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
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
[ ] | Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
[X] | Definitive Proxy Statement |
[ ] | Definitive Additional Materials |
[ ] | Soliciting Materials Under Rule 14a-12 |
BONE BIOLOGICS CORPORATION | ||
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) | ||
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) |
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BONE BIOLOGICS CORPORATION
321 Columbus Ave.
Boston, MA 02116
May 5, 2016
Dear Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Bone Biologics Corporation to be held at 11:00 a.m. local time on June 1, 2016 at the offices of TroyGould PC, 1801 Century Park East, Suite 1600, Los Angeles, California 90067.
As more fully described in the attached Notice of Annual Meeting and the accompanying proxy statement, at the Annual Meeting, our stockholders will consider and vote to (i) elect seven directors to our Board of Directors; (ii) approve, in an advisory (non-binding) vote, our executive officer compensation; (iii) hold an advisory (non-binding) vote on the desired frequency of advisory votes on executive officer compensation; and (iv) ratify the appointment of Anton & Chia LLP as our independent registered public accountant for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.
Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please submit your proxy to ensure your representation and the presence of a quorum at the Annual Meeting. You may submit your proxy over the Internet or by marking, signing, dating and mailing the enclosed proxy card.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote “FOR” the proposals presented in this proxy statement.
Sincerely, | |
Bruce Stroever | |
Chairman of the Board of Directors |
BONE BIOLOGICS CORPORATION
321 Columbus Ave.
Boston, MA 02116
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON June 1, 2016
Notice is hereby given that an Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Bone Biologics Corporation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 (“Annual Meeting”), will be held at 11:00 a.m. local time on June 1, 2016 at the offices of TroyGould PC, 1801 Century Park East, Suite 1600, Los Angeles, California 90067, for the following purposes:
● | To elect seven directors to our Board of Directors; | |
● | To approve, in an advisory (non-binding) vote, our executive officer compensation; | |
● | To hold an advisory (non-binding) vote on the desired frequency of advisory votes on executive officer compensation; | |
● | To ratify the appointment of Anton & Chia LLP, as our independent registered public accountant for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016; and | |
● | To transact any other business as may properly come before the meeting or at any adjournment thereof. |
We have fixed the close of business on April 29, 2016 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Only our stockholders of record at the close of business on that date will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
We expect to send the proxy materials on or about May 5, 2016, for the holders of record and beneficial owners of our common stock as of the close of business on the record date.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JUNE 1, 2016:
The proxy statement, proxy card and Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 are available at the following website: www.bonebiologics.com.
By Order of the Board of Directors, | |
BRUCE STROEVER | |
Chairman of the Board of Directors |
May 5, 2016
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF SHARES YOU OWN. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, YOU ARE URGED TO VOTE ELECTRONICALLY VIA THE INTERNET OR BY COMPLETING, SIGNING, DATING AND RETURNING THE PROXY/VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD. IF GIVEN, YOU MAY REVOKE YOUR PROXY BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE PROXY STATEMENT AND PROXY/VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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BONE BIOLOGICS CORPORATION
321 Columbus Ave
Boston, MA 02116
Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be Held On June 1, 2016
The Annual Meeting
This proxy statement is being furnished to the stockholders of Bone Biologics Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) for use at the Annual Meeting to be held at 11:00 a.m. local time on June 1, 2016, at the offices of TroyGould PC, 1801 Century Park East, Suite 1600, Los Angeles, California 90067, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof.
The purpose of the Annual Meeting is to consider and vote upon the following matters:
● | To elect seven directors to our Board of Directors; | |
● | To approve, in an advisory (non-binding) vote, our executive officer compensation; | |
● | To hold an advisory vote on the desired frequency of advisory votes on executive officer compensation; | |
● | To ratify the appointment of Anton & Chia LLP as our independent registered public accountant for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016; and | |
● | To transact any other business as may properly come before the meeting or at any adjournment thereof. |
Stockholders of the Company as of April 29, 2016, the Record Date, may vote in one of the following two ways whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting: (1) by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card, or (2) by completing your proxy on the Internet at the address listed on the proxy card. It is important that you vote your shares whether or not you attend the meeting in person. If you attend the Annual Meeting, you may vote in person even if you have previously returned your proxy card or completed your proxy on the Internet. Shares represented by proxy will be voted in accordance with the instructions you provide to the individuals named on the proxy. If you provide no instruction, the shares will be voted for all of the proposals.
NO MATTER WHAT METHOD YOU ULTIMATELY DECIDE TO USE TO VOTE YOUR SHARES, WE URGE YOU TO VOTE PROMPTLY.
The Proxy Materials including our Annual Report are first being mailed to our stockholders on or about May 5, 2016.
Record Date; Shares Entitled To Vote; Vote Required To Approve The Transaction
The Board has fixed the close of business on April 29, 2016 (the “Record Date”), as the date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. On the Record Date, 38,085,248 shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”) were issued and outstanding, and pursuant to our Bylaws, each outstanding share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to vote at a meeting of our stockholders, except that in the election of directors each stockholder has cumulative voting rights and is entitled to a number of votes equal to the number of shares held by such stockholder multiplied by the number of directors to be elected, which number is currently seven.
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A majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote, represented either in person or by proxy, is necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. In the absence of a quorum, the Annual Meeting may be postponed from time to time until stockholders holding the requisite number of shares of our Common Stock are represented in person or by proxy. Broker non-votes and abstentions will be counted towards a quorum at the Annual Meeting, but will not count as votes for or against the proposals.
Solicitation, Voting and Revocation Of Proxies
This solicitation of proxies is being made by our Board, and our Company will pay the entire cost of preparing, assembling, printing, mailing and distributing these proxy materials. In addition to the mailing of these proxy materials, the solicitation of proxies or votes may be made in person, by telephone or by electronic communications by directors, officers and employees of our Company, who will not receive any additional compensation for such solicitation activities. We also will reimburse brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy and solicitation materials to our stockholders.
Shares of our Common Stock represented by a proxy properly signed and received at or prior to the Annual Meeting, unless properly revoked, will be voted in accordance with the instructions on the proxy. If a proxy is signed and returned without any voting instructions, shares of our Common Stock represented by the proxy will be voted “FOR” the proposals described in this proxy statement, and in accordance with the determination of the majority of our Board, as to any other matter which may properly come before the Annual Meeting, including any adjournment or postponement thereof. A stockholder may revoke any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation by: (i) delivering to our corporate secretary, prior to or at the Annual Meeting, a written notice revoking the proxy; (ii) delivering to our corporate secretary, at or prior to the Annual Meeting, a duly executed proxy relating to the same shares and bearing a later date; or (iii) voting in person at the Annual Meeting. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not, in and of itself, constitute a revocation of a proxy. All written notices of revocation and other communications with respect to the revocation of a proxy should be addressed to:
BONE
BIOLOGICS CORPORATION
321 Columbus Ave.
Boston, MA 02116
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Our Board of Directors is not aware of any business to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting other than consideration of the proposals described herein.
Internet Voting
In addition to marking, signing, dating and mailing the enclosed proxy card, you may vote over the Internet. Voting via the Internet is fast, convenient and your vote is immediately confirmed and tabulated. If you choose to vote via the Internet, instructions to do so are set forth on the enclosed proxy card. If you own your shares in your own name, you can vote via the Internet in accordance with the instructions provided on the proxy card. If your shares are held in “street name” by a bank, broker or other nominee, you can also vote via the Internet by following the voting instructions provided by your bank, broker or other nominee. You may need to contact your bank or broker to vote.
If you vote via the Internet, you do not have to mail in a proxy card, but your vote must be received by 11:59 p.m., Los Angeles Time, on May 27, 2016.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS PROXY STATEMENT AND ANNUAL MEETING
Q: | WHAT IS THIS PROXY STATEMENT AND WHY AM I RECEIVING IT? |
A: | You are receiving this proxy statement in connection with an Annual Meeting of stockholders called by our Board of Directors in connection with soliciting stockholder votes for the purpose of (i) electing seven directors to our Board to serve for a term ending on the date of the next Annual Meeting of stockholders following the date such persons are elected as directors, or until their successors are duly elected and qualified; (ii) approve in an advisory (non-binding) vote, our executive officer compensation; (iii) to hold an advisory (non-binding)vote on the desired frequency of advisory votes on executive officer compensation; and (iv) ratifying the appointment of Anton & Chia LLP as our independent registered public accountant for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, in each case, as more fully described in this proxy statement. You have been sent this proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card because our Board of Directors is soliciting your proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of voting on the foregoing matters |
Q: | WHAT INFORMATION IS CONTAINED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT? |
A: | The information included in this proxy statement relates to the proposals to be voted on at the Annual Meeting, the voting process, compensation of our directors and most highly paid executive officers, and certain other required information. |
Q: | WHO IS ENTITLED TO VOTE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, AND WHAT VOTE IS REQUIRED TO APPROVE THE PROPOSALS? |
A: | Only holders of shares of our Common Stock, as of the Record Date, are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of April 29, 2016, the Record Date, there were 38,085,248 shares of our Common Stock issued and outstanding, and entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. For all matters each outstanding share of our common stock will be entitled to one vote on each matter, except that in the election of directors each stockholder has cumulative voting rights and is entitled to a number of votes equal to the number of shares held by such stockholder multiplied by the number of directors to be elected, which number is currently seven. The stockholder may cast these votes all for a single candidate or may distribute the votes among any or all of the candidates. No stockholder will be entitled to cumulate votes for a candidate, however, unless that candidate’s name has been placed in nomination prior to the voting and the stockholder, or any other stockholder, has given notice at the Annual Meeting prior to the voting of an intention to cumulate votes. In such an event, the proxy holder may allocate among the management nominees the votes represented by proxies in the proxy holder’s sole discretion. Under Delaware law, and pursuant to our Bylaws, a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote, represented either in person or by proxy, is necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. Once a quorum is established, stockholder approval with respect to a particular proposal is generally obtained by the affirmative vote of a majority of our issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, represented in person or by proxy, except for the election of directors which is determined by a simple plurality of the votes cast. |
Q: | DOES OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMEND VOTING “FOR” THE PROPOSALS? |
A: | Yes. Our Board of Directors unanimously recommends that our stockholders vote “FOR” each of the proposals described in this proxy statement. |
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Q: | HOW MAY I VOTE ON THE PROPOSALS IF I OWN SHARES IN MY OWN NAME? |
A: | If you own your shares in your own name, you may vote on the proposals presented in this proxy statement in one of the following two ways whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting: (1) by completing, signing and dating the enclosed proxy card and returning it to the Company, or (2) by completing your proxy on the Internet at the address listed on the proxy card. It is important that you vote your shares whether or not you attend the meeting in person. If you provide no instructions, the shares will be voted “FOR”(i) the election of seven nominees listed on the proxy card; (ii) the approval, in an advisory (non-binding) vote, our executive officer compensation; (iii) holding an advisory vote on the desired frequency of advisory votes on executive officer compensation; and (iv) the ratification of the appointment of Anton & Chia as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016. |
Q: | HOW MAY I VOTE ON THE PROPOSALS IF MY SHARES ARE HELD IN “STREET NAME” BY MY BROKER, BANK OR OTHER NOMINEE? |
A: | If your shares are held in “street name” through a broker, bank or other nominee, you can also vote via the Internet by following the voting instructions provided by your bank, broker or other nominee. You may need to contact your bank or broker to vote. Brokerage firms no longer have authority to vote shares for which their customers do not provide voting instructions. A broker, banker or other nominee no longer has discretion to vote for or against the election of directors or the other proposals. Accordingly, we encourage you to provide instructions to your brokerage firm by signing and returning your proxy. This ensures your shares will be voted at the meeting. |
Q: | CAN I CHANGE MY MIND AND REVOKE MY PROXY? |
A: | Yes. If you are a stockholder of record, you may change your vote at any time before the polls close at the meeting. You may do this by (i) delivering to our corporate secretary, prior to or at the Annual Meeting, a written notice revoking the proxy; (ii) delivering to our corporate secretary, at or prior to the Annual Meeting, a duly executed proxy relating to the same shares and bearing a later date; or (iii) voting in person at the Annual Meeting. Attendance at the Annual Meeting, in and of itself, will not constitute a revocation of a proxy. If you hold your shares in “street name,” you may submit new voting instructions by contacting your broker, bank or other nominee. If you voted by Internet, you may change your vote at any time up until 11:59 p.m., Los Angeles time, on May 27, 2016, by resubmitting a new Internet vote. Your last Internet vote will be the one which is used for voting purposes. |
Q: | CAN I VOTE MY SHARES IN PERSON? |
A: | Yes. The Annual Meeting is open to all holders of our common stock as of the Record Date. To vote in person, you will need to attend the meeting and bring with you evidence of your stock ownership. If your shares are registered in your name, you will need to bring a copy of stock certificate(s) together with valid picture identification. If your shares are held in the name of your broker, bank or another nominee or you received your proxy materials electronically, you will need to bring evidence of your stock ownership, such as your most recent brokerage account statement, and valid picture identification. |
Q: | DO I HAVE DISSENTERS’ RIGHTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSALS? |
A: | No. Under Delaware law, “dissenters’ rights” are not available in connection with the proposals presented in this proxy statement. |
Q. | HOW MAY I REQUEST A SINGLE SET OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR MY HOUSEHOLD? |
A: | If you share an address with another stockholder and have received multiple copies of our proxy materials, you may write us to request delivery of a single copy of these materials. Written requests should be made to Bone Biologics Corporation, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 321 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA 02116. |
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Q. | WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I RECEIVE MORE THAN ONE SET OF VOTING MATERIALS? |
A: | You may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this proxy statement and multiple proxy cards or voting instruction cards. For example, if you hold your shares in more than one brokerage account, you may receive a separate voting instruction card for each brokerage account in which you hold shares. If you are a stockholder of record and your shares are registered in more than one name, you will receive more than one proxy card. Please complete, sign, date, and return each proxy card and voting instruction card that you receive. |
Q. | WHAT HAPPENS IF ADDITIONAL MATTERS ARE PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING? |
A: | Other than the proposals described in this proxy statement, we are not aware of any other business to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting. If you grant a proxy, the persons named as proxy holders will have the discretion to vote your shares on any additional matters properly presented for a vote at the meeting. If for any reason any of our nominees are not available as a candidate for director, the persons named as proxy holders will vote your proxy for such other candidate or candidates as may be nominated by the Board. |
Q. | IS MY VOTE CONFIDENTIAL? |
A: | Proxy instructions, ballots and voting tabulations that identify individual stockholders are handled in a manner that protects your voting privacy. Your vote will not be disclosed either within the Company or to third parties, except: (1) as necessary to meet applicable legal requirements, (2) to allow for the tabulation of votes and certification of the vote, and (3) to facilitate a successful proxy solicitation. Occasionally, stockholders provide on their proxy card written comments, which are then forwarded to Company management. |
Q. | WHO IS PAYING FOR THIS PROXY SOLICITATION? |
A: | Our Board of Directors is making this solicitation, and we will pay the entire cost of preparing, assembling, printing, mailing and distributing these proxy materials. In addition to the mailing of these proxy materials, the solicitation of proxies or votes may be made in person, by telephone or by electronic communications by our directors, officers and employees, who will not receive any additional compensation for such solicitation activities. We will also reimburse brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy and solicitation materials to stockholders. |
PROPOSAL I – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our Board currently has seven directors, consisting of three independent directors, all of whom are independent as defined by the applicable listing requirements of the NASDAQ Stock Market. The Board proposes that all of the nominees listed below, each of whom currently serves on the Board, be elected as directors to serve for a term ending on the date of the next Annual Meeting of stockholders following the date such persons are elected as directors, and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The Board’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has approved and recommended for election as directors at the Annual Meeting the nominees described in this proxy statement.
Each of the nominees has consented to serve if elected. If any of them becomes unavailable to serve as a director, the Board may designate a substitute nominee. In that case, the persons named as proxies will vote for the substitute nominee designated by the Board. There is no other family relationship between any director, executive officer, or person nominated or chosen by the Company to become a director or executive officer. The affirmative vote of a plurality of the shares of Common Stock represented at the Annual Meeting is required to elect each director.
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Name | Age | Position | ||
Stephen R. LaNeve | 56 | Chief Executive Officer and President and Director | ||
Bruce Stroever | 66 | Chairman of the Board of Directors | ||
Dr. Chia Soo | 48 | Director | ||
William Coffin | 70 | Director | ||
John Booth | 61 | Director | ||
Jimmy Delshad | 75 | Director | ||
Dr. Benjamin Wu | 54 | Director |
The biographies and work experience of each of our nominees for directors is set forth under “Directors, Executive Officers, Promoters and Control Persons” beginning on page 11 of this proxy statement.
Pursuant to the letter agreement dated May 7, 2014 (the “Letter Agreement”) among the Company, AFH Holdings and Advisory, LLC (“AFH”) and Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation (“MTF”), each of AFH and MTF has the right to appoint three members of the Board. For purposes of this Annual Meeting, AFH and MTF have agreed to reduce the number of their designees to two each. AFH has designated William Coffin and Jimmy Delshad and MTF has designated Bruce Stroever and John Booth for the Board.
Vote Required and Recommendation of Board of Directors
In the election of directors each stockholder has cumulative voting rights and is entitled to a number of votes equal to the number of shares held by such stockholder multiplied by the number of directors to be elected, which number is currently seven. The stockholder may cast these votes all for a single candidate or may distribute the votes among any or all of the candidates. No stockholder will be entitled to cumulate votes for a candidate, however, unless that candidate’s name has been placed in nomination prior to the voting and the stockholder, or any other stockholder, has given notice at the Annual Meeting prior to the voting of an intention to cumulate votes. In such an event, the proxy holder may allocate among the management nominees the votes represented by proxies in the proxy holder’s sole discretion. The affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting is required for the election of directors. A properly executed proxy marked “WITHHELD” with respect to the election of one or more directors will not be voted with respect to the director or directors indicated, although it will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum.
The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote “For” Each of the Nominees Listed Above.
PROPOSAL II – ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
This proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal, gives you as a stockholder the opportunity to endorse or not endorse our executive pay practices. This vote is intended to provide an overall assessment of our executive compensation program rather than focus on any specific item of compensation. The goal for our executive compensation program is to motivate and retain highly-talented executives who are critical to the successful implementation of our strategic business plan.
We invite you to consider the details of our executive compensation program provided in the tables and narrative discussion relating to the program. These will provide you with the individual elements of our compensation program and allow you to view the trends in compensation for the years presented.
We request stockholder approval of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to the SEC’s compensation disclosure rules, which disclosures include the compensation tables and the narrative discussion pertaining to compensation. As an advisory vote, this proposal is not binding upon our Board of directors or us. However, we expect that our compensation committee, which is responsible for designing and administering our executive compensation program, will consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions for our named executive officers. Accordingly, we are asking you to approve the following resolution:
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RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the named executive officers of Bone Biologics Corporation, as disclosed in the 2016 Proxy Statement of Bone Biologics Corporation pursuant to Item 402 of SEC Regulation S-K, including the compensation tables and narrative discussion, hereby is approved.
Recommendation of the Board
Our Board of directors unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers. Proxies received will be so voted unless stockholders vote otherwise via the Internet or specify otherwise in their completed and returned proxy cards.
PROPOSAL III – ADVISORY VOTE TO DETERMINE WHETHER A STOCKHOLDER VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION SHOULD BE HELD EVERY (A) YEAR, (B) TWO YEARS, OR (C) THREE YEARS
We are requesting stockholder input on how often we should submit our executive compensation for approval to our shareholders. Stockholders are being asked whether we should hold a shareholder advisory vote on executive compensation every (a) year, (b) two years, or (c) three years. Our Board of directors recommends that we hold an advisory shareholder vote on executive compensation every three years. Our executive compensation program is not complex. Accordingly, our Board has concluded that holding an advisory vote on executive compensation every three years should be sufficient to permit stockholders to express their opinions while, at the same time, minimizing the administrative costs of such votes.
As an advisory vote, this proposal is not binding upon our Board of directors or us. Our Board could, if it concluded it was in our best interests to do so, choose not to follow or implement the outcome of the advisory vote. However, we expect that our Board will consider the outcome of the vote when determining how often to hold a stockholder advisory vote on our executive compensation.
Recommendation of the Board
Our Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the stockholder vote on executive compensation to be held every three years. Proxies received will be so voted unless stockholders vote otherwise via the Internet or specify otherwise in their completed and returned proxy cards.
PROPOSAL IV – RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
General
The Audit Committee of our Board has appointed Anton & Chia, LLP to act as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, and recommends that our stockholders vote to ratify such appointment. Representatives of Anton & Chia, LLP are not expected to present at the Annual Meeting.
In the event of a negative vote on such ratification, the Board will reconsider its selection. No determination has been made as to what action the Board would take if the stockholders do not ratify the appointment.
Principal Accountant Fees And Services
The following discussion sets forth fees billed to us by Anton & Chia, LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.
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Audit Fees. Anton & Chia, LLP was paid aggregate fees of approximately $58,347 and $73,628 for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements and for the reviews of the financial statements included in the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
Audit-Related Fees. Anton & Chia LLP was not paid any fees for assurance and related services reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements.
Tax Fees. Anton & Chia LLP was not paid any fees for professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.
All Other Fees. Anton & Chia LLP was paid no other fees for any other services rendered to the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2015.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures. Our Audit Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by our independent auditors. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. Pre-approval is generally provided for up to one year and any pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services. The independent auditor and management are required to periodically report to the Audit Committee regarding the extent of services provided by the independent auditor in accordance with this pre-approval.
Vote Required and Recommendation of Board of Directors
Under Delaware law and pursuant to our Bylaws, the proposal to ratify Anton & Chia LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, will be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of our issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at meeting, represented in person or by proxy.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF ANTON & CHIA LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information, as of April 15, 2016, regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock by:
● | each person known by us to be a beneficial owner of more than five percent of our outstanding common stock; | |
● | each of our directors and director nominee; | |
● | each of our named executive officers; and | |
● | all directors and executive officers as a group. |
The amounts and percentage of common stock beneficially owned are reported on the basis of regulations of the SEC governing the determination of beneficial ownership of securities. Under the rules of the SEC, a person is deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of a security if that person has or shares “voting power,” which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of such security, or “investment power,” which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of such security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities of which that person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days. Under these rules, more than one person may be deemed a beneficial owner of the same securities and a person may be deemed a beneficial owner of securities as to which he has no economic interest. Except as indicated by footnote, the persons named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by them.
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The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock as of April 15, 2016, by each person or group of affiliated persons known to the Company to beneficially own 5% or more of its Common Stock, each director, each named executive officer, and all of its directors and named executive officers as a group.
Name of Beneficial Owner or Identity of Group | Title of Class | Shares(1) | Percentage | |||||||
5% or greater stockholders: | ||||||||||
The Musculoskeletal Transplant
Foundation, Inc. 175 May Street Edison, NJ 08837 | Common Stock | 12,483,479 | (2) | 32.1 | % | |||||
Don R. Hankey 4751 Wilshire Blvd #110 Los Angeles, CA 90010 | Common Stock | 1,981,139 | (3) | 5.0 | % | |||||
AFH Holding & Advisory, LLC 269 Beverly Drive, Ste. 1600 Beverly Hills, CA 90212 | Common Stock | 6,287,209 | (4) | 15.8 | % | |||||
Amir Heshmatpour 269 Beverly Drive, Ste. 1600 Beverly Hills, CA 90212 | Common Stock | 7,678,209 | (5) | 19.4 | % | |||||
Orthofix Holdings Inc. 3451 Plano Parkway Lewisville, TX 75056 | Common Stock | 2,397,712 | (6) | 6.2 | % | |||||
Executive Officers and Directors: | ||||||||||
Stephen LaNeve 321 Columbus Avenue Boston, MA 02116 | Common Stock | - | - | |||||||
Jeffrey Frelick 321 Columbus Avenue Boston, MA 02116 | Common Stock | - | - | |||||||
Deina H. Walsh 321 Columbus Avenue Boston, MA 02116 | Common Stock | 159,884 | (7) | 0.4 | % | |||||
Bruce Stroever(8) 175 May Street, Suite 400 Edison, NJ 08837 | - | - | ||||||||
Dr. Chia Soo 321 Columbus Avenue Boston, MA 02116 | Common Stock | 3,170,675 | (9) | 8.3 | % | |||||
Dr. Benjamin Wu 321 Columbus Avenue Boston, MA 02116 | Common Stock | 1,020,991 | (10) | 2.7 | % | |||||
William Coffin 321 Columbus Avenue Boston, MA 02116 | Common Stock | 109,375 | (11) | 0.3 | % | |||||
John Booth 321 Columbus Avenue Boston, MA 02116 | Common Stock | 89,375 | (12) | 0.2 | % | |||||
Jimmy Delshad 321 Columbus Avenue Boston, MA 02116 | Common Stock | 109,375 | (13) | 0.3 | % | |||||
Total Officers and Directors as a Group (8 persons) | Common Stock | 4,659,675 | (14) | 12.1 | % | |||||
Reserve for Future Issuance: | ||||||||||
Option Plan | 2,250,682 |
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(1) | Based on 38,085,248 issued and outstanding shares. The number of shares issued and outstanding that was used to calculate the percentage ownership of each listed person includes the shares underlying convertible debt, stock options and warrants that are exercisable 60 days from our report date. |
(2) | Consists of 11,640,096 shares, 793,383 shares underlying warrants exercisable within 60 days and 50,000 shares underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days. |
(3) | Consists of 450,000 shares owned by Don R. Hankey, Trustee of the Don Hankey Trust over which Mr. Hankey has voting and investment control and 731,139 shares and 800,000 shares underlying debt convertible at any time held by Hankey Capital, LLC over which Mr. Hankey has voting and investment control. This amount does not include the 11,392,407 shares that were issued as collateral for the three (3) convertible notes to Hankey Capital, 4,896,203 shares underlying debt conversion and 5,577,340 shares underlying warrants in accordance with provisions limiting the exercise/conversion thereof. |
(4) | Includes 1,632,596 shares underlying warrants exercisable within 60 days. |
(5) | Consists of (a) 6,287,209 shares beneficially owned by AFH Holding of which Mr. Heshmatpour is the sole member and over which he has sole voting and investment control, (b) 300,000 shares owned by KIG LLC of which Mr. Heshmatpour’s spouse is the sole member and over which she has sole voting and investment control and (c) 900,000 shares owned by Mr. Heshmatpour’s children. |
(6) | Includes 458,334 shares underlying warrants exercisable within 60 days. |
(7) | Includes 159,884 shares underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days. |
(8) | Mr. Stroever is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Musculoskeletel Transplant Foundation, Inc. (MTF) and, as such, advises MTF with respect to voting and investment decisions relating to the shares of the Company owned by MTF but does not have or share voting and investment power over such shares. Mr. Stroever disclaims beneficial ownership of any shares owned by MTF. |
(9) | Includes 119,318 shares underlying warrants exercisable within 60 days, 384,616 issuable on the earlier of September 24, 2018 and the occurrence of certain events described in a letter agreement dated September 24, 2015 and 68,553 shares underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days. |
(10) | Includes 384,615 issuable on the earlier of September 24, 2018 and the occurrence of certain events described in a letter agreement dated September 24, 2015 and 50,000 shares underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days. |
(11) | Includes 68,553 shares underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days. |
(12) | Includes 68,553 shares underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days. |
(13) | Includes 68,553 shares underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days. |
(14) | Includes 119,318 shares underlying warrants exercisable within 60 days, 769,231 shares issuable on the earlier of September 24, 2018 and the occurrence of certain events described in a letter agreement dated September 24, 2015 and 484,096 shares underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days. |
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DIRECTORS,
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, PROMOTERS AND
CONTROL PERSONS; COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the Company’s directors and executive officers as of April 29, 2016:
Name | Age | Position | ||
Stephen R. LaNeve | 56 | Chief Executive Officer and President and Director | ||
Jeffrey Frelick | 50 | Chief Operating Officer | ||
Deina H. Walsh | 51 | Chief Financial Officer | ||
Bruce Stroever | 66 | Chairman of the Board of Directors | ||
Dr. Chia Soo | 48 | Director | ||
William Coffin | 70 | Director | ||
John Booth | 61 | Director | ||
Jimmy Delshad | 75 | Director | ||
Dr. Benjamin Wu | 54 | Director |
Stephen R. LaNeve: Chief Executive Officer and President
Stephen R. La Neve has served as our Chief Executive Officer since August 17, 2015. He brings thirty years of health care experience, leadership and success. Prior to his current position, Steve held leadership roles in the device and diagnostic segments which include: CEO and president of Etex Corporation; president of Becton Dickinson’s Pre-Analytical Systems business; president of Medtronic’s $3.5b Spine and Biologics business; and president of Medtronic’s second largest country business unit, Medtronic Japan. He also served as senior vice president and executive vice president at Premier, one of the largest GPOs in the United States and ran the global Injection Systems business unit for Becton Dickinson. Additionally, Steve has held a number of commercial leadership roles at Becton Dickinson, Roche Diagnostics and E Merck Diagnostic Systems in sales, marketing, strategic planning and project management both in the US and outside the US. He serves on the Board of directors for SkelRegen, LLC and Rapid Pathogen Screening, Inc. (RPS), and he consults for private equity companies in the medical device area. Steve holds a B.S. in Health Planning and Administration from the Pennsylvania State University, an M.B.A. from West Chester University, and is a member of the omicron delta epsilon honor society for academic excellence in economics.
Jeffrey Frelick: Chief Operating Officer
Jeffrey Frelick has served as our Chief Operating Officer since August 17, 2015. He was the COO of Life Science Enterprises, where he brings more than 25 years of med-tech experience. He spent the past 15 years on Wall Street as a sell-side analyst following the med-tech industry at investment banks such as Canaccord Genuity, ThinkEquity and Lazard. Prior to becoming an equity research analyst, Jeff worked at Boston Biomedical Consultants where he provided strategic planning assistance, market research data and due diligence for diagnostics companies. He previously held sales and sales management positions at Becton Dickinson’s Primary Care Diagnostic Division after gaining technical experience as a laboratory technologist with Clinical Pathology Facility. Jeff received a B.S. in Biology from University of Pittsburgh and an M.B.A. from Suffolk University’s Sawyer Business School.
Deina H. Walsh: Chief Financial Officer
Deina Walsh has served as our Chief Financial Officer since November 2014. She is a certified public accountant and owner/founder of DHW CPA, PLLC a Public Companies Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) registered firm since 2014. Prior to forming her firm, Ms. Walsh has 13 years at a public accounting firm where as a partner she was actively responsible for leading firm audit engagements of publicly held entities in accordance with PCAOB standards and compliance with SEC regulations, including internal control requirements under section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Ms. Walsh had a global client base including entities throughout the United States, Canada and China. These entities encompass a diverse range of industries including manufacturing, wholesale, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and technology. Her experience includes work with start-up companies and well-established operating entities. She has assisted many entities seeking debt and equity capital. Areas of specialty include mergers, acquisitions, reverse mergers, consolidations, complex equity structures, foreign currency translations and revenue recognition complexities. Ms. Walsh has an Associates of Science Degree in Business Administration from Monroe Community College and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the State University of New York at Brockport.
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Bruce Stroever: Chairman of the Board of Directors
Mr. Stroever has forty years of product development and general management experience in the medical device and orthobiologics fields. Mr. Stroever joined MTF in late 1988 as General Manager and is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of MTF. He has served as MTF’s President since his appointment in 1992 and as Chief Executive Officer since 1996. Under Mr. Stroever’s leadership, MTF has grown to be the largest tissue bank in the world providing over 500,000 grafts per year. From 1971 to 1988, Mr. Stroever held several positions with Ethicon, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson, Inc. subsidiary. Mr. Stroever currently serves on the advisory Board for the New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network. He was elected to the Board of Governors of the American Association of Tissue Banks for a three year term in 1999 and subsequently in 2012. Mr. Stroever has served as the Chairman of Bone’s Board of Directors since 2012. Mr. Stroever received his B.E. in Mechanical/Chemical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in 1972 and a Masters of Science in Bioengineering from Columbia University in 1977. Given Mr. Stroever’s forty years of experience in the medical device and orthobiologics fields, as well as, the roles he has held at Bone, the Company believes he is well qualified to serve as the Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Dr. Chia Soo. MD: Director
Dr. Soo is a Professor in the UCLA Department of Orthopedics and a Professor and Vice Chair for Research in the UCLA Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. She graduated magna cum laude in 1989 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from UCLA and obtained her medical degree at UCLA in 1993 with election to Alpha Omega Alpha. She completed UCLA Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery training in 2002 and was certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery in 2005 and made a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons in 2007. Since 2011, Dr. Soo has served as a consultant to MTF, the world’s largest tissue bank for allograft product development. She has also consulted extensively on the FDA regulatory issues related to allograft products, wound care products and bone growth products. Dr. Soo is one of the world’s foremost experts on NELL-1 protein and has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications on musculoskeletal regeneration, cutaneous repair, and translational applications of stem cells as well as an inventor on over 16 patents in the area of regenerative medicine. She is also in expert on large and small translational animal models for device, combination product, and drug development. Dr. Soo is a standing member of the prestigious Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering Study Section at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and she continues to be and has been a principal investigator on numerous awards funded by the NIH, the Department of Defense (DOD), the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), and most recently, the Center for Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), the sole manager of the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory. She also is a Founder and has served as a member of Bone’s Board of Directors since 2004. Dr. Soo’s unique background in NELL-1 and translational product development strongly positions her to be a Director of the Company.
William Coffin: Director
Founder and CEO of CCG, a national investor relations agency which during his leadership conducted business through offices in New York, Los Angeles, Beijing, Mr. Coffin was an investor relations counselor for over 30 years until his retirement in 2012. In this role, Mr. Coffin represented numerous publicly held and private companies, assisted in over 100 initial public offerings, counseled and participated in over 50 mergers and acquisitions, and worked with virtually every major investment banking firm in the country. Since 2004 until 2015, Mr. Coffin has served as Chairman of the Board of the California Council on Economic Education (“CCEE”), a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works towards implementing and increasing economic and financial literacy among California primary and secondary school students. Mr. Coffin is currently Chairman Emeritus of the CCEE. Mr. Coffin is also an adjunct professor in the MBA program at Mount St. Mary’s University, a private liberal arts college in Los Angeles, where he teaches modern theories of corporate governance and corporate communications. Mr. Coffin received a B.A. in journalism from California State University, Los Angeles.
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John Booth: Director
Mr. Booth has been CEO of Spineology Inc. since 2004 and has been a Board member since its inception in 1998. Spineology is involved in the development and commercialization of minimally invasive spinal implants and access systems. Mr. Booth held various executive level positions at Phillips Plastics Corporation, most recently serving as CEO from June of 2001 to December 2002. Before serving as CEO of Phillips, he was CEO of Microvena Corporation, a cardiovascular device subsidiary of Phillips, from 1999 to 2001 and CEO of Phillips Origen Group Division from 1998 to 1999. Prior to Phillips, Mr. Booth was President and CEO of INCSTAR Corporation, a publicly held medical technology company involved in in-vitro diagnostics. He has held various positions in both financial and general management in the medical technology industry since 1981. Mr. Booth has also serve on the Boards of directors of INCSTAR Corporation from 1994 to 1997, Microvena Corporation from 1998 to 2001, Phillips Plastics Corporation from 2000 to 2002, Imricor Medical Systems Inc. from 2007 to 2014, Spineology Inc. from 1998 to the present. Mr. Booth received a B.S. degree in accounting from Villanova University and an MBA from Seton Hall University.
Jimmy Delshad: Director
Mr. Delshad brings more than ten years of elected public service to the Company. From 2003 through 2011, Mr. Delshad served as Mayor and Councilmember of the City of Beverly Hills, California. In this role, Mr. Delshad was responsible for, among other things: the formulation of city policies and ordinances; the establishment and monitoring of a budget of approximately $500 million; and the management of more than 1000 city employees. Additionally, since his retirement as Mayor in 2011, Mr. Delshad has served as a Goodwill Ambassador for the City of Beverly Hills. Since 2012, Mr. Delshad has held the position of Chairman of Delshad Capital, which guides companies in technology, security, crowd-funding and marketing. During 2011 through 2012, Mr. Delshad was Vice Chairman at Pacific Capital Group where he evaluated and managed various projects, such as Smart City initiatives, fuel technology and software products. From 1978 through 2002, Mr. Delshad was founder and Chief Executive Officer of American International Business, Inc., a manufacturer of computer storage technologies with offices in Germany, London and Brussels. Mr. Delshad served on the Board of directors of Evryx Corp from 2008 through 2010 and Dream Team Gaming from 2007 through 2009. Mr. Delshad has also served on the Boards of Directors of the Iranian American Jewish Federation from 2002 through the present, the World Affair Council from 2011 through 2012, Sheba Medical Center from 2003 through 2008, Maple Counseling Center from 2001 through 2003, Mount Sinai Mortuaries from 2001 through the present and Nessah Synagogue from 2001 through 2004. Mr. Delshad received his B.S. in Computer Science from California State University and completed additional post-graduate coursework at the University of Southern California.
Benjamin Wu: Director
Dr. Ben Wu, DDS, PhD is a founder and has served on served as a member of Bone’s Scientific Advisory Board since 2005. He is Professor and Chair of the Division of Advanced Prosthodontics, the Director of the Weintraub Center for Reconstructive Biotechnology at the School of Dentistry and the Executive Director of the UCLA Wireless Health Institute. He also chaired the Department of Bioengineering at the School of Engineering. Dr. Wu provides multidisciplinary patient care in the UCLA Faculty Group Dental Practice, where he focuses on the treatment of advanced, complex oral rehabilitation using implant, fixed, and removable prosthodontics. He is a fellow of the Academy of Prosthodontics. Dr. Wu is internationally recognized for his cutting-edge research in the formation of biomimetic apatites, development of bioinspired growth factors, and engineering of biomimetic microenvironment to deliver cells, proteins, and genes to promote repair and regeneration of hard and soft tissues. Dr. Wu has been highly prolific throughout his entire career (over 170 original research articles, 22 issued patents with more pending) and has been continuously funded by federal research grants. Professor Wu’s research group has extensively analyzed the effects of processing parameters on the formation of biomimetic apatites, and his fundamental understanding has led to applications in the areas of art conservation, drug delivery, separations, and biosensors. His research group has also shed light on the interplay between orthobiologic growth factors and adult stem cells in the area of bone repair. His experimental skills are complemented by insightful mathematical modeling of complex, moving boundary diffusion-reaction problems that have led to key design criteria for tissue engineering, material degradation, and cancer survival mechanisms. His work has impacted clinical disciplines ranging from Orthopedics, Interventional Radiology, Urology, Pediatric Surgery, Orthodontics, and Dentistry. He has work with Dr. Ting and Dr. Soo as to develop novel material systems to deliver NELL-1 to promote bone and cartilage regeneration. He received residency in advanced prosthodontics at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, PhD from the Dept. of Material Science and Engineering at MIT.
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Family Relationships
Drs. Ting and Soo are husband and wife.
Board of Directors and Corporate Governance
Our Board of Directors currently consists of seven (7) members: Bruce Stroever, Dr. Chia Soo, William Coffin, John Booth, Jimmy Delshad, Benjamin Wu, and Stephen R. LaNeve.
Board Committees
Our Board of Directors has appointed an audit committee, governance committee and compensation committee. The Board of Directors met or acted by written consent 12 times during 2015.
Audit Committee
The audit committee is responsible for overseeing: (i) our accounting and reporting practices and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements regarding such accounting and reporting practices; (ii) the quality and integrity of our financial statements; (iii) our internal control and compliance programs; (iv) our independent auditors’ qualifications and independence and (v) the performance of our independent auditors and our internal audit function. In so doing, the audit committee maintains free and open means of communication between our directors, internal auditors and management. We are not required to have an Audit Committee consisting solely of independent directors or required to have an “audit committee financial expert” as we are neither listed on NASDAQ nor the New York Stock Exchange.
Our audit committee consists of John Booth, as Chairman, William Coffin and Jimmy Delshad. The Audit committee met four times during 2015.
Compensation Committee
The compensation committee is responsible for reviewing and approving the compensation of our executive officers and directors and our performance plans and other compensation plans. The compensation committee makes recommendations to our Board of Directors in connection with such compensation and performance plans.
Our compensation committee consists of John Booth, as Chairman, Jimmy Delshad and William Coffin. The compensation committee met six times.
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Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for (i) identifying, screening and reviewing individuals qualified to serve as directors (consistent with criteria approved by our Board of Directors) and recommending to our Board candidates for nomination for election at the Annual Meeting of shareholders or to fill Board vacancies or newly created directorships; (ii) developing and recommending to our Board of Directors and overseeing the implementation of our corporate governance guidelines (if any); (iii) overseeing evaluations of our Board of Directors and (iv) recommending to our Board of Directors candidates for appointment to Board committees.
Usually, nominees for election to our Board are proposed by our existing directors subject to the obligations of the Company set forth in the Letter Agreement as to the right of AFH and MTF to appoint members to our Board. In identifying and evaluating individuals qualified to become Board members, our current directors will consider such factors as they deem appropriate to assist in developing a Board of Directors and committees thereof that are diverse in nature and comprised of experienced and seasoned advisors. Our Board of Directors has not adopted a formal policy with regard to the consideration of diversity when evaluating candidates for election to the Board. However, our Board believes that membership should reflect diversity in its broadest sense, but should not be chosen nor excluded based on race, color, gender, national origin or sexual orientation. In this context, the Board does consider a candidate’s experience, education, industry knowledge and, history with the Company, and differences of viewpoint when evaluating his or her qualifications for election the Board. In evaluating such candidates, the Board seeks to achieve a balance of knowledge, experience and capability in its composition. In connection with this evaluation, the Board determines whether to interview the prospective nominee, and if warranted, one or more directors interview prospective nominees in person or by telephone.
Our nominating and corporate governance committee consists of William Coffin, as Chairman, John Booth and Jimmy Delshad. The nominating and corporate governance committee has approved and recommended for election as directors at the Annual Meeting the nominees described in this proxy statement.
Code of Ethics
On February 9, 2014 the Company adopted a formal code of ethics within the meaning of Item 406 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act, that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions and that that establishes, among other things, procedures for handling actual or apparent conflicts of interest. Our Code of Ethics is available at our website http://bonebiologics.com/investor-relations/corporate-governance/.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company’s directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of Common Stock and other equity securities of the Company. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent stockholders are required by SEC regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
To the Company’s knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company and written representations that no other reports were required, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners were complied with; except that each of the following each failed to file one report of one transaction Mr. Booth, Mr. Coffin, Mr. Delshad, Mr. Oram, Mr. Warnecke. Both Dr. Soo and Dr. Wu each failed to file two reports of one transaction.
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Indemnification Agreements
Our Board has approved a form of indemnification agreement for our directors and executive officers (“Indemnification Agreement”). Following Board approval, we entered into Indemnification Agreements with each of our current directors and executive officers.
The Indemnification Agreement provides for indemnification against expenses, judgments, fines and penalties actually and reasonably incurred by an indemnitee in connection with threatened, pending or completed actions, suits or other proceedings, subject to certain limitations. The Indemnification Agreement also provides for the advancement of expenses in connection with a proceeding prior to a final, non-appealable judgment or other adjudication, provided that the indemnitee provides an undertaking to repay to us any amounts advanced if the indemnitee is ultimately found not to be entitled to indemnification by us. The Indemnification Agreement sets forth procedures for making and responding to a request for indemnification or advancement of expenses, as well as dispute resolution procedures that will apply to any dispute between us and an indemnitee arising under the Indemnification Agreement.
The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of Indemnification Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.17 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 25, 2014.
Effective as of September 19, 2014, our Board of Directors also approved the Former D&O Indemnification Agreement to be entered into between us, Don Hankey and Amir Heshmatpour. The Former D&O Indemnification Agreement requires that for a period of four (4) years from and after September 19, 2014, we will indemnify (including advancement of expenses) and hold harmless persons who were officers and directors of the Company (i) by reason of being an officer or director of the Company prior to the Merger, including through all transactions relating to the Merger, or (ii) is related to acts in connection with the Merger taken by the Former D&O Indemnified Persons, provided however, that the foregoing indemnity shall be excess of all any insurance coverage available to the Former D&O Indemnified Parties for any such loss. The accuracy of the Hankey Affidavit and Heshmatpour Affidavit in connection with the Former D&O Indemnification is a condition precedent to the foregoing indemnity (including advancement of expenses). The Company has no insurance coverage that would cover any claim asserted against the Company by any Former D&O Indemnified Person pursuant to this Former D&O Indemnification Agreement.
This description is qualified in its entirety by the Former D&O Indemnification Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.18 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 25, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
Scientific Advisory Board
Mr. Arthur Gertzman has served as a member of Bone’s Scientific Advisory Board since 2005. He is the former Executive Vice President for Research and Development from MTF since 1996 and is currently a consultant to MTF in patent prosecution. He has been engaged in industrial product development of surgical implants for forty years. From 1964 to 1993, he was employed by Ethicon, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson Company as Director of Product Engineering Johnson & Johnson USA. From 1993 to 1996, he was employed by Xomed Medical Products and served in several positions of responsibility in research and product development, after his appointment as Vice President, Research and Development in 1993. Mr. Gertzman was appointed Vice President, Research and Development for MTF in 1996 and is currently employed in the development of new tissue forms and related processes. He holds over twenty-five (25) U.S. patents, with many more pending, both in the U.S. and internationally. He completed a Bachelor of Science at CCNY in 1960 and a Master’s of Science degree in Chemistry from Boston University in 1963.
Dr. Shun’ichi Kuroda has served as a member of Bone’s Scientific Advisory Board since 2005. He taught as a professor at the Department of Bio-agricultural Sciences of Nagoya University since 2009 and has served as the Chairman of the Department since 2012. Dr. Kuroda has expertise is in recombinant protein engineering and manufacturing.
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Dr. Jeffrey C. Wang, MD has served as a member of Bone’s Scientific Advisory Board since 2005. Dr. Wang has been Chief of the Orthopaedic Spine Surgery Service since 1997, Fellowship Director of the UCLA Orthopaedic Spine Surgery Fellowship, and is Currently Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery. He is also the Vice Chair of Clinical Operations for the UCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. He is Co-Director of the UCLA Spine Center. Dr. Wang’s research areas include the use of osteoinductive and osteoconductive materials for spinal fusion as well as novel gene therapy and minimally invasive techniques for spinal surgery. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Stanford University and his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He then completed his Orthopaedic Surgery training at UCLA and his Spine Fellowship at Case Western Reserve University.
Dr. Xinli Zhang has served as a member of Bone’s Scientific Advisory Board since 2005. Since 2009, he has served as an Associate Professor at the UCLA School of Dentistry. Prior to joining UCLA, Dr. Zhang was Associate Professor in the Third Military Medical University in China from 1994 to 2000. Dr. Zhang combines his specialized training as a pathologist with a PhD in molecular biology. Dr. Zhang brings over twenty years of experience in medical and dental research in both China and the U.S. Dr. Zhang is an expert in developmental molecular biology and pathology of various bone and cartilaginous tissue related conditions.
Dr. Mark Spilker joined MTF in early 2009 and is currently managing the R&D, Project Management, Clinical Studies, Quality Assurance and Regulatory departments. Mark has been leading the continued development and expansion of MTF’s human allograft tissue portfolio. Under his leadership, the MTF team has developed new tissue forms including allograft bone designs for extremity surgery, allograft scaffolds for cartilage regeneration and a living allogeneic stem cell graft for orthopedic surgery. Over his career, Mark has held positions in Marketing, R&D and Program Management. Prior to MTF, Mark was formerly Vice President, R&D and Program Management for Integra NeuroSciences where he was responsible for development programs ranging from collagen-based scaffolds for bone and soft tissue regeneration to medical electronics and implantable fluid-handling shunts and valves. Prior to joining Integra he conducted his post-graduate studies at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, making significant contributions in the field of biomaterials technology and tissue engineering in neurosurgery. He received a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Utah and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Dr. Eric Ting, MD as a founder and has served on served as a member of Bone’s Scientific Advisory Board since 2005. He is a UCLA (Harvard trained orthodontist) is fully endowed Department Chair in Department of Surgery and Director of UCLA Craniofacial Abnormalities Laboratory. He is an endowed professor and Director of UCLA Laboratory for Craniofacial Anomalies at the Dental and Craniofacial Research Institute and holds a faculty position in the UCLA Dept of Surgery. His research interests include the molecular mechanism of craniosynostosis, which is the premature fusion of calvarial suture line in infants and tissue engineering of bone. Craniosyntosisis requires surgeries through childhood to alleviate and open the skull. Starting in the mid-1990s the research identified that the NELL protein (a protein whose sole purpose was to create the bone growth to close the skull and after performing its task went dormant) was over expressed in the infants, which created the premature closing. Dr. Ting received his Doctorate of Dental Medicine Degree from Harvard University, School of Dental Medicine and completed his Postdoctoral Orthodontic Residency and also received the Doctorate of Medical Sciences from Harvard.
Report of the Audit Committee
The Audit Committee provides assistance to our Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibility to the company’s stockholders, potential stockholders, the investment community, and others relating to our financial statements and the financial reporting process, the systems of internal accounting and financial controls, the internal audit function, the annual independent audit of our financial statements and the ethics programs when established by our management and our Board of Directors. The Audit Committee has the sole authority (subject, if applicable, to stockholder ratification) to appoint or replace the outside auditors and is directly responsible for determining the compensation of the independent auditors.
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The Audit Committee schedules its meetings with a view to ensuring that it devotes appropriate attention to all of its tasks. In discharging its oversight role, the Audit Committee is empowered to investigate any matter brought to its attention, with full access to all of our books, records, facilities and personnel, and to retain its own legal counsel and other advisers as it deems necessary or appropriate.
As part of its oversight of our financial statements, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with both management and its outside auditors our interim financial statements and annual audited financial statements that are included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K, respectively. Our management advised the Audit Committee in each case that all such financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and reviewed significant accounting issues with the Audit Committee. These reviews included discussion with the outside auditors of matters required to be discussed pursuant to Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 16 (Communication with Audit Committees).
During the year ended December 31, 2015, Anton & Chia LLP served as our independent registered public accounting firm and audited our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015. Anton & Chia LLP did not have any financial interest, direct or indirect, in our company, and did not have any connection with our company except in its professional capacity as our independent auditors.
The Audit Committee discussed with Anton & Chia LLP, the auditors of our 2015 annual financial statements, matters relating to its independence, including a review of audit and non-audit fees and the letter and written disclosures made by Anton & Chia LLP to the Audit Committee pursuant to Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) Rule 3526.
Audit and non-audit services to be provided by Anton & Chia LLP are subject to the prior approval of the Audit Committee. In general, the Audit Committee’s policy is to grant such approval where it determines that the non-audit services are not incompatible with maintaining the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence and there are cost or other efficiencies in obtaining such services from the independent registered public accounting firm as compared to other possible providers.
Taking all of these reviews and discussions into account, the Audit Committee recommended to our Board of Directors that the Board approve the inclusion of our audited financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the SEC.
Respectfully submitted,
Audit Committee:
John Booth, Chairman
William Coffin
Jimmy Delshad
Board Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight
The Board of Directors believes it is important to select the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in the manner it considers in the best interests of the Company at any given time. The Board of Directors has elected a Chairman of the Board who is different from the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.
The Board of Directors is currently comprised of three individuals who are independent from the management of the Company and, assuming that the nominees are elected at the Annual Meeting, these members of the Board will continue to be independent directors. The Board of Directors and its committees meet regularly throughout the year to assure that the independent directors are well briefed and informed with regard to the Company’s affairs. Each of the independent directors has unfettered access to any employee within the Company and each director is encouraged to call upon whatever employee he or she deems fit to secure the information each director feels is important to his understanding of our Company. In this fashion, we seek to maintain well informed, independent directors who are prepared to make informed decisions regarding our business affairs.
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Management is responsible for the day-to-day management of risks the Company faces, while the Board of Directors as a whole plays an important role in overseeing the identification, assessment and mitigation of such risks. The Board of Directors reviews information regarding the Company’s finances and operations, as well as the risks associated with each. For example, the oversight of financial risk management lies primarily with the Board’s Audit Committee, which is empowered to appoint and oversee our independent auditors, monitor the integrity of our financial reporting processes and systems of internal controls and provide an avenue of communication among our independent auditors, management and the Board of Directors. The Company’s Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing the management of risks relating to the Company’s compensation plans and arrangements. In fulfilling its risk oversight responsibility, the Board of Directors, as a whole and acting through any established committees, regularly consults with management to evaluate and, when appropriate, modify our risk management strategies.
Board (and Committee) Meetings and Attendance
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, each of our directors has attended 75% or more of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board, and the committee(s) of the Board on which he or she serves. Each director is expected to attend and participate in, either in person or by means of telephonic or video conference, all scheduled meetings of the Board and all meetings of the committees of the Board on which such director serves, and all scheduled meetings of stockholders of the Company. All of our current directors are expected to attend the Annual Meeting.
Communications with the Board of Directors
Stockholders may communicate directly with the Board by writing to them at Board of Directors, c/o Corporate Secretary, Bone Biologics Corporation, 321 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA 02116. Such communications will be forwarded to the director or directors to whom it is addressed, except for communications that are (1) advertisements or promotional communications, (2) solely related to complaints with respect to ordinary course of business issues, or (3) clearly unrelated to the Company’s business, industry, management or Board or committee matters.
Legal Proceedings
None of our directors, nominees or officers, or any associate of any of the foregoing, is currently a party adverse to the Company or any of our subsidiaries in a material proceeding or has a material interest adverse to the Company or any of our subsidiaries.
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DIRECTOR AND EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
Executive Compensation
The table below summarizes the compensation earned for services rendered to us in all capacities, for the fiscal years indicated, by its named executive officers:
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary | Bonus ($) |
Stock Awards ($)(5) (6) |
Option Awards ($)(2) (3) (4) |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) |
Deferred Compensation ($) |
All
Other Compensation ($) |
Total Compensation ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mike Schuler, Chief Executive Officer (1) | 2015 | $ | 112,500 | $ | 112,500 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | $ | 47,500 | $ | 47,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stephen R. LaNeve, Chief Executive Officer, President, Director | 2015 | $ | 187,500 | $ | 78,750 | $ | 3,392,775 | $ | 3,659,025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jeffrey Frelick, Chief Operating Officer | 2015 | $ | 112,500 | $ | 33,750 | $ | 1,696,388 | $ | 1,842,638 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dr. William Jay Treat, Chief Technology Officer | 2015 | $ | 300,000 | $ | 987,419 | $ | 1,287,419 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | $ | 195,000 | $ | 418,016 | $ | 613,016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deina Walsh, Chief Financial Officer | 2015 | $ | 108,333 | $ | 22,764 | $ | 938,427 | $ | 1,069,524 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | $ | 25,000 | $ | 135,774 | $ | 160,774 |
(1) MTF was paid compensation for Mr. Schuler’s CEO services per a consulting agreement with the Company. On August 17, 2015, the Company appointed Steven R. LaNeve as our full-time Chief Executive Officer and our agreement with MTF for the services of Mr. Schuler concluded.
(2) The amounts shown reflect the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with FASB ASC 718. These amounts reflect our accounting for these awards and do not correspond to the actual values that may be realized by the named executive officers and do not represent actual cash compensation paid to the recipient. Pursuant to SEC rules, we disregarded the estimates of forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions.
(3) We granted option awards in 2015 in connection with the appointments of Mr. LaNeve, Mr. Frelick and Ms. Walsh as executive officers of the Company. Valuation assumptions used to determine grant date fair value as required by FASB ASC 718 are disclosed in Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 30, 2015. 1/3 of the shares subject to the options vest on each anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date, subject to the option holder’s Continuous Service (as defined in the Plan) on each vesting date.
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(4) Our 2014 Stock Option Plan was never submitted for approval to the shareholders therefore ineffective. Our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan was approved by majority shareholder consent on December 30, 2015 and all options outstanding as of the effective date were cancelled and re-issued under the new plan at current plan terms. The change in terms was considered a modification to the existing stock options and the incremental fair value is included in the amounts reflected above.
(5) The amounts shown reflect the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with FASB ASC 718. Under ASC 718, the fair value of such stock awards is determined as of the date of grant using the closing market price of common stock on the date of grant. These amounts reflect our accounting for these awards and do not correspond to the actual values that may be realized by the named executive officers and do not represent actual cash compensation paid to the recipient. Pursuant to SEC rules, we disregarded the estimates of forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions.
(6) We granted restricted stock awards in 2015 to Mr. LaNeve, Mr. Frelick and Ms. Walsh. These awards vest 100% upon four (4) years from the date of issuance.
Changes in Executive Compensation
Our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan was approved by majority shareholder consent on December 30, 2015 and all options outstanding as of the effective date were cancelled and re-issued under the new plan at current plan terms.
● | Base Salary: The Company’s base salaries are designed as a means to provide a fixed level of compensation in order to attract and retain talent. The base salaries of our named executive officers depend on their job responsibilities, the market rate of compensation paid by companies in our industry for similar positions, our financial position and the strength of our business. | |
● | Performance-Based Cash Awards: As part of the Company’s executive compensation program, the Board intends to establish an annual performance-based cash award program for our executive officers and other key employees based upon individual performance and the Company’s performance. The award program will also be designed to reinforce the Company’s goals and then current strategic initiatives. The annual performance-based cash awards will be based on the achievement of Company and individual performance metrics established at the beginning of each fiscal year by the compensation committee and our Board of Directors. Following the end of each fiscal year, the compensation committee will be responsible for determining the bonus amount payable to the executive officer based on the achievement of the Company’s performance and the individual performance metrics established for such executive. | |
● | Long-Term Equity Awards: Our Board of Directors believes that equity ownership by our executive officers and key employees encourages them to create long-term value and aligns their interest with those of our stockholders. We grant annual equity awards to our executive officers under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan. Our Board of Directors adopted and approved the following 2015 Equity Incentive Plan and intends to submit it for approval by our stockholders. | |
● | 2015 Equity Incentive Plan: The Company has 14,000,000 shares of Common Stock authorized and reserved for issuance under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan for option awards. This reserve may be increased by the Board each year by up to the number of shares of stock equal to 5% of the number of shares of stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31. Appropriate adjustments will be made in the number of authorized shares and other numerical limits in our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan and in outstanding awards to prevent dilution or enlargement of participants’ rights in the event of a stock split or other change in our capital structure. Shares subject to awards granted under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan which expire, are repurchased or are cancelled or forfeited will again become available for issuance under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan. The shares available will not be reduced by awards settled in cash. Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations will not again become available for grant. The gross number of shares issued upon the exercise of stock appreciation rights or options exercised by means of a net exercise or by tender of previously owned shares will be deducted from the shares available under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan. |
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Awards may be granted under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan to our employees, including officers, director or consultants, and our present or future affiliated entities. While we may grant incentive stock options only to employees, we may grant non-statutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock purchase rights or bonuses, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units and cash-based awards or other stock based awards to any eligible participant.
The 2015 Equity Incentive Plan will be administered by our compensation committee. Subject to the provisions of our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, the compensation committee determines, in its discretion, the persons to whom, and the times at which, awards are granted, as well as the size, terms and conditions of each award. All awards are evidenced by a written agreement between us and the holder of the award. The compensation committee has the authority to construe and interpret the terms of our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan and awards granted under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan.
Our Board of Directors approved the following compensation for our named executive officers:
Stephen R. LaNeve, Chief Executive Officer:
Base Salary: Mr. LaNeve’s base salary is $500,000.
Bonus: During each calendar year, Mr. LaNeve shall be eligible to earn an annual target bonus of seventy percent (70%) of his base salary as in-effect for the applicable calendar year, subject to the achievement of personal and corporate objectives or milestones to be established by the Board of directors, or any compensation committee thereof, (after considering any input or recommendations from Mr. LaNeve) within sixty (60) days following the beginning of each calendar year during Mr. LaNeve’s employment. In order to earn the annual bonus under this provision, the applicable objectives must be achieved and Mr. LaNeve must be employed by Company at the time the annual bonus is distributed by Company. The annual bonus, if any, shall be paid on or before March 15th of the calendar year following the year in which it is considered earned. The actual annual bonus paid may be more or less than seventy percent (70%) of Mr. LaNeve’s base salary.
Stock Options: Mr. LaNeve was granted an option to purchase 6% of the then outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, at an exercise price that equals to the fair market price on the date of the grant. These options will vest annually over three (3) years such that they are vested in full on the third year anniversary of the employment agreement date, provided, that any stock option that is unvested on the date of termination shall be forfeited on such date of termination, subject to certain exceptions.
Jeffrey Frelick, Chief Operating Officer:
Base Salary: Mr. Frelick’s base salary is $300,000.
Bonus: During each calendar year, Mr. Frelick shall be eligible to earn an annual target bonus of fifty percent (50%) of his base salary as in-effect for the applicable calendar year, subject to the achievement of personal and corporate objectives or milestones to be established by the Board of directors, or any compensation committee thereof, (after considering any input or recommendations from Mr. Frelick) within sixty (60) days following the beginning of each calendar year during Mr. Frelick’s employment. In order to earn the annual bonus under this provision, the applicable objectives must be achieved and Mr. Frelick must be employed by Company at the time the annual bonus is distributed by Company. The annual bonus, if any, shall be paid on or before March 15th of the calendar year following the year in which it is considered earned. The actual annual bonus paid may be more or less than fifty percent (50%) of Mr. Frelick’s base salary.
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Stock Options: Mr. Frelick was granted an option to purchase 3% of the then outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, at an exercise price that equals to the fair market price on the date of the grant. These options will vest annually over three (3) years such that they are vested in full on the third year anniversary of the employment agreement date, provided, that any stock option that is unvested on the date of termination shall be forfeited on such date of termination, subject to certain exceptions.
Deina H. Walsh, Chief Financial Officer:
Base Salary: Ms. Walsh’s base salary is $200,000.
Bonus: During each calendar year beginning in 2016, Ms. Walsh shall be eligible to earn an annual target bonus of thirty-five percent (35%) of her base salary as in-effect for the applicable calendar year, subject to the achievement of personal and corporate objectives or milestones to be established by the Board of directors, or any compensation committee thereof, (after considering any input or recommendations from Ms. Walsh) within sixty (60) days following the beginning of each calendar year during Ms. Walsh’s employment. In order to earn the annual bonus under this provision, the applicable objectives must be achieved and Ms. Walsh must be employed by Company at the time the annual bonus is distributed by Company. The annual bonus, if any, shall be paid on or before March 15th of the calendar year following the year in which it is considered earned. The actual annual bonus paid may be more or less than thirty-five percent (35%) of Ms. Walsh’s base salary.
Stock Options: On November 4, 2014, Ms. Walsh was granted an option to purchase 0.75% of the Company’s fully diluted shares of common stock. The option will be granted under Company’s stock plan and related stock option documents. The Option is intended to be an “incentive stock option” (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) to the greatest extent permitted under the code. The option has an exercise price of $1.00 per share, equal to the price of the shares awarded under the Merger Agreement in connection with the Merger. As a condition of receipt of the option, Ms. Walsh was required to sign Company’s standard form of stock option agreement and the option is subject to the terms and conditions of the plan, the option agreement and her employment agreement. The option vests over a three-year period from the effective date subject to Ms. Walsh’s continued Service (as defined in the plan), with 33.33% of the shares subject to the option becoming vested and exercisable on the date that Ms. Walsh’s employment agreement is executed, 33.33% of the shares subject to the option becoming vested and exercisable on the date that is twelve (12) months after the effective date, and 33.34% of the shares subject to the option vesting and becoming exercisable on the date that is twenty four (24) months after the effective date; provided, however, that all unvested shares subject to the option (and any additional equity awards hereafter issued by Company to Ms. Walsh pursuant to the plan) shall fully vest and be exercisable if Ms. Walsh’s service ceases as a result of a “qualifying termination” occurring on or within twelve (12) months after a “change in control.”
On December 1, 2015, Ms. Walsh is entitled to purchase 465,795 shares of Common Stock of the Company as of the date of the grant on the condition that i) the exercise price will be the current market price on the date of the grant; and ii) 155,265 of the shares underlying the grant shall vest on the first anniversary of the execution of the Letter Agreement, 155,265 of the shares underlying the grant shall vest on the second anniversary of the execution of the Letter Agreement and 155,265 of the shares underlying the grant shall vest on the third anniversary of the Letter Agreement. Any portion of the stock option grant that is unvested on the date of her termination shall be forfeited on such date of termination except: (i) in the case of termination by the Company without cause; and (ii) upon a change in control (as defined in the equity incentive plan) of the Company, which shall result in the immediate accelerated vesting of all options granted but unvested under the letter agreement as of (i) or (ii). such options shall be subject to the terms of the equity incentive plan and stock option agreements which shall be entered into at a later mutually agreed-upon date to prevent or mitigate dilution of her equity interests in the Company, in connection with each financing, she shall be provided an opportunity to invest in the Company such that her interest, at her option, remains un-diluted or partially diluted.
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The Company’s compensation committee believes these agreements and other incentives granted to these named executive officers in 2015 align our named executive officers’ interests with those of our stockholders. Our compensation committee and Board of directors continues to evaluate our executive compensation program with a view toward motivating our named executive officers to meet our strategic operational and financial goals in the best interests of our stockholders.
Potential Payments upon Termination of Change in Control
None.
Changes to Potential Payments upon Termination of Change in Control
None.
Consulting Agreements for Executives
None other than noted above.
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
Name/Date Issued | Exercise Price | Number of Shares | Expiration date | |||||||
Stephen R. LaNeve/August 2015 | $ | 1.59 | 2,081,191 | December 27, 2025 | ||||||
Jeffrey Frelick/August 2015 | $ | 1.59 | 1,040,596 | December 27, 2025 | ||||||
Deina Walsh/November 2015 | $ | 1.59 | 465,795 | December 27, 2025 | ||||||
Dr. William Jay Treat/December 2015 | $ | 1.59 | 216,355 | December 27, 2025 | ||||||
Deina Walsh/ December 2015 | $ | 1.59 | 64,907 | December 27, 2025 | ||||||
Total options issued to executives for the year ended December 31, 2015 | 3,868,844 |
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Executives Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
Name | Number
of securities underlying unexercised options (#) exercisable |
Number
of securities underlying unexercised options (#) unexercisable |
Equity incentive plan awards: Number of securities underlying unexercised unearned options (#) |
Option exercise price ($) |
Option expiration date |
Number of shares or units of stock that have not vested (#) |
Market value of shares of units of stock that have not vested ($) | Equity incentive plan awards: Number of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested (#) |
Equity incentive plan awards: Market or payout value of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(a) | (b) | (c) | (d) | (e) | (f) | (g) | (h) | (i) | (j) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mike Schuler, CEO | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stephen
R. LaNeve, Chief Executive Officer, President, Director 2015 |
- | 2,081,191 | - | $ | 1.59 | December 27, 2025 | 38,414 | $ | 78,750 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jeffrey Frelick, Chief Operating | - | 1,040,596 | - | $ | 1.59 | December 27, 2025 | - | - | 16,463 | $ | 33,750 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Officer | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dr.
William Jay Treat, Chief Technology Officer 2015 |
534,867 | 264,547 | - | $ | 1.59 | (1) | December 27, 2025 | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 198,202 | 384,857 | - | $ | 1.00 | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deina
Walsh, Chief Financial Officer 2015 |
159,884 | 545,736 | - | $ | 1.59 | (1) | December 27, 2025 | - | - | 11,104 | $ | 22,764 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 58,306 | 116,612 | - | $ | 1.00 | - | - | - | - | - |
(1) Our 2014 Stock Option Plan was never submitted for approval to the shareholders therefore ineffective. Our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan was approved by majority shareholder consent on December 30, 2015 and all options outstanding as of the effective date were re-issued under the new plan at current plan terms. The change in terms was considered a modification to the existing stock options and the incremental fair value is included in the amounts reflected above.
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Director Compensation
The following table shows information regarding the compensation earned during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 by the members of our Board of directors.
Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash | Option Awards | Share Awards | Total | ||||||||||||
Bruce Stroever(1) | $ | 35,000 | $ | 76,709 | 79,499 | $ | 191,208 | |||||||||
Dr. Chia Soo | 25,000 | 100,642 | 50,000 | 175,642 | ||||||||||||
William Coffin | 30,000 | 100,642 | 50,000 | 180,6432 | ||||||||||||
John Booth | 30,000 | 100,642 | 50,000 | 180,642 | ||||||||||||
Jimmy Delshad | 25,000 | 100,642 | 50,000 | 175,642 | ||||||||||||
Steve Warnecke(2) | 30,000 | 76,709 | 79,499 | 186,208 | ||||||||||||
George A. Oram(3) | 25,000 | 91,794 | 50,000 | 166,794 | ||||||||||||
Dr. Benjamin Wu | 4,167 | 64,500 | - | 68,667 | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 204,167 | $ | 712,280 | 408,998 | $ | 1,325,445 |
(1) MTF is paid compensation for Mr. Stroever’s services per a consulting agreement with the Company.
(2) Mr. Warnecke resigned March 1, 2016.
(3) Mr. Oram resigned March 11, 2016.
Changes in Director Compensation
The Board adopted a Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy (the “Director Compensation Policy”) which revised the directors’ compensation to the following:
A Non-Employee Director is a director of the Company who (a) is an independent director under applicable NASDAQ Listing Rules, except that the amount of compensation as referred to in the Rule shall not exceed $10,000 per year and/or (b) does not beneficially own, or is not a director or executive officer of an entity which beneficially owns, 5% or more of the Company’s common stock. Beneficial ownership as to any derivative securities shall be determined without regard to any contractual limitation on exercise/conversion or the timeframe for exercise.
Annual Cash Compensation
Commencing at the beginning of the first calendar quarter following the Effective Date, each Non-Employee Director will receive the cash compensation set forth below for service on the Board. The annual cash compensation amounts will be payable in equal quarterly installments, in arrears following the end of each quarter in which the service occurred, pro-rated for any partial months of service. All annual cash fees are vested upon payment.
1. Annual Board Service Retainer:
a. All Non-Employee Directors other than the Board Chair: $25,000
b. Non-Employee Director who is the Board Chair: $35,000
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2. Annual Committee Chair Service Retainer (in addition to Annual Board Service Retainer):
a. Chairman of the Audit Committee: $5,000
b. Chairman of the Compensation Committee: $5,000
c. Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee: $5,000
Equity Compensation
Equity awards will be granted under the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Plan or any successor equity incentive plan (the “Plan”). All stock options granted under this Director Compensation Policy will be Nonstatutory Stock Options (as defined in the Plan), with a term of ten years from the date of grant and an exercise price per share equal to 100% of the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan) of the underlying common stock of the Company (“Common Stock”) on the date of grant.
(a) Automatic Equity Grants.
(i) Initial Grant for New Directors. Without any further action of the Board, each person who, after the Effective Date, is elected or appointed for the first time to be a Non-Employee Director will automatically, upon the date of his or her initial election or appointment to be a Non-Employee Director, be granted a Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase 50,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Initial Grant”), regardless of when such person is elected or appointed to the Board. Each Initial Grant will fully vest on the date of the Annual Meeting of the stockholders of the Company (“Annual Meeting”) next following the Initial Grant.
(ii) Annual Grant. Without any further action of the Board, at the close of business on the date of each Annual Meeting following the Effective Date, each person who is then a Non-Employee Director will automatically be granted a Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock having an Option Value (calculated on the date of grant) of $50,000 (the “Annual Grant”). Each Annual Grant will vest in a series of four (4) successive equal quarterly installments over the one-year period measured from the date of grant.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of the members of the Compensation Committee is or was an executive officer of our company or had any relationships requiring disclosure by us under the SEC’s rules requiring disclosure of certain relationships and related-party transactions. None of our executive officers served as a director or a member of a compensation committee (or other committee serving an equivalent function) of any other entity, the executive officers of which served as a director or member of our compensation committee during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Except as disclosed below, none of the following persons has any direct or indirect material interest in any transaction to which we are a party since our incorporation or in any proposed transaction to which we are proposed to be a party:
● | Any of our directors or officers; | |
● | Any proposed nominee for election as our director; | |
● | Any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, shares carrying more than 5% of the voting rights attached to our Common Stock; or | |
● | Any relative or spouse of any of the foregoing persons, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same house as such person or who is a director or officer of any parent or subsidiary of our Company. |
AFH Holding & Advisory LLC
The Company and MTF entered into a letter agreement with AFH Holdings & Advisory, LLC (“AFH”) dated May 7, 2014 (the “AFH/MTF Agreement”). Amir Heshmatpour is the controlling party of AFH and an affiliate and board observer of the Company. The AFH Agreement contemplated among other things (a) the sale of Notes in the principal amount of $50,000 and warrants to purchase common stock, and (b) certain assistance to be provided by AFH in connection with the Merger, the subsequent quotation of the Company’s common stock, procuring private funding and a possible initial public offering. In consideration of AFH’s advisory services, the Company granted to AFH certain anti-dilution protection arising from future issuances of the Company’s common stock. The Company granted to each of AFH and MTF the right to appoint three members of the Board and to the original founding scientists and then minority shareholders the right to appoint one member with each of MTF and AFH having the right to appoint one individual with observer status with respect to the Board. The Company also granted to AFH the right to act as advisor to the Company on all financings for a period of two years. The AFH/MTF Agreement also granted to AFH and MTF restricted shares equal to 2.5% of the fully diluted shares of the Company (the “Milestone Shares”) at the time of completion of certain milestone targets. The milestone targets were not met and pursuant to separate side letter agreements dated August 11, 2015, the Company agreed to issue to each of AFH and MTF 867,163 shares in exchange for forfeiture of any claims to receive any Milestone Shares.
On October 28, 2015, the Company agreed (i) to issue to AFH 915,614 shares of common stock of the Company and warrants to purchase 158,229 shares of common stock and (ii) to make a payment of $275,000. The warrants have an exercise price of $1.58. The shares and warrants were issued and the payment was made to AFH as payment for advisory services rendered to the Company.
In addition to the shares and warrants issued for services, AFH received cash totaling $408,750 for services during the year ended December 31, 2015. Effective April 5, 2016, the Company and AFH entered into a Consulting Agreement pursuant to which AFH was engaged to perform certain consulting services for an initial term of three months with an upfront retainer of $100,000 and monthly payments of $33,333.
Pursuant to a letter agreement dated February 10, 2016, the Company agreed to issue a total of 1,260,255 shares of common stock of the Company to AFH. The Letter Agreement was entered into in connection with the AFH/MTF Agreement under which AFH and its affiliated entities, individuals or assignees (“AFH Group”) were entitled to 10% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company on a fully diluted basis (the “Share Adjustment”) after giving effect to an anticipated private placement of between $8,000,000 and $10,000,000 (the “PIPE”). In the Letter Agreement, the Company recognized that, at the time the AFH/MTF Agreement was entered into, it was not anticipated that certain events in addition to the PIPE would dilute directly or indirectly the interest of AFH Group as stockholders of the Company, including the Ninth Amendment to the UCLA License Agreement and the issuance of the Company’s Common Shares pursuant to the Professional Services Agreement with each of Dr. Chia Soo, Dr. Ben Wu, and Dr. Eric Ting discussed below. Accordingly, the Company agreed to issue the 1,260,255 shares in connection with the Share Adjustment.
On April 7, 2016, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with AFH pursuant to which the Company engaged AFH for an initial term of three months to provide certain consulting services to the Company effective April 5, 2016. Under the consulting agreement, AFH is to receive an up-front retainer of $100,000 and $33,333.33 per month for three months.
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Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation (MTF)
We have formed a formal strategic alliance with Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation (MTF) on the collaborative development of osteoinductive products that incorporate MTF’s current product line of natural bone graft substitutes with NELL-1. MTF is the exclusive allograft supplier for BIOBONE-X™. MTF has become one of the major investors of the Company. MTF is the world’s largest allograft bone supplier. It is also the country’s largest full service tissue organization dedicated to providing quality tissue through a commitment to excellence in education, research, recovery and care for recipients, donors and their families. A not-for-profit organization, MTF is a consortium of academic medical institutions and organ and tissue recovery organizations across the country. We anticipate that MTF, with its proven ISO 9001 manufacturing and packaging of FDA approved osteogenic carriers, will significantly accelerate the clinical development cycle of NELL-1 related products.
The Company and MTF entered into a loan agreement in 2008 and a credit agreement in 2009 (collectively, the “MTF Credit Agreements”), and accompanying promissory and convertible promissory notes in January 2008, November 2008, March 2009 and August 2009 to fund the development of Bone. As of September 19, 2014, $5,192,684 in principal and interest was outstanding under the MTF Credit Agreements. On September 19, 2014, $1,533,356 of the amounts due under the MTF Credit Agreements were converted to shares of the Company. The remaining amounts due under the MTF Credit Agreements were cancelled and a new Convertible Note in the principal amount of $3,659,328 was issued by the Company.
In 2013, the Company and MTF also entered into a bridge note in the principal amount of $100,000. Prior to consummation of the Merger, the 2013 bridge note and accrued interest were converted into Common Stock at a conversion price of $1.00 per share.
Pursuant to the AFH/MTF Agreement, MTF has the right to appoint three members to the Company’s Board of Directors together with one non-voting observer.
On September 15, 2014, the Company and MTF entered into a loan agreement and accompanying promissory note to fund the continued operations of the Company prior to the Merger. On October 27, 2014, the balance in the amount of $303,371 was paid in full and the line of credit was cancelled.
On February 22, 2016, the Company entered into a share purchase agreement with MTF, pursuant to which MTF purchased from the Company an aggregate of 731,707 shares of common stock of the Company at a price per share equal to $2.05.
On February 24, 2016 the Company entered into an Option Agreement for the Distribution and Supply of Sygnal™ demineralized bone matrix (“Sygnal”) with MTF pursuant to which:
a. MTF grants to the Company the exclusive right and option (the “Option”) to distribute Sygnal upon the critical terms as described in the Option Agreement (the “Option Rights”). The Company will exercise the Option, if at all, by providing written notice to MTF of its intent to do so. During the term of the Option, MTF will not enter into any agreements with any third parties which include the transfer by MTF of the Option Rights.
b. Upon the exercising of the Option, the Company will grant to MTF 700,000 shares of common stock in the Company.
c. Within 30 days of exercising the Option, MTF will provide the Company with a written proposal of a Definitive Agreement that includes, inter alia, the Critical Terms and those other commercially reasonable terms as agreed upon by the parties. The parties will fully negotiate in good faith all of the terms of the Definitive Agreement, and any ancillary agreements thereto consistent with the Critical Terms.
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d. In the event the Company does not exercise the Option within the Term of the Option Agreement, MTF will be free to enter into any other agreement relating to the Option Rights as it deems appropriate without liability to the Company.
Sygnal is a bone void filler contouring allograft bone that has the inorganic mineral removed, leaving behind the organic “collagen” matrix.
Bruce Stroever, our Chairman of the Board, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of MTF.
Founders
The Company entered into a Letter Agreement effective October 2, 2015, with each of Dr. Chia Soo (who currently serves as a director of the Company and is a director nominee), Dr. Eric Kang Ting and Dr. Ben Wu (who currently serves as a director of the Company and is a director nominee) (collectively, the “Founders”). The Founders were three of the original shareholders of the Company. Pursuant to the Letter Agreement, the Founders agrees to deliver to the Company all past work product and past data related to NELL-1 (the “Data”) for use by the Company in its sole discretion, within the applicable licensing rights granted under the UCLA license and in exchange the Company agreed to the future issuance of an aggregate of 1,153,846 shares of the Company’s common stock. The Shares are to be equally distributed between the Founders upon the earlier of (i) the third anniversary of the Agreement and (ii) the occurrence of a Liquidity Event (as defined in the Letter Agreement). The Letter Agreement also provides the Shares with certain piggyback registration rights upon the occurrence of an equity financing by the Company. The Letter Agreement related to past work product and past data and therefore will be expensed as research and development costs upon the effective date and recorded a liability to issue shares.
Founders Professional Services Agreement
Effective January 8, 2016, the Company entered into separate Professional Services Agreements with each of the Founders. Pursuant to each of the Agreements, each Founder has agreed to provide certain services to the Company, including providing strategic advice and strategic introductions to the Company’s management team as well as specific services set forth on an Exhibit to each Agreement. The Agreements are substantially identical. In consideration for the services to be rendered under the applicable Agreement, each Founder is granted 10-year stock options (the “Options”) to purchase 1,800,364 shares of the Company’s common stock corresponding to 4% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, on a fully diluted basis, at an exercise price of $1.59 per share. The shares subject to the Options will vest 25% on each of the first, second and third anniversary of the effective date and 12.5% on each of the fourth and fifth anniversary of the effective date. The options fully vest on a change of control of the Company, if the Company terminates the Agreement without cause or the Founder terminates the Agreement with cause. Additionally, beginning January 1, 2017, the Company will pay each Founder an annual consulting fee of $200,000 in cash or, at the option of the Company, in shares of its common stock valued as provided in the Agreement.
Dr. Soo and Dr. Wu are directors of the Company, and Dr. Ting is on the Company’s Scientific Advisory Board. Each of the Advisors were involved in the founding of the Company.
Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons
Due to the small size of our Company, we do not at this time have a formal written policy regarding the review of related party transactions, and rely on our full Board of Directors to review, approve or ratify such transactions and identify and prevent conflicts of interest. Our Board of Directors reviews any such transaction in light of the particular affiliation and interest of any involved director, officer or other employee or stockholder and, if applicable, any such person’s affiliates or immediate family members. Management aims to present transactions to our Board of Directors for approval before they are entered into or, if that is not possible, for ratification after the transaction has occurred. If our Board of Directors finds that a conflict of interest exists, then it will determine the appropriate action or remedial action, if any. Our Board of Directors approves or ratifies a transaction if it determines that the transaction is consistent with our best interests and the best interest of our stockholders.
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Stockholder Proposals for Inclusion in Company Proxy Statement. Stockholders may present proposals, including nominations for directors, for inclusion in our proxy statement prepared in connection with the Annual Meeting of stockholders to be held in the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016 (the “Next Annual Meeting”). Among other requirements, for a proposal to be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement for the Next Annual Meeting, written notice must be received by the corporate secretary at our principal executive offices no later than 120 calendar days before the anniversary of the date of the Company’s proxy statement released to stockholders in connection with the previous year’s Annual Meeting. Accordingly, we must receive all such written notices no later than February 1, 2017.
Receipt of a stockholder proposal does not necessarily guarantee that the proposal will be included in the proxy statement for the Next Annual Meeting. Stockholders interested in submitting a nomination or proposal for consideration at the Next Annual Meeting should also consult our Bylaws to ensure that any such notice of nomination or proposal is submitted to the Company in proper form. In addition, stockholders should also be aware that any such proposal must comply with SEC rules concerning the inclusion of stockholder proposals in Company-sponsored proxy materials. Our Board will review any proposal that is received by the deadline and determine if it is a proper proposal for inclusion in the proxy statement for the Next Annual Meeting.
DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO STOCKHOLDERS SHARING AN ADDRESS
Certain stockholders who share an address are being delivered only one copy of this proxy statement unless the Company or one of its mailing agents has received contrary instructions. Upon the written or oral request of a stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of this proxy statement was delivered, the Company shall promptly deliver a separate copy of this proxy statement to such stockholder. Written requests should be made to Bone Biologics Corporation, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 321 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA 20016 and oral requests may be made by calling the Company at (732) 661-2224. In addition, if such stockholder wishes to receive separate annual reports, proxy statements or information statements in the future, such stockholder should notify the Company either in writing addressed to the foregoing address or by calling the foregoing telephone number. Stockholders sharing an address who are receiving multiple copies of this Information Statement may request delivery of a single annual report, proxy statement or information statement in the future by directing such request in writing to the address above or calling the number above.
Management does not intend to present any other items of business and knows of no other matters that will be brought before the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please sign and date the enclosed proxy card and return it in the enclosed envelope to ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting.
This proxy statement and materials delivered with this proxy statement, including our annual report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2015, contains “forward-looking” statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this proxy statement and materials delivered with this proxy statement, including, without limitation, statements regarding our financial position, business strategy, and plans and objectives of management for future operations and capital expenditures, are forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and the assumptions upon which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations and assumptions will prove to have been correct. Additional statements concerning important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are disclosed in the “Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements” section of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. All written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf subsequent to the date of this proxy statement are expressly qualified in their entirety by such cautionary statements.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Bone Biologics Corporation files reports, proxy statements, and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). You can read and copy these reports, proxy statements, and other information concerning our company at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room. The SEC also maintains an Internet site that contains all reports, proxy statements and other information that we file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov.
A copy of our annual report on form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2015, which includes financial statements for the Company for the fiscal year then ended and excluding exhibits is being mailed to each stockholder of record with this proxy statement. The exhibits to the Form 10-K are available upon payment of charges that approximate reproduction costs. If you would like to request documents, please do so by May 24, 2016, to receive them before the Annual Meeting. Requests should be sent in writing to:
Bone
Biologics Corporation
321 Columbus Ave.
Boston, MA 02116
Attention: Corporate Secretary
By Order of the Board of Directors, | |
Bruce Stroever | |
Chairman of the Board | |
May 5, 2016 |
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