[PRE 14A] PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. Preliminary Proxy Statement
PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. is soliciting votes at a virtual special meeting to consider several proposals including approval of an issuance proposal, an amendment to the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan to add 2,250,000 shares available for awards, and an adjournment proposal to permit additional solicitation if needed. The proxy materials include voting methods (by mail or during the virtual meeting) and a security ownership table showing entities affiliated with Intracoastal Capital LLC hold 714,844 shares (about 10.23%) and all directors and executive officers as a group hold 770,230 shares (about 10.33%), with Chairman/CEO Joshua N. Silverman shown with 220,000 shares (approximately 3.16%). The materials reference the full text of the amended Equity Incentive Plan in an appendix.
- Board alignment and insider skin in the game: directors and executive officers collectively hold 770,230 shares (~10.33%), indicating meaningful insider ownership.
- Clear disclosure of proposed share increase: the proxy explicitly states the plan amendment would add 2,250,000 shares to the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan, giving shareholders a concrete figure to evaluate.
- Potential dilution: adding 2,250,000 shares to the equity incentive plan could dilute existing shareholders if granted and exercised.
- Concentrated voting power: an entity affiliated with Intracoastal Capital LLC holds 714,844 shares (~10.23%), which may materially influence vote outcomes.
Insights
TL;DR: Proposal to increase equity plan by 2.25M shares creates potential dilution; board seeks flexibility to grant incentives.
The Plan Amendment Proposal to add 2,250,000 shares is the material governance action here because it expands the pool available for stock-based compensation and could dilute existing holders if fully utilized. The proxy shows concentrated insider/affiliate ownership with Intracoastal-affiliated entities at 10.23% and insiders as a group at 10.33%, which is meaningful for control and voting outcomes. The Adjournment Proposal is routine procedural language to allow further solicitations if the proposals lack sufficient support.
TL;DR: A 2.25M share award pool increase is investor-relevant; ownership figures indicate who may influence approval.
The key investor implication is potential future dilution from the equity plan amendment. The proxy provides voting logistics and ownership percentages that help assess vote outcomes; an affiliate holding over 10% often plays a decisive role in special meeting votes. No financial results or transaction values beyond the share count are disclosed in the provided excerpt.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant x
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨
Check the appropriate box:
x | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
¨ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
¨ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
¨ | Definitive Additional Materials |
¨ | Soliciting Material Under §240.14a-12 |
PharmaCyte Biotech, 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 all boxes that apply):
x | No fee required |
¨ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials |
¨ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
PHARMACYTE BIOTECH, INC.
3960 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 500
Las Vegas, Nevada 89169
(917) 595-2850
____________________, 2025
To Our Stockholders:
You are cordially invited to attend a special meeting of stockholders of PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. (“PharmaCyte”) to be held at 11:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, October 30, 2025.
We have decided to hold this special meeting virtually via live audio webcast on the internet. You will be able to attend the special meeting by first registering at https://web.viewproxy.com/PMCB/2025SM. You will receive a meeting invitation by e-mail with your unique join link along with a password prior to the meeting date. You will not be able to attend the special meeting in person.
Details regarding the meeting, the business to be conducted at the meeting, and information about the Company that you should consider when you vote your shares are described in the accompanying proxy statement.
At the special meeting, we will ask stockholders (i) to authorize, for purposes of complying with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), the issuance of shares of our common stock underlying shares of convertible preferred stock and warrants issued by us pursuant to the terms of (a) that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated August 17, 2025, by and among us and the investors named therein and (b) that certain engagement letter by and among us and GP Nurmenkari Inc. as placement agent, in an amount equal to or in excess of 20% of our common stock outstanding before the issuance of such convertible preferred stock and warrants (including upon the operation of anti-dilution provisions contained in such convertible preferred stock and warrants); (ii) to approve a proposed amendment to the PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. 2022 Equity Incentive Plan to, among other things, increase the number of shares available for the grant of awards by 2,250,000 shares (the “Plan Amendment Proposal”); and (iii) to approve an adjournment of the special meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes to adopt each of the aforementioned proposals. The board of directors recommends the approval of each of these proposals.
We hope you will be able to attend the special meeting. Whether you plan to attend the special meeting or not, it is important that you cast your vote either in person or by proxy. You may vote over the Internet as well as by telephone or by mail. When you have finished reading the proxy statement, you are urged to vote in accordance with the instructions set forth in the proxy statement. We encourage you to vote by proxy so that your shares will be represented and voted at the meeting, whether or not you can attend.
Thank you for your continued support of the Company.
Sincerely, |
/s/ Joshua Silverman |
Joshua Silverman |
Executive Chairman |
PHARMACYTE BIOTECH, INC.
3960 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 500
Las Vegas, Nevada 89169
__________, 2025
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TIME: 11:00 a.m. ET
DATE: October 30, 2025
ACCESS:
You will be able to attend the special meeting by first registering at https://web.viewproxy.com/PMCB/2025SM. You will receive a meeting invitation by e-mail with your unique join link along with a password prior to the meeting date. If you are a registered holder, your virtual control number will be on your proxy card. If you hold your shares beneficially through a bank or broker, you must provide a legal proxy from your bank or broker during registration and you will be assigned a virtual control number in order to vote your shares during the special meeting. If you are unable to obtain a legal proxy to vote your shares, you will still be able to attend the special meeting (but will not be able to vote your shares) so long as you demonstrate proof of stock ownership. Instructions on how to connect and participate via the Internet, including how to demonstrate proof of stock ownership, are posted at https://web.viewproxy.com/PMCB/2025SM. On the day of the special meeting, you may only vote during the meeting by e-mailing a copy of your legal proxy to virtualmeeting@viewproxy.com in advance of the meeting.
PURPOSES:
1. | To authorize, for purposes of complying with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), the issuance of shares of our common stock underlying shares of convertible preferred stock and warrants issued by us pursuant to the terms of (a) that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated August 17, 2025, by and among us and the investors named therein and (b) that certain engagement letter by and among us and GP Nurmenkari Inc. as placement agent, in an amount equal to or in excess of 20% of our common stock outstanding before the issuance of such convertible preferred stock and warrants (including upon the operation of anti-dilution provisions contained in such convertible preferred stock and warrants) (the “Issuance Proposal”); | |
2. | To approve a proposed amendment to the PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. 2022 Equity Incentive Plan to, among other things, increase the number of shares available for the grant of awards by 2,250,000 shares (the “Plan Amendment Proposal”); | |
3. | To approve the adjournment of the special meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes to adopt either of the Issuance Proposal or the Plan Amendment Proposal or to establish a quorum (the “Adjournment Proposal”); and | |
4. | To transact such other business that is properly presented at the special meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. |
WHO MAY VOTE:
You may vote if you were the record owner of PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. common stock or Series C Preferred Stock at the close of business on September 15, 2025, provided that holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock are not entitled to vote such shares on the Issuance Proposal. A list of stockholders of record will be available at the special meeting and, during the 10 days prior to the special meeting, at our principal executive offices located at 3960 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 500, Las Vegas, Nevada 89169.
All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the special meeting. Whether you plan to attend the special meeting or not, we urge you to vote and submit your proxy by the Internet, telephone or mail in order to ensure the presence of a quorum. You may change or revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the special meeting.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
Joshua N. Silverman |
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and |
President |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE | |
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING AND VOTING | 1 |
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT | 7 |
PROPOSAL NO. 1 ISSUANCE PROPOSAL | 9 |
PROPOSAL NO. 2 PLAN AMENDMENT PROPOSAL | 13 |
PROPOSAL NO. 3 ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL | 19 |
OTHER MATTERS | 20 |
STOCKHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS | 20 |
Appendix | |
Appendix A – PHARMACYTE BIOTECH, INC. 2022 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED | A-1 |
i |
PRELIMINARY COPIES FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 14a-6(a)
PHARMACYTE BIOTECH, INC.
3960 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 500
Las Vegas, Nevada 89169
PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE PHARMACYTE BIOTECH, INC.
SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 30, 2025
This proxy statement, along with the accompanying notice of special meeting of stockholders, contains information about the special meeting of stockholders of PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc., including any adjournments or postponements of the special meeting. We are holding the special meeting at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, on Thursday, October 30, 2025. You will be able to attend the special meeting by first registering at https://web.viewproxy.com/PMCB/2025SM. You will receive a meeting invitation by e-mail with your unique join link along with a password prior to the meeting date.
In this proxy statement, we refer to PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. as “PharmaCyte,” “the Company,” “we” and “us.”
This proxy statement relates to the solicitation of proxies by our board of directors for use at the special meeting.
On or about __________, 2025, we intend to begin sending this proxy statement, the attached notice of special meeting of stockholders and the enclosed proxy card to all stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting.
ii |
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY
MATERIALS FOR THE
STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 30, 2025
This proxy statement, the notice of special meeting of stockholders and our form of proxy card are available for viewing, printing and downloading at https://web.viewproxy.com/PMCB/2025SM. To view these materials please have your control number(s) available that appears on your proxy card. On this website, you can also elect to receive future distributions of our proxy statements and annual reports to stockholders by electronic delivery.
If you are a registered holder, your virtual control number will be on your proxy card. If you hold your shares beneficially through a bank or broker, you must provide a legal proxy from your bank or broker during registration and you will be assigned a virtual control number in order to access the special meeting.
iii |
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING AND VOTING
Why is the Company Soliciting My Proxy?
Our board of directors (the “Board”) is soliciting your proxy to vote at the special meeting of stockholders to be held virtually, on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. ET, and any adjournments or postponements of the meeting, which we refer to as the special meeting. This proxy statement, along with the accompanying notice of special meeting of stockholders, summarizes the purposes of the meeting and the information you need to know to vote at the special meeting.
We have made available to you on the Internet or have sent you this proxy statement, the notice of special meeting of stockholders and the proxy card because you owned shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) or Series C Preferred Stock on the record date. We intend to commence distribution of proxy materials to stockholders on or about __________, 2025.
Why are you seeking approval for the issuance of shares of common stock in connection with the financing transaction?
On August 17, 2025, we entered into a securities purchase agreement pursuant to which we agreed to sell (i) an aggregate of 7,000 shares of the Company’s newly designated Series C convertible preferred stock, par value $0.0001, with a stated value of $1,000 per share (the “Series C Preferred Stock”), initially convertible into up to 7,000,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, at an initial conversion price of $1.00 and (ii) warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase up to an aggregate of 7,000,000 shares of Common Stock in a private placement (the “Offering”). The conversion price of the Series C Preferred Stock (the “Conversion Price”) is subject to customary adjustments for stock dividends, stock splits, reclassifications and the like, and subject to price-based adjustment in the event of any issuances of Common Stock, or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, at a price below the then-applicable Conversion Price (subject to certain exceptions). In connection with the Offering, pursuant to an engagement letter between the Company and GP Nurmenkari Inc. (“GPN”), the Company agreed to issue to GPN or its nominees warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock equal to an aggregate of 560,000 shares of Common Stock, with an exercise price of $1.00 per share and a five-year term (the “GPN Warrants”).
Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d) generally requires us to obtain stockholder approval prior to issuing more than 20% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock. Accordingly, the Company is seeking stockholder approval of the issuance of shares of Common Stock in connection with the (i) Offering and (ii) GPN Warrants. For more information, see “Issuance Proposal” contained elsewhere in this proxy statement.
Why Are You Holding a Virtual Special Meeting?
The special meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format only. We have designed our virtual format to enhance, rather than constrain, stockholder access, participation and communication.
How do I access the Virtual Special Meeting?
The live webcast of the special meeting will begin promptly at 11:00 a.m. ET. Online access to the audio webcast will open 15 minutes prior to the start of the special meeting to allow time for you to log-in and test your device’s audio system. The virtual special meeting is running the most updated version of the applicable software and plugins. You should ensure you have a strong Internet connection wherever you intend to participate in the special meeting. You should also allow plenty of time to log in and ensure that you can hear streaming audio prior to the start of the special meeting.
Log-in Instructions. You will be able to attend the special meeting by first registering at https://web.viewproxy.com/PMCB/2025SM. You will receive a meeting invitation by e-mail with your unique join link along with a password prior to the meeting date. If you are a registered holder, your virtual control number will be on your proxy card. If you hold your shares beneficially through a bank or broker, you must provide a legal proxy from your bank or broker during registration and you will be assigned a virtual control number in order to vote your shares during the special meeting. If you are unable to obtain a legal proxy to vote your shares, you will still be able to attend the special meeting (but will not be able to vote your shares) so long as you demonstrate proof of stock ownership. Instructions on how to connect and participate via the Internet, including how to demonstrate proof of stock ownership, are posted at https://web.viewproxy.com/PMCB/2025SM. On the day of the special meeting, you may only vote during the meeting by e-mailing a copy of your legal proxy to virtualmeeting@viewproxy.com in advance of the meeting.
1 |
What Happens if There Are Technical Difficulties during the Special meeting?
There will be technicians ready to assist you with any technical difficulties you may have accessing the special meeting live audio webcast. Please be sure to check in by 10:45 a.m. ET on October 30, 2025 (15 minutes prior to the start of the meeting is recommended) the day of the meeting, so that any technical difficulties may be addressed before the special meeting live audio webcast begins. If you encounter any difficulties accessing the webcast during the check-in or meeting time, please email VirtualMeeting@viewproxy.com or call 866-612-8937.
Who May Vote?
Holders of Common Stock or Series C Preferred Stock at the close of business on September 15, 2025 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to vote at the special meeting. On the Record Date, there were 6,795,779 shares of our Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote. In addition, on an as-converted basis, holders of our Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to an aggregate of 930,836 votes on each of Proposals 2 and 3. Holders of Series C Preferred Stock are not permitted to vote on Proposal 1 (the Issuance Proposal (as defined herein)).
If on the Record Date your shares of our Common Stock or Series C Preferred Stock were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, then you are a stockholder of record.
If on the Record Date 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 the notice and our 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 special 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 special meeting. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares at the special meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent.
You do not need to attend the special meeting to vote your shares. Shares represented by valid proxies, received in time for the special meeting and not revoked prior to the special meeting, will be voted at the special meeting. For instructions on how to change or revoke your proxy, see “May I Change or Revoke My Proxy?” below.
How Many Votes Do I Have?
Each share of our Common Stock that you own entitles you to one vote on all proposals described in this proxy statement. Each share of our Series C Preferred Stock that you own entitles you to the number of votes equal to the number of shares of Common Stock into which your shares of Series C Preferred Stock could have been converted on the Record Date. This number is obtained by dividing the stated value of your Series C Preferred Stock ($1,000) by the then applicable Conversion Price (as defined in the Certificate of Designations), which was $1.00 on the Record Date. With respect to Proposals 2 and 3, our Common Stock and Series C Preferred Stock vote together in a single class. Holders of Series C Preferred Stock are not permitted to vote on Proposal 1 (the Issuance Proposal (as defined herein)).
How Do I Vote?
Whether you plan to attend the special meeting or not, we urge you to vote by proxy. All shares represented by valid proxies that we receive through this solicitation, and that are not revoked, will be voted in accordance with your instructions on the proxy card or as instructed via the Internet or telephone. You may specify whether your shares should be voted for, against or abstain with respect to the proposals. If you properly submit a proxy without giving specific voting instructions, your shares will be voted in accordance with our Board’s recommendations as noted below. Voting by proxy will not affect your right to attend the special meeting.
2 |
If your shares are registered directly in your name through our stock transfer agent, Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, or you have stock certificates registered in your name, you may vote:
· | By Internet or by telephone. Follow the instructions included in the proxy card to vote over the Internet or by telephone. | |
· | By mail. If you received a proxy card by mail, you can vote by mail by completing, signing, dating and returning the proxy card as instructed on the card. If you sign the proxy card but do not specify how you want your shares voted, they will be voted in accordance with our Board’s recommendations as noted below. | |
· | At the time of the virtual special meeting. If you attend the virtual special meeting, you may vote your shares online at the time of the meeting. |
Telephone and Internet voting facilities for stockholders of record will be available 24 hours a day and will close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 29, 2025.
If your shares are held in “street name” (held in the name of a bank, broker or other holder of record), you will receive instructions from the holder of record. You must follow the instructions of the holder of record in order for your shares to be voted. Telephone and Internet voting also will be offered to stockholders owning shares through certain banks and brokers. If your shares are not registered in your own name and you plan to vote your shares in person at the special meeting, you should contact your broker or agent to obtain a legal proxy or broker’s proxy card and vote your shares online at the time of the meeting.
How Does the Board Recommend that I Vote on the Proposals?
Our Board recommends that you vote (a) “FOR” the issuance, for the purpose of complying with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), of shares of our Common Stock underlying (i) shares of our Series C Preferred Stock and Warrants issued by us pursuant to the terms of that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated August 17, 2025, by and among us and the investors named therein and (ii) the GPN Warrants, in an amount equal to or in excess of 20% of our Common Stock outstanding before the issuance of such Series C Preferred Stock and Warrants (including upon the operation of anti-dilution provisions contained in such Series C Preferred Stock and Warrants) (the “Issuance Proposal”); (b) “FOR” the approval of the amendment to the PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan Amendment Proposal”); and (c) “FOR” the adjournment of the special meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes to adopt either of the Issuance Proposal or the Plan Amendment Proposal (the “Adjournment Proposal”).
If any other matter is presented at the special meeting, your proxy provides that your shares will be voted by the proxy holder listed in the proxy in accordance with the proxy holder’s best judgment. At the time this proxy statement was first made available, we knew of no matters that needed to be acted on at the special meeting, other than those discussed in this proxy statement.
3 |
May I Change or Revoke My Proxy?
If you give us your proxy, you may change or revoke it at any time before the special meeting. You may change or revoke your proxy in any one of the following ways:
If you received a proxy card, by signing a new proxy card with a date later than your previously delivered proxy and submitting it as instructed above:
· | by re-voting by Internet or by telephone as instructed above; | |
· | by notifying the Company’s President in writing before the special meeting that you have revoked your proxy; or | |
· | by attending the special meeting and voting at the meeting. Attending the special meeting will not in and of itself revoke a previously submitted proxy. You must specifically request at the special meeting that it be revoked. |
Your most current vote, whether by telephone, Internet or proxy card is the one that will be counted.
What if I Receive More Than One Notice or Proxy Card?
You may receive more than one notice or proxy card if you hold shares of our Common Stock or Series C Preferred Stock in more than one account, which may be in registered form or held in street name. Please vote in the manner described above under “How Do I Vote?” for each account to ensure that all of your shares are voted.
Will My Shares be Voted if I Do Not Vote?
If your shares are registered in your name or if you have stock certificates, they will not be counted if you do not vote as described above under “How Do I Vote?” If your shares are held in street name and you do not provide voting instructions to the bank, broker or other nominee that holds your shares as described above, the bank, broker or other nominee that holds your shares does not have the authority to vote your unvoted shares without receiving instructions from you. Therefore, we encourage you to provide voting instructions to your bank, broker or other nominee. This ensures your shares will be voted at the special meeting and in the manner you desire.
What Vote is Required to Approve the Proposals and How are Votes Counted?
The affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast affirmatively or negatively for the proposal is required to approve the Issuance Proposal. Abstentions will have no effect on the results of this vote. Brokerage firms do not have authority to vote customers’ unvoted shares held by the firms in street name on this proposal. As a result, any shares not voted by a customer will be treated as a broker non-vote. Such broker non-votes will have no effect on the results of this vote.
The affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast affirmatively or negatively for the proposal is required to approve the Plan Amendment Proposal. Abstentions will have no effect on the results of this vote. Brokerage firms do not have authority to vote customers’ unvoted shares held by the firms in street name on this proposal. As a result, any shares not voted by a customer will be treated as a broker non-vote. Such broker non-votes will have no effect on the results of this vote.
The affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast affirmatively or negatively for the proposal is required to approve the adjournment of the special meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes to adopt either of the Issuance Proposal or the Plan Amendment Proposal or to establish a quorum. Abstentions will have no effect on the results of this vote. Brokerage firms do not have authority to vote customers’ unvoted shares held by the firms in street name on this proposal. As a result, any shares not voted by a customer will be treated as a broker non-vote. Such broker non-votes will have no effect on the results of this vote.
4 |
Where Can I Find the Voting Results of the Special Meeting?
The preliminary voting results will be announced at the special meeting, and we will publish preliminary, or final results if available, in a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days of the special meeting. If final results are unavailable at the time we file the Form 8-K, then we will file an amended report on Form 8-K to disclose the final voting results within four business days after the final voting results are known.
What Are the Costs of Soliciting these Proxies?
We will pay all of the costs of soliciting these proxies. Our directors and employees may solicit proxies in person or by telephone, fax or email. We will pay these employees and directors no additional compensation for these services. We will ask banks, brokers and other institutions, nominees and fiduciaries to forward these proxy materials to their principals and to obtain authority to execute proxies. We will then reimburse them for their expenses.
We have engaged Alliance Advisors to assist in the solicitation of proxies and provide related advice and informational support, for a services fee, plus customary disbursements, which are not expected to exceed $85,000 in total.
What Constitutes a Quorum for the Special Meeting?
The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of one third of the voting power of all outstanding shares of our Common Stock and Series C Preferred Stock entitled to vote at the special meeting voting together as a single class is necessary to constitute a quorum at the special meeting. Votes of stockholders of record who are present at the special meeting in person or by proxy and abstentions are counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists.
Who should I contact if I have any questions about how to vote?
If you have any questions about how to vote your shares, you may contact our proxy solicitor at:
Alliance Advisors, LLC
150 Clove Road, Suite 400, Little Falls, NJ 07424 Telephone: (844) 717-2319
Attending the Special Meeting
Our special meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format only. You will be able to attend the special meeting by first registering at https://web.viewproxy.com/PMCB/2025SM. You will receive a meeting invitation by e-mail with your unique join link along with a password prior to the meeting date.
Householding of Annual Disclosure Documents
Some brokers or other nominee record holders may be sending you a single set of our proxy materials if multiple PharmaCyte stockholders live in your household. This practice, which has been approved by the SEC, is called “householding.” Once you receive notice from your broker or other nominee record holder that it will be “householding” our proxy materials, the practice will continue until you are otherwise notified or until you notify them that you no longer want to participate in the practice. Stockholders who participate in householding will continue to have access to and utilize separate proxy voting instructions.
We will promptly deliver a separate copy of our notice or, if applicable, our proxy materials to you if you write or call our President at: 3960 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 500, Las Vegas, Nevada 89169, Attention: President. If you want to receive your own set of our proxy materials in the future or, if you share an address with another stockholder and together both of you would like to receive only a single set of proxy materials, you should contact your broker or other nominee record holder directly or you may contact us at the above address and phone number.
5 |
Electronic Delivery of Company Stockholder Communications
Most stockholders can elect to view or receive copies of future proxy materials over the Internet instead of receiving paper copies in the mail.
You can choose this option and save us the cost of producing and mailing these documents by:
· | following the instructions provided on your proxy card; or | |
· | following the instructions provided when you vote over the Internet. |
6 |
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth as of September 15, 2025, certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock by each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of our Common Stock, by each of our directors, by each of our named executive officers and by all executive officers and directors as a group.
We deem shares of Common Stock that may be acquired by an individual or group within 60 days of September 15, 2025 pursuant to the exercise of options or warrants or the vesting of restricted stock units to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of such individual or group, but those shares are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person shown in the table. Except as indicated in footnotes to this table, we believe that the stockholders named in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock shown to be beneficially owned by them based on information provided to us by these stockholders.
Under the terms of certain of our outstanding warrants and Series C Preferred Stock, holders may not exercise the warrants or convert the Series C Preferred Stock to the extent such exercise or conversion would cause such holder, together with its affiliates, to beneficially own a number of shares of our Common Stock which would exceed 4.99% or 9.99%, as applicable, of our then outstanding Common Stock following such exercise or conversion, excluding for purposes of such determination Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants which have not been exercised or conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock that has not been converted.
The address of all beneficial owners is 3960 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 500, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89169. Each person has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of Common Stock.
Name and Address | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership | Percentage of Common Stock (1) | ||||||
More than 5% stockholders: | ||||||||
Entities affiliated with Ayrton Capital LLC (2) | 774,100 | 10.24% | ||||||
Entities affiliated with Intracoastal Capital LLC (3) | 714,844 | 10.23% | ||||||
Directors, Officers and Named Executive Officers: | ||||||||
Joshua N. Silverman, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President (4) | 220,000 | 3.16% | ||||||
Jonathan L. Schechter, Board Member (5) | 149,257 | 2.16% | ||||||
Michael M. Abecassis, Board Member (6) | 103,059 | 1.49% | ||||||
Robert Weinstein, Board Member (7) | 99,257 | 1.44% | ||||||
Wayne R. Walker, Board Member (8) | 99,257 | 1.44% | ||||||
Carlos A. Trujillo, Chief Financial Officer (9) | 99,400 | 1.44% | ||||||
All directors and executive officers as a group (6 persons) | 770,230 | 10.33% |
*Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1% of the outstanding shares.
(1) | Percentages based on 6,795,779 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of September 15, 2025. |
(2) | Includes 774,100 shares of Common Stock issuable on the exercise of warrants held by Alto Opportunity Master Fund, SPC – Segregated Master Portfolio B (“Alto”). This information is based solely on the Schedule 13G filed with the SEC by Alto, Ayrton Capital LLC (“Ayrton”) and Waqas Khatri on February 13, 2025. Alto is a private investment vehicle for which Ayrton serves as the investment manager. Mr. Khatri serves as the managing member of Ayrton. A blocker provision exists, limiting the percentage to 9.99%. The address of Alto is Suite #7, Grand Pavilion Commercial Centre, 802 West Bay Road, Grand Cayman, P.O. Box 10250, Cayman Islands. The address of Ayrton is 55 Post Rd West, 2nd Floor, Westport, CT 06880. The address of Mr. Khatri is 55 Post Rd West, 2nd Floor, Westport, CT 06880. |
7 |
(3) | Includes (i) 527,376 shares of Common Stock and (ii) 187,468 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants owned by Intracoastal LLC (“Intracoastal”). This information is based on the Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC January 15, 2025 by Intracoastal, Mitchell P. Kopin and Daniel B. Asher. A blocker provision exists, limiting the percentage to 9.99%. The address of Mr. Kopin and Intracoastal is c/o Intracoastal Capital, LLC, 245 Palm Trail, Delray Beach, Florida 33483. The address of Mr. Asher is 111 W. Jackson Boulevard, Suite 2000, Chicago, Illinois 60604. |
(4) | Includes 170,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of options to purchase Common Stock. | |
(5) |
Includes 99,257 shares issuable upon the exercise of options to purchase Common Stock.
| |
(6) |
Includes 100,257 shares issuable upon the exercise of options to purchase Common Stock.
| |
(7) |
Includes 99,257 shares issuable upon the exercise of options to purchase Common Stock.
| |
(8) |
Includes 99,257 shares issuable upon the exercise of options to purchase Common Stock.
| |
(9) | Includes 89,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of options to purchase Common Stock |
8 |
PROPOSAL NO. 1
ISSUANCE PROPOSAL
Background and Description of Proposal
Financing Transaction
On August 17, 2025, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with certain accredited investors (the “Investors”), pursuant to which we agreed to sell to the Investors (a) an aggregate of 7,000 shares of our newly designated Series C convertible preferred stock, par value $0.0001, with a stated value of $1,000 per share (the “Series C Preferred Stock”), initially convertible into up to 7,000,000 shares of the our Common Stock, at an initial conversion price of $1.00 (the “Conversion Price”) and (b) warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase up to an aggregate of 7,000,000 shares of Common Stock at an initial exercise price of $1.00 per share, in a private placement (the “Financing”). The shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock and exercise of the Warrants are referred to as the “Conversion Shares” and “Warrant Shares,” respectively.
Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d) generally requires us to obtain stockholder approval prior to issuing more than 20% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock. Accordingly, we are seeking stockholder approval of the issuance of shares of Common Stock in connection with the (i) Financing and (ii) GPN Warrants. In connection with the Financing, we agreed to seek approval of our stockholders for the issuance of the Securities (as defined below).
Reasons for the Financing
As of July 31, 2025, our cash and cash equivalents were approximately $13.2 million. In August 2025, our Board determined that it was necessary to raise additional funds for general corporate purposes and working capital. We believe that the Financing, which yielded gross proceeds of $7.0 million, was necessary in light of our cash and funding requirements at the time. The proceeds that we received from the Financing and may receive in connection with the exercise of the Warrants will improve our capital position and provide financing for working capital and general corporate purposes. We also believe that the anti-dilution protections contained in the Series C Preferred Stock and Warrants were reasonable in light of market conditions and the size and type of the Financing, and that we would not have been able to complete the sale of the Series C Preferred Stock and Warrants unless such anti-dilution provisions were offered.
Series C Convertible Preferred Stock
The terms of the Series C Preferred Stock are as set forth in a Certificate of Designations (the “Certificate of Designations”), which was filed with the Secretary of State for the State of Nevada on August 18, 2025. The Series C Preferred Stock will be convertible into Conversion Shares at the election of the holder at any time at the Conversion Price. The Conversion Price is subject to customary adjustments for stock dividends, stock splits, reclassifications and the like, and subject to price-based adjustment in the event of any issuances of Common Stock, or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, at a price below the then-applicable Conversion Price (subject to certain exceptions).
The holders of the Series C Preferred Stock will be entitled to dividends of 7% per annum, compounded quarterly, which are payable in cash. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Triggering Event (as defined in the Certificate of Designations), the Series C Preferred Stock will accrue dividends at the rate of 15% per annum. The holders of Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to vote with holders of the Common Stock as a single class on all matters that holders of Common Stock are entitled to vote upon, with the number of votes per share of Series C Preferred Stock equal to the stated value of such Series C Preferred Stock divided by the then applicable Conversion Price; provided, however that in no event shall the then applicable Conversion Price be less than the “Minimum Price” (as defined in Rule 5635 of the Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market) on the date immediately prior to the date of the Purchase Agreement.
9 |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, our ability to settle conversions is subject to certain limitations set forth in the Certificate of Designations, including a limit on the number of shares that may be issued until the time, if any, that our stockholders have approved the issuance of more than 19.99% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock in accordance with Nasdaq listing standards (the “Nasdaq Stockholder Approval”). We agreed to seek stockholder approval of these matters at a meeting to be held no later than October 31, 2025 and are now seeking such approval via this Issuance Proposal. Further, the Certificate of Designations contains a certain beneficial ownership limitation after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock.
The Certificate of Designations includes certain Triggering Events (as defined in the Certificate of Designations), including, among other things, the failure to file and maintain an effective registration statement covering the sale of the holder’s securities registrable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and the failure to pay any amounts due to the holders of the Preferred Stock when due. In connection with a Triggering Event, each holder of Preferred Stock will be able to require us to redeem in cash any or all of the holder’s Preferred Stock at a premium set forth in the Certificate of Designations.
We will be subject to certain affirmative and negative covenants regarding the incurrence of indebtedness, acquisition and investment transactions, the existence of liens, the repayment of indebtedness, the payment of cash in respect of dividends (other than dividends pursuant to the Certificate of Designations), distributions or redemptions, and the transfer of assets, among other matters.
Warrants
The Warrants are exercisable immediately at an exercise price of $1.00 per share (the “Exercise Price”) and expire five years from the date of issuance. The Exercise Price is subject to customary adjustments for stock dividends, stock splits, reclassifications and the like, and subject to price-based adjustment, on a “full ratchet” basis, in the event of any issuances of Common Stock, or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, at a price below the then-applicable Exercise Price (subject to certain exceptions). The Warrants contain a certain beneficial ownership limitation after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.
Securities Purchase Agreement
The Purchase Agreement contains representations and warranties of us and the Investors, which are typical for transactions of this type. The Purchase Agreement obligates us to indemnify the Investors and various related parties for certain losses including those resulting from (i) any misrepresentation or breach of any representation or warranty made by us, (ii) any breach of any obligation of ours and (iii) certain claims by third parties.
In addition, the Purchase Agreement contains customary covenants on our part that are typical for transactions of this type, as well as the following additional covenants: (i) we agreed to offer to the Investors, until the later of no Series C Preferred Stock being outstanding and the maturity date of the Series C Preferred Stock, the opportunity to participate in any subsequent securities financings by us; and (ii) we agreed to use our best efforts to hold a stockholder meeting, at which we would solicit our stockholders’ affirmative vote for approval of our issuance of the Securities (as defined below) in accordance with the applicable law and rules and regulations of Nasdaq, no later than October 31, 2025. This Issuance Proposal is intended to fulfill this final covenant.
Placement Agent Engagement Letter
In connection with the Financing, we entered into an engagement letter (the “Engagement Letter”) with GP Nurmenkari Inc. as placement agent (“GPN”). Pursuant to the Engagement Letter, we agreed to pay GPN (i) a cash fee equal to 8.0% of the gross proceeds from any sale of securities in the Financing, (ii) warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock equal to 8.0% of the number of shares of Common Stock that the Series C Preferred Stock are initially convertible into, with an exercise price of $1.00 per share and a five-year term (the “GPN Warrants”) and (iii) a non-accountable expense allowance of $10,000. The shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the GPN Warrants are referred to herein as the “GPN Warrant Shares.”
The Series C Preferred Stock, the Conversion Shares, the Warrants, the Warrant Shares, the GPN Warrants and the GPN Warrant Shares are herein collectively referred to as the “Securities.”
10 |
Registration Rights Agreement
In connection with the Purchase Agreement, on August 17, 2025, we and the Investors entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which we are required to, among other things, file a resale registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) with the SEC to register for resale (i) 150% of the maximum number of Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock and (ii) 150% of the maximum number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, promptly following the closing of the Financing, but in no event later than 30 calendar days after the effective date of the Registration Rights Agreement, and to have such Registration Statement declared effective by the Effectiveness Date (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement). Pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, on September 16, 2025, we filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 to register the resale under the Securities Act the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares.
Effect of Issuance of Securities
In connection with the Financing, we agreed to seek approval of our stockholders for the issuance of the Securities. The Series C Preferred Stock are initially convertible into up to 7,000,000 shares of our Common Stock at the Conversion Price. Exercise of the Warrants and GPN Warrants in full will result in the issuance of an additional 7,560,000 shares of Common Stock. The potential issuance of the Conversion Shares, Warrant Shares and GPN Warrant Shares would result in an increase in the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, and our stockholders will incur dilution of their percentage ownership to the extent that (i) the Investors convert their Series C Preferred Stock or exercise their Warrants, (ii) GPN exercises the GPN Warrants or (iii) additional shares of Common Stock are issued pursuant to the anti-dilution terms of the Securities. Because of potential adjustments to the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exercise (as applicable) of the Securities to be issued in connection with the Financing, the exact magnitude of the dilutive effect of the Securities cannot be conclusively determined. However, the dilutive effect may be material to our current stockholders.
Proposal to Approve Financing Transaction
Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d) requires us to obtain stockholder approval prior to the issuance of securities in connection with a transaction other than a public financing involving (a) the sale, issuance or potential issuance by us of our Common Stock (or securities convertible into or exercisable for our Common Stock) at a price less than the greater of book or market value which equals 20% or more of Common Stock or 20% or more of the voting power outstanding before the issuance; or (b) the sale, issuance or potential issuance by us of our Common Stock (or securities convertible into or exercisable for our Common Stock) equal to 20% or more of the Common Stock or 20% or more of the voting power outstanding before the issuance for less than the greater of book or market value of the stock. In the case of the Financing, the 20% threshold is determined based on the shares of our Common Stock outstanding immediately preceding the Financing, the Purchase Agreement for which we signed on August 17, 2025.
Prior to closing the Financing, we had 6,795,779 shares of Common Stock outstanding. Therefore, the potential issuance of the Securities would have constituted greater than 20% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding prior to giving effect to the financing.
We are seeking stockholder approval under Nasdaq Rule 5635(d) for the sale, issuance or potential issuance by us of our Common Stock (or securities convertible into or exercisable for our Common Stock) in excess of 20% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding on the original date of entry into the Purchase Agreement, including without limitation, as a result of the anti-dilution feature of the Series C Preferred Stock, Warrants and GPN Warrants since such provisions may reduce the per share conversion price or exercise price, as the case may be, and result in the issuance of shares at less than the greater of market price or book value per share.
Effectively, stockholder approval of this Issuance Proposal is one of the conditions for us to receive up to an additional approximately $7.56 million upon the exercise of the Warrants, if exercised for cash. Loss of these potential funds could jeopardize our ability to execute our business plan.
11 |
We generally have no control over whether (i) the holders of Series C Preferred Stock convert their Series C Preferred Stock, (ii) the Warrant holders exercise their Warrants or (iii) GPN exercises the GPN Warrants. For these reasons, we are unable to accurately forecast or predict with any certainty the total amount of shares of Common Stock that may be issued. Under certain circumstances, however, it is possible that we may have to issue more than 20% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock to holders of the Series C Preferred Stock, Warrants and GPN Warrants. Therefore, we are seeking stockholder approval under this Issuance Proposal to issue more than 20% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock, if necessary, to the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock, Warrants and GPN Warrants.
Any transaction requiring approval by our stockholders under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d) would likely result in a significant increase in the number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding, and, as a result, our current stockholders will own a smaller percentage of our outstanding shares of Common Stock.
Future issuances of securities may cause a significant reduction in the percentage interests of our current stockholders in the voting power, any liquidation value, our book and market value, and in any future earnings. Further, the issuance or resale of Common Stock issued to the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock, Warrants and GPN Warrants could cause the market price of our Common Stock to decline. In addition to the foregoing, the increase in the number of issued shares of Common Stock in connection with the Financing may have an incidental anti-takeover effect in that additional shares could be used to dilute the stock ownership of parties seeking to obtain control of us. The increased number of issued shares could discourage the possibility of, or render more difficult, certain mergers, tender offers, proxy contests or other change of control or ownership transactions.
Under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, we are not permitted (without risk of delisting) to undertake a transaction that could result in a change in control of us without seeking and obtaining separate stockholder approval. We are not required to obtain stockholder approval for the Financing under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(b) because the Investors have agreed that, for so long as they hold any shares of our Common Stock, neither they nor any of their affiliates will acquire shares of our Common Stock which result in them and their affiliates, collectively, beneficially owning or controlling more than 4.99% (which percentage can be increased to 9.99%) of the total outstanding shares of our Common Stock.
Consequences of Not Approving this Proposal
If our stockholders do not approve this proposal, we will not be able to issue more than 20% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock to the holders of the Securities. As a result, we may be unable to issue sufficient shares upon conversion or exercise of the Securities, as applicable, which will, in lieu of those shares, require that we pay substantial cash amounts to the holders of the Securities. We may not have sufficient funds to make any substantial cash payments to the holders of the Securities.
Required Vote
Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d) generally requires us to obtain stockholder approval prior to issuing more than 20% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock. The affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast affirmatively or negatively for the proposal is required to approve the Issuance Proposal. Abstentions will have no effect on the results of this vote. Brokerage firms do not have authority to vote customers’ unvoted shares held by the firms in street name on this proposal. As a result, any shares not voted by a customer will be treated as a broker non-vote. Such broker non-votes will have no effect on the results of this vote. Holders of Series C Preferred Stock are not entitled to vote such shares on the Issuance Proposal.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE TO APPROVE THE ISSUANCE PROPOSAL, AND PROXIES SOLICITED BY THE BOARD WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSAL UNLESS A STOCKHOLDER INDICATES OTHERWISE ON THE PROXY.
12 |
PROPOSAL NO. 2
PLAN AMENDMENT PROPOSAL
General
Our Board is requesting that our stockholders approve the adoption of an amendment, attached as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement, to our PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), which amendment was approved by the Board on September 19, 2025 effective upon approval by our stockholders at the special meeting. If this proposal is approved, the number of shares authorized for issuance of awards under the Plan will be increased by 2,250,000 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment for certain changes in our capitalization, and the aggregate maximum number of shares of our Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of incentive stock options under the Plan will be increased by 2,250,000 shares, subject to adjustment for certain changes in our capitalization.
The Plan was approved by our Board and stockholders in 2022. By its terms, the Plan may be amended by the Compensation Committee provided that any amendment that the Compensation Committee determines requires stockholder approval is subject to receiving such stockholder approval. Approval by our stockholders is required by the listing rules of Nasdaq. In addition, stockholder approval is required in order to ensure favorable federal income tax treatment for grants of incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
As of September 15, 2025, 1,595,040 shares of our Common Stock remain available for issuance of future awards under the Plan; options to purchase a total of 1,154,960 shares of Common Stock remain outstanding; and no restricted stock units are outstanding. As of September 15, 2025, no shares of our Common Stock have been issued upon the exercise of options and vesting of other equity awards granted under the Plan.
Reasons for Amendment of the Plan
Our Board, the Compensation Committee and management believe that the effective use of stock-based long-term incentive compensation is vital to our ability to achieve strong performance in the future. The Plan will maintain and enhance the key policies and practices adopted by our management and Board to align employee and stockholder interests and to link compensation to Company performance. In addition, our future success depends, in large part, upon our ability to maintain a competitive position in attracting, retaining and motivating key personnel. We believe that the increase in the number of shares available for issuance under our Plan is essential to permit our management to continue to provide long-term, equity-based incentives to present and future key employees, consultants and directors. Our Board believes that the number of shares currently remaining available for issuance pursuant to future awards under the Plan 1,595,040 as of September 15, 2025) is not sufficient for future granting needs. Our Board currently believes that if the amendment to the Plan is approved by stockholders, the additional 2,250,000 shares available for issuance under the Plan will result in an adequate number of shares of Common Stock being available for future awards under the Plan for two additional years following the current year.
The following is a brief summary of the Plan, as amended. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the Plan, a copy of which is attached as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.
Summary of Material Features of the Plan
Eligibility. The Plan allows us, under the direction of our Compensation Committee, to make grants of stock options, restricted and unrestricted stock awards and other stock-based awards to employees, consultants and directors who, in the opinion of the Compensation Committee, are in a position to make a significant contribution to our long-term success. All employees, directors and consultants of the Company and its affiliates are eligible to participate in the Plan. As of September 15, 2025, there were approximately six individuals eligible to participate in the Plan.
13 |
Corporate Governance Aspects of the Plan. The Plan includes several provisions that we believe promote best practices by reinforcing alignment with stockholders’ interests. These provisions include, but are not limited to, the following:
· | No Liberal Share Recycling: Shares that are withheld to satisfy any tax withholding obligation related to any stock award or for payment of the exercise price or purchase price of any stock award under the Plan will not again become available for issuance under the Plan. |
· | No Discounted Options or Stock Appreciation Rights: Stock options and stock appreciation rights may not be granted with exercise prices lower than the fair market value of the underlying shares on the grant date except to replace equity awards due to a corporate transaction. |
· | No Repricing without Stockholder Approval: Other than in connection with corporate reorganizations or restructurings, at any time when the exercise price of a stock option or strike price of a stock appreciation right is above the fair market value of a share, the Company will not, without stockholder approval, reduce the exercise price of such stock option or strike price of such stock appreciation right and will not exchange such stock option or stock appreciation right for a new award with a lower (or no) purchase price or for cash. |
· | No Transferability: Equity awards generally may not be transferred, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, unless approved by the Compensation Committee. |
· | Provide for a Minimum Vesting Period: All awards shall contain a vesting period of at least one year, except in the event of death or disability of a participant or pursuant to a change in control, liquidation, dissolution or corporate transaction of the Company; |
· | Limits on Director Grants: The Plan limits the number of shares to be granted to any non-employee director in any calendar year to an aggregate grant date fair value of $750,000 except for grants made pursuant to an election by a non-employee director to receive a grant of equity in lieu of cash for any cash fees to be received for service on our Board or any committee thereof or in connection with a non-employee director initially joining our Board. |
Shares Available for Issuance. If this Proposal 2 is approved by our stockholders, the number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued from time to time pursuant to this Plan will be the sum of: (i) 2,250,000 additional shares, (ii) 1,595,040 shares remaining available for issuance as of September 15, 2025, and (iii) 1,154,960 shares issuable upon exercise of options outstanding as of September 15, 2025, plus a number of additional shares to be issued if awards outstanding under our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan are cancelled or expire.
Generally, shares of Common Stock reserved for awards under the Plan that lapse or are canceled (other than by exercise) will be added back to the share reserve available for future awards. However, shares of Common Stock tendered in payment for an award or shares of Common Stock withheld for taxes are not available again for future awards. In addition, Shares repurchased by the Company with the proceeds of the option exercise price may not be reissued under the Plan.
Stock Options. Stock options granted under the Plan may either be incentive stock options, which are intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code, or non-qualified stock options, which are not intended to meet those requirements. Incentive Stock Options may be granted to employees of the Company and its affiliates. Non-qualified options may be granted to employees, directors and consultants of the Company and its affiliates. The exercise price of a stock option may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of our Common Stock on the date of grant and the term of the option may not be longer than ten years. If an incentive stock option is granted to an individual who owns more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of our capital stock, the exercise price may not be less than 110% of the fair market value of our Common Stock on the date of grant and the term of the option may not be longer than five years.
14 |
Award agreements for stock options include rules for exercise of the stock options after termination of service. Options may not be exercised unless they are vested, and no option may be exercised after the end of the term set forth in the award agreement. Generally, stock options will be exercisable for three months after termination of service for any reason other than death or total and permanent disability, and for 12 months after termination of service on account of death or total and permanent disability but will not be exercisable if the termination of service was due to cause.
Restricted Stock. Restricted stock is common stock that is subject to restrictions, including a prohibition against transfer and a substantial risk of forfeiture, until the end of a “restricted period” during which the grantee must satisfy certain time or performance-based vesting conditions. If the grantee does not satisfy the vesting conditions by the end of the restricted period, the restricted stock is forfeited.
During the restricted period, the holder of restricted stock has the rights and privileges of a regular stockholder, except that the holder of such restricted stock is not entitled to receive dividends during the restricted period and the restrictions set forth in the applicable award agreement apply. For example, the holder of restricted stock may vote the restricted shares; but he or she may not sell the shares until the restrictions are lifted.
Other Stock-Based Awards. The Plan also authorizes the grant of other types of stock-based compensation including, but not limited to stock appreciation rights, phantom stock awards, and other stock-based awards. Our Board or an authorized committee may award such stock-based awards subject to such conditions and restrictions as it may determine. These conditions and restrictions may include continued employment with us through a specified restricted period or achievement of one or more performance goals.
Restricted Stock Units. Restricted stock units are phantom shares that vest in accordance with terms and conditions established by the Compensation Committee and when the applicable restrictions lapse, the grantee shall be entitled to receive a payout in cash, shares or a combination thereof based on the number of restricted stock units as specified in the award agreement. Dividend equivalents may accrue but shall not be paid prior to and only to the extent that, the restricted stock unit award vests.
Plan Administration. In accordance with the terms of the Plan, our Board administers the Plan. The Board may delegate part of its authority and powers under the Plan to the Compensation Committee or one or more of our directors and/or officers, but only the Board or Compensation Committee can make awards to participants who are subject to the reporting and other requirements of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In accordance with the provisions of the Plan, our Board determines the terms of awards, including:
· | which employees, directors and consultants will be granted awards; |
· | the number of shares subject to each award; |
· | the vesting provisions of each award; |
· | the termination or cancellation provisions applicable to awards; and |
· | all other terms and conditions upon which each award may be granted in accordance with the Plan. |
In addition, our Compensation Committee may, in its discretion, amend any term or condition of an outstanding award provided (i) such term or condition as amended is permitted by our Plan, and (ii) any such amendment shall be made only with the consent of the participant to whom such award was made, if the amendment is adverse to the participant unless such amendment is required by applicable law or necessary to preserve the economic value of such award; and provided, further, that, without the prior approval of our stockholders, options and stock appreciation rights will not be repriced, replaced or regranted through cancellation or by lowering the exercise price of a previously granted award.
15 |
Stock Dividends and Stock Splits. If our Common Stock shall be subdivided or combined into a greater or smaller number of shares or if we issue any shares of Common Stock as a stock dividend, the number of shares of our Common Stock deliverable upon exercise of an option issued or upon issuance of an award shall be appropriately increased or decreased proportionately, and appropriate adjustments shall be made in the exercise price per share of stock options or purchase price, if any, and performance goals applicable to performance-based awards, if any, to reflect such subdivision, combination or stock dividend.
Corporate Transactions. Upon a merger or other reorganization event, our Board may, in its sole discretion, take any one or more of the following actions pursuant to our Plan, as to some or all outstanding awards:
· | provide that all outstanding options shall be assumed or substituted by the successor corporation; |
· | upon written notice to a participant provide that the participant’s unexercised options will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction unless exercised by the participant; |
· | in the event of a merger pursuant to which holders of our Common Stock will receive a cash payment for each share surrendered in the merger, make or provide for a cash payment to the participants equal to the difference between the merger price times the number of shares of our Common Stock subject to such outstanding options, and the aggregate exercise price of all such outstanding options, in exchange for the termination of such options; |
· | provide that outstanding awards shall be assumed or substituted by the successor corporation, become realizable or deliverable, or restrictions applicable to an award will lapse, in whole or in part, prior to or upon the merger or reorganization event; and |
· | with respect to stock grants and in lieu of any of the foregoing, our Board or an authorized committee may provide that, upon consummation of the transaction, each outstanding stock grant shall be terminated in exchange for payment of an amount equal to the consideration payable upon consummation of such transaction to a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock comprising such award (to the extent such stock grant is no longer subject to any forfeiture or repurchase rights then in effect or, at the discretion of our Board or an authorized committee, all forfeiture and repurchase rights being waived upon such transaction). |
Amendment and Termination. The Plan may be amended by our stockholders. It may also be amended by our Board, provided that any amendment approved by our Board which it determines is of a scope that requires shareholder approval shall be subject to obtaining such shareholder approval. In addition, other than in connection with stock dividends, stock splits, recapitalizations or reorganizations, the Board may not without stockholder approval reduce the exercise price or cancel any outstanding option in exchange for a replacement option having a lower exercise price, or for any other equity award or for cash. In addition, the Board may not take any other action that is considered a direct or indirect “repricing” for purposes of the stockholder approval rules of the applicable securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the Shares are listed, including any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles. However, no such action may adversely affect any rights under any outstanding award without the holder’s consent unless such amendment is required by applicable law or necessary to preserve the economic value of such award.
Duration of Plan. The Plan will expire by its terms on November 14, 2032.
Federal Income Tax Considerations
The material federal income tax consequences of the issuance and exercise of stock options and other awards under the Plan, based on the current provisions of the Code and regulations, are as follows. Changes to these laws could alter the tax consequences described below. This summary assumes that all awards granted under the Plan are exempt from or comply with, the rules under Section 409A of the Code related to nonqualified deferred compensation.
16 |
Incentive Stock Options: | Incentive stock options are intended to qualify for treatment under Section 422 of the Code. An incentive stock option does not result in taxable income to the optionee or deduction to us at the time it is granted or exercised, provided that no disposition is made by the optionee of the shares acquired pursuant to the option within two years after the date of grant of the option nor within one year after the date of issuance of shares to the optionee (referred to as the “ISO holding period”). However, the difference between the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise and the option price will be an item of tax preference includible in “alternative minimum taxable income” of the optionee. Upon disposition of the shares after the expiration of the ISO holding period, the optionee will generally recognize long term capital gain or loss based on the difference between the disposition proceeds and the option price paid for the shares. If the shares are disposed of prior to the expiration of the ISO holding period, the optionee generally will recognize taxable compensation, and we will have a corresponding deduction, in the year of the disposition, equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise of the option over the option price. Any additional gain realized on the disposition will normally constitute capital gain. If the amount realized upon such a disqualifying disposition is less than fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise, the amount of compensation income will be limited to the excess of the amount realized over the optionee’s adjusted basis in the shares. |
Non-Qualified Options: |
Options otherwise qualifying as incentive stock options, to the extent the aggregate fair market value of shares with respect to which such options are first exercisable by an individual in any calendar year exceeds $100,000, and options designated as non-qualified options will be treated as options that are not incentive stock options.
A non-qualified option ordinarily will not result in income to the optionee or deduction to us at the time of grant. The optionee will recognize compensation income at the time of exercise of such non-qualified option in an amount equal to the excess of the then value of the shares over the option price per share. Such compensation income of optionees may be subject to withholding taxes, and a deduction may then be allowable to us in an amount equal to the optionee’s compensation income.
An optionee’s initial basis in shares so acquired will be the amount paid on exercise of the non-qualified option plus the amount of any corresponding compensation income. Any gain or loss as a result of a subsequent disposition of the shares so acquired will be capital gain or loss. |
Stock Grants: |
With respect to stock grants under our Plan that result in the issuance of shares that are either not restricted as to transferability or not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, the grantee must generally recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of shares received. Thus, deferral of the time of issuance will generally result in the deferral of the time the grantee will be liable for income taxes with respect to such issuance. We generally will be entitled to a deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the grantee.
With respect to stock grants involving the issuance of shares that are restricted as to transferability and subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, the grantee must generally recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the shares received at the first time the shares become transferable or are not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, whichever occurs earlier. A grantee may elect to be taxed at the time of receipt of shares rather than upon lapse of restrictions on transferability or substantial risk of forfeiture, but if the grantee subsequently forfeits such shares, the grantee would not be entitled to any tax deduction, including as a capital loss, for the value of the shares on which he previously paid tax. The grantee must file such election with the Internal Revenue Service within 30 days of the receipt of the shares. We generally will be entitled to a deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the grantee. |
Stock Units: | The grantee recognizes no income until the issuance of the shares. At that time, the grantee must generally recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the shares received. We generally will be entitled to a deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the grantee. |
17 |
Plan Benefits
Since the adoption of the Plan through September 15, 2025, we have granted the following stock options under the Plan to the individuals and groups listed below. In all cases, the securities underlying such stock options were shares of our Common Stock.
Name and Position |
Number of shares of Common Stock subject to stock options |
Named Executive Officers | |
Joshua N. Silverman (Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board) | 170,000 |
Carlos A. Trujillo (Chief Financial Officer) | 89,000 |
All Current Executive Officers as a Group | 259,000 |
All Current Directors Who Are Not Executive Officers as a Group | 653,960 |
All Employees Who are Not Executive Officers as a Group | 0 |
New Plan Benefits
The amounts of future grants under the Plan are not determinable and will be granted at the sole discretion of the Board or other delegated persons. We cannot determine at this time either the persons who will receive such awards under the Plan or the amount or types of any such awards.
On September 23, 2025, the closing market price per share of our Common Stock was $0.95, as reported by The Nasdaq Stock Market.
Required Vote
The affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast affirmatively or negatively for the proposal is required to approve the Plan Amendment Proposal. Abstentions will have no effect on the results of this vote. Brokerage firms do not have authority to vote customers’ unvoted shares held by the firms in street name on this proposal. As a result, any shares not voted by a customer will be treated as a broker non-vote. Such broker non-votes will have no effect on the results of this vote.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE TO APPROVE THE PLAN AMENDMENT PROPOSAL, AND PROXIES SOLICITED BY THE BOARD WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSAL UNLESS A STOCKHOLDER INDICATES OTHERWISE ON THE PROXY.
18 |
PROPOSAL NO. 3
ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL
If at the special meeting, the number of votes represented by shares of our Common Stock and Series C Preferred Stock, present or represented and voting in favor of either of the Issuance Proposal or Plan Amendment Proposal is insufficient to approve either of the Issuance Proposal or Plan Amendment Proposal or establish a quorum, our management may move to adjourn the special meeting in order to enable our Board to continue to solicit additional proxies in favor of the Issuance Proposal or Plan Amendment Proposal, as applicable.
In this proposal, we are asking our stockholders to authorize the holder of any proxy solicited by our Board to vote in favor of adjourning, postponing or continuing the special meeting and any later adjournments. If our stockholders approve the adjournment proposal, we could adjourn, postpone or continue the special meeting, and any adjourned session of the special meeting, to use the additional time to solicit additional proxies in favor of the Issuance Proposal or Plan Amendment Proposal, as applicable, including the solicitation of proxies from stockholders that have previously voted against the proposals. Among other things, approval of the adjournment proposal could mean that, even if proxies representing a sufficient number of votes against either of the Issuance Proposal or Plan Amendment Proposal have been received, we could adjourn, postpone or continue the special meeting without a vote on the Issuance Proposal or Plan Amendment Proposal and seek to convince the holders of those shares to change their votes to votes in favor of the Issuance Proposal or Plan Amendment Proposal, as applicable.
The affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast affirmatively or negatively for the proposal is required to approve the Adjournment Proposal. Abstentions will have no effect on the results of this vote. Brokerage firms do not have authority to vote customers’ unvoted shares held by the firms in street name on this proposal. As a result, any shares not voted by a customer will be treated as a broker non-vote. Such broker non-votes will have no effect on the results of this vote.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE TO APPROVE THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE SPECIAL MEETING TO A LATER DATE OR DATES, IF NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE, TO SOLICIT ADDITIONAL PROXIES IF THERE ARE INSUFFICIENT VOTES TO ADOPT EITHER OF THE ISSUANCE PROPOSAL OR THE PLAN AMENDMENT PROPOSAL, AND PROXIES SOLICITED BY THE BOARD WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF SUCH APPROVAL UNLESS A STOCKHOLDER INDICATES OTHERWISE ON THE PROXY.
19 |
OTHER MATTERS
Our Board knows of no other business which will be presented at the special meeting. If any other business is properly brought before the special meeting, proxies will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the persons named therein.
STOCKHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS
Stockholders wishing to communicate with the Board or with an individual member of the Board may do so by writing to the Board or to the particular member of the Board, care of the President by mail to our principal executive offices, Attention: President. The envelope should indicate that it contains a stockholder communication. All such stockholder communications will be forwarded to the director or directors to whom the communications are addressed.
3960 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 500
Las Vegas, Nevada 89169
_____________________, 2025
20 |
Appendix A
PHARMACYTE BIOTECH, INC.
2022 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED
(As approved by the stockholders on ___________, 2025)
DEFINITIONS.
Unless otherwise specified or unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms, as used in this PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. 2022 Equity Incentive Plan, have the following meanings:
“Administrator” means the Board of Directors, unless it has delegated power to act on its behalf to the Committee, in which case the term “Administrator” means the Committee.
“Affiliate” means a corporation or other entity, which, for purposes of Section 424 of the Code, is a parent or subsidiary of the Company, direct or indirect.
“Agreement” means a written or electronic document setting forth the terms of a Stock Right delivered pursuant to the Plan, in such form as the Administrator shall approve.
“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Cause” means, with respect to a Participant (a) dishonesty with respect to the Company or any Affiliate, (b) insubordination, substantial malfeasance or nonfeasance of duty, (c) unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, (d) breach by a Participant of any provision of any employment, consulting, advisory, nondisclosure, non-competition or similar agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Affiliate or any material written policy of the Company or any Affiliate, and (e) conduct substantially prejudicial to the business of the Company or any Affiliate; provided, however, that any provision in an agreement between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, which contains a conflicting definition of Cause for termination and which is in effect at the time of such termination, shall supersede this definition with respect to that Participant. The determination of the Administrator as to the existence of Cause will be conclusive on the Participant and the Company.
“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:
Ownership. Any “Person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “Beneficial Owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding voting securities (excluding for this purpose any such voting securities held by the Company or its Affiliates or by any employee benefit plan of the Company) pursuant to a transaction or a series of related transactions which the Board of Directors does not approve; or
Merger/Sale of Assets. (A) A merger or consolidation of the Company whether or not approved by the Board of Directors, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or the parent of such entity) more than 50% of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or parent of such corporation, as the case may be, outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or (B) the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in a transaction requiring shareholder approval; or
A-1 |
Change in Board Composition. A change in the composition of the Board of Directors, as a result of which fewer than a majority of the directors are Incumbent Directors. “Incumbent Directors” shall mean directors who either (A) are directors of the Company as of the date this Plan was initially adopted, or (B) are elected, or nominated for election, to the Board of Directors with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or nomination (but shall not include an individual whose election or nomination is in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors to the Company);
provided, that if any payment or benefit payable hereunder upon or following a Change of Control would be required to comply with the limitations of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Code in order to avoid an additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, such payment or benefit shall be made only if such Change of Control constitutes a change in ownership or control of the Company, or a change in ownership of the Company’s assets in accordance with Section 409A of the Code.
“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended including any successor statute, regulation and guidance thereto.
“Committee” means the committee of the Board of Directors, if any, to which the Board of Directors has delegated power to act under or pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.
“Common Stock” means shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.0001 par value per share.
“Company” means PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc., a Nevada corporation.
“Consultant” means any natural person who is an advisor or consultant who provides bona fide services to the Company or its Affiliates, provided that 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 or its Affiliates’ securities.
“Corporate Transaction” means a merger, consolidation, or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or the acquisition of all of the outstanding voting stock of the Company (or similar transaction) in a single transaction or a series of related transactions by a single entity other than a transaction in which the Company is the surviving corporation. Where a Corporate Transaction involves a tender offer that is reasonably expected to be followed by a merger (as determined by the Administrator), the Corporate Transaction will be deemed to have occurred upon consummation of the tender offer.
“Disability” or “Disabled” means permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
“Employee” means any employee of the Company or of an Affiliate (including, without limitation, an employee who is also serving as an officer or director of the Company or of an Affiliate), designated by the Administrator to be eligible to be granted one or more Stock Rights under the Plan.
“Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Fair Market Value” of a Share of Common Stock means:
If the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange or traded in the over-the-counter market and sales prices are regularly reported for the Common Stock, the closing or, if not applicable, the last price of the Common Stock on the consolidated tape or other comparable reporting system for the trading day on the applicable date and if such applicable date is not a trading day, the last market trading day prior to such date;
If the Common Stock is not traded on a national securities exchange but is traded on the over-the-counter market, if sales prices are not regularly reported for the Common Stock for the trading day referred to in clause (1), and if bid and asked prices for the Common Stock are regularly reported, the mean between the bid and the asked price for the Common Stock at the close of trading in the over-the-counter market for the most recent trading day on which Common Stock was traded on the applicable date and if such applicable date is not a trading day, the last market trading day prior to such date; and
A-2 |
If the Common Stock is neither listed on a national securities exchange nor traded in the over-the-counter market, such value as the Administrator, in good faith, shall determine in compliance with applicable laws.
“ISO” means a stock option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.
“Non-Qualified Option” means a stock option which is not intended to qualify as an ISO.
“Option” means an ISO or Non-Qualified Option granted under the Plan.
“Participant” means an Employee, director or Consultant of the Company or an Affiliate to whom one or more Stock Rights are granted under the Plan. As used herein, “Participant” shall include “Participant’s Survivors” where the context requires.
“Performance-Based Award” means a Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award which vests based on the attainment of written Performance Goals as set forth in Paragraph 9 hereof.
“Performance Goals” means performance goals determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in an Agreement. The satisfaction of Performance Goals shall be subject to certification by the Committee. The Committee has the authority to take appropriate action with respect to the Performance Goals (including, without limitation, making adjustments to the Performance Goals or determining the satisfaction of the Performance Goals in connection with a Corporate Transaction) provided that any such action does not otherwise violate the terms of the Plan.
“Plan” means this PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. 2022 Equity Incentive Plan.
“SAR” means a stock appreciation right.
“Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code.
“Section 422” means Section 422 of the Code.
“Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Shares” means shares of the Common Stock as to which Stock Rights have been or may be granted under the Plan or any shares of capital stock into which the Shares are changed or for which they are exchanged within the provisions of Paragraph 3 of the Plan. The Shares issued under the Plan may be authorized and unissued shares or shares held by the Company in its treasury, or both.
“Stock-Based Award” means a grant by the Company under the Plan of an equity award or an equity based award, which is not an Option, or a Stock Grant.
“Stock Grant” means a grant by the Company of Shares under the Plan.
“Stock Right” means an ISO, a Non-Qualified Option, a Stock Grant or a Stock-Based Award or a right to Shares or the value of Shares of the Company granted pursuant to the Plan.
“Substitute Award” means an award issued under the Plan in substitution for one or more equity awards of an acquired company that are converted, replaced or adjusted in connection with the acquisition.
“Survivor” means a deceased Participant’s legal representatives and/or any person or persons who acquired the Participant’s rights to a Stock Right by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
A-3 |
PURPOSES OF THE PLAN.
The Plan is intended to encourage ownership of Shares by Employees and directors of and certain Consultants to the Company and its Affiliates in order to attract and retain such people, to induce them to work for the benefit of the Company or of an Affiliate and to provide additional incentive for them to promote the success of the Company or of an Affiliate. The Plan provides for the granting of ISOs, Non-Qualified Options, Stock Grants and Stock-Based Awards.
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.
The number of Shares which may be issued from time to time pursuant to this Plan shall be 5,000,0001, or the equivalent of such number of Shares after the Administrator, in its sole discretion, has interpreted the effect of any stock split, stock dividend, combination, recapitalization or similar transaction in accordance with Paragraph 25 of the Plan, all of which Shares are eligible to be issued as ISOs.
If an Option ceases to be “outstanding”, in whole or in part (other than by exercise), or if the Company shall reacquire (at not more than its original issuance price) any Shares issued pursuant to a Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award, or if any Stock Right expires or is forfeited, cancelled, or otherwise terminated or results in any Shares not being issued, the unissued or reacquired Shares which were subject to such Stock Right shall again be available for issuance from time to time pursuant to this Plan; provided, however, that the number of Shares underlying any awards under the Plan that are retained or repurchased on the exercise of an Option or the vesting or issuance of any Stock Right to cover the exercise price and/or tax withholding required by the Company in connection with vesting shall not be added back to the Shares available for issuance under the Plan; and provided, further that, in the case of ISOs, the foregoing provisions shall be subject to any limitations under the Code. In addition, any Shares repurchased using exercise price proceeds will not be available for issuance under the Plan.
The maximum number of Shares available for grant under the Plan as ISOs will be 5,000,000. The limits set forth in this Paragraph 3 will be construed to comply with the applicable requirements of Section 422.
The Administrator may grant Substitute Awards under the Plan. To the extent consistent with the requirements of Section 422 and the regulations thereunder and other applicable legal requirements (including applicable stock exchange requirements), Shares issued in respect of Substitute Awards will be in addition to and will not reduce the shares available under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Substitute Award is settled in cash or expires, becomes unexercisable, terminates or is forfeited to or repurchased by the Company without the issuance or retention of Shares, the Shares previously subject to such award will not be available for future issuance under the Plan. The Administrator will determine the extent to which the terms and conditions of the Plan apply to Substitute Awards, if at all; provided, however, that Substitute Awards will not be subject to the limits described in Paragraph 4(c) below.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.
The Administrator of the Plan will be the Board of Directors, except to the extent the Board of Directors delegates its authority to the Committee, in which case the Committee shall be the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Administrator is authorized to:
Interpret the provisions of the Plan and all Stock Rights and to make all rules and determinations which it deems necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan;
Determine which Employees, directors and Consultants shall be granted Stock Rights;
Determine the number of Shares for which a Stock Right or Stock Rights shall be granted; provided, however, that in no event shall the aggregate grant date fair value (determined in accordance with ASC 718) of Stock Rights to be granted and other cash compensation paid to any non-employee director in any calendar year, exceed $750,000, increased to $1,000,000 in the year in which such non-employee director initially joins the Board of Directors;
___________________
1 This amount consists of (i) 2,750,000 shares approved in 2022 and (ii) 2,250,000 shares approved in 2025.
A-4 |
Specify the terms and conditions upon which a Stock Right or Stock Rights may be granted provided that no dividends or dividend equivalents shall be paid on any Stock Right prior to the vesting of the underlying Shares and except in the case of (i) death, disability or retirement of the Participant or (ii) a Change of Control, Stock Rights shall not vest, and any right of the Company to restrict or reacquire Shares subject to a Stock Grant shall not lapse, less than one (1) year from the date of grant and any Stock Right subject to the satisfaction of Performance Goals over a performance period shall be subject to a performance period of not less than one year, provided that any time-based vesting with respect to such Stock Right or Stock Grant may accrue incrementally pursuant to the terms of such Stock Right or Stock Grant over such one-year period; and provided further that, notwithstanding the foregoing, Stock Rights may be granted having time-based vesting of less than one (1) year from the date of grant so long as no more than five percent (5%) of the Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Paragraph 3(a) above (as adjusted under Paragraph 25 of this Plan) may be granted in the aggregate pursuant to such awards other than Stock Rights granted to non-employee directors paid in lieu of cash fees;
Amend any term or condition of any outstanding Stock Right, including without limitation, to reduce or increase the exercise price or purchase price, accelerate the vesting schedule or extend the expiration date, provided that (i) such term or condition as amended is not prohibited by the Plan; and (ii) any such amendment shall not impair the rights of a Participant under any Stock Right previously granted without such Participant’s consent or in the event of death of the Participant the Participant’s Survivors;
Determine and make any adjustments in the Performance Goals included in any Performance-Based Awards; and
Adopt any sub-plans applicable to residents of any specified jurisdiction as it deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with or take advantage of any tax or other laws applicable to the Company, any Affiliate or to Participants or to otherwise facilitate the administration of the Plan, which sub-plans may include additional restrictions or conditions applicable to Stock Rights or Shares issuable pursuant to a Stock Right;
Subject to the foregoing, the interpretation and construction by the Administrator of any provisions of the Plan or of any Stock Right granted under it shall be final, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, if the Administrator is the Committee. In addition, if the Administrator is the Committee, the Board of Directors may take any action under the Plan that would otherwise be the responsibility of the Committee.
To the extent permitted under applicable law, the Board of Directors or the Committee may allocate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers to any one or more of its members and may delegate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers to any other person selected by it. The Board of Directors or the Committee may revoke any such allocation or delegation at any time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, only the Board of Directors or the Committee shall be authorized to grant a Stock Right to any director of the Company or to any “officer” of the Company as defined by Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act.
ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION.
The Administrator will, in its sole discretion, name the Participants in the Plan; provided, however, that each Participant must be an Employee, director or Consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate at the time a Stock Right is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may authorize the grant of a Stock Right to a person in anticipation of such person becoming an Employee, director or Consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate; provided, that the actual grant of such Stock Right shall be conditioned upon such person becoming eligible to become a Participant at or prior to the time of the execution of the Agreement evidencing such Stock Right. ISOs may be granted only to Employees. Non-Qualified Options, Stock Grants and Stock-Based Awards may be granted to any Employee, director or Consultant of the Company or an Affiliate. The granting of any Stock Right to any individual shall neither entitle that individual to, nor disqualify that individual from, participation in any other grant of Stock Rights or any grant under any other benefit plan established by the Company or any Affiliate for Employees, directors or Consultants.
A-5 |
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.
Each Option shall be set forth in an Option Agreement duly executed by the Company and, to the extent required by law or requested by the Company, by the Participant. The Administrator may provide that Options be granted subject to such terms and conditions, consistent with the terms and conditions specifically required under this Plan, as the Administrator may deem appropriate including, without limitation, subsequent approval by the shareholders of the Company of this Plan or any amendments thereto. The Option Agreements shall be subject to at least the following terms and conditions:
Non-Qualified Options. Each Option intended to be a Non-Qualified Option shall be subject to the terms and conditions which the Administrator determines to be appropriate and in the best interest of the Company, subject to the following minimum standards for any such Non-Qualified Option:
Exercise Price. Each Option Agreement shall state the exercise price (per share) of the Shares covered by each Option, which exercise price shall be determined by the Administrator and shall be at least equal to the Fair Market Value per share of the Common Stock on the date of grant of the Option.
Number of Shares. Each Option Agreement shall state the number of Shares to which it pertains.
Vesting. Each Option Agreement shall state the date or dates on which it first is exercisable and the date after which it may no longer be exercised, and may provide that the Option rights accrue or become exercisable in installments over a period of months or years, or upon the occurrence of certain performance conditions or the attainment of stated goals or events.
Additional Conditions. Exercise of any Option may be conditioned upon the Participant’s execution of a shareholders agreement in a form satisfactory to the Administrator providing for certain protections for the Company and its other shareholders, including requirements that:
The Participant’s or the Participant’s Survivors’ right to sell or transfer the Shares may be restricted; and
The Participant or the Participant’s Survivors may be required to execute letters of investment intent and must also acknowledge that the Shares will bear legends noting any applicable restrictions.
Term of Option. Each Option shall terminate not more than ten years from the date of the grant or at such earlier time as the Option Agreement may provide.
ISOs. Each Option intended to be an ISO shall be issued only to an Employee who is deemed to be a resident of the United States for tax purposes, and shall be subject to the following terms and conditions, with such additional restrictions or changes as the Administrator determines are appropriate but not in conflict with Section 422 and relevant regulations and rulings of the Internal Revenue Service:
Minimum Standards. The ISO shall meet the minimum standards required of Non-Qualified Options, as described in Paragraph 6(a) above, except clause (i) and (v) thereunder.
Exercise Price. Immediately before the ISO is granted, if the Participant owns, directly or by reason of the applicable attribution rules in Section 424(d) of the Code:
10% or less of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or an Affiliate, the exercise price per share of the Shares covered by each ISO shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Common Stock on the date of grant of the Option; or
More than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or an Affiliate, the exercise price per share of the Shares covered by each ISO shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Common Stock on the date of grant of the Option.
A-6 |
Term of Option. For Participants who own:
10% or less of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or an Affiliate, each ISO shall terminate not more than ten years from the date of the grant or at such earlier time as the Option Agreement may provide; or
More than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or an Affiliate, each ISO shall terminate not more than five years from the date of the grant or at such earlier time as the Option Agreement may provide.
Limitation on Yearly Exercise. To the extent that aggregate Fair Market Value (determined on the date each ISO is granted) of the Shares with respect to which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by the Participant in any calendar year exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified Options even if denominated ISOs at grant.
Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (which term includes, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares) or as otherwise contemplated by Paragraph 24 below, the Company may not, without obtaining stockholder approval, (i) amend the terms of outstanding Options to reduce the exercise price of such Options, (ii) cancel outstanding Options in exchange for Options that have an exercise price that is less than the exercise price value of the original Options, or (iii) cancel outstanding Options that have an exercise price greater than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of such cancellation in exchange for cash or other consideration.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK GRANTS.
Each Stock Grant to a Participant shall state the principal terms in an Agreement duly executed by the Company and, to the extent required by law or requested by the Company, by the Participant. The Agreement shall be in a form approved by the Administrator and shall contain terms and conditions which the Administrator determines to be appropriate and in the best interest of the Company, subject to the following minimum standards:
Each Agreement shall state the purchase price per share, if any, of the Shares covered by each Stock Grant, which purchase price shall be determined by the Administrator but shall not be less than the minimum consideration required by the Nevada Revised Statutes, on the date of the grant of the Stock Grant;
Each Agreement shall state the number of Shares to which the Stock Grant pertains;
Each Agreement shall include the terms of any right of the Company to restrict or reacquire the Shares subject to the Stock Grant, including the time period or attainment of Performance Goals or such other performance criteria upon which such rights shall accrue and the purchase price therefor, if any; and
Dividends (other than stock dividends to be issued pursuant to Section 25 of the Plan) may accrue but shall not be paid prior to the time, and may be paid only to the extent that the restrictions or rights to reacquire the Shares subject to the Stock Grant lapse. Any entitlement to dividend equivalents or similar entitlements will be established and administered either consistent with an exemption from, or in compliance with the applicable requirements of Section 409A.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS.
The Administrator shall have the right to grant other Stock-Based Awards based upon the Common Stock having such terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine, including, without limitation, the grant of Shares based upon certain conditions, the grant of securities convertible into Shares and the grant of SARs, phantom stock awards or restricted stock units. The principal terms of each Stock-Based Award shall be set forth in an Agreement, duly executed by the Company and, to the extent required by law or requested by the Company, by the Participant. The Agreement shall be in a form approved by the Administrator and shall contain terms and conditions which the Administrator determines to be appropriate and in the best interest of the Company. Each Agreement shall include the terms of any right of the Company including the right to terminate the Stock-Based Award without the issuance of Shares, the terms of any vesting conditions, Performance Goals or events upon which Shares shall be issued, provided that dividends (other than stock dividends to be issued pursuant to Section 25 of the Plan) or dividend equivalents may accrue but shall not be paid prior to and may be paid only to the extent that the Shares subject to the Stock-Based Award vest. Under no circumstances may the Agreement covering SARs (a) have an exercise or base price (per share) that is less than the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the date of grant or (b) expire more than ten years following the date of grant.
A-7 |
PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS.
The Committee shall determine whether, with respect to a performance period, the applicable Performance Goals have been met with respect to a given Participant and, if they have, to so certify and ascertain the amount of the applicable Performance-Based Award. No Performance-Based Awards will be issued for such performance period until such certification is made by the Committee. The number of Shares issued in respect of a Performance-Based Award determined by the Committee for a performance period shall be paid to the Participant at such time as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion after the end of such performance period, and any dividends (other than stock dividends to be issued pursuant to Section 25 of the Plan) or dividend equivalents that accrue shall only be paid in respect of the number of Shares earned in respect of such Performance-Based Award.
EXERCISE OF OPTIONS AND ISSUE OF SHARES.
An Option (or any part or installment thereof) shall be exercised by giving written notice to the Company or its designee (in a form acceptable to the Administrator, which may include electronic notice), together with provision for payment of the aggregate exercise price in accordance with this Paragraph for the Shares as to which the Option is being exercised, and upon compliance with any other condition(s) set forth in the Option Agreement. Such notice shall be signed by the person exercising the Option (which signature may be provided electronically in a form acceptable to the Administrator), shall state the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised and shall contain any representation required by the Plan or the Option Agreement. Payment of the exercise price for the Shares as to which such Option is being exercised shall be made (a) in United States dollars in cash or by check; or (b) at the discretion of the Administrator, through delivery of shares of Common Stock held for at least six months (if required to avoid negative accounting treatment) having a Fair Market Value equal as of the date of the exercise to the aggregate cash exercise price for the number of Shares as to which the Option is being exercised; or (c) at the discretion of the Administrator, by having the Company retain from the Shares otherwise issuable upon exercise of the Option, a number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal as of the date of exercise to the aggregate exercise price for the number of Shares as to which the Option is being exercised; or (d) at the discretion of the Administrator, in accordance with a cashless exercise program established with a securities brokerage firm, and approved by the Administrator; or (e) at the discretion of the Administrator, by any combination of (a), (b), (c) and (d) above or (f) at the discretion of the Administrator, by payment of such other lawful consideration as the Administrator may determine. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator shall accept only such payment on exercise of an ISO as is permitted by Section 422.
The Company shall then reasonably promptly deliver the Shares as to which such Option was exercised to the Participant (or to the Participant’s Survivors, as the case may be). In determining what constitutes “reasonably promptly,” it is expressly understood that the issuance and delivery of the Shares may be delayed by the Company if the Administrator determines it is necessary to comply with any law or regulation (including, without limitation, federal securities laws) that requires the Company to take any action with respect to the Shares prior to their issuance. The Shares shall, upon delivery, be fully paid, non-assessable Shares.
PAYMENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE OF STOCK GRANTS AND STOCK-BASED AWARDS AND ISSUE OF SHARES.
Any Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award requiring payment of a purchase price for the Shares as to which such Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award is being granted shall be made (a) in United States dollars in cash or by check; or (b) at the discretion of the Administrator, through delivery of shares of Common Stock held for at least six months (if required to avoid negative accounting treatment) and having a Fair Market Value equal as of the date of payment to the purchase price of the Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award; or (c) by delivery of a promissory note, if the Board of Directors has expressly authorized the loan of funds to the Participant for the purpose of enabling or assisting the Participant to effect such purchase; (d) at the discretion of the Administrator, by any combination of (a) through (c) above; or (e) at the discretion of the Administrator, by payment of such other lawful consideration as the Administrator may determine.
The Company shall when required by the applicable Agreement, reasonably promptly deliver the Shares as to which such Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award was made to the Participant (or to the Participant’s Survivors, as the case may be), subject to any escrow provision set forth in the applicable Agreement. In determining what constitutes “reasonably promptly,” it is expressly understood that the issuance and delivery of the Shares may be delayed by the Company if the Administrator determines it is necessary to comply with any law or regulation (including, without limitation, federal securities laws) which requires the Company to take any action with respect to the Shares prior to their issuance.
A-8 |
RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER.
No Participant to whom a Stock Right has been granted shall have rights as a shareholder with respect to any Shares covered by such Stock Right except after due exercise of an Option or issuance of Shares as set forth in any Agreement, tender of the aggregate exercise or purchase price, if any, for the Shares being purchased and registration of the Shares in the Company’s share register in the name of the Participant. In addition, at the discretion of the Administrator, the Company shall have received an opinion of its counsel that the Shares may be issued in compliance with the Securities Act without registration thereunder.
ASSIGNABILITY AND TRANSFERABILITY OF STOCK RIGHTS.
By its terms, a Stock Right granted to a Participant shall not be transferable by the Participant other than (i) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, or (ii) as approved by the Administrator in its discretion and set forth in the applicable Agreement provided that no Stock Right may be transferred by a Participant for value. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an ISO transferred except in compliance with clause (i) above shall no longer qualify as an ISO. The designation of a beneficiary of a Stock Right by a Participant, with the prior approval of the Administrator and in such form as the Administrator shall prescribe, shall not be deemed a transfer prohibited by this Paragraph. Except as provided above during the Participant’s lifetime a Stock Right shall only be exercisable by or issued to such Participant (or his or her legal representative) and shall not be assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise) and shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Any attempted transfer, assignment, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition of any Stock Right or of any rights granted thereunder contrary to the provisions of this Plan, or the levy of any attachment or similar process upon a Stock Right, shall be null and void.
EFFECT ON OPTIONS OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE OR DEATH OR DISABILITY.
Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Option Agreement, in the event of a termination of service (whether as an Employee, director or Consultant) with the Company or an Affiliate before the Participant has exercised an Option, the following rules apply:
A Participant who ceases to be an Employee, director or Consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate (for any reason other than termination for Cause, Disability, or death for which events there are special rules in Paragraphs 15, 16, and 17, respectively), may exercise any Option granted to such Participant to the extent that the Option is exercisable on the date of such termination of service, but only within such term as the Administrator has designated in a Participant’s Option Agreement.
Except as provided in Subparagraph (c) below, or Paragraph 16 or 17, in no event may an Option intended to be an ISO, be exercised later than three months after the Participant’s termination of employment.
The provisions of this Paragraph, and not the provisions of Paragraph 16 or 17, shall apply to a Participant who subsequently becomes Disabled or dies after the termination of employment, director status or consultancy; provided, however, in the case of a Participant’s Disability or death within three months after the termination of employment, director status or consultancy, the Participant or the Participant’s Survivors may exercise the Option within one year after the date of the Participant’s termination of service, but in no event after the date of expiration of the term of the Option.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if subsequent to a Participant’s termination of employment, termination of director status or termination of consultancy, but prior to the exercise of an Option, the Administrator determines that, either prior or subsequent to the Participant’s termination, the Participant engaged in conduct which would constitute Cause, then such Participant shall forthwith cease to have any right to exercise any Option.
A Participant to whom an Option has been granted under the Plan who is absent from the Company or an Affiliate because of temporary disability (any disability other than a Disability as defined in Paragraph 1 hereof), or who is on leave of absence for any purpose, shall not, during the period of any such absence, be deemed, by virtue of such absence alone, to have terminated such Participant’s employment, director status or consultancy with the Company or with an Affiliate, except as the Administrator may otherwise expressly provide; provided, however, that, for ISOs, any leave of absence granted by the Administrator of greater than three months, unless pursuant to a contract or statute that guarantees the right to reemployment, shall cause such ISO to become a Non-Qualified Option on the date that is six months following the commencement of such leave of absence.
A-9 |
Except as required by law or as set forth in a Participant’s Option Agreement, Options granted under the Plan shall not be affected by any change of a Participant’s status within or among the Company and any Affiliates, so long as the Participant continues to be an Employee, director or Consultant of the Company or any Affiliate.
EFFECT ON OPTIONS OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE FOR CAUSE.
Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Option Agreement, the following rules apply if the Participant’s service (whether as an Employee, director or Consultant) with the Company or an Affiliate is terminated for Cause prior to the time that all his or her outstanding Options have been exercised:
All outstanding and unexercised Options as of the time the Participant is notified his or her service is terminated for Cause will immediately be forfeited.
Cause is not limited to events which have occurred prior to a Participant’s termination of service, nor is it necessary that the Administrator’s finding of Cause occur prior to termination. If the Administrator determines, subsequent to a Participant’s termination of service but prior to the exercise of an Option, that either prior or subsequent to the Participant’s termination the Participant engaged in conduct which would constitute Cause, then the right to exercise any Option is forfeited.
EFFECT ON OPTIONS OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE FOR DISABILITY.
Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Option Agreement:
A Participant who ceases to be an Employee, director or Consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate by reason of Disability may exercise any Option granted to such Participant to the extent that the Option has become exercisable but has not been exercised on the date of the Participant’s termination of service due to Disability; and in the event rights to exercise the Option accrue periodically, to the extent of a pro rata portion through the date of the Participant’s termination of service due to Disability of any additional vesting rights that would have accrued on the next vesting date had the Participant not become Disabled. The proration shall be based upon the number of days accrued in the current vesting period prior to the date of the Participant’s termination of service due to Disability.
A Disabled Participant may exercise the Option only within the period ending one year after the date of the Participant’s termination of service due to Disability, notwithstanding that the Participant might have been able to exercise the Option as to some or all of the Shares on a later date if the Participant had not been terminated due to Disability and had continued to be an Employee, director or Consultant or, if earlier, within the originally prescribed term of the Option.
The Administrator shall make the determination both of whether Disability has occurred and the date of its occurrence (unless a procedure for such determination is set forth in another agreement between the Company and such Participant, in which case such procedure shall be used for such determination). If requested, the Participant shall be examined by a physician selected or approved by the Administrator, the cost of which examination shall be paid for by the Company.
EFFECT ON OPTIONS OF DEATH WHILE AN EMPLOYEE, DIRECTOR OR CONSULTANT.
Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Option Agreement:
In the event of the death of a Participant while the Participant is an Employee, director or Consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate, such Option may be exercised by the Participant’s Survivors to the extent that the Option has become exercisable but has not been exercised on the date of death; and in the event rights to exercise the Option accrue periodically, to the extent of a pro rata portion through the date of death of any additional vesting rights that would have accrued on the next vesting date had the Participant not died. The proration shall be based upon the number of days accrued in the current vesting period prior to the Participant’s date of death.
A-10 |
If the Participant’s Survivors wish to exercise the Option, they must take all necessary steps to exercise the Option within one year after the date of death of such Participant, notwithstanding that the decedent might have been able to exercise the Option as to some or all of the Shares on a later date if he or she had not died and had continued to be an Employee, director or Consultant or, if earlier, within the originally prescribed term of the Option.
EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE ON UNACCEPTED STOCK GRANTS AND STOCK-BASED AWARDS.
In the event of a termination of service (whether as an Employee, director or Consultant) with the Company or an Affiliate for any reason before the Participant has accepted a Stock Grant or a Stock-Based Award and paid the purchase price, if required, such grant shall terminate.
For purposes of this Paragraph 18 and Paragraph 19 below, a Participant to whom a Stock Grant or a Stock-Based Award has been issued under the Plan who is absent from work with the Company or with an Affiliate because of temporary disability (any disability other than a Disability as defined in Paragraph 1 hereof), or who is on leave of absence for any purpose, shall not, during the period of any such absence, be deemed, by virtue of such absence alone, to have terminated such Participant’s employment, director status or consultancy with the Company or with an Affiliate, except as the Administrator may otherwise expressly provide.
In addition, for purposes of this Paragraph 18 and Paragraph 19 below, any change of employment or other service within or among the Company and any Affiliates shall not be treated as a termination of employment, director status or consultancy so long as the Participant continues to be an Employee, director or Consultant of the Company or any Affiliate.
EFFECT ON STOCK GRANTS AND STOCK-BASED AWARDS OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE, DEATH or DISABILITY.
Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Agreement, in the event of a termination of service for any reason (whether as an Employee, director or Consultant), other than termination for Cause, death or Disability for which there are special rules in Paragraphs 20, 21, and 22 below, before all forfeiture provisions or Company rights of repurchase shall have lapsed, then the Company shall have the right to cancel or repurchase that number of Shares subject to a Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award as to which the Company’s forfeiture or repurchase rights have not lapsed.
EFFECT ON STOCK GRANTS AND STOCK-BASED AWARDS OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE FOR CAUSE.
Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Agreement, the following rules apply if the Participant’s service (whether as an Employee, director or Consultant) with the Company or an Affiliate is terminated for Cause:
All Shares subject to any Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award that remain subject to forfeiture provisions or as to which the Company shall have a repurchase right shall be immediately forfeited to the Company as of the time the Participant is notified his or her service is terminated for Cause.
Cause is not limited to events which have occurred prior to a Participant’s termination of service, nor is it necessary that the Administrator’s finding of Cause occur prior to termination. If the Administrator determines, subsequent to a Participant’s termination of service, that either prior or subsequent to the Participant’s termination the Participant engaged in conduct which would constitute Cause, then all Shares subject to any Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award that remained subject to forfeiture provisions or as to which the Company had a repurchase right on the date of termination shall be immediately forfeited to the Company.
EFFECT ON STOCK GRANTS AND STOCK-BASED AWARDS OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE FOR DISABILITY.
Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Agreement, the following rules apply if a Participant ceases to be an Employee, director or Consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate by reason of Disability: to the extent the forfeiture provisions or the Company’s rights of repurchase have not lapsed on the date of Disability, they shall be exercisable; provided, however, that in the event such forfeiture provisions or rights of repurchase lapse periodically, such provisions or rights shall lapse to the extent of a pro rata portion of the Shares subject to such Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award through the date of Disability as would have lapsed had the Participant not become Disabled. The proration shall be based upon the number of days accrued prior to the date of Disability.
A-11 |
The Administrator shall make the determination both as to whether Disability has occurred and the date of its occurrence (unless a procedure for such determination is set forth in another agreement between the Company and such Participant, in which case such procedure shall be used for such determination). If requested, the Participant shall be examined by a physician selected or approved by the Administrator, the cost of which examination shall be paid for by the Company.
EFFECT ON STOCK GRANTS AND STOCK-BASED AWARDS OF DEATH WHILE AN EMPLOYEE, DIRECTOR OR CONSULTANT.
Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Agreement, the following rules apply in the event of the death of a Participant while the Participant is an Employee, director or Consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate: to the extent the forfeiture provisions or the Company’s rights of repurchase have not lapsed on the date of death, they shall be exercisable; provided, however, that in the event such forfeiture provisions or rights of repurchase lapse periodically, such provisions or rights shall lapse to the extent of a pro rata portion of the Shares subject to such Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award through the date of death as would have lapsed had the Participant not died. The proration shall be based upon the number of days accrued prior to the Participant’s date of death.
PURCHASE FOR INVESTMENT.
Unless the offering and sale of the Shares shall have been effectively registered under the Securities Act, the Company shall be under no obligation to issue Shares under the Plan unless and until the following conditions have been fulfilled:
The person who receives a Stock Right shall warrant to the Company, prior to the receipt of Shares, that such person is acquiring such Shares for his or her own account, for investment, and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, the distribution of any such Shares, in which event the person acquiring such Shares shall be bound by the provisions of the following legend (or a legend in substantially similar form) which shall be endorsed upon the certificate evidencing the Shares issued pursuant to such exercise or such grant of a Stock Right:
“The shares represented by this certificate have been taken for investment and they may not be sold or otherwise transferred by any person, including a pledgee, unless (1) either (a) a Registration Statement with respect to such shares shall be effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or (b) the Company shall have received an opinion of counsel satisfactory to it that an exemption from registration under such Act is then available, and (2) there shall have been compliance with all applicable state securities laws.”
DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDATION OF THE COMPANY.
Upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, all Options granted under this Plan which as of such date shall not have been exercised and all Stock Grants and Stock-Based Awards which have not been accepted, to the extent required under the applicable Agreement, will terminate and become null and void; provided, however, that if the rights of a Participant or a Participant’s Survivors have not otherwise terminated and expired, the Participant or the Participant’s Survivors will have the right immediately prior to such dissolution or liquidation to exercise or accept any Stock Right to the extent that the Stock Right is exercisable or subject to acceptance as of the date immediately prior to such dissolution or liquidation. Upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, any outstanding Stock-Based Awards shall immediately terminate unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or specifically provided in the applicable Agreement.
ADJUSTMENTS.
Upon the occurrence of any of the following events, a Participant’s rights with respect to any Stock Right granted to such Participant hereunder shall be adjusted as hereinafter provided, unless otherwise specifically provided in a Participant’s Agreement.
A-12 |
Stock Dividends and Stock Splits.
If (1) the shares of Common Stock shall be subdivided or combined into a greater or smaller number of shares or if the Company shall issue any shares of Common Stock as a stock dividend on its outstanding Common Stock, or (2) additional shares or new or different shares or other securities of the Company or other non-cash assets are distributed with respect to such shares of Common Stock, each Stock Right and the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable thereunder shall be appropriately increased or decreased proportionately, and appropriate adjustments shall be made including, in the exercise, base or purchase price per share and in the Performance Goals applicable to outstanding Performance-Based Awards to reflect such events. The number of Shares subject to the limitations in Paragraphs 3(a), 3(b), 3(d) and 4(c) shall also be proportionately adjusted upon the occurrence of such events.
The Administrator may also make adjustments of the type described in Paragraph 25(a) above to take into account distributions to stockholders other than those provided for in Paragraphs 25(b) below, or any other event, if the Administrator determines that adjustments are appropriate to avoid distortion in the operation of the Plan or any award, having due regard for the qualification of ISOs under Section 422, the requirements of Section 409A, to the extent applicable.
References in the Plan to Shares will be construed to include any stock or securities resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Paragraph 25(a).
Corporate Transactions. Upon a Corporate Transaction, the Administrator or the board of directors of any entity assuming the obligations of the Company hereunder (the “Successor Board”), may, as to outstanding Options, take any of the following actions: (i) make appropriate provision for the continuation of such Options by substituting on an equitable basis for the Shares then subject to such Options either the consideration payable with respect to the outstanding shares of Common Stock in connection with the Corporate Transaction or securities of any successor or acquiring entity; or (ii) upon written notice/ to the Participants, provide that such Options must be exercised (either (A) to the extent then exercisable or (B) at the discretion of the Administrator, any such Options being made partially or fully exercisable for purposes of this Subparagraph), within a specified number of days of the date of such notice, at the end of which period such Options which have not been exercised shall terminate; or (iii) terminate such Options in exchange for payment of an amount equal to the consideration payable upon consummation of such Corporate Transaction to a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such Option would have been exercisable (either (A) to the extent then exercisable or, (B) at the discretion of the Administrator, any such Options being made partially or fully exercisable for purposes of this Subparagraph) less the aggregate exercise price thereof. For purposes of determining the payments to be made pursuant to Subclause (iii) above, in the case of a Corporate Transaction the consideration for which, in whole or in part, is other than cash, the consideration other than cash shall be valued at the fair value thereof as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors. For the avoidance of doubt, if the per share exercise price of an Option or portion thereof is equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of one Share of Common Stock, such Option may be cancelled with no payment due hereunder or otherwise in respect thereof.
With respect to outstanding Stock Grants or Stock-Based Awards, the Administrator or the Successor Board, shall make appropriate provision for the continuation of such Stock Grants or Stock-Based Awards on the same terms and conditions by substituting on an equitable basis for the Shares then subject to such Stock Grants or Stock-Based Awards either the consideration payable with respect to the outstanding Shares of Common Stock in connection with the Corporate Transaction or securities of any successor or acquiring entity. In lieu of the foregoing, in connection with any Corporate Transaction, the Administrator may provide that, upon consummation of the Corporate Transaction, each outstanding Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award shall be terminated in exchange for payment of an amount equal to the consideration payable upon consummation of such Corporate Transaction to a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock comprising such Stock Grantor Stock-Based Award (to the extent such Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award is no longer subject to any forfeiture or repurchase rights then in effect or, at the discretion of the Administrator, all forfeiture and repurchase rights being waived). For the avoidance of doubt, if the purchase or base price of a Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award or portion thereof is equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of one Share of Common Stock, such Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award, as applicable, may be cancelled with no payment due hereunder or otherwise in respect thereof.
In taking any of the actions permitted under this Paragraph 25(b), the Administrator shall not be obligated by the Plan to treat all Stock Rights, all Stock Rights held by a Participant, or all Stock Rights of the same type, identically.
A-13 |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Corporate Transaction also constitutes a Change of Control, then all Options/Stock Rights outstanding on the date of the Corporate Transaction shall vest in full immediately prior to the occurrence of the Change of Control, unless such Options/Stock Rights are to be assumed by the acquiring or surviving entity in the Corporate Transaction, in which case they shall retain their original vesting schedule.
A Stock Right may be subject to additional acceleration of vesting and exercisability upon or after a Change of Control as may be provided in the Agreement for such Stock Right, in any other written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant or in any director compensation policy of the Company.
Recapitalization or Reorganization. In the event of a recapitalization or reorganization of the Company other than a Corporate Transaction pursuant to which securities of the Company or of another corporation are issued with respect to the outstanding shares of Common Stock, a Participant upon exercising an Option or accepting a Stock Grant after the recapitalization or reorganization shall be entitled to receive for the price paid upon such exercise or acceptance if any, the number of replacement securities which would have been received if such Option had been exercised or Stock Grant accepted prior to such recapitalization or reorganization.
Adjustments to Stock-Based Awards. Upon the happening of any of the events described in Subparagraphs (a), (b) or (c) above, any outstanding Stock-Based Award shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the events described in such Subparagraphs. The Administrator or the Successor Board shall determine the specific adjustments to be made under this Paragraph 25, including, but not limited to the effect of any, Corporate Transaction and Change of Control and, subject to Paragraph 4, its determination shall be conclusive.
Termination of Awards upon Consummation of Corporate Transaction. Except as the Administrator may otherwise determine, each Stock Right will automatically terminate (and in the case of outstanding Shares of restricted Common Stock, will automatically be forfeited) immediately upon the consummation of a Corporate Transaction, other than (i) any award that is assumed, continued or substituted pursuant to Paragraph 24(b) above, and (ii) any cash award that by its terms, or as a result of action taken by the Administrator, continues following the consummation of the Corporate Transaction.
ISSUANCES OF SECURITIES.
Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares subject to Stock Rights. Except as expressly provided herein, no adjustments shall be made for dividends paid in cash or in property (including without limitation, securities) of the Company prior to any issuance of Shares pursuant to a Stock Right.
The Company will not be obligated to issue any Shares pursuant to the Plan or to remove any restriction from Shares previously issued under the Plan until: (i) the Company is satisfied that all legal matters in connection with the issuance of such Shares have been addressed and resolved; (ii) if the outstanding Shares is at the time of issuance listed on any stock exchange or national market system, the Shares to be issued have been listed or authorized to be listed on such exchange or system upon official notice of issuance; and (iii) all conditions of the award have been satisfied or waived. The Company may require, as a condition to the exercise of an award or the issuance of Shares under an award, such representations or agreements as counsel for the Company may consider appropriate to avoid violation of the Securities Act, as amended, or any applicable state or non-U.S. securities law. Any Shares issued under the Plan will be evidenced in such manner as the Administrator determines appropriate, including book-entry registration or delivery of stock certificates. In the event that the Administrator determines that stock certificates will be issued in connection with Shares issued under the Plan, the Administrator may require that such certificates bear an appropriate legend reflecting any restriction on transfer applicable to such Stock, and the Company may hold the certificates pending the lapse of the applicable restrictions.
A-14 |
FRACTIONAL SHARES.
No fractional shares shall be issued under the Plan and the person exercising a Stock Right shall receive from the Company cash in lieu of such fractional shares equal to the Fair Market Value thereof.
WITHHOLDING.
In the event that any federal, state, or local income taxes, employment taxes, Federal Insurance Contributions Act withholdings or other amounts are required by applicable law or governmental regulation to be withheld from the Participant’s salary, wages or other remuneration in connection with the issuance of a Stock Right or Shares under the Plan or for any other reason required by law, the Company may withhold from the Participant’s compensation, if any, or may require that the Participant advance in cash to the Company, or to any Affiliate of the Company which employs or employed the Participant, the statutory minimum amount of such withholdings unless a different withholding arrangement, including the use of shares of the Company’s Common Stock or a promissory note, is authorized by the Administrator (and permitted by law). For purposes hereof, the fair market value of the shares withheld for purposes of payroll withholding shall be determined in the manner set forth under the definition of Fair Market Value provided in Paragraph 1 above, as of the most recent practicable date. If the Fair Market Value of the shares withheld is less than the amount of payroll withholdings required, the Participant may be required to advance the difference in cash to the Company or the Affiliate employer.
TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.
The Plan will terminate on November 14, 2032, the date which is ten years from the earlier of the date of its adoption by the Board of Directors and the date of its approval by the shareholders of the Company. The Plan may be terminated at an earlier date by vote of the shareholders or the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, that any such earlier termination shall not affect any Agreements executed prior to the effective date of such termination. Termination of the Plan shall not affect any Stock Rights theretofore granted.
AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN AND AGREEMENTS.
The Plan may be amended by the shareholders of the Company. The Plan may also be amended by the Administrator; provided that any amendment approved by the Administrator which the Administrator determines is of a scope that requires shareholder approval shall be subject to obtaining such shareholder approval including, without limitation, to the extent necessary to qualify any or all outstanding Stock Rights granted under the Plan or Stock Rights to be granted under the Plan for favorable federal income tax treatment as may be afforded ISOs under Section 422 and to the extent necessary to qualify the Shares issuable under the Plan for listing on any national securities exchange or quotation in any national automated quotation system of securities dealers. Any modification or amendment of the Plan shall not, without the consent of a Participant, adversely affect his or her rights under a Stock Right previously granted to such Participant, unless such amendment is required by applicable law or necessary to preserve the economic value of such Stock Right. With the consent of the Participant affected, the Administrator may amend outstanding Agreements in a manner which may be adverse to such Participant but which is not inconsistent with the Plan. In the discretion of the Administrator, outstanding Agreements may be amended by the Administrator in a manner which is not adverse to the Participant. Nothing in this Paragraph 30 shall limit the Administrator’s authority to take any action permitted pursuant to Paragraph 25.
EMPLOYMENT OR OTHER RELATIONSHIP.
Nothing in this Plan or any Agreement shall be deemed to prevent the Company or an Affiliate from terminating the employment, consultancy or director status of a Participant, nor to prevent a Participant from terminating his or her own employment, consultancy or director status or to give any Participant a right to be retained in employment or other service by the Company or any Affiliate for any period of time.
A-15 |
SECTION 409A AND SECTION 422.
The Company intends that the Plan and any Stock Rights granted hereunder be exempt from or comply with Section 409A, to the extent applicable. The Company intends that ISOs comply with Section 422, to the extent applicable. Any ambiguities in the Plan or any Stock Right shall be construed to effect the intent as described in this Paragraph 32.
If a Participant is a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A (and as applied according to procedures of the Company and its Affiliates) as of such Participant’s separation from service, to the extent any payment under this Plan or pursuant to a Stock Right constitutes non-exempt deferred compensation under Section 409A that is being paid by reason of the separation from service, no payments due under this Plan or pursuant to a Stock Right may be made until the earlier of: (i) the first day of the seventh month following the Participant’s separation from service, or (ii) the Participant’s date of death; provided, however, that any payments delayed during this six-month period shall be paid in the aggregate in a lump sum, without interest, on the first day of the seventh month following the Participant’s separation from service.
The Administrator shall administer the Plan with a view toward ensuring that Stock Rights under the Plan that are subject to Section 409A or Section 422, as applicable comply with the requirements thereof and that Options under the Plan be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A or compliant with Section 422, as applicable, but neither the Administrator nor any member of the Board of Directors, nor the Company nor any of its Affiliates, nor any other person acting hereunder on behalf of the Company, the Administrator or the Board of Directors shall be liable to a Participant or any Survivor by reason of the acceleration of any income, or the imposition of any additional tax or penalty, with respect to a Stock Right, whether by reason of a failure to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A or Section 422 or otherwise.
INDEMNITY.
Neither the Board of Directors nor the Administrator, nor any members of either, nor any employees of the Company or any parent, subsidiary, or other Affiliate, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith in connection with their responsibilities with respect to this Plan, and the Company hereby agrees to indemnify the members of the Board or Directors, the members of the Committee, and the employees of the Company and its parent or subsidiaries in respect of any claim, loss, damage, or expense (including reasonable counsel fees) arising from any such act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination to the full extent permitted by law.
CLAWBACK.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, the Company may recover from a Participant any compensation received from any Stock Right (whether or not settled) or cause a Participant to forfeit any Stock Right (whether or not vested) in the event that the Company’s Clawback Policy as then in effect is triggered.
GOVERNING LAW.
This Plan shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the law of the State of Nevada.
A-16 |
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.
By accepting or being deemed to have accepted an award under the Plan, each Participant waives (or will be deemed to have waived), to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, any right to a trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim concerning any rights under the Plan or any award, or under any amendment, waiver, consent, instrument, document or other agreement delivered or which in the future may be delivered in connection therewith, and agrees (or will be deemed to have agreed) that any such action, proceedings or counterclaim will be tried before a court and not before a jury. By accepting or being deemed to have accepted an award under the Plan, each Participant certifies that no officer, representative, or attorney of the Company has represented, expressly or otherwise, that the Company would not, in the event of any action, proceeding or counterclaim, seek to enforce the foregoing waivers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, nothing herein is to be construed as limiting the ability of the Company and a Participant to agree to submit any dispute arising under the terms of the Plan or any ward to binding arbitration or as limiting the ability of the Company to require any individual to agree to submit such disputes to binding arbitration as a condition of receiving an award hereunder.
UNFUNDED OBLIGATIONS.
The Company’s obligations under the Plan are unfunded, and no Participant will have any right to specific assets of the Company in respect of any award under the Plan. Participants will be general unsecured creditors of the Company with respect to any amounts due or payable under the Plan.
A-17 |