(13)

Option award vests ratably on December 12, 2019, December 12, 2020 and December 12, 2021.

Options Exercised and Stock Vested

There were noThe options exercised by and stock vested for our Named Executive Officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.  

Director Compensation

Each of our non-employee directors is entitled to receive cash compensation. As of December 31, 2015 the reimbursement was2018 were as follows:

   Option Awards   Stock Awards 
Name  Number of
Shares
Acquired
on Exercise
(#)
   Value
Realized on
Exercise
($)
   Number of
Shares

Acquired  on
Vesting
(#)
     Value
Realized on

Vesting
($)
 

Douglas M. VanOort

      $    65,680  (1)  $    759,918 

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

                 

Sharon A. Virag

                 

Chief Financial Officer

 

   

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

George A. Cardoza

           8,333    $96,413 

President of Pharma Services

                 

Robert J. Shovlin

   300,000      3,588,200    16,666  (1)   192,826 

President of Clinical Services

 

   

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

William B. Bonello

                 

Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer Director, Investor Relations

                 

Lawrence M. Weiss

                 

Chief Scientific Officer

                 

(1)

·

$11,250 for each calendar quarter served as directorShares were withheld to cover the cost of the options in connection with this exercise. The number of shares and value reported represents the gross number prior to withholding of such shares.

·

$20,000 for each year for a Committee Chairman of the Audit, Compensation and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

·

$5,000 for each year for a Committee Member of the Audit, Compensation, Compliance and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

19


We also reimburse our directors

Employment Agreements and Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

The Company is a party to employment contracts that contain provisions for travel expenses incurred in connection with attendance at Board and Board committee meetings. payment upon termination.

The following table provides information concerningshows the compensation of our non-employee directors forNamed Executive Officers with such provisions and the year endedestimated financial impact assuming these Named Executive Officers were terminated without cause at December 31, 2015.

 Name

 

Fees Earned or Paid in Cash

($)

 

 

Stock Awards

($)(1)

 

 

Warrant/Option Awards

($)(1)

 

 

Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation

 

 

Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings

 

 

All Other Compensation

 

 

Total

($)

 

Kevin C. Johnson (2)(5)

 

 

63,750

 

 

 

10,025

 

 

 

17,987

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

91,762

 

William J. Robison (2)(5)

 

 

68,750

 

 

 

10,025

 

 

 

17,987

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

��

 

 

-

 

 

 

96,762

 

Raymond R. Hipp (2)(5)

 

 

73,750

 

 

 

10,025

 

 

 

17,987

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

101,762

 

Bruce K. Crowther (2)(5)

 

 

55,000

 

 

 

10,025

 

 

 

17,987

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

83,012

 

Lynn A. Tetrault  (3)(4)

 

 

35,000

 

 

 

9,079

 

 

 

25,138

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

69,217

 

Alison L. Hannah (3)(4)

 

 

25,000

 

 

 

9,079

 

 

 

25,138

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

59,217

 

Kieran P. Murphy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Amounts shown represent grant date fair value computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718, with respect to stock awards, warrants and stock options granted to the non-employee directors. Pursuant to SEC rules, the amounts shown disregard the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. Each stock option was granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the grant date. See the Financial Statements, Note J of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for a description on the valuation methodology of stock and warrant/option awards. The aggregate number of stock awards and warrant/option awards outstanding held by each of our non-employee directors as of December 31, 2015 was as follows:

Name

 

 

 

Stock Awards(#)

 

 

Warrant/Option Awards(#)

 

Kevin C. Johnson

 

 

 

 

29,080

 

 

 

10,000

 

William J. Robison

 

 

 

 

29,080

 

 

 

10,000

 

Raymond R. Hipp

 

 

 

 

29,080

 

 

 

10,000

 

Bruce K. Crowther

 

 

 

 

3,580

 

 

 

10,000

 

Lynn A. Tetrault  

 

 

 

 

1,560

 

 

 

10,000

 

Alison L. Hannah

 

 

 

 

1,560

 

 

 

10,000

 

Kieran P. Murphy

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

(2)

On April 16, 2015 the Company granted four directors each 2,080 shares of restricted stock.  Such restricted stock vested ratably over each of the subsequent three quarters.  The fair market value of each grant of restricted stock on the award date was deemed to be $10,025 or $4.82 per share, which was the closing price of our common stock on the day before the grant was approved by the compensation committee of the Board of Directors.

(3)

On June 16, 2015 the Company granted two newly elected directors each 1,560 shares of restricted stock.  Such restricted stock vested ratably over each of the subsequent three quarters.  The fair market value of each grant of restricted stock on the award date was deemed to be $9,079 or $5.82 per share, which was the closing price of our common stock on the day before the grant was approved by the compensation committee of the Board of Directors.

(4)

On July 15, 2015, the Company granted two directors 10,000 stock options with an exercise price of $6.66, which was the closing price of our common stock on the day before the grant was approved by the compensation committee of the Board of Directors.  These options vest ratably over the next three anniversary dates of the grant date.

(5)

On May 6, 2015, the Company granted four directors each 10,000 stock options with an exercise price of $4.78, which was the closing price of our common stock on the day before the grant was approved by the compensation committee of the Board of Directors.  These options vest ratably over the next three anniversary dates of the grant date.

2018:

 

   Benefits and Payments     
Named Executive Officer  Base Salary      Benefits     

Douglas M. VanOort

  $    645,000    (1 $      12,252    (3)     

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

       

Sharon A. Virag

   400,000    (1  10,884    (3)     

Chief Financial Officer

 

       

George C. Cardoza

   185,000    (2  9,792    (4)     

President of Pharma Services

       

Robert J. Shovlin

   380,000    (1     

President of Clinical Services

 

       

William B. Bonello

   340,000    (1     

Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer

Director, Investor Relations

       

20


Compensation Discussion and Analysis(1) Represents 12 months continuation of base salary

(2) Represents 6 months continuation of base salary

(3) Represents the estimated incremental cost to the Company for continuation of health care benefits for 12 months.

(4) Represents the estimated incremental cost to the Company for continuation of health care benefits for 6 months.

The following Named Executive Compensation Philosophy

Our compensation philosophy is to offer our executive officers compensation and benefitsOfficers have stock options and/or restricted stock agreements that are competitive and meet our goals of attracting, retaining and motivating highly skilled management, which is necessary to achieve our financial and strategic objectives and create long-term valuecontain provisions providing for our stockholders. We believe the levels of compensation we provide should be competitive, reasonable and appropriate for our business needs and circumstances.

Advisory Vote on Executive Compensationaccelerated vesting upon change in control.

The Company provides its stockholders withfollowing table shows the opportunityestimated benefit to vote on executive compensation every three years. At the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on June 6, 2013, 64.9% of the votes cast on the advisory vote on executive compensation proposal were in favor of our Named Executive Officers’ compensation as describedOfficer assuming a change in the proxy statement for the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. control at December 31, 2018:

  

Vesting Upon Change in Control

 

 
Named Executive Officer Unvested
Stock
Options

#
  Stock
Options

Estimated
Benefit (1)
  Unvested
Restricted
Stock

#
  Restricted
Stock

Estimated
Benefit (1)
 

Douglas M. VanOort

  833,334  $  3,986,670   177,790  $  2,241,932 

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

    

Sharon A. Virag,Chief Financial Officer

 

  

 

192,500

 

 

 

  

 

845,075

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

George C. Cardoza, President of Pharma Services

  325,834   1,560,320   16,667   210,171 

Robert J. Shovlin,President of Clinical Services

 

  

 

421,834

 

 

 

  

 

2,000,000

 

 

 

  

 

33,334

 

 

 

  

 

420,342

 

 

 

William B. Bonello

  186,500   887,830       

Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer

Director, Investor Relations

    

Lawrence M. Weiss,Chief Scientific Officer

  58,334   139,004       

(1) Estimated benefit based on stock price at December 31, 2018.

CEO Pay Ratio

The Compensation Committee reviewed these final vote results and took them into account when considering itsa comparison of our CEO’s total annual compensation decisions for fiscal 2013. The Compensation Committee determined that givento the leadership role of the Named Executive Officers in the Company’s continued steady performance the Company’s executive compensation program remains appropriate and no changes were necessary. However, the Compensation Committee continues to review our executive compensation program consistent with the compensation goals set forth herein and will continue to consider the outcome of the stockholder votes on thetotal annual executive compensation proposal when making future decisions regarding our executive officers.

Process for Determining Executive Compensation

Our Compensation Committee reviews and approves the annual base compensation and other compensation of our Named Executive Officers. Our Compensation Committee also establishes and reviews the achievement of performance goals and other matters relating to the Annual Bonus Plans.

Base Compensation

Our base compensation philosophy is to offer our executive officers compensation and benefits that are competitive and meet our goals of attracting, retaining and motivating highly skilled management, which is necessary to achieve our financial and strategic objectives and create long-term valuemedian employee for our stockholders. We believe the levels of base compensation we provide should be competitive, reasonable and appropriate for our business needs and circumstances.

The base compensation of our Named Executive Officers is reviewed annually and changes to base salary are made pursuant to a review process and salary increase recommendations are made by the Chief Executive Officer and subsequently reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee. Any changes to the Chief Executive Officer base salary are discussed and approved by the Compensation Committee.

Benefits

Our policy is to provide health benefits as well as access to our 401(k) Plan to which we match any employees’ including our Named Executive Officers’ contributions at the rate of 50% of every dollar contributed up to 4% of the respective employee’s salary (2% Company match). Effective, January 1, 2016 this benefit will increase to 75% of every dollar contributed by employee up to 4% of the respective employee’s compensation (3% match).

Annual Bonus Plan and Goal Sharing Plan

The Compensation Committee adopts an Annual Bonus Plans for each year which it believes incentivizes senior management to push to achieve operating results that the Compensation Committee believes will inure to the benefit of stockholders as well as management. Each Annual Bonus Plan provides goals which the Compensation Committee believes could only be achieved through extraordinary team efforts by senior management and that are designed to incentivize senior management to operate the Company in the most efficient manner possible. In developing the Annual Bonus Plan for each year, the Compensation Committee takes into consideration the economy in general and the goals of the Company that it wishes to reward, achieving our revenue goals, our Adjusted EBITDA goals and the successful completion of Company determined critical success factors. There are also some individual goals that are provided to each of our Named Executive Officers.

The Named Executive Officers also participate in a goal sharing plan which is available to all employees on a quarterly basis which has up to a 4.0% pay-out for achieving certain common goals defined for the business such as revenue goals, turnaround time metrics, cost per test goals, employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction goals. This plan has been disbanded for the current fiscal year of 2015 and the Named Executive Officers will no longer participate in this goal sharing plan.

21


Tax Compliance Policy

Section 162(m) of the Code generally disallows a tax deduction to public corporations for compensation in excess of $1,000,000 paid for any fiscal year to a corporation’s chief executive officer and to the three other most highly compensated executive officers in office as of the end of the fiscal year, other than the chief financial officer. The statute exempts qualifying performance-based compensation from the deduction limit if certain requirements are met. However, stockholder interests may at times be best served by not restricting the Compensation Committee’s discretion and flexibility in developing compensation programs, even though the programs may result in non-deductible compensation expenses. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee may from time to time approve elements of compensation for certain officers that are not fully deductible.

Compensation Committee Interlocks

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015,2018. The total annual compensation of our CEO for this period was $3,347,219, compared to the memberstotal annual compensation of our median employee which was $70,258. The resulting ratio of our CEO’s pay to the Company’s Compensation Committee were:

Lynn A. Tetrault, Chairman

William J. Robison

Raymond R. Hipp

Kevin C. Johnson

No memberpay of the Compensation Committee was an officer orour median employee of the Company duringfor the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.2018 was 48:1; which is relatively consistent with the 50:1 reported for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017. The pay ratio is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with Item 402(u) of RegulationS-K.

Compensation Committee ReportIn determining the median employee, the Company used a consistently applied compensation measure. The compensation measure included salary received in fiscal year 2018 including commissions and bonuses (if applicable). The compensation measure excluded the following pay elements: grant date fair value of stock option granted in fiscal year 2018, company-paid 401(k) match made during fiscal year 2018 and company-paid insurance premiums during fiscal year 2018. For purposes of determining the median employee, the Company used the employee population as of December 31, 2018 including all active full-time, part-time and per diem employees.

The membersmedian employee was selected by (i) calculating the compensation for each of our employees (excluding the Company’s Compensation Committee hereby state:

We have reviewed and discussedCEO) using the Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained in this proxy statement withconsistently applied compensation measure as defined above, (ii) ranking the Company’s management, andemployees based on such reviewthat compensation from lowest to highest, and discussions, we have recommended to(iii) selecting the Company’s Boardemployee that falls in the middle of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement.population.

Compensation Committee

By:

Lynn A. Tetrault, Chairman

William J. Robison

Kieran P. Murphy

Raymond R. Hipp

22


SECURITY OWNERSHIPOWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth information as of April 20, 201612, 2019 with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock by:

each person or group known by the Company to own beneficially more than five percent of the Company’s outstanding common stock.

each director and Series A Preferred Stock by:Named Executive Officer of the Company;

the directors and executive officers of the Company as a group;

Title of Class 

Name And Address Of

Beneficial Owner

 Amount and Nature
Of Beneficial
Ownership (1)
  Percent Of Class (1) 
5% Stockholders        

Common

 

Blackrock, Inc.

55 East 52nd Street

New York, NY 10055

 

  

 

12,723,340

 

 

 

  

 

13.3%

 

 

 

Common

 

Janus Henderson Group

201 Bishopsgate

EC2M 3AE, United Kingdom

  5,888,667   6.2% 

Common

 

Kopp Family Office, LLC (16)

8400 Normandale Lake Blvd, Ste. 1450

Bloomington, Minnesota 55437

 

  

 

5,560,507

 

 

 

  

 

5.8%

 

 

 

Named Executive Officers and Directors

   

Common

 

 

Steven C. Jones (2)

 

  

 

3,288,231

 

 

 

  

 

3.4%

 

 

 

Common

 Douglas M. VanOort (3)  3,251,795   3.4% 

Common

 Raymond R. Hipp (4)  293,930   * 

Common

 Kevin C. Johnson (5)  125,771   * 

Common

 Bruce K. Crowther (6)  58,004   * 

Common

 Alison L. Hannah (7)  79,584   * 

Common

 Lynn A. Tetrault (8)  44,584   * 

Common

 Stephen M. Kanovsky (9)     * 

Common

 Sharon A. Virag (10)  75,110   * 

Common

 George A. Cardoza (11)  870,006   * 

Common

 Robert J. Shovlin (12)  377,820   * 

Common

 William B. Bonello (13)  53,698   * 

Common

 Lawrence M. Weiss (14)  63,392   * 

Common

 Directors and Named Executive Officers as a Group (15)  8,581,925   8.8% 

* Less than 1%

(1)

·

each person or group known by the Company to own beneficially more than five percent of the Company’s outstanding common stock or Series A Preferred Stock;

·

each director and Named Executive Officer of the Company;

·

the directors and executive officers of the Company as a group;

Title of Class

  

Name And Address Of

Beneficial Owner

  

Amount and Nature
Of Beneficial
Ownership (1)

 

  

Percent Of Class (1)

 

5% Stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock

 

GE Medical Systems Information Technologies, Inc. (2)

8200 West Tower Avenue,

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53223

 

 

14,666,667

 

 

 

100

%

Common

 

GE Medical Systems Information Technologies, Inc. (2)

8200 West Tower Avenue,

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53223

 

 

15,000,000

 

 

 

19.5

%

Executive Officers and Directors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common

  

Steven C. Jones (3)

c/o NeoGenomics, Inc.

12701 Commonwealth Blvd., Suite 5

Fort Myers, FL 33913

  

 

4,874,095

  

  

 

6.3

Common

  

Douglas M. VanOort (4)

c/o NeoGenomics, Inc.

12701 Commonwealth Blvd., Suite 5

Fort Myers, FL 33913

  

 

2,787,500

  

  

 

3.6

Common

  

Raymond R. Hipp (5)

c/o NeoGenomics, Inc.

12701 Commonwealth Blvd., Suite 5

Fort Myers, FL 33913

  

 

268,127

  

  

 

*

  

Common

  

Kevin C. Johnson (6)

c/o NeoGenomics, Inc.

12701 Commonwealth Blvd., Suite 5

Fort Myers, FL 33913

  

 

121,087

  

  

 

*

  

Common

  

William J. Robison (7)

c/o NeoGenomics, Inc.

12701 Commonwealth Blvd., Suite 5

Fort Myers, FL 33913

  

 

177,126

  

  

 

*

  

Common

  

Bruce K. Crowther (8)

c/o NeoGenomics, Inc.

12701 Commonwealth Blvd., Suite 5

Fort Myers, FL 33913

  

 

13,313

  

  

 

*

  

Common

 

Alison  L. Hannah (9)

c/o NeoGenomics, Inc.

12701 Commonwealth Blvd., Suite 5

Fort Myers, FL 33913

 

 

11,560

 

 

 

*

 

Common

 

Lynn A. Tetrault (10)

c/o NeoGenomics, Inc.

12701 Commonwealth Blvd., Suite 5

Fort Myers, FL 33913

 

 

14,560

 

 

 

*

 

Common

 

Kieran P. Murphy (11)

c/o NeoGenomics, Inc.

12701 Commonwealth Blvd., Suite 5

Fort Myers, FL 33913

 

 

 

 

 

*

  

 

*

  

 

 

 

*

  

23


Title of Class

  

Name And Address Of

Beneficial Owner

  

Amount and Nature
Of Beneficial
Ownership (1)

 

  

Percent Of Class (1)

 

Common

 

Steven Brodie (12)

c/o NeoGenomics, Inc.

12701 Commonwealth Blvd., Suite 5

Fort Myers, FL 33913

 

 

129,286

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

Common

 

George A. Cardoza (13)

c/o NeoGenomics, Inc.

12701 Commonwealth Blvd., Suite 5

Fort Myers, FL 33913

 

 

295,756

 

 

 

*

 

Common

 

Maher Albitar (14)

c/o NeoGenomics, Inc.

12701 Commonwealth Blvd., Suite 5

Fort Myers, FL 33913

 

 

633,492

 

 

 

*

 

Common

  

Robert J. Shovlin (15)

c/o NeoGenomics, Inc.

12701 Commonwealth Blvd., Suite 5

Fort Myers, FL 33913

  

 

131,550  

  

  

 

*

  

Common

  

Mark A. Machulcz (16)

c/o NeoGenomics, Inc.

12701 Commonwealth Blvd., Suite 5

Fort Myers, FL 33913

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Common

  

Steven A. Ross (17)

c/o NeoGenomics, Inc.

12701 Commonwealth Blvd., Suite 5

Fort Myers, FL 33913

  

 

150,334

  

  

 

*

  

Common

  

Jennifer Balliet (18)

c/o NeoGenomics, Inc.

12701 Commonwealth Blvd., Suite 5

Fort Myers, FL 33913

  

 

70,883

  

  

 

*

  

Common

  

Edwin Weidig III (19)

c/o NeoGenomics, Inc.

12701 Commonwealth Blvd., Suite 5

Fort Myers, FL 33913

  

 

46,668

  

  

 

*

  

Common

  

Directors and Officers as a Group (20)

  

 

9,725,337

  

  

 

12.2

*

Less than one percent (1%)

(1)

The number and percentage of shares beneficially owned are determined in accordance with Rule13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act ”)”), and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under such rule, beneficial ownership includes any shares over which the individual or entity has voting power or investment power and any shares of common stock that the individual has the right to acquire within 60 days of April 20, 2016,12, 2019, through the exercise of any stock option or other right. As of April 20, 2016, 77,117,67812, 2019, 95,321,508 shares of the Company’s common stock were outstanding. The information in the table is based upon information supplied by executive officers and directors and Schedules 13G filed with the SEC. The address of all of our executive officers and directors is in care of NeoGenomics, Inc. at 12701 Commonwealth Drive Suite 9, Fort Myers, FL 33913.

(2)

GE Medical Systems Information Technologies, Inc. (“GE Info Tech”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Electric Company (“GE”) and the parent company of GE Medical Holding AB.  GE Info Tech holds the common and preferred shares that were issued pursuant to the acquisition of Clarient on December 30, 2015.  

(3)

(2)

Steven C. Jones, Executive Vice President of Finance anda director of the Company, has direct ownership of 286,251241,815 shares and options exercisable within 60 days of April 20, 201612, 2019 to purchase 75,000334,683 shares and warrants exercisable within 60 days of April 20, 2016 to purchase an additional 450,000 shares.common stock. Totals for Mr. Jones also include (i) 50,476 shares owned by Jones Network, LP, a family limited partnership that Mr. Jones controls and (ii) 190,000 shares owned by the Steven & Carisa Jones Defined Benefit Pension Plan & Trust, and (iii) 32,157197,657 shares held in certain individual retirement and custodial accounts. In addition, Mr. Jones is the Managing Member of the general partner of Aspen Select Healthcare, LP (“Aspen”),; thus he has the right to vote the 3,327,7451,900,000 shares which Aspen has direct ownership of as well as the 462,466563,600 shares tofor which Aspen has received a voting proxy.

(4)

(3)

Douglas M. VanOort, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, has direct ownership of 1,675,0002,092,435 shares 125,000 shares of restricted stock and options exercisable within 60 days of April 20, 201612, 2019 to purchase 800,000 shares.971,860 shares of common stock. Totals for Mr. VanOort include 187,500 shares owned by Conundrum Capital L.P. a partnership for which Mr. VanOort is a managing member.

24


(5)

(4)

Raymond R. Hipp, a director of the Company, has direct ownership of 235,714287,580 shares 29,080 shares of restricted stock and options exercisable within 60 days of April 20, 201612, 2019 to purchase 3,333 shares.6,350 shares of common stock.

(6)

(5)

Kevin C. Johnson, a director of the Company, has direct ownership of 88,674103,866 shares 29,080 shares of restricted stock and options exercisable within 60 days of April 20, 201612, 2019 to purchase 3,333 shares.21,905 shares of common stock.

(7)

William J. Robison, a director of the Company, has direct ownership of 144,713 shares, 29,080 shares of restricted stock and options exercisable within 60 days of April 20, 2016 to purchase 3,333 shares.

(8)

(6)

Bruce K. Crowther, a director of the Company, has direct ownership of 6,40032,766 shares 3,580 shares of restricted stock and options exercisable within 60 days of April 20, 201612, 2019 to purchase 3,333 shares.25,238 shares of common stock.

(9)

(7)

Alison L. Hannah, a director of the Company, has direct ownership of 10,00061,013 shares 1,560 shares of restricted stock and has no options exercisable within 60 days of April 20, 2016.12, 2019 to purchase 18,571 shares of common stock.

(10)

(8)

Lynn A. Tetrault, a director of the Company, has direct ownership of 13,00038,234 shares 1,560and options exercisable within 60 days of April 12, 2019 to purchase 6,350 shares of restricted stockcommon stock.

(9)

Stephen M. Kanovsky, a director of the Company, has no direct ownership and has no options exercisable within 60 days of April 20, 2016.12, 2019.

(11)

(10)

Kieran P. Murphy, a director of the Company, has direct ownership of no shares and has no options exercisable within 60 days of April 20, 2015.

(12)

Steven Brodie,Sharon A. Virag, Chief ScientificFinancial Officer, has direct ownership of 55,95310,944 shares and options exercisable within 60 days of April 20, 201612, 2019 to purchase 73,333 shares.64,166 shares of common stock.

(13)

(11)

George A. Cardoza, Chief Financial Officer, has direct ownership of 209,089272,507 shares, options exercisable within 60 days of April 12, 2019 to purchase 597,499 shares of common stock.

(12)

Robert J. Shovlin, President of Clinical Services, has direct ownership of 148,321 shares and options exercisable within 60 days of April 20, 201612, 2019 to purchase 86,667 shares.229,499 shares of common stock.

(14)

(13)

Dr. Maher Albitar,William B. Bonello, Chief Medical Officer,Strategy and Corporate development Officer; Director, Investor Relations has direct ownership of 15,000 shares, 48,492 shares owned by Albitar Oncology Defined Benefit Plan, 200,000 warrants are exercisable within 60 days of April 20, 2016 and 370,000 options are exercisable within 60 days of April 20, 2016.

(15)

Robert J. Shovlin, Chief Growth Officer, has direct ownership of 6,550 shares and has 125,000 options exercisable within 60 days of April 20, 2015.

(16)

Mark A. Machulcz Chief Operating Officer, has direct ownership of no shares and has no options exercisable within 60 days of April 20, 2015.

(17)

Steven A. Ross, Chief Information Officer, has direct ownership of 4,5006,735 shares and options exercisable within 60 days of April 20, 201612, 2019 to purchase 145,834 shares.46,963 shares of common stock.

(18)

(14)

Jennifer Balliet, Vice President Human Resources,Lawrence M. Weiss, Chief Scientific Officer, has direct ownership of 4655,893 shares and options exercisable within 60 days of April 20, 201612, 2019 to purchase 70,418 shares.57,499 shares of common stock.

(19)

Edwin F. Weidig, III, Principal Accounting Officer, has direct ownership of 15,001 shares and options exercisable within 60 days of April 20, 2016 to purchase 31,667 shares.

(20)

(15)

The total number of shares listed eliminates double counting of shares that may be beneficially attributable to more than one person.

(16)

Based solely on information reported in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 4, 2019. Kopp Family Office, LLC, Kopp Holding Company, LLC and LeRoy C. Kopp are the beneficial owners of and have shared voting authority with respect to 5,560,507 shares.

SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our officers and directors, and persons who beneficially own more than ten percent (10%) of our outstanding common stock, to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership with the SEC. Such persons are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with all copies of Section 16(a) forms they file.

Based solely on our review of the copies of such forms received by us, we believe that during the fiscal year ended December 31, 20152018 all filing requirements were timely satisfied except that Bruce K. Crowther, Raymond R. Hipp, Kevin C. Johnson and William J. Robison did not timely file Form 4 as required for options granted during the year ended December 31, 2015.satisfied.

FUTURE STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

To have a proposal intended to be presented at our 20172020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting, a stockholder must deliver written notice of such proposal in writing to the Corporate Secretary at our corporate headquarters no later than December 31, 20162019 (unless the date of the 20162019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is not within thirty (30)30 days of June 7, 2016,6, 2019, in which case the proposal must be received no later than a reasonable period of time before we begin to print and send our proxy materials for our 20162020 Annual Meeting). Such proposal must also comply with the requirements as to form and substance established by the SEC for such a proposal to be included in the proxy statement. We reserve the right to reject, rule out of order, or take other appropriate action with respect to any proposal that does not comply with these and other applicable requirements.

25If a stockholder wishes to present a proposal before the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, but does not wish to have the proposal considered for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy in accordance with Rule14a-8, the stockholder must also give written notice to the Corporate Secretary at our corporate headquarters. Our Corporate Secretary must receive the notice not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to June 6, 2020, the anniversary date of the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is called for a date that is not within 30 days before or after June 6, 2020, notice by the stockholder in order to be timely must be received not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting was made, whichever first occurs. The proposal must also comply with the other requirements contained in our Amended and Restated Bylaws.


PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

Crowe Horwath LLP served as our principal accountant for the last two fiscal years. Representatives from Crowe Horwath LLP are not expected to be present at the 2016 Annual Meeting.  Summarized below is the aggregate amount of various professional fees billed by our principal accountants Crowe Horwath LLP.LLP with respect to our last two fiscal years:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

2015

 

  

2014

 

Audit fees

  

$

479,860

  

  

$

190,000  

  

Audit Related Fees

  

 

198,660

 

  

 

—  

 

Tax Fees

  

 

40,000

 

  

 

—  

 

All other fees

  

 

 

  

 

53,500  

  

   2018

 

   2017

 

 

Audit fees

  $            851,977   $            533,850 

Audit Related Fees

   168,740    101,400 

Tax Fees

        

All other fees

       1,784 

All audit fees are approved by our Audit Committee and Board of Directors, and are limited to services provided on the Company’s annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Audit related fees are fees billed for assurance, due diligence in connection with acquisitions, and related services by our principal accountants that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements and that are not included under “audit fees.” Tax fees include those related to tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. All other fees consist primarily of services performed related to other SEC filings and advisory services.

The Audit Committee’s policy is topre-approve all audit andnon-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm, including the estimated fees and other terms of any such engagement.

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS

Consulting Agreement

During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, Steven C. Jones, a director of the Company, earned approximately $261,500, $257,500 and $254,500, respectively, for various consulting work performed in connection with his duties as Executive Vice President of Finance and reimbursement of incurred expenses.  Mr. Jones also earned $578,900, $177,500 and $72,500 as payment of bonuses for the periods indicated above.  The bonus earned for the year ended December 31, 2015 was comprised of $500,000 in recognition of the services provided in connection with the Company’s acquisition of Clarient, Inc. and the related financing.  This amount was paid to Aspen Capital Advisors, LLC (“Aspen’) for which Mr. Jones is a managing director, pursuant to a consulting agreement entered into between Aspen and the Company on November 11, 2015.  The remaining $78,900 was earned as part of a management incentive plan.

On May 4, 2015, the Company granted Steven C. Jones 225,000 stock options to purchase shares of parent common stock.  The options were granted at a price of $4.78 per share and had a weighted average fair market value of $1.80 per option.  The options vest ratably over the next three years on each anniversary date.  10,000 of the options were accounted for as granted to a Director of the Company, consistent with similar grants at that time to other Directors.  The remaining 215,000 stock options have been accounted for as granted to a non-employee as they relate to his services to the Company as a consultant. Agreements

On May 3, 2010, the Company entered into a consulting agreement (the “Consulting Agreement”) with Steven C. Jones, a director, previous officer, and stockholder of the Company whereby Mr. Jones would continue to provide consulting services to the Company in the capacity of Executive Vice PresidentPresident. On May 3, 2010, the Company also entered into a warrant agreement with Mr. Jones and issued a warrant to purchase 450,000 shares of Finance.the Company’s common stock, which were all vested as of December 31, 2016 and fully exercised at December 31, 2017.

On November 4, 2016, the Company entered into an amended and restated consulting agreement (the “Amended and Restated Consulting Agreement”) with Mr. Jones. The Amended and Restated Consulting Agreement has an initial term from May 3, 2010of November 4, 2016 through April 30, 2013,2020, which initial term automatically renews for additional one (1) year periods unless either party provides notice of termination at least three (3) months prior to the expiration of the initial term or any renewal term. In addition, the Company has the right to terminate the Amended and Restated Consulting Agreement by giving written notice to Mr. Jones one (1)the year prior to the effective date of termination. Mr. Jones has the right to terminate the Amended and Restated Consulting Agreement by giving written notice to the Company three (3) months prior to the proposed termination date, provided, however, the Mr. Jones is required to provide an additional three (3) months of transition services to the Company upon reasonable request by the Company. The Amended and Restated Consulting Agreement specifies an annualmonthly base retainer compensation of $180,000$21,666 per year, which was subsequently increased to $200,000month until April 30, 2017; $15,000 per year in February 2011month from May 1, 2017 until April 30, 2018; $12,500 per month from May 1, 2018 until April 30, 2019; and to $210,000$10,000 per year in April 2012. In January 2013 Mr. Jones annual retainer was increased to $250,000 per year.month thereafter. Mr. Jones is also eligible to receive an annuala cash bonus based on the achievement of certain performance metrics with a target of thirty percent (30%)35% of his base retainer.retainer for any given fiscal year. Such bonus is eligible to be increased to up to 150% of the target bonus in any fiscal year in which he meets certain performance thresholds established by the our Chief Executive OfficerCEO of the Company and approved by the Board of Directors.

26During the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, Mr. Jones earned approximately $163,000, $242,000, and $263,000, respectively, for various consulting work performed in connection with his duties as Executive Vice President and reimbursement of incurred expenses. Mr. Jones also earned $58,013, $31,912, and $85,000 as payment of bonuses for the periods indicated above. During the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, Mr. Jones earned approximately $50,000, $50,000, and $0, respectively as compensation for his services on the Board.


The Company also agreed that it would issuefollowing table summarizes stock options and restricted stock granted to Mr. Jones a warrant to purchase 450,000 shares ofduring the Company’s common stock. The warrant has a seven year term, an exercise price of $1.50 per share, the ability to do a cashless net exercise, and a vesting schedule as follows:

i)

225,000 of such warrant shares vested immediately which included recognition for cumulative achievements for the Company by Mr. Jones; and

ii)

112,500 of such warrant shares vested according to the passage of time, with 4,687 warrant shares vesting on the last day of each calendar month for twenty-three (23) months, beginning with the monthyears ended May 31, 2011 and continuing until the month ending March 31, 2012 and 4,699 warrant shares vested on April 30, 2012.

iii)

112,500 of such warrant shares vested based on the Company meeting certain financial goals.

As of December 31, 2014 all 450,000 warrants were fully vested.2018, 2017, and 2016:

The Consulting Agreement also provides that the vesting schedule of such warrant shall also specify that any unvested warrant shares shall vest upon the occurrence of a change of control.

Grant Date

     Stock Options    
Granted
  Restricted
Common Stock
    Shares Granted    
  Fair Value  Fair Value per
Share
      Exercise Price     

June 1, 2018 

  3,017    —   $            11,284  ��$            3.74   $                11.60  

June 1, 2018 

  —    6,897    80,005    11.60    —  

May 25, 2017 

  10,000    —    24,700    2.47    7.27  

May 25, 2017 

  —    8,667    63,009    7.27    —  

April 20, 2016 

  100,000    —    250,000    2.50    7.15  

Corporate Policies as to Related Party Transactions

The Company reviews related party transactions. Related party transactions are transactions that involve the Company’s directors, executive officers, director nominees, 5% or more beneficial owners of the Company’s common stock, immediate family members of these persons, or entities in which one of these persons has a direct or indirect material interest. Transactions that are reviewed as related party transactions by the Company are transactions that involve amounts that would be required to be disclosed in our filings under SEC regulations and certain other similar transactions. Pursuant to the Company’s Code of Ethics, employees and directors have a duty to report any potential conflicts of interest to the appropriate level of management or legal counsel as appropriate in the circumstances. The Company evaluates these reports, along with responses to the Company’s annual director and officer questionnaires, for any indication of possible related party transactions. If a transaction is deemed by the Company to be a related party transaction, the information regarding the transaction is reviewed and subject to approval by our Board. The Company makes efforts to ensure that any related party transaction is on substantially the same terms as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons.

CODE OF ETHICS AND CONDUCT

Our Board adopted a code of business ethics and conduct (the “Code of Ethics”), applicable to all of our executives, directors, and employees. The Code of Ethics is available in print to any stockholder that requests a copy. Copies may be obtained by contacting Investor Relations at our corporate headquarters. Our Code of Ethics is also available in the Investors section of our website atwww.neogenomics.com. We intend to make any disclosures regarding amendments to, or waivers from, the Code of Business Conduct required under Form8-K by posting such information on our website.

OTHER MATTERS

We know of no other matters to be submitted to the stockholders at the 20162019 Annual Meeting. If any other matters properly come before the stockholders at the meeting, the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy will vote the shares they represent in their discretion.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The rules of the SEC allow the Company to “incorporate by reference” into this proxy statement certain information that we have filed with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to our stockholders by referring the stockholders to another document. The information incorporated by reference into this proxy statement is an important part of this proxy statement and is considered to be part of this proxy statement from the date we file that information with the SEC. Any reports filed by us with the SEC after the date of this proxy statement will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in this proxy statement or incorporated by reference into this proxy statement.

Items 5, 6, 7, 7A, 8 and 9 of the Company’s Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed by the Company with the SEC, the Company’s Amended Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed by the company with the SEC and the Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC since December 31, 2015 are incorporated by reference into this proxy statement.

27


A copy of any of the documents referred to above will be furnished, without charge, by writing to NeoGenomics, Inc., Attention: Investor Relations, 12701 Commonwealth Drive, Suite 9, Fort Myers, Florida 33913. The documents referred to above are also available from the EDGAR filingsdatabase that can be obtained through the SEC’s website athttp://www.sec.gov or our website atwww.neogenomics.com.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE

2016 2019 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JUNE 7, 20166, 2019

FORM10-K ANNUAL REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS

On March 15, 2016,February 26, 2019, the Company filed with the SEC its Annual Report on Form10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.2018. We have enclosed the Annual Report with this proxy statement. The Annual Report includes our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015,2018, along with other financial information and management discussion, which we urge you to read carefully.

You can also obtain, free of charge, a copy of our Annual Report by:

·

writing to:

NeoGenomics, Inc.

12701 Commonwealth Drive, Suite 9, Fort Myers, Florida 33913

Attention: Denise Pedulla, Corporate Secretary

telephoning us at:(866) 776-5907.

·

telephoning us at: (866) 776-5907.

You can obtain a copy of our Annual Report and other periodic filings that we make with the SEC atwww.neogenomics.com or from the SEC’s EDGAR database athttp://www.sec.gov.

20162019 ANNUAL MEETING PROXY MATERIALS RESULTS

Copies of this proxy statement and proxy materials ancillary hereto may be found on our website atwww.neogenomics.com. We intend to publish final results from the 20162019 Annual Meeting in a Current Report on Form8-K, which will be filed with the SEC within four (4) business days from the 20162019 Annual Meeting, or as amended thereafter. You may obtain a copy of this and other reports free of charge at orfrom the SECSEC’s EDGAR database at (800) 732-0330 or http://www.sec.gov.

DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO STOCKHOLDERS SHARING AN ADDRESS

Only one Proxy Statement is being delivered to two (2) or more stockholders who share an address, unless the Company has received contrary instruction from one (1) or more of such stockholders. The Company will promptly deliver, upon written or oral request, a separate copy of the proxy statement to a stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the document was delivered. If you would like to request additional copies of the proxy statement, or if in the future you would like to receive multiple copies of information or proxy statements, or annual reports, or, if you are currently receiving multiple copies of these documents and would, in the future, like to receive only a single copy, please so instruct the Company, by writing to us at 12701 Commonwealth Drive, Suite 9, Fort Myers, Florida 33913, Attention: Denise Pedulla, Corporate Secretary.Secretary, or calling(866) 776-5907.

LOGO

28


NEOGENOMICS, INC. ATTN: FRED WEIDIGKATHRYN MCKENZIE 12701 COMMONWEALTH DRIVE, SUITE 9 FORT MYERS, FL 33913 VOTE BY INTERNET -www.proxyvote.comINTERNET—www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before thecut-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. ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically viae-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years. VOTE BY PHONE - PHONE—1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before thecut-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 postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.    E10370-P79915 Board of Directors Recommends a VoteTO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:    E74343-P23039    KEEP THIS PORTION FOR proposal 2. 2. Advisory vote on the compensation paid to our Named Executive Officers. For Against AbstainYOUR RECORDS    DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY    THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. NEOGENOMICS, INC. Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR proposal 1. 1. Election of Directors. To elect nine (9)eight (8) members of our Board, each to hold office for a one (1) year term ending on the date of the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders or until such director'sdirector’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.    been duly elected and qualified. For Withhold 1a. Douglas M. VanOort !! 1b. Steven C. Jones !! 1c. Kevin C. Johnson !! 1d. Raymond R. Hipp !! 1e. William J. Robison 1f. Bruce K. Crowther 1g.!! 1f. Lynn A. Tetrault 1h.!! 1g. Alison L. Hannah 1i. Kieran P. Murphy!! 1h. Stephen M. Kanovsky !!    Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR proposal 2. For Against Abstain 2. Advisory Vote on the Compensation Paid to our Named !!! Executive Officers. For For For Every Every Board of Directors Recommends a Vote “For Every Every Two Three Year” FOR proposal 3. Year Years Years Abstain 3. Advisory Vote on Frequency of Future Advisory Votes on the Compensation Paid !!!! to our Named Executive Officers. Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR proposal 4. For Against Abstain 4. Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered !!! Public Accounting Firm.    Please indicate if you plan to attend this meeting. For! ! Yes Withhold No Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on your stock certificate. If held in joint tenancy, all persons should sign. Trustees, administrators, etc., should include title and authority. Corporations should provide full name of corporation and title of authorized officer signing the proxy.    Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date Signature (Joint Owners) Date


LOGO

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting: The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com.    E74344-P23039    NEOGENOMICS, INC. Annual Meeting of Stockholders June 7, 20166, 2019 10:00 AM (Eastern Daylight Time) Hyatt Coconut Point Resort 5001 Coconut Road, Bonita Springs, FL 34134 This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors     E10371-P79915 The undersigned hereby appoints Steven JonesDenise Pedulla and Fred Weidig,Sharon Virag, and each or either of them, as the true and lawful attorneys of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and revocation, and authorizes them, and each of them, to vote all the shares of capital stock of NeoGenomics, Inc. which the undersigned is entitled to vote at said meeting and any adjournment thereof upon the matters specified and upon such other matters as may be properly brought before the meeting or any adjournment thereof, conferring authority upon such true and lawful attorneys to vote in their discretion on such other matters as may properly come before the meeting and revoking any proxy heretofore given. THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, SHARES WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE DIRECTORS IN ITEMPROPOSAL 1, AND FOR THE ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION PAID TO OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS IN ITEM 2.PROPOSAL 2, FOR EVERY YEAR FOR THE ADVISORY VOTE ON FREQUENCY OF FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES ON THE COMPENSATION PAID TO OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS IN PROPOSAL 3, AND FOR THE RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM IN PROPOSAL 4. Continued and to be signed on reverse side