UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Filed by the Registrant	[X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant	[  ]

 

	Check the appropriate box:
		[  ]	Preliminary Proxy Statement
		[  ]	Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
		[X]	Definitive Proxy Statement
		[  ]	Definitive Additional Materials
		[  ]	Soliciting Material Under Rule 14a-12

 

NEPHROS, 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):

 

		[X]	No fee required.
		[  ]	Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

			(1)	Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
			(2)	Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
			(3)	Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
			(4)	Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
			(5)	Total fee paid:

 

		[  ]	Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
		[  ]	Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

			(1)	Amount Previously Paid:
			(2)	Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
			(3)	Filing Party:
			(4)	Date Filed:

 

 

 

Notice Date: April 11, 2018

 

Nephros, Inc.

380 Lackawanna Place

South Orange, New Jersey 07079

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held Wednesday, May 23, 2018

 

To The Stockholders of Nephros, Inc.:

 

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Nephros, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be held at the offices of the Company, located at 380 Lackawanna Place, South Orange, New Jersey 07079, on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, for the following purposes:

 

	●	to elect one Director named in this proxy statement to serve a three-year term expiring in 2021, two Directors named in this proxy statement to serve two-year terms expiring in 2020, and two Directors named in this proxy statement to serve one-year terms expiring in 2019;
	●	to ratify the selection of Moody, Famiglietti & Andronico, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018;
	●	to approve the Nephros, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan;
	●	the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers on an advisory (non-binding) basis; and
	●	to act upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

 

These matters are more fully described in the attached proxy statement.

 

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 27, 2018 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

 

We cordially invite you to attend the meeting in person. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please vote your shares. You may vote over the telephone or the Internet as instructed in this proxy statement. If you received a proxy card or voting instruction card by mail, you may submit your proxy card or voting instruction card by completing, signing, dating and mailing your proxy card or voting instruction card in the envelope provided. Any stockholder attending the meeting may vote at the meeting, even if you already returned a proxy card or voting instruction card or voted by proxy over the telephone or the Internet. 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 meeting, you must obtain a proxy issued in your name from that record holder.

 

	By Order of the Board of Directors
	Daron Evans
	President and Chief Executive Officer

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 23, 2018:

 

Copies of this proxy statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 2017 fiscal year are available at: http://materials.proxyvote.com/640671.

 

 

 

Nephros, Inc.

380 Lackawanna Place

South Orange, New Jersey 07079

 

PROXY STATEMENT

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2018

 

INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING

 

The Board of Directors of Nephros, Inc. (the “Company”) is soliciting your proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held at the offices of the Company, located at 380 Lackawanna Place, South Orange, New Jersey 07079, on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, including at any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting. You are invited to attend the Annual Meeting to vote on the proposals described in this proxy statement. You do not need to attend the meeting to vote your shares. Instead, you may simply complete, sign and return the enclosed proxy card if you received paper copies of the proxy materials, or follow the instructions below to submit your proxy over the telephone or the Internet.

 

In accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), we have elected to provide our beneficial owners and stockholders of record access to our proxy materials over the Internet. Beneficial owners are stockholders whose shares are held in the name of a broker, bank or other agent (i.e., in “street name”). Accordingly, a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) will be mailed on or about April 11, 2018 to our beneficial owners and stockholders of record who owned our common stock at the close of business on March 27, 2018. Beneficial owners and stockholders of record will have the ability to access the proxy materials on a website referred to in the Notice or request a printed set of the proxy materials be sent to them by following the instructions in the Notice. Beneficial owners and stockholders of record who have previously requested to receive paper copies of our proxy materials will receive paper copies of the proxy materials instead of a Notice.

 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS PROXY MATERIAL AND VOTING

 

Why did I receive in the mail a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials instead of a full set of proxy materials?

 

We are pleased to take advantage of the SEC rule that allows companies to furnish their proxy materials over the Internet. Accordingly, we have sent to our beneficial owners and stockholders of record a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials. Instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the Internet or to request a paper copy may be found in the Notice. Our stockholders may request to receive proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically on an ongoing basis. A stockholder’s election to receive proxy materials by mail or electronically by email will remain in effect until the stockholder terminates its election.

 

 

Why did I receive a full set of proxy materials in the mail instead of a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials?

 

We are providing paper copies of the proxy materials instead of a Notice to beneficial owners or stockholders of record who have previously requested to receive paper copies of our proxy materials. If you are a beneficial owner or stockholder of record who received a paper copy of the proxy materials, and you would like to reduce the environmental impact and the costs incurred by us in mailing proxy materials, you may elect to receive all future proxy materials electronically via email or the Internet.

 

You can choose to receive our future proxy materials electronically by visiting http://www.proxyvote.com. Your choice to receive proxy materials electronically will remain in effect until you instruct us otherwise by following the instructions contained in your Notice and visiting http://www.proxyvote.com, sending an electronic mail message to sendmaterial@proxyvote.com, or calling 1-800-579-1639.

 

The SEC has enacted rules that permit us to make available to stockholders electronic versions of the proxy materials even if the stockholder has not previously elected to receive the materials in this manner. We have chosen this option in connection with the Annual Meeting with respect to both our beneficial owners and stockholders of record.

 

Who can vote at the Annual Meeting?

 

Only the holders of record of our common stock at the close of business on the record date, March 27, 2018, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. On the record date, 57,215,511 shares of our common stock were outstanding. Stockholders are entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held on the record date.

 

Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name

 

If, on March 27, 2018, your shares were registered directly in your name with the Company’s transfer agent, V Stock Transfer LLC, then you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder of record, you may vote in person at the Annual Meeting or vote by proxy. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, we urge you to vote your shares by completing, signing, dating and mailing your proxy card in the envelope provided, if you received paper copies of the proxy materials, or vote by proxy over the telephone or the Internet as instructed below to ensure your vote is counted.

 

Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or Bank

 

If, on March 27, 2018, your shares were held, not in your name, but rather in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer, or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered to be the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Annual Meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or other agent regarding how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting; however, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares at the Annual Meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent.

 

 

What am I voting on?

 

There are four matters scheduled for a vote:

 

	(1)	Election of Arthur Amron to serve a three-year term expiring in 2021, Daron Evans and Moshe Pinto to serve two-year terms expiring in 2020, and Paul Mieyal and Malcolm Persen to serve one-year terms expiring in 2019;
	(2)	Ratification of the selection of Moody, Famiglietti & Andronico, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018;
	(3)	Approval of the Nephros, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan; and
	(4)	Approval of the compensation of our named executive officers on an advisory (non-binding) basis.

 

How do I vote?

 

	(1)	For the election of each nominee to the Board of Directors, you may vote “For” or “Withhold” a vote or abstain from voting.
	(2)	For the ratification of the selection of Moody, Famiglietti & Andronico, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018, you may vote “For” or “Against” or abstain from voting.
	(3)	For the approval of the Nephros, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, you may vote “For” or “Against” or abstain from voting.
	(4)	For approval of the compensation of our named executive officers on an advisory (non-binding) basis, you may vote “For” or “Against” or abstain from voting.

 

The procedures for voting are as follows:

 

Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name

 

If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote at the Annual Meeting, vote by proxy using the enclosed proxy card (if you received paper copies of the proxy materials), vote by proxy over the telephone, or vote by proxy over the Internet.

 

Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote by proxy to ensure your vote is counted. You may still attend the Annual Meeting and vote at that time even if you have already voted by proxy.

 

	-	To vote in person, come to the Annual Meeting and we will give you a ballot when you arrive. If you would like directions to our offices, please call 201.343.5202.
	-	If you received paper copies of the proxy materials, to vote using the proxy card, simply complete, sign and date the enclosed proxy card and return it promptly in the envelope provided. If you return your signed proxy card to us before the Annual Meeting, we will vote your shares as you direct.
	-	To vote over the telephone, dial toll-free 1-800-690-6903 using a touch-tone phone and follow the recorded instructions. Please have available the 16-Digit Control Number from the enclosed proxy card, if you received one, or from your Notice. Your vote must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 22, 2018, to be counted.
	-	To vote over the Internet, go to http://www.proxyvote.com. Please have available the 16-Digit Control Number from the enclosed proxy card, if you received one, or from your Notice. Your vote must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 22, 2018, to be counted.

 

 

We are providing Internet proxy voting to allow you to vote your shares online, with procedures designed to ensure the authenticity and correctness of your proxy vote instructions. However, please be aware that you must bear any costs associated with your Internet access, such as usage charges from Internet access providers and telephone companies.

 

Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of Broker or Bank

 

If you are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of your broker, bank, or other agent, you may have received a proxy card and voting instructions with these proxy materials from that organization rather than from us. Simply complete and mail the proxy card to ensure that your vote is submitted to your broker or bank. Alternatively, you may vote by telephone or over the Internet as instructed by your broker or bank. o vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain a valid proxy from your broker, bank, or other agent. Follow the instructions from your broker or bank included with these proxy materials, or contact your broker or bank to request a proxy form.

 

How many votes do I have?

 

On each matter to be voted upon, you have one vote for each share of common stock you own as of March 27, 2018. There is no cumulative voting for election of directors.

 

What if I return a proxy card but do not make specific choices?

 

If you return a signed and dated proxy card without marking any voting selections, your shares will be voted as follows:

 

	(1)	“For” the election of each nominee to the Board of Directors;
	(2)	“For” the ratification of the selection of Moody, Famiglietti & Andronico, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018;
	(3)	“For” the approval of the Nephros, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan; and
	(4)	“For” approval of the compensation of our named executive officers on an advisory (non-binding) basis.

 

If any other matter is properly presented at the meeting, your proxyholder (one of the individuals named on your proxy card) will vote your shares using his or her best judgment.

 

Who is paying for this proxy solicitation?

 

We will bear the cost of soliciting proxies. In addition to solicitation of proxies by mail, our employees, without extra remuneration, may solicit proxies personally or by telephone. We will reimburse brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners and seeking instruction with respect thereto.

 

What does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card?

 

If you receive more than one proxy card, your shares are registered in more than one name or are registered in different accounts. Please complete, sign and return each proxy card to ensure that all of your shares are voted.

 

Are proxy materials available on the Internet?

 

This proxy statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 2017 fiscal year are available at: http://materials.proxyvote.com/640671.

 

 

Can I change my vote after submitting my proxy?

 

Yes. You can revoke your proxy at any time before the final vote at the Annual Meeting. If you are the record holder of your shares, you may revoke your proxy in any one of four ways:

 

	(1)	You may submit another properly completed proxy card with a later date.
	(2)	You may submit a new vote by telephone or Internet.
	(3)	You may send a timely written notice that you are revoking your proxy to our Chief Financial Officer, Andrew Astor, at our principal executive offices, located at 380 Lackawanna Place, South Orange, New Jersey 07079.
	(4)	You may attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person. Simply attending the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke your proxy.

 

If your shares are held by your broker or bank as a nominee or agent, you should follow the instructions provided by your broker or bank.

 

How are votes counted?

 

Votes will be counted by the inspector of election appointed for the meeting, who will separately count “For” and “Withhold” votes and abstentions and broker non-votes for director elections; “For” and “Against” votes and abstentions for auditor ratification; and “For” and “Against” votes and abstentions and broker non-votes for the approval of the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan and advisory vote on compensation of our named executive officers.

 

Abstentions will not be counted toward the vote total for the election of directors, but abstentions will be counted towards the vote total for each other proposal, and will have the same effect as “Against” votes for those proposals. Broker non-votes have no effect and will not be counted towards the vote total for any proposal.

 

What are “broker non-votes”?

 

Broker non-votes occur when a beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” does not give instructions to the broker or nominee holding the shares as to how to vote on matters deemed “non-routine.” Generally, if shares are held in street name, the beneficial owner of the shares is entitled to give voting instructions to the broker or nominee holding the shares. If the beneficial owner does not provide voting instructions, the broker or nominee can still vote the shares with respect to matters that are considered to be “routine,” but not with respect to “non-routine” matters. Under the rules and interpretations of the New York Stock Exchange, the ratification of the appointment of Moody, Famiglietti & Andronico, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is currently considered a routine matter. The election of directors, approval of the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, and the advisory vote on compensation of our named executive officers are currently considered non-routine matters under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.

 

How many votes are needed to approve each proposal?

 

	(1)	To elect Arthur Amron to serve a three-year term expiring in 2021, Daron Evans and Moshe Pinto to serve two-year terms expiring in 2020, and Paul Mieyal and Malcolm Persen to serve one-year terms expiring in 2019, the nominees in Proposal 1 receiving the most “For” votes (from the holders of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of directors) will be elected. Only votes “For” or “Withhold” will affect the outcome.
	(2)	To ratify the selection of Moody, Famiglietti & Andronico, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018, Proposal 2 must receive a “For” vote from the majority of shares present and entitled to vote either in person or by proxy. If you “Abstain” from voting, it will have the same effect as an “Against” vote.

 

 

	(3)	To approve the Nephros, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, Proposal 3 must receive a “For” vote from the majority of shares present and entitled to vote either in person or by proxy. If you “Abstain” from voting, it will have the same effect as an “Against” vote.
	(4)	Proposal 4, regarding compensation of our named executive officers, is an advisory vote, which means that the vote is not binding on the Company, our Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. To the extent there is any significant vote against the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement, the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address the concerns of stockholders.

 

What is the quorum requirement?

 

A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be present if stockholders holding at least a majority of the outstanding shares are present at the virtual meeting or represented by proxy. On the record date, there were 57,215,511 shares outstanding and entitled to vote. Thus, the holders of 28,607,756 shares must be present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting to have a quorum.

 

Your shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy (or one is submitted on your behalf by your broker, bank or other nominee) or if you vote at the meeting. Votes withheld from any director, abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted towards the quorum requirement. If there is no quorum, the holders of a majority of shares present at the meeting in person or represented by proxy, or the chairman of the meeting, may adjourn the meeting to another date.

 

How can I find out the results of the voting at the Annual Meeting?

 

Preliminary voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting. Final voting results will be published in a Current Report on Form 8-K, which we will file within four business days of the meeting.

 

What are “householding” rules and how do they affect me?

 

The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and brokers, banks and other nominees to satisfy the delivery requirements for proxy statements and annual reports, with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address and who do not participate in electronic delivery of proxy materials, by delivering a single copy of such documents addressed to those stockholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as “householding,” potentially means extra convenience for stockholders and cost savings for companies.

 

Brokers, banks and other nominees may be “householding” Company proxy materials. This means that only one copy of proxy materials may have been sent to multiple stockholders in a household. If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in householding and would prefer to receive a separate proxy statement and annual report from the other stockholder(s) sharing your address, please: (i) notify your broker, bank or other nominee, (ii) direct your written request to Chief Financial Officer, 380 Lackawanna Place, South Orange, New Jersey 07079, or (iii) contact our Chief Financial Officer at 201.343.5202. The Company will undertake to deliver promptly, upon any such oral or written request, a separate copy of the proxy materials to a stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of these documents was delivered. Stockholders who currently receive multiple copies of proxy materials at their address and would like to request householding of their communications should notify their broker, bank or other nominee, or contact our Chief Financial Officer at the above address or phone number.

 

 

PROPOSAL NO. 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

At the annual meeting, the director nominees named below will stand for election to serve the term set forth below. The shares represented by the enclosed proxy will be voted to elect as directors the nominees named below, unless a vote is withheld for such nominee or nominees. If a nominee cannot or will not serve as a director (which events are not anticipated), then the shares represented by the enclosed proxy may be voted for a substitute nominee named by the Board of Directors in the discretion of the holder of the proxies.

 

Director Classes

 

Our Board of Directors is currently composed of five directors. Our Board of Directors (the “Board”) is divided into three classes. Typically, one class is elected each year to serve for a term of three years. Given that we have not held an election of directors since 2014, we are asking you to elect the Class I Director to serve a term of three years, ending at the annual meeting in 2021, to elect the Class II Directors to serve a term of one year, ending at the annual meeting in 2019, and to elect the Class III Directors to serve a term of two years, ending at the annual meeting in 2020. The business address for each director for matters regarding our company is 380 Lackawanna Place, South Orange, New Jersey 07079.

 

In connection with our September 2007 financing, we entered into an investor rights agreement with the 2007 investors pursuant to which we agreed to take such corporate actions as may be required, among other things, to entitle Lambda Investors LLC (“Lambda”) (i) to nominate two individuals having reasonably appropriate experience and background to our Board to serve as directors until their respective successor(s) are elected and qualified, (ii) to nominate each successor to the Lambda nominees, provided that any successor shall have reasonably appropriate experience and background, and (iii) to direct the removal from the Board of any director nominated under the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii). Under the investor rights agreement, we are required to convene meetings of the Board of Directors at least once every three months. If we fail to do so, a Lambda director will be empowered to convene such meeting. Arthur Amron and Paul Mieyal are the current Lambda directors.

 

Board Nominees

 

Biographical information regarding our director nominees is set forth below. Each of these nominees is presently serving on our Board of Directors and has served continuously as a member of our Board since the year indicated below.

 

Name		Age (as of 3/27/18)		Director Since		Business Experience for the Last Five Years
Class I Director – Term expiring 2021
Arthur H. Amron		61		2007		Mr. Amron has served as a director of our company since September 2007. Mr. Amron is a Partner of Wexford Capital LP, an SEC-registered investment advisor and serves as its General Counsel. Mr. Amron also actively participates in various private equity transactions, particularly in the bankruptcy and restructuring areas, and has served on the boards and creditors’ committees of a number of public and private companies in which Wexford has held investments. From 1991 to 1994, Mr. Amron was an Associate at Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, specializing in corporate and bankruptcy law, and from 1984 to 1991, Mr. Amron was an Associate at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP specializing in corporate litigation and bankruptcy law. Mr. Amron holds a J.D. from Harvard University, a B.A. in Political Theory from Colgate University and is a member of the New York Bar. Among other experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, Mr. Amron’s legal training and experience in the capital markets, as well as his experience serving on boards of directors of other public companies, led to the conclusion of our Board that he should serve as a director of our company in light of our business and structure.

 

 

Name		Age (as of 3/27/18)		Director Since		Business Experience for the Last Five Years
Class II Directors – Term expiring 2019
Paul A. Mieyal		48		2007		Dr. Mieyal has served as a director of our company since September 2007 and served as our Acting President, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Acting Chief Financial Officer and Acting Secretary from January 4, 2015 to April 15, 2015. Dr. Mieyal also previously served as our Acting Chief Executive Officer from April 6, 2010 until April 20, 2012. Dr. Mieyal has been a Vice President of Wexford Capital LP since October 2006. From January 2000 through September 2006, he was Vice President in charge of healthcare investments for Wechsler & Co., Inc., a private investment firm and registered broker-dealer. Dr. Mieyal was a director of Nile Therapeutics, Inc., a publicly traded company, from September 2007 through November 2013. Dr. Mieyal received his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from New York Medical College, a B.A. in Chemistry and Psychology from Case Western Reserve University, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. Among other experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, Dr. Mieyal’s pharmacology and chemistry education, his experience in investment banking in the healthcare industry, as well as his experience serving on boards of directors of other public companies, led to the conclusion of our Board that he should serve as a director of our company in light of our business and structure.
Malcolm Persen		64		2015		Mr. Persen has served as a director of our company since May 2015 and is currently the President of Resolute Performance Contracting, a solar construction firm that he founded in 2011. Previously, from 2009 through 2011, he was the Executive Vice President at Ironco Enterprises, a renewable energy contracting organization. From 2004 through 2008, Mr. Persen served as the Chief Financial Officer for Radyne Corporation, a Nasdaq-traded manufacturer and distributor of satellite and telecommunications equipment. Earlier, Mr. Persen was employed as Group Financial Officer for Avnet, Inc., a global distributor of electronic components and computer systems. Other experience included assignments with consultancies Arthur D. Little and Mercer Management Consulting. In addition, Mr. Persen is a Faculty Associate at the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. Previously, Mr. Persen has served on the Finance Faculties of the University of Arizona, Boston College and the University of Massachusetts. Mr. Persen currently serves on the Board of Valutek, a supplier of cleanroom supplies through direct and distribution channels. Mr. Persen holds a BA in Political Economics from The Colorado College, and an MBA from The Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Among other experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, Mr. Persen’s extensive financial background led to the conclusion of our Board that he should serve as a director of our company in light of our business and structure.
Class III Directors – Term expiring 2020
Daron Evans		44		2013		Mr. Evans is currently our President and Chief Executive Officer. He has served on our Board since November 29, 2013, and served as the Chairman from January 4, 2015 through April 15, 2015. Mr. Evans is a life sciences executive with over 20 years of financial leadership and operational experience. Mr. Evans is currently Managing Director of PoC Capital, LLC, and a Director of Zumbro Discovery, an early stage company developing a novel therapy for resistant hypertension. Mr. Evans was most recently Chief Financial Officer of Nile Therapeutics, Inc., from 2007 until its merger with Capricor, Inc. in November 2013. From 2004 to 2007, he held various positions at Scios, Inc. and Vistakon, Inc., both divisions of Johnson & Johnson Corp. Mr. Evans was a co-founder of Applied Neuronal Network Dynamics, Inc. and served as its President from 2002 to 2004. From 1995 to 2002, Mr. Evans served in various roles at consulting firms Arthur D. Little and Booz Allen & Hamilton. Mr. Evans is the author of four U.S. patents. Mr. Evans received his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Rice University, his Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering from a joint program at the University of Texas at Arlington and Southwestern Medical School and his MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. Among other experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, Mr. Evans’s extensive operational and business development experience led to the conclusion of our Board that he should serve as a director of our company in light of our business and structure.

 

 

Name		Age (as of 3/27/18)		Director Since		Business Experience for the Last Five Years
Moshe Pinto		43		2015		Mr. Pinto has served as a director of our company since August 2015. Mr. Pinto was recently the CEO of Home Dialysis Plus, now Outset Medical, Inc., a Warburg Pincus backed company dedicated to the development and commercialization of a new hemodialysis system, providing an improved experience for patients. Previously, from 2007 through 2010, he was CEO of Spiracur Inc., a developer of innovative wound healing technologies that Mr. Pinto co-founded out of the Stanford University Biodesign Innovation Program. Mr. Pinto also worked for Herzog, Fox & Neeman, a law firm based in Israel. He served on the Board of Directors of Spiracur Inc. from 2010 to 2015. Mr. Pinto received an MBA from Stanford University, an LLM from Universita di Bologna, an EMLE from the University of Hamburg, and an LLB in Law from Tel Aviv University. Among other experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, the Board concluded that Mr. Pinto should serve as a director of our company due to his historical experience with businesses in the medical industry and in light of our business and structure.

 

Vote Required

 

Directors will be elected by plurality vote. No minimum vote is required for the nominees to be elected. If any other nominee is put forward at the meeting, the nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes of the shares present or represented and entitled to be voted at the meeting shall be elected as directors. Stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights. Your vote may be cast for or withheld from any individual nominee.

 

Our Board of Directors has unanimously approved and recommends that stockholders vote “FOR”

the election of Mr. Amron as a Class I director,

the election of Dr. Mieyal and Mr. Persen as Class II directors, and

the election of Messrs. Evans and Pinto as Class III directors (Item 1 of the enclosed proxy card).

 

 

PROPOSAL NO. 2 —

RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT

REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

The Audit Committee of the Board has selected the firm of Moody, Famiglietti & Andronico, LLP (“MFA”) to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018. The Board has ratified this selection and recommends that the stockholders ratify this selection. If the selection of MFA is not ratified by the stockholders, the Audit Committee will reconsider, but might not change, its selection.

 

MFA has audited our consolidated accounts since 2015, and has advised us that it does not have, and has not had, any direct or indirect financial interest in our company in any capacity other than that of serving as independent registered public accounting firm. Representatives of MFA are expected to attend the annual meeting. They will have an opportunity to make a statement, if they desire to do so, and will also be available to respond to appropriate questions.

 

Summary of Auditor Fees and Pre-Approval Policy

 

In accordance with its charter, the Audit Committee approves in advance all audit and non-audit services to be provided by our registered independent public accounting firm. Although the Audit Committee does not have formal pre-approval policies and procedures in place, it pre-approved all of the services performed by MFA during fiscal years 2017 and 2016.

 

Audit Fees

 

Fees billed for audit services by MFA for the year ended December 31, 2017 totaled approximately $112,000 in connection with the March 31, 2017, June 30, 2017, and September 30, 2017 interim reviews and the fiscal year end December 31, 2016 audit. Fees billed for audit services by MFA for the year ended December 31, 2016 totaled approximately $83,000 in connection with the March 31, 2016, June 30, 2016, and September 30, 2016 interim reviews and the fiscal year end December 31, 2015 audit.

 

Audit-Related Fees

 

There were no audit-related services provided by MFA during the years ended December 31, 2017 or 2016.

 

Tax Fees

 

Fees for tax services provided by MFA for the year ended December 31, 2017 were approximately $8,000. Fees for tax services provided by MFA for the year ended December 31, 2016 were approximately $21,000.

 

All Other Fees

 

We did not engage MFA to provide any information technology services or any other services during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

 

Vote Required

 

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock present or represented and voting on this proposal at the meeting shall constitute ratification of the appointment of MFA. Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against Proposal No. 3. However, broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of this matter.

 

Our Board of Directors has unanimously approved and recommends a vote “FOR”

the ratification of the selection of Moody, Famiglietti & Andronico, LLP as our independent registered public

accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018 (Item 2 on the enclosed proxy card).

 

 

PROPOSAL NO. 3 —

APPROVAL OF THE Nephros, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan

 

Background

 

On March 26, 2015, the Board approved the Nephros, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, and on December 20, 2017, the Board approved an amendment to the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares reserved under the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended, the “2015 Plan”). A copy of the 2015 Plan is attached as Appendix A to this proxy statement. The following summary of the material terms of the 2015 Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2015 Plan.

 

The purpose of the 2015 Plan is to aid us in attracting, retaining, motivating and rewarding our key employees to whom our successful operations and strong performance are tied, and to promote the creation of long-term value for stockholders by closely aligning the interests of participants with those of our stockholders. The Board believes that equity incentive grants are vital to our interests and our stockholders, as they play an important role in our ability to attract and retain key management, align a significant percentage of our executives’ compensation to their performance, as well as ours, and generate in our executives a strategic long-term interest in our performance. As discussed below, the 2015 Plan allows for the continued use of stock-based compensation and will permit us significant flexibility in determining the types and specific terms of awards made to participants. This flexibility will allow us to make future awards based on the then-current objectives for aligning compensation with stockholder value.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

In addition to the 2015 Plan, we also maintain two other terminated equity plans, the Amended and Restated Nephros 2000 Equity Incentive Plan and our Nephros, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan (together, the “Prior Plans”). No further equity is granted under the Prior Plans.

 

As of March 27, 2018, with respect to the 2015 Plan and the Prior Plans, there were:

 

	●	6,570,777 shares of common stock subject to outstanding stock options with a weighted-average exercise price of $0.55 and expiration dates ranging from 2019 through 2027; and
	●	799,387 shares of restricted stock subject to forfeiture.

 

The Board has reserved 10,000,000 shares for issuance pursuant to the 2015 Plan. As of March 27, 2018, 1,752,135 shares remain available for issuance pursuant to the 2015 Plan and we had a total of 57,215,511 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.

 

The following table indicates the awards granted by us under the 2015 Plan and the Prior Plans for the fiscal years ended December 31,

 

(in thousands)		2017				2016				2015
Options Granted			2,311,542				510,520				2,911,829
Options Forfeited or Expired			133,112				221,811				1,080,425
Options Exercised			-				-				-
Restricted Stock Granted			817,144				1,047,109				617,795
Restricted Stock Forfeited			-				-				-
Restricted Stock Vested			975,093				590,955				248,690
Weighted-Average Common Shares Outstanding for Year			52,935,728				48,583,165				34,780,506

 

The following table presents the issued but unexercised stock options under the 2015 Plan and the Prior Plans as of December 31,

 

Year		Shares Subject to Outstanding Stock Options				Weighted Avg. Exercise Price				Weighted Avg. Remaining Term
2017			6,770,777			$	0.55			7.8 years
2016			4,592,347			$	0.60			7.8 years
2015			4,303,638			$	0.65			8.5 years

 

As of December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, there were 799,387, 957,336, and 501,182 shares of restricted stock subject to forfeiture, respectively.

 

 

Administration

 

The Board will initially be the administrator of the 2015 Plan, but the Board may delegate the administration of the 2015 Plan to the Compensation Committee. The Board and any Committee to which it may delegate the administration of the 2015 Plan are collectively referred to in the 2015 Plan as the “Administrator.”

 

The Administrator may delegate to one or more Committees and/or sub-Committees, or to one or more of our officers, or to one or more agents and/or advisors, such administrative duties or powers as it may deem advisable. The Administrator or any Committees or individuals to whom it has delegated duties or powers as aforesaid may employ one or more individuals to render advice with respect to any responsibility of the Administrator or such Committees or individuals may have under the 2015 Plan. The Administrator may, by resolution, authorize one or more of our officers to do one or both of the following on the same basis as the Administrator: (i) designate employees to be recipients of awards under the 2015 Plan and (ii) determine the size of any such awards; provided, however, that the Committee may not delegate such responsibilities to any such officer for awards granted to an employee who is one of our officers or directors or the beneficial owner of more than 10% of our common stock; the resolution providing such authorization sets forth the total number of awards such officer(s) may grant; and the officer(s) must report periodically to the Administrator regarding the nature and scope of the awards granted pursuant to the authority delegated.

 

Except as otherwise provided in the 2015 Plan, the Administrator will have all of the powers vested in it under the provisions of the 2015 Plan, including but not limited to exclusive authority to determine, in its sole discretion, whether an award will be granted; the individuals to whom, and the time or times at which, awards will be granted; the number of shares subject to each award; the exercise price of Options granted hereunder; and the performance criteria, if any, and any other terms and conditions of each award. The Administrator will have full power and authority to administer and interpret the 2015 Plan, to make and amend rules, regulations and guidelines for administering the 2015 Plan, to prescribe the form and conditions of the respective Agreements evidencing each award (which may vary from Participant to Participant), to amend or revise Agreements evidencing any award (to the extent the amended terms would be permitted by the 2015 Plan and provided that no such revision or amendment, except as is authorized in Section 15 of the 2015 Plan, may impair the terms and conditions of any award that is outstanding on the date of such revision or amendment to the material detriment of the Participant in the absence of the consent of the Participant), and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the 2015 Plan (including to correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the 2015 Plan or any Agreement, to the extent permitted by law and the 2015 Plan). The Administrator’s interpretation of the 2015 Plan, and all actions taken and determinations made by the Administrator pursuant to the power vested in it under the 2015 Plan will be conclusive and binding on all parties concerned.

 

Eligibility

 

Any employee, director, or consultant may participate in the 2015 Plan; provided, however, that only employees are eligible to receive incentive stock options.

 

Shares Available for Awards

 

The stock to be awarded or optioned under the Plan (the “share authorization”) will consist of authorized but unissued or reacquired shares of common stock. The maximum aggregate number of shares of common stock reserved and available for awards under the 2015 Plan is 10,000,000 shares; provided, that all shares of stock reserved and available under the 2015 Plan will constitute the maximum aggregate number of shares of stock that may be issued through incentive stock options.

 

The following shares of common stock will not reduce the share authorization and will continue to be reserved and available for awards granted pursuant to the 2015 Plan: (i) all or any portion of any outstanding restricted stock award or restricted stock unit that expires or is forfeited for any reason, or that is terminated prior to the vesting or lapsing of the risks of forfeiture on such award, and (ii) shares of common stock covered by an award to the extent the award is settled in cash; provided, however, that the full number of shares of common stock subject to a stock appreciation right will reduce the share authorization, whether such stock appreciation right is settled in cash or shares of common stock. Any shares of common stock withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations on an award, shares of common stock withheld to pay the exercise price of an option, and shares of common stock subject to a broker-assisted cashless exercise of an option will reduce the share authorization.

 

Unless and until the Administrator of the 2015 Plan determines that a specific award to a covered employee is not “performance-based” compensation for purposes of the prior version of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (in which case the following limits will not apply to that award), no person may be granted options or stock appreciation rights under the 2015 Plan for more than 3,000,000 shares of common stock in any calendar year, and no person may be granted restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards or performance awards under the 2015 Plan for more than 1,000,000 shares of common stock in any calendar year. These limits remain in place, despite the elimination of the “performance-based” compensation deduction in Section 162(m), as discussed below.

 

 

The Administrator will adjust the number of shares and share limit described above in the case of a stock dividend, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-off, repurchase or exchange of shares, or other similar corporate transaction where such an adjustment is necessary to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits available under the 2015 Plan. Any adjustment determination made by the Administrator will be final, binding and conclusive.

 

Type of Awards and Terms and Conditions

 

The 2015 Stock Plan provides that the Administrator may grant awards to eligible participants in any of the following forms, subject to such terms, conditions and provisions as the Administrator may determine to be necessary or desirable:

 

	●	stock options, including both incentive stock options (“ISOs”) and non-qualified stock options;
	●	stock appreciation rights;
	●	restricted stock;
	●	restricted stock units;
	●	performance awards.

 

Options. Options may either be incentive stock options, which are specifically designated as such for purposes of compliance with Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, or non-qualified stock options. Options vest as determined by the Administrator, subject to applicable performance objectives and statutory limitations regarding the maximum term of ISOs and the maximum value of ISOs that may vest in one year. The exercise price of each share subject to an ISO will be equal to or greater than the fair market value of a share on the date of the grant of the ISO, except in the case of an ISO grant to a stockholder who owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock or our parent or any subsidiary, the exercise price will be equal to or greater than 110% of the fair market value of a share on the grant date. Non-qualified stock options vest as determined by the Administrator, subject to applicable performance objectives and statutory limitations regarding the maximum term of non-qualified stock options. The exercise price of each share subject to a non-qualified stock option will be determined by the Administrator at the time of grant but must be equal to or greater than the fair market value of a share on the date of grant. Recipients of options have no rights as stockholders with respect to any shares covered by the award until the award is exercised and a stock certificate or book entry evidencing such shares is issued or made, respectively.

 

Restricted Stock Awards. Restricted stock awards consist of shares granted to a participant that are subject to one or more risks of forfeiture. Restricted stock awards may be subject to risk of forfeiture based on the passage of time or the satisfaction of other criteria, such as continued employment or our performance. Recipients of restricted stock awards are entitled to vote and receive dividends attributable to the shares underlying the awards beginning on the grant date, but have no other rights as stockholders with respect to such shares.

 

Restricted Stock Units. Restricted stock units consist of a right to receive shares (or cash, in the Administrator’s discretion) on one or more vesting dates in the future. The vesting dates may be based on the passage of time or the satisfaction of other criteria, such as continued employment or our performance. Recipients of restricted stock units have no rights as stockholders with respect to any shares covered by the awards until the date a stock certificate or book entry evidencing such shares is issued or made, respectively.

 

Performance Awards. Performance awards, which may be denominated in cash or shares, are earned upon achievement of performance objectives during a performance period established by the Administrator. Recipients of performance awards have no rights as stockholders with respect to any shares covered by the awards until the date a stock certificate or book entry evidencing such shares is issued or made, respectively.

 

Stock Appreciation Rights. A stock appreciation right may be granted independent of, or in tandem with, a previously or contemporaneously granted stock option, as determined by the Administrator. Generally, upon exercise of a stock appreciation right, the recipient will receive cash, shares of our stock, or a combination of cash and stock, with a value equal to the excess of: (i) the fair market value of a specified number of shares of Company stock on the date of the exercise, over (ii) a specified exercise price. Stock appreciation rights vest as determined by the Administrator, subject to applicable performance objectives and statutory limitations regarding the maximum term of stock appreciation rights. Recipients of stock appreciation rights have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by the award until the date a stock certificate or book entry evidencing such shares is issued or made, respectively.

 

 

Amendments of the 2015 Plan

 

The Board may from time to time, insofar as permitted by law, suspend or discontinue the 2015 Plan or revise or amend it in any respect. However, to the extent required by applicable law or regulation or as except as provided under the 2015 Plan itself, the Board may not, without stockholder approval, revise or amend the 2015 Plan to (i) materially increase the number of shares subject to the 2015 Plan, (ii) change the designation of participants, including the class of employees, eligible to receive awards, (iii) decrease the price at which options or stock appreciation rights may be granted, (iv) cancel, regrant, repurchase for cash, or replace options or stock appreciation rights that have an exercise price in excess of the fair market value of the common stock with other awards, or amend the terms of outstanding options or stock appreciation rights to reduce their exercise price, (v) materially increase the benefits accruing to participants under the 2015 Plan, or (vi) make any modification that will cause incentive stock options to fail to meet the requirements of Internal Revenue Code Section 422.

 

Term

 

The Administrator may grant awards pursuant to the 2015 Plan until it is discontinued or terminated; provided, however, that ISOs may not be granted after March 25, 2025.

 

Change of Control

 

Unless otherwise provided in the terms of an award, upon our change of control, as defined in the 2015 Plan, the Administrator may provide for one or more of the following: (i) the acceleration of the exercisability, vesting, or lapse of the risks of forfeiture of any or all awards (or portions thereof); (ii) the complete termination of the 2015 Plan and the cancellation of any or all awards (or portions thereof) that have not been exercised, have not vested, or remain subject to risks of forfeiture, as applicable in each case as of the effective date of the change of control; (iii) that the entity succeeding us by reason of such change of control, or the parent of such entity, must assume or continue any or all awards (or portions thereof) outstanding immediately prior to the change of control or substitute for any or all such awards (or portions thereof) a substantially equivalent award with respect to the securities of such successor entity, as determined in accordance with applicable laws and regulations; or (iv) that participants holding outstanding awards will become entitled to receive, with respect to each share of common stock subject to such award (whether vested or unvested, as determined by the Administrator pursuant to the 2015 Plan) as of the effective date of any such change of control, cash in an amount equal to (1) for participants holding options or stock appreciation rights, the excess of the fair market value of such common stock on the date immediately preceding the effective date of such change of control over the exercise price per share of options or stock appreciation rights, or (2) for participants holding awards other than options or stock appreciation rights, the fair market value of such common stock on the date immediately preceding the effective date of such change of control. The Administrator need not take the same action with respect to all awards (or portions thereof) or with respect to all participants.

 

Payment

 

Upon exercise of an option granted under the 2015 Plan, and as permitted in the Administrator’s discretion, the option holder may pay the exercise price in cash (or cash equivalent), by surrendering previously-acquired unencumbered shares of our common stock, by withholding shares of our common stock from the number of shares that would otherwise be issuable upon exercise of the option (e.g., a net share settlement), through broker-assisted cashless exercise (if compliant with applicable securities laws and any of our insider trading policies), another form of payment authorized by the Administrator, or a combination of any of the foregoing. If the exercise price is paid, in whole or in part, with our common stock, the then-current fair market value of the stock delivered or withheld will be used to calculate the number of shares required to be delivered or withheld.

 

Transfer Restrictions

 

Unless permitted by law and expressly permitted by the 2015 Plan or underlying award agreement, no award will be transferable, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The Administrator may permit a recipient of a non-qualified stock option to transfer the award by gift to his or her “immediate family” or to certain trusts or partnerships (as defined and permitted by applicable federal securities law).

 

New Plan Benefits

 

The amount of future awards will be determined by the administrator. The 2015 Plan does not require awards in specific amounts or to specific recipients or provide formulae to determine the amount or recipient of awards. As a result, we cannot determine the awards that will be made under the 2015 Plan or that would have been made in the past if the 2015 Plan had been in place.

 

 

Federal Income Tax Matters

 

Options. Under present law, an optionee will not recognize any taxable income on the date a non-qualified stock option is granted pursuant to the 2015 Plan. Upon exercise of the option, however, the optionee must recognize, in the year of exercise, compensation taxable as ordinary income in an amount equal to the difference between the option price and the fair market value of our common stock on the date of exercise. Upon the sale of the shares, any resulting gain or loss will be treated as capital gain or loss. We will receive an income tax deduction in our fiscal year in which non-qualified stock options are exercised equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by those optionees exercising options, and must comply with applicable tax withholding requirements.

 

ISOs granted under the 2015 Plan are intended to qualify for favorable tax treatment under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. Under Section 422, an optionee recognizes no compensation that is taxable as ordinary income when the option is granted. Further, the optionee generally will not recognize any compensation that is taxable as ordinary income when the option is exercised if he or she has at all times from the date of the option’s grant until three months before the date of exercise been our employee. We generally are not entitled to any income tax deduction upon the grant or exercise of an incentive stock option. Certain other favorable tax consequences may be available to the optionee if he or she does not dispose of the shares acquired upon the exercise of an incentive stock option for a period of two years from the granting of the option and one year from the receipt of the shares.

 

Restricted Stock Awards. Generally, no income is taxable to the recipient of a restricted stock award in the year that the award is granted. Instead, the recipient will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the shares in the year in which the risks of forfeiture restrictions lapse. Alternatively, if a recipient makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, the recipient will, in the year that the restricted stock award is granted, recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the shares on the date of the award. We normally will receive a corresponding deduction equal to the amount of compensation the recipient is required to recognize as ordinary taxable income, and must comply with applicable tax withholding requirements.

 

Restricted Stock Units. A recipient of restricted stock units will generally recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares (or the amount of cash) distributed to settle the restricted stock units on the vesting date(s). We normally will receive a corresponding deduction at the time of vesting, equal to the amount of compensation the recipient is required to recognize as ordinary taxable income, and must comply with applicable tax withholding requirements.

 

Performance Awards. A recipient of performance awards will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income equal to the value of the shares of our common stock or the cash received, as the case may be, in the year that the recipient receives payment. We normally will receive a deduction equal to the amount of compensation the recipient is required to recognize as ordinary taxable income, and must comply with applicable tax withholding requirements.

 

Stock Appreciation Rights. Generally, a recipient of a stock appreciation right will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income equal to the value of the shares of our common stock or the cash received in the year that the stock appreciation right is exercised. We normally will receive a corresponding deduction equal to the amount of compensation the recipient is required to recognize as ordinary taxable income, and must comply with applicable tax withholding requirements.

 

Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. Depending in part on particular award terms and conditions, certain awards under the 2015 Plan may be considered non-qualified deferred compensation subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. If the terms of such awards do not meet the requirements of Section 409A, the violation of Section 409A may result in an additional 20% tax obligation, plus penalties and interest for such participant.

 

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. The 2015 Plan allowed us to grant certain performance-based awards to “covered employees” in compliance with the prior version of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. These covered employees included our Chief Executive Officer and each of the next three most highly compensated executive officers (other than the Chief Financial Officer, if any). The prior version of Section 162(m) generally limited the corporate tax deduction for compensation paid to these covered employees that was not “performance-based” to $1,000,000 per covered employee. “Performance-based” compensation meeting certain requirements was not counted against the $1,000,000 limit and generally remained fully deductible for tax purposes.

 

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017Act (the “Tax Act”) eliminated the “performance-based” exception for compensation payments beginning in fiscal year 2018 and expanded the application of Section 162(m) to the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and each of the next three most highly compensated executive officers. As a result, we may still grant “performance-based” compensation, but the tax deduction available for this compensation will no longer be available for compensation paid to our Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, who at this time are our only executive officers.

 

 

The foregoing is only a summary of the effect of U.S. federal income taxation with respect to the grant and exercise of awards under the 2015 Plan. It does not purport to be complete, and does not discuss the tax consequences of an individual’s death or the provisions of the income tax laws of any municipality, state or foreign country in which any eligible individual may reside.

 

Other Information

 

Other than as a result of their right to participate in the 2015 Plan, no person who was one of directors or executive officers in the year ended December 31, 2017 or who is a nominee for director at the 2018 Annual Meeting, or any associate of theirs, has any substantial interest in this proposal.

 

Vote Required

 

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock present or represented and voting on this proposal at the meeting shall constitute approval of the 2015 Plan.

 

Our Board of Directors has unanimously approved and recommends that stockholders vote “FOR”

approval of the Nephros, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (Item 3 of the enclosed proxy card).

 

 

 

 

PROPOSAL NO. 4 —

ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

We are asking our stockholders to cast an advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in our proxy statement under “Compensation Matters”, and in the tabular and accompanying narrative disclosure regarding named executive officer compensation.

 

As required by Section 14A(a)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), our stockholders are entitled to vote at the annual meeting to approve the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, at least once every three years. In accordance with the preference of our stockholders, as expressed in a non-binding advisory vote on the frequency of advisory votes on executive compensation at the 2014 annual stockholder meeting, We have determined to hold advisory votes on the compensation of the named executive officers once every two years.

 

Our executive compensation arrangements are designed to enhance stockholder value on an annual and long-term basis. Through the use of base pay as well as annual and long-term incentives, we seek to compensate our named executive officers for their contributions to our profitability and success. Please read “Compensation Matters” beginning on page 18 of this proxy statement for additional details about our executive compensation arrangements, including information about the fiscal year 2017 compensation of our named executive officers. We are asking our stockholders to indicate their support for our compensation arrangements as described in this proxy statement.

 

For the reasons discussed above, the Board recommends that stockholders vote in favor of the following resolution:

 

“RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K under the heading “Compensation Matters”, including the compensation tables and narrative discussion, is hereby APPROVED.”

 

Vote Required

 

The affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast is required to approve the compensation of our named executive officers. Because your vote is advisory, however, it will not be binding upon or overrule any decisions of the Board, nor will it create any additional fiduciary duty on the part of the Board. This advisory vote also does not seek to have the Board or Compensation Committee take any specific action. However, the Board and the Compensation Committee value the view expressed by our stockholders in their vote on this proposal and will take into account the outcome of the vote when considering executive compensation matters in the future. In considering the outcome of this advisory vote, the Board will review and consider all shares voted in favor of the proposal and not in favor of the proposal. Broker non-votes will have no impact on the outcome of this advisory vote.

 

Our Board of Directors has unanimously approved and recommends a vote “FOR”

the approval of the compensation of the named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy

statement pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K (Item 4 on the enclosed proxy card).

 

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Board of Director Meetings

 

Our business is under the general oversight of the Board as provided by the laws of Delaware and our bylaws. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, the Board held ten meetings and took action by unanimous written consent in lieu of a meeting two times. Each person who was a director during 2017 attended at least 75% of the Board of Directors meetings and the meetings of the committees on which he served.

 

Each of our directors is encouraged to be present at the annual meeting of our stockholders absent exigent circumstances that prevents his attendance. Where a director is unable to attend the annual meeting in person but is able to do so by electronic conferencing, we will arrange for the director’s participation by means where the director can hear, and be heard by, those present at the meeting. We did not hold an annual meeting in 2017.

 

Selection of Nominees for the Board of Directors

 

The entire Board is responsible for nominating members for election to the Board and for filling vacancies on the Board that might occur between annual meetings of the stockholders. The Board is also responsible for identifying, screening, and recommending candidates for prospective Board membership. When formulating its membership recommendations, the Board also considers any qualified candidate for an open Board position timely submitted by our stockholders in accordance with our established procedures.

 

The Board will evaluate and recommend candidates for membership on the Board consistent with criteria, including: personal qualities and characteristics, accomplishments, and reputation in the business community; financial, regulatory, and business experience; current knowledge and contacts in the industry in which we do business; ability and willingness to commit adequate time to Board and committee matters; fit of the individual’s skills with those of other directors and potential directors in building a Board that is effective and responsive to our needs; independence; and any other factors the Board deems relevant, including diversity of viewpoints, background, experience, and other demographics. In addition, prior to nominating an existing director for re-election, the Board will consider and review an existing director’s Board and committee attendance and performance; length of Board service; experience, skills, and contributions that the existing director brings to the Board; and independence.

 

To identify nominees, the Board will rely on personal contacts as well as its knowledge of persons in our industry. We have not previously used an independent search firm to identify nominees.

 

The Board will consider stockholder recommendations of candidates when the recommendations are properly submitted. Stockholder recommendations should be submitted to us under the procedures discussed in “Procedures For Security Holder Submission of Nominating Recommendations” which is available on our website at https://www.nephros.com/corporate-governance/ by clicking on the link titled “Procedures for Security Holder Submission of Nominating Recommendations.” Written notice of any nomination must be timely delivered to Nephros, Inc., 380 Lackawanna Place, South Orange, New Jersey 07079, Attention: Board of Directors, c/o President and Chief Executive Officer.

 

The Board uses a variety of methods for identifying and evaluating non-incumbent candidates for director. The Board regularly assesses the appropriate size and composition of the Board, the needs of the Board and the respective committees of the Board as well as the qualifications of candidates in light of these needs. The Board will solicit recommendations for nominees from persons that the Board believes are likely to be familiar with qualified candidates, including members of the Board, our management or a professional search firm. The evaluation of these candidates may be based solely upon information provided to the Board or may also include discussions with persons familiar with the candidate, an interview of the candidate or other actions the Board deems appropriate, including the use of third parties to review candidates.

 

Director Independence

 

Presently, we are not required to comply with the director independence requirements of any securities exchange. Our Board has determined that all of the current directors are “independent” within the meaning of the Nasdaq independence standard, other than Mr. Evans, who currently serves as the Company’s President and CEO, Dr. Mieyal, who served as our Acting President, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Acting Chief Financial Officer and Acting Secretary from January 4, 2015 until April 15, 2015, and Mr. Amron, who is a Partner of Wexford Capital LP, the managing member of Lambda Investors LLC, which owns beneficially approximately 55% of our common stock as of March 27, 2018.

 

 

Committees

 

Our Board of Directors has established an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee. These committees are each governed by a specific charter, each of which is available on our website at www.nephros.com/corporate-governance/.

 

The Board does not currently have a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee given that the entire Board participates in discussions and decisions regarding identifying qualified individuals to become Board members, determining the composition of the Board and its committees, in monitoring a process to assess Board effectiveness and developing and implementing corporate procedures and policies.

 

Audit Committee

 

The Audit Committee is composed of Malcolm Persen (Chairman) and Paul Mieyal, neither of whom is our employee, however, Dr. Mieyal served as our Acting President, Acting Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer from January 4, 2015 to April 15, 2015 and therefore is not independent. Mr. Persen has been determined by the Board of Directors to be independent under the Nasdaq listing standards. The purpose of the Audit Committee is to: (i) oversee accounting, auditing, and financial reporting processes; (ii) assess the integrity of our financial statements; (iii) ensure that our internal controls and procedures are designed to promote compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations; and (iv) appoint and evaluate the qualifications and independence of our independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee held four meetings in 2017.

 

The Board has determined that all Audit Committee members are financially literate under the current listing standards of Nasdaq. The Board also determined that Mr. Persen qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, rules adopted pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 based on his extensive experience previously outlined.

 

Compensation Committee

 

During fiscal year 2017, the Compensation Committee was composed only of Paul A. Mieyal. Dr. Mieyal served as our Acting President, Acting Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer from January 4, 2015 to April 15, 2015 and therefore is not independent. The purpose of the Compensation Committee is to: (i) assist the Board in discharging its responsibilities with respect to compensation of our executive officers and directors; (ii) evaluate the performance of our executive officers; (iii) assist the Board in developing succession plans for executive officers; and (iv) administer our stock and incentive compensation plans and recommend changes in such plans to the Board as needed. The Compensation Committee establishes the compensation of senior executives on an annual basis.

 

The Compensation Committee reviews and approves, on an annual basis, the corporate goals and objectives with respect to the compensation of our executive officers. The Compensation Committee evaluates, at least once a year, our executive officers’ performance in light of these established goals and objectives, and, based upon these evaluations, recommends to the full Board the annual compensation of such executive officers, including salary, bonus, incentive, and equity compensation. In reviewing and recommending the compensation of the executive officers, the Compensation Committee may consider the compensation awarded to officers of similarly situated companies, our performance, the individuals’ performance, compensation given to our executive officers in past years or any other fact that the Compensation Committee deems appropriate. The Chief Executive Officer does not participate in the discussions and processes concerning his own compensation and is not present during any discussions regarding his own compensation. The Compensation Committee also reviews and recommends to the full Board appropriate director compensation programs for service as directors and committee members. The Compensation Committee has the authority to delegate any of its responsibilities to subcommittees as the Committee may deem appropriate.

 

Board Leadership Structure and Oversight of Risk

 

The Board of Directors is responsible for providing oversight of our affairs. The Chairman of the Board, among other responsibilities, works with the Chief Executive Officer and the Board to prepare Board meeting agendas and schedules, acts as liaison to other members of the Board, and, in conjunction with our Chief Executive Officer, presides at Board meetings. There was no named Chairman of the Board during fiscal year 2017.

 

As explained above, our Board of Directors has two committees—the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee. Our Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing certain accounting related aspects of our risk management processes while our full Board of Directors focuses on overall risk management. The Audit Committee and the full Board of Directors focus on what they believe to be the most significant risks facing us and our general risk management strategy, and also attempt to ensure, together with the Chief Executive Officer, that risks undertaken by us are consistent with the Board’s appetite for risk. While the Board of Directors oversees our risk management, our management is responsible for day-to-day risk management processes. We believe this division of responsibilities at the present time is an appropriate approach for addressing the risks facing our company and that our Board leadership structure supports this approach. We can offer no assurance that this structure, or any other structure, will be effective in all circumstances.

 

 

Stockholder Communication with the Board

 

Stockholders may communicate with the Board of Directors, members of particular committees or to individual directors, by sending a letter to such persons in care of our President and Chief Executive Officer at our principal executive offices. The President and Chief Executive Officer has the authority to disregard any inappropriate communications or to take other appropriate actions with respect to any inappropriate communications. If deemed an appropriate communication, the President and Chief Executive Officer will submit the correspondence to the Board of Directors or to any committee or specific director to whom the correspondence is directed. Procedures for sending communications to the Board of Directors can be found on our website at https://www.nephros.com/corporate-governance/ by clicking on the link titled “Whistleblower Policy.” Please note that all such communications must be accompanied by a statement of the type and amount of our securities that the person holds; any special interest, meaning an interest that is not derived from the proponent’s capacity as a stockholder, of the person in the subject matter of the communication; and the address, telephone number and e-mail address, if any, of the person submitting the communication.

 

Code of Business Conduct and Code of Ethics

 

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, we adopted a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, which was amended and restated on April 2, 2007, for our employees, officers and directors that complies with SEC regulations. The Code of Ethics is available free of charge on our website at www.nephros.com/corporate-governance/. We intend to timely disclose any amendments to, or waivers from, our code of ethics and business conduct that are required to be publicly disclosed pursuant to rules of the SEC by filing such amendment or waiver with the SEC.

 

Executive Officers

 

Our current executive officers are Daron Evans, who serves as our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Andrew Astor, who serves as our Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Evans’ biography may be found above in the section titled “PROPOSAL NO. 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.”

 

Mr. Astor, age 61, joined as our Chief Financial Officer on February 13, 2017. He is a technology, financial, and business executive and was most recently President and Chief Financial Officer at Open Source Consulting Group, a growth stage services firm. Previously, he was a Managing Director at Synechron, a global consulting organization, from 2013 to 2015. From 2009 to 2013, he served as Vice President at Asurion, a large, privately-held insurance company. Mr. Astor was co-founder of the software company EnterpriseDB, and served as its CEO from 2004 to 2008. Mr. Astor was Vice President at webMethods, a software firm, from 2002 to 2004 and Vice President at Dun & Bradstreet from 1998 to 2001. Prior to 1998, Mr. Astor held various roles at American Management Systems, SHL/MCI Systemhouse, and Ernst & Young. Mr. Astor received his Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Clark University, and his MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

 

The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed our consolidated audited financial statements for fiscal year 2017 with management. The Audit Committee has discussed with Moody, Famiglietti & Andronico, LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard 1301 Communications with Audit Committee, as amended. The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from Moody, Famiglietti & Andronico, LLP required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding communications with the Audit Committee regarding independence, and has discussed with Moody, Famiglietti & Andronico, LLP its independence. Based on the review and discussions described above, among other things, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the consolidated audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2017.

 

Submitted by:	The Audit Committee
	Malcolm Persen, Chairman
	Paul A. Mieyal

 

 

STOCK OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

 

The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 27, 2018, by (i) each person known to us to own beneficially more than five percent (5%) of our common stock, based on such persons’ or entities’ filings with the SEC as of that date; (ii) each director, director nominee and executive officer; and (iii) all directors, director nominees and executive officers as a group:

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner		Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership				Percentage of Class(1)
Lambda Investors LLC(2)			32,065,257				55.2	%
Arthur H. Amron(3)			-				*
Andrew Astor(4)			645,021				1.1	%
Daron Evans(5)			2,008,253				3.4	%
Paul A. Mieyal(6)			-				*
Malcolm Persen(7)			404,977				*
Moshe Pinto(8)			251,615				*
All executive officers and directors as a group (6 individuals)(9)			3,309,866				5.6	%

 

*	Represents less than 1% of the outstanding shares of our common stock.
(1)	Applicable percentage ownership is based on 57,215,511 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 27, 2018, together with applicable options and warrants for each stockholder. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC, based on factors including voting and investment power with respect to shares. Common stock subject to options and warrants exercisable on or within 60 days after March 27, 2018 are deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of the person holding those options or warrants, but not for computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
(2)	Based on information provided in a Schedule 13D dated January 12, 2018. The shares beneficially owned by Lambda Investors LLC (“Lambda”) may be deemed beneficially owned by Wexford Capital LP, which is the managing member of Lambda, Wexford GP LLC, which is the General Partner of Wexford Capital LP, by Charles E. Davidson in his capacity as Chairman and managing member of Wexford Capital LP and by Joseph M. Jacobs in his capacity as President and managing member of Wexford Capital LP. The address of each of Lambda, Wexford Capital LP, Mr. Davidson and Mr. Jacobs is c/o Wexford Capital LP, 777 South Flagler Drive, Suite 602 East. West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Each of Wexford Capital LP, Wexford GP LLC, Mr. Davidson and Mr. Jacobs disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock owned by Lambda except, in the case of Mr. Davidson and Mr. Jacobs, to the extent of their respective interests in each member of Lambda. Includes 231,226 shares issuable upon exercise of options and 600,000 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants. Lambda is controlled by Wexford Capital LP. Arthur H. Amron, one of our directors, is a Partner and General Counsel of Wexford Capital LP. Paul A. Mieyal, one of our directors and our former Acting President, Acting Chief Executive Officer, and Acting Chief Financial Officer until April 15, 2015, is a Vice President of Wexford Capital LP.
(3)	Mr. Amron’s address is c/o Wexford Capital LP, 411 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830.
(4)	Mr. Astor’s address is the company address: 380 Lackawanna Place, South Orange, NJ 07079. The shares identified as being beneficially owned by Mr. Astor consist of: (i) 142,896 shares issuable upon exercise of options; and (ii) 166,666 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants.
(5)	Mr. Evans’ address is the company address: 380 Lackawanna Place, South Orange, NJ 07079. The shares identified as being beneficially owned by Mr. Evans consist of: (i) 712,958 shares of common stock; (ii) 104,832 shares of common stock held indirectly; (iii) 180,000 shares of restricted stock; (iv) 867,131 shares issuable upon exercise of options; and (v) 143,332 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants.
(6)	Dr. Mieyal’s address is c/o Wexford Capital LP, 411 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830.
(7)	Mr. Persen’s address is the company address: 380 Lackawanna Place, South Orange, NJ 07079. The shares identified as being beneficially owned by Mr. Persen consist of: (i) 151,605 shares of common stock; (ii) 31,160 shares of common stock held by Mr. Persen’s spouse; (iii) 113,636 shares of restricted stock; (iv) 92,996 shares issuable upon exercise of options and (v) 15,580 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants.
(8)	Mr. Pinto’s address is the company address: 380 Lackawanna Place, South Orange, NJ 07079. The shares identified as being beneficially owned by Mr. Pinto consist of: (i) 82,581 shares of common stock; (ii) 73,864 shares of restricted stock and (iii) 95,170 shares issuable upon exercise of options.
(9)	Includes options to purchase a total of 1,198,193 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase a total of 325,578 shares of common stock. See Footnotes 4, 5, 7 and 8 above.

 

 

COMPENSATION MATTERS

 

Executive Compensation

 

The following table sets forth all compensation earned in the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 by our named executive officers.

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and Principal Position		Year				Salary ($)				Stock Awards(1) ($)				Options Awards(1) ($)				All Other Compensation(2) ($)				Total ($)
Daron Evans(3)			2017				240,000				96,747				340,000				7,043				683,790
President and Chief Executive Officer			2016				240,000				68,182				—				17,880				326,062
Andrew Astor(4)			2017				193,000				60,209				341,069				6,094				600,372
Chief Financial Officer

 

(1)	The amount reported is the aggregate grant date fair value of the options and restricted stock awards granted, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The assumptions used in determining the grant date fair values of the option awards are set forth in Notes 2 and 10 of the consolidated financial statements included in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(2)	Consists of employer matching 401(k) contributions.
(3)	Mr. Evans served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer from April 15, 2015 to February 13, 2017. He currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer, but no longer serves as Acting Chief Financial Officer as of February 13, 2017 in connection with the appointment of Andrew Astor as Chief Financial Officer.
(4)	Mr. Astor has served as Chief Financial Officer since February 13, 2017.

 

 

Option and Restricted Stock Holdings and Fiscal Year-End Option and Restricted Stock Values

 

The following table shows information concerning unexercised options and unvested restricted stock awards outstanding as of December 31, 2017 for our named executive officers.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2017

 

						Option Awards(2)																		Stock Awards
Name		Grant Date(1)				Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable(2)				Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable(2)				Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#)				Option Exercise Price ($)				Option Expiration Date		Number of Shares of Restricted Stock that Have Not Vested (#)				Market Value of Shares of Restricted Stock that Have Not Vested ($)
Daron Evans			03/26/2014				75,361				—				—				0.46			03/26/2024			—				—
Daron Evans			04/15/2015				525,572				238,896				1,419,725				0.60			04/15/2025			—				—
Daron Evans			12/20/2017				—				837,125				—				0.50			12/20/2027			—				—
Daron Evans			12/20/2017				—				—				—				—						180,000				81,000
Andrew Astor			02/13/2017				—				289,785				289,786				0.46			02/13/2027			—				—
Andrew Astor			05/01/2017				—				209,355				209,355				0.29			05/01/2027			—				—
Andrew Astor			12/20/2017				—				50,000				—				0.50			12/20/2027			—				—
Andrew Astor			12/20/2017				—				—				—				—						120,418				54,188

 

(1)	For better understanding of this table, we have included an additional column showing the grant date of stock options.
(2)	Stock options became or will become exercisable in accordance with the vesting schedule below:

 

Name		Grant Date		Vesting
Daron Evans		03/26/2014		Fully exercisable
Daron Evans		04/15/2015		● 35% of the shares subject to the option vest in 16 equal quarterly installments over 4 years, commencing June 30, 2015; ● 15% of the shares subject to the option will vest upon approval of listing of the our common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market, New York Stock Exchange or such other national securities exchange approved by the Board; ● 10% of the shares subject to the option will vest, if ever, on the February 1st following our first completed fiscal year in which annual revenue exceeds $3,000,000; ● 20% of the shares subject to the option will vest, if ever, on the February 1st following our first completed fiscal year in which annual revenue exceeds $6,000,000; and ● 20% of the shares subject to the option will vest, if ever, on the February 1st following our first completed fiscal year in which annual revenue exceeds $10,000,000.
Daron Evans		12/20/2017		25% of the shares subject to the option will vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, the remainder of the shares subject to the option will vest therein after on a quarterly basis.
Andrew Astor		02/13/2017		● 12.5% of the shares subject to the option vested on February 13, 2018; ● 37.5% of the shares subject to the option vest in twelve equal quarterly installments, with the first installment vesting three months following the first anniversary of the grant date; ● 20% of the shares subject to the option will vest, if ever, upon approval of listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market, New York Stock Exchange or such other national securities exchange approved by the Board; ● 10% of the shares subject to the option will vest, if ever, on the February 1st following our first completed fiscal year in which annual revenue exceeds $6,000,000; and ● 20% of the shares subject to the option will vest, if ever, on the February 1st following our first completed fiscal year in which annual revenue exceeds $10,000,000.
Andrew Astor		05/01/2017		● 12.5% of the shares subject to the option vest on the first anniversary of the grant date; ● 37.5% of the shares subject to the option vest in twelve equal quarterly installments, with the first installment vesting three months following the first anniversary of the grant date; ● 20% of the shares subject to the option will vest, if ever, upon approval of listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market, New York Stock Exchange or such other national securities exchange approved by the Board; ● 10% of the shares subject to the option will vest, if ever, on the February 1st following our first completed fiscal year in which annual revenue exceeds $6,000,000; and ● 20% of the shares subject to the option will vest, if ever, on the February 1st following our first completed fiscal year in which annual revenue exceeds $10,000,000.
Andrew Astor		12/20/2017		25% of the shares subject to the option will vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, the remainder of the shares subject to the option will vest therein after on a quarterly basis.

 

 

Employment and Change in Control Agreements

 

We have used employment agreements as a means to attract and retain executive officers. These are more fully discussed below. We believe that these agreements provide our executive officers with the assurance that their employment is a long-term arrangement and provide us with the assurance that the officers’ services will be available to us for the foreseeable future.

 

Agreement with Mr. Daron Evans

 

The terms of Mr. Evans’s employment with us are set forth in an Employment Agreement dated as of April 15, 2015 (the “Evans Employment Agreement”). The Evans Employment Agreement provides for a four-year term expiring on April 14, 2019, unless sooner terminated by either party. Pursuant to the Evans Employment Agreement, Mr. Evans receives an initial annualized base salary of $240,000 and is eligible to receive an annual performance bonus of up to 30% of his annualized base salary. As of January 1, 2018, Mr. Evans receives an annualized base salary of $350,000. At such time that our common stock is approved for listing on the Nasdaq Stock Market, New York Stock Exchange or such other national securities exchange approved by the Board and begins trading on such exchange, the Board may review and adjust Mr. Evans’s base salary to a market competitive level. In addition, Mr. Evans was granted a 10-year stock option to purchase an aggregate of 2,184,193 shares of our common stock pursuant to our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan. The option is exercisable at a price of $0.60 per share and vests, subject to Mr. Evans’s continued employment, as follows:

 

	●	35% of the shares subject to the option (relating to a total of 764,468 shares) vest quarterly in 16 equal amounts, commencing on June 30, 2015;
	●	15% of the shares subject to the option (related to a total of 327,629 shares) will vest upon approval of listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market, New York Stock Exchange or such other national securities exchange approved by the Board;
	●	10% of the shares subject to the option (relating to a total of 218,420 shares) will vest, if ever, on the February 1st following our first completed fiscal year in which annual revenue exceeds $3,000,000;
	●	20% of the shares subject to the option (relating to a total of 436,838 shares) will vest, if ever, on the February 1st following our first completed fiscal year in which annual revenue exceeds $6,000,000; and
	●	20% of the shares subject to the option (relating to a total of 436,838 shares) will vest, if ever, on the February 1st following our first completed fiscal year in which annual revenue exceeds $10,000,000.

 

The Evans Employment Agreement provides that if we terminate Mr. Evans without “Cause,” or if he resigns for “Good Reason” (each as defined in the Evans Employment Agreement), then he shall be entitled to: (i) continuation of his base salary for a period of three months if such termination occurs prior to April 15, 2016, or if such termination occurs following April 15, 2016, continuation of his base salary for a period of six months (or the expiration of the term of the Evans Employment Agreement, if sooner).

 

Agreement with Mr. Andrew Astor

 

The terms of Mr. Astor’s employment with us are set forth in a Letter Agreement dated as of February 10, 2017 (the “Astor Employment Agreement”). Mr. Astor’s initial employment was part-time, but was increased to full time as of April 27, 2017.

 

 

Pursuant to the Astor Employment Agreement, Mr. Astor received an initial base salary of $10,000 per month, which was increased to base annual compensation to $250,000 on April 27, 2017. Mr. Astor is eligible for an annual performance bonus of up to 25% of his annualized base salary, based primarily on our performance. In addition, Mr. Astor was granted a 10-year stock option to purchase an aggregate of 579,571 shares of our common stock pursuant to our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan. The option is exercisable at a price of $0.4599 per share and vests, subject to Mr. Astor’s continued employment, as follows:

 

	●	12.5% of the shares subject to the option (relating to a total of 72,446 shares) vested on February 13, 2018;
	●	37.5% of the shares subject to the option (relating to a total of 217,340 shares) vest quarterly in 12 equal amounts, commencing on May 13, 2018;
	●	20% of the shares subject to the option (relating to a total of 115,914 shares) will vest, if ever, upon approval of listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market, New York Stock Exchange or such other national securities exchange approved by the Board;
	●	10% of the shares subject to the option (relating to a total of 57,957 shares) will vest, if ever, on the February 1st following our first completed fiscal year in which annual revenue exceeds $6,000,000; and
	●	20% of the shares subject to the option (relating to a total of 115,914 shares) will vest, if ever, on the February 1st following our first completed fiscal year in which annual revenue exceeds $10,000,000.

 

The Astor Employment Agreement provides that if we terminate Mr. Astor without “cause” (as defined in the Astor Employment Agreement), then he shall be entitled to: (i) three months of base salary and three months of continued health benefits following one year of employment; or (ii) six months base salary and six months of health benefits following at least two years of employment.

 

Change in Control Agreements

 

Although we do not currently have change in control agreements in place with any employees, our 2015 Plan provides that upon a change of control, as such term is defined in the 2015 Plan, unless the agreement granting an award provides otherwise, the administrator of the 2015 Plan may provide for one or more of the following: (i) the acceleration of the exercisability, vesting, or lapse of the risks of forfeiture of any or all awards (or portions thereof); (ii) the complete termination of the 2015 Plan and the cancellation of any or all awards (or portions thereof) that have not been exercised, have not vested, or remain subject to risks of forfeiture, as applicable in each case as of the effective date of the change of control; (iii) that the entity succeeding us by reason of such change of control, or the parent of such entity, must assume or continue any or all awards (or portions thereof) outstanding immediately prior to the change of control or substitute for any or all such awards (or portions thereof) a substantially equivalent award with respect to the securities of such successor entity, as determined in accordance with applicable laws and regulations; or (iv) that participants holding outstanding awards will become entitled to receive, with respect to each share of common stock subject to such award (whether vested or unvested, as determined by the administrator pursuant to the 2015 Plan) as of the effective date of any such change of control, cash in an amount equal to (1) for participants holding options or stock appreciation rights, the excess of the fair market value of such common stock on the date immediately preceding the effective date of such change of control over the exercise price per share of options or stock appreciation rights, or (2) for participants holding awards other than options or stock appreciation rights, the fair market value of such common stock on the date immediately preceding the effective date of such change of control. The administrator need not take the same action with respect to all awards (or portions thereof) or with respect to all participants.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

Our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2017 consisted of the 2015 Plan and the Prior Plans. Our Prior Plans were approved by our stockholders. The 2015 Plan was approved by our Board on March 26, 2015. All of our employees and directors were eligible to participate in the Prior Plans and are eligible to participate in the 2015 Plan. The Prior Plans are expired and no further equity is granted under the Prior Plans.

 

The following table summarizes equity securities authorized for issuance to employees, consultants or members of our Board of Directors under our 2015 Plan as of December 31, 2017.

 

 

Plan Category		(a) Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights				(b) Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights				(c) Number of securities remaining available for issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a) and restricted stock granted under the 2015 Plan )
Equity compensation plans approved by our stockholders			1,159,386			$	0.76				-
Equity compensation plans not approved by our stockholders			5,611,391			$	0.50				1,752,135
Total			6,770,777			$	0.55				1,752,135

 

Retirement Plans

 

On December 31, 2016, we terminated our previously established 401(k) deferred contribution retirement plan (the “401(k) Plan”) which covered all employees. The 401(k) Plan provided for voluntary employee contributions of up to 15% of annual earnings, as defined therein. As of January 1, 2004, we began matching 100% of the first 3% and 50% of the next 2% of employee earnings to the 401(k) Plan. We contributed and expensed $44,000 to this plan in 2016.

 

On January 1, 2017, we established a Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees Individual Retirement Account (SIMPLE IRA), which covers all employees. The SIMPLE IRA Plan provides for voluntary employee contributions up to statutory IRA limitations. We match 100% of employee contributions to the SIMPLE IRA Plan, up to 3% of each employee’s salary. We contributed and expensed approximately $39,000 to this plan in 2017.

 

Director Compensation

 

For fiscal year 2017, our directors received a $20,000 annual retainer, $1,500 per meeting for each quarterly Board meeting attended and reimbursement for expenses incurred in connection with serving on our Board. The Chairman of our Audit Committee was paid a $10,000 annual retainer and $1,000 per meeting for meetings of the Audit Committee, with a maximum of eight meetings per year. There was no named Chairman of the Board during fiscal year 2017. Director fees owed as of December 31, 2017 were paid in restricted stock in lieu of a cash payment.

 

We grant each non-employee director who first joins our Board, immediately upon such director joining our Board, the number of options equal to the product of 0.0011 multiplied by the total number of outstanding shares of common stock of the Company on a fully-diluted basis. The exercise price per share will be equal to the fair market value price per share of our common stock on the date of grant. We will also grant annually to each non-employee director the number of options equal to the product of 0.0006 multiplied by the total number of outstanding shares of common stock of the company on a fully-diluted basis. The exercise price per share will be equal to the fair market value price per share of our common stock on the date of grant. These non-employee director options vest in three equal installments on each of the date of grant and the first and second anniversaries thereof.

 

Our executive officers do not receive additional compensation for service as directors if any of them so serve.

 

The following table shows the compensation earned by each of our non-employee directors for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

Non-Employee Director Compensation in Fiscal Year 2017

 

Name		Restricted Stock Awards (1)(2)				Option Awards(3)(4)				Total
Arthur H. Amron(5)		$	36,932			$	15,782			$	52,714
Paul A. Mieyal(5)		$	36,932			$	15,782			$	52,714
Malcolm Persen		$	56,818			$	15,782			$	71,600
Moshe Pinto		$	36,932			$	15,782			$	52,714

 

 

(1)	Director fees owed as of December 31, 2017 were paid in restricted stock in lieu of a cash payment.
(2)	As of December 31, 2017, Mr. Persen had 113,636 shares of restricted stock and Mr. Pinto had 73,864 shares of restricted stock.
(3)	The amount reported is the aggregate grant date fair value of the options granted, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The assumptions used in determining the grant date fair values of these awards are set forth in Notes 2 and 10 of the consolidated financial statements included in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(4)	As of December 31, 2017, Mr. Persen had 92,996 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of vested options and 38,149 shares issuable upon exercise of unvested options and Mr. Pinto had 95,170 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of vested options and 38,149 shares issuable upon exercise of unvested options.
(5)	At the request of Mr. Amron and Dr. Mieyal, their respective options and director fees were directed to Wexford Capital LP.

 

Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

 

Our Board recognizes the fundamental interest our stockholders have in the compensation of our executive officers. At our 2014 Annual Meeting, our stockholders approved with approximately 98% of the votes cast, on an advisory basis, in favor of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in the compensation tables and related narrative disclosure in the proxy statement for the 2014 Annual Meeting. Based on the results of such advisory vote and our review of our compensation policies and decisions, we believe that our existing compensation policies and decisions are consistent with our compensation philosophy and objectives disclosed in the compensation tables and related narrative disclosure and adequately align the interests of our named executive officers with our long term goals. In addition, based on a separate advisory vote of our stockholders at our 2014 Annual Meeting relating to the frequency of the advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers, our stockholders indicated their approval of the Board’s recommendation to hold a non-binding advisory vote on our executive compensation once every two years.

 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

On June 3, 2016, we entered into a note and warrant purchase agreement with certain accredited investors pursuant to which we sold an aggregate principal amount of $807,000 of 11% unsecured promissory notes and five-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,614,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.30 per share. Purchasers included PoC Capital, LLC, an entity owned by Mr. Evans, as well as two of Mr. Evans’s minor children for whom he acts as custodian. Collectively, such purchasers related to Mr. Evans purchased $30,000 principal amount of notes and warrants to purchase 60,000 shares of common stock. Lambda Investors LLC (“Lambda”) also purchased notes in the principal amount of $300,000 and received warrants to purchase 600,000 shares of common stock. Lambda is controlled by Wexford Capital LP. Mr. Amron is a Partner and General Counsel of Wexford Capital LP and Dr. Mieyal is a Vice President of Wexford Capital LP.

 

On March 17, 2017, we entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain purchasers identified therein pursuant to which we agreed to sell, and the purchasers agreed to purchase 4,059,994 units of our securities, each unit consisting of one share of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and a warrant to purchase one share of common stock, at a cash purchase price equal to $0.30 per unit. Purchasers included two minor children of Mr. Evans, who collectively purchased 83,332 units of our securities, and Mr. Astor, who purchased 166,666 units.

 

Other than as described below, since the beginning of our 2016 fiscal year, there have been no transactions or series of transactions to which we were a participant or will be a participant in which:

 

	●	the amounts involved exceeded the lesser of $120,000 or one percent of the average of our total assets at year-end for our last two completed fiscal years; and
	●	a director, executive officer, beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities or any member of their immediate family had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

 

As of March 27, 2018, Lambda is our largest stockholder and beneficially owns approximately 55% of our outstanding common stock. Lambda is controlled by Wexford Capital LP; therefore, the shares beneficially owned by Lambda may be deemed beneficially owned by Wexford Capital LP. Arthur H. Amron, one of our directors, is a Partner and General Counsel of Wexford Capital LP. Paul A. Mieyal, one of our directors and our former Acting President, Acting Chief Executive Officer, and Acting Chief Financial Officer until April 15, 2015, is a Vice President of Wexford Capital LP. During 2017 and 2016, at the request of Mr. Amron and Dr. Mieyal, fees and options in the aggregate amount of approximately $105,427 and $94,078, respectively, earned in respect of services they rendered to us were directed to Wexford Capital LP.

 

 

SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

 

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act requires our officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities, to file reports of ownership on Form 3 and changes in ownership on Form 4 or Form 5 with the SEC. Officers, directors and 10% stockholders are also required by SEC rules to furnish us with copies of all such forms that they file. Based solely on a review of the copies of such forms received by us, or written representations from reporting persons, we believe that during fiscal year 2017, all of our officers, directors and 10% stockholders complied with applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements.

 

DEADLINE FOR STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2019 ANNUAL MEETING

 

Stockholders having proposals that they desire to present at next year’s annual meeting of our stockholders should, if they desire that such proposals be included in our proxy statement relating to such meeting, submit such proposals in time to be received by us not later than December 12, 2018, approximately 120 days prior to the one-year anniversary of the mailing of this Proxy Statement. Proposals should be mailed to the attention of our President and Chief Executive Officer at our principal executive offices, 380 Lackawanna Place, South Orange, New Jersey 07079. In order to avoid controversy, stockholders should submit any proposals by means, including electronic means, which permit them to prove the date of delivery. Also, to be so included, all such submissions must comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act and we direct your close attention to that rule.

 

In addition, Rule 14a-4 of the Exchange Act governs the use of our discretionary proxy voting authority with respect to a stockholder proposal that is not addressed in our proxy statement. With respect to our next annual meeting of stockholders, if we are not provided notice of a stockholder proposal prior to February 25, 2019, then we will be allowed to use our discretionary voting authority when the proposal is raised at the meeting, without any discussion of the matter in the proxy statement.

 

OTHER MATTERS

 

The Board of Directors does not know of any other business matters that are to be presented for action at the annual meeting. If any other matters come before the meeting, the persons named in the enclosed proxy have the discretionary authority to vote all proxies received with regard to those matters in accordance with their best judgment.

 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Dated April 11, 2018

 

 

APPENDIX A

 

NEPRHOS, INC.

2015 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

As amended through December 20, 2017

 

SECTION 1.

DEFINITIONS

 

As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

 

(a) “Administrator” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company, or one or more Committees appointed by the Board of Directors, as the case may be.

 

(b) “Affiliate(s)” shall mean a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.

 

(c) “Agreement” shall mean the written agreement entered into by the Participant and the Company evidencing the grant of an Award. Each Agreement shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Administrator and may vary from Participant to Participant.

 

(d) “Annual Award Limit” or “Annual Award Limits” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d) of the Plan.

 

(e) “Award” shall mean any grant pursuant to the Plan of an Incentive Stock Option, Nonqualified Stock Option, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Award or Stock Appreciation Right.

 

(f) “Change of Control” shall mean the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the events in subsections (i) through (iv) below. For purposes of this definition, a person, entity or group shall be deemed to “Own,” to have “Owned,” to be the “Owner” of, or to have acquired “Ownership” of securities if such person, entity or group directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares Voting Power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting, with respect to such securities.

 

(i) Any person, entity or group becomes the Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined Voting Power of the Company’s then outstanding securities other than by virtue of a merger, consolidation, exchange, reorganization or similar transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change of Control shall not be deemed to occur (A) on account of the acquisition of securities of the Company by an investor, any affiliate thereof or any other person, entity or group from the Company in a transaction or series of related transactions the primary purpose of which is to obtain financing for the Company through the issuance of equity securities or (B) solely because the level of Ownership held by any person, entity or group (the “Subject Person”) exceeds the designated percentage threshold of the Voting Power as a result of a repurchase or other acquisition of voting securities by the Company reducing the number of shares outstanding, provided that if a Change of Control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of voting securities by the Company, and after such share acquisition, the Subject Person becomes the Owner of any additional voting securities that, assuming the repurchase or other acquisition had not occurred, increases the percentage of the then outstanding voting securities Owned by the Subject Person over the designated percentage threshold, then a Change of Control shall be deemed to occur;

 

 

(ii) There is consummated a merger, consolidation, exchange, reorganization or similar transaction involving (directly or indirectly) the Company and, immediately after the consummation of such merger, consolidation, exchange, reorganization or similar transaction, the stockholders of the Company immediately prior thereto do not Own, directly or indirectly, either (A) outstanding voting securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined outstanding Voting Power of the surviving entity in such merger, consolidation or similar transaction or (B) more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined outstanding Voting Power of the parent of the surviving entity in such merger, consolidation, exchange, reorganization or similar transaction, in each case in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction;

 

(iii) There is consummated a sale, lease, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the total gross value of the consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, other than a sale, lease, license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the total gross value of the consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries to an entity, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined Voting Power of the voting securities of which are Owned by stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such sale, lease, license or other disposition (for purposes of this Section 1(f)(iii), “gross value” means the value of the assets of the Company or the value of the assets being disposed of, as the case may be, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets); or

 

(iv) Individuals who, at the beginning of any consecutive twelve-month period, are members of the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board at any time during that consecutive twelve-month period; provided, however, that if the appointment or election (or nomination for election) of any new Board member was approved or recommended by a majority vote of the members of the Incumbent Board then still in office, such new member shall, for purposes of the Plan, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Change of Control” shall not include a sale of assets, merger or other transaction effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Company. To the extent required, the determination of whether a Change of Control has occurred shall be made in accordance with Code Section 409A and the regulations, notices and other guidance of general applicability issued thereunder.

 

(g) “Close of Business” of a specified day shall mean 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, without regard to whether such day is a Saturday, Sunday, bank holiday, or other day on which no business is conducted.

 

 

(h) “Committee” shall mean a Committee of two or more Directors who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Board. To the extent necessary for compliance with Rule 16b-3, each of the members of the Committee shall be a “non-employee director.” Solely for purposes of this Section 1(h), “non-employee director” shall have the same meaning as set forth in Rule 16b-3. Further, to the extent necessary for compliance with the limitations set forth in Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m), each of the members of the Committee shall be an “outside director” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and the regulations issued thereunder.

 

(i) “Common Stock” shall mean the common stock of the Company (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15 of the Plan).

 

(j) The “Company” shall mean Nephros, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

(k) “Consultant” shall mean any person, including an advisor, who is engaged by the Company or any Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services and is compensated for such services; provided, however, that no person shall be considered a Consultant for purposes of the Plan unless such Consultant is a natural person, renders bona fide services to the Company or any Affiliate, and such services are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities. For purposes of the Plan, “Consultant” shall also include a director of an Affiliate who is compensated for services as a director.

 

(l) “Covered Employee” shall mean any key salaried Employee who is or may become a “Covered Employee,” as defined in Code Section 162(m), and who is designated, either as an individual Employee or class of Employees, by the Administrator within the shorter of (i) ninety (90) days after the beginning of the Performance Period, or (ii) twenty-five percent (25%) of the Performance Period has elapsed, as a “Covered Employee” under the Plan for such applicable Performance Period.

 

(m) “Director” shall mean a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(n) “Effective Date” shall mean the date the Board of Directors of the Company approves the amendment and restatement of the Plan.

 

(o) “Employee” shall mean a common law employee of the Company or any Affiliate, including “officers” as defined by Section 16 of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that service solely as a Director or Consultant, regardless of whether a fee is paid for such service, shall not cause a person to be an Employee for purposes of the Plan.

 

(p) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

 

(q) “Fair Market Value” of specified stock as of any date shall mean (i) if such stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, Nasdaq Global Market, Nasdaq Capital Market or an established stock exchange, the price of such stock at the close of the regular trading session of such market or exchange on such date, as reported by Bloomberg or a comparable reporting service, or, if no sale of such stock shall have occurred on such date, on the next preceding date on which there was a sale of stock; (ii) if such stock is not so listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, Nasdaq Global Market, Nasdaq Capital Market, or an established stock exchange, the average of the closing “bid” and “asked” prices quoted by the OTC Bulletin Board, the National Quotation Bureau, or any comparable reporting service on such date or, if there are no quoted “bid” and “asked” prices on such date, on the next preceding date for which there are such quotes; or (iii) if such stock is not publicly traded as of such date, the per share value as determined by the Board or the Committee in its sole discretion by applying principles of valuation with respect to Common Stock.

 

(r) “Full Value Award” shall mean an Award that is settled by the issuance of shares of Common Stock, other than in the form of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right.

 

(s) “Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an Option granted pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan that is intended to satisfy the provisions of Code Section 422, or any successor provision.

 

(t) “Insider” shall mean an individual who is, on the relevant date, an officer or Director of the Company, or an individual who beneficially owns more than ten percent (10%) of any class of equity securities of the Company that is registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, as determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

(u) The “Internal Revenue Code” or “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. References to sections of the Code are intended to include applicable treasury regulations and successor statutes and regulations.

 

(v) “Option” shall mean an Incentive Stock Option or Nonqualified Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan.

 

(w) “Nonqualified Stock Option” shall mean an Option granted pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan or an Option (or portion thereof) that does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(x) “Parent” shall mean any parent corporation of the Company within the meaning of Code Section 424(e), or any successor provision.

 

(y) “Participant” shall mean an Employee to whom an Incentive Stock Option has been granted or an Employee, a Director, or a Consultant to whom a Nonqualified Stock Option, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Award or Stock Appreciation Right has been granted.

 

(z) “Performance Award” shall mean any Performance Shares or Performance Units Award granted pursuant to Section 13 of the Plan.

 

(aa) “Performance-Based Compensation” shall mean compensation under an Award that is intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for certain performance-based compensation paid to Covered Employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in the Plan shall be construed to mean that an Award which does not satisfy the requirements for performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m) does not constitute performance-based compensation for other purposes, including Code Section 409A.

 

 

(bb) “Performance Objective(s)” shall mean one or more performance objectives established by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, for Awards granted under this Plan, including Performance Awards to Covered Employees that are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation. For any Awards that are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m), the Performance Objectives shall be limited to any one, or a combination of the following criteria: (1) earnings (including earnings per share and net earnings); (2) earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation; (3) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; (4) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and legal settlements; (5) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, legal settlements and other income (expense); (6) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, legal settlements, other income (expense) and stock-based compensation; (7) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, legal settlements, other income (expense), stock-based compensation and changes in deferred revenue; (8) total stockholder return; (9) return on equity or average stockholder’s equity; (10) return on assets, investment, or capital employed; (11) stock price; (12) margin (including gross margin); (13) income (before or after taxes); (14) operating income; (15) operating income after taxes; (16) pre-tax profit; (17) operating cash flow; (18) sales or revenue targets; (19) increases in revenue or product revenue; (20) expenses and cost reduction goals; (21) improvement in or attainment of working capital levels; (22) economic value added (or an equivalent metric); (23) market share; (24) cash flow; (25) cash flow per share; (26) share price performance; (27) debt reduction; (28) implementation or completion of projects or processes; (29) employee retention; (30) stockholders’ equity; (31) capital expenditures; (32) debt levels; (33) operating profit or net operating profit; (34) workforce diversity; (35) growth of net income or operating income; (36) billings; (37) bookings; (38) initiation of phases of clinical trials and/or studies by specified dates; (39) patient enrollment rates; (40) budget management; (41) regulatory body approval with respect to products, studies and/or trials; and (42) commercial launch of products.

 

(cc) “Performance Period” shall mean the period, established at the time any Award is granted or at any time thereafter, during which any Performance Objectives specified by the Administrator with respect to such Award are to be measured.

 

(dd) “Performance Share” shall mean any grant pursuant to Section 13 hereof of an Award, which value, if any, shall be paid to a Participant by delivery of shares of Common Stock of the Company upon achievement of such Performance Objectives during the Performance Period as the Administrator shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.

 

(ee) “Performance Unit” shall mean any grant pursuant to Section 13 hereof of an Award, which value, if any, shall be paid to a Participant by delivery of cash upon achievement of such Performance Objectives during the Performance Period as the Administrator shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.

 

 

(ff) “Plan” means the Nephros, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended hereafter from time to time, including the form of Agreements as they may be modified by the Administrator from time to time.

 

(gg) “Restricted Stock Award” shall mean any grant of restricted shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan.

 

(hh) “Restricted Stock Unit” shall mean any grant of any restricted stock units pursuant to Section 12 of the Plan.

 

(ii) “Rule 16b-3” shall mean Rule 16b-3, or any successor provision, as then in effect, of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

 

(jj) “Stock Appreciation Right” shall mean a grant pursuant to Section 14 of the Plan.

 

(kk) A “Subsidiary” shall mean any subsidiary corporation of the Company within the meaning of Code Section 424(f), or any successor provision.

 

(ll) “Voting Power” shall mean any and all classes of securities issued by the applicable entity which are entitled to vote in the election of directors of the applicable entity.

 

SECTION 2.

PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the Plan is to promote the success of the Company and its Affiliates by facilitating the employment and retention of competent personnel and by furnishing incentives to those Employees, Directors, and Consultants upon whose efforts the success of the Company and its Affiliates will depend to a large degree. It is the intention of the Company to carry out the Plan through the granting of Incentive Stock Options, Nonqualified Stock Options, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Awards and Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

SECTION 3.

EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION OF PLAN

 

The Plan shall be effective on the Effective Date; provided, however, that adoption of the Plan shall be and is expressly subject to the condition of approval by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the Effective Date. However, Awards may be granted prior to the date the Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company; provided, that any Incentive Stock Options granted after the Effective Date shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options if stockholder approval is not obtained within such twelve-month period.

 

The Administrator may grant Awards pursuant to the Plan from time to time until the Administrator discontinues or terminates the Plan; provided, however, that in no event may Incentive Stock Options be granted pursuant to the Plan after the earlier of (i) the date the Administrator discontinues or terminates the Plan, or (ii) the Close of Business on the day immediately preceding the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.

 

 

SECTION 4.

ADMINISTRATION

 

(a) Administration by the Board of Directors or Committee(s). The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company (hereinafter referred to as the “Board”); provided, however, that the Board may delegate some or all of the administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees. The Board and any Committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan are collectively referred to in the Plan as the “Administrator.”

 

(b) Delegation by Administrator. The Administrator may delegate to one or more Committees and/or sub-Committees, or to one or more officers of the Company and/or its Affiliates, or to one or more agents and/or advisors, such administrative duties or powers as it may deem advisable. The Administrator or any Committees or individuals to whom it has delegated duties or powers as aforesaid may employ one or more individuals to render advice with respect to any responsibility of the Administrator or such Committees or individuals may have under the Plan. The Administrator may, by resolution, authorize one or more officers of the Company to do one or both of the following on the same basis as can the Administrator: (i) designate Employees to be recipients of Awards and (ii) determine the size of any such Awards; provided, however, (x) the Committee shall not delegate such responsibilities to any such officer for Awards granted to an Employee who is considered an Insider; (y) the resolution providing such authorization sets forth the total number of Awards such officer(s) may grant; and (z) the officer(s) shall report periodically to the Administrator regarding the nature and scope of the Awards granted pursuant to the authority delegated.

 

(c) Powers of Administrator. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Administrator shall have all of the powers vested in it under the provisions of the Plan, including but not limited to exclusive authority to determine, in its sole discretion, whether an Award shall be granted; the individuals to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted; the number of shares subject to each Award; the exercise price of Options granted hereunder; and the performance criteria, if any, and any other terms and conditions of each Award. The Administrator shall have full power and authority to administer and interpret the Plan, to make and amend rules, regulations and guidelines for administering the Plan, to prescribe the form and conditions of the respective Agreements evidencing each Award (which may vary from Participant to Participant), to amend or revise Agreements evidencing any Award (to the extent the amended terms would be permitted by the Plan and provided that no such revision or amendment, except as is authorized in Section 15, shall impair the terms and conditions of any Award which is outstanding on the date of such revision or amendment to the material detriment of the Participant in the absence of the consent of the Participant), and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan (including to correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or any Agreement, to the extent permitted by law and the Plan). The Administrator’s interpretation of the Plan, and all actions taken and determinations made by the Administrator pursuant to the power vested in it hereunder, shall be conclusive and binding on all parties concerned.

 

 

(d) Limitation on Liability; Actions of Committees. No member of the Board or a Committee shall be liable for any action taken or determination made in good faith in connection with the administration of the Plan. In the event the Board appoints a Committee as provided hereunder, or the Administrator delegates any of its duties to another Committee or sub-Committee, any action of such Committee with respect to the administration of the Plan shall be taken pursuant to a majority vote of the Committee members or pursuant to the written resolution of all Committee members.

 

SECTION 5.

PARTICIPANTS

 

The Administrator may grant Awards under the Plan to any Employee, Director, or Consultant; provided, however, that only Employees are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options. In designating Participants, the Administrator shall also determine the number of shares or cash units to be optioned or awarded to each such Participant and any Performance Objectives applicable to Awards. The Administrator may from time to time designate individuals as being ineligible to participate in the Plan. The power of the Administrator under this Section 5 shall be exercised from time to time in the sole discretion of the Administrator and without approval by the stockholders.

 

SECTION 6.

STOCK

 

(a) Number of Shares Reserved. The stock to be awarded or optioned under the Plan (the “Share Authorization”) shall consist of authorized but unissued or reacquired shares of Common Stock. Subject to Section 15 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock reserved and available for Awards under the Plan is reserved and available for Awards under the Plan is ten million (10,000,000) shares; provided, however, that all shares of Stock reserved and available under the Plan shall constitute the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued through Incentive Stock Options.

 

(b) Share Usage. The following shares of Common Stock shall not reduce the Share Authorization and shall continue to be reserved and available for Awards granted pursuant to the Plan: (i) all or any portion of any outstanding Restricted Stock Award or Restricted Stock Unit that expires or is forfeited for any reason, or that is terminated prior to the vesting or lapsing of the risks of forfeiture on such Award, and (ii) shares of Common Stock covered by an Award to the extent the Award is settled in cash; provided, however, that the full number of shares of Common Stock subject to a Stock Appreciation Right shall reduce the Share Authorization, whether such Stock Appreciation Right is settled in cash or shares of Common Stock. Any shares of Common Stock withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations on an Award, shares of Common Stock withheld to pay the exercise price of an Option, and shares of Common Stock subject to a broker-assisted cashless exercise of an Option shall reduce the Share Authorization.

 

 

(c) Annual Award Limits. Unless and until the Administrator determines that an Award to a Covered Employee shall not be Performance-Based Compensation, the following limits (each, an “Annual Award Limit,” and collectively, “Annual Award Limits”) shall apply to grants of such Awards under the Plan:

 

(i) Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to Options granted and shares of Common Stock subject to Stock Appreciation Rights granted in any one calendar year to any one Participant shall be, in the aggregate, three million (3,000,000) shares, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15.

 

(ii) Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Units. The maximum grant with respect Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Units in any one calendar year to any one Participant shall be, in the aggregate, one million (1,000,000) shares, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15.

 

(iii) Performance Awards. To the extent payable in or measured by the value of shares of Stock, in no event shall a Participant be granted Performance Awards during any fiscal year of the Company covering in the aggregate more than one million (1,000,000) shares, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15. To the extent payable in cash, in no event shall a Participant be granted Performance Awards during any fiscal year of the Company covering in the aggregate more than one million dollars ($1,000,000).

 

SECTION 7.

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

 

(a) Performance Objectives. Any Performance Objective may be used to measure the performance of the Company and/or Affiliate, as a whole or with respect to any business unit, or any combination thereof as the Administrator may deem appropriate, or any of the specified Performance Objectives as compared to the performance of a group of competitor companies, or published or special index that the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. The Administrator also has the authority to provide for accelerated vesting of any Award based on the achievement of performance goals pursuant to the Performance Objectives; provided, however, that such authority shall be subject to Code Section 162(m) with respect to Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation.

 

(b) Evaluation of Performance Objectives. The Administrator may provide in any Award based on Performance Objectives that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude any of the following events that occurs during a Performance Period: (i) asset write-downs, (ii) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (iii) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or provisions affecting reported results, (iv) any reorganization and restructuring programs, (v) extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in FASB Accounting Standards Codification 225-20—Extraordinary and Unusual Items and/or in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the applicable year, (vi) acquisitions or divestitures, and (vii) foreign exchange gains and losses. To the extent such inclusions or exclusions affect Awards to Covered Employees, they shall be prescribed in a form that meets the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for deductibility.

 

 

(c) Adjustment of Performance-Based Compensation. Awards that are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation may not be adjusted upward. The Administrator shall retain the discretion to adjust such Awards downward, either on a formula or discretionary basis or any combination, as the Administrator determines.

 

(d) Administrator Discretion. In the event that applicable tax and/or securities laws change to permit Administrator discretion to alter the governing Performance Objectives without obtaining stockholder approval of such changes, the Administrator shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining stockholder approval. In addition, in the event that the Administrator determines that it is advisable to grant Awards that shall not qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the Administrator may make such grants without satisfying the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and, in such case, may apply performance objectives other than those set forth in this Section 7.

 

SECTION 8.

PAYMENT OF OPTION EXERCISE PRICE

 

Upon the exercise of an Option, Participants may pay the exercise price of an Option (i) in cash, or with a personal check, certified check, or other cash equivalent, (ii) by the surrender by the Participant to the Company of previously acquired unencumbered shares of Common Stock (through physical delivery or attestation), (iii) through the withholding of shares of Common Stock from the number of shares otherwise issuable upon the exercise of the Option (e.g., a net share settlement), (iv) through broker-assisted cashless exercise if such exercise complies with applicable securities laws and any insider trading policy of the Company, (v) such other form of payment as may be authorized by the Administrator, or (vi) by a combination thereof. In the event the Participant elects to pay the exercise price, in whole or in part, with previously acquired shares of Common Stock or through a net share settlement, the then-current Fair Market Value of the stock delivered or withheld shall equal the total exercise price for the shares being purchased in such manner.

 

The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, limit the forms of payment available to the Participant and may exercise such discretion any time prior to the termination of the Option granted to the Participant or upon any exercise of the Option by the Participant. “Previously acquired shares of Common Stock” means shares of Common Stock which the Participant owns on the date of exercise (or for the period of time, if any, as may be required by generally accepted accounting principles or any successor principles applicable to the Company).

 

With respect to payment in the form of Common Stock, the Administrator may require advance approval or adopt such rules as it deems necessary to assure compliance with Rule 16b-3, if applicable.

 

 

SECTION 9.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS

 

Each Incentive Stock Option shall be evidenced by an Incentive Stock Option Agreement, which shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(a) Number of Shares and Exercise Price. The Incentive Stock Option Agreement shall state the total number of shares covered by the Incentive Stock Option. Except as permitted by Code Section 424(a), or any successor provision, the exercise price per share shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the per share Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the Administrator grants the Incentive Stock Option; provided, however, that if a Participant owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined Voting Power of all classes of stock of the Company or of its Parent or any Subsidiary, the exercise price per share of an Incentive Stock Option granted to such Participant shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the per share Fair Market Value of Common Stock on the date of the grant of the Incentive Stock Option. The Administrator shall have full authority and discretion in establishing the exercise price and shall be fully protected in so doing.

 

(b) Exercisability and Term. The Incentive Stock Option Agreement shall state when the Incentive Stock Option becomes exercisable (i.e. “vests”), and, if applicable in the Administrator’s discretion, shall describe the Performance Objectives and Performance Period upon which vesting is based, the manner in which performance shall be measured and the extent to which partial achievement of the Performance Objectives may result in vesting of the Option. The Participant may exercise the Incentive Stock Option, in full or in part, upon or after the vesting date of such Option (or portion thereof). Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or the Agreement to the contrary, the Participant may not exercise an Incentive Stock Option after the maximum term of such Option, as such term is specified in the Incentive Stock Option Agreement. Except as permitted by Code Section 424(a), in no event shall any Incentive Stock Option be exercisable during a term of more than ten (10) years after the date on which it is granted; provided, however, that if a Participant owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined Voting Power of all classes of stock of the Company or of its Parent or any Subsidiary, the Incentive Stock Option granted to such Participant shall be exercisable during a term of not more than five (5) years after the date on which it is granted. The Administrator may accelerate the exercisability of any Incentive Stock Option granted hereunder which is not immediately exercisable as of the date of grant.

 

(c) No Rights as Stockholder. A Participant (or the Participant’s successors) shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by an Incentive Stock Option until the date of the issuance of the Common Stock subject to such Award upon exercise, as evidenced by a stock certificate or as reflected in the books and records of the Company or its designated agent (i.e., a “book entry”). No adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property), distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such shares are actually issued (as evidenced in either certificated or book entry form).

 

 

(d) Withholding. The Company or its Affiliate shall be entitled to withhold and deduct from any future payments to the Participant all legally required amounts necessary to satisfy any and all withholding and employment-related taxes attributable to the Participant’s exercise of an Incentive Stock Option or a “disqualifying disposition” of shares acquired through the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option as defined in Code Section 421(b), to require the Participant to remit an amount sufficient to satisfy such withholding requirements, or to require any combination thereof. In the event the Participant is required under the Incentive Stock Option Agreement to pay the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company respecting payment of, such withholding and employment-related taxes, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, require the Participant to satisfy such obligation, in whole or in part, by delivering shares of Common Stock or by electing to have the Company withhold shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of the exercise of the Incentive Stock Option. Such shares shall have a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum required tax withholding, based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to the supplemental income resulting from such exercise or disqualifying disposition. In no event may the Participant deliver shares, nor may the Company or any Affiliate withhold shares, having a Fair Market Value in excess of such statutory minimum required tax withholding. The Participant’s delivery of shares or the withholding of shares for this purpose shall occur on or before the later of (i) the date the Incentive Stock Option is exercised or the date of the disqualifying disposition, as the case may be, or (ii) the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined under applicable tax law.

 

(e) Vesting Limitation. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date an Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the shares of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year (under the Plan and any other “incentive stock option” plans of the Company or any Affiliate shall not exceed $100,000 (or such other amount as may be prescribed by the Code from time to time); provided, however, that if the exercisability or vesting of an Incentive Stock Option is accelerated as permitted under the provisions of the Plan and such acceleration would result in a violation of the limit imposed by this Section 9(e), such acceleration shall be of full force and effect but the number of shares of Common Stock that exceed such limit shall be treated as having been granted pursuant to a Nonqualified Stock Option; and provided, further, that the limits imposed by this Section 9(e) shall be applied to all outstanding Incentive Stock Options under the Plan and any other “incentive stock option” plans of the Company or any Affiliate in chronological order according to the dates of grant.

 

(f) Other Provisions. The Incentive Stock Option Agreement authorized under this Section 9 shall contain such other provisions as the Administrator shall deem advisable. Any such Incentive Stock Option Agreement shall contain such limitations and restrictions upon the exercise of the Incentive Stock Option as shall be necessary to ensure that such Incentive Stock Option will be considered an “incentive stock option” as defined in Code Section 422 or to conform to any change therein.

 

 

SECTION 10.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS

 

Each Nonqualified Stock Option shall be evidenced by a Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement, which shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(a) Number of Shares and Exercise Price. The Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement shall state the total number of shares covered by the Nonqualified Stock Option. The exercise price per share shall be equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the per share Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant of the Nonqualified Stock Option, or such higher price as the Administrator determines.

 

(b) Exercisability and Term. The Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement shall state when the Nonqualified Stock Option becomes exercisable (i.e. “vests”) and, if applicable in the Administrator’s discretion, shall describe the Performance Objectives and Performance Period upon which vesting is based, the manner in which performance shall be measured and the extent to which partial achievement of the Performance Objectives may result in vesting of the Option. The Participant may exercise the Nonqualified Stock Option, in full or in part, upon or after the vesting date of such Option (or portion thereof); provided, however, that the Participant may not exercise a Nonqualified Stock Option after the maximum term of such Option, as such term is specified in the Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator and specified in the Agreement governing the Award, no Nonqualified Stock Option shall be exercisable during a term of more than ten (10) years after the date on which it is granted. The Administrator may accelerate the exercisability of any Nonqualified Stock Option granted hereunder which is not immediately exercisable as of the date of grant.

 

(c) No Rights as Stockholder. A Participant (or the Participant’s successors) shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by a Nonqualified Stock Option until the date of the issuance of the Common Stock subject to such Award upon exercise, as evidenced by a stock certificate or as reflected in the books and records of the Company or its designated agent (i.e., a “book entry”). No adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property), distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such shares are actually issued (as evidenced in either certificated or book entry form).

 

(d) Withholding. The Company or its Affiliate shall be entitled to withhold and deduct from any future payments to the Participant all legally required amounts necessary to satisfy any and all withholding and employment-related taxes attributable to the Participant’s exercise of a Nonqualified Stock Option, to require the Participant to remit an amount sufficient to satisfy such withholding requirements, or to require any combination thereof. In the event the Participant is required under the Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement to pay the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company respecting payment of, such withholding and employment-related taxes, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, require the Participant to satisfy such obligation, in whole or in part, by delivering shares of Common Stock or by electing to have the Company withhold shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of the exercise of the Nonqualified Stock Option. Such shares shall have a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum required tax withholding, based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to the supplemental income resulting from such exercise. In no event may the Participant deliver shares, nor may the Company or any Affiliate withhold shares, having a Fair Market Value in excess of such statutory minimum required tax withholding. The Participant’s delivery of shares or the withholding of shares for this purpose shall occur on or before the later of (i) the date the Nonqualified Stock Option is exercised, or (ii) the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined under applicable tax law.

 

 

(e) Other Provisions. The Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement authorized under this Section 10 shall contain such other provisions as the Administrator shall deem advisable.

 

SECTION 11.

RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

 

Each Restricted Stock Award shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Award Agreement, which shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(a) Number of Shares. The Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall state the total number of shares of Common Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Award.

 

(b) Risks of Forfeiture. The Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall set forth the risks of forfeiture, if any, which shall apply to the shares of Common Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Award and the manner in which such risks of forfeiture shall lapse, including, if applicable in the Administrator’s discretion, a description of the Performance Objectives and Performance Period upon which the lapse of risks of forfeiture is based, the manner in which performance shall be measured and the extent to which partial achievement of the Performance Objectives may result in lapse of risks of forfeiture. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, modify the manner in which such risks of forfeiture shall lapse but only with respect to those shares of Common Stock which are restricted as of the effective date of the modification.

 

(c) Issuance of Shares; Rights as Stockholder. Except as provided below, the Company shall cause a stock certificate to be issued and shall deliver such certificate to the Participant or hold such certificate in a manner determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion; provided, however, that in lieu of a stock certificate, the Company may evidence the issuance of shares by a book entry in the records of the Company or its designated agent (if permitted by the Company’s designated agent and applicable law, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion). The Company shall cause a legend or notation to be placed on such certificate or book entry describing the risks of forfeiture and other transfer restrictions set forth in the Participant’s Restricted Stock Award Agreement and providing for the cancellation and, if applicable, return of such certificate or book entry if the shares of Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Award are forfeited. Until the risks of forfeiture have lapsed or the shares subject to such Restricted Stock Award have been forfeited, the Participant shall be entitled to vote the shares of Common Stock represented by such stock certificates and shall receive all dividends attributable to such shares, but the Participant shall not have any other rights as a stockholder with respect to such shares.

 

 

(d) Withholding Taxes. The Company or its Affiliate shall be entitled to withhold and deduct from any future payments to the Participant all legally required amounts necessary to satisfy any and all withholding and employment-related taxes attributable to the Participant’s Restricted Stock Award, to require the Participant to remit an amount sufficient to satisfy such withholding requirements, or to require any combination thereof. In the event the Participant is required under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement to pay the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company respecting payment of, such withholding and employment-related taxes, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, require the Participant to satisfy such obligations, in whole or in part, by delivering shares of Common Stock, including shares of Common Stock received pursuant to the Restricted Stock Award on which the risks of forfeiture have lapsed. Such shares shall have a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum required tax withholding, based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to the supplemental income resulting from the lapsing of the risks of forfeiture on such Restricted Stock Award. In no event may the Participant deliver shares having a Fair Market Value in excess of such statutory minimum required tax withholding. The Participant’s delivery of shares shall occur on or before the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined under applicable tax law.

 

(e) Other Provisions. The Restricted Stock Award Agreement authorized under this Section 11 shall contain such other provisions as the Administrator shall deem advisable.

 

SECTION 12.

RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

 

Each Restricted Stock Unit shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, which shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(a) Number of Shares. The Restricted Stock Unit Agreement shall state the total number of shares of Common Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Unit.

 

(b) Vesting. The Restricted Stock Unit Agreement shall set forth the vesting conditions, if any, which shall apply to the Restricted Stock Unit and the manner in which such vesting may occur, including, if applicable in the Administrator’s discretion, a description of the Performance Objectives and Performance Period upon which vesting is based, the manner in which performance shall be measured and the extent to which partial achievement of the Performance Objectives may result in vesting of the Restricted Stock Unit. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the vesting of any Restricted Stock Unit.

 

(c) Issuance of Shares; Rights as Stockholder. The Participant shall be entitled to payment of the Restricted Stock Unit as the units subject to such Award vest. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, pay Restricted Stock Units in shares of Common Stock, cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value, on the date of payment, of the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Award that have vested on the applicable payment date, or any combination thereof, as specified in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement. If payment is made in shares of Common Stock, the Administrator shall cause to be issued one or more stock certificates in the Participant’s name and shall deliver such certificates to the Participant in satisfaction of such units; provided, however, that in lieu of stock certificates, the Company may evidence such shares by a book entry in the records of the Company or its designated agent (if permitted by the Company’s designated agent and applicable law, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion). Until the units subject to the Restricted Stock Unit have vested, the Participant shall not be entitled to vote any shares of Common Stock which may be acquired through the Award, shall not receive any dividends attributable to such shares, and shall not have any other rights as a stockholder with respect to such shares.

 

 

(d) Withholding Taxes. The Company or its Affiliate shall be entitled to withhold and deduct from any future payments to the Participant all legally required amounts necessary to satisfy any and all withholding and employment-related taxes attributable to the Participant’s Restricted Stock Unit, to require the Participant to remit an amount sufficient to satisfy such withholding requirements, or to require any combination thereof. In the event the Participant is required under the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement to pay the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company respecting payment of, such withholding and employment-related taxes, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, require the Participant to satisfy such obligations, in whole or in part, by delivering shares of Common Stock, including shares of Common Stock received pursuant to the Restricted Stock Unit. Such shares shall have a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum required tax withholding, based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to the supplemental income resulting from the payment of such Restricted Stock Unit. In no event may the Participant deliver shares having a Fair Market Value in excess of such statutory minimum required tax withholding. The Participant’s delivery of shares for this purpose shall occur on or before the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined under applicable tax law.

 

(e) Other Provisions. The Restricted Stock Unit Agreement authorized under this Section 12 shall contain such other provisions as the Administrator shall deem advisable.

 

SECTION 13.

PERFORMANCE AWARDS

 

Each Performance Award granted pursuant to this Section 13 shall be evidenced by a written performance award agreement (the “Performance Award Agreement”). The Performance Award Agreement shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Administrator and may vary from Participant to Participant; provided, however, that each Participant and each Performance Award Agreement shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(a) Awards. Performance Awards in the form of Performance Units or Performance Shares may be granted to any Participant in the Plan. Performance Units shall consist of monetary awards which may be earned or become vested in whole or in part if the Company or the Participant achieves certain Performance Objectives established by the Administrator over a specified Performance Period. Performance Shares shall consist of shares of Stock or other Awards denominated in shares of Stock that may be earned or become vested in whole or in part if the Company or the Participant achieves certain Performance Objectives established by the Administrator over a specified Performance Period.

 

(b) Performance Objectives, Performance Period and Payment. The Performance Award Agreement shall set forth:

 

 

(i) the number of Performance Units or Performance Shares subject to the Performance Award, and the dollar value of each Performance Unit;

 

(ii) one or more Performance Objectives established by the Administrator;

 

(iii) the Performance Period over which Performance Units or Performance Shares may be earned or may become vested;

 

(iv) the extent to which partial achievement of the Performance Objectives may result in a payment or vesting of the Performance Award, as determined by the Administrator; and

 

(v) the date upon which payment of Performance Units will be made or Performance Shares will be issued, as the case may be, and the extent to which such payment or the receipt of such Performance Shares or Performance Units may be deferred.

 

(c) Withholding Taxes. The Company or its Affiliates shall be entitled to withhold and deduct from future wages of the Participant all legally required amounts necessary to satisfy any and all withholding and employment-related taxes attributable to the Participant’s Performance Award. In the event the Participant is required under the Performance Award Agreement to pay the Company or its Affiliates, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company or its Affiliates respecting payment of, such withholding and employment-related taxes, the Administrator may, in its discretion and pursuant to such rules as it may adopt, permit the Participant to satisfy such obligations, in whole or in part, by delivering shares of Common Stock, including shares of Stock received pursuant to the Performance Award. Such shares shall have a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum required tax withholding, based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes. In no event may the Participant deliver shares having a Fair Market Value in excess of such statutory minimum required tax withholding. The Participant’s election to deliver shares of Common Stock for this purpose shall be made on or before the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined under applicable tax law. Such election shall be approved by the Administrator and otherwise comply with such rules as the Administrator may adopt to assure compliance with Rule 16b-3, or any successor provision, as then in effect, of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, if applicable.

 

(d) Nontransferability. No Performance Award shall be transferable, in whole or in part, by the Participant, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. If the Participant shall attempt any transfer of any Performance Award granted under the Plan, such transfer shall be void and the Performance Award shall terminate.

 

(e) No Rights as Stockholder. A Participant (or the Participant’s successor or successors) shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by a Performance Award until the date of the issuance of a stock certificate evidencing such shares. No adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property), distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such stock certificate is actually issued (except as otherwise provided in Section 14 of the Plan).

 

 

(f) Other Provisions. The Performance Award Agreement authorized under this Section 12 shall contain such other provisions as the Administrator shall deem advisable.

 

SECTION 14.

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

Each Stock Appreciation Right shall be evidenced by a Stock Appreciation Right Agreement, which shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(a) Awards. A Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle the Participant to receive, upon exercise, cash, shares of Common Stock, or any combination thereof, having a value equal to the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Common Stock on the date of such exercise, over (ii) a specified exercise price. The number of shares and the exercise price of the Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Administrator on the date of grant. The specified exercise price shall be equal to 100% of the Fair Market Value of such shares of Common Stock on the date of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right, or such higher price as the Administrator determines. A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted independent of or in tandem with a previously or contemporaneously granted Option.

 

(b) Exercisability and Term. The Stock Appreciation Right Agreement shall state when the Stock Appreciation Right becomes exercisable (i.e., “vests”) and, if applicable in the Administrator’s discretion, shall describe the Performance Objectives and Performance Period upon which vesting is based, the manner in which performance shall be measured and the extent to which partial achievement of the Performance Objectives may result in vesting of the Stock Appreciation Right. The Participant may exercise the Stock Appreciation Right, in full or in part, upon or after the vesting date of such Stock Appreciation Right (or portion thereof); provided, however, that the Participant may not exercise a Stock Appreciation Right after the maximum term of such Stock Appreciation Right, as such term is specified in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator and specified in the Agreement governing the Award, no Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable during a term of more than ten (10) years after the date on which it is granted.

 

The Administrator may accelerate the exercisability of any Stock Appreciation Right granted hereunder which is not immediately exercisable as of the date of grant. If a Stock Appreciation Right is granted in tandem with an Option, the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the exercise of all or a portion of the Stock Appreciation Right shall cancel a corresponding portion of the Option, and the extent to which the exercise of all or a portion of the Option shall cancel a corresponding portion of the Stock Appreciation Right.

 

 

(c) Withholding Taxes. The Company or its Affiliate shall be entitled to withhold and deduct from any future payments to the Participant all legally required amounts necessary to satisfy any and all withholding and employment-related taxes attributable to the Participant’s Stock Appreciation Right, to require the Participant to remit an amount sufficient to satisfy such withholding requirements, or to require any combination thereof. In the event the Participant is required under the Stock Appreciation Right to pay the Company or its Affiliate, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company or its Affiliate respecting payment of, such withholding and employment-related taxes, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, require the Participant to satisfy such obligation, in whole or in part, by delivering shares of Common Stock or by electing to have the Company withhold shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right. Such shares shall have a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum required tax withholding, based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to the supplemental income resulting from such exercise. In no event may the Participant deliver shares, nor may the Company or any Affiliate withhold shares, having a Fair Market Value in excess of such statutory minimum required tax withholding. The Participant’s delivery of shares or the withholding of shares for this purpose shall occur on or before the later of (i) the date the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised, or (ii) the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined under applicable tax law.

 

(d) No Rights as Stockholder. A Participant (or the Participant’s successors) shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by a Stock Appreciation Right until the date of the issuance of a stock certificate evidencing such shares; provided, however, that in lieu of stock certificates, the Company may evidence such shares by a book entry in the records of the Company or its designated agent (if permitted by the Company’s designated agent and applicable law, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion). No adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property), distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such stock certificate is actually issued or such book entry is made.

 

(e) Other Provisions. The Stock Appreciation Right Agreement authorized under this Section 14 shall contain such other provisions as the Administrator shall deem advisable, including but not limited to any restrictions on the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right which may be necessary to comply with Rule 16b-3.

 

SECTION 15.

RECAPITALIZATION, EXCHANGE,

LIQUIDATION, OR CHANGE OF CONTROL

 

(a) In General. In the event of an increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock dividend, stock split, reverse split, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, other than due to conversion of the convertible securities of the Company, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, adjust the value determinations applicable to outstanding Awards and the Plan in order to reflect such change, including adjustment of the class and number of shares of stock reserved under Section 6 of the Plan, the class and number of shares of stock covered by each outstanding Award, and, if and as applicable, the exercise price per share of each outstanding Award and the Annual Award Limits. Additional shares which may become covered by the Award pursuant to such adjustment shall be subject to the same restrictions as are applicable to the shares with respect to which the adjustment relates.

 

 

(b) Liquidation. Unless otherwise provided in the Agreement evidencing an Award, in the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator may provide for one or both of the following:

 

(i) the acceleration of the exercisability of any or all outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, the vesting and payment of any or all Performance Awards, or Restricted Stock Units, or the lapsing of the risks of forfeiture on any or all Restricted Stock Awards; provided, however, that no such acceleration, vesting or payment shall occur if the acceleration, vesting or payment would violate the requirements of Code Section 409A; or

 

(ii) the complete termination of the Plan and the cancellation of any or all Awards (or portions thereof) which have not been exercised, have not vested, or remain subject to risks of forfeiture, as applicable, in each case immediately prior to the completion of such a dissolution or liquidation.

 

(c) Change of Control. Unless otherwise provided in the Agreement evidencing an Award, in the event of a Change of Control, the Administrator may provide for one or more of the following:

 

(i) the acceleration of the exercisability of any outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights (or portions thereof), the vesting and payment of any Performance Awards (or portions thereof), or the lapsing of the risks of forfeiture on any Restricted Stock Awards or Restricted Stock Units (or portion thereof);

 

(ii) the complete termination of this Plan, the cancellation of outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights (or portion thereof) not exercised prior to a date specified by the Board (which date shall give Participants a reasonable period of time in which to exercise such Option or Stock Appreciation Right prior to the effective date of such Change of Control), the cancellation of any Performance Award (or portion thereof) and the cancellation of any Restricted Stock Awards or Restricted Stock Units (or portion thereof) for which the risks of forfeiture have not lapsed;

 

(iii) that the entity succeeding the Company by reason of such Change of Control, or the parent of such entity, shall assume or continue any or all Awards (or portions thereof) outstanding immediately prior to the Change of Control or substitute for any or all such Awards (or portions thereof) a substantially equivalent award with respect to the securities of such successor entity, as determined in accordance with applicable laws and regulations; or

 

 

(iv) that Participants holding outstanding Awards shall become entitled to receive, with respect to each share of Common Stock subject to such Award (whether vested or unvested, as determined by the Administrator pursuant to subsection (c)(i) hereof) as of the effective date of any such Change of Control, cash in an amount equal to (1) for Participants holding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, the excess of the Fair Market Value of such Common Stock on the date immediately preceding the effective date of such Change of Control over the exercise price per share of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, or (2) for Participants holding Awards other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, the Fair Market Value of such Common Stock on the date immediately preceding the effective date of such Change of Control.

 

The Administrator need not take the same action with respect to all Awards (or portions thereof) or with respect to all Participants. In addition, the Administrator may restrict the rights of or the applicability of this Section 15 to the extent necessary to comply with Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the Internal Revenue Code or any other applicable law or regulation. The grant of an Award pursuant to the Plan shall not limit in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure or to merge, exchange or consolidate or to dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

 

SECTION 16.

NONTRANSFERABILITY

 

(a) In General. Except as expressly provided in the Plan or an Agreement, no Award shall be transferable by the Participant, in whole or in part, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. If the Participant shall attempt any transfer of any Award, such transfer shall be void and the Award shall terminate.

 

(b) Nonqualified Stock Options. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 16 to the contrary, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, permit the Participant to transfer any or all Nonqualified Stock Options to any member of the Participant’s “immediate family” as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(e) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision, or to one or more trusts whose beneficiaries are members of such Participant’s “immediate family” or partnerships in which such family members are the only partners; provided, however, that the Participant cannot receive any consideration for the transfer and such transferred Nonqualified Stock Option shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such Nonqualified Stock Option immediately prior to its transfer.

 

(c) Beneficiary Designation. Each Participant may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under the Plan is to be paid in case of such Participant’s death before receipt of any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Administrator, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. In the absence of any such designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Participant’s death shall be paid to the Participant’s estate.

 

 

SECTION 17.

INVESTMENT PURPOSE AND SECURITIES COMPLIANCE

 

No shares of Common Stock shall be issued pursuant to the Plan unless and until there has been compliance, in the opinion of Company’s counsel, with all applicable legal requirements, including without limitation, those relating to securities laws and stock exchange listing requirements. As a condition to the issuance of Common Stock to Participant, the Administrator may require Participant to (a) represent that the shares of Common Stock are being acquired for investment and not resale and to make such other representations as the Administrator shall deem necessary or appropriate to qualify the issuance of the shares as exempt from the Securities Act of 1933 and any other applicable securities laws, and (b) represent that Participant shall not dispose of the shares of Common Stock in violation of the Securities Act of 1933 or any other applicable securities laws.

 

As a further condition to the grant of any Option or the issuance of Common Stock to a Participant, the Participant agrees to the following:

 

(a) In the event the Company advises the Participant that it plans an underwritten public offering of its Common Stock in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Participant will execute any lock-up agreement the Company and the underwriter(s) deem necessary or appropriate, in their sole discretion, in connection with such public offering.

 

(b) In the event the Company makes any public offering of its securities and determines in its sole discretion that it is necessary to reduce the number of outstanding Awards so as to comply with any state’s securities or Blue Sky law limitations with respect thereto, the Board of Directors of the Company shall have the right (i) to accelerate the exercisability of any Award and the date on which such Award must be exercised or remove the risks of forfeiture to which the Award is subject, provided that the Company gives Participant prior written notice of such acceleration or removal, and (ii) to cancel any outstanding Awards (or portions thereof) which Participant does not exercise prior to or contemporaneously with such public offering.

 

(c) In the event of a Change of Control, Participant will comply with Rule 145 of the Securities Act of 1933 and any other restrictions imposed under other applicable legal or accounting principles if Participant is an “affiliate” (as defined in such applicable legal and accounting principles) at the time of the Change of Control, and Participant will execute any documents necessary to ensure compliance with such rules.

 

The Company reserves the right to place a legend on any stock certificate (or a notation on any book entry shares permitted by the Administrator) issued in connection with an Award pursuant to the Plan to assure compliance with this Section 17.

 

The Company shall not be required to register or maintain the registration of the Plan, any Award, or any Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to the Plan under the Securities Act of 1933 or any other applicable securities laws. If the Company is unable to obtain the authority that the Company or its counsel deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of Common Stock under the Plan, the Company shall not be liable for the failure to issue and sell Common Stock upon the exercise, vesting, or lapse of restrictions of forfeiture of an Award unless and until such authority is obtained. A Participant shall not be eligible for the grant of an Award or the issuance of Common Stock pursuant to an Award if such grant or issuance would violate any applicable securities law.

 

 

SECTION 18.

AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN

 

The Board may from time to time, insofar as permitted by law, suspend or discontinue the Plan or revise or amend it in any respect; provided, however, that no such suspension, termination, revision, or amendment, except as is authorized in Section 15, shall impair the terms and conditions of any Award which is outstanding on the date of such suspension, termination, revision, or amendment to the material detriment of the Participant without the consent of the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as provided in Section 15 of the Plan or to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, the Board may not, without stockholder approval, revise or amend the Plan to (i) materially increase the number of shares subject to the Plan, (ii) change the designation of Participants, including the class of Employees, eligible to receive Awards, (iii) decrease the price at which Options or Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted, (iv) cancel, regrant, repurchase for cash, or replace Options or Stock Appreciation Rights that have an exercise price in excess of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock with other awards, or amend the terms of outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights to reduce their exercise price, (v) materially increase the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan, or (vi) make any modification that will cause Incentive Stock Options to fail to meet the requirements of Code Section 422.

 

To the extent applicable, the Plan and all Agreements shall be interpreted to be exempt from or comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A and, if applicable, to comply with Code Section 422, in each case including the regulations, notices, and other guidance of general applicability issued thereunder. Furthermore, notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Agreement to the contrary, the Board may amend the Plan or Agreement to the extent necessary or desirable to comply with such requirements without the consent of the Participant.

 

SECTION 19.

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH AWARDS

 

(a) No Obligation to Exercise. The granting of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall impose no obligation upon the Participant to exercise such Option or Stock Appreciation Right.

 

(b) No Employment or Other Service Rights. The granting of an Award hereunder shall not impose upon the Company or any Affiliate any obligation to retain the Participant in its employ or service for any period.

 

 

(c) Unfunded Plan. Participants shall have no right, title, or interest whatsoever in or to any particular assets of the Company or any of its Affiliates by reason of the right to receive a benefit under the terms of the Plan. Nothing contained in the Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant, beneficiary, legal representative, or any other person. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive shares of Common Stock or payments from the Company or any of its Affiliates under the Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company or an Affiliate, as the case may be. All payments to be made hereunder shall be paid from the general funds of the Company or an Affiliate, as the case may be. In its sole discretion, the Administrator may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the obligations created under the Plan to deliver the shares of Common Stock or make payments in lieu of or with respect to Awards hereunder; provided, however, that the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the unfunded status of the Plan.

 

SECTION 20.

MISCELLANEOUS

 

(a) Issuance of Shares. The Company is not required to issue or remove restrictions on shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to the Plan until the Administrator determines that: (i) all conditions of the Award have been satisfied, (ii) all legal matters in connection with the issuance have been satisfied, and (iii) the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as the Administrator may consider appropriate, in its sole discretion, to satisfy the requirements of any applicable law or regulation.

 

(b) Choice of Law. The law of the state of Delaware shall govern all questions concerning the construction, validity, and interpretation of the Plan, without regard to that state’s conflict of laws rules.

 

(c) Severability. In the event that any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, such illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

 

(d) No Duty to Notify. The Company shall have no duty or obligation to any Participant to advise such Participant as to the time and manner of exercising an Award or as to the pending termination or expiration of such Award. In addition, the Company has no duty or obligation to minimize the tax consequences of an Award to the Participant.