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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
| | | | | |
o | Filed by a Party other than the Registrant |
Check the appropriate box:
| | | | | |
o | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
o | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
x | Definitive Proxy Statement |
o | Definitive Additional Materials |
o | Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
LISATA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
| | | | | | | | |
| o | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
| | | | | | | | |
| o | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
LISATA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
110 ALLEN ROAD, SECOND FLOOR
BASKING RIDGE, NEW JERSEY 07920
April 25, 2025
Dear Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. (“Lisata”) to be held on June 10, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The Annual Meeting will be held via live webcast on the internet. You will be able to participate in the Annual Meeting, vote and submit your questions during the Annual Meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/LSTA2025. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person.
At the Annual Meeting, we will vote on the election of directors, the ratification of the selection of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2025 and on an amendment to Lisata's 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. We will also vote, on a non-binding advisory basis, to approve the compensation of Lisata's named executive officers and on the frequency of holding stockholder advisory votes on executive compensation of Lisata’s named executive officers. Finally, we will transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and, finally, stockholders will have an opportunity to ask questions.
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules allow companies to furnish proxy materials to stockholders over the Internet and we have so elected to deliver our proxy materials to our stockholders. This delivery process allows us to provide stockholders with the information they need, while at the same time conserving natural resources and lowering the cost of delivery. On or about April 25, 2025, we began sending to our stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) containing instructions on how to access our proxy statement for the Annual Meeting and our 2024 annual report to stockholders. The Notice also provides instructions on how to vote online or by telephone and includes instructions on how to receive a paper copy of the proxy materials by mail.
The proxy statement provides you with detailed information about the Annual Meeting and the other business to be considered by Lisata's stockholders. We encourage you to read carefully the entire proxy statement. You may also obtain more information about Lisata from documents we have filed with the SEC.
On behalf of the board of directors, we thank you for your continued support.
Very truly yours,
David J. Mazzo, Ph.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer
LISATA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
110 ALLEN ROAD, SECOND FLOOR
BASKING RIDGE, NEW JERSEY 07920
NOTICE OF 2025 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To be Held June 10, 2025
To the Stockholders of Lisata Therapeutics, Inc.:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. (“Lisata” or the “Company”) will be held via live webcast on June 10, 2025 at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time (“EDT”), for the following purposes:
1.To re-elect each of Mohammad Azab, M.D., M.B.A. and Steven M. Klosk, J.D. as Class III directors to serve a three-year term expiring at the annual meeting to be held in 2028;
2.To approve an amendment to the 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan that increases the number of shares available under the plan from 113,333 to 158,333;
3.To ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as Lisata's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025;
4.To approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the executive compensation of Lisata's named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement;
5.To approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the frequency of holding stockholder advisory votes on the executive compensation of Lisata’s named executive officers; and
6.To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Your attention is directed to the proxy statement which is set forth on the following pages, where the foregoing items of business are more fully described. Only holders of record of common stock at the close of business on April 17, 2025 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any postponements or adjournments thereof.
All Lisata stockholders are cordially invited to participate in the online, live Annual Meeting. However, even if you plan to participate in the webcast Annual Meeting, we request that you vote by following the instructions in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials that you previously received and submit your proxy by telephone or through the Internet or by mail as promptly as possible prior to the Annual Meeting to ensure that your shares of Lisata stock will be represented at the Annual Meeting. Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to vote at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain a proxy issued in your name from the record holder.
The accompanying proxy statement provides you with detailed information about each of the proposals to be considered at the Annual Meeting. We encourage you to read the entire document carefully.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF LISATA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
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David J. Mazzo, Ph.D. |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| | | | | | | | |
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON JUNE 10, 2025 | |
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING | |
PROPOSAL NO. 1: THE ELECTION OF CLASS III DIRECTORS | |
| Background | |
| Nominees and Continuing Directors; Voting | |
| Information with Respect to Director Nominees and Continuing Directors | |
| Biographical Information - Director Nominees | |
| Biographical Information - Directors Continuing in Office | |
| Recommendation of the Lisata Board | |
| Biographical Information - Executive Officers | |
| Governance of Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. | |
| Code of Ethics | |
PROPOSAL NO. 2: APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE 2017 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN | |
PROPOSAL NO. 3: THE RATIFICATION OF AUDITORS PROPOSAL | |
PROPOSAL NO. 4: THE NON-BINDING, ADVISORY VOTE ON NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION | |
PROPOSAL NO. 5: THE NON-BINDING, ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF HOLDING STOCKHOLDER ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION | |
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS | |
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS | |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION | |
| Summary Compensation Table | |
| Employment Agreements and Equity Grants | |
| Outstanding Equity Awards | |
| Pay Versus Performance Disclosure | |
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION | |
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION | |
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2025 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS | |
DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO STOCKHOLDERS SHARING AN ADDRESS | |
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | |
INFORMATION ON LISATA'S WEBSITE | |
OTHER MATTERS | |
APPENDIX A - 2017 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN, AS AMENDED | |
PROXY CARD | |

LISATA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
110 ALLEN ROAD, SECOND FLOOR
BASKING RIDGE, NEW JERSEY 07920
PROXY STATEMENT FOR 2025 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To be Held June 10, 2025
This proxy statement, along with the accompanying notice of 2025 annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”), contains information about the Annual Meeting, including any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting. We are holding the Annual Meeting at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The Annual Meeting will be held via live webcast on the internet. You will be able to participate in the Annual Meeting, vote and submit your questions during the Annual Meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/LSTA2025. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person.
In this proxy statement, we refer to Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. as “Lisata,” “the Company,” “we” and “us.”
This proxy statement relates to the solicitation of proxies by our Board of Directors for use at the Annual Meeting.
On or about April 25, 2025, we will begin sending the Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials to all stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE
STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON JUNE 10, 2025
This proxy statement and our 2024 annual report to stockholders are available for viewing, printing and downloading at www.proxyvote.com. To view these materials, please have your 16-digit control number(s) available that appears on your Notice or proxy card. On this website, you can also elect to receive future distributions of our proxy statements and annual reports to stockholders by electronic delivery.
Additionally, you can find a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which includes our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, at www.sec.gov, or in the “SEC Filings” section of the “Investors & News” section of our website at www.lisata.com. You may also obtain a printed copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, including our financial statements, free of charge, from us by sending a written request to: John Menditto, Lisata Therapeutics, Inc., 110 Allen Road, 2nd Floor, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920. You may also request a copy by emailing us at jmenditto@lisata.com. Exhibits will be provided upon written request and payment of an appropriate processing fee.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING
The following are some questions that you, as a stockholder of Lisata, may have regarding the Annual Meeting, together with brief answers to those questions. Lisata urges you to read carefully the remainder of this proxy statement, including the annexes and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (the "2024 Form 10-K"), which is incorporated herein by reference, because the information in this section may not provide all of the information that might be important to you with respect to the Annual Meeting.
Q. Why am I receiving these materials?
A. The Board of Directors (the “Lisata Board”) of Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. a Delaware corporation (“Lisata,” the “Company,” “we” or “our”), has made these materials available to you on the Internet or, upon your request, has delivered printed versions of these materials to you by mail or email, in connection with the Board’s solicitation of proxies for use at our annual meeting of stockholders, which meeting will take place on June 10, 2025 (the "Annual Meeting"). As a Lisata stockholder as of April 17, 2025 (the “Record Date”), you are invited to attend the Annual Meeting and are entitled to, and requested to, vote on the items of business described in this proxy statement. The Annual Meeting will be held via live webcast on the internet. You will be able to participate in the Annual Meeting, vote and submit your questions during the Annual Meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/LSTA2025. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person.
We have made available to you on the Internet or have sent to you this proxy statement, the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the proxy card and a copy of 2024 Form 10-K because you owned shares of the Company’s common stock on the Record Date. The Company intends to commence distribution of the proxy materials to stockholders on or about April 25, 2025.
Q. What proposals will be considered and voted upon at the Annual Meeting?
A. At the Annual Meeting, holders of Lisata stock as of the Record Date will consider and vote upon proposals to:
•re-elect each of Mohammad Azab, M.D., M.B.A. and Steven M. Klosk, J.D. as Class III directors to serve a three-year term expiring at the annual meeting to be held in 2028 (the “Election Proposal”);
•approve an amendment to the 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) to increase the number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the ESPP from 113,333 to 158,333 (the “ESPP Amendment Proposal”);
•ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as Lisata's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025 (the “Auditor Ratification Proposal”);
•approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the executive compensation of Lisata's Named Executive Officers (as defined below) as described in this proxy statement (the “Say-on-Pay Proposal”);
•approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the frequency of holding stockholder advisory votes on the executive compensation of Lisata’s Named Executive Officers (the “Say-on-Frequency Proposal”); and
•transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
The Election Proposal, the ESPP Amendment Proposal, the Auditor Ratification Proposal, the Say-on-Pay Proposal and the Say-on-Frequency Proposal are collectively referred to herein as the “Proposals.”
Q. What is the recommendation of the Board with respect to the Proposals?
A. The Board recommends that you vote your shares "FOR" each of the Proposals.
Q. When and where is the Annual Meeting?
A. The Annual Meeting will be held on June 10, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. EDT via live webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/LSTA2025. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person.
Q. What happens if there are technical difficulties during the Annual Meeting?
A. We will have technicians ready to assist you with any technical difficulties you may have accessing the virtual Annual Meeting, voting at the Annual Meeting or submitting questions at the Annual Meeting. If you encounter any
difficulties accessing the virtual Annual Meeting during the check-in or meeting time, please call the technical support number that will be posted on the virtual Annual Meeting login page.
Q. What vote of Lisata stockholders is required to approve each of the Proposals?
A. The following votes are required to approve each of the Proposals:
•The Election Proposal. The directors will be elected by plurality vote.
•The ESPP Amendment Proposal. The ESPP Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the stockholders present at the virtual meeting or represented by proxy, entitled to vote and voting on the ESPP Amendment Proposal.
•The Auditor Ratification Proposal. The Auditor Ratification Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the stock present at the virtual meeting or represented by proxy, entitled to vote and voting on the Auditor Ratification Proposal.
•The Say-on-Pay Proposal. The Say-on-Pay Proposal requires, on an advisory basis, the affirmative vote of a majority of the stock present at the virtual meeting or represented by proxy, entitled to vote and voting on the Say-on-Pay Proposal.
•The Say-on-Frequency Proposal. With respect to the Say-on-Frequency Proposal, the option of every year, every two years or every three years that receives the majority of votes cast will be the frequency of that vote that has been approved by Lisata’s stockholders on an advisory basis.
Q. Who can attend and vote at the Annual Meeting and how many votes does each share of our stock have?
A. Holders of record of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. Holders of record of our common stock as of the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to one vote for each share held. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to Lisata “stockholders” in this proxy statement refer to holders of our common stock. At the close of business on the Record Date, there were 8,616,393 shares of our common stock issued and 8,615,655 shares of our common stock outstanding.
Q. What do I need to do now and how do I vote?
A: Lisata urges you to read this proxy statement carefully, including its appendices, as the actions contemplated by each of the Proposals may affect you.
If your shares of Lisata stock are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, you are considered, with respect to those shares, to be the “stockholder of record,” and the proxy materials and proxy card are being sent directly to you by Lisata. There are four methods by which you may vote your shares at the Annual Meeting:
•By Internet. You may vote your shares 24 hours a day by logging onto the secure website indicated in the instructions that are included in the Notice, or if you received printed materials, on the proxy card and following the instructions provided any time up until 11:59 EDT on June 9, 2025.
•By Telephone. You may vote your shares 24 hours a day by calling the telephone number listed in the instructions that are included in the Notice, or if you received printed materials, on the proxy card and following the instructions provided by the recorded message any time up until 11:59 EDT on June 9, 2025.
•By Mail. If you received a proxy card by mail, you may vote by completing, signing, dating and promptly returning the proxy card in the postage-paid return envelope provided with the proxy materials for receipt prior to the Annual Meeting.
•At the Virtual Meeting. You may vote your shares electronically through the portal at the virtual Annual Meeting (if you satisfy the admission requirements, as described below). Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting virtually, we encourage you to vote in advance by telephone, through the Internet or by mail so that your vote will be counted in the event you later decide not to attend virtually the Annual Meeting.
The annual meeting will be a virtual meeting of stockholders conducted via a live webcast that provides stockholders the same rights and opportunities to participate as they would have at an in-person meeting. You will be able to vote your shares electronically at the virtual meeting. To attend and submit your questions during the virtual meeting, please visit www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/LSTA2025. To participate and vote during the annual meeting, you
will need the 16-digit control number included on your Internet Notice or on your proxy card. Beneficial shareholders who do not have a control number may gain access to and vote at the meeting by logging in to their broker, brokerage firm, bank or other nominee’s website and selecting the stockholder communications mailbox to access the meeting; instructions should also be provided on the voting instruction card provided by your broker, bank, or other nominee. If you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual meeting during check-in or the meeting, please call the technical support number that will be posted on the virtual shareholder meeting log-in page.
Q. What happens if I do not sign and return my proxy card or vote by telephone, through the Internet before or during the Annual Meeting?
A. If you are a stockholder of record of Lisata and you do not sign and return your proxy card or vote by telephone, through the Internet or during the virtual meeting, your shares will not be voted at the Annual Meeting and will not be counted as present for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum, which is required to transact business at the Annual Meeting. Assuming the presence of a quorum, the failure to return your proxy card or otherwise vote your shares during the Annual Meeting will have no effect on any of the Proposals.
Q. What happens if I return a signed and dated proxy card without indicating how I wish to vote?
A. If you sign, date and mail your proxy card without indicating how you wish to vote, your proxy will be counted as present for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum for the Annual Meeting and all of your shares will be voted “FOR” each Proposal and “FOR” the election of each director nominee named herein.
Q. What if I abstain from voting?
A. If you attend the Annual Meeting or submit a proxy card, but affirmatively elect to abstain from voting, your proxy will be counted as present for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum for the Annual Meeting but will not be voted at the Annual Meeting. As a result, your abstention will have no effect on any of the Proposals.
Q. What is a broker non-vote?
A. A broker "non-vote" occurs on a proposal when shares held of record by a broker are present or represented at a stockholder meeting but the broker is not permitted to vote on that proposal without instruction from the beneficial owner of the shares and no instruction has been given. Brokerage firms have the authority under Nasdaq Stock Market ("Nasdaq") rules to cast votes on certain "routine" matters if they do not receive instructions from their customers, but they do not have the authority to vote on "non-routine" matters. The Election Proposal, the ESPP Amendment Proposal, the Say-on-Pay Proposal and the Say-on-Frequency Proposal are considered "non-routine" matters. Broker non-votes will be counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining a quorum and will:
•have no effect on the Election Proposal;
•have no effect on the ESPP Amendment Proposal;
•have no effect on the Say-on-Pay Proposal; and
•have no effect on the Say-on-Frequency Proposal.
•The Auditor Ratification Proposal is considered a “routine” matter. A broker or other nominee may generally vote in their discretion on routine matters. Therefore, no broker non-votes are expected in connection with the Auditor Ratification Proposal.
Q. What do I do if my shares of Lisata stock are held in “street name” by my broker, dealer, bank or other nominee?
A: If your shares of Lisata stock are held through an account with a broker, dealer, bank or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name,” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you together with a voting instruction card. You must provide the record holder of your shares with instructions on how to vote your shares. Please follow the voting instructions provided by your broker, dealer, bank or other nominee. Please note that you may not vote shares held in street name by returning a proxy card directly to Lisata.
Q. May I revoke or change my vote after I have provided proxy instructions?
A: Yes. You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is exercised at the meeting by taking any of the following actions:
•delivering written notice to the Assistant Corporate Secretary of Lisata by any means bearing a date later than the date of the proxy, stating that the proxy is revoked;
•if you received a proxy card, by signing and delivering a new proxy card relating to the same shares and bearing a later date prior to the vote at the Annual Meeting;
•voting over the Internet or telephone at a later time; or
•attending the virtual Annual Meeting and voting at the meeting, although attendance at the meeting will not, by itself, revoke a proxy.
If you hold shares in street name through your bank, broker or other nominee, you may submit new voting instructions by contacting your bank, broker or other nominee.
Q. What constitutes a quorum for the Annual Meeting?
A. A quorum must exist for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting (other than consideration of a motion to adjourn the Annual Meeting). The holders of a majority of the shares of capital stock of Lisata issued and outstanding entitled to vote thereat, present at the virtual meeting or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum. Abstentions and broker “non-votes” are counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining a quorum. If you submit a properly executed proxy card, even if you abstain from voting, your shares will be considered part of the quorum.
Q. What does it mean if I received more than one Notice or proxy card?
A. If you received more than one Notice or proxy card, your shares are likely registered in more than one name or are held in more than one account. Please vote in the manner described above under "What do I need to do and how do I vote?" for each account in order to ensure that all of your shares of Lisata stock are voted.
Q. Who will bear the cost of this solicitation and who may solicit proxies?
A. Lisata is making this solicitation and will bear the entire cost of the solicitation, including the preparation, assembly, printing and mailing of this proxy statement and any additional materials furnished to our stockholders. The initial solicitation of proxies by mail may be supplemented by telephone, fax, e-mail, Internet and personal solicitation by our directors, officers or other regular employees. No additional compensation for soliciting proxies will be paid to our directors, officers or other regular employees for their proxy solicitation efforts. We expect to reimburse banks, brokers and other persons for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in handling proxy materials for beneficial owners of our Common Stock.
Q. Who will count the votes?
A. Representatives of American Election Services, LLC will count the votes and will serve as the independent inspector of election.
Q. Where can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting?
A. The preliminary voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting, and we will publish preliminary, or final results if available, in a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days of the Annual Meeting. If final results are unavailable at the time we file the Form 8-K, then we will file an amended report on Form 8-K to disclose the final voting results within four business days after the final voting results are known.
Q. Whom should I contact if I have any questions about the Annual Meeting?
A. If you have any questions about the Annual Meeting, or if you need assistance in submitting your proxy or voting your shares or need additional copies of this proxy statement or the enclosed proxy card, you should contact Amy Jackson Ayala at the address listed below:
Amy Jackson Ayala
Assistant Corporate Secretary
Lisata Therapeutics, Inc.
110 Allen Road, 2nd Floor
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
Email: aayala@lisata.com
If your shares are held through an account with a broker, dealer, bank or other nominee, you should call your broker, dealer, bank or other nominee for additional information.
PROPOSAL NO. 1: THE ELECTION OF CLASS III DIRECTORS
THE LISATA BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" THE RE-ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES FOR CLASS III DIRECTORSHIP, AS IDENTIFIED BELOW.
Background
The Lisata Board of Directors (the “Lisata Board”) currently consists of six members. Pursuant to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, we have a classified Board. That is, the Lisata Board consists of three separate classes of directors. Each class serves a three-year term and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The classes are elected on a rotating or staggered basis, with each class being elected at the annual meeting of stockholders coinciding with the expiration of that class’s term. Pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), if a board of directors is classified, unless the certificate of incorporation otherwise provides, members of such board of directors may be removed by the stockholders before the expiration of their terms only for cause.
Information with Respect to Director Nominees and Continuing Directors
The following tables and related narrative set forth certain information about the nominees for director and about the current directors who will continue in office. The nominees are current directors of Lisata. There are no family relationships among any of our directors and executive officers. At the Annual Meeting, two Class III directors will be elected to hold office for a three-year term, serving until our annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2028 and until their successor is duly elected and qualified or the Board size is reduced, accordingly. For information with respect to beneficial ownership of our common stock, see the discussion under “Security Ownership of Management and Certain Beneficial Owners” below.
Nominees for Class III Directorships:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Name/Class | Age | Director Since | Expiration of Term |
Class III | | | |
Mohammad Azab, M.D., M.B.A. | 69 | 2022 | 2025 |
Steven M. Klosk, J.D. | 68 | 2014 | 2025 |
| | | |
Continuing Class I and Class II Directors:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Name/Class | Age | Director Since | Expiration of Term |
Class I | | | |
Cynthia L. Flowers, M.B.A. | 65 | 2018 | 2026 |
| | | |
Class II | | | |
Gregory B. Brown, M.D. | 71 | 2016 | 2027 |
Heidi Henson | 59 | 2022 | 2027 |
David J. Mazzo, Ph.D. | 68 | 2015 | 2027 |
Biographical Information - Director Nominees
Mohammad Azab, M.D., M.B.A.
Mohammad Azab, M.D., MSc, MBA was appointed to our board of directors in September 2022. Dr. Azab is a leader in clinical and regulatory development of biopharmaceutical drugs with particular expertise in oncology drug development. In July 2009, Dr. Azab joined Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Astex”), a pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of drugs in oncology and other areas, as its Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Azab served as President and Chief Medical Officer of Astex from January 2014 to November 2020, and has served as the chair of its board of directors from November 2020 to May 1, 2022. Since January 2021, Dr. Azab has served on the board of directors of DURECT Corporation (Nasdaq: DRRX), a biopharmaceutical company committed to transforming the treatment of acute organ injury and chronic liver diseases. Additionally, Dr. Azab has served on the board of directors of Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: XENE), a biopharmaceutical company delivering innovative medicines to patients with neurological disorders, from January 2003 to June 2024. Previously, Dr. Azab served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Intradigm Corporation, a developer of siRNA cancer therapeutics. Prior to this, Dr. Azab served as Executive Vice President of Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer of QLT Inc. and in several leadership positions at AstraZeneca plc in the United Kingdom and Sanofi in France. Dr. Azab holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario, and an MB ChB from Cairo University. He received post-graduate training and degrees in oncology research from the University of Paris-Sud and in biostatistics from the University of Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris, France. We believe that Dr. Azab is qualified to serve on the Board based on his substantial expertise in oncology drug development.
Steven M. Klosk, J.D.
Steven M. Klosk joined our board of directors in 2014. He is a senior executive with extensive management experience in the life sciences industry. He served as a Director at Cambrex Corporation (NYSE:CBM) from May 2008 through December 2019, until it was acquired by Permira and then as Director from December 2019 until June 2020. Cambrex is one of the leading providers of active pharmaceutical ingredients, advanced intermediates and finished dosage form products to the branded and generic pharmaceutical markets, where he served as President and Chief Executive Officer from May 2008 through June 2020. In that role he was responsible for all aspects of Cambrex’s global business with manufacturing and R&D facilities in the United States, Sweden, Italy, Estonia, Canada, Scotland, and Germany.
From 2021 until April 2024, he served on the board of directors of Recipharm, a leading pharmaceutical contract development & manufacturing organization. Since 2021 he has served on the board of Formulated Solutions, a topicals contract development & manufacturing organization where he is the chairman of the board and BioIVT, a leading supplier of biologics specimens for biotech research. In addition, Mr. Klosk served on the board of Golden Arrow Merger Corp., which merged in
August 2024 with Bolt Project Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: BSLK), a pioneer in sustainable biomaterials for consumer products. Mr. Klosk served both as a board member and an audit committee member of Bolt Project Holdings until February 2025. Mr. Klosk previously served on the boards of BIOVECTRA, a leading small molecule and biologics CDMO until September 2024 and NJ Bio, a leading antibody drug conjugate contract research organization from March 2021 through December 2024.
Mr. Klosk held other executive positions at Cambrex Corporation, including President, Executive Vice President & COO as well as President, Pharma Business Unit (2007-2008) where he had full P&L and balance sheet responsibility for four operating units in North America and Europe. Prior to this he was Executive Vice President & COO Cambrex Pharma & Biopharmaceuticals Business Unit (2003-2007) where he was responsible for managing a highly profitable global business with six operating units in North America and Europe. Earlier in his career Mr. Klosk served as Vice President, Administration for The Genlyte Group, Inc., a publicly traded producer of lighting fixtures. Mr. Klosk earned a B.S. from Cornell University and a J.D. from New York Law School. We believe that Mr. Klosk is qualified to serve on the Board based on his diversified management experience, particularly in the biopharmaceutical field.
Biographical Information - Directors Continuing in Office
Gregory B. Brown, M.D.
Gregory B. Brown, M.D. was appointed to our board of directors in October 2016 and was elected Chairman by our board of directors on February 16, 2017. Dr. Brown is currently Chief Executive Officer of Memgen, Inc., a development-stage biotechnology company. In 2007, Dr. Brown co-founded HealthCare Royalty Partners (“HCR Partners”), a healthcare-focused private asset management firm investing in biopharmaceutical and medical products, and developing and deploying innovative risk-mitigated investment strategies to deliver non-correlated cash flow. Dr. Brown served as Vice Chairman of HCR Partners until December 2022 and remains a member of the firm’s SAB. Dr. Brown was educated as a transplantation immunologist and trained as a thoracic and vascular surgeon. He practiced thoracic and vascular surgery in a community setting where he also founded and led a health maintenance organization. He brings particular expertise in the scientific, technical, clinical and medical evaluation of products as well as in healthcare systems and payor/reimbursement dynamics. He has been involved in sourcing, performing due diligence on and closing more than $1 billion of royalty financings.
Before co-founding HCR Partners, Dr. Brown was a partner at Paul Capital Partners where he co-managed that firm’s royalty investments as a member of the royalty management committee. Prior to beginning his principal investment career in 2003, Dr. Brown was co-head of investment banking and head of healthcare at Adams, Harkness & Hill (now Canaccord Genuity) and a ranked biotechnology research analyst at Vector Securities International. Dr. Brown holds a B.A. from Yale, an M.D. from SUNY Upstate Medical Center and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. He currently serves on the boards of Adimab, LLC since 2023, Memgen, Inc since 2018, and Aquestive Therapeutics since 2007. He previously served on the boards of FAST Biomedical, Cambrex Corporation, Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy, Invuity, Inc., and Vanderbilt Clinical S.a.r.l. We believe that Dr. Brown is qualified to serve on the Board based on his medical, financial and management experience.
Cynthia L. Flowers, M.B.A.
Ms. Flowers was appointed to our board of directors in November 2018. She is currently CEO of OMEZA Holdings, Inc., an advanced wound care company. From February 2014 through November 2017, Ms. Flowers was President and Chief Executive Officer of Ipsen North America, where she led the transformation of the company as it became the highest-growth subsidiary worldwide. Prior to joining Ipsen, she served as President of Eisai Pharmaceuticals, where she oversaw commercial operations, medical affairs and services, manufacturing, alliance management and other functions. She has also held general management roles, both domestically and internationally, at Amgen Inc. and Johnson & Johnson. Ms. Flowers began her career as an oncology/critical care nurse.
Ms. Flowers currently serves on the board of Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC, a multigenerational generics company. She has held positions on numerous corporate and non-profit boards, including G1 Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology clinical development company, Nanoform Finland OYi, a nanoparticle manufacturing company, Kadmon Group, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, the Women’s Leadership Advisory Board for the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and the board of directors for the Sarah Cannon Oncology Research Institute. Ms. Flowers holds an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S.N. from the University of Delaware. We believe that Ms. Flowers is qualified to serve on the Board based on her pharmaceutical industry, management and scientific training and experience.
Heidi Henson
Ms. Henson was appointed to the Lisata Board in September 2022 and serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee. Ms. Henson possesses two decades of financial operations experience with both public and private companies. In addition, Ms. Henson currently serves on the board of directors of PepGen and Perspective Therapeutics.
Ms. Henson previously served as Chief Financial Officer at Pardes Biosciences where she was instrumental in completing their tender offer transaction, as well as their de-SPAC transaction. Prior to Pardes, she served as the Chief Financial Officer for Imbria Pharmaceuticals, Kura Oncology, Wellspring Biosciences, and their parent company, Araxes Pharma.
Ms. Henson holds a BS in Accounting from the University of San Diego and is a Certified Public Accountant (currently inactive) in California. We believe that Ms. Henson is qualified to serve on the Board based on her extensive finance and public company experience.
David J. Mazzo, Ph.D.
David J. Mazzo, Ph.D. was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer on March 28, 2017 having previously been named our Chief Executive Officer and an executive director of our board of directors on January 5, 2015. Dr. Mazzo brings to Lisata over 40 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining Lisata, Dr. Mazzo served from August 2008 to October 2014 as Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the board of directors of Regado Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: RGDO), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel antithrombotic drug systems for acute and sub-acute cardiovascular indications. Prior to his leading Regado, from March 2007 to April 2008, Dr. Mazzo was President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Æterna Zentaris, Inc. (Nasdaq: AEZS), a publicly held international biopharmaceutical company with facilities in Quebec, Canada and the USA. From 2003 until 2007, Dr. Mazzo served as President, Chief Executive Officer and director of Chugai Pharma USA, LLC, a biopharmaceutical company and U.S. subsidiary of Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. of Japan, a member of the Roche Group. Prior to that, Dr. Mazzo was Senior Vice President of Development Operations at the Schering-Plough Research Institute and was a director of the Essex Chimie European subsidiary at Schering-Plough Corporation, a publicly held pharmaceutical company that was subsequently acquired by Merck & Co., Inc. Earlier in his career, Dr. Mazzo held senior management and executive positions in R&D at Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Hoechst AG, that was subsequently acquired by Sanofi, a multinational pharmaceuticals company; and Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, Inc., a subsidiary of Rhone-Poulenc SA, a French pharmaceuticals company, that was subsequently acquired by Hoechst AG. He previously served on the board of directors of publicly held Visioneering Technologies, Inc., a developer and seller of therapeutic contact lenses for myopia progression control from February 2020 to February 2024 during which time he was Chairman of the board; EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on treatments for diseases of the back of the eye, from October 2005 to June 2020 and was Chairman of the board from 2007 to 2018; Seneca Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., a therapeutics development company focused on CNS applications that merged with Palisade BIO, from April 2019 to April 2021 and Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company working in the area of products for CNS diseases, from October 2005 through January 2015, that was sold to Otsuka Holdings in 2015. He currently serves on the board of directors of Feldan Therapeutics, a private company developing technology for the intracellular delivery of therapeutic agents, where he has served on the board since January 2021 and as Chairman since October 2023.
Dr. Mazzo earned a B.A. in the Honors Program (Interdisciplinary Humanities) and a B.S. in Chemistry from Villanova University. In addition, Dr. Mazzo received his M.S. in chemistry and his Ph.D. degree in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He was also a research fellow at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Switzerland. Recently, Dr. Mazzo was named a PharmaVoice Top 100 award winner for 2024 in the Standout Leader category. He is bilingual: English (native) and French. Based on Dr. Mazzo’s experience within the pharmaceutical industry and his executive experience, specifically his experience as Chief Executive Officer at other companies in the biopharmaceutical industry, as well as his service on other boards of directors in the healthcare industry in addition to his scientific training and experience, we believe that Dr. Mazzo is qualified to serve on the Board.
Nominees and Continuing Directors; Voting
General. The Lisata Board currently consists of six directors divided into three classes as follows:
•Class III directors (Mohammad Azab, M.D., M.B.A. and Steven M. Klosk, J.D.) having a term expiring at our 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders;
•Class I directors (Cynthia L. Flowers, M.B.A.) having a term expiring at our 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders; and
•Class II directors (Gregory B. Brown, M.D., Heidi Henson and David J. Mazzo, Ph.D.) having a term expiring at our 2027 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
•Accordingly, only the terms of the Class III directors are scheduled to expire at the Annual Meeting. Class I and Class II directors are not up for election at the Annual Meeting.
Nominees for Class III Directorship. In accordance with our classified Board, the terms of Class III directors (Mohammad Azab, M.D., M.B.A. and Steven M. Klosk, J.D.) expire at the Annual Meeting, with Class I and Class II directors continuing in office for terms expiring in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Based on the recommendation of our Nominating and Governance Committee, the Lisata Board has nominated Mohammad Azab, M.D., M.B.A. and Steven M. Klosk, J.D. for re-election as our Class III directors at the Annual Meeting, to hold office until our annual meeting of stockholders held in the third year following such election (that is, our annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2028) and until a successor is duly elected and qualified or the Board is reduced, accordingly.
Proxy Voting for Directors. Shares represented by proxies that are submitted or returned properly signed will be voted for the Lisata Board’s nominees unless the stockholder indicates on the proxy that authority to vote the shares is withheld for the nominee listed. Should a nominee become unable to serve as a director (which is not anticipated at this time), the proxy will be voted for the election of a substitute nominee who shall be designated by the Lisata Board. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named.
Vote Required. Directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present, at the virtual meeting or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting, entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and voting on the election of directors. Cumulative voting is not permitted in connection with the election of Lisata's directors.
Recommendation of the Lisata Board
THE LISATA BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE RE-ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES FOR CLASS III DIRECTORSHIP, AS IDENTIFIED ABOVE.
Executive Officers
The following table sets forth certain information about the executive officers of Lisata. There are no family relationships among any of our directors and executive officers. For biographical information regarding our executive officers, see the discussion under “Biographical Information - Executive Officers,” below.
| | | | | | | | |
Name | Age | Position |
David J. Mazzo, Ph.D. | 68 | President and Chief Executive Officer |
Kristen K. Buck, M.D. | 51 | Executive Vice President of Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer |
James Nisco | 54 | Senior Vice President Finance and Treasury and Chief Accounting Officer |
Tariq Imam | 42 | Senior Vice President, Business Development and Operations and General Counsel |
Biographical Information - Executive Officers
David J. Mazzo, Ph.D.
See the discussion under “Biographical Information - Directors Continuing in Office” above.
Kristen K. Buck, M.D.
Dr. Kristen K. Buck joined Lisata in September 2021 as Executive Vice President of R&D and Chief Medical Officer (“CMO”) of the Company. Prior to joining Lisata, Dr. Buck worked at ICON plc from March 2020 to July 2021, where she served as its CMO and represented the company’s position on key scientific, ethical, and medical governance matters, provided guidance and oversight to the medical and scientific groups, and led the Drug Development Services group. Prior to that, Dr. Buck was Senior Vice President & Chief of Clinical Development at Optum Insights (part of the United Healthcare Group) from August 2018 to March 2020, where she led the clinical operations and regulatory groups within the Digital Research Network (DRN) clinical trial business. From January 2014 to July 2018, Dr. Buck held a position at Quintiles/IQVIA as Vice President of Global Strategic Drug Development designing clinical development plans and protocols across all therapeutic areas for emerging biotech and large pharma.
Earlier in her career, Dr. Buck worked as a primary care physician and then later served as a medical officer in the FDA’s Office of New Drugs Division of Gastrointestinal and Hematology Drug Products where she was responsible for reviewing efficacy and safety data for new drug indications, as well as post-marketing safety data for over 40 drugs. Dr. Buck worked at AstraZeneca where she served as a Global Safety Physician and Global Study Physician. Her experience ranges over multiple therapeutic indications including cardiovascular/metabolic, rare diseases, gastrointestinal, neuroscience, oncology, immunology, and women’s health.
Dr. Buck currently serves as a Senior Medical Advisor and member of the Scientific Advisory Board for global contract research organization; Biorasi Inc.
Dr. Buck is a board certified and licensed physician who received her medical degree from the Pennsylvania State University School of Medicine and completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Abington Memorial Hospital before working in a private practice as a primary care physician.
James Nisco
Mr. Nisco was appointed as our Senior Vice President, Finance and Treasury and Chief Accounting Officer on April 15, 2024. From August 2020 through April 2024, Mr. Nisco served as our Vice President of Finance & Treasury, and from February 2012 to August 2020, Mr. Nisco served as our Senior Director of Treasury, Financial Planning and Analysis. Mr. Nisco oversees all finance activities for the Company and is responsible for SEC reporting, financial reporting and accounting, treasury operations and financial planning and analysis.
With over 30 years of experience in corporate finance, Mr. Nisco has held various senior finance positions prior to Lisata, including at OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (acquired by Astellas) and Ciba Corporation (acquired by The BASF Group). Mr. Nisco began his career at Ciba-Geigy (now Novartis Pharmaceuticals).
Mr. Nisco holds an MBA in Financial Management from Pace University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Economics from the State University of New York, College at Oneonta.
Tariq Imam
Mr. Imam was appointed as our Senior Vice President, Business Development and Operations and General Counsel on February 3, 2025 and has served as Head of Business Development of the Company since May 2016. As of April 2023, Mr. Imam has also served as Corporate Counsel of the Company. Before joining Lisata, Mr. Imam led business and corporate development functions at various specialty pharmaceutical companies, ranging from clinical to commercial stages, including, Mist Pharmaceuticals, Akrimax Pharmaceuticals and Rouses Point Pharmaceuticals. Prior to that, Mr. Imam held positions of increasing responsibility at Humana (NYSE: HUM) within the corporate integration/M&A group. Mr. Imam also worked in the corporate finance and strategy division of Orion Health.
Mr. Imam’s legal career began in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, and other transactional work. Mr. Imam then went on to represent clients in civil matters such as contract, property, and family disputes, followed by practice in the areas of corporate restructuring, divestitures, and insolvency within the life sciences sector at an international law firm. Throughout his career, Mr. Imam has and continues to counsel individuals, small businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and growing companies, through private advisement.
Mr. Imam holds an A.B. in Politics from Princeton University, a J.D. from the New York University School of Law and an MBA in Finance from the New York University Stern School of Business.
Governance of Lisata Therapeutics, Inc.
Director Independence
The current Lisata Board members consist of Dr. Brown, Dr. Azab, Ms. Flowers, Ms. Henson, Mr. Klosk and Dr. Mazzo. The Lisata Board has reviewed the materiality of any relationship that each of our directors has with Lisata, either directly or indirectly. Based upon this review, the Lisata Board has determined that Dr. Brown, Dr. Azab, Ms. Flowers, Ms. Henson and Mr. Klosk are “independent directors” applying the definition of independence under the listing standards of Nasdaq.
Board Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight
Dr. Brown serves as the Chairman of the Board. When present, our Chairman presides over all Lisata Board meetings. Dr. Brown coordinates with our Chief Executive Officer to set the agenda for Lisata Board meetings, chairs executive sessions of the independent directors, and performs any other duties assigned from time to time by the Lisata Board. We believe that the separation of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer roles at Lisata enhances good corporate governance principles through reduction of conflicts of interest and greater board independence.
The Lisata Board oversees our risk management. This oversight is administered primarily through the following:
•The Lisata Board’s review and approval of our business plans and budget (prepared and presented to the Lisata Board by the President and Chief Executive Officer and other management), including the projected opportunities and challenges facing our business;
•At least quarterly review of our business developments, business plan implementation and financial results;
•Our Audit Committee’s oversight of our internal control over cybersecurity and financial reporting and its discussions with management and the independent accountants regarding the quality and adequacy of our internal controls and financial reporting; and
•Our Compensation Committee’s review and approval of our executive officer compensation and its relationship to our business plans.
Insider Trading Policy and Prohibition on Hedging
We have an Insider Trading Policy that, among other things, governs the buying and selling of our securities by all of our personnel, including directors, officers and employees and certain other covered persons. Our policy is designed to prevent violations of insider trading laws by our personnel and to avoid even the appearance of improper conduct in this regard by our personnel. The policy prohibits covered persons from purchasing, selling, or otherwise disposing of our securities while in possession of material non-public information (except in limited circumstances, such as pursuant to a previously established trading plan). In addition, the policy prohibits all employees (including executives and directors) from engaging in any transaction in which they may profit from short-term speculative swings in the value of our securities, including any of the following activities: (1) “short sales” (selling borrowed securities that the seller hopes can be purchased at a lower price in the future) of our securities; (2) use of our securities to secure a margin or other loan; (3) transactions in our securities involving straddles, collars or other similar risk reduction or hedging devices; and (4) transactions in publicly traded options relating to
our securities (i.e., options that are not granted by us). The policy includes quarterly and other trading blackouts and sets forth the procedures covered persons must follow before transacting in our securities, including pre-clearance by our Senior Vice President, Business Development and Operations, and General Counsel of all transactions by executive officers, directors, employees and certain other covered persons, as well as members of their households. Although we have not adopted an insider trading policy governing the purchase, sale, and/or other disposition of our securities by the Company, as part of the oversight of risk, the Board, or one or more of its Committees, approves any transaction, plan or arrangement by or with the Company with respect to our securities on a case-by-case basis, and as part of their procedures to review and approve any such transaction, plan or arrangement, the Board or Committee consults with legal counsel to ensure compliance with applicable insider trading laws, rules and regulations, and listing standards. A copy of the policy is filed as an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 as filed with the SEC .
Committees
The Lisata Board has established (i) an Audit Committee, (ii) a Compensation Committee and (iii) a Nominating and Governance Committee. Each of these Committees has only independent directors as members. In addition, the Lisata Board has established a Science and Technology Committee for which it has not imposed any membership rules regarding director independence, and which committee assists with reviewing development and regulatory strategy, R&D staffing and budgets, and recommendations regarding business development opportunities.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee consists of three directors: Ms. Henson (Chair), Ms. Flowers and Mr. Klosk. Each member of the committee is independent applying the definition of independence under the listing standards of Nasdaq and SEC regulations. The Audit Committee met four times during the year. Ms. Henson, Ms. Flowers and Mr. Klosk each qualify as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K.
Pursuant to the terms of the Audit Committee charter, the Audit Committee is required to consist of at least three “independent” directors and shall serve at the pleasure of the Lisata Board. An “independent” director is defined as an individual who (a) is not our officer or salaried employee or an affiliate, (b) does not have any relationship that, in the opinion of the Lisata Board, would interfere with his or her exercise of independent judgment as an Audit Committee member, (c) meets the independence requirements of the SEC and Nasdaq or such other securities exchange or market on which our securities are traded and (d) except as permitted by the SEC and Nasdaq or such other securities exchange or market on which our securities are traded, does not accept any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from us. The Audit Committee’s charter requires the committee to oversee our accounting and financial reporting process, our system of internal controls regarding cybersecurity, finance, accounting, legal compliance and ethics, and the audits of our financial statements. A current copy of such charter is available to stockholders on our website, www.lisata.com. The primary duties of the Audit Committee consist of, among other things:
•serving as an independent and objective party to monitor our financial reporting process, internal control system, cybersecurity policy and disclosure control system;
•reviewing and appraising the audit efforts of our independent accountants;
•assuming direct responsibility for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the outside auditors and for the resolution of disputes between the outside auditors and our management regarding financial reporting issues;
•providing an open avenue of communication among the independent accountants, financial and senior management and the Lisata Board; and
•reviewing and approving all related party transactions.
Statement of Audit Committee
The Audit Committee of the Lisata Board offers this statement regarding Lisata's audited consolidated financial statements contained in our 2024 Form 10-K, which was filed on February 27, 2025 and regarding certain matters with respect to Grant Thornton LLP, Lisata's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. This statement shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any filing with the SEC by Lisata, except to the extent that Lisata specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed to be filed with the SEC.
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 with management. The Audit Committee has discussed with Lisata's independent registered public
accounting firm the matters required to be discussed under the provisions of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) Auditing Standard No. 16 (Communication with Audit Committees). The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from Lisata's independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm their independence with respect to the Lisata Board. Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to Lisata's Board that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in our 2024 Form 10-K for filing with the SEC.
Members of the Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. Audit Committee
Heidi Henson
Cynthia L. Flowers
Steven M. Klosk
Compensation Committee
Our Compensation Committee consists of three directors: Mr. Klosk (Chair), Dr. Brown and Ms. Henson. Each such member of the Compensation Committee is independent applying the definition of independence under the listing standards of Nasdaq. The Compensation Committee met five times during the year.
Each member of our Compensation Committee must (i) be one of our independent directors satisfying the independence requirements of Nasdaq and other applicable regulatory requirements; (ii) qualify as an “outside director” under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”) and (iii) meet the requirements of a “non-employee director” for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Except as permitted by Nasdaq, members of the Compensation Committee must not accept any consulting, advisory or the other compensatory fee from us or any of our subsidiaries. In determining whether a director is eligible to serve on the Compensation Committee, the Lisata Board must consider whether the director is affiliated with us, one of our subsidiaries or an affiliate of one of our subsidiaries to determine whether such affiliation would impair the director’s judgment as a member of the Compensation Committee.
The Compensation Committee oversees the determination of all matters relating to employee compensation and benefits and specifically determines and approves salaries, bonuses and equity-based compensation for our executive officers.
We have adopted a Compensation Committee charter which outlines the Compensation Committee’s primary duties which are to:
•evaluate the performance of the President and Chief Executive Officer considering, inter alia, achievement of committee-approved goals and objectives and determine and approve the President and Chief Executive Officer’s compensation based on this evaluation and such other factors as the Compensation Committee shall deem appropriate;
•determine and approve all executive officer compensation;
•approve the aggregate amounts and methodology for determination of all salary, bonus, and long-term incentive awards for all employees other than executive officers;
•review and recommend equity-based compensation plans to the full Board and approve all grants and awards thereunder;
•review and approve changes to our equity-based compensation plans other than those changes that require stockholder approval under the plans, the requirements of Nasdaq or any exchange on which our securities may be listed and/or any applicable law;
•review and recommend to the full Board changes to our equity-based compensation plans that require stockholder approval under the plans, the requirements of Nasdaq or any exchange on which our securities may be listed and/or any applicable law;
•review and approve changes in our retirement, health, welfare and other benefit programs that result in a material change in costs or the benefit levels provided;
•administer our equity-based compensation plans; and
•approve, as required by applicable law, the annual Compensation Committee report on executive compensation for inclusion in our proxy statement.
The Compensation Committee has the authority, in its sole discretion, to retain or obtain advice from compensation consultants, independent legal counsel and other advisers, and is directly responsible for the retention, termination, compensation and oversight of the work of any such consultant, counsel or other adviser. In selecting a consultant, counsel or other adviser, the Compensation Committee must, as required by Nasdaq rules, take into consideration all factors relevant to such person’s independence from management, including all factors that Nasdaq identifies in its listing standards.
Since March 2015, the Compensation Committee has engaged the services of Radford/AON (“Radford”), a national executive compensation consulting firm with expertise in the life science industry to review and provide recommendations concerning all of the components of Lisata's executive and director compensation program. Radford performs services solely on behalf of the Compensation Committee and has no relationship with the Company or management except as may relate to performing such services. Radford assisted the Compensation Committee in defining the appropriate market of the Company’s peer companies for executive compensation and practices and in benchmarking our executive compensation program against the peer group for 2024 and in years past compensation actions. Radford also assisted the Compensation Committee in
benchmarking our director compensation program and practices against those of our peers. The Compensation Committee has assessed the independence of Radford pursuant to SEC rules and the corporate governance rules of Nasdaq and concluded that no conflict of interest exists that would prevent Radford from independently representing the Compensation Committee.
A current copy of the Compensation Committee charter is available to stockholders on our website, www.lisata.com. The Compensation Committee may form and delegate its authority to subcommittees as appropriate. Additionally, the President and Chief Executive Officer may make recommendations to the Compensation Committee relating to executive and director compensation, but consistent with Nasdaq rules, he may not be present during deliberations or voting regarding his own compensation.
Nominating and Governance Committee
Our Nominating and Governance Committee consists of three directors: Dr. Gregory Brown (Chair), Dr. Azab and Ms. Flowers. The Nominating and Governance Committee is empowered by the Lisata Board to recommend to the Lisata Board qualified individuals to serve on the Lisata Board and to identify the manner in which the Nominating and Governance Committee evaluates nominees recommended for the Lisata Board. All members of the Nominating and Governance Committee have been determined to be “independent directors” pursuant to the definition contained in the rules of Nasdaq and SEC regulations. The Nominating and Governance Committee met four times during the year.
The Lisata Board has adopted a Nominating and Governance Committee charter to govern the Nominating and Governance Committee, a current copy of which is available to stockholders on our website, www.lisata.com.
Additional Board Committee
The Lisata Board also maintains the following additional committee:
Science and Technology Committee
The Science and Technology Committee consists of Drs. Azab (Chairman), Brown, and Mazzo. This committee is authorized to review the science, clinical and regulatory strategy underlying Lisata's research and development programs, as well as associated staffing and budgets. It also reviews the interactions of the research and development organization with health care providers and regulatory bodies. The Science and Technology Committee met three times during the year.
Qualifications for Board Membership
The Nominating and Governance Committee Charter mandates that the Committee consider and recruit qualified candidates in consultation with the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer and affords the Committee the flexibility to determine the desired qualifications, expertise and characteristics most suited to the needs of the Lisata Board at any given time.
Diversity Considerations in Director Nominations
We do not have a formal diversity policy. We believe the Lisata Board represents a collection of individuals with a variety of complementary skills which, as a group, constitute the appropriate skills and experience to oversee Lisata's business. Our directors come from diverse backgrounds, including medicine, private equity, and management of pharmaceutical and healthcare-related companies. In accordance with the mission set out in its charter, our Nominating and Governance Committee considers a wide variety of qualifications, attributes and other factors and recognizes that a diversity of viewpoints and practical experiences can enhance the effectiveness of the Lisata Board. As part of its evaluation of each candidate, our Nominating and Governance Committee takes into account how that candidate’s background, experience, qualifications, attributes and skills may complement, supplement or duplicate those of other directors or prospective candidates.
The Board Diversity Matrix, below, provides the diversity statistics for the Board.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Board Diversity Matrix for Lisata As of April 25, 2025 |
| Total Number of Directors | 6 |
| | Female | Male | Non-Binary | Did Not Disclose Gender |
| Part I: Gender Identity | | | | |
| Directors | 2 | 4 | | |
| Part II: Demographic Background | | | | |
| African American or Black | | | | |
| Alaskan Native or Native American | | | | |
| Asian | | | | |
| Hispanic or Latinx | | | | |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | | | | |
| White (other than Middle Eastern) | 2 | 3 | | |
| White (Middle Eastern) | | 1 | | |
| Two or More Races or Ethnicities | | | | |
| LGBTQ+ | |
| Did Not Disclose Demographic Background | |
Nominating and Governance Committee Procedures
The Lisata Board generally believes that we are well-served by our current directors. In the ordinary course, absent special circumstances or a material change in the criteria for Board membership, the Lisata Board will re-nominate incumbent directors who continue to be qualified for Board service and are willing to continue as directors. If an incumbent director is not standing for re-election or is not re-nominated if a vacancy on the Lisata Board occurs between annual stockholder meetings or if the Lisata Board believes it is in our best interests to expand its size, the Lisata Board may seek out potential candidates for Lisata Board appointment who meet the criteria for selection as a nominee and have the specific qualities or skills being sought. Nominees for director must be discussed by the full Board and approved for nomination by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Lisata Board, including the affirmative vote of a majority of the independent directors.
The Nominating and Governance Committee assists the Lisata Board by identifying qualified candidates for director and recommends to the Lisata Board the director nominees for the annual meeting of stockholders. The Lisata Board will conduct a process of making a preliminary assessment of each proposed nominee based upon the nominee’s resume and biographical information, an indication of the individual’s willingness to serve and other background information. This information is evaluated against specific needs at that time. Based upon a preliminary assessment of the candidate(s), those who appear best suited to meet our needs may be invited to participate in a series of interviews, which are used as a further means of evaluating potential candidates. Based on information learned during this process, the Lisata Board will determine which nominee(s) to include in the slate of candidates that the Lisata Board recommends for election at each annual meeting of our stockholders.
Procedures for Considering Nominations Made by Stockholders
The procedures for stockholders submitting nominating recommendations described in our By-laws detail the procedures for nominations to be submitted by stockholders, other than candidates who have previously served on the Lisata Board or who are recommended by the Lisata Board. Our By-laws state that: “For any nomination or other business proposal to be properly brought before an Annual Meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of Article I, Section 1.10(A)(1) of these By-laws, the stockholder must (i) have given Timely Notice (as defined below) thereof in writing to the Assistant Corporate Secretary of the Corporation, (ii) have provided any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by these By-laws and, (iii) together with the beneficial owner(s), if any, on whose behalf the nomination or other business proposal is made, have acted in accordance with the representations set forth in the Solicitation Statement (as defined below) required by these By-laws. To be timely, a stockholder’s written notice shall be received by the Assistant Corporate Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred fiftieth (150th) day prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s Annual Meeting date; provided that, in the event the Annual Meeting is first convened more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s Annual Meeting
date, or if no Annual Meeting was held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be received by the Assistant Corporate Secretary of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to the scheduled date of such Annual Meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made (such notice within such time periods shall be referred to as “Timely Notice”).”
There will be no differences in the manner in which the Lisata Board evaluates nominees recommended by stockholders and nominees recommended by the Lisata Board or management, except that no specific process shall be mandated with respect to the nomination of any individuals who have previously served on the Lisata Board.
Stockholder Communications
The Lisata Board has established a procedure that enables stockholders to communicate in writing with members of the Lisata Board. Any such communication should be addressed to our Assistant Corporate Secretary and should be sent to such individual c/o Lisata Therapeutics, Inc., 110 Allen Road, 2nd Floor, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920. Any such communication must state, in a conspicuous manner, that it is intended for distribution to the entire Board. Under the procedures established by the Lisata Board, upon our Assistant Corporate Secretary’s receipt of such a communication, a copy of such communication will be sent to each member of the Lisata Board, identifying it as a communication received from a stockholder. Absent unusual circumstances, at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Lisata Board held more than two days after such communication has been distributed, the Lisata Board will consider the substance of any such communication.
Board and Committee Meeting Attendance
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Lisata Board held five meetings, the Audit Committee held four meetings, the Compensation Committee held five meetings, the Nominating and Governance Committee held four meetings and the Science and Technology Committee held three meetings. The Lisata Board took additional actions by written consent. Each director attended (or participated by telephone) in 100% of the total number of meetings of the Lisata Board and committees on which he or she served, with the exception of one Audit Committee meeting and one Nominating and Governance meeting for which one member was absent.
Director Attendance at Annual Stockholder Meetings
We do not have a formal policy regarding attendance by directors at our annual meetings of stockholders but invite and encourage all directors to attend. We make every effort to schedule our annual meeting of stockholders at a time and date to permit attendance by directors, taking into account the directors’ schedules and the timing requirements of applicable law. We have converted to a virtual meeting format for our annual meeting, which we have found it to be beneficial in that it allows more stockholders the possibility of participating and, thus, allowing us to reach a greater number of our stockholders. All then-current Board members attended the Company's virtual annual meeting in 2024.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees, except to our President and Chief Executive Officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller, or persons performing similar functions, who are subject to a separate code of ethics. Both codes of ethics are available on our website, www.lisata.com.
PROPOSAL NO. 2: THE AMENDMENT TO THE 2017 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
THE LISATA BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE 2017 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN.
The Lisata Board has unanimously approved the amendment (subject to stockholder approval at the Annual Meeting) of the Lisata 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2017 ESPP”) to increase the number of shares thereunder.
At the Annual Meeting, you are being asked to approve the amendment to the 2017 ESPP to increase the aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the 2017 ESPP from 113,333 shares to 158,333 shares of common stock.
The following is a summary of the 2017 ESPP. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2017 ESPP, as amended which is attached as Appendix A to this proxy statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
Summary of Material Features of the Plan
Purpose. The purpose of the 2017 ESPP is to provide eligible employees of Lisata and of subsidiaries designated by the Lisata Board with an opportunity to continue to purchase shares of our common stock as they have been doing through accumulated payroll deductions pursuant to the 2012 ESPP. By encouraging and facilitating stock ownership, Lisata seeks to attract, retain and motivate employees and to encourage them to devote their best efforts to the business and financial success of Lisata, thereby aligning the interests of such employees with those of stockholders generally. The 2017 ESPP is the simplest manner by which management can purchase stock in the Company without risk of doing so when in possession of material non-public information.
Plan Periods; Investment Limitations. The 2017 ESPP permits eligible employees to continue to purchase our common stock through payroll deductions during consecutive semi-annual offerings, which began on January 1, 2017 (each six-month offering period, an “Offering Period”). Employee purchases are made on a semi-annual basis on the last trading day of each Offering Period (the last trading day of each Offering Period being referred to as an “Exercise Date”). Employees who participate in the 2017 ESPP authorize Lisata to withhold from each paycheck during the relevant Offering Period a specific whole percentage of their “Compensation” (as defined in the 2017 ESPP) subject to the following limitations: (i) no more than 15% of the Compensation that an employee receives on each payday during the Offering Period may be withheld; and (ii) no more than $25,000 may be invested by any participant in any calendar year. To make an election to participate in the 2017 ESPP, an employee completes a “Subscription Agreement” authorizing payroll deductions and files it with Lisata's payroll office prior to the applicable Enrollment Date (as hereinafter defined).
Lisata utilizes participants’ accumulated payroll deductions to purchase full shares of our common stock at the purchase price determined in accordance with the formula described below, subject to certain purchase limitations. No fractional shares can be purchased; any payroll deductions accumulated in a participant’s account which are not sufficient to purchase a full share are retained in the participant’s “account” under the 2017 ESPP for the subsequent Offering Period, subject to earlier withdrawal by the participant as provided in the 2017 ESPP. Accumulated payroll deductions are commingled with general assets of Lisata and do not accrue interest.
Eligibility. In order to be eligible to participate in the 2017 ESPP for any Offering Period, an individual (i) must have been employed on a full-time basis during the 90 days preceding, and on, the first trading day of the relevant Offering Period (each such day at the commencement of an Offering Period, an “Enrollment Date”) by Lisata or a subsidiary of Lisata that has been authorized to participate in the 2017 ESPP by the Lisata Board, the Compensation Committee of the Lisata Board or such other Committee designated by the Board to administer the 2017 ESPP (the “Committee”) and (ii) must not own five percent or more of Lisata's voting stock. For purposes of the 2017 ESPP, a participant is deemed to be employed on a full-time basis if he or she works more than 20 hours per week.
Purchase Price; Payment. Each participant in the 2017 ESPP is granted an option, effective as of the Enrollment Date of an Offering Period, to purchase on the Exercise Date during such Offering Period up to a number of shares of our common stock determined by dividing such participant’s payroll deductions accumulated as of the Exercise Date by the applicable ESPP Purchase Price (as hereinafter defined). For any Offering Period, shares of our common stock are purchased under the 2017 ESPP on the Exercise Date at a per share purchase price equal to (i) 85% of the closing price of a share of our common stock on the Enrollment Date of such Offering Period or (ii) 85% of the closing price of a share of our common stock on the Exercise Date of such Offering Period, whichever is lower (the “ESPP Purchase Price”); provided, however, that in the event the Lisata Board determines that the ongoing operation of the 2017 ESPP may result in unfavorable financial accounting consequences, the Lisata Board may, in its discretion and, to the extent necessary or desirable, modify or amend the 2017 ESPP to reduce or
eliminate such accounting consequence including but not limited to altering the ESPP Purchase Price for any Offering Period including an Offering Period underway at the time of the change in ESPP Purchase Price.
Shares purchased under the 2017 ESPP are credited to and held under a stock purchase account in the participant’s name maintained by a brokerage firm or other third-party designated by the Committee. Subject to such rules and procedures as may be prescribed by the Committee, a participant may withdraw shares in his or her stock purchase account from time to time. Cash dividends, if any, paid with respect to shares of our common stock credited to a participant’s stock purchase account, will be paid directly to the participant once each quarter. A participant may elect to have such cash dividends, if any, reinvested in shares of our common stock. Such shares shall be purchased on the open market by a brokerage firm on the behalf of the participant, subject to applicable Lisata policies. Any shares purchased with dividend proceeds will not count in determining the maximum number of shares available for issuance under the 2017 ESPP, nor will such shares count against the maximum number of shares that may be purchased by a participant on any Exercise Date.
Withdrawals; Increases and Reductions. A participant who has enrolled in the 2017 ESPP for any Offering Period may withdraw from the 2017 ESPP by delivering a withdrawal notice form in the manner prescribed by the Committee. All the participant’s accumulated payroll deductions shall be paid to such participant promptly after receipt of notice of withdrawal and such participant’s option for the Offering Period shall be automatically terminated, and no further payroll deductions for the purchase of shares shall be made for such Offering Period by such participant. If a participant withdraws from an Offering Period, payroll deductions shall not resume at the beginning of the succeeding Offering Period unless the participant delivers to Lisata a new Subscription Agreement providing notice of the participant’s desire to recommence participation and authorizing payroll deductions. Upon a participant’s ceasing to be an employee, for any reason, he or she shall be deemed to have elected to withdraw from the 2017 ESPP and the payroll deductions accumulated by such participant during the Offering Period but not yet used to exercise the participant’s option shall be returned to such participant or, in the case of his or her death, to the beneficiary designated by the participant (or if none, to the participant’s estate), and such participant’s option shall be automatically terminated.
A participant may increase or decrease the rate of his or her payroll deductions during the Offering Period by completing and filing with Lisata a new Subscription Agreement authorizing a change in payroll deduction rate. The Committee may, in its discretion, limit the number of participation rate changes during any Offering Period. The change in rate shall be effective with the first full payroll period following five business days after Lisata's receipt of the new Subscription Agreement. A participant’s Subscription Agreement shall remain in effect for successive Offering Periods unless a new Subscription Agreement is filed by the participant prior to the commencement of such Offering Period or the then existing Subscription Agreement is terminated as described in the preceding paragraph.
Shares Covered by the Plan. If the amendment is approved by the stockholders, a total of 88,121 shares of our common stock (subject to adjustment for stock splits, reverse stock splits, stock dividends, combinations or reclassifications of the common stock, or similar occurrences) may be purchased pursuant to the 2017 ESPP.
Certain Corporate Events and Transactions. Unless provided otherwise by the Lisata Board, in the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of Lisata, the Offering Period then in progress shall terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed dissolution or liquidation and a cash amount shall be paid to each participant that is equal to the amount of his or her accrued but unused payroll deductions. In the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Lisata, or the merger of Lisata with or into another corporation, each outstanding option under the 2017 ESPP shall be assumed or an equivalent option substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation. In the event that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the option, the Lisata Board may terminate any Offering Period then in progress by setting a new Exercise Date (the “New Exercise Date”). The New Exercise Date shall be before the date of Lisata's proposed sale or merger. The Lisata Board shall notify each participant in writing, at least ten business days prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the participant’s option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that the participant’s option shall be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period pursuant to the 2017 ESPP.
Administration. The 2017 ESPP is administered by the Compensation Committee. The Committee has full and exclusive discretionary authority to construe, interpret and apply the terms of the 2017 ESPP, to determine eligibility and to adjudicate all disputed claims filed under the 2017 ESPP. Every finding, decision and determination made by the Committee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be final and binding upon all parties.
Amendment or Termination. The Lisata Board may at any time and for any reason terminate or amend the 2017 ESPP. Except as described above under the caption “Certain Corporate Events and Transactions,” no such termination can affect options previously granted, provided that an Offering Period may be terminated by the Lisata Board on any Exercise Date if the Lisata Board determines that the termination of the Offering Period or the 2017 ESPP is in the best interests of Lisata and its stockholders. Except as provided under the caption “Certain Corporate Events and Transactions” and in this paragraph, no
amendment may make any change in any option theretofore granted which adversely affects the rights of any participant. Without stockholder consent and without regard to whether any participant rights may be considered to have been “adversely affected,” the Lisata Board (or the Committee) shall be entitled to change the Offering Periods, limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during an Offering Period, establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars, permit payroll withholding in excess of the amount designated by a participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in Lisata's processing of properly completed withholding elections, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of common stock for each participant properly correspond with amounts withheld from the participant’s Compensation, and establish such other limitations or procedures as the Lisata Board (or its Committee) determines in its sole discretion advisable which are consistent with the 2017 ESPP. In the event the Lisata Board determines that the ongoing operation of the 2017 ESPP may result in unfavorable financial accounting consequences, the Lisata Board may, in its discretion and, to the extent necessary or desirable, modify or amend the 2017 ESPP to reduce or eliminate such accounting consequence including, but not limited to (i) altering the ESPP Purchase Price for any Offering Period including an Offering Period underway at the time of the change in ESPP Purchase Price; (ii) shortening any Offering Period so that Offering Period ends on a new Exercise Date, including an Offering Period underway at the time of the Lisata Board action; and (iii) allocating shares. Such modifications or amendments shall not require stockholder approval or the consent of any plan participants.
Transferability. Neither payroll deductions accumulated by a participant nor any rights with regard to the exercise of a 2017 ESPP option or the receipt of shares under the 2017 ESPP may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution or through the designation of a beneficiary as permitted by the 2017 ESPP) by a participant. Any such attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition shall be without effect, except that Lisata may treat such act as an election to withdraw funds from an Offering Period.
No Employment Rights; Data Privacy; Claims. The 2017 ESPP does not create any right to continued employment and shall not be deemed to interfere with Lisata's right to terminate or otherwise modify an employee’s employment at any time. The 2017 ESPP adds provisions that are intended to enable Lisata to better comply with applicable data privacy laws affecting participants, and to be promptly alerted to any claims through imposition of a 45-day period within which they must be brought to Lisata's attention.
Federal Income Tax Consequences. The 2017 ESPP is intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan,” as defined in Section 423 of the Code. Under such a plan, an employee does not realize income at the time of entry into the 2017 ESPP or upon the purchase of shares of our common stock. If no disposition of the common stock is made within two years from the first day of the Offering Period during which the shares were purchased and one year from the date the share is purchased by the employee under the 2017 ESPP, upon subsequent disposition of the stock, the employee will realize ordinary income equal to the lesser of (a) the excess of the fair market value of the stock at the time of disposition over the purchase price or (b) the excess of the fair market value of the stock at the time the option was granted over the exercise price. Any excess of appreciated value is considered a capital gain. In order to qualify for capital gains tax treatment, the employee must hold the stock to a date that is more than two years from the first day of the Offering Period during which the shares were purchased and one year from the date of purchase. If these holding requirements are met, Lisata is not entitled to any deduction for tax purposes. On the other hand, if the employee does not meet the holding period requirements, the employee realizes at the time of disposition ordinary income to the extent of the difference between the price paid for the shares and the fair market value on the purchase date, irrespective of the price at which the employee disposes of the shares, and an amount equal to such ordinary income is deductible by Lisata in the year of the disposition.
Directors who are not employees will not be eligible to participate in the 2017 ESPP. The benefits that are received under the 2017 ESPP by our current executive officers and by all eligible employees are not currently determinable. Lisata estimates that approximately 26 employees of Lisata and its subsidiaries are eligible to participate upon commencement of the first Offering Period in 2025 of the 2017 ESPP. On April 25, 2025, the closing sale price of a share of our Common Stock on Nasdaq was $2.53.
Plan Benefits
Since the adoption of the 2017 ESPP through April 25, 2025, we have granted equity awards under the 2017 ESPP to the individuals and groups listed below. In all cases, the securities underlying such equity awards were shares of our common stock.
| | | | | |
Name and Position | Number of shares subject to equity awards |
Named Executive Officers: | |
David J. Mazzo, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer* | 22,291 | |
Kristen K. Buck, M.D. Executive Vice President of Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer | — | |
James Nisco, Senior Vice President, Finance and Treasury and Chief Accounting Officer | — | |
Tariq Imam, Senior Vice President, Business Development and Operations and General Counsel | — | |
All Named Executive Officers as a group | 22,291 | |
All employees who are not executive officers as a group | 47,921 | |
*Dr. Mazzo has received greater than 5% of the total awards granted to date under the 2017 ESPP.
| |
The amounts of future grants under the 2017 ESPP are not determinable and will be granted at the sole discretion of the Lisata Board or committee or other delegated persons. We cannot determine at this time either the persons who will receive such awards under the 2017 ESPP or the amount or types of any such awards.
On April 25, 2025, the closing market price per share of our common stock was $2.53, as reported by Nasdaq.
Required Vote; Recommendation of the Lisata Board
Approval of the amendment to the 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the stock present in person or represented by proxy entitled to vote and voting on the 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan Proposal.
THE LISATA BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE AMENDMENT TO OUR 2017 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN.
PROPOSAL NO. 3: THE RATIFICATION OF AUDITORS
THE LISATA BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" THE RE-APPOINTMENT OF GRANT THORNTON LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.
Re-Appointment of Grant Thornton LLP
Grant Thornton LLP currently serves as our independent registered public accounting firm and has audited our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024. Grant Thornton LLP was initially appointed as our independent registered public accounting firm in 2011.
Grant Thornton LLP has again been appointed by the Audit Committee of the Lisata Board (the “Audit Committee”) to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. The Lisata Board is submitting this appointment to our stockholders for ratification at the Annual Meeting.
Representatives of Grant Thornton LLP at Annual Meeting
Representatives of Grant Thornton LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting to have an opportunity to make a statement, if they desire to do so, and to be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Accounting Fees and Other Accounting Matters
Grant Thornton LLP was engaged to serve as Lisata's independent registered public accounting firm in 2024 and 2023 and accordingly, audited Lisata's financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. The following table sets forth a summary of the fees billed or expected to be billed to us by Grant Thornton LLP for professional services rendered for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Fee Category | Fiscal 2024 Fees | | Fiscal 2023 Fees |
Audit Fees(1) | $ | 483,000 | | | $ | 420,076 | |
Audit-Related Fees(2) | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
Tax Fees(3) | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
All Other Fees(4) | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
Total Fees | $ | 483,000 | | | $ | 420,076 | |
_______________
(1)Audit Fees consist of aggregate fees billed or expected to be billed for professional services rendered for the audit of Lisata's annual consolidated financial statements included in our 2024 Form 10-K and review of the interim consolidated financial statements included in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or services that are normally provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
(2)Audit-Related Fees consist of aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of Lisata's consolidated financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees.”
(3)Tax Fees consist of aggregate fees billed or expected to be billed for professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. These fees related to preparation of Lisata's federal and state income tax returns and other tax compliance activities.
(4)All Other Fees consist of aggregate fees billed for products and services provided by Grant Thornton (as applicable), other than those disclosed above.
The Audit Committee is responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm and approves in advance any services to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm, whether audit-related or not. The Audit Committee reviews each proposed engagement to determine whether the provision of services is compatible with maintaining the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm. All of the fees shown above were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
Required Vote; Recommendation of the Lisata Board
Approval of the Auditor Ratification Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the stock present at the virtual meeting or represented by proxy entitled to vote and voting on the Auditor Ratification Proposal.
THE LISATA BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE RE-APPOINTMENT OF GRANT THORNTON LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.
PROPOSAL NO. 4: THE NON-BINDING, ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
THE LISATA BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" THE NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
Background of the Proposal
Under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) and Section 14A of the Exchange Act, our stockholders are entitled to vote to approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the compensation of our President and Chief Executive Officer and our other Named Executive Officers (as defined below) as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with the SEC rules.
Executive Compensation
We believe that our executive compensation programs, which are reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee and reviewed by Radford, our compensation consultants, are designed to retain and incentivize the talented executives whose efforts are key to our long-term success. Stockholders are encouraged to review carefully the “Executive Compensation” section of this proxy statement for additional details about Lisata's executive compensation, including information about the fiscal year 2024 compensation of our Named Executive Officers.
We are asking our stockholders to indicate their support for our Named Executive Officer compensation as described in this proxy statement. This proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal, gives our stockholders the opportunity to express their views on our Named Executive Officers’ compensation. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our Named Executive Officers as described in this proxy statement. Accordingly, we are asking our stockholders to cast a non-binding advisory vote “FOR” the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:
“RESOLVED, that the compensation of Lisata's Named Executive Officers, as disclosed in Lisata's proxy statement for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, is hereby APPROVED.”
Required Vote; Recommendation of the Lisata Board
Approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the stock present at the virtual meeting or represented by proxy entitled to vote and voting on the proposal.
The say-on-pay vote is advisory, and therefore not binding on Lisata, the Compensation Committee or the Lisata Board. Nevertheless, the Lisata Board and our Compensation Committee value the opinions of our stockholders, whether expressed through this vote or otherwise, and, accordingly, the Lisata Board and Compensation Committee intend to consider the results of this vote in making determinations in the future regarding executive compensation arrangements.
THE LISATA BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
PROPOSAL NO. 5: THE NON-BINDING, ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF HOLDING STOCKHOLDER ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
THE LISATA BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE OPTION OF “EVERY YEAR” ON THIS PROPOSAL 5.
Background of the Proposal
The Dodd-Frank Act and Section 14A of the Exchange Act enable our stockholders to indicate their preference regarding how frequently we should seek non-binding advisory votes on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers: once every one, two, or three years. Alternatively, stockholders may abstain from casting a vote.
Recommended Frequency of Advisory Vote on Compensation
After careful consideration of this proposal, the Lisata Board has determined that an advisory vote on executive compensation that occurs every year is the most appropriate alternative for Lisata, and therefore the Lisata Board recommends that you vote for a one-year interval for the stockholder advisory votes on executive compensation.
In formulating its recommendation, the Lisata Board considered that an annual advisory vote on executive compensation will allow our stockholders to provide us with their direct input on our compensation programs as disclosed in our proxy statements every year. Setting a one year period for holding this stockholder vote will enhance stockholder communication by providing a clear, simple means for the Lisata Board and Compensation Committee to obtain more current information on investor sentiment about our executive compensation philosophy.
Effect
While the Lisata Board believes that its recommendation is appropriate at this time, stockholders are not voting to approve or disapprove that recommendation, but are instead asked to indicate their preference, on an advisory basis, as to whether the non-binding stockholder advisory votes on the approval of our named executive officer compensation practices should be held every year, every two years or every three years. The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares voted for this proposal — every year, every two years or every three years — will be the frequency approved, on an advisory basis, by our stockholders. The Lisata Board and the Compensation Committee value the opinions of our stockholders in this matter and, to the extent there is any significant vote in favor of one frequency over the other options, even if less than a majority of the votes cast support such frequency, the Lisata Board will consider our stockholders' concerns and evaluate any appropriate next steps. However, because this vote is advisory and not binding on the Lisata Board or Lisata in any way, the Lisata Board may decide that it is in the best interests of our stockholders and Lisata to hold stockholder advisory votes on executive compensation more or less frequently than the option approved by our stockholders.
THE LISATA BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE OPTION OF “EVERY YEAR” ON THIS PROPOSAL 5.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
The tables below provide information regarding the beneficial ownership of Lisata's common stock as of April 17, 2025 by: (i) each of Lisata's directors; (ii) Lisata's Named Executive Officers; (iii) all of Lisata's current directors and executive officers as a group; and (iv) each beneficial owner of more than five percent of Lisata's common stock.
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with SEC rules and regulations, and generally includes voting power or investment power with respect to securities held. Unless otherwise indicated and subject to applicable community property laws, we believe that each of the Lisata stockholders named in the table below has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares shown as beneficially owned. Securities that may be beneficially acquired within 60 days after April 17, 2025 are deemed to be beneficially owned by the person holding such securities for the purpose of computing the ownership of such person, but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the ownership of any other person.
The tables below list the number and percentage of shares beneficially owned based on 8,615,655 shares of Lisata common stock outstanding as of April 17, 2025. Unless otherwise indicated below, the address for each beneficial owner listed is c/o Lisata Therapeutics, Inc., 110 Allen Road, 2nd Floor, Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920.
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Name of Beneficial Owner | Total Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned (#) | | Percentage |
5%+ Stockholders: | | | |
Erkki Ruoslahti, M.D., Ph.D | 1,267,798 | | (1) | 14.4% |
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Directors and Named Executive Officers: | | | |
David J. Mazzo, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer | 359,749 | | (2) | 4.1% |
Kristen K. Buck, M.D., Executive Vice President of Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer | 174,821 | | (3) | 2.0% |
James Nisco, Senior Vice President, Finance and Treasury and Chief Accounting Officer | 32,532 | | (4) | * |
Tariq Imam, Senior Vice President, Business Development and Operations and General Counsel | 32,769 | | (5) | * |
Gregory B. Brown, M.D., Chairman of the Board | 49,873 | | (6) | * |
Cynthia L. Flowers, M.B.A., Director | 49,201 | | (7) | * |
Steven M. Klosk, J.D., Director | 49,936 | | (8) | * |
Heidi Henson, Director | 71,508 | | (9) | * |
Mohammad Azab, M.D., M.B.A., Director | 52,280 | | (10) | * |
All directors and executive officers as a group (nine individuals) | 872,669 | | (11) | 9.6% |
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* Beneficial ownership is less than 1%
(1)Includes options to purchase up to 164,798 shares of our common stock which are exercisable within 60 days of April 17, 2025. This information was provided to the Company by Dr. Ruoslahti on March 14, 2025. Dr. Ruoslahti’s address is 3132 Don Rolando, Escondido CA 92025.
(2)Includes options to purchase up to 95,059 shares of our common stock which are exercisable within 60 days of April 17, 2025.
(3)Includes options to purchase up to 95,027 shares of our common stock which are exercisable within 60 days of April 17, 2025.
(4)Includes options to purchase up to 9,041 shares of our common stock which are exercisable within 60 days of April 17, 2025.
(5)Includes options to purchase up to 8,190 shares of our common stock which are exercisable within 60 days of April 17, 2025.
(6)Includes 49,138 fully vested restricted stock units that may be settled by issuing shares of common stock within 60 days of
April 17, 2025 and options to purchase up to 459 shares of our common stock which are exercisable within 60 days of April 17, 2025.
(7)Includes 49,201 fully vested restricted stock units that may be settled by issuing shares of common stock within 60 days of April 17, 2025.
(8)Includes 49,138 fully vested restricted stock units that may be settled by issuing shares of common stock within 60 days of April 17, 2025 and options to purchase up to 366 shares of our common stock which are exercisable within 60 days of April 17, 2025.
(9)Includes 39,480 fully vested restricted stock units that may be settled by issuing shares of common stock within 60 days of April 17, 2025 and options to purchase up to 32,028 shares of our common stock which are exercisable within 60 days of April 17, 2025.
(10)Includes 52,280 fully vested restricted stock units that may be settled by issuing shares of common stock within 60 days of April 17, 2025.
(11)Includes 239,237 fully vested restricted stock units that may be settled by issuing shares of common stock within 60 days of April 17, 2025 and options to purchase up to 240,170 shares of our common stock which are exercisable within 60 days of April 17, 2025.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Audit Committee of the Lisata Board is responsible for reviewing and approving or ratifying all related party transactions. Our Board, acting upon the recommendation of its Audit Committee, has adopted a written policy with regard to related party transactions. The policy provides that related party transactions shall be brought to management’s and the Board’s attention. The procedures specify that at meetings of the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee will be provided with the details of each new, existing or proposed related party transaction, including the terms of the transaction, the business purpose, and the respective benefits to the Company and the relevant related party. The policy sets forth certain factors that the Audit Committee is to take into consideration in determining whether to approve a related party transaction, which include:
•whether the terms of the transaction are fair to the Company and on the same basis as would apply if the transaction did not involve a related party;
•the business reasons for the Company to enter into the transaction;
•whether the transaction would impair the independence of an independent director;
•whether the transaction would present an improper conflict of interest for any director or executive officer, taking into account the size of the transaction, the overall financial position of the director, executive officer or other related party, the direct or indirect nature of the director’s, executive officer’s or other related party’s interest in the transaction and the ongoing nature of any proposed relationship, and any other factors the Audit Committee deems relevant.
The procedures provide that in the event a member of the Audit Committee has an interest in the transaction under discussion, he will abstain from voting on the approval of the transaction, but may, if so requested by the chair of the Audit Committee and permitted under Nasdaq regulations, participate to the extent requested in discussions of the transaction. By “related party transaction,” we mean a transaction requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K between the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and an executive officer, director, person known to be a 5% beneficial owner of the Company, or an immediate family member of any of the foregoing, on the other hand.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, we did not engage in any related party transactions.
Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. These agreements, among other things, require us to indemnify each director and executive officer to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, including indemnification of expenses such as attorneys’ fees, judgments, penalties fines and settlement amounts incurred by the director or executive officer in any action or proceeding, including any action or proceeding by or in our right, arising out of the person’s services as a director or executive officer.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth the total compensation paid or accrued to our named executive officers (the “Named Executive Officers”) during the last two fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. Our Named Executive Officers consist of (i) our President and Chief Executive Officer, and (ii) our two other most highly compensated executive officers who earned more than $100,000 in total compensation during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, and were serving as executive officers as of such date (collectively, our “Named Executive Officers”).
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Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary | | Bonus (1) | | Stock Awards (2) | | Option Awards (2) | | All Other Compensation | | Total Compensation |
David J. Mazzo, President and Chief Executive Officer | 2024 | $ | 702,969 | | | $ | 387,876 | | | $ | 468,160 | | (3) | $ | 101,920 | | | $ | 30,250 | | (4) | $ | 1,691,174 | |
2023 | $ | 675,931 | | | $ | 382,282 | | | $ | 258,000 | | (5) | $ | 61,919 | | | $ | 30,250 | | (6) | $ | 1,408,382 | |
Kristen K. Buck, M.D, Executive Vice President of Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer | 2024 | $ | 597,421 | | | $ | 299,671 | | | $ | 129,360 | | (7) | $ | 30,359 | | | $ | 8,250 | | (8) | $ | 1,065,061 | |
2023 | $ | 574,443 | | | $ | 293,548 | | | $ | 75,000 | | (9) | $ | 18,576 | | | $ | 8,250 | | (10) | $ | 969,817 | |
James Nisco, Senior Vice President, Finance and Treasury and Chief Accounting Officer | 2024 | $ | 341,938 | | | $ | 122,500 | | | $ | 34,804 | | (11) | $ | 8,674 | | | $ | 8,250 | | (12) | $ | 516,166 | |
2023 | $ | 307,526 | | | $ | 94,086 | | | $ | 22,500 | | (13) | $ | 6,192 | | | $ | 8,250 | | (14) | $ | 438,554 | |
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(1)Amounts shown under “Bonus” represent bonus amounts paid pursuant to the Named Executive Officers’ respective employment agreements. See “Employment Agreements and Other Arrangements with Executive Officers” for more information.
(2)Amounts shown under “Stock Awards” and “Option Awards” represent the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, in accordance with SEC rules. See Note 9 to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2024 Form 10-K, for a discussion of assumptions made in such valuations. All stock awards, option awards and other shares discussed in this table were issued under the 2018 Plan, with a per share price generally equal to the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant.
(3)Includes the grant of 58,000 performance stock units with a grant date fair value of $178,640, which is also the maximum potential value at the time of the grant. The performance criteria for the performance stock units were met in 2024.
(4)Consisted of (i) a car allowance of $12,000, (ii) $8,250 of Company 401(k) match, and (iii) a life and disability insurance allowance of $10,000.
(5)Includes the grant of 26,000 performance stock units with a grant date fair value of $78,000, which is also the maximum potential value at the time of the grant. The performance criteria for the performance stock units were not met in 2023, and as a result, the performance stock units were canceled in 2023.
(6)Consisted of (i) a car allowance of $12,000, (ii) $8,250 of Company 401(k) match, and (iii) a life and disability insurance allowance of $10,000.
(7)Includes the grant of 15,000 performance stock units with a grant date fair value of $46,200, which is also the maximum potential value at the time of the grant. The performance criteria for the performance stock units were met in 2024.
(8)Consisted of $8,250 Company 401(k) match.
(9)Includes the grant of 7,000 performance stock units with a grant date fair value of $21,000, which is also the maximum potential value at the time of the grant. The performance criteria for the performance stock units were not met in 2023, and as a result, the performance stock units were canceled in 2023.
(10)Consisted of $8,250 Company 401(k) match.
(11)Includes the grant of 3,300 performance stock units with a grant date fair value of $10,164, which is also the maximum potential value at the time of the grant. The performance criteria for the performance stock units were met
in 2024.
(12)Consisted of $8,250 Company 401(k) match.
(13)Includes the grant of 2,000 performance stock units with a grant date fair value of $6,000, which is also the maximum potential value at the time of the grant. The performance criteria for the performance stock units were not met in 2023, and as a result, the performance stock units were canceled in 2023.
(14)Consisted of $8,250 Company 401(k) match.
NARRATIVE DISCLOSURE TO SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Employment Agreements and Other Arrangements with Executive Officers
This section contains a description of the employment agreements and certain other arrangements that Lisata has or had during the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2024, with the Named Executive Officers listed in the Summary Compensation Table. All descriptions are qualified in their entirety by reference to such agreements. The descriptions to follow provide further information about the compensation that is shown in the Summary Compensation Table for the respective officers. They also provide information about payments that could be received by these officers under certain circumstances at such time as their employment with Lisata ends, for example, certain severance arrangements.
David J. Mazzo, Ph.D. - President and Chief Executive Officer
In connection with his appointment as the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mazzo and the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated and effective as of March 19, 2021, (the “Mazzo Agreement”). Under the terms of the Mazzo Agreement, Dr. Mazzo will continue to perform his duties as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer at an annual base salary of $705,229, subject to review and increase by the Board and/or Compensation Committee. Dr. Mazzo received an annual base salary of $702,969 in 2024 and $675,931 in 2023. He is also eligible for an annual bonus (short-term incentive) with a target of 55% of his then-current base salary and a maximum of 100% of his then-current base salary, as determined by the Compensation Committee based on his performance for the respective year. Dr. Mazzo received an annual bonus of $387,876 in 2024 and $382,282 in 2023. Subject to earlier termination in accordance with the terms of the Mazzo Agreement, the term of Dr. Mazzo’s employment is one year, which is automatically extended for successive one-year periods unless the Company provides Dr. Mazzo with written notice of termination at least 90 days' prior to the end of the then-current term. The Agreement also provides Dr. Mazzo with the option to terminate his employment with the Company if: (i) the Company materially breaches its obligations under the Mazzo Agreement, (ii) the Company materially reduces Dr. Mazzo’s position, duties, responsibilities or authority or repeatedly assigns Dr. Mazzo duties that are materially inconsistent with those set forth in the Mazzo Agreement, in either case without Dr. Mazzo’s consent, (iii) the Company relocates Dr. Mazzo’s principal place of employment, without Dr. Mazzo’s consent, in a manner than lengthens his one-way commute distance by fifty (50) miles or more, and/or (iv) Dr. Mazzo provides the Company with thirty (30) days’ prior written notice.
The Mazzo Agreement provides Dr. Mazzo with certain benefits, including but not limited to: (i) twenty-nine (29) days paid time off, (ii) up to $10,000 annually for supplemental term life insurance coverage and supplemental long-term disability coverage, and (iii) a non-accountable annual expense allowance of $12,000.
Pursuant to the Mazzo Agreement, Dr. Mazzo is entitled to receive certain payments following his termination. If Dr. Mazzo resigns for Good Reason (as defined below) or is terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined below), then he will be entitled to receive (i) a lump sum payment equal to the sum of any earned but unpaid base salary, any earned and vested but unpaid bonus amounts, any accrued and unused paid time off, any unreimbursed business expenses or other amounts due, and any other payments or benefits to which Dr. Mazzo may then be entitled under the terms of any compensation arrangement with the Company (the “Mazzo Accrued Payments”); (ii) severance payments (the “Mazzo Salary Payments”) equal to Dr. Mazzo’s then-current base salary for a period of 15 months following termination (the “Mazzo Severance Period”); (iii) COBRA assistance for the duration of the Mazzo Severance Period, not including the portion of the monthly premium which Dr. Mazzo would otherwise have paid if he had not resigned or been terminated (the “Mazzo COBRA Payments”) and (iv) a bonus payment equal to 125% of 55% of Dr. Mazzo’s then-effective base salary, paid in equal installments for the duration of the Mazzo Severance Period (the “Mazzo Bonus Payment,” and together with the Mazzo Accrued Payments, the Mazzo Severance Payments and the Mazzo COBRA Payments, the “Mazzo Severance Payments”). Payment of the Mazzo Salary Payments, the Mazzo COBRA Payments and the Mazzo Bonus Payment will be made subject to execution of a release of claims by Dr. Mazzo. Additionally, if Dr. Mazzo resigns for Good Reason or is terminated without Cause and executes a release of claims, 25% of his outstanding unvested equity awards shall immediately fully vest and be exercisable for one year following termination or the remaining term of such awards, whichever period is shorter. Finally, if Dr. Mazzo resigns for Good Reason or is terminated without Cause during any period commencing on the effective date of a Change in Control (as defined below) and ending on the second anniversary of such effective date (a “Mazzo Change of Control Period”), subject to his execution of a release of claims, Dr. Mazzo will be entitled to receive the Mazzo Severance Payments with the following adjustments: (i) the Mazzo Severance Period will be extended from 15 months to 18 months, (ii) the Mazzo COBRA Payments shall be increased to cover the entire monthly premium for such coverage and (iii) the Mazzo Bonus Payment will equal 150% of Dr. Mazzo’s then-current target bonus. Further, if Dr. Mazzo resigns for Good Reason or is terminated without Cause during a Change of Mazzo Control Period, 100% of his outstanding unvested equity awards shall immediately fully vest and be exercisable for one year following termination or the remaining term of such awards, whichever period is shorter.
If Dr. Mazzo resigns without Good Reason or is terminated for Cause, then he shall be entitled only to the Mazzo Accrued Payments. If Dr. Mazzo is terminated upon his death or disability, then he (or his estate, as applicable) shall be entitled to receive the Mazzo Accrued Payments and, subject to a release of claims, the Mazzo COBRA Payments.
On January 9, 2024, pursuant to the Mazzo Agreement, Dr. Mazzo was granted an option to purchase 47,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $3.08 per share and (ii) 94,000 restricted stock awards granted under the Issuer's 2018 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan.
In addition, on January 9, 2024, Dr. Mazzo was granted 58,000 performance-based stock units.
Kristen K. Buck, M.D. - Executive Vice President, R&D and Chief Medical Officer
In connection with her appointment as Executive Vice President, R&D and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Buck and the Company entered into an Employment Agreement dated and effective as of July 26, 2021 (the “Buck Agreement”), setting forth the terms and conditions of Dr. Buck’s employment with the Company. Under the terms of the Buck Agreement, Dr. Buck is entitled to receive an annual base salary of $599,342, which is subject to adjustment based on the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Lisata Board of Directors. Dr. Buck received an annual base salary of $597,421 in 2024 and $574,443 in 2023. The Buck Agreement had an initial term expiring on September 1, 2024, which has been and shall continue to be automatically extended for additional one-year periods unless Dr. Buck is provided written notice by the Company no later than ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the initial term. In connection with her hire, Dr. Buck was granted options to purchase $1,000,000 of common stock and restricted stock awards with a value of $400,000, both of which vested in three equal annual installments starting on September 1, 2021, in addition to an annual bonus (short-term incentive) with a target of 50% of her then-current base salary as determined by the Compensation Committee based on her performance for the respective year. Dr. Buck received an annual bonus of $299,671 in 2024 and $293,548 in 2023.
The Buck Agreement provides Dr. Buck with certain benefits, including but not limited to twenty-nine (29) days paid time off.
Pursuant to the Buck Agreement, Dr. Buck is entitled to receive certain payments following her termination. If Dr. Buck resigns for Good Reason (as defined below) or is terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined below), then she will be entitled to receive (i) a lump sum payment equal to the sum of any earned but unpaid base salary, any earned and vested but unpaid bonus amounts, any accrued and unused paid time off, any unreimbursed business expenses or other amounts due, and any other payments or benefits to which Dr. Buck may then be entitled under the terms of any compensation arrangement with the Company (the “Buck Accrued Payments”); (ii) severance payments (the “Buck Salary Payments”) equal to Dr. Buck’s then-current base salary for a period of 12 months following termination (the “Buck Severance Period”); (iii) COBRA assistance for the duration of the Buck Severance Period, not including the portion of the monthly premium which Dr. Buck would otherwise have paid if she had not resigned or been terminated (the “Buck COBRA Payments”) and (iv) a bonus payment equal to 50% of Dr. Buck’s then-effective base salary, paid in equal installments for the duration of the Buck Severance Period (the “Buck Bonus Payment,” and together with the Buck Accrued Payments, the Buck Severance Payments and the Buck COBRA Payments, the “Buck Severance Payments”). Payment of the Buck Salary Payments, the Buck COBRA Payments and the Buck Bonus Payment will be made subject to execution of a release of claims by Dr. Buck. Additionally, if Dr. Buck resigns for Good Reason or is terminated without Cause and executes a release of claims, the exercise period of her vested option awards shall be extended to one year following termination or the remaining term of such awards, whichever period is shorter. Finally, if Dr. Buck resigns for Good Reason or is terminated without Cause during any period commencing on the effective date of a Change in Control (as defined below) and ending on the first anniversary of such effective date (a “Buck Change of Control Period”), subject to her execution of a release of claims, Dr. Buck will be entitled to receive the Buck Severance Payments with the following adjustments: (i) the Buck Severance Period will be extended from 12 months to 15 months, (ii) the Buck COBRA Payments shall be increased to cover the entire monthly premium for such coverage and (iii) the Buck Bonus Payment will equal 125% of 50% of Dr. Buck’s then-current base salary. Further, if Dr. Buck resigns for Good Reason or is terminated without Cause during a Buck Change of Control Period, 100% of her outstanding unvested equity awards shall immediately fully vest and be exercisable for one year following termination or the remaining term of such awards, whichever period is shorter.
If Dr. Buck resigns without Good Reason or is terminated for Cause, then she shall be entitled only to the Buck Accrued Payments. If Dr. Buck is terminated upon her death or disability, then she (or her estate, as applicable) shall be entitled to receive the Buck Accrued Payments and, subject to a release of claims, the Buck COBRA Payments. On January 9, 2024, pursuant to the Buck Agreement, Dr. Buck was granted an option to purchase 14,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $3.08 per share and (ii) 27,000 restricted stock awards granted under the Issuer's 2018 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan.
In addition, on January 9, 2024, Dr. Buck was granted 15,000 performance-based stock units.
James Nisco - Senior Vice President Finance and Treasury and Chief Accounting Officer
Mr. Nisco is entitled to receive an annual base salary of $350,000, which is subject to adjustment based on the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Lisata Board of Directors. Mr. Nisco received an annual base salary of $341,938 in 2024 and $307,526 in 2023. In connection with his appointment to the position of Senior Vice President Finance and Treasury and Chief Accounting Officer, Mr. Nisco was granted an annual bonus (short-term incentive) with a target of 35% of his then-current base salary as determined by the Compensation Committee based on his performance for the respective year. Mr. Nisco is also entitled to receive performance-based stock units annually. Mr. Nisco received an annual bonus of $122,500 in 2024 and $94,086 in 2023.
Mr. Nisco and the Company entered into a letter agreement dated and effective as of September 12, 2016, and further revised on March 25, 2022 (the “Nisco Severance Agreement”). Pursuant to the Nisco Severance Agreement, Mr. Nisco is entitled to receive certain payments following his termination. If Mr. Nisco terminates his employment for Good Reason (as defined below) during the period commencing on the effective date of a Nisco Change in Control (as defined below) and ending on the second anniversary of the effective date of a Nisco Change in Control, or the Company terminates Mr. Nisco’s employment without Cause (as defined below) (other than by reason of his death or disability), the Company will (a) continue to pay Mr. Nisco’s current base salary of $350,000 (the “Nisco Salary Payment”) for 12 months following the date the termination becomes effective (the "Nisco Severance Period"), commencing on the next payroll period following the date the termination becomes effective and (b) pay Mr. Nisco a lump-sum equal to 100% of Mr. Nisco’s then annual target bonus on the next payroll period following the date the termination becomes effective (the “Nisco Cash Severance”) and (c) pay monthly the monthly premium amount for continued COBRA coverage. If the Company may not pay Mr. Nisco’s COBRA premiums without incurring tax penalties or violating any requirement of law, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to provide Mr. Nisco with substantially similar assistance in an alternative manner (the “Nisco COBRA Payments”), provided that the cost of doing so does not exceed the cost that the Company would have incurred had the Company been able to pay the COBRA premiums on Mr. Nisco’s behalf. In addition to the Nisco Salary Payment, Nisco Cash Severance and the Nisco COBRA Payments, the Company shall (i) fully vest as of the date the termination becomes effective, all outstanding unvested equity awards, including options granted to Mr. Nisco; and (ii) extend the exercise date of the options to the earlier of the one-year anniversary of the date the termination becomes effective and the original expiration date of the options.
Additionally, Mr. Nisco and the Company entered into a non-change in control severance pay agreement (the “Nisco Separation Pay Agreement”), effective January 1, 2025. Pursuant to the Nisco Separation Pay Agreement, Mr. Nisco is entitled to receive the following payments, in exchange for his release of claims: (a) the Company will continue to pay Mr. Nisco’s current base salary of $350,000 for 12 months following the date the termination becomes effective, commencing on the next payroll period following the date the termination becomes effective, (b) the Company will pay a lump-sum equal to 100% of Mr. Nisco’s then annual target bonus on the next payroll period following the date of his termination, (c) the Company will pay Mr. Nisco’s accrued wages through the date of termination, including any accrued but untaken paid time off, (d) the Company will reimburse medical, dental and vision coverage through COBRA for a 12-month period following the date of termination, either via lump-sum payment or monthly, as mutually agreed and (e) the Company will extend the exercise date of any fully vested options to the earlier of the one-year anniversary of the date the termination becomes effective and the remaining term of the option award.
Employment Agreements – Common Definitions
The following definitions apply to each of the Mazzo Agreement and the Buck Agreement:
“Cause” means that, as determined by the Board, the executive has (A) committed gross negligence in connection with the executive’s duties as set forth in the applicable employment agreement or otherwise with respect to the business and affairs of the Company, its subsidiaries and/or its other affiliates; (B) committed fraud in connection with his or duties as set forth in the applicable employment agreement or otherwise with respect to the business and affairs of the Company, its subsidiaries and/or its other affiliates; (C) engaged in personal dishonesty, willful misconduct, willful violation of any law, or breach of fiduciary duty, in each instance, with respect to the business and affairs of the Company, its subsidiaries and/or its other affiliates; (D) been indicted for or has been found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have committed or plead guilty to (I) a felony (or state law equivalent) or (2) any other serious crime involving moral turpitude or that has (or is reasonably likely to have) a material adverse effect either on (x) the executive’s ability to perform his or her duties under the applicable employment agreement or (y) the reputation and goodwill of the Company, regardless of whether or not such other crime is related or unrelated to the business of the Company, its subsidiaries or other affiliates; (E) shown chronic use of alcohol, drugs or other similar substances that materially affects the executive’s work performance; (F) breached his or her obligations under (1) the applicable employment agreement, (2) the Confidentiality and Inventions Assignment Agreement attached to the applicable employment agreement, or (3) any other agreement executed by the executive for the benefit of the Company, its subsidiaries and/or other affiliates, provided, that, if such breach described in this clause (F) is susceptible to cure (as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Board), the executive shall have thirty (30) days after notice from the Board to cure such breach; or
(G) failed to materially perform the executive’s duties or to follow the lawful directives of the Board; provided, that, if such failure described in this clause (G) is susceptible to cure (as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Board), the executive shall have thirty (30) days after notice from the Board to cure such failure; or (H) materially violated the Company’s written code of conduct or other written or established policies and/or procedures in place from time to time; provided, that, if such violation described in this clause (H) is susceptible to cure (as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Board), the executive shall have thirty (30) days after notice from the Board to cure such violation.
“Good Reason” means the occurrence of any of the following events: (A) material breach by the Company of its obligations under the applicable employment agreement; (B) the executive’s position, duties, responsibilities, or authority have been materially reduced or the executive has repeatedly been assigned duties that are materially inconsistent with his duties set forth herein, in each case, without the executive’s consent or (C) the relocation of the executive’s principal place of employment, without the executive’s consent, in a manner that lengthens his one-way commute distance by 50 or more miles. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, “Good Reason” shall not be deemed to exist unless (1) the executive shall have given written notice to the Company specifying in reasonable detail the Company’s acts or omissions that the executive alleges constitute “Good Reason” within 60 days after the first occurrence of such circumstances and the Company shall have failed to cure any such act or omission within 60 days of receipt of such written notice, and (2) the executive actually terminates employment within 180 days following the initial occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions that he or she considers to be “Good Reason.”
“Change in Control” means a transaction or a series of related transactions in which the assets of the Company are transferred to any “person” or “group” (as such terms are defined in Section l 3(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act); (x) any person or group becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of the Company’s outstanding equity representing more than 30% of the total voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding equity; (y) the Company undergoes a merger, reorganization or other consolidation in which the holders of the outstanding equity of the Company immediately prior to such merger, reorganization or consolidation own less than 50% of the surviving entity’s voting power immediately after the transaction; or (z) the date a majority of the members of the incumbent Board is replaced during any twelve month period by members whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority to the incumbent Board before the date of the appointment or election, provided further that the Change in Control meets all of the requirements of a “change in the ownership of a corporation” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5)(vi), a “change in the effective ownership of a corporation” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5)(vi), or “a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the corporation’s assets” within in the meaning of Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5)(vii). For purposes of (z), the incumbent directors of the Board includes the members of the Board as of the date of the applicable employment agreement and any additional or replacement director appointed or elected whose election or appointment is endorsed or approved by a majority of the incumbent Board.
The following definitions apply to the Nisco Severance Agreement:
“Cause” means that, as determined by the Company's Board of Directors, the executive has: (i) committed gross negligence in connection with the executive’s duties or otherwise with respect to the business and affairs of the Company, its subsidiaries and/or its other affiliates; (ii) committed fraud in connection with the executive’s duties or otherwise with respect to the business and affairs of the Company, its subsidiaries and/or its other affiliates; (iii) engaged in personal dishonesty, willful misconduct, willful violation of any law, or breach of fiduciary duty, in each instance, with respect to the business and affairs of the Company, its subsidiaries and/or its other affiliates; (iv) been indicted for, or has been found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have committed or pled guilty to, (A) a felony (or state law equivalent) or (B) any other serious crime involving moral turpitude or that has (or is reasonably likely to have) a material adverse effect either on (x) the executive’s ability to perform the executive’s duties for the Company or (y) the reputation and goodwill of the Company, regardless of whether or not such other crime is related or unrelated to the business of the Company, its subsidiaries or other affiliates; (v) shown chronic use of alcohol, drugs or other similar substances that materially affects the executive’s work performance; (vi) breached the executive’s obligations under any written agreement between the executive and the Company related to confidentiality, non-competition, non-solicitation or the assignment of intellectual property; (vii) failed to materially perform the executive’s duties or to follow the lawful directives of the Board of Directors: provided, that if such failure described in this clause (vii) is susceptible to cure (as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Board of Directors), the executive shall have thirty (30) days after notice from the Board of Directors to cure such failure; or (viii) materially violated the Company's written code of conduct or other written or established policies and/or procedures in place from time to time; provided, that if such violation described in this clause (viii)) is susceptible to cure (as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Board of Directors), the executive shall have thirty (30) days after notice from the Board of Directors to cure such violation. Any notice to the executive under this clause shall be in writing and shall specify in reasonable detail the executive’s acts or omissions that the Company alleges constitute “Cause.”
“Change in Control" means a transaction or a series of related transactions in which: (i) all or substantially all of the assets of the Company are transferred to any "person" or "group" (as such terms are defined in Section 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act); (ii) any person or group becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of the Company's outstanding equity representing more than 30% of the total voting power of the Company's then-outstanding equity; (iii) the Company undergoes a merger, reorganization or other consolidation in which the holders of the outstanding equity of the Company immediately prior to such merger, reorganization or consolidation own less than 50% of the surviving entity's voting power immediately after the transaction; or (iv) the date a majority of the members of the Company's incumbent Board of Directors is replaced during any twelve month period by members whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority to the Company's incumbent Board of Directors before the date of the appointment or election, provided further that the Change in Control meets all of the requirements of a "change in the ownership of a corporation" within the meaning of Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(S)(v), a "change in the effective ownership of a corporation" within the meaning of Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5)(vi), or "a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the corporation's assets" within in the meaning of Treasury Regulation §l.409A-3(i)(S)(vii). For purposes of (z), the incumbent Directors of the Board of Directors includes the members of the Board of Directors as of the date of this Agreement and any additional or replacement Director appointed or elected who is endorsed by a majority of the Company's incumbent Board of Directors.”
“Good Reason” means (i) a material reduction in the executive’s base salary; (ii) the executive’s position, duties, responsibilities, or authority have been materially reduced or the executive has been repeatedly assigned duties that are materially inconsistent with the executive’s duties, in each case, without the executive’s consent; or (iii) the requirement that the executive relocate the executive’s primary place of employment more than 50 miles from the executive’s current place of employment (unless such location is closer to the executive’s primary residence). "Good Reason" shall not be deemed to exist, however, unless (x) the executive shall have given written notice to the Company specifying in reasonable detail the Company's acts or omissions that the executive alleges constitute "Good Reason" within sixty (60) days after the first occurrence of such circumstances and the Company shall have failed to cure any such act or omission within sixty (60) days of receipt of such written notice, and (y) the executive actually terminates the executive’s employment within one hundred eighty (180) days following the initial occurrence of the condition the executive considers to be "Good Reason." If the executive fails to provide this notice and cure period prior to the executive’s resignation or resign more than one hundred eighty (180) days after the initial existence of the condition, the executive’s resignation will not be deemed to be for “Good Reason.”
Indemnification Agreements
We enter into indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers and each of our directors from time to time pursuant to which we have agreed to indemnify such party to the full extent permitted by law, subject to certain exceptions, if such party becomes subject to an action because such party is our director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.
Acceleration of Vesting Under Equity Compensation Plans
Generally, in the event of a Change in Control of Lisata (as defined in the 2009 Plan, the 2015 Plan and the 2018 Plan) and either (i) the failure of Lisata's successor to assume a participant's awards or (ii) such assumption of awards is followed by the participant's termination without cause on or within the one-year period following the Change in Control, (a) all outstanding options and stock appreciation rights of each participant granted prior to the change in control shall be fully vested and immediately exercisable in their entirety, and (b) all unvested stock awards, restricted stock units, restricted stock, performance-based awards, and other awards shall become fully vested, including without limitation, the following: (i) the restrictions to which any shares of restricted stock granted prior to the change in control are subject shall lapse as if the applicable restriction period had ended upon such change in control, and (ii) the conditions required for vesting of any unvested performance-based awards shall be deemed to be satisfied upon such change in control.
Termination or Change in Control Payments
For a description of payments that would be made to our Named Executive Officers in the event of their termination or a change in control of the Company, see the discussion under “Employment Agreements and Other Arrangements with Executive Officers” above. The following table sets forth aggregate estimated payment obligations to each of the Named Executive Officers assuming a termination occurred on December 31, 2024 under the circumstances specified below:
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| | | Before Change in Control Termination w/o Cause or for Good Reason | | After Change in Control Termination w/o Cause or for Good Reason | | Voluntary Termination |
Name | Benefit | | ($) | | ($) | | ($) |
David J. Mazzo | Severance | | 1,366,381 | | | 1,639,657 | | | — | |
Health Benefits | | 51,856 | | | 62,227 | | | — | |
Equity Award Acceleration | | — | | | 319,405 | | | — | |
Total | | 1,418,237 | | | 2,021,290 | | | — | |
Kristen Buck | Severance | | 899,013 | | | 1,123,766 | | | — | |
Health Benefits | | 21,105 | | | 26,381 | | | — | |
Equity Award Acceleration | | — | | | 90,369 | | | — | |
Total | | 920,118 | | | 1,240,516 | | | — | |
James Nisco | Severance | | — | | | 472,500 | | | — | |
Health Benefits | | — | | | 53,094 | | | — | |
Equity Award Acceleration | | — | | | 28,256 | | | — | |
Total | | — | | | 553,851 | | | — | |
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For a description of payments that would be made to Mr. James Nisco, our Chief Accounting Officer in the event of his termination or a change in control of the Company, see the discussion under “Employment Agreements and Other Arrangements with Executive Officers” above. The following table sets forth estimated payment obligations to Mr. Nisco under the Nisco Separation Pay Agreement, assuming a termination occurred on December 31, 2024 under the circumstances specified below:
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| | | Before Termination w/o Cause or for Good Reason | | After Termination w/o Cause or for Good Reason | | Voluntary Termination |
Name | Benefit | | ($) | | ($) | | ($) |
James Nisco | Severance | | — | | | 472,500 | | | — | |
Health Benefits | | — | | | 53,094 | | | — | |
Equity Award Acceleration | | — | | | | | — | |
Total | | — | | | 525,594 | | | — | |
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OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
The following table sets forth information on equity awards outstanding at December 31, 2024 for Lisata's Named Executive Officers.
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Name | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable | | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable | | Option Exercise Price** | | Option Expiration Date | | Number of shares or units of stock that have not vested (#) | | Market value of shares or units of stock that have not vested $(***) | |
David J. Mazzo | 2,666 | | (1) | — | | | $525.00 | | 1/5/2025 | | | | | |
2,333 | | (2) | — | | | $94.50 | | 1/25/2026 | | | | | |
3,394 | | (3) | — | | | $71.55 | | 9/29/2026 | | | | | |
3,333 | | (4) | — | | | $53.10 | | 1/9/2027 | | | | | |
3,333 | | (5) | — | | | $56.85 | | 1/8/2028 | | | | | |
4,733 | | (6) | — | | | $74.25 | | 1/14/2029 | | | | | |
4,600 | | (7) | — | | | $49.20 | | 1/13/2030 | | | | | |
4,000 | | (8) | — | | | $23.85 | | 1/11/2031 | | | | | |
10,000 | | (9) | 3,333 | | (9) | $13.76 | | 1/10/2032 | | | | | |
15,000 | | (10) | 15,000 | | (10) | $3.00 | | 1/9/2033 | | | | | |
11,750 | | (11) | 35,250 | | (11) | $3.08 | | 1/9/2034 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 6,683 | | (12) | $19,915 | (12) |
| | | | | | | | 30,000 | | (13) | $89,400 | (13) |
| | | | | | | | 70,500 | | (14) | $210,090 | (14) |
Kristen Buck | 75,861 | | (15) | — | | | $19.20 | | 9/1/2031 | | | | | |
1,625 | | (16) | 541 | | (16) | $13.76 | | 1/10/2032 | | | | | |
4,500 | | (17) | 4,500 | | (17) | $3.00 | | 1/9/2033 | | | | | |
3,500 | | (18) | 10,500 | | (18) | $3.08 | | 1/9/2034 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 1,075 | | (19) | $3,204 | (19) |
| | | | | | | | 9,000 | | (20) | $26,820 | (20) |
| | | | | | | | 20,250 | | (21) | $60,345 | (21) |
James Nisco | 64 | | (22) | — | | | $580.50 | | 2/16/2025 | | | | | |
66 | | (23) | — | | | $339.00 | | 6/2/2025 | | | | | |
33 | | (24) | — | | | $94.50 | | 1/25/2026 | | | | | |
398 | | (25) | — | | | $71.55 | | 9/29/2026 | | | | | |
39 | | (26) | — | | | $53.10 | | 1/9/2027 | | | | | |
140 | | (27) | — | | | $56.85 | | 1/8/2028 | | | | | |
168 | | (28) | — | | | $74.25 | | 1/14/2029 | | | | | |
201 | | (29) | — | | | $49.20 | | 1/13/2030 | | | | | |
466 | | (30) | — | | | $23.85 | | 1/11/2031 | | | | | |
1,100 | | (31) | 366 | | (31) | $13.76 | | 1/10/2032 | | | | | |
1,500 | | (32) | 1,500 | | (32) | $3.00 | | 1/9/2033 | | | | | |
1,000 | | (33) | 3,000 | | (33) | $3.08 | | 1/9/2034 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 732 | | (34) | $2,181 | (34) |
| | | | | | | | 2,750 | | (35) | $8,195 | (35) |
| | | | | | | | 6,000 | | (36) | $17,880 | (36) |
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** All option awards were made under and are governed by the terms of the Company’s 2009 Plan, the 2015 Plan or the 2018 Plan.
*** Calculated by multiplying the closing market price of Lisata's common stock on December 31, 2024 by the number of shares of restricted stock held by the applicable Named Executive Officer.
(1)Consists of options granted to Dr. Mazzo pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement dated as of January 5, 2015 and amended on January 16, 2015.
(2)Consists of options granted to Dr. Mazzo by the Compensation Committee on January 25, 2016.
(3)Consists of options granted to Dr. Mazzo by the Compensation Committee on September 29, 2016.
(4)Consists of options granted to Dr. Mazzo by the Compensation Committee on January 9, 2017.
(5)Consists of options granted to Dr. Mazzo by the Compensation Committee on January 8, 2018.
(6)Consists of options granted to Dr. Mazzo by the Compensation Committee on January 14, 2019.
(7)Consists of options granted to Dr. Mazzo by the Compensation Committee on January 13, 2020, vesting in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date.
(8)Consists of options granted to Dr. Mazzo by the Compensation Committee on January 11, 2021, vesting in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date.
(9)Consists of options granted to Dr. Mazzo by the Compensation Committee on January 10, 2022, vesting in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date.
(10)Consists of options granted to Dr. Mazzo by the Compensation Committee on January 9, 2023, vesting in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date.
(11)Consists of options granted to Dr. Mazzo by the Compensation Committee on January 9, 2024, vesting in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date.
(12)Consists of restricted stock granted to Dr. Mazzo by the Compensation Committee on January 10, 2022, vesting in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date.
(13)Consists of restricted stock granted to Dr. Mazzo by the Compensation Committee on January 9, 2023, vesting in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date.
(14)Consists of restricted stock granted to Dr. Mazzo by the Compensation Committee on January 9, 2024, vesting in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date.
(15)Consists of options granted to Dr. Buck by the Compensation Committee on July 27, 2021, vesting in three equal annual installments beginning on the grant date.
(16)Consists of options granted to Dr. Buck by the Compensation Committee on January 10, 2022, vesting in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date.
(17)Consists of options granted to Dr. Buck by the Compensation Committee on January 9, 2023, vesting in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date.
(18)Consists of options granted to Dr. Buck by the Compensation Committee on January 9, 2024, vesting in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date.
(19)Consists of restricted stock granted to Dr. Buck by the Compensation Committee on January 10, 2022, vesting in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date.
(20)Consists of restricted stock granted to Dr. Buck by the Compensation Committee on January 9, 2023, vesting in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date.
(21)Consists of restricted stock granted to Dr. Buck by the Compensation Committee on January 9, 2024, vesting in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date.
(22)Consists of options granted to Mr. Nisco by the Compensation Committee effective February 17, 2015.
(23)Consists of options granted to Mr. Nisco by the Compensation Committee effective June 2, 2015.
(24)Consists of options granted to Mr. Nisco by the Compensation Committee on January 25, 2016.
(25)Consists of options granted to Mr. Nisco by the Compensation Committee on September 29, 2016.
(26)Consists of options granted to Mr. Nisco by the Compensation Committee on January 9, 2017.
(27)Consists of options granted to Mr. Nisco by the Compensation Committee on January 8, 2018.
(28)Consists of options granted to Mr. Nisco by the Compensation Committee on January 14, 2019.
(29)Consists of options granted to Mr. Nisco by the Compensation Committee on January 13, 2020, vesting in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date.
(30)Consists of options granted to Mr. Nisco by the Compensation Committee on January 11, 2021, vesting in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date.
(31)Consists of options granted to Mr. Nisco by the Compensation Committee on January 10, 2022, vesting in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date.
(32)Consists of options granted to Mr. Nisco by the Compensation Committee on January 9, 2023, vesting in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date.
(33)Consists of options granted to Mr. Nisco by the Compensation Committee on January 9, 2024, vesting in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date.
(34)Consists of restricted stock granted to Mr. Nisco by the Compensation Committee on January 10, 2022, vesting in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date.
(35)Consists of restricted stock granted to Mr. Nisco by the Compensation Committee on January 9, 2023, vesting in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date.
(36)Consists of restricted stock granted to Mr. Nisco by the Compensation Committee on January 9, 2024, vesting in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date.
Pension Benefits
We do not have any qualified or non-qualified defined benefit plans.
Non-qualified Deferred Compensation
We do not have any non-qualified defined contribution plans or other deferred compensation plan.
Ownership Requirements
Each of our officers subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act (“Section 16 Officers”) are subject to stock ownership guidelines. On June 21, 2023, our Compensation Committee approved the Lisata Stock Ownership Policy (the “LSOP”), which instituted stock ownership guidelines in the interest of promoting and increasing equity ownership by our executives and to further align our executives’ long-term interests with those of our stockholders.
The following table outlines the stock ownership guidelines for our executives pursuant to the LSOP.
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Position | Ownership Guidelines |
President and Chief Executive Officer | 3x base salary |
All other Section 16 Officers | 1x base salary |
Officers subject to the LSOP are expected to comply by June 2028. As of April 25, 2025, all of our Section 16 Officers, including all of our named executive officers, are making appropriate progress toward the ownership guidelines.
PAY VERSUS PERFORMANCE DISCLOSURE
In accordance with rules adopted by the SEC pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, we provide the following disclosure regarding executive compensation for our principal executive officer (“PEO”) and non-PEO Named Executive Officers (“Non-PEO NEOs”) and Company performance for the fiscal years listed below. The Compensation Committee did not consider the pay versus performance disclosure below in making its pay decisions for any of the years shown.
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Year | Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO1 ($) | Compensation Actually Paid to PEO1,2,3 ($) | Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs1 ($) | Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs1,2,3 ($) | Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment based on TSR ($):4 | Net Income (Loss) ($ Millions)5 |
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2024 | 1,691,174 | 1,677,644 | 790,613 | 788,070 | 23.61 | (20) |
2023 | 1,408,382 | 1,313,879 | 1,091,623 | 940,156 | 21.63 | (21) |
2022 | 1,929,933 | 1,260,036 | 720,139 | 305,042 | 20.04 | (54) |
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1. Dr. Mazzo was our PEO for each year presented. The individuals comprising the Non-PEO NEOs for each year presented are listed below.
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2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
David Slack | David Slack | Kristen Buck |
Kristen Buck | Kristen Buck | James Nisco |
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2. The amounts shown for Compensation Actually Paid have been calculated in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K and do not reflect compensation actually earned, realized, or received by the Company’s NEOs. These amounts reflect the Summary Compensation Table Total with certain adjustments as described in footnote 3 below.
3. Compensation Actually Paid reflects the exclusions and inclusions of certain amounts for the PEO and the Non-PEO NEOs as set forth below. Equity values are calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Amounts in the Exclusion of Stock Awards and Option Awards column are the totals from the Stock Awards and Option Awards columns set forth in the Summary Compensation Table.
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Year | Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO ($) | Exclusion of Stock Awards and Option Awards for PEO ($) | Inclusion of Equity Values for PEO ($) | Compensation Actually Paid to PEO ($) |
2024 | 1,691,174 | (570,080) | 556,550 | 1,677,644 |
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Year | Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs ($) | Average Exclusion of Stock Awards and Option Awards for Non-PEO NEOs ($) | Average Inclusion of Equity Values for Non-PEO NEOs ($) | Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs ($) |
2024 | 790,613 | (101,599) | 99,056 | 788,070 |
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The amounts in the Inclusion of Equity Values in the tables above are derived from the amounts set forth in the following tables:
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Year | Year-End Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted During Year That Remained Unvested as of Last Day of Year for PEO ($) | Change in Fair Value from Last Day of Prior Year to Last Day of Year of Unvested Equity Awards for PEO ($) | Vesting-Date Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted and Vested During Year for PEO ($) | Change in Fair Value from Last Day of Prior Year to Vesting Date of Unvested Equity Awards that Vested During Year for PEO ($) | Fair Value at Last Day of Prior Year of Equity Awards Forfeited During Year for PEO ($) | Value of Dividends or Other Earnings Paid on Equity Awards Not Otherwise Included for PEO ($) | Total - Inclusion of Equity Values for PEO ($) |
2024 | 275,960 | 6,571 | 265,197 | 8,822 | — | — | 556,550 |
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Year | Average Year-End Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted During Year That Remained Unvested as of Last Day of Year for Non-PEO NEOs ($) | Average Change in Fair Value from Last Day of Prior Year to Last Day of Year of Unvested Equity Awards for Non-PEO NEOs ($) | Average Vesting-Date Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted and Vested During Year for Non-PEO NEOs ($) | Average Change in Fair Value from Last Day of Prior Year to Vesting Date of Unvested Equity Awards that Vested During Year for Non-PEO NEOs ($) | Average Fair Value at Last Day of Prior Year of Equity Awards Forfeited During Year for Non-PEO NEOs ($) | Average Value of Dividends or Other Earnings Paid on Equity Awards Not Otherwise Included for Non-PEO NEOs ($) | Total - Average Inclusion of Equity Values for Non-PEO NEOs ($) |
2024 | 51,726 | 1,162 | 44,666 | 1,502 | | — | 99,056 |
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4. Assumes $100 was invested in the Company for the periods starting December 31, 2021, through the end of the listed year. Historical stock performance is not necessarily indicative of future stock performance.
5. The dollar amounts reported in column are the Company’s net income (loss) amounts reflected in the Company’s audited financial statements for the applicable year.
Relationship Between PEO and Non-PEO NEO Compensation Actually Paid and Company Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”)
The following chart sets forth the relationship between Compensation Actually Paid to our PEO, the average of Compensation Actually Paid to our Non-PEO NEOs, and the Company’s cumulative TSR over the three most recently completed fiscal years.
Relationship Between PEO and Non-PEO NEO Compensation Actually Paid and Net Income (Loss)
The following chart sets forth the relationship between Compensation Actually Paid to our PEO, the average of Compensation Actually Paid to our Non-PEO NEOs, and our Net Income (Loss) during the three most recently completed fiscal years.
LISATA DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
General Information
Directors who are employees of Lisata or its subsidiaries do not receive additional cash compensation for serving as directors. Lisata's non-employee directors are reimbursed for out-of-pocket travel expenses incurred in their capacity as Lisata directors. Pursuant to the 2018 Plan, all directors (including independent directors) are eligible to receive equity awards.
The following table sets forth information on all compensation to Lisata's directors (other than as reflected in the Summary Compensation Table) for the year ended December 31, 2024.
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| | Fees Earned | | | | | | |
| | Or | | Stock | | | | Total |
Name | | Paid in Cash | | Awards(1) | | | | Compensation |
Gregory B. Brown, M.D. (2) | | $ | 94,500 | | | $ | 60,000 | | | | | $154,500 |
Steven M. Klosk, J.D. (3) | | $ | 60,000 | | | $ | 60,000 | | | | | $120,000 |
Cynthia L. Flowers, M.B.A. (4) | | $ | 52,500 | | | $ | 60,000 | | | | | $112,500 |
Heidi Henson (5) | | $ | 64,000 | | | $ | 60,000 | | | | | $124,000 |
Mohammad Azab, M.D., M.B.A. (6) | | $ | 53,500 | | | $ | 60,000 | | | | | $113,500 |
Total | | $ | 324,500 | | | $ | 300,000 | | | | | $624,500 |
_________________________________
(1)Amounts shown under “Stock Awards” represent the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, in accordance with SEC rules. See Note 9 to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2024 Form 10-K for a discussion of assumptions made in such valuations. All stock awards, option awards and other shares discussed in this table were issued under Lisata's 2018 Plan, with a per share price generally equal to the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant.
(2)On January 9, 2024, Dr. Brown was granted 19,480 restricted stock units, none of which had vested as of December 31, 2024.
(3)On January 9, 2024, Mr. Klosk was granted 19,480 restricted stock units, none of which had vested as of December 31, 2024.
(4)On January 9, 2024, Ms. Flowers was granted 19,480 restricted stock units, none of which had vested as of December 31, 2024.
(5)On January 9, 2024, Ms. Henson was granted 19,480 restricted stock units, none of which had vested as of December 31, 2024.
(6)On January 9, 2024, Dr. Azab was granted 19,480 restricted stock units, none of which had vested as of December 31, 2024.
The Company’s Board of Directors’ Compensation Plan (the “Directors’ Compensation Plan”), which is only applicable to our non-employee directors, provided the following in fiscal year 2024:
•an annual cash retainer for each non-employee director of $40,000;
•an additional annual cash compensation retainer of $35,000 for the non-executive chair;
•an annual cash retainer for serving as chairperson of a committee as follows: Audit ($18,000); Compensation ($12,000); Nominating and Governance ($9,000); Science and Technology ($9,000);
•an annual cash retainer for serving as a member of a committee as follows: Audit ($8,000); Compensation ($6,000); Nominating and Governance ($4,500); and Science and Technology ($4,500);
•new non-employee directors receive an initial grant of restricted stock units with a value of 2x the annual grant with the number of shares to be issued on the grant date calculated based on the grant date fair value with one-third vesting annually on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date; and
•an annual equity grant on January 9, 2024, a grant of restricted stock units with a value of $60,000, vesting at one year from the grant date.
The effective date for the annual equity grant to non-employee directors in fiscal year 2024 was January 9, 2024.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table provides information as of December 31, 2024 regarding shares of our common stock that may be issued under our existing equity compensation plans, including the 2018 Plan, the 2015 Plan, the 2009 Plan and the 2017 ESPP.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Equity Compensation Plan Information |
| Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options (1) | | Weighted Average exercise price of outstanding options and rights | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plan (excluding securities referenced in column (a)) | |
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (2) | 464,937 | (3) | $19.13 | 787,635 | (4) |
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | 0 | | — | 0 | |
Total | 464,937 | (3) | $19.13 | 787,635 | (4) |
(1)Includes stock options only; does not include purchase rights accruing under the Amended 2017 ESPP Plan because the purchase price (and therefore the number of shares to be purchased) will not be determined until the end of the purchase period.
(2)Consists of the 2018 Plan, the 2015 Plan, the 2009 Plan, and the 2017 ESPP.
(3)Amounts disclosed do not include outstanding stock options to acquire 975,598 shares of common stock, relating to option awards assumed by the Company as part of the Company’s merger with Cend, with a weighted average exercise price of $3.90.
(4)Includes shares available for future issuance under the 2018 Plan and the 2017 ESPP.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2026 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
If you wish to submit a stockholder proposal pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act for inclusion in our proxy statement for our 2026 annual meeting of stockholders, you must submit the proposal to our Assistant Corporate Secretary at Lisata's principal executive offices located at 110 Allen Road, 2nd Floor, Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920 no later than December 26, 2025, in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act. Any such proposal must meet the requirements set forth in the rules and regulations of the SEC in order to be eligible for inclusion in the proxy statement for the 2026 annual meeting.
In addition, if you desire to bring business or nominate an individual for election or re-election as a director outside of Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act before our 2026 annual meeting, you must comply with our bylaws, which currently require that you have provided written notice of such business or nominee to our Assistant Corporate Secretary at Lisata's principal executive offices located at 110 Allen Road, 2nd Floor, Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920 no earlier than 5:00 pm EST, January 11, 2026 and no later than 5:00 pm EST, February 10, 2026, and otherwise comply with the advance notice and other provisions set forth in our bylaws, which contain additional requirements regarding advance notice of stockholder proposals and director nominations. In addition to satisfying the foregoing advance notice requirements, to comply with the universal proxy rules under the Exchange Act, stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than Lisata’s nominees must follow the requirements set forth in Rule 14a-19 as promulgated under the Exchange Act.
DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO STOCKHOLDERS SHARING AN ADDRESS
Some banks, brokers and other nominee record holders may be participating in the practice of “householding” proxy statements. This means that only one copy of this proxy statement may have been sent to multiple stockholders in the same household. We will promptly deliver a separate copy of this proxy statement to any stockholder upon written or oral request to the Assistant Corporate Secretary at Lisata Therapeutics, Inc., 110 Allen Road, 2nd Floor, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920; telephone: 908-229-2590. Any stockholder who wants to receive a separate copy of this proxy statement, or of our proxy statements or annual reports in the future, or any stockholder who is receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy per household, should contact the stockholder’s bank, broker, or other nominee record holder, or the stockholder may contact us at the address and phone number above.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Lisata files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any of this information at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 or (202) 942-8088 for further information regarding the public reference room. The SEC also maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding issuers, including Lisata, who file electronically with the SEC. The reports and other information filed by us with the SEC are also available at our website. The address of the site is www.lisata.com. The web addresses of the SEC and Lisata have been included as inactive textual references only. The information contained on those websites is specifically not incorporated by reference into this proxy statement.
On February 27, 2025, we filed our 2024 Form 10-K with the SEC. A copy of our 2024 Form 10-K accompanies this proxy statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
This document is a proxy statement of Lisata for the Annual Meeting. The information contained in this proxy statement speaks only as of the date of this document unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies.
INFORMATION ON LISATA'S WEBSITE
Information on Lisata's website or the website of any subsidiary or affiliate of Lisata is not a part of this document and you should not rely on that information in deciding whether to approve the proposals described in this proxy statement, unless that information is also in this document or in a document that is incorporated by reference in this document.
OTHER MATTERS
At the date of this proxy statement, our Board knows of no matters, other than as set forth herein, to be submitted at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the proxies to vote the shares they represent as the Lisata Board may recommend.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
David J, Mazzo, Ph.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Basking Ridge, New Jersey
April 25, 2025
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LIVE WEBCAST ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE VOTE YOUR SHARES THROUGH THE INTERNET, BY TELEPHONE OR, IF YOU RECEIVED A PROXY CARD, BY SIGNING AND RETURNING THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR SHARES OF LISATA STOCK ARE REPRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER. YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE WILL GREATLY FACILITATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING.
APPENDIX A
LISATA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
2017 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
(amended by stockholders as of June ___, 2025)
1. Purpose. The purpose of the Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) is to amend and restate the NeoStem, Inc. 2012 Employee Stock Purchase Plan in order to further promote the interest of Lisata Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and its stockholders by providing employees of the Company and its Designated Subsidiaries with an opportunity to purchase Common Stock of the Company through accumulated payroll deductions. By encouraging stock ownership, the Company seeks to attract, retain and motivate employees and to encourage them to devote their best efforts to the business and financial success of the Company. It is the intention of the Company to have the Plan qualify as an “Employee Stock Purchase Plan” under Section 423 of the Code. The provisions of the Plan, accordingly, shall be construed in a manner consistent with the requirements of that section of the Code.
2. Definitions. For purposes of the Plan, the following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:
2.1 “Account” means an account referred to in Section 6.2 of the Plan.
2.2 “Board of Directors” or “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.3 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
2.4 “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, or such other committee of members of the Board appointed by the Board, authorized under Section 14 to administer the Plan and to perform the functions assigned to the Committee under the Plan.
2.5 “Common Stock” means the common stock, $0.001 par value, of the Company.
2.6 “Company” means Lisata Therapeutics, Inc.
2.7 “Compensation” means, for any pay period, the gross cash compensation payable to an Employee for such period, including base salary, commissions, bonuses and incentive payments, but excluding severance and non-cash compensation. Any pre-tax contributions made to a Company 401(k) plan or “cafeteria plan” pursuant to Section 125 of the Code shall be treated as Compensation for purposes of the Plan.
2.8 “Designated Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that has been designated by the Board from time to time in its sole discretion as eligible to participate in the Plan.
2.9 “Employee” means any individual who is an employee of the Employer; provided, however, Employees who have been employed less than ninety days by the Employer, Employees whose customary employment with the Employer is twenty (20) hours or less per week, and Employees whose customary employment with the Employer is for not more than five (5) months in any calendar year shall not be deemed Employees for the purposes of this Plan. For purposes of the Plan, the employment relationship shall be treated as continuing intact while the individual is on sick leave or other leave of absence approved by the Employer. Where the period of leave exceeds 90 days and the individual's right to reemployment is not guaranteed either by statute or by contract, the employment relationship shall be deemed to have terminated on the 91st day of such leave.
2.10 “Employer” means the Company and any Designated Subsidiary.
2.11 “Enrollment Date” means the first Trading Day of each Offering Period.
2.12 “Exercise Date” means the last Trading Day of each Offering Period.
2.13 “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:
2.13.1 If the principal market for the Common Stock is the New York Stock Exchange, The Nasdaq Global Market, the NYSE MKT or another national securities exchange (an “Exchange”), then the “Fair Market Value”
as of that date shall be the closing price of a share of Common Stock on the Exchange on such date or, if no closing price is reported on such date, the closing price of a share of Common Stock on the nearest preceding date on which the Exchange is open for trading.
2.13.2 If the principal market for the Common Stock is not an Exchange, but the Common Stock is traded on an over-the-counter, bulletin board or comparable service, then the “Fair Market Value” as of that date shall be the closing price of a share of Common Stock for such day as reported by such service, or if no closing price is reported on such date, the closing price of a share of Common Stock on the nearest preceding date on which trades occurred.
2.13.3 If paragraphs 2.13.1 and 2.13.2 above are inapplicable, then the “Fair Market Value” of the Common Stock shall be as determined in good faith by the Committee.
2.14 “Highly Compensated Employee” has the same meaning as the term is used in Section 414(q) of the Code.
2.15 “Offering Periods” means the period of approximately six (6) months during which an Option shall be granted and may be exercised pursuant to the Plan, commencing on the first Trading Day on or after January 1st and July 1st of each year and terminating on the last Trading Day before the commencement of the next Offering Period. Subject to the approval of the Plan by the stockholders of the Company, the first Offering Period shall commence on January 1, 2017 and continue until June 30, 2017. The duration and timing of Offering Periods may be changed pursuant to Section 4 of this Plan.
2.16 “Option” means an Option to purchase shares of Common Stock under the Plan, as set forth in Section 7 of the Plan.
2.17 “Participant” means an eligible employee who becomes a participant of the Plan in accordance with Section 5.1 of the Plan.
2.18 “Plan” means this Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
2.19 “Purchase Price” for each Offering Period means 85% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Enrollment Date of such Offering Period or on the Exercise Date of such Offering Period, whichever is lower; provided, however, that the Purchase Price may be adjusted by the Board pursuant to Section 20.
2.20 “Reserves” means the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each Option under the Plan that have not yet been exercised and the number of shares of Common Stock that have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but not yet placed under Option.
2.21 “Subsidiary” has the meaning set forth for “subsidiary corporation” in Section 424(f) of the Code, whereby a Subsidiary means any corporation (other than the employer corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the employer corporation if, at the time of the granting of the Option, each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing 50 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
2.22 “Trading Day” means a day on which the NYSE MKT is open for trading.
3. Eligibility.
3.1 Any Employee who shall be employed by the Company on a given Enrollment Date shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.
3.2 Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Employee shall be granted an Option under the Plan: (i) to the extent that, immediately after the grant, such Employee (or any other person whose stock would be attributed to such Employee pursuant to section 424(d) of the Code) would own stock of the Company and/or hold outstanding Options to purchase such stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of the stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary; (ii) to the extent that his or her rights to purchase stock under all employee stock purchase plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries accrues at a rate which exceeds Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) of fair market value of such stock (determined at the time such Option is granted) for each calendar year in which such Option is outstanding at any time; or (iii) if he or she has received a hardship withdrawal from the Company's 401(k) plan within the preceding six (6) months.
4. Offering Periods. The Plan shall be implemented by consecutive Offering Periods with a new Offering Period commencing and ending as set forth in Section 2.15, or on such other date as the Board shall determine, and continuing thereafter until terminated in accordance with Section 20 hereof. The Board shall have the power to change the duration of Offering Periods (including the commencement dates thereof) with respect to future offerings without shareholder approval if
such change is announced at least five (5) days prior to the scheduled beginning of the first Offering Period to be affected thereafter.
5. Participation.
5.1 An eligible Employee may become a Participant in the Plan by completing a Subscription Agreement authorizing payroll deductions in the form of Exhibit A to this Plan and filing it with the Company's payroll office prior to the applicable Enrollment Date.
5.2 Payroll deductions for a Participant shall commence on the first payroll date following the Enrollment Date (provided that the Company has received the Participant's Subscription Agreement) and shall end on the last payroll in the Offering Period to which such Subscription Agreement is applicable, unless sooner terminated by the Participant as provided in Section 10 hereof.
6. Payroll Deductions.
6.1 At the time a Participant files his or her Subscription Agreement, he or she shall elect to have payroll deductions made on each payday during the Offering Period in an amount equal to any whole percentage (not exceeding fifteen percent (15%)) of the Compensation that he or she receives on each payday during the Offering Period.
6.2 All payroll deductions made for a Participant shall be credited to his or her Account under the Plan. A Participant may not make any additional payments into such Account. Accounts shall be mere bookkeeping entries on the Company's books and records. Amounts credited to Accounts shall not be trust funds and may be commingled with the Company's general assets and applied to general corporate purposes. No interest or other earnings shall be paid or credited with respect to payroll deductions or any amounts accumulated in or credited to a Participant's Account.
6.3 A Participant may discontinue his or her participation in the Plan as provided in Section 10 hereof, or may increase or decrease the rate of his or her payroll deductions during the Offering Period by completing and filing with the Company a new Subscription Agreement authorizing a change in payroll deduction rate. The Committee may, in its discretion, limit the number of participation rate changes during any Offering Period. The change in rate shall be effective with the first full payroll period following five (5) business days after the Company's receipt of the new Subscription Agreement. A Participant's Subscription Agreement shall remain in effect for successive Offering Periods unless a new Subscription Agreement is filed by the Participant prior to the commencement of such Offering Period or the then existing Subscription Agreement is terminated as provided in Section 10 hereof.
6.4 Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 3.2 hereof, a Participant's payroll deductions may be decreased to zero percent (0%) at any time during an Offering Period. Payroll deductions shall recommence at the rate provided in such Participant's Subscription Agreement at the beginning of the first Offering Period which is scheduled to end in the following calendar year, unless terminated by the Participant as provided in Section 10 hereof.
6.5 At the time the Option is exercised, in whole or in part, or at the time some or all of the Company's Common Stock issued under the Plan is disposed of, the Participant must make adequate provision for the Company's federal, state, or other tax withholding obligations, if any, which arise upon the exercise of the Option or the disposition of the Common Stock. At any time, the Company may, but shall not be obligated to, withhold from the Participant's Compensation or other remuneration payable to the Participant the amount necessary for the Company to meet applicable withholding obligations, including any withholding required to make available to the Company any tax deductions or benefits attributable to sale or early disposition of Common Stock by the Employee.
7. Grant of Option. On the Enrollment Date of each Offering Period, each eligible Employee participating in such Offering Period shall be granted an Option to purchase on the Exercise Date during such Offering Period (at the applicable Purchase Price) up to a number of shares of the Company's Common Stock determined by dividing such Participant's Account as of the Exercise Date by the applicable Purchase Price; provided that such purchase shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 3.2 and 13 hereof. No fractional shares shall be purchased; any payroll deductions accumulated in a Participant's Account which are not sufficient to purchase a full share shall be retained in the Participant's Account for the subsequent Offering Period, subject to earlier withdrawal by the Participant as provided in Section 10 hereof. Exercise of the Option shall occur as provided in Section 8 hereof, unless the Participant has withdrawn pursuant to Section 10 hereof. The Option shall expire on the last day of the Offering Period.
8. Exercise of Option.
8.1 Unless a Participant withdraws from the Plan as provided in Section 10 hereof, his or her Option with respect to an Offering Period shall be exercised automatically on the Exercise Date of such Offering Period, and the maximum
number of full shares subject to Option shall be purchased for such Participant at the applicable Purchase Price with the accumulated payroll deductions credited to his or her Account. No fractional shares shall be purchased; any payroll deductions accumulated in a Participant's Account which are not sufficient to purchase a full share shall be retained in the Participant's Account for the subsequent Offering Period, subject to earlier withdrawal by the Participant as provided in Section 10 hereof. Any other monies left over in a Participant's Account after the Exercise Date shall be returned to the Participant. During a Participant's lifetime, a Participant's Option to purchase shares hereunder is exercisable only by him or her.
8.2 If the Board or the Committee determines that, on a given Exercise Date, the number of shares with respect to which Options are to be exercised may exceed: (i) the number of shares of Common Stock that were available for sale under the Plan on the Enrollment Date of the applicable Offering Period; or (ii) the number of shares available for sale under the Plan on such Exercise Date, the Board may in its sole discretion: (x) provide that the Company shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares of Common Stock available for purchase on such Enrollment Date or Exercise Date, as applicable, in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine in its sole discretion to be equitable among all Participants, and continue all Offering Periods then in effect; or (y) provide that the Company shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares available for purchase on such Enrollment Date or Exercise Date, as applicable, in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine in its sole discretion to be equitable among all Participants, and terminate any or all Offering Periods then in effect pursuant to Section 20 hereof. The Company may make a pro rata allocation of the shares available on the Enrollment Date of any applicable Offering Period pursuant to the preceding sentence, notwithstanding any authorization of additional shares for issuance under the Plan by the Company's shareholders subsequent to such Enrollment Date.
9. Delivery. Shares purchased under the Plan by a Participant will be credited to and held under a stock purchase account in the Participant's name maintained by such brokerage or other third-party firm as is designated by the Committee. Any and all stock dividends with respect to shares of Common Stock credited to a Participant's stock purchase account shall be paid directly to each Participant. A Participant may, by notice to the Company's applicable human resources location (or such other designee as established by the Committee) elect to have such cash dividends reinvested in shares of Common Stock. Any shares purchased with such dividend proceeds shall be purchased on the open market by such brokerage firm on the Participant's behalf (subject to applicable Company policies) and such shares shall not count in determining the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan under Section 13, nor shall such shares count against the maximum number of shares that may be purchased by a Participant under Section 8. Subject to such restrictions, limitations and procedures as may be prescribed by the Committee, a Participant may withdraw shares in his or her stock purchase account from time to time. As soon as administratively practicable following termination of participation pursuant to Section 11, all shares credited to the Participant's stock purchase account shall be delivered to the Participant (or to the Participant's beneficiary or estate in the event of Participant's death), except to the extent that the Participant (or the Participant's beneficiary or estate in the event of Participant's death) elects to have such stock purchase account paid in cash.
10. Withdrawal.
10.1 A Participant may withdraw all but not less than all the payroll deductions credited to his or her Account and not yet used to exercise his or her Option under the Plan at any time by giving written notice to the Company in the form of Exhibit B to this Plan or in such other manner prescribed by the Committee. All of the Participant's payroll deductions credited to his or her Account shall be paid to such Participant promptly after receipt of notice of withdrawal and such Participant's Option for the Offering Period shall be automatically terminated, and no further payroll deductions for the purchase of shares shall be made for such Offering Period by such Participant. If a Participant withdraws from an Offering Period, payroll deductions shall not resume at the beginning of the succeeding Offering Period unless the Participant delivers to the Company a new Subscription Agreement.
10.2 A Participant's withdrawal from an Offering Period shall not have any effect upon his or her eligibility to participate in any similar plan which may hereafter be adopted by the Company or in succeeding Offering Periods which commence after the termination of the Offering Period from which the Participant withdraws.
11. Termination of Employment. Upon a Participant's ceasing to be an Employee, for any reason, he or she shall be deemed to have elected to withdraw from the Plan and the payroll deductions credited to such Participant's Account during the Offering Period but not yet used to exercise the Option shall be returned to such Participant or, in the case of his or her death, to the person or persons entitled thereto under Section 15 hereof, and such Participant's Option shall be automatically terminated.
12. Interest. No interest or other earnings shall accrue on the payroll deductions of a Participant in the Plan.
13. Stock.
13.1 Subject to adjustment upon changes in capitalization of the Company as provided in Section 19 hereof, the maximum number of shares of the Company's Common Stock which shall be made available for sale under the Plan shall be 113,333 shares.
13.2 A Participant shall have no ownership interest or voting right in shares covered by his or her Option until such Option has been exercised and the shares purchased as a result thereof have been delivered.
13.3 Shares to be delivered to a Participant under the Plan shall be registered in the name of the Participant or in the name of the Participant and his or her spouse jointly with the right of survivorship.
14. Administration.
14.1 The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have full and exclusive discretionary authority to construe, interpret and apply the terms of the Plan, to determine eligibility and to adjudicate all disputed claims filed under the Plan. Every finding, decision and determination made by the Committee shall, to the full extent permitted by law, be final and binding upon all parties. The Committee may retain the services of an outside firm to serve as its agent in administering the Plan on a day-to-day basis. No member of the Board or the Committee shall be liable for any act done or omitted to be done by such member or by any other member of the Board or the Committee in connection with the Plan, except for such member's own willful misconduct or as expressly provided by statute.
14.2 Any Participant who believes he or she is being denied any benefit or right under this Plan may file a written claim with the Committee. Any claim must be delivered to the Committee (care of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Vice President, Finance & Treasury) within forty-five (45) days of the specific event giving rise to the claim. Untimely claims will not be processed and shall be deemed denied. The Committee, or its designee, will notify the Participant of its decision in writing as soon as administratively practicable. Claims not responded to by the Committee in writing within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the date the written claim is delivered to the Committee shall be deemed denied. No lawsuit relating to this Plan may be filed before a written claim is filed with the Committee and is denied or deemed denied, and any lawsuit must be filed within one year of such denial or deemed denial or be forever barred.
15. Designation of Beneficiary.
15.1 A Participant, in its Subscription Agreement, may designate a beneficiary who is to receive any shares and cash, if any, from the Participant's Account under the Plan in the event of such Participant's death subsequent to an Exercise Date on which the Option is exercised but prior to delivery to such Participant of such shares and cash. In addition, a Participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any cash from the Participant's Account under the Plan in the event of such Participant's death prior to exercise of the Option. If a Participant is married and the designated beneficiary is not the spouse, spousal consent shall be required for such designation to be effective.
15.2 Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the Participant at any time by written notice. In the event of the death of a Participant and in the absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is living at the time of such Participant's death, the Company shall deliver such shares and/or cash to the executor or Committee of the estate of the Participant, or if no such executor or Committee has been appointed (to the knowledge of the Company), the Company, in its discretion, may deliver such shares and/or cash to the spouse or to any one or more dependents or relatives of the Participant, or if no spouse, dependent or relative is known to the Company, then to such other person as the Company may designate.
16. Transferability. Neither payroll deductions credited to a Participant's Account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an Option or to receive shares under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution or as provided in Section 15 hereof) by the Participant. Any such attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition shall be without effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw funds from an Offering Period in accordance with Section 10 hereof.
17. Use of Funds. All payroll deductions received or held by the Company under the Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose, and the Company shall not be obligated to segregate such payroll deductions.
18. Reports. Individual accounts shall be maintained for each Participant in the Plan. Statements of account shall be given to Participants at least annually, which statements shall set forth the amounts of payroll deductions, the Purchase Price, the number of shares purchased and the remaining cash balance, if any.
19. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Dissolution, Liquidation, Merger or Asset Sale.
19.1 Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by the shareholders of the Company, the Reserves, the maximum number of shares each Participant may purchase each Purchase Period (pursuant to Section 7), as well as the price per share and the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each Option under the Plan which has not yet been exercised shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected
without receipt of consideration”. Such adjustment shall be made by the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option.
19.2 Dissolution or Liquidation. Unless provided otherwise by the Board, in the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Offering Period then in progress shall terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed dissolution or liquidation and a cash amount shall be paid to each Participant that is equal to the amount of his or her Account.
19.3 Merger or Asset Sale. In the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the merger of the Company with or into another corporation, each outstanding Option shall be assumed or an equivalent Option substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. In the event that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the Option, the Board may terminate any Offering Period then in progress by setting a new Exercise Date (the “New Exercise Date”). The New Exercise Date shall be before the date of the Company's proposed sale or merger. The Board shall notify each Participant in writing, at least ten (10) business days prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the Participant's Option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that the Participant's Option shall be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 10 hereof.
20. Amendment or Termination.
20.1 The Board may at any time and for any reason terminate or amend the Plan. Except as provided in Section 19 hereof, no such termination can affect Options previously granted, provided that an Offering Period may be terminated by the Board on any Exercise Date if the Board determines that the termination of the Offering Period or the Plan is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. Except as provided in Section 19 and this Section 20 hereof, no amendment may make any change in any Option theretofore granted which adversely affects the rights of any Participant. To the extent necessary to comply with Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule or provision or any other applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule), the Company shall obtain shareholder approval in such a manner and to such a degree as required.
20.2 Without shareholder consent and without regard to whether any Participant rights may be considered to have been “adversely affected,” the Board (or the Committee) shall be entitled to change the Offering Periods, limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during an Offering Period, establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars, permit payroll withholding in excess of the amount designated by a Participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in the Company's processing of properly completed withholding elections, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Common Stock for each Participant properly correspond with amounts withheld from the Participant's Compensation, and establish such other limitations or procedures as the Board (or its Committee) determines in its sole discretion advisable which are consistent with the Plan.
20.3 In the event the Board determines that the ongoing operation of the Plan may result in unfavorable financial accounting consequences, the Board may, in its discretion and, to the extent necessary or desirable, modify or amend the Plan to reduce or eliminate such accounting consequence including, but not limited to:
20.3.1 Altering the Purchase Price for any Offering Period including an Offering Period underway at the time of the change in Purchase Price;
20.3.2 Shortening any Offering Period so that Offering Period ends on a new Exercise Date, including an Offering Period underway at the time of the Board action; and
20.3.3 Allocating shares.
Such modifications or amendments shall not require stockholder approval or the consent of any Plan Participants.
21. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. Shares shall not be issued with respect to an Option unless the exercise of such Option and the issuance and delivery of such shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all applicable provisions of law, domestic or foreign, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the shares may then be listed, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company may require the person exercising such Option to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the shares are being purchased only for investment and without any
present intention to sell or distribute such shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the aforementioned applicable provisions of law.
22. Term of Plan. The Plan, as amended and restated hereby, shall become effective on January 1, 2017, subject to approval of the Plan by the stockholders of the Company. It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless sooner terminated under Section 20 hereof. If the Company’s stockholders do not approve the amended and restated Plan at their annual meeting in 2017, then the Plan and the Offering Period that commenced on January 1, 2017 shall automatically terminate without any issuance of any shares of Common Stock, and a cash amount shall be paid to each Participant that is equal to the amount of his or her Account.
23. No Employment Rights. The Plan does not, directly or indirectly, create any right for the benefit of any employee or class of employees to purchase any shares of Common Stock under the Plan, or create in any employee or class of employees any right with respect to continuation of employment by the Company, and it shall not be deemed to interfere in any way with the Company's right to terminate, or otherwise modify, an employee's employment at any time.
24. Data Privacy. As a condition of receipt of any Award, each Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of personal data as described in this Section by and among, as applicable, the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing this Plan and the Participant’s participation in this Plan. In furtherance of such implementation, administration, and management, the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates may hold certain personal information about a Participant, including, but not limited to, the Participant’s name, home address, telephone number, date of birth, social insurance or security number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title(s), information regarding any securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates, and details of all Awards (the “Personal Data”). In addition to transferring the Personal Data amongst themselves as necessary for the purpose of implementation, administration and management of this Plan and the Participant’s participation in this Plan, the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates may each transfer the Personal Data to any third parties assisting the Company in the implementation, administration and management of this Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in this Plan. Recipients of the Personal Data may be located in the Participant’s country or elsewhere, and the Participant’s country and any given recipient’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections. By enrolling in the Plan for any Offering Period, each Participant authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Personal Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of assisting the Company in the implementation, administration and management of this Plan and the Participant’s participation in this Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Personal Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or the Participant may elect to deposit any shares of capital stock of the Company. The Personal Data related to a Participant will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage this Plan and the Participant’s participation in this Plan. A Participant may, at any time, view the Personal Data held by the Company with respect to such Participant, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Personal Data with respect to such Participant, recommend any necessary corrections to the Personal Data with respect to the Participant, or refuse or withdraw the consents herein in writing, in any case without cost, by contacting the Participant’s local human resources representative. The Company may cancel the Participant’s eligibility to participate in this Plan if the Participant refuses or withdraws the consents described herein. For more information on the consequences of refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Participants may contact their local human resources representative.
25. No Effect Upon Benefits. Neither the grant nor the exercise of any Option hereunder will affect the benefits under any benefit plan of the Employer, and no amount or benefit granted or received hereunder shall be considered compensation for any purposes of any other benefit plan or program of the Employer.
26. Trading Policy Restrictions. Option exercises under the Plan shall be subject to the terms and conditions of any insider trading policy established by the Company.
27. Notices. All notices or other communications by a Participant to the Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when received in the form specified by the Company at the location, or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.
28. Equal Rights and Privileges. All eligible employees shall have equal rights and privileges with respect to the Plan so that the Plan qualifies as an “employee stock purchase plan” within the meaning of Section 423 or any successor provision of the Code and the related regulations. Any provision of the Plan which is inconsistent with Section 423 or any successor provision of the Code shall, without further act or amendment by the Company or the Committee, be reformed to comply with the requirements of Section 423. This Section 27 shall take precedence over all other provisions in the Plan.
29. Governing Law. Without regard to conflict of law principles, the laws of the State of Delaware will govern all matters relating to this Plan except to the extent it is superseded by the laws of the United States.