UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]☒
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]☐
Check the appropriate box:
Preliminary Proxy Statement |
Confidential, |
Definitive Proxy Statement |
Definitive Additional Materials |
Soliciting Material under |
ONCOSEC MEDICAL INCORPORATED |
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) |
N/A |
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) |
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box)all boxes that apply):
No fee | |
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a- 6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
☐ | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the |
ONCOSEC MEDICAL INCORPORATED
24 N. Main Street
Pennington, NJ 08534
To the Stockholders of OncoSec Medical Incorporated:
You are cordially invited to attend the Special Meeting of Stockholders (the “Meeting”) of OncoSec Medical Incorporated 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders,(the “Company”) to be held virtually on May 29, 2020December 30, 2022 at 10:9:00 a.m., Eastern Time. The meetingMeeting can be accessed by visitinghttps://viewproxy.com/Oncosec/2020/vm, www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ONCS2022SM, where you will be able to listen to the meetingMeeting live, submit questions and vote online. The Notice of AnnualSpecial Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement, which describe the formal business to be conducted at the meeting,Meeting, follow this letter. At the meeting, theMeeting, our stockholders will be asked to (i) elect nine directors to the Company’s Board of Directors to serve until our next annual meeting of stockholders or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, (ii) ratify the appointment of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending July 31, 2020, (iii) approve an amendment to our Articles of Incorporation, as amended to date, to increase our authorized share capital by 74,000,000the total number of shares of common stock, (iv) approve certain amendmentspar value $0.0001 per share, authorized for issuance thereunder from 4,545,455 shares to our 2011 Stock Incentive Plan, (v) approve the payment of a portion of 2019 annual bonuses100,000,000 shares, and (ii) to certain officers of the Company in shares of the Company’s common stock, (vi) approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, (vii) approve, on an advisory basis, the frequency of the advisory vote on compensation of our named executive officers, (viii) approve an amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation to include a waiver of the duty of certain directors to present corporate opportunities to the Company, and (ix) transact suchconsider any other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting andor any postponement or adjournment or postponement thereof.
In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, beginning on or about April 30, 2020,December 12, 2022, we are mailing a full set of our proxy materials to all of our stockholders of record and beneficial owners as of the record date. Enclosed is our Proxy Statement that describes the matter to be presented to stockholders at the Meeting, as well as a proxy card.
Your vote is very important to us. Whether or not you attend the meeting,Meeting, it is important that your shares be represented and voted at the meeting.Meeting. As an alternative to voting at the Annual Meeting, you may vote via the internet,Internet, by telephone, or by mail. If you are a registered holder, that is, a stockholder who holds shares of our common stock in your own name, you may also vote by mail by completing, dating and signing the enclosed proxy card and returning it in the enclosed, postage-paid envelope. If you decide to attend the virtual Meeting, you will also be able to submit your votes during the Meeting through the designated website, even if you receive a paper proxy card inhave previously submitted your proxy. Voting at the mail, by mailing the completed proxy card.Meeting will supersede any votes that you have previously cast. Voting by any of these methods will ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting.
TheOur Board of Directors has unanimously approved the proposal set forth in the Proxy Statement and we recommend that you vote in favor of each such proposal.
Our Board of Directors and management look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting.
Sincerely, | |
Chief Executive Officer and President |
AprilDecember [__] , 20202022
ONCOSEC MEDICAL INCORPORATED
24 N. Main Street
Pennington, NJ 08534
(855) 662-6732
NOTICE OF ANNUALSPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To the Stockholders of OncoSec Medical Incorporated:
The 2019 AnnualA Special Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”“Meeting”) of OncoSec Medical Incorporated (the “Company,” “OncoSec,” “we,” “us” or “our”) will be held virtually on May 29, 2020December 30, 2022 at 10:9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, for the following purposes, which are further described in the accompanying proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”):
(1) to elect nine directors to the Company’s Board of Directors to serve until our next annual meeting of stockholders or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified;
(1) | approve an amendment to our Articles of Incorporation, as amended to date, to increase the total number of shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, authorized for issuance thereunder from 4,545,455 shares to 100,000,000 shares; and |
(2) to ratify the appointment of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending July 31, 2020;
(3) to approve an amendment to our Articles of Incorporation to increase our authorized share capital by 74,000,000 shares of common stock;
(4) to approve certain amendments to our 2011 Stock Incentive Plan;
(5) to approve the payment of a portion of 2019 annual bonuses to certain officers of the Company in shares of the Company’s common stock;
(6) to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers;
(7) to approve, on an advisory basis, the frequency of the advisory vote on compensation of our named executive officers;
(8) to approve an amendment to our Articles of Incorporation to include a waiver of the duty of certain directors to present corporate opportunities to the Company; and
(9) to transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.
(2) | To consider any other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any postponement or adjournments thereof. |
TheOur Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” each of the director nominees named in the accompanying Proxy Statement, “FOR” Proposals 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8, and for a THREE YEAR frequency with respect to Proposal 7.1.
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 24, 2020December 1, 2022, the record date, are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. OnIn accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, beginning on or about April 30, 2020,December 12, 2022, we expect to send our stockholders (other than those stockholders who previously requested paper delivery)are mailing a Noticefull set of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials containing instructions on how to access our proxy materials includingto all of our stockholders of record and beneficial owners as of the Proxy Statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, for our fiscal year ended July 31, 2019.record date. Whether or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting, please vote as promptly as possible by following the instructions in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials orincluded on the proxy card you receive in the mail.
To obtain directions to attend the Annual Meeting, please call Investors Relations at (855) 662-6732.
By order of the Board of Directors, | |
Chief Executive Officer and President |
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD VIRTUALLY ON MAY 29, 2020:DECEMBER 30, 2022: WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE NOTICE OFMEETING, WE ASK YOU TO VOTE BY TELEPHONE, MAIL, FAX OR ON THE SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS ANDINTERNET USING THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PROXY STATEMENT ARE AVAILABLE ATWWW.PROXYVOTE.COM.CARD.
Pennington, NJAprilDecember [__] , 20202022
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ONCOSEC MEDICAL INCORPORATED
24 N. Main Street
Pennington, NJ 08534
(855) 662-6732
PROXY STATEMENT2018 ANNUALSPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
This proxy statement (“Proxy Statement”) is being furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors” or the “Board”) of OncoSec Medical Incorporated, a Nevada corporation (the “Company,” “OncoSec,” “we,” “us” or “our”), for use at our 2019 AnnualSpecial Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”“Meeting”) to be held virtually on May 29, 2020,December 30, 2022 at 10:9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof. Stockholders are being asked to vote at the Annual Meeting on the following proposals: (1) the election of nine directors to the Board; (2) to ratify the appointment of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending July 31, 2019; (3)(i) to approve an amendment to our Articles of Incorporation, as amended to date (the “Articles”), to increase our authorized share capital by 74,000,000the total number of shares of common stock; (4)stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), authorized for issuance thereunder from 4,545,455 shares to approve certain amendments100,000,000 shares (the “Authorized Share Increase”), and (ii) to our 2011 Stock Incentive Plan; (5) to approve the payment of a portion of 2019 annual bonuses to certain officers of the Company in shares of the Company’s common stock (6) to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers; (7) to approve, on an advisory basis, the frequency of the advisory vote on compensation of our named executive officers; (8) to approve an amendment to our Articles of Incorporation to include a waiver of the duty of certain directors to present corporate opportunities to the Company; and (9) suchconsider any other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting.Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. This Proxy Statement summarizes the information you need to know in order to vote on these proposals in an informed manner.
Delivery of Proxy Materials
PursuantYour vote is very important to rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”),us. Accordingly, beginning on or about December 12, 2022, we have elected to provide access on the internet to our proxy materials, including this Proxy Statement and our annual report for our fiscal year ended July 31, 2019 (“Fiscal Year 2019,” and such annual report, the “Annual Report”). In addition, we will mailare mailing a full set of our proxy materials for the Annual Meeting, including a proxy card, to stockholders who have previously requested paper delivery of our proxy materials. Accordingly, beginning on or about April 30, 2020, we are mailing a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or a full set of our proxy materials, as applicable, to all of our stockholders of record as of December 1, 2022 (the “Record Date”) and beneficial owners as of the record date for the Annual Meeting. If you receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, please follow the instructions in such notice regarding how to access and review the Proxy Statement and the Annual Report on the internet and submit your proxy for the Annual Meeting. If you have elected to receive a printed copy of our proxy materials by mail, please follow the instructions set forth on the proxy card you receive by mail.Record Date.
Q: | When is the |
A. | The |
Q: | Where will the |
A. | The |
Q: | What is the purpose of the |
A. | At the |
Q: | How many votes do I have? |
A. | On each matter to be voted upon, you have one vote for each share of |
Q: | Who is entitled to vote at |
A. | Only stockholders of record at the close of business on Stockholders of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name. If on the Record Date your shares were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Nevada Agency and Transfer Company, then you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder of record, you may vote in person at the Meeting or vote by proxy. Whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting, we urge you to fill out and return the enclosed proxy card, to ensure your vote is counted. Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker, Bank, Custodian or Other Nominee. If on the Record Date your shares were held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, custodian or other nominee, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank, custodian or other nominee on how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the Meeting. However, because you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person at the Meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker, bank, custodian or other nominee. |
Q: | Are dissenters’ rights available with respect to any of the matters to be voted on at the Meeting? |
A. | Dissenters’ rights are not available with respect to any of the matters to be voted on at the Meeting. |
Stockholders of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name. If on the Record Date your shares were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Nevada Agency and Transfer Company, then you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder of record, you may vote in person at the Annual Meeting or vote by proxy. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to fill out and return the enclosed proxy card, to ensure your vote is counted.
Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker, Bank, Custodian or Other Nominee. If on the Record Date your shares were held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, custodian or other nominee, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Annual Meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank, custodian or other nominee on how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting. However, because you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker, bank, custodian or other nominee.
Q: | What if I have technical difficulties or trouble accessing the virtual |
A. | We will have technicians ready to assist you with any technical difficulties you may have accessing the virtual |
Q: | Why is the |
A. | By conducting our |
Q: | How may I vote my shares at the virtual |
A. | If, as of the Record Date, you hold shares of |
Q: | How do I vote? |
A. | Whether you hold shares directly as the stockholder of record or indirectly as the beneficial owner of shares held for you by a broker or other nominee (i.e., in “street name”), you may direct your vote without attending the |
By Internet — If you have internet access, you may authorize your proxy from any location in the world as directed in our “Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials.”
By Telephone — If you are calling from the United States or Canada, you may authorize your proxy by following the “By Telephone” instructions on the proxy card or, if applicable, the telephone voting instructions that may be described on the voting instruction card sent to you by your broker or nominee.
By Mail — You may authorize your proxy by signing your proxy card and mailing it in the enclosed, postage-prepaid and addressed envelope. For shares you hold in street name, you may sign the voting instruction card that you received in the mail.
By Telephone — if you are calling from the United States or Canada, you may authorize your proxy by following the “By Telephone” instructions on the proxy card or, if applicable, the telephone voting instructions that may be described on the voting instruction form sent to you by your broker or nominee.
By Mail — You may authorize your proxy by signing your proxy card and mailing it in the enclosed, postage-prepaid and addressed envelope. For shares you hold in street name, you may sign the voting instruction form included by your broker or nominee and mail it in the envelope provided.
Q: | What is a proxy? |
A. | A proxy is a person you appoint to vote your shares of our |
Q: | How will my shares be voted if I vote by proxy? |
Your proxy will be voted according to the instructions you provide. If you complete and submit your proxy but do not otherwise provide instructions on how to vote your shares, your shares will be voted | |
Q: | Can I change my vote after I return my proxy card? |
A. | Yes. You may revoke your proxy at any time before the final vote at the You may send a written notice that you are revoking your proxy to our Corporate Secretary, Robert J. DelAversano at 24 North Main Street Pennington, NJ 08534 (so long as we receive such notice no later than the close of business on the day before the Meeting); You may submit a later dated proxy card or vote again via the Internet as described in the “Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials”; or You may attend the Meeting by following the instructions at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ONCS2022SM. To vote, you will need the 16-digit control number provided on your proxy card or voting instruction form. Simply attending the Meeting will not, by itself, revoke your proxy. If your shares are held by your broker, bank, custodian or other nominee, you should follow the instructions provided by such broker, bank, custodian or other nominee. |
You may send a written notice that you are revoking your proxy to our Corporate Secretary, Keir Loiacono at 24 N. Main Street Pennington, NJ 08534 (so long as we receive such notice no later than the close of business on the day before the Annual Meeting);
You may submit a later dated proxy card or vote again via the internet as described in the “Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials”; or
You may attend the Annual Meeting by following the instructions athttps://viewproxy.com/Oncosec/2020/. To vote, you will need the 13-digit control number provided on your proxy card and voting instruction form. Simply attending the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke your proxy.
If your shares are held by your broker, bank, custodian or other nominee, you should follow the instructions provided by such broker, bank, custodian or other nominee.
Q: | Is my vote confidential? |
A. | Yes. All votes remain confidential, unless you provide otherwise. |
Q: | How are votes counted? |
A. | Before the |
Abstentions, and Broker non-votes occur when shares are held indirectly through a broker, bank or other intermediary on behalf of a beneficial owner (referred to as held in “street name”) and the broker submits a proxy but does not vote for a matter because the broker has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner and (i) the broker does not have discretionary voting authority on the matter or (ii) the broker chooses not to vote on a matter for which it has discretionary voting authority.
Abstentions and broker non-votes (if any) are not counted in determining the number of shares voted “for” or “against” the Authorized Share Increase. However, because we need to obtain the affirmative vote of a majority of shares of our Common Stock issued and outstanding as of the Record Date to approve the Authorized Share Increase, abstentions and broker non-votes (if any) will be counted as entitled to vote and will, therefore, have the same effect as a vote “against” the Authorized Share Increase. The |
Q: | What constitutes a quorum at the |
A. | In accordance with Nevada law (the law under which we are incorporated) and our |
If a quorum is not present at the | |
Q: | What vote is required to approve the |
A. | The affirmative vote of a majority of the |
| |
| |
Q: | What percentage of our outstanding |
A. | As of |
Q: | How can I find out the results of the voting at the |
A. | We will announce preliminary voting results at the |
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the
Virtual Annual Meeting of Stockholders to Be Held on May 29, 2020December 30, 2022
The Notice of AnnualSpecial Meeting of Stockholders and this Proxy Statement and the Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com.
You are encouraged to access and review all of the important information contained in the proxy materials before voting.
Who Can Vote; Outstanding Shares
The Record Date for the Annual Meeting is April 24, 2020.December 1, 2022. All holders of record of our common stockCommon Stock on the Record Date are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and at any adjournment or postponement thereof.
As of the Record Date for the Annual Meeting, there were 2,970,515 shares of our common stockCommon Stock issued and outstanding.
Voting Information
Effect of Not Providing Voting Instructions; Broker Non-Votes
If you are a stockholder of record and you submit a valid proxy that is not revoked before your shares are voted at the Annual Meeting and that does not provide voting instructions with respect to your shares, all shares represented by your proxy will be voted in accordance with the recommendation of the Board of Directors on each proposal to be presented at the Annual Meeting, as described in this Proxy Statement.
If you hold your shares in “street name” (that is, your shares are held by a broker or other nominee on your behalf as the beneficial owner, but are not held of record in your name), it is critical that you provide a completed voting instructionsinstruction form to your broker or other nominee if you want your personal vote to count on Proposal 1 (election of directors), Proposal 3 (approval of the amendment to our Articles of Incorporation to increase our authorized share capital), Proposal 4 (approval of certain amendments to our 2011 Stock Incentive Plan), Proposal 5 (approval of the payment of a portion of 2019 annual bonuses to certain officers of the Company in shares of the Company’s common stock), Proposal 6 (approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers), Proposal 7 (approval of the frequency of the advisory vote on compensation of the Company’s named executive officers), and Proposal 8 (approval of the Amendment to our Articles of Incorporation to include a waiver of certain directors’ and their affiliates’ fiduciary duty of loyalty to present corporate opportunities to the Company)Authorized Share Increase). These proposals constitute “non-routine” matters on which a broker or other nominee is not entitled to vote shares held for a beneficial owner without receiving specific voting instructions from the beneficial owner. As a result,However, if you hold your shares in street name and you do not instruct your broker onor other nominee as to how you would like to vote, on Proposals 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, no vote will be cast on these proposals on your behalf and a “broker non-vote” will occur. Your broker or other nominee will however, have discretion to vote such uninstructed shares on Proposal 2 (ratification1 (approval of appointment of independent registered public accounting firm),the Authorized Share Increase) because this proposal constitutes a “routine” matter on which a broker or other nominee is entitled to vote shares held for a beneficial owner even without receiving voting instructions from the beneficial owner.
Tabulation of Votes
The inspector of elections of the Annual Meeting will tabulate the votes of our stockholders. All shares entitled to vote and represented by properly submitted proxies (including those submitted via the internet,Internet, by telephone and by mail) that are received before the voting deadlines described under “How to Cast or Revoke Your Vote—Voting Deadlines” below and are not revoked or superseded will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions indicated on the proxies. If such a properly submitted and unrevoked proxy does not provide voting instructions on a proposal, then the shares represented by the proxy will be voted on the proposal at the Annual Meeting by the proxy holders named in the proxy in accordance with the recommendations of our Board, as described in this Proxy Statement. If the Annual Meeting is adjourned or postponed, properly submitted and unrevoked proxies will remain effective and will be voted at the adjourned or postponed Annual Meeting, and stockholders will retain the right to change or revoke any such proxy until it is actually voted at the adjourned or postponed Annual Meeting.
How to Cast or Revoke Your Vote
You may vote virtually by virtually attending the Annual Meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ONCS2022SM, or you may vote by submitting a proxy. If you desire to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person, please see the important information under “Attending the Annual Meeting” below. In order to participate in the 2019 Annual Meeting live via the Internet, you must register athttps://viewproxy.com/Oncosec/2020/by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 27, 2020. If you are a registered holder, you must register using the Virtual Control Number included on your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or your proxy card (if you received a printed copy of the proxy materials). If you hold your shares beneficially through a bank or broker, you must provide a legal proxy from your bank or broker during registration and you will be assigned a Virtual Control Number in order to vote your shares during the 2019 Annual Meeting. If you are unable to obtain a legal proxy to vote your shares, you will still be able to attend the 2019 Annual Meeting (but will not be able to vote your shares) so long as you demonstrate proof of stock ownership. Instructions on how to connect and participate via the Internet, including how to demonstrate proof of stock ownership, are posted athttps://viewproxy.com/Oncosec/2020/.
Stockholders of Record
You are a stockholder of record if your shares are registered directly in your name with Nevada Agency and Transfer Company, our transfer agent. If you were a stockholder of record at the close of business on the record dateRecord Date for the Annual Meeting, you may vote by submitting your proxy via the internet,Internet, by telephone or through the mail. To vote via the internet,Internet, follow the instructions in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials orand go to the internetInternet address stated on your proxy card. To vote by telephone, call the number stated on your proxy card. If you have received a proxy card in the mail and wish to vote by mail, simply mark your proxy card, date and sign it, and return it in the postage-prepaid envelope. If you have received a proxy card in the mail and wish to vote by mail, simply mark your proxy card, date and sign it, and return it in the postage-prepaid envelope. If you do not have the postage-prepaid envelope, please mail your completed proxy card to the following address: OncoSec Medical Incorporated, c/o Proxy Services, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717. If you receive only the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and would like to vote by mail, follow the procedures described in such notice to request a paper proxy card to submit your vote by mail.
As a stockholder of record, you are entitled to revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the Annual Meeting. A proxy may be revoked by submitting a later-dated vote in person at the Annual Meeting, via the internet,Internet, by telephone or by mail, or by delivering to us a written notice of revocation. A later-dated proxy may be submitted by any of the voting methods described above, and a written notice of revocation may be sent to OncoSec Medical Incorporated, 24 N.North Main Street, Pennington, NJ 08534, or hand-delivered to our Secretary at or before the voting at the Annual Meeting.08534.
Beneficial Owners
You are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name if your shares are held by a broker or other nominee and not in your name. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or other nominee on how to vote the shares held in your account as of the record dateRecord Date for the Annual Meeting. You should receive a voting instructionsinstruction form from the broker or other nominee that holds your shares, and you should follow these instructions in order to direct your broker or other nominee on how to vote your shares. The availability of various voting methods for beneficial owners, including voting via the internet,Internet, by telephone or by mail, will depend on the voting processes of each broker or other nominee. If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name, you may vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting only if you obtain a legal proxy from the broker or other nominee holding your shares that gives you the right to vote the shares.
Beneficial owners of shares are held in street name should follow the instructions provided by their broker or other nominee regarding how to revoke a previously submitted proxy.
Voting Deadlines
The internetInternet and telephone voting facilities will close at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 28, 2020,December 29, 2022, the day before the Annual Meeting. Stockholders who submit a proxy via the internetInternet should be aware that they may incur costs to access the internet,Internet, such as usage charges from telephone companies or internetInternet service providers, and that these costs must be borne by such stockholders. Stockholders who submit a proxy via the internetInternet or by telephone need not return a proxy card or the form provided by your broker or other nominee.
YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
We recommend that you promptly submit your proxy, even if you plan to attend the virtual Annual Meeting.
Attending the Annual Meeting
All stockholders that owned our common stockCommon Stock at the close of business on the Record Date for the Annual Meeting, or their duly appointed proxies, may attend the virtual Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend our virtual Annual Meeting, we encourage you to submit your proxy or voting instructionsinstruction form as soon as possible. Submitting your vote prior to the Annual Meeting will not affect your right to vote at the Annual Meeting if you decide to attend; however, your attendance at the Annual Meeting after having submitted a valid proxy will not in and of itself constitute a revocation of your proxy. You will be able to revoke a previously submitted proxy at the Annual Meeting, by visitinghttps://viewproxy.com/Oncosec/2020/vm, www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ONCS2022SM, where you will be able to listen to the meetingMeeting live, submit questions and vote online.
Proxy Solicitation Costs
The accompanying proxy is solicited on behalf of theour Board. We will pay for the cost of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting to our stockholders, as well as the cost of soliciting proxies for the Annual Meeting. We may request brokers and other nominees holding shares in their names that are beneficially owned by others to solicit proxies for the Annual Meeting from these beneficial owners, and we will reimburse these brokers and other nominees for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses regarding these solicitations. Our directors, officers and other employees may supplement the original solicitation of proxies through the use of the mail, by telephone, facsimile, e-mail or personal solicitation. We will pay no additional compensation to our directors, officers and other employees for these activities. We have not engaged employees for the specific purpose of soliciting proxies or a proxy solicitation firm to assist us in soliciting proxies, but we may elect to engage and pay the cost of such employees or such a proxy solicitation firm at any time.
Interest of Certain Persons in or Opposition to Matters to Be Acted Upon
No officer or director of the Company has any substantial interest in the matters to be acted upon, other than as a result of his or her role as an officer or director of us, or as a stockholder of us.
PROPOSAL 1
APPROVAL OF THE AUTHORIZED SHARE INCREASE
General
Our Articles currently authorize us to issue 4,545,455 shares of Common Stock. Our Board of Directors has approved, and is seeking stockholder approval of, an amendment to our Articles (the “Amendment”) to increase the total number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance thereunder from 4,545,455 shares to 100,000,000.
If the Authorized Share Increase is approved by our stockholders, we intend to file the Amendment with the Secretary of State of Nevada, in substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, with the Secretary of State of Nevada as soon as practicable following the approval in order to effectuate the Authorized Share Increase.
The Amendment is not intended to modify the rights of existing stockholders in any material respect. The additional shares of Common Stock to be authorized pursuant to the Amendment would have rights identical to the currently outstanding Common Stock of the Company. Except for certain limited participation, veto and anti-dilution rights of a limited number of our shareholders, as previously disclosed in our filings with the SEC, our stockholders do not currently have any preemptive or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase any additional shares of Common Stock that may be issued in the future; therefore, future issuances of Common Stock may, depending on the circumstances, have a dilutive effect on the earnings per share, voting power and other interests of the existing stockholders.
In connection with the registered public offering of our securities that closed on December 1, 2022 (the “Offering”), and as a condition to closing thereof, investors in the Offering entered into Voting Agreements, wherein they agreed to vote all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned in favor of the Authorized Share Increase. As a result, we anticipate that such investors will vote in favor of this proposal.
Our Board of Directors has unanimously determined that the Authorized Share Increase is advisable and in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders, and recommends that our stockholders approve the Authorized Share Increase.
Reasons for Increase
As of the Record Date, there were only 34,272 shares of Common Stock available for issuance under our Articles, taking into consideration all shares of Common Stock that were issued and outstanding as of the Record Date, as well as those shares of Common Stock that were reserved for issuance under our equity incentive plans and for the exercise or conversion of derivative securities exercisable for or convertible into shares of our Common Stock. This number does not include up to an additional 360,769 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of that Secured Convertible Promissory Note (the “Note”) issued by the Company on November 25, 2022, the conversion of which is conditioned upon approval and implementation of the Authorized Share Increase. Our Board of Directors believes that it is prudent to increase the authorized number of shares of Common Stock in order to maintain a reserve of shares available for immediate issuance to meet business needs, such as a strategic acquisition opportunity or equity offering and/or equity compensation to our officers, directors and employees, promptly as they arise, as well as to allow for the discretionary conversion of the Note by the holder thereof.
All authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock will be available for issuance from time to time for any proper purpose approved by our Board of Directors (including issuances in connection with issuances to raise capital, effect acquisitions or stock-based employee benefit plans), without further vote of the stockholders, except as required under applicable law or the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules. Although at present, other than as it relates to our rights and obligations under certain financing instruments, we have no current plans, arrangements or understandings to issue additional shares of Common Stock that would be made available for issuance upon effectiveness of the Authorized Share Increase, such additional shares may be used by us for various purposes in the future without further stockholder approval. Such purposes may include, among other things:
● | the sale of shares to raise additional capital; | |
● | the issuance of Common Stock to satisfy our obligations under certain financing instruments; | |
● | the issuance of equity incentives to our employees, officers or directors; | |
● | establishment of strategic relationships with other companies and suppliers; and | |
● | strategic transactions. |
There are currently no arrangements, agreements or understandings for the issuance of the additional shares of authorized Common Stock except for issuances in the ordinary course of business, including upon conversion or exercise of outstanding derivative securities and pursuant to certain financing instruments, and to satisfy our obligations in the event that those shareholders with participation, veto and anti-dilution rights elect to exercise such rights. The Board of Directors does not presently intend to seek further stockholder approval of any particular issuance of shares unless such approval is required by law or the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules.
Anti-Takeover Effects
The proposed Authorized Share Increase could, under certain circumstances, have an anti-takeover effect or delay or prevent a change in control of the Company by providing the Company with the capability to engage in actions that would be dilutive to a potential acquirer, to pursue alternative transactions, or to otherwise increase the potential cost to acquire control of the Company. The Company currently has no intent to employ the additional unissued authorized shares of Common Stock as an anti-takeover device. However, the proposed Authorized Share Increase, if approved by our stockholders, may have the effect of discouraging future unsolicited takeover attempts. The Board is not currently aware of any such unsolicited attempt to take control of the Company, and would act in the best interest of stockholders if any such attempt is made in the future.
Effective Time of the Amendment
If our stockholders approve the Authorized Share Increase at the Meeting, we will file the Amendment with the office of the Secretary of State of Nevada as soon as practicable following the Annual Meeting. Upon approval and following such filing with the Secretary of State of Nevada, the Amendment will become effective on the date it is filed.
Vote Required and Recommendation of the Board
The affirmative (“FOR”) vote of the holders of a majority of the issue and outstanding shares of the Company as of the Record Date is required to approve the Authorized Share Increase.
Abstentions and broker non-votes (if any) are not counted in determining the number of shares voted “for” or “against” the Authorized Share Increase. However, because we need to obtain the affirmative vote of a majority of shares of our Common Stock issued and outstanding as of the Record Date to approve the Authorized Share Increase, abstentions and broker non-votes (if any) will be counted as entitled to vote and will, therefore, have the same effect as a vote “against” this proposal.
Our Board of Directors recommends that you vote “FOR” the Authorized Share Increase.
9 |
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT
The table below sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock of (i) each person who, to our knowledge, owns more than 5% of our Common Stock as of December 1, 2022, (ii) each of our directors and named executive officers, and (iii) all of our current directors and executive officers as a group. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to the table below, the address of each person named in the table is: c/o OncoSec Medical Incorporated, 24 N. Main Street, Pennington, NJ 08534.
Beneficial ownership is determined and calculated in accordance with applicable SEC rules, and generally includes sole or shared voting and/or investment power with respect to securities. These rules provide that shares of our Common Stock subject to options, warrants, restricted stock units or other rights that are currently exercisable or subject to vesting within 60 days after December 1, 2022 are deemed to be beneficially owned and outstanding for purposes of computing the share and percentage ownership of the person holding such options, warrants, restricted stock units or other rights, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
Name of Beneficial Owner | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership (No. of Shares) | Percentage Beneficially Owned (%)(1) | ||||||
Directors and Named Executive Officers | ||||||||
Robert H. Arch, Ph.D.(2) | 15,910 | * | ||||||
George Chi | - | - | ||||||
Robert J. DelAversano(3) | 5,667 | * | ||||||
Brian A. Leuthner(4) | 1,564 | * | ||||||
Dr. James M. DeMesa, M.D.(5) | 5,217 | * | ||||||
Joon Kim(6) | 2,860 | * | ||||||
Dr. Herbert Kim Lyerly, M.D.(7) | 3,410 | * | ||||||
Kevin R. Smith(8) | 2,179 | * | ||||||
Chao Zhou(8) | 2,179 | * | ||||||
Dr. Linda Shi, M.D., Ph.D. | - | - | ||||||
Stephany Foster | 569 | * | ||||||
All directors, nominees and current executive officers as a group (11 persons) | 39,555 | 1.32 | % | |||||
5% Stockholders | ||||||||
Grand Pharmaceutical Group Limited (formerly China Grand Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Holdings Ltd.) and Grand Decade Developments Limited(9) | 1,124,318 | 37.8 | % | |||||
Sirtex Medical US Holdings, Inc.(10) | 152,711 | 5.1 | % |
* Indicates beneficial ownership of less than 1% of the total outstanding stock.
(1) | Based on 2,970,515 shares of our Common Stock issued and outstanding as of December 1, 2022. Except as otherwise indicated, we believe the beneficial owners of our Common Stock listed in this table, based on information furnished by such owners, have sole investment and voting power with respect to such shares, subject to community property laws where applicable. |
(2) | Includes 15,910 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days after December 1, 2022. |
(3) | Includes 4,668 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days after December 1, 2022. |
(4) | Mr. Leuthner voluntarily resigned as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer and Interim Chief Executive Officer on August 13, 2021. |
(5) | Includes 5,114 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days after December 1, 2022. |
(6) | Includes 2,860 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days after December 1, 2022. |
(7) | Includes 3,410 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days after December 1, 2022. |
(8) | Includes 2,179 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days after December 1, 2022. |
(9) | Based upon (i) the information included in a Form 4 filed on April 26, 2021 by Grand Pharmaceutical Group Limited (formerly China Grand Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Holdings Ltd.) (“CGP”) and Grand Decade Developments Limited (“Grand Decade”), and (ii) including an additional 360,769 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of that Secured Convertible Promissory Note (the “Note”) issued by the Company on November 25, 2022, the conversion of which is conditioned upon approval and implementation of the Authorized Share Increase and (assuming that stockholder approval is obtained) may become convertible at the discretion of CGP within 60 days of December 1, 2022. CGP and Grand Decade may each be deemed to beneficially own 1,124,318 shares of our Common Stock and have shared dispositive power as to 1,124,318 shares of our Common Stock. The address of CGP and Grand Decade is Unit 3302,33/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong. |
(10) | Based solely upon a Form 4 filed on April 26, 2021 by Sirtex Medical US Holdings, Inc. (“Sirtex”). Sirtex beneficially owns 152,710 shares of our Common Stock and has sole dispositive power as to 152,710 shares of our Common Stock. The address of Sirtex is 300 Unicorn Park Drive, Woburn MA 01801, USA. |
Changes in Control
The Company is not currently aware of any arrangements which may at a subsequent date result in a change of control of the Company.
11 |
Householding of Meeting Materials
The SEC has adopted rules that allow a company to deliver a single set of proxy materials including a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and/or a complete copy of the proxy statement, annual report and proxy card, to multiple stockholders who share the same address, unless contrary instructions have been received from a stockholder. This method of delivery, known as “householding,” permits companies to realize cost savings, reduces the amount of duplicate information stockholders receive and reduces the environmental impact of printing and mailing these materials to stockholders. We have adopted householding for the Annual Meeting, and as a result, stockholders sharing an address will receive only one copy of our proxy materials. Upon our receipt of a written or oral request, we will deliver promptly, at no charge, a separate copy of the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting to any stockholder at a shared address to which we have delivered a single copy of these materials. In addition, stockholders who share an address and receive a single copy of our proxy materials for the Annual Meeting may submit a request to receive multiple copies of these materials for future annual meetings of our stockholders, and stockholders who share an address and receive multiple copies of our proxy materials for the Annual Meeting may request to receive a single copy of these materials for our future annual meetings of stockholders. Any such requests should be directed to us by writing to 24 N.North Main Street, Pennington, NJ 08534, Attn: Secretary, or by calling 855-662-6732.
The Company’s Annual Report
The Company’s annual report on Form 10-K and Form 10-K/A for the year ended July 31, 2019 are incorporated by reference herein. The Form 10-K/A is also available on the Company’s website (www.oncosec.com). Upon written or oral request, the Company will provide copies of the exhibits to the annual report at no charge; such requests should be directed to OncoSec Medical Incorporated 24 N. Main Street Pennington, NJ 08534.
PROPOSAL 1ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
General
At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will be asked to elect nine directors to serve until our next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors are elected and qualified. Each of the nominees is currently a director on the Board. Our Board of Directors has determined to nominate Dr. Margaret Dalesandro, Daniel O’Connor, Dr. James DeMesa, Joon Kim, Dr. Kim Lyerly, Kevin Smith, Robert Ward, Yuhang Zhao, and Chao Zhou for re-election to our Board of Directors. Yuhang Zhao and Chao Zhou, and Kevin R. Smith (the “Buyer Directors”) were appointed as directors in February 2020. Joon Kim was appointed as a director in December 2018. On February 7, 2020, the Company closed (the “Closing”) a strategic transaction (the “Transaction”) with Grand Decade Developments Limited, a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of China Grand Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Holdings Limited, a company formed under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (“CGP”), and its affiliate, Sirtex Medical US Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Sirtex” and, together with CGP, the “Buyers”). In connection with the Closing, the Company entered into Stockholders Agreements (the “Stockholders Agreements”) with each of CGP and Sirtex, pursuant to which, among other things, CGP exercised its option and to nominate two (2) members to the Board and Sirtex exercised its option to nominate one (1) director to the Board. Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreements, CGP nominated Yuhang Zhao and Chao Zhou to the Company’s Board, and Sirtex nominated Kevin R. Smith to the Company’s Board. In December 2018, OncoSec appointed Joon Kim as a director to the Board. On August 31, 2018, OncoSec and Alpha Holdings, Inc. (“Alpha”) entered into a stock purchase agreement (the “Alpha Transaction Agreement”), pursuant to which OncoSec agreed to issue and sell to Alpha shares of its common stock. Mr. Kim was appointed to the Board in accordance with the terms of the Alpha Transaction Agreement in conjunction with the closing of the Alpha Transaction in December 2018.
Other than as described above, there is no arrangement or understanding between any nominee and any other person or persons pursuant to which any nominee was or is to be selected as a director or director nominee of the Company. There are no family relationships between any of the director nominees named below or our executive officers.
Director Nominees
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of our Board has recommended, and our Board has nominated each of the nominees named below for election as our directors at the Annual Meeting. Each nominee has consented to being named in this Proxy Statement as a director nominee and has agreed to serve as a director if elected.
If any nominee becomes unavailable to serve as director, it is intended that votes will be cast, pursuant to properly submitted proxies, for such substitute nominee(s) as the Board may select.
The information below sets forth the principal occupation or employment and principal business of the employer, if any, of each director nominee, as well as his position(s) and tenure with the Company, age, other directorships and other business experience and qualifications. In addition, the information below describes each nominee’s specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led our Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to nominate these nominees for re-election as directors. The Board and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believe these nominees collectively provide a diverse range of perspectives and business acumen to fully engage each other and management in addressing the Company’s needs.
| ||||||
Dr. Margaret Dalesandrohas served on our Board since April 2019 and as the Chair of our Board since April 2020. Dr. Dalesandro is currently a pharmaceutical development consultant with Brecon Pharma Consulting LLC and has over twenty-five years of experience leading strategic product development in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and diagnostics industries. She has previously served as a Business Director of Integrative Pharmacology at Corning, Incorporated, as a Vice President of Project, Portfolio and Alliance Management at ImClone Systems Inc., as an Executive Director of Project and Portfolio Management at GlaxoSmithKline, and as a Senior Consultant at Cambridge Pharma Consultancy over the course of her career. Dr. Dalesandro earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Bryn Mawr College and completed a NIH Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Molecular Immunology at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Dr. Dalesandro’s extensive experience and expertise in the biopharmaceuticals industry are the primary qualifications the Board considered in nominating her as a director of the Company.
Daniel J. O’Connor, J.D. has served on our Board since September 2017, was appointed as our Chief Executive Officer in November 2017, and our President in May 2018. In addition, Mr. O’Connor has been serving as a member of the Board of Directors of Seelos Therapeutics, Inc. since 2019. Most recently, Mr. O’Connor served as President, Chief Executive Officer, Director at Advaxis, Inc., a cancer immunotherapy company, from 2013 to 2017. Prior to that, Mr. O’Connor was Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Bracco Diagnostics, a diagnostic imaging company, from 2008 until 2012; Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary for ImClone Systems, a biopharmaceutical company, from 2002 until 2008; and General Counsel at PharmaNet (formerly inVentiv Clinical Health, today Syneos Health), a clinical research organization, from 1998 until 2001.
Mr. O’Connor is a 1995 graduate of the Pennsylvania State University’s Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and currently serves as a Trusted Advisor to its Dean. He graduated from the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate School in 1988 and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Marines, attaining the rank of Captain while serving in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield. Mr. O’Connor is currently the Vice Chairman of the Board of the Trustees of BioNJ. In October 2017, Mr. O’Connor was appointed to the New Jersey Biotechnology Task Force by Governor Christie, and he was formerly a New Jersey criminal prosecutor in Somerset County.
Mr. O’Connor has extensive experience leading companies in capital-raising transactions, mergers and acquisitions and establishing partnerships with leaders in the pharmaceutical industry. In addition, his experience with biotechnology companies has provided him with expertise in the clinical development, launch and commercialization of drug candidates. This experience and expertise are the primary qualifications the Board considered in nominating him as a director of the Company.
Dr. James M. DeMesahas served on our Board since February 2011. Dr. DeMesa is currently CEO of Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals Inc., a pharmaceutical development company, and a director of Induce Biologics, a regenerative medicine company. In 2008, Dr. DeMesa retired from his role as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Migenix Inc., a publicly traded biotechnology company. From 1997 to 2001, he was President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of GenSci Regeneration Sciences Inc., (now part of Integra LifeSciences, NASD: IART), a publicly-traded biotechnology company. From 1992 to 1997, Dr. DeMesa was Vice President, Medical and Regulatory Affairs at Biodynamics International, Inc. (now part of RTI Surgical, NASD: RTIX), a surgical implant company, and from 1989 to 1992 he was Vice President, Medical and Regulatory Affairs of Bentley Pharmaceuticals (now part of Teva Pharmaceuticals), a multinational pharmaceutical company. Dr. DeMesa is a co-founder of CommGeniX, a medical communications company, and MedXcel, a medical education company. Dr. DeMesa was formerly a practicing physician until 1989. Dr. DeMesa attended the University of South Florida where he received his B.A. (Chemistry), M.D., and M.B.A. degrees and completed his medical residency at the University of North Carolina. He is the author of two books and speaks regularly to companies and organizations throughout North America.
Dr. DeMesa has served as a senior executive with several international pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and provides the Board with extensive experience in the areas of corporate management, regulatory affairs and pre-clinical and clinical pharmaceutical product development. Dr. DeMesa also contributes expertise based on his professional training and experience as a medical doctor. We believe that Dr. DeMesa is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors due to his leadership and management experience, his service as an executive of a biopharmaceutical companies and his knowledge of our business and industry.
Mr. Joon Kim has served in our Board since December 2018. Mr. Kim is an accomplished litigator and criminal law attorney with extensive experience in both criminal and civil litigation matters. As a partner in Lee & Ko’s International Litigation and Dispute Resolution and White Collar Crime Practice Groups, Mr. Kim advises clients, both domestic and international, on a broad range of litigation and dispute-resolution matters. With a particularly strong background in representing clients in court proceedings, Mr. Kim has a comprehensive understanding of every stage of the litigation process, including all aspects of initial investigatory/discovery proceedings, settlement negotiations, hearings, motions, trials, evidentiary issues and the handling of post-judgment challenges and appeals.
Prior to joining Lee & Ko, Mr. Kim worked for several years as litigation lawyer and served from 2008 to 2017 as a public prosecutor in California. Mr. Kim has first-chaired both jury and non-jury trials, and has been trained in all aspects of litigation. During his time as a public prosecutor, Mr. Kim also had the experience of serving in 2016 as a research fellow in Korea at the Institute of Justice, under the auspices of the Korean Ministry of Justice, where he worked closely with Korean public prosecutors. Mr. Kim received his J.D. from Berkeley School of Law and his B.S. from the Berkeley School of Business. Mr. Kim’s experience and expertise are the primary qualifications for him to serve as a director of the Company.
Dr. Kim Lyerly is the George Barth Geller Professor of Cancer Research, Professor of Surgery, Immunology and Pathology, and Director of the Surgical Sciences Applied Therapeutics section at Duke University, and former Director of the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center. He is an internationally-recognized expert in cancer therapy and immunotherapy, has published over 300 scientific articles and book chapters, and has edited ten textbooks on surgery, cancer immunotherapy and novel cancer therapies. He serves on the editorial board of 12 scientific journals.
Dr. Lyerly was appointed in 2008 by President George W. Bush to serve on the National Cancer Advisory Board, which oversees the National Cancer Institute, where he served until 2014. He has served as Chair of the Cancer Center’s Subcommittee and served on the Global Health Subcommittee of the National Cancer Advisory Board. He has served on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Council of Councils, and on the board of the NIH Office of AIDS Research. He has also been a member of the scientific advisory boards of the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Burroughs Welcome Foundation. He is a highly sought-after consultant and advisor and has served on the Cancer Center’s external advisory boards for the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, University of Michigan, University of Chicago, University of Alabama, University of Arizona, Boston University and Purdue University. He has served as an advisor to the University of Washington and Case Western Reserve Clinical and Translational Science Institutes. Dr. Lyerly’s experience and expertise are the primary qualifications for him to serve as a director of the Company.
Kevin R. Smithis currently the Chief Executive Officer of Sirtex Medical US Holdings, Inc. (“Sirtex”). He combines more than 20 years of sales and marketing experience in the medical device industry with the keen instincts of an entrepreneur. Prior to his appointment to CEO, Mr. Smith was Sirtex’s Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Americas. Before joining Sirtex, Mr. Smith was Executive Vice President of Business Development at Gel-e, Inc., a company based at the University of Maryland specializing in advanced material hemostasis products. His previous positions include Chief Commercial Officer of Sensium Healthcare along with Global Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Teleflex, where he was the senior sales and marketing executive in the company’s cardiac business unit. Kevin holds a Master of Business Administration in Global Management from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of Kentucky. Mr. Smith’s leadership experience, as well as his experience in the marketing and sales sector of the medical device industry, are the primary qualifications the Board considered in nominating him as a director of the Company.
Robert E. Ward was appointed to the Board of Directors in November 2018. Mr. Ward is currently the Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board of Eloxx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., roles he has held since December 2017. He was a Director and Chairman of the Governance Committee of Akari Therapeutics from October 2016 to August 2018. Mr. Ward previously served as the Chief Executive Officer, President and member of the board of directors at Radius Health, Inc. from December 2013 to July 2017. Prior to joining Radius, Mr. Ward was Vice President for Strategy and External Alliances for the New Opportunities iMed of AstraZeneca from 2011 to December 2013. He has held a series of progressive management and executive roles with established companies such as NPS Pharmaceuticals, Schering-Plough (Merck), Pharmacia (Pfizer), Bristol-Myers Squibb and Genentech. Mr. Ward has been a Director of Akari Therapeutics, Plc since October 2016. Mr. Ward received a B.A. in Biology and a B.S. in Physiological Psychology, both from the University of California, Santa Barbara, a M.S. in Management from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and an M.A. in Immunology from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. We believe Mr. Ward is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors because of his service and experience as an executive of a publicpharmaceutical company.
Dr. Yuhang Zhao, a graduate from Peking University, received her Doctorate in Molecular Biology from Rockefeller University and her MBA in Finance from NYU Stern Business School. Dr. Zhao was most recently a member of the Bayer Global Leadership Circle. She established one of Bayer’s four Global Clinical Development sites, located in Beijing, China in 2009. She then became Head of Global Strategy for Bayer Consumer Health, reporting to the President. Prior to her positions in the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Zhao held positions as a stock analyst at PaineWebber and was a management consultant specializing in strategies for life science companies). Dr. Zhao currently serves on the board of R2 Technologies and is a senior adviser to China Grand Enterprises. This experience and expertise are the primary qualifications the Board considered in nominating Dr. Zhao as a director of the Company.
Mr. Chao Zhou is currently the Executive Deputy Officer of China Grand Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Holdings Limited, a public company listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange that develops, manufactures and distributes pharmaceutical products and medical devices to retailers and medical organizations with significant experience in R&D and product commercialization in China. Since 2018, Mr. Zhou has served on the Board of Directors of Grand Pharma Sphere Pty Ltd, a Singapore based company that indirectly wholly-owns the Australian based global medical device company, Sirtex Medical Pty. Ltd. Prior to his role as Executive Deputy Officer, Mr. Zhou served as a Management Director in the Department of Legal Security for China Grand Enterprises, Inc., an investment company engaged in the operation and management of businesses covering pharmaceuticals and healthcare, commodity trading, real estate investment, financial service and other sectors. He earned his Bachelor in Law from Ocean University of China and a Master in International Law from the University of International Business and Economics. We believe that Mr. Zhou is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors due to his extensive commercial experience in the biopharmaceutical industry.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote “FOR” the election of each of the named director nominees.
PROPOSAL 2RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF OURINDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
General
The Audit Committee has re-appointed Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. (“MHM”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending July 31, 2020. MHM has served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm since May 2011. In re-appointing MHM, the Audit Committee considered MHM’s independence with respect to the services to be performed by it, as well as other factors the Audit Committee and the Board considered relevant.
At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will be asked to ratify the appointment of MHM as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for our current fiscal year. Stockholder ratification of the appointment of MHM is not required by our bylaws or otherwise. However, the Board of Directors, at the direction of the Audit Committee, is submitting the appointment of MHM to our stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If our stockholders fail to ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether or not to retain the firm. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of 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 the Company and our stockholders.
Representatives of MHM are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions. MHM has advised the Company that MHM leases substantially all of its personnel, who work under the control of MHM’s shareholders, from wholly-owned subsidiaries of CBIZ, Inc., in an alternative practice structure. Accordingly, substantially all of the hours expended on MHM’s engagement to audit the Company’s financial statements for its most recently completed fiscal year were attributed to work performed by persons other than MHM’s full-time, permanent employees.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees and Services
The following table presents the aggregate fees billed to the Company for professional services rendered by MHM in Fiscal Year 2019 and our fiscal year ended July 31, 2018 (“Fiscal Year 2018”):
Fiscal Year | ||||||||
2019 | 2018 | |||||||
Audit Fees (1) | $ | 243,320 | $ | 233,188 | ||||
Audit Related Fees (2) | – | – | ||||||
Tax Fees (3) | – | – | ||||||
All Other Fees (4) | – | – | ||||||
Total (5) | $ | 243,320 | $ | 233,188 |
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
Our Audit Committee’s charter requires this Committee to pre-approve all audit and permissible non-audit services to be performed for the Company by our independent registered public accounting firm, as well as the fees and terms for these services, subject to certain exceptions for “de minimis” amounts as permitted by applicable SEC rules. In considering such services and fees for approval, the Audit Committee considers whether the provision of the services and the payment of the related fees are compatible with maintaining the independence of our independent registered public accounting firm.
All of the fees and services provided by MHM described in the table above were authorized and approved by the Audit Committee in compliance with these pre-approval policies and procedures.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. as our independent registered public accounting firm.
PROPOSAL 3APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY’S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE COMPANY’S AUTHORIZED SHARE CAPITAL BY 74,000,000 SHARES
General
Our Articles of Incorporation currently authorize us to issue 26,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share. Our Board of Directors has approved, and is seeking stockholder approval of, an amendment to our Articles (the “Amendment”) to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance by 74,000,000 shares, bringing the total number of authorized shares of common stock to 100,000,000 shares.
If the Amendment is approved by our stockholders, we intend to file the Amendment with the Secretary of State of Nevada, substantially in the form ofExhibit A hereto, with the Secretary of State of Nevada as soon as practicable following the approval.
The Amendment is not intended to modify the rights of existing stockholders in any material respect. The additional shares of common stock to be authorized pursuant to the Amendment would have rights identical to the currently outstanding common stock of the Company. Our stockholders do not currently have any preemptive or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase any additional shares of common stock that may be issued in the future, and therefore, future issuances of common stock may, depending on the circumstances, have a dilutive effect on the earnings per share, voting power and other interests of the existing stockholders.
The Board of Directors has unanimously determined that the Amendment is advisable and in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders, and recommends that our stockholders approve the Amendment.
Reasons for Increase
The Board of Directors believes that it is prudent to increase the authorized number of shares of common stock in order to maintain a reserve of shares available for immediate issuance to meet business needs, such as a strategic acquisition opportunity or equity offering, promptly as they arise. The Board of Directors believes that maintaining such a reserve will save time and money in responding to future events requiring the issuance of additional shares of common stock, such as strategic acquisitions or future equity offerings.
All authorized but unissued shares of common stock will be available for issuance from time to time for any proper purpose approved by the Board of Directors (including issuances in connection with issuances to raise capital, effect acquisitions or stock-based employee benefit plans), without further vote of the stockholders, except as required under applicable law or the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules. There are currently no arrangements, agreements or understandings for the issuance of the additional shares of authorized common stock except for issuances in the ordinary course of business. The Board of Directors does not presently intend to seek further stockholder approval of any particular issuance of shares unless such approval is required by law or the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote “FOR” approval of the amendment to our Articles of Incorporation to increase our authorized share capital by 74,000,000 shares.
PROPOSAL 4APPROVAL OF CERTAIN AMENDMENTS TO OUR 2011 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
General
On April 14, 2020, the Board approved, subject to and contingent on stockholder approval at the Annual Meeting, amendments to the OncoSec Medical Incorporated 2011 Incentive Plan (the “2011 Plan”) to (i) increase the number of shares authorized under the 2011 Plan by 2,300,000 shares, and (ii) delete the provision in the 2011 Plan that provides for certain annual and automatic increases in the shares of our common stock reserved for issuance thereunder.
The 2011 Plan was originally approved by our stockholders at the annual meeting of stockholders on March 2, 2012. On January 9, 2018, our stockholders approved an amendment and restatement of the 2011 Plan. Under this Proposal 4, we are asking stockholders to approve certain amendments to the 2011 Plan to (i) increase the number of shares authorized under the Plan by 2,300,000 shares (from 1,050,000 shares to 3,350,000 shares), and (ii) delete a provision in the 2011 Plan that currently provides for an annual and automatic increase in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance thereunder (commonly referred to as an “Evergreen Provision”). Except for the proposed increase in the number of shares authorized under the 2011 Plan and the removal of the Evergreen Provision, both of which are subject to stockholder approval at the Annual Meeting, the 2011 Plan as previously approved by our stockholders in 2018 shall remain in full force and effect.
As of April 24, 2020, there were approximately 60,000 shares of our common stock subject to outstanding awards under the 2011 Plan. As of such date, there were approximately 60,000 shares of our common stock reserved and available for future awards under the 2011 Plan. The Compensation Committee believes the number of shares currently available under the 2011 Plan will not be sufficient to make the grants it believes will be needed to provide adequate long-term equity incentives to our key employees. Approval of the amendment to the 2011 Plan to increase the number of shares authorized under the 2011 Plan by 2,300,000 shares will enable the Company to continue making equity compensation grants that serve as incentives to recruit and retain key employees and to continue aligning the interests of its employees with stockholders.
Equity-based compensation is an important element in our compensation program. Equity compensation aligns the interests of our management and key employees with the interests of our stockholders, links pay to performance, and provides a strong incentive to our executives and key employees to join our Company and to remain as we continue to move towards commercialization of our products. Importantly, equity compensation allows us to conserve our crucial cash resources while still being able to attract high quality employees and competitively compensate our experienced management team. The increase in the number of shares authorized under the 2011 Plan is intended to ensure that we have enough shares available under the plan to properly reward and provide incentive for key employees who are responsible for the long-term success of the Company. If we are not able to grant equity awards, we risk losing our executives and key employees to our competition, which would be disruptive and detrimental to our goals and, ultimately, to our stockholders.
A summary of the 2011 Plan is set forth below. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the 2011 Plan (as previously amended and restated), which is filed asAnnex A to the Company’s proxy statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on November 28, 2017. A copy of the proposed amendment increasing the number of shares authorized under the Plan by 2,300,000 shares, and removing the Evergreen Provision, is attached to this proxy statement asExhibit B.
Description of the Proposed Amendments to the 2011 Plan
The amendments to the 2011 Plan will only become effective if approved by our stockholders. If this Proposal is approved, the following amendments will be made, which are designed to ensure the continued viability of the 2011 Plan and which the Board believes is aligned with the best interests of our stockholders:
The 2011 Plan currently provides that the maximum aggregate number of shares which may be issued pursuant to all awards under the 2011 Plan is 1,050,000 shares. The proposed amendment to the 2011 Plan would increase the number of shares authorized under the Plan by 2,300,000 shares (from 1,050,000 shares to 3,350,000 shares). In addition, the Evergreen Provision in the 2011 Plan currently provides that the number of shares available for issuance under the 2011 Plan automatically increases on the first business day of each calendar year, by the lesser of (i) 3% of the shares of common stock outstanding as of the last day of the immediately preceding calendar year, (ii) 100,000 shares, and (iii) such lesser number of shares as may be determined by the Board. The proposed amendment to the 2011 Plan would delete the Evergreen Provision so that future increases to the number of shares available for issuance under the 2011 Plan will not be automatic, but instead will be subject to stockholder approval. If the Company’s stockholders do not approve this Proposal 4 at the Annual Meeting, the current 2011 Plan will continue in its current form and we will continue to grant equity awards under the 2011 Plan in accordance with the terms thereof.
Key Data Relating to Outstanding Equity Awards and Shares Available
The proposed amendment will only become effective if approved by our stockholders. The following table provides information about outstanding awards and shares available for future awards under the 2011 Plan as of April 24, 2020 (without giving effect to approval of the proposed amendments under this Proposal 4):
Summary of the 2011 Plan
Eligibility
Awards other than incentive stock options may be granted to employees, directors and consultants. Incentive stock options may be granted only to employees of the Company or a parent or a subsidiary of the Company. An employee, director or consultant who has been granted an award may, if otherwise eligible, be granted additional awards. Awards may be granted to such employees, directors or consultants who are residing in non-U.S. jurisdictions as the Plan Administrator may determine from time to time. Because the 2011 Plan provides for broad discretion in selecting which eligible persons will participate and in granting awards, the total number of persons who will actually participate in the 2011 Plan and the benefits that will be provided to the participants cannot be determined at this time. The 2011 Plan permits the grant of incentive awards to employees, officers, non-employee directors, and consultants of the Company and its affiliates as selected by the Compensation Committee. As of April 24, 2020, approximately forty employees and eight non-employee directors would be eligible to participate in the 2011 Incentive Plan.
Administration
The 2011 Plan is administered, at the Company’s expense, by the Board or a committee designated by the Board, and is currently being administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Plan Administrator”). The Plan Administrator has the authority, in its discretion, to select employees, consultants and directors to whom awards may be granted from time to time; to determine whether and to what extent awards are granted; to determine the number of shares or the amount of other consideration to be covered by each award; to approve award agreements for use under the 2011 Plan; to determine the terms and conditions of any award (including, without limitation, vesting schedules, repurchase provisions, rights of first refusal, forfeiture provisions, form of payment, payment contingencies and satisfaction of any performance criteria), to amend the terms of any outstanding award granted under the 2011 Plan; to construe and interpret the terms of the 2011 Plan and awards granted under the 2011 Plan; to establish additional terms, conditions, rules or procedures to accommodate the rules or laws of applicable non-U.S. jurisdictions; and to take such other action not inconsistent with the terms of the 2011 Plan, in each case, as the Plan Administrator deems appropriate.
All questions of interpretation or application of the 2011 Plan are determined in the sole discretion of the Plan Administrator, and its decisions are final, conclusive, and binding upon all persons. With respect to grants to officers and directors, the Compensation Committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to satisfy applicable laws, including Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
Share Reserve
Currently, 1,050,000 shares of the Company’s common stock are authorized for issuance under the 2011 Plan. The proposed amendment to the 2011 Plan under this Proposal 4 would increase the number of shares authorized for issuance under the 2011 Plan to 3,350,000 shares. In addition, the Evergreen Provision in the 2011 Plan provides for an automatic increase in the number of shares available for grant under the 2011 Plan on the first business day of each calendar year by a number equal to the less of (i) three percent (3%) of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding as of the last day of the immediately preceding calendar year, (ii) 100,000 shares, and (iii) such lesser number of shares as may be determined by the Board. The proposed amendment to the 2011 Plan would delete the Evergreen Provision so that future increases to the number of shares available for issuance will not be automatically increased, but instead will be subject to stockholder approval.
The number of shares available under the 2011 Plan is subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination or reclassification of shares or other similar transaction affecting the shares, or any other transaction affecting the shares, including a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation (including a spin-off or other distribution of stock or property), reorganization or a liquidation (whether partial or complete). Effective as of 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 20, 2019, we filed an amendment to our Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada to effect a 1 for 10 reverse split of our authorized and outstanding common stock. All applicable share and per share amounts reflected in this proxy statement have been adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split, unless otherwise specified.
Any shares covered by an award which is forfeited, canceled or expires (whether voluntary or involuntary) shall be deemed not to have been issued for purposes of determining the maximum number of shares that may be issued under the 2011 Plan. Shares that actually have been issued under the 2011 Plan pursuant to an award shall not be returned to the 2011 Plan and shall not become available for future issuance under the 2011 Plan, except that if unvested shares are forfeited, repurchased by the Company at the lower of their original purchase price or their fair market value at the time of repurchase, such shares shall become available for future grant under the 2011 Plan. To the extent not prohibited by the listing requirements of the NASDAQ Capital Market (“NASDAQ”) or applicable law, shares tendered or withheld in payment of an award exercise or purchase price and shares withheld by the Company to pay any tax withholding obligation shall be returned to the 2011 Plan and shall become available for future issuance under the 2011 Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator.
Types of Awards
The Plan Administrator is authorized under the 2011 Plan to award any type of arrangement to an employee, director or consultant that is not inconsistent with the provisions of the 2011 Plan and that by its terms involves or might involve the issuance of (i) shares of common stock, (ii) cash, or (iii) an option, a stock appreciation right (a “SAR”), or a similar right with a fixed or variable price related to the fair market value of the shares and with an exercise or conversion privilege related to the passage of time, the occurrence of one or more events, or the satisfaction of performance criteria or other conditions. Such awards include, without limitation, options, SARs, sales or bonuses of restricted stock, restricted stock units or dividend equivalent rights (collectively, “awards”), and an award may consist of one such security or benefit, or two or more of them in any combination or alternative.
Terms and Conditions of Awards
Incentive stock options may be granted only to employees. Awards other than incentive stock options may be granted to our employees, consultants and directors and those of the Company’s related entities, including such employees, consultants or directors who are residing in non-U.S. jurisdictions as the Plan Administrator may determine from time to time. Each award granted under the 2011 Plan shall be designated in an award agreement. To the extent the aggregate fair market value of the shares subject to stock options designated as incentive stock options that become exercisable for the first time by a participant during any calendar year exceeds $100,000, such excess stock options shall be treated as non-qualified stock options.
Awards may be granted subject to vesting schedules and restrictions on transfer and repurchase or forfeiture rights in favor of the Company as specified in the award agreements to be issued under the 2011 Plan. Incentive stock options may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised during the lifetime of the participant only by the participant. However, the 2011 Plan permits the designation of beneficiaries by holders of awards, including incentive stock options. Other awards shall be transferable by will and by the laws of descent and distribution and during the lifetime of the participant, to the extent and in the manner authorized by the Plan Administrator.
The term of any award granted under the 2011 Plan will be stated in the applicable award agreement, provided that the term of an incentive stock option may not exceed 10 years (or five years in the case of an incentive stock option granted to any employee who owns stock representing more than 10% of the combined voting power of the Company or its parent or subsidiary). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term of an award shall not include any period for which the participant has elected to defer the receipt of the shares or cash issuable pursuant to the award under any deferral program the Plan Administrator may establish in its discretion.
The 2011 Plan authorizes the Plan Administrator to grant incentive stock options at an exercise price not less than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date the stock option is granted (or 110%, in the case of an incentive stock option granted to any employee who owns stock representing more than 10% of the combined voting power of the Company or a parent or subsidiary). In the case of non-qualified stock options and SARs, the exercise price, base appreciation amount or purchase price (as applicable) shall be not less than 100% of the fair market value per share on the date of grant. In the case of all other awards granted under the 2011 Plan, the exercise or purchase price shall be determined by the Plan Administrator. The method of payment of the exercise or purchase price shall be determined by the Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator, in its discretion, may accept the following, individually or in combination, and in addition to any other types of consideration: cash; check; shares; or with respect to stock options, payment through a broker-dealer sale and remittance procedure or a “net exercise.”
Under the 2011 Plan, the Plan Administrator may establish one or more programs to permit selected participants the opportunity to elect to defer receipt of consideration payable under an award. The Plan Administrator also may establish separate programs for the grant of particular forms of awards to one or more classes of participants.
Amendment, Suspension and Termination
The Board may at any time amend, suspend, or terminate the 2011 Plan; provided, however, that no such amendment shall be made without the approval of the Company’s stockholders if such amendment would require stockholder approval under any applicable law or regulation. Any amendment, suspension or termination of the 2011 Plan may not adversely affect the rights of any participant under an outstanding award (unless such participant’s written consent is obtained). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the reduction or increase of the exercise price of any stock option or the base appreciation amount of a SAR and the canceling of any stock option or SAR at a time when its exercise price or base appreciation amount exceeds the fair market value of the underlyinghold your shares in exchange for another award shall not be subject to stockholder approval.
Certain Adjustments
Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, the number of shares covered by outstanding awards, the number of shares that have been authorized for issuance under the 2011 Plan but as to which no awards have been granted or which have been returned to the 2011 Plan, the exercise or purchase price of each outstanding award, the maximum number of shares with respect to which awards may be granted to any participant in any calendar year,“street name” and the like, shall be proportionally adjusted by the Plan Administrator in the event of (i) any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination or reclassification or similar transaction affecting the shares; (ii) any other increase or decrease in the number of issued shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; or (iii) any other transaction with respect to the Company’s common stock including a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation (including a spin-off or other distribution of stock or property), reorganization, liquidation (whether partial or complete), distribution of cash or other assets to stockholders other than a normal cash dividend, or any similar transaction; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.” In the event of any distribution of cash or other assets to stockholders other than a normal cash dividend, the Plan Administrator may also substitute, exchange or grant awards to effect such adjustment. Any such adjustments shall be made by the Plan Administrator and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.
Change in Control
Except as otherwise stipulated in an award agreement and irrespective of whether an award is assumed or replaced, in the event of a change in control of the Company, the 2011 Plan provides for the automatic vesting and exercisability, and the lapsing of all other restrictions, including vesting restrictions, of all unvested awards. Any performance criteria relevant to such awards shall be deemed to have been achieved at the target performance level. The Plan Administrator may provide that awards that remain outstanding after vesting will be assumed or replaced in connection with the change in control. The Plan Administrator may also provide for the cashing out of outstanding and vested options and SARs based upon the per-share consideration being paid in connection with the change in control, less the applicable exercise price or base amount.
Under the 2011 Plan, “change in control” refers to a change in ownership or control of the Company effected through any of the following transactions: (i) a person or group’s direct or indirect acquisition of shares representing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities; (ii) a change in the majority of the Company’s board members within 12 months by reason of one or more contested elections; (iii) the consummation of a corporate transaction such as a merger, reorganization, share exchange or consolidation, or asset sale; or (iv) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
Transferability
Awards generally will be non-transferable except upon the death of a participant, although the Plan Administrator may permit a participant to transfer awards other than incentive stock options (for example, to family members or trusts for family members) subject to such conditions as the Plan Administrator may establish.
New Plan Benefits; Benefits to Named Executive Officers and Others
On April 14, 2020, the Compensation Committee approved grants of stock options to certain individuals, including executive officers, non-executive employees and non-employee directors, subject to stockholder approval of the amendments to the 2011 Plan at the Annual Meeting (“Contingent Option Awards”). The Contingent Option Awards were granted on April 14,2020, but will be cancelled and forfeited for no consideration if stockholders do not approve this Proposal 4.
The following table sets forth the number of Contingent Option Awards granted to our named executive officers and the other individuals and groups indicated. All other future grants and awards under the 2011 Plan, which may be made to Company executive officers, directors and other employees, will be made at the discretion of the Committee and are not presently determinable.
Name and Position | Number of Contingent Option Awards (1) | |||
Daniel J. O’Connor, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | 304,000 | (2) | ||
Sara M. Bonstein, former Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer | 0 | |||
Dr. James DeMesa | 37,500 | (2) | ||
Dr. Margaret Dalesandro | 37,500 | (2) | ||
Robert E. Ward | 25,000 | (2) | ||
Joon Kim | 25,000 | (3) | ||
Dr. Kim Lyerly | 25,000 | (3) | ||
Kevin Smith | 25,000 | (3) | ||
Yuhang Zhao | 25,000 | (3) | ||
Chao Zhou | 25,000 | (3) | ||
All current executive officers, as a group (1 person) | 304,000 | (2) | ||
All current non-employee directors, as a group (8 persons) | 225,000 | (2) | ||
All non-executive officer employees (including all current officers who are not executive officers) as a group (37 persons) | 819,932 | (3) |
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following is general summary as of this date of the federal income tax consequences to us and to U.S. participants for awards granted under the 2011 Plan. The federal tax laws may change and the federal, state and local tax consequences for any participant will depend upon his or her individual circumstances. Tax consequences for any particular individual may be different. This summary does not purport to be complete, and does not discuss state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences.
Nonstatutory Stock Options. There will be no federal income tax consequences to the optionee or to the Company upon the grant of a nonstatutory stock option under the 2011 Plan. When the optionee exercises a nonstatutory option, however, he or she will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the stock received upon exercise of the option at the time of exercise over the exercise price, and the Company will be allowed a corresponding federal income tax deduction. Any gain that the optionee realizes when he or she later sells or disposes of the option shares will be short-term or long-term capital gain, depending on how long the shares were held.
Incentive Stock Options. There will be no federal income tax consequences to the optionee or to the Company upon the grant or exercise of an incentive stock option. If the optionee holds the option shares for the required holding period of at least two years after the date the option was granted and one year after exercise, the difference between the exercise price and the amount realized upon sale or disposition of the option shares will be long-term capital gain or loss, and the Company will not be entitled to a federal income tax deduction. If the optionee disposes of the option sharesreside in a sale, exchange, or other disqualifying disposition before the required holding period ends, he or she will recognize taxable ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the option shares at the time of exercise over the exercise price, and the Company will be allowed a federal income tax deduction equal to such amount. While the exercise of an incentive stock option does not result in current taxable income, the excess of the fair market value of the option shares at the time of exercise over the exercise price will be an item of adjustment for purposes of determining the optionee’s alternative minimum taxable income.
SARs. A participant receiving a SAR under the 2011 Plan will not recognize income, and the Company will not be allowed a tax deduction at the time the award is granted. When the participant exercises the SAR, the amount of cash and the fair market value of any shares of stockhousehold that received will be ordinary income to the participant and the Company will be allowed a corresponding federal income tax deduction at that time.
Restricted Stock. Unless a participant makes an election to accelerate recognition of the income to the date of grant as described below, a participant will not recognize income, and the Company will not be allowed a tax deduction, at the time a restricted stock award is granted, provided that the award is nontransferable and is subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. When the restrictions lapse, the participant will recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the stock as of that date (less any amount he or she paid for the stock), and the Company will be allowed a corresponding federal income tax deduction at that time, subject to any applicable limitations under Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m). If the participant files an election under Code Section 83(b) within 30 days after the date of grant of the restricted stock, he or she will recognize ordinary income as of the date of grant equal to the fair market value of the stock as of that date (less any amount paid for the stock), and the Company will be allowed a corresponding federal income tax deduction at that time, subject to any applicable limitations under Code Section 162(m). Any future appreciation in the stock will be taxable to the participant at capital gains rates. However, if the stock is later forfeited, the participant will not be able to recover the tax previously paid pursuant to the Code Section 83(b) election.
Restricted or Deferred Stock Units. A participant will not recognize income, and the Company will not be allowed a tax deduction, at the time a stock unit award is granted. Upon receipt of shares of stock (or the equivalent value in cash) in settlement of a stock unit award, a participant will recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the stock or other property as of that date (less any amount he or she paid for the stock or property), and the Company will be allowed a corresponding federal income tax deduction at that time, subject to any applicable limitations under Code Section 162(m).
Cash-Based Awards. A participant will not recognize income, and the Company will not be allowed a tax deduction, at the time a cash-based award is granted (for example, when the performance goals are established). Upon receipt of cash in settlement of the award, a participant will recognize ordinary income equal to the cash received, and the Company will be allowed a corresponding federal income tax deduction at that time, subject to any applicable limitations under Code Section 162(m).
Tax Withholding. The Company has the right to deduct or withhold, or require a participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes (including employment taxes) required by law to be withheld with respect to any exercise, lapse of restriction or other taxable event arising as a result of the 2011 Plan.
The 2011 Plan is not subject to any of the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. The 2011 Plan is not, nor is it intended to be, qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote “FOR” the approval of the amendments to our 2011 Plan.
PROPOSAL 5APPROVAL OF THE PAYMENT OF A PORTION OF 2019 BONUSESTO CERTAIN OFFICERS IN SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
General
On March 11, 2020, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved the payment of discretionary bonuses to our Chief Executive Officer and seven other officers in an aggregate amount equal to $836,250 (the “2019 Incentive Bonuses”), in recognition of the Company’s achievement of certain operational and strategic objectives in 2019 and each individual’s ongoing contributions to the success of the Company.
In order to conserve cash and improve cash flow, the Compensation Committee determined that it would be in the Company’s best interests to pay one-half of the 2019 Incentive Bonuses, or $418,125, in cash, and one-half of the 2019 Incentive Bonuses in shares of our common stock (“Contingent Bonus Shares”), subject to approval by the Board of Directors and contingent on stockholder approval of the issuance of the Contingent Bonus Shares at the Annual Meeting. On April 14, 2020, the Board of Directors approved the issuance of the Contingent Bonus Shares to the officers, contingent on stockholder approval at the Annual Meeting, and determined that the aggregate number of Contingent Bonus Shares would be 302,989 shares (the “Bonus Share Pool”), which was determined by dividing $418,125 by $1.38, the closing price of our common stock on March 11, 2020. The Contingent Bonus Shares, if granted, will be subject to a six-month holding period requirement following issuance.
Stockholders are being asked to approve the Bonus Share Pool and the issuance of the Contingent Bonus Shares to the Company’s Chief Executive Officers and the other seven officers in payment of one-half of their respective 2019 Incentive Bonuses. If stockholders approve the Bonus Share Pool, the Contingent Bonus Shares will be granted to the officers following the Annual Meeting. If stockholders do not approve the Bonus Share Pool, the Contingent Bonus Shares will not be granted to the officers, and the officers will instead receive cash in settlement of their remaining 2019 Incentive Bonus amounts.
The following table sets forth the number and dollar value of Contingent Bonus Shares approved for issuance to our named executive officers and the other individuals and groups indicated, in each case subject to and contingent on stockholder approval at the Annual Meeting.
Name and Position | Number of Contingent | Dollar Value of ($)(1) | ||||||
Daniel J. O’Connor, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | 90,580 | $ | 125,000 | |||||
Sara M. Bonstein, former Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer | 0 | $ | 0 | |||||
All current executive officers, as a group (1 person) | 90,580 | $ | 125,000 | |||||
All current officers who are not executive officers as a group (7 persons) | 212,409 | (2) | $ | 293,125 |
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
In general, the officers will recognize ordinary income as of the date the Contingent Bonus Shares are issued equal to the fair market value of the shares as of such date, and the Company will be allowed a corresponding federal income tax deduction at that time, subject to any applicable limitations under Code Section 162(m).
The Board of Directors Recommends that the shareholders vote “FOR” the approval of the payment of one-half of 2019 annual bonuses to certain officers of the Company in shares of the Company’s common stock.
PROPOSAL 6APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF THECOMPANY’S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
General
The Board is providing shareholders with the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers. This proposal, commonly known as a “Say on Pay” proposal, gives shareholders the opportunity to endorse or not endorse our executive compensation program and related policies and practices as they relate to the compensation of our named executive officers. The Say on Pay vote is advisory, and therefore not binding on the Company, the Compensation Committee or our Board of Directors. However, our Board of Directors and our Compensation Committee value the opinions of our shareholders and to the extent there is any significant vote against the named executive officer compensation as disclosed in this Proxy Statement, we will consider our shareholders’ concerns and the Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address those concerns.
The Company’s executive compensation program is designed to implement the objective of competitive pay that aligns management’s interests with the interests of shareholders and with the Company’s annual and long-term performance. The Board believes the Company’s executive compensation program uses appropriate structures and sound practices that are effective in achieving our Company milestones.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote “FOR” approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.
PROPOSAL 7ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF THE ADVISORYVOTE ON COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The Dodd-Frank Act also enables our stockholders to vote, on an advisory or non-binding basis, on the frequency of the advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in accordance with the executive compensation disclosure rules contained in Item 402 of the SEC’s Regulation S-K. Stockholders may choose to approve holding an advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers annually, biennially, or triennially. Accordingly, we are asking stockholders whether the advisory vote should occur every year, once every two years or once every three years. Stockholders may also abstain from voting. We are providing this vote as required pursuant to Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
As an advisory vote, this proposal is not binding on the Company or the Board of Directors. However, the Board of Directors intends to carefully review the results of all stockholder votes and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding the frequency of advisory votes on compensation of our named executive officers. Notwithstanding the Board of Directors’ recommendation and the outcome of the stockholder vote, the Board of Directors may in the future decide to conduct advisory votes on a more or less frequent basis and may vary its practice based on factors such as discussions with stockholders, industry trends and the adoption of material changes to compensation programs.
While our executive compensation programs are designed to promote a long-term connection between pay and performance, after careful consideration of the frequency alternatives, the Board of Directors believes that conducting advisory votes on executive compensation on a bi-annual basis is appropriate for OncoSec and its stockholders at this time.
As a biotechnology company, the Company has important milestones relating to drug development and approval that do not occur every calendar year. While executive compensation is evaluated annually, the Board of Directors also considers progress over a multi-year timeframe, which is common in small- and mid-capitalization companies in our industry. The Board of Directors believes that a vote every three years provides stockholders the opportunity to evaluate the Company’s compensation program on a more thorough, longer-term basis than an annual vote, without requiring a three-year wait, which would be less responsive.
The Company understands that its stockholders may have different views as to what is the best approach for the Company, and we look forward to hearing from our stockholders on this proposal.
The Board of Directors Recommends a vote for a frequency of “three years” for future stockholder advisory votes on the compensation of our named executive officers.
PROPOSAL 8APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY’S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO WAIVE THE BUYER DIRECTORS’ AND THEIR AFFILIATES’ FIDUCIARY DUTY OF LOYALTY WITH RESPECT TO PRESENTING CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES TO THE COMPANY
Background
As discussed in Proposal 1, on October 10, 2019, the Company announced that it entered into a Transaction with CGP and Sirtex. Pursuant to stock purchase agreements entered into between the parties pursuant to the Transaction, (the “Stock Purchase Agreements”) the Company received a $30 million equity investment from CGP and Sirtex at $2.50 per share. On November 26, 2019, the Company entered into an (a) amendment, dated November 26, 2019 to the Stock Purchase Agreement and the Stockholder Agreement, each between the Company and CGP, dated as of October 10, 2019 (the “CGP Amendment”) and (b) amendment, dated November 26, 2019, to the Stock Purchase Agreement between the Company and Sirtex, dated as of October 10, 2019 (the “Sirtex Amendment” and, collectively with the CGP Amendment, the “Amendments”). The Amendments provide for, among other things, the Company to agree to a corporate opportunity waiver, in accordance with Nevada law, of any CGP or Sirtex-appointed directors’ and their affiliates’ fiduciary duty of loyalty to present corporate opportunities to the Company before taking such an opportunity for themselves (the “Corporate Opportunity Waiver”) as a condition to closing the Transaction. In conjunction with the Amendments, the Company’s board of directors passed resolutions to approve the corporate opportunity waiver pursuant to NRS 78.070(8).
Pursuant to the Amendments, the Company is obligated to obtain the requisite stockholder approval to effect the Articles Amendment in the form attached hereto asExhibit C. Specifically, this Corporate Opportunity Waiver proposal provides for the adoption of a new Article 6 to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation that provides for a waiver of the fiduciary duty of loyalty with respect to adherence to the corporate opportunity doctrine with respect to the Buyer Directors on the Company’s Board of Directors.
Proposed Amendments and Purpose
Subject to stockholder approval, the Board of Directors approved an amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation to waive the fiduciary duty of loyalty with respect to adherence to the doctrine of corporate opportunity for the Buyer Directors and their affiliates. The Board of Directors has determined that these amendments are advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and has submitted the amendments for consideration by the Company’s stockholder at the Annual Meeting.
Assuming the Corporate Opportunity Waiver Proposal is duly adopted at the Annual Meeting, the Company’s Articles of Incorporation will be amended to specify that the Buyer Directors and certain of their affiliates will not be obligated to, among other actions, offer to the Company an opportunity to participate in business opportunities that are presented to GDD, the Buyer Directors, and certain of their affiliates. For the entire text of the new corporate opportunity provisions, see Article 6 of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, attached to this proxy statement asExhibit C.
Reasons for the Amendment
Currently, the Company’s Articles of Incorporation do not provide for a Corporate Opportunity Waiver with respect to the Buyer Directors and certain of their affiliates. Pursuant to the Amendments, the Company is obligated to obtain the requisite stockholder approval to effect the Corporate Opportunity Waiver Proposal, in the form attached hereto asExhibit C.
The Board of Directors believes that the Corporate Opportunity Waiver Proposal is necessary to maintain the benefits to be derived by the Company through its contractual, corporate and business relations with CGP.
The Board of Directors Recommends that the shareholders vote “FOR” the Corporate Opportunity Waiver Proposal.
Role of the Board
The primary functions and responsibilities of the Board are to oversee management’s operation of the business and affairs of the Company, the determination of our objectives and strategies, and the management of our risks. The functions of the Board are carried out by the full Board and, when delegated, by our Board committees, and each director is a full and equal participant in the major strategic and policy decisions of the Company. The Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines to assist the Board and its committees in performing their duties and serving the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. These Corporate Governance Guidelines are available on our website, located at www.oncosec.com, on the Governance page under the Investors tab.
Board Committees
The Board has established the following standing committees: the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Board may also create additional, temporary committees from time to time, including committees relating to financings, strategic transactions or other significant corporate matters. The Board has adopted a written charter for each of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, current copies of which are available on our website, located at www.oncosec.com, on the Governance page under the Investors tab.
Audit Committee
The primary functions of the Audit Committee are, among other things: overseeing our accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of our financial statements and internal control over financial reporting; reviewing the policies and procedures adopted by the Company to fulfill its responsibilities regarding the fair and accurate presentation of financial statements; appointing, retaining and overseeing the work of our independent registered public accounting firm; reviewing and discussing reports from our independent registered public accounting firm regarding critical accounting policies and practices, alternative treatments of financial information and any material written communications between such firm and management; reviewing and discussing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm the Company’s financial statements and financial disclosures prior to the filing thereof in any report filed with the SEC; taking appropriate action to oversee and ensure the independence of our independent registered public accounting firm; and establishing procedures for the confidential and anonymous submission by our employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. The Audit Committee met 4 times in Fiscal Year 2019.
The Board has determined that Robert Ward is the “audit committee financial expert,” as defined by applicable SEC rules, and that each member of the Audit Committee has sufficient knowledge in reading and understanding the Company’s financial statements to serve on such committee.
Compensation Committee
The primary functions of the Compensation Committee are, among other things: reviewing and approving compensation programs and arrangements applicable to our officers; determining the objectives of our executive officer compensation programs, including reviewing and establishing goals and objectives relevant to Chief Executive Officer compensation, and determining the extent to which they are achieved and any related compensation earned; administering our incentive compensation and equity-based plans; reviewing management’s risk assessment regarding the compensation policies and practices of the Company and taking steps to provide that such policies and practices do not encourage unnecessary or excessive risk-taking; and reviewing and approving director compensation and benefits. The Compensation Committee met 5 times in Fiscal Year 2019.
While certain members of senior management, including primarily our Chief Executive Officer, present their views regarding attainment of business objectives and recommended compensation, the Compensation Committee performs its own independent analysis and makes final determinations regarding compensation-related matters. Our Chief Executive Officer is not present during the Compensation Committee’s or the Board’s voting or deliberations regarding his own compensation.
The Compensation Committee’s charter gives the Compensation Committee the authority, without any approval of the Board or management, to engage and compensate compensation consultants and other advisors as it deems necessary or desirable to carry out its duties, including its evaluation of director or executive officer compensation. Pursuant to its charter and in accordance with applicable NASDAQ and SEC rules, the Compensation Committee would assess the independence of any compensation consultant, including the existence of any conflicts of interest, prior to any engagement.
In Fiscal Year 2019, the Compensation Committee engaged Marsh & McLennan Agency and Anderson Pay Advisors, LLC, independent compensation consultants, to review and evaluate all elements of our executive compensation program. Based on their evaluation, they concluded executive compensation generally was below market median. Their input may be considered by the Compensation Committee in making future compensation decisions.
Nasdaq has established rules and regulations regarding the composition of compensation committees and the qualifications of compensation committee members. As a controlled company, we are not required to have a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors. However, our Board of Directors has examined the composition of our Compensation Committee and the qualifications of our Compensation Committee members in light of the current rules and regulations governing compensation committees. Based upon this examination, our Board of Directors has determined that each member of our Compensation Committee is independent and is otherwise qualified to be a member of our Compensation Committee in accordance with such rules.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The primary functions of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are, among other things: assisting in the identification of nominees for election to our Board, consistent with qualifications and criteria approved by the Board; determining the composition of the Board and its committees; recommending to the Board the director nominees for the annual meeting of stockholders; establishing and monitoring a process of assessing the Board’s effectiveness; developing and overseeing a set of corporate governance guidelines and procedures; and overseeing the evaluation of the Board and the Company’s management. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met 2 times in Fiscal Year 2019.
Nomination of Directors
Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for identifying and evaluating individuals qualified to become directors and recommending these candidates to our Board for nomination or appointment.
Director Qualifications
In considering potential new directors, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may review individuals from various disciplines and backgrounds. Among the qualifications to be considered in the selection of candidates are broad experience in business, finance or administration; familiarity with the Company’s industry; and prominence and reputation. Since prominence and reputation in a particular profession or field of endeavor are what bring most persons to the Board’s attention, there is further consideration of whether the individual has the time available to devote to the work of the Board on one or more of its committees. To this end, our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that no director is to hold more than four directorships of publicly traded companies, and no member of our Audit Committee is to sit on the Audit Committee of more than two other publicly traded companies. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also reviews the activities and associations of each candidate to ensure there is no legal impediment, conflict of interest or other consideration that might hinder or prevent service on the Board. With respect to the nomination of continuing directors for re-election, an individual’s past contributions to the Board are also considered.
Other than the foregoing, there are no stated minimum criteria for director nominees and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may also consider these factors and any such other factors as it deems appropriate and in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does, however, recognize that under applicable regulatory requirements at least one member of the Board should meet the criteria for an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by SEC rules, at least a majority of the members of the Board must be independent directors under NASDAQ rules or the standards of any other applicable self-regulatory organization, and the members of certain of our Board committees must satisfy enhanced independence criteria under applicable NASDAQ and SEC rules. Further, although the Company does not have a formal diversity policy, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee seeks to assemble a Board that brings to the Company a variety of perspectives, skills, expertise, and sound business understanding and judgment, derived from a broad range of business, professional, governmental, finance, community and industry experience.
Identification and Evaluation of Director Nominees
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee utilizes a variety of methods for identifying and evaluating nominees for director. Potential director candidates may come to the attention of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee through current members of the Board, executive officers, professional search firms, stockholders or others. These candidates are evaluated at regular or special meetings of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and may be considered at any point during the year. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee recommends the director nominees to our Board for approval for election at each annual meeting of stockholders. Under our bylaws, any director appointed by our Board is subject to re-election by our stockholders at our next annual meeting of stockholders.
Director Independence and Controlled Company Exemption
The Company’s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market. The rules of NASDAQ require our Board to make an affirmative determination as to the independence of each director, and require a majority of the Company’s directors be “independent directors,” as defined by NASDAQ rules. In addition, NASDAQ rules require that, subject to specified exceptions, each member of a company’s audit, compensation and nominating committee be independent. Audit committee and compensation committee members must also satisfy enhanced independence criteria under certain SEC rules and corresponding NASDAQ rules.
Consistent with these rules, our Board undertook its annual review of director independence on April 14, 2020. During the review, our Board considered relationships and transactions during Fiscal Year 2019 and since inception between each director or any member of his immediate family, on the one hand, and the Company and our subsidiaries and affiliates, on the other hand. The purpose of this review was to determine whether any such relationships or transactions were inconsistent with a determination that the director is independent. Based on this review, our Board determined that Dr. Margaret Dalesandro, Dr. James DeMesa, Dr. Kim Lyerly, and Mr. Robert Ward are independent under the criteria established by Nasdaq and our Board.
Upon the Closing of the Transaction described above, CGP and Sirtex, acting as a “group” for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, collectively beneficially owns common stock representing more than 50% of the voting power of our Common Stock eligible to vote in the election of directors. As a result, we qualify as a “controlled company” and avail ourselves of certain “controlled company” exemptions under the Nasdaq corporate governance rules. As a controlled company, we are not required to have a majority of “independent directors” on our Board as defined under the Nasdaq rules, or have a compensation, nominating or governance committee composed entirely of independent directors. In light of our status as a controlled company, our Board has determined to utilize the majority board independence exemption.
Board Leadership Structure
Under our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Board has the flexibility to decide whether the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board should be separated or combined. The Board has determined that it is currently in the best interest of the Company and our stockholders for the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board to be separated in recognition of the differences between these two roles and to permit the individual serving in each role to focus on different aspects of our business.
For example, our Chief Executive Officer is responsible for setting our strategic direction and managing our day-to-day leadership, operations and performance, while the Chair of the Board focuses on organizing Board activities and maintaining effective working relationships with senior management and among Board members to enable the Board to provide guidance to and oversight (including risk oversight) and accountability of management, provide the Chief Executive Officer ongoing direction regarding Board needs, interests and opinions, and ensure Board agendas are appropriately directed toward the Company’s most significant matters. Dr. Margaret Dalesandro has served as Chair of the Board since April 2020, and Mr. Daniel J. O’Connor has served as our Chief Executive Officer since November 2017. Mr. O’Connor also serves as a member of our Board of Directors.
The Board periodically reviews the Board’s leadership structure to determine whether it continues to best serve the Company and its stockholders. As a result, the Board may determine in the future that these interests are best served by selecting one person to occupy both the Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board roles.
Board Meetings and Director Attendance at Stockholder Meetings
Our Board met 3 times in Fiscal Year 2019, and each director attended 100% of the meetings of the Board and of the Board committees on which he served during that period.
We expect that our directors will attend our Annual Meetings of Stockholders. All of our directors who served the Company at the time of our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders attended the meeting.
Board Committees
The Board has established the following standing committees: the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Board may also create additional, temporary committees from time to time, including committees relating to financings, strategic transactions or other significant corporate matters. The Board has adopted a written charter for each of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, current copies of which are available on our website, located at www.oncosec.com, on the Governance page under the Investors tab.
The members of each of the Board’s committees from August 1, 2018, the beginning of Fiscal Year 2019, through March 18, 2020 are set forth in the following tables:
Committee Membership Throughout Fiscal Year 2019
Director | Audit Committee | Compensation Committee | Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee | |||||||||
Dr. Avtar Dhillon | X | Chair | X | |||||||||
Dr. James DeMesa | X | X | Chair | |||||||||
Daniel J. O’Connor | – | – | – | |||||||||
Punit S. Dhillon | – | – | – | |||||||||
Gregory Mayes(1) | Chair | X | X | |||||||||
Robert E. Ward(1) | Chair | X | X | |||||||||
Dr. Margaret Dalesandro | X | X | X | |||||||||
Joon Kim | – | – | – |
Committee Membership After End of Fiscal Year 2019
Director | Audit Committee | Compensation Committee | Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee | |||||||||
Dr. Avtar Dhillon(2) | X | Chair | X | |||||||||
Dr. James DeMesa | X | X | Chair | |||||||||
Daniel J. O’Connor | – | – | – | |||||||||
Punit S. Dhillon(3) | – | – | – | |||||||||
Robert E. Ward | Chair | X | X | |||||||||
Dr. Margaret Dalesandro(2) | X | Chair | X | |||||||||
Joon Kim | – | – | – | |||||||||
Kevin R. Smith(4) | – | – | – | |||||||||
Dr. Yuhang Zhao(5) | – | – | – | |||||||||
Chao Zhou(6) | – | – | – | |||||||||
Dr. Kim Lyerly(7) | X | X | – |
Stockholder Recommendations of Director Candidates
Pursuant to its charter, our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for considering director candidates recommended by our stockholders. As a result, our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers and evaluates director candidates that are properly submitted by our stockholders in the same manner as other prospective director candidates. Any such submission should be made in writing to the Company at OncoSec Medical Incorporated, 24 N. Main Street, Pennington, NJ 08534, Attn: Secretary, and should include the name, address and a current resume of the proposed director candidate, a statement describing the candidate’s qualifications and consent to serve on our Board if selected as a director nominee, and contact information for personal and professional references. The submission should also include the name and address of the stockholder who is submitting the proposed director candidate, the number of shares of our common stock that are owned of record or beneficially by the submitting stockholder and a description of all arrangements or understandings between the submitting stockholder and the candidate. Any stockholder-proposed candidate that is selected by our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee would be recommended by this committee as a director nominee to the Board, which would then consider and evaluate the candidate in the same manner and based on the same criteria and qualifications as other prospective director candidates. If approved by the Board, the individual would be appointed as a director to a vacant seat on the Board or included in the Board’s slate of recommended director nominees for election at our next annual meeting of stockholders.
Stockholder Nominations of Directors
Our bylaws provide that any stockholder who is entitled to vote at an annual meeting of our stockholders and who complies with the applicable notice requirements set forth in our bylaws may nominate persons for election to our Board at the annual meeting. A stockholder desiring to nominate a director to our Board must do so in a written notice delivered to or received by the Company at OncoSec Medical Incorporated, 24 N. Main Street, Pennington, NJ 08534, Attn: Secretary, within a specified time period before the annual meeting of stockholders at which the proposed director candidate is to be up for election. See “Stockholder Director Nominations and Other Proposals for 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders” below for more information, including specific information about these time periods in connection with our next annual meeting of stockholders. The stockholder’s notice must include, among other things as specified in our bylaws: certain personal identification information about the stockholder and its director nominee(s); the principal occupation or employment of the director nominee(s); the class and number of shares of the Company that are beneficially owned by the stockholder and its director nominee(s); and any other information relating to the director nominee(s) that is required to be disclosed in solicitations for proxies for election of directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act. A stockholder who complies with the notice requirements set forth in our bylaws will be permitted to present the director nominee at the applicable annual meeting of stockholders, but will not be entitled to have the nominee included in our proxy statement for the annual meeting, unless an applicable rule of the SEC requires that we include the director nominee in our proxy statement.
Board Role in Risk Oversight
Risk is inherent in every business. We face a number of risks, including business, operational, strategic, research and development, financial and legal and regulatory risks. In general, our management is responsible for the day-to-day management of the risks we face, while our Board, as a whole and through its committees, is responsible for the oversight of risk management. The Board performs its risk oversight function as a whole, as well as through its committee structure.
The involvement of the full Board in setting our business strategy and objectives is integral to the Board’s assessment of our risks, as well as determining appropriate levels of risk and how best to manage risk. In its risk oversight role, the Board receives regular reports and/or presentations from applicable members of management and from the committees of the Board regarding areas of significant risk, assesses these risks in the context of our business and individual transactions or arrangements, and addresses any risk issues with management throughout the year as necessary.
While our Board of Directors has ultimate oversight responsibility for the risk management process, the Board delegates responsibility for certain aspects of risk management oversight to its committees. In particular:
We believe our Board’s regular review and analysis of our risks and risk management policies, the separation of the roles of Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and the role of our Board committees in the Board’s performance of its risk oversight function, provide appropriate independent oversight of our risk management practices, policies and procedures.
Communications with the Board
Any stockholder who desires to contact our Board or any member(s) of our Board may do so by writing to: Board of Directors, c/o Secretary, OncoSec Medical Incorporated, 24 N. Main Street, Pennington, NJ 08534. Copies of any such written communications received by the Secretary will be provided to our full Board or any identified member(s), unless they are considered, in the reasonable judgment of the Secretary, to be improper for submission to the intended recipient(s).
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
The Board has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available for review on our website at www.oncosec.com, on the Governance page under the Investors tab, and is also available in print, without charge, to any stockholder who requests a copy by writing to us at OncoSec Medical Incorporated, 24 N. Main Street, Pennington, NJ 08534, Attention: Investor Relations. We intend to post on our website any amendments to certain provisions of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or any waivers of any such provisions applicable to any director or principal executive, financial or accounting officer or persons performing similar functions, to the extent required by applicable NASDAQ or SEC rules.
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our executive officers, directors and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of our common stock to file reports of securities ownership and changes in such ownership with the SEC. Based solely on a review of Forms 3, 4 and 5 and any amendments thereto filed with the SEC, or written representations from persons subject to Section 16(a) that no Form 5’s were required, we believe that during Fiscal Year 2019, all Section 16(a) reporting requirements applicable to our directors, executive officers and 10% stockholders were completed in a timely manner, except for one Form 4 related to one transaction by Sara Bonstein was filed late, one Form 4 related to two transactions by Dr. James DeMesa was filed late, one Form 3 for Joon Kim was filed late, and one Form 4 related to two transactions by Alpha Holdings, Inc. was filed late.
Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions
Related Party Transactions
Except as described below and except for employment arrangements and compensation for Board service, which are described under “Executive Compensation” below, since August 1, 2016, there has not been, nor is there currently proposed, any transaction in which we are or were a participant, the amount involved exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or 1% of the average of our total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years, and any of our directors, executive officers, holders of more than 5% of our common stock or any immediate family member of any of the foregoing had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.
We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. In general, these indemnification agreements require the Company to indemnify a director to the fullest extent permitted by law against liabilities that may arise in connection with that director’s service as a director for the Company.
Policies and Procedures for Review and Approval of Related Party Transactions
Pursuant to its charter and in accordance with applicable NASDAQ rules, our Audit Committee has the responsibility to review and approve in advance any transactions with a related party. In addition, our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics addresses conflicts of interest, and requires that the existence of any actual or potential conflict be disclosed to the Chairman of the Audit Committee to enable the committee’s full review of the potential conflict. The Audit Committee intends to approve only those related party or conflict of interest transactions that are considered to be in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders. In considering whether to approve any such transaction, the Audit Committee considers such factors as it deems appropriate, and generally focuses on whether the terms of the transaction are at least as favorable to us as terms we would receive on an arm’s-length basis from an unaffiliated third party and whether any such transaction might impair the independence of a director or present a conflict of interest for a director or executive officer.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships among our current director and executive officers.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS ANDMANAGEMENT
The table below sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock of (i) each person who, to our knowledge, owns more than 5% of our common stock as of April 24, 2020, (ii) each of our directors and named executive officers (consisting of the persons described under “Executive Compensation” below), and (iii) all of our current directors and executive officers as a group. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to the table below, the address of each person named in the table is: c/o OncoSec Medical Incorporated, 24 N. Main Street, Pennington, NJ 08534.
Beneficial ownership is determined and calculated in accordance with applicable SEC rules, and generally includes sole or shared voting and/or investment power with respect to securities. These rules provide that shares of our common stock subject to options, warrants, restricted stock units or other rights that are currently exercisable or subject to vesting within 60 days after April 24, 2020 are deemed to be beneficially owned and outstanding for purposes of computing the share and percentage ownership of the person holding such options, warrants, restricted stock units or other rights, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
Name of Beneficial Owner | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership (No. of Shares) | Percentage Beneficially Owned (%)(1) | ||||||
Directors and Named Executive Officers | ||||||||
Daniel J. O’Connor(2) | * | |||||||
Sara M. Bonstein | * | |||||||
Margaret Dalesandro, PhD | - | * | ||||||
Dr. James DeMesa | * | |||||||
Dr. Avtar Dhillon | * | |||||||
Joon Kim(3) | * | |||||||
Dr. Kim Lyerly | ||||||||
Kevin R. Smith | - | * | ||||||
Robert Ward | - | * | ||||||
Dr. Yuhang Zhao | - | * | ||||||
Chao Zhou | ||||||||
All directors, nominees and current executive officers as a group (12 persons) | * | |||||||
5% Stockholders | ||||||||
China Grand Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Holdings Ltd. and Grand Decade Developments Limited(4) | 10,000,000 | 43.95 | ||||||
Sirtex Medical US Holdings, Inc.(5) | 2,000,000 | 8.79 | ||||||
Alpha Holdings, Inc.(6) | 1,610,999 | 7.08 |
* Less than 1%.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table provides information as of July 31, 2019 regarding compensation plans under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance:
Equity Compensation Plan Information | ||||||||||||
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 | 910,154 | (1) | $ | 12.61 | (2) | 130,793 | (3) | |||||
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | 89,374 | (4) | $ | 12.82 | (5) | - | ||||||
TOTAL | 999,528 | $ | 12.63 | 130,793 |
INFORMATION ABOUT EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Set forth below is certain information regarding the current executive officers of the Company, including biographical summaries for each of our executive officers who are not also members of our Board.
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Please see page 10 for Mr. O’Connor’s biography.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth the total compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to those individuals who served as our executive officers during Fiscal Year 2019.
Name and Principal Position | Fiscal Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($)(1) | Stock Awards ($)(2) | Option Awards ($)(2)(3) | Nonequity Incentive Plan Compensation | All Other Compensation(4) | Total ($) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Daniel J. O’Connor | 2019 | 453,846 | 250,000 | 450,075 | – | – | 22,800 | 1,176,721 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
President and Chief Executive Officer(5) | 2018 | 283,078 | 70,136 | – | 3,819,000 | – | 19,369 | 4,191,583 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sara Bonstein | 2019 | 368,846 | 75,000 | – | 67,980 | – | 14,510 | 526,336 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer(6) | 2018 | 6,731 | 75,000 | 837,500 | – | – | – | 919,231 |
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
The following table sets forth information regarding equity awards held by the named executive officers as of July 31, 2019:
Option Awards(1)(3) | Stock Awards(2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options, Exercisable (#) | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options, Not Exercisable (#) | Option Exercise Price ($) | 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 ($)(4) | ||||||||||||||||||
Daniel J. O’Connor | 10,000 | (5) | — | (5) | 10.80 | 9/07/2027 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
75,004 | (6) | 24,996 | (6) | 12.50 | 11/07/2027 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
100,000 | (7) | — | 12.50 | 11/07/2027 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
25,000 | (8) | 25,000 | (8) | 12.50 | 11/07/2027 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
13,544 | (9) | 11,456 | (9) | 14.70 | 5/03/2028 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | 56,250 | (10) | 125,438 | ||||||||||||||||||
Sara Bonstein | — | — | — | — | 15,624 | (11) | 34,842 | |||||||||||||||||
4,125 | (12) | 12,375 | (12) | 6.001 | 12/24/2028 | — | — |
Compensation Matters
Cash Bonuses
On December 24, 2018, the Compensation Committee approved discretionary cash bonus awards to certain of our employees, including our named executive officers, as follows: (i) Mr. O’Connor received a cash bonus of $250,000 and (ii) Ms. Bonstein received a cash bonus of $75,000.
Equity Awards
The named executive officers received grants of equity awards in Fiscal Year 2019 as described below.
Daniel J. O’Connor
On December 24, 2018, the Compensation Committee approved the grant of 75,000 restricted stock units to Mr. O’Connor. The units vest as follows: 6,250 units vested on January 31, 2019, and the remaining 68,750 units vest in equal quarterly installments of 6,250 units beginning on April 30, 2019 and ending on October 31, 2021.
Sara Bonstein
On December 24, 2018, the Compensation Committee approved the grant of 16,500 stock options to Ms. Bonstein. The options vest as follows: 1,375 options vested on January 31, 2019, and the remaining 15,125 options vest in equal quarterly installments of 1,375 units beginning on April 30, 2019 and ending on October 31, 2021. Effective November 18, 2019, Ms. Bonstein voluntarily forfeited all of these stock options for no consideration, therefore, no value was realized by Ms. Bonstein.
Employment Agreements
The following provides descriptions of the employment agreements currently in effect for each of our named executive officers.
Daniel J. O’Connor
On November 7, 2017, we entered into an executive employment agreement with Mr. O’Connor, our Chief Executive Officer. In consideration of Mr. O’Connor entering into the agreement, Mr. O’Connor was granted stock option awards to purchase up to 2,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. On May 20, 2019, the Company effected a 1-for-10 reverse stock split, which reduced the total number of common shares Mr. O’Connor was able to purchase from 2,500,000 to 250,000. The employment agreement provides for the following, among other things:
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Sara Bonstein
Other Elements of Compensation
Health and Welfare Plans
Our executive officers are eligible to participate in our employee benefit plans, including our health and welfare plans, on the same basis as our other employees.
401(k) Plan
We currently maintain a defined contribution savings plan pursuant to Section 401(k) of the Code. The plan is for the benefit of all qualifying employees, including our executive officers, and permits voluntary contributions by employees of up to 100% of eligible compensation, subject to maximum limits imposed by the Internal Revenue Service. The terms of the plan allow for discretionary employer contributions, and we currently match 100% of each employee’s contributions, up to a maximum of 3% of such employee’s annual compensation.
Director Compensation Policy
The Board determines the form and amount of director compensation after its review of recommendations made by the Compensation Committee. Under our director compensation policy, our directors’ cash compensation is as follows:
In addition, each non-employee director who was serving on the Board as of January 2, 2019, received an award of 5,000 stock options, and directors first appointed to serve on the Board during Fiscal Year 2019 received an award of 10,000 stock options in connection with their appointment. Effective November 18, 2019, each of the non-employee directors other than Mr. Kim voluntarily forfeited all of his or her vested and unvested stock options for no consideration, therefore, no value was realized by these Directors.
Director Compensation Table
The following table provides information about the compensation of our non-employee directors for Fiscal Year 2019:
Name(1) | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | Option Awards ($)(1)(13) | Total ($) | |||||||||
Dr. Avtar Dhillon | 170,000 | 22,500 | (2) | 192,500 | ||||||||
Robert E. Ward(3) | 36,528 | 79,200 | (4) | 115,728 | ||||||||
Dr. James DeMesa | 50,000 | 101,250 | (5) | 151,250 | ||||||||
Dr. Margaret Dalesandro(6) | 13,472 | 39,000 | (7) | 52,472 | ||||||||
Gregory T. Mayes(8) | 37,500 | 22,500 | (9) | 60,000 | ||||||||
Joon Kim(10) | 30,780 | 64,050 | (11) | 94,830 | ||||||||
Punit Dhillon | — | 22,500 | (12) | 22,500 |
Effective November 18, 2019, each of the non-employee directors other than Mr. Kim voluntarily forfeited all of his or her vested and unvested stock options for no consideration, therefore, no option award value was realized by these Directors.
Management of the Company is responsible for preparing OncoSec’s financial statements, as well as for OncoSec’s financial reporting processes, accounting principles and internal controls. Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C., or MHM, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, is responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), including expressing an opinion on our financial statements and our internal control over financial reporting, in each case, when required. The Audit Committee is responsible for providing independent, objective oversight of these processes and functions on behalf of the Board.
In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management and MHM the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in the Annual Report. The Audit Committee has also discussed with MHM the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standards No. 16, Communications with Audit Committees. In addition, the Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from MHM required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) regarding MHM’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with MHM its independence.
Based on the Audit Committee’s reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Annual Report.
March 11, 2020
This Audit Committee Report shall not be deemed to be “filed” with the SEC or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C under the Exchange Act other than as provided by applicable SEC rules, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference into a document filed under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
Householding of Annual Meeting Materials
Some banks, brokers and other nominee record holders may be participating in the practice of “householding” proxy statements and annual reports. This means that only one copy of ourthe proxy statement and Annual Report may have been sentmaterials, you can request to multiple stockholders in your household. We will promptly deliverreceive a separate copy of either document to you if you contact us at: 24 N. Main Street, Pennington, NJ 08534, Attn: Robert DelAversano. You may also contact us at (855) 662-6732,in the future by following the instructions sent by your bank or access our Annual Report and proxy statement on our website, located at www.oncosec.com.
broker. If you want to receive separateyour household receives multiple copies of the proxy statement and annual report inmaterials, you may request that only a single set of materials be sent by following the future, or if you are receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy for your household, you should contactinstructions sent by your bank broker, or other nominee record holder, or you may contact us at the above address or phone number.broker.
Stockholder Director Nominations and Other Proposals for Our Next Annual Meeting of Stockholders
The submission deadline for stockholder proposals to be included in our proxy materials for our next annual meeting of stockholders after the Annual Meeting pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act is at least 120 days before the anniversary date of the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the previous year’s annual meeting. We suggest that stockholders submit any stockholder proposal by certified mail, return receipt requested. All such proposals must be in writing and sent to our Secretary at the address of our principal executive offices, and must otherwise comply with Rule 14a-8 in all respects.
In addition, under our bylaws, director nominees and other proposals may be presented at an annual meeting of stockholders only by or at the direction of the Board or by a stockholder who has given us timely written notice of the nomination or proposal. To be timely for our 20202023 annual meeting of stockholders, (i) in the case of a stockholder seeking inclusion of a proposal (but not a director nominee) in our proxy materials, the stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received by our Secretary at the address of our principal executive offices not less than 120 days or more than 180 days prior to the first anniversary date of the date on which the Company first mailed its proxy materials for the 2019 Annual Meeting.2022 annual meeting. Therefore, OncoSec must receive notice of a stockholder proposal no sooner than NovemberDecember 2, 20202022 and no later than DecemberJanuary 31, 2020.2023. A stockholder’s notice must set forth, as to each director nominee or other proposal the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, all of the information required by our bylaws. If the stockholder is not seeking inclusion of the proposal in our proxy materials, timely notice consists of a stockholder’s notice delivered to or mailed and received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days prior to the date of the annual meeting.
If the date of our next annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to or delayed by more than 30 days after the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, then to be timely, notice by the stockholder must be delivered to the Secretary at our principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the later of (i) 90 days prior to such annual meeting or (ii) the 15 days following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.
Stockholders may obtain more information about these notice requirements by referencing a copy of our bylaws contained in the filings we make with the SEC, which are available through our website at www.oncosec.com or through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
We will not entertain any director nominations or other proposal at the Annual Meeting or at our 20202023 annual meeting of stockholders that do not meet the requirements set forth in our Bylaws. Further, if we comply and the stockholder does not comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-4(c)(2) under the Exchange Act, we may exercise discretionary voting authority under proxies that we solicit to vote in accordance with our best judgment on any such stockholder proposal or director nominee.
Other Business at the Annual Meeting
TheOur Board of Directors is not aware of any matter to be presented at the Annual Meeting that is not listed on the Notice of AnnualSpecial Meeting of Stockholders and discussed in this Proxy Statement. If other matters should properly come before the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the accompanying proxy intend to vote all proxies in accordance with the recommendation of the Board or, if no such recommendation is given, in their own discretion.
By order of the Board of Directors, | |
Chief Executive Officer and President | |
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
ONCOSEC MEDICAL INCORPORATED
(Pursuant to NRS 78.385 and 78.390)
ATTACHMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT FOR ONCOSEC MEDICAL INCORPORATED
Article 3. Authorized Shares.
Article 3 of the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows: “The number of shares the corporation is authorized to issue is 100,000,000 authorized shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.”
AMENDMENT TO THEONCOSEC MEDICAL INCORPORATED
2011 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
This Amendment to the OncoSec Medical Incorporated 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), has been adopted by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) and approved by the stockholders of OncoSec Medical Incorporated (the “Company”), to be effective as of , 2020.
1. Section 3(a) of the Plan is hereby amended to (i) reflect the Company’s 1-for-10 reverse stock split, effective May 20, 2019 (the “Reverse Stock Split”), (ii) increase the shares reserved for issuance under the Plan (post-Reverse Stock Split) from 1,050,000 to 3,350,000, and (iii) remove the automatic annual increase to the number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan. Accordingly Section 3(a) of the Plan is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
“3.Stock Subject to the Plan.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 10, below, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to all Awards (including Incentive Stock Options) is three million two hundred fifty thousand (3,350,000) Shares. The Shares to be issued pursuant to Awards may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.”
2. Except as specifically set forth herein, the terms of the Plan shall be and remain unchanged, and the Plan as amended shall remain in full force and effect.
The foregoing is hereby acknowledged as being the Amendment to the OncoSec Medical Incorporated 2011 Equity Incentive Plan, as adopted by the Board on April 14, 2020, and approved by the Company’s stockholders on , 2020.
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
ONCOSEC MEDICAL INCORPORATED
(Pursuant to NRS 78.385 and 78.390)
ATTACHMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT FOR ONCOSEC MEDICAL INCORPORATED
Article 6. That the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation be amended to add a new Article to read as follows: To the maximum extent permitted from time to time by applicable law, (i) the Corporation renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities that are from time to time presented to Grand Decade Developments Limited, a British Virgin Islands limited company and a wholly owned subsidiary of China Grand Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Holdings Limited (“Buyer”), the Buyer Directors, any other Person or Persons who are, at the time, associated with or nominated by, or serving as Representatives of Buyer, or the respective Affiliates of the foregoing parties (including their officers or directors who are employees, officers, directors, managers, stockholders or members) (the “Covered Persons”), (ii) none of such Covered Persons shall have any obligation to refrain from (a) engaging in similar activities or lines of business as the Corporation or (if the Covered Person does so without any violation of the Confidentiality Agreement) developing or marketing any products or services that compete, directly or indirectly, with those of the Corporation, (b) investing or owning any interest publicly or privately in, serving as a director or officer of or (if the Covered Person does so without any violation of the Confidentiality Agreement) developing a business relationship with, any Person engaged in similar activities or lines of business as, or otherwise in competition with, the Corporation, (c) doing business (if the Covered Person does so without any violation of the Confidentiality Agreement) with any client or customer of the Corporation or (d) employing or otherwise engaging a former officer or employee of the Corporation, and (iii) neither the Corporation nor any of its Subsidiaries shall have any right to be offered any opportunity to participate or invest in any venture engaged or to be engaged in by any Covered Person. Capitalized terms used in and not defined in this Article shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Stockholders Agreement dated October 10, 2019 between the Corporation and Buyer, a copy of which is available for inspection at the Corporation’s principal office; to the extent that the meanings of certain of such capitalized terms ascribed therein are stated therein to be determined by the meanings ascribed to such capitalized terms in the Stock Purchase Agreement, such capitalized terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Stock Purchase Agreement dated October 10, 2019 between the Corporation and Buyer a copy of which is available for inspection at the Corporation’s principal office.