Semler Scientific proxy: Big share boost, Bitcoin strategy & CardioVanta launch
Semler Scientific, Inc. (SMLR) has called its 2025 virtual Annual Meeting for September 5, 2025. The proxy outlines six voting items, with management emphasizing Proposals 3 and 4, which would:
- Increase authorized common stock to 210 million shares (from 50 million).
- Create 42 million shares of “blank-check” preferred stock.
Management argues that the additional capital flexibility is critical to funding the company’s dual strategy:
- Bitcoin treasury program – Adopted May 2024; holdings now 4,636 BTC worth $508 million (7/2/2025). BTC yield since adoption: 294%. Share price up 69% versus 17% for the S&P 500.
- Healthcare expansion – Launch of wholly owned subsidiary CardioVanta™ (June 2025) focusing on SaaS-based early heart-failure and arrhythmia detection, while QuantaFlo® continues to address peripheral artery disease.
Long-term BTC accumulation targets are ambitious: 10,000 BTC by YE 2025, 42,000 BTC by YE 2026, and 105,000 BTC by YE 2027. The company has funded BTC purchases through operating cash flow, equity sales, convertible debt, and asset monetization.
Director & governance highlights: One Class I director (William H.C. Chang) stands for reelection. Natalie Brunell and Joe Burnett were added in 2025 to deepen Bitcoin expertise. A new Bitcoin Strategy Committee oversees treasury activities. Three directors remain Nasdaq-independent.
Capital structure context: As of 6/30/2025, 13.69 million shares are outstanding with ~31.16 million unreserved. Outstanding 4.25% convertible notes due 2030 could add up to 1.64 million shares at a $76.44 conversion price. Management warns the current share limit could impede future fundraising and employee incentives.
Other proposals: advisory say-on-pay, auditor ratification (BDO USA, P.C.), and routine meeting matters.
Key considerations for investors: while the Bitcoin strategy has boosted returns, issuing up to 160 million additional common shares and 42 million preferred shares could materially dilute existing holders and provide management with anti-takeover tools. Conversely, rejection could constrain growth capital and BTC accumulation plans.
Positive
- 4,636 BTC accumulated valued at $508 million, generating a 294% yield since May 2024.
- Share price has outperformed S&P 500 by 52 percentage points (69% vs. 17%).
- Record $24 million cash generation from healthcare operations in 2024 supports self-funded growth.
- Launch of CardioVanta™ SaaS subsidiary opens multibillion-dollar cardiac monitoring markets.
Negative
- Authorization of 160 million new common shares and 42 million preferred shares introduces significant dilution risk.
- Heavy reliance on Bitcoin price performance adds volatility and regulatory exposure.
- Blank-check preferred and expanded share count may weaken shareholder voting power and act as anti-takeover measures.
- Convertible notes could issue up to 1.64 million additional shares if converted.
Insights
TL;DR: Aggressive BTC growth and large share authorization seek capital flexibility but raise dilution risk.
The proxy frames Semler as a hybrid medical-tech/BTC play. Owning 4,636 BTC (~$508 m) after only 14 months demonstrates strong treasury execution and has coincided with a 69% share gain. Management now requests authorization for 160 m additional common shares (3.2× current limit) plus 42 m preferred. This would enable rapid capital raises—ATM equity, convertibles, or preferred—to pursue 10k/42k/105k BTC targets and fund CardioVanta’s SaaS rollout. However, with just 13.7 m shares outstanding, the scale of new authorization could lead to substantial dilution. Shareholders must weigh crypto-driven upside versus ownership erosion and heightened balance-sheet volatility.
TL;DR: Proposals 3-4 expand board power; potential anti-takeover effect merits scrutiny.
Granting management blank-check preferred stock and a fourfold increase in authorized common shares hands the board broad discretion to issue securities without further votes. While management cites capital efficiency, these tools can deter hostile bids and entrench incumbents. The proxy notes but downplays this anti-takeover potential. Investors should examine protective covenants, preferred terms, and issuance thresholds. Governance positives include independent audit/comp committees and a separate Executive Chairman/CEO structure. Yet concentration of strategic authority in the Bitcoin Strategy Committee and recent insider appointments underscore the need for vigilant oversight.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors
Semler Scientific, Inc.
| | | You are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting. Whether or not you expect to attend the annual meeting virtually, please vote your shares as promptly as possible in order to ensure your representation at the annual meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote your shares prior to the annual meeting on the Internet by visiting www.AALvote.com/SMLR, by telephone by calling 1-866-804-9616 and following the recorded instructions, or by completing, signing, dating and mailing a proxy card. Even if you have voted by proxy, you may still vote during the meeting if you attend the virtual meeting. Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to vote at the meeting, you must obtain a proxy issued in your name from that record holder. | | |
51 E Campbell Avenue, Suite 107-D
Campbell, CA 95008
To be Held on September 5, 2025
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Important Notice Regarding the Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholders’ Meeting to Be Held on September 5, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time virtually at a unique link received after registering at
https://web.viewproxy.com/Semler/2025 |
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The proxy statement and 2024 annual report to stockholders are available at https://web.viewproxy.com/Semler/2025
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| |
Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
Campbell, California
[ ], 2025
51 E Campbell Avenue, Suite 107-D
Campbell, CA 95008
FOR THE 2025 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2025
| | | Internet proxy voting may be provided to allow you to vote your shares online, with procedures designed to ensure the authenticity and correctness of your proxy vote instructions. However, please be aware that you must bear any costs associated with your internet access, such as usage charges from internet access providers and telephone companies. | | |
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Proposal
Number |
| |
Proposal Description
|
| |
Vote Required for Approval
|
| |
Effect of
Abstentions |
| |
Effect of
Broker Non-Votes |
|
| |
1
|
| | Election of Class I director | | | Nominee receiving the most “For” votes | | |
None
|
| |
None
|
|
| |
2
|
| | Advisory vote on executive compensation | | | Majority of votes cast “For” | | |
None
|
| |
None
|
|
| |
3
|
| | Increase in authorized common stock to 210,000,000 | | | “For” votes cast exceed “against” votes cast | | |
None
|
| |
None
|
|
| |
4
|
| | Authorize 42,000,000 shares of blank-check preferred stock | | | Majority of outstanding shares as of the record date must vote “For” | | |
Count as vote “Against”
|
| |
Count as vote “Against”
|
|
| |
5
|
| | Ratification of BDO USA, P.C. as independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2025 | | | Majority of votes cast “For” | | |
None
|
| |
None
|
|
|
NAME
|
| |
AGE
|
| |
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION/POSITION HELD
WITH THE COMPANY |
|
| William H.C. Chang | | |
69
|
| |
Director
|
|
A VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE NOMINEE.
|
NAME
|
| |
AGE(1)
|
| |
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION/POSITION HELD
WITH THE COMPANY, CLASS |
|
| Natalie Brunell | | |
38
|
| |
Class II Director
|
|
| Daniel S. Messina | | |
69
|
| |
Class III Director
|
|
| Douglas Murphy-Chutorian, M.D. | | |
71
|
| |
Chief Executive Officer, Class III director
|
|
| Eric Semler | | |
60
|
| |
Executive Chairman, Class II director
|
|
|
Name
|
| |
Audit
|
| |
Compensation
|
| |
Nominating and
Corporate Governance |
| |
Bitcoin
Strategy |
| ||||||||||||
|
Natalie Brunell(1)
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
William H.C. Chang
|
| | | | X | | | | | | X | | | | | | X | | | | | | X | | |
|
Daniel S. Messina
|
| | | | X | | | | | | | | | | | | X | | | | | | | | |
|
Douglas Murphy-Chutorian, M.D.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | X | | |
|
Eric Semler(1)
|
| | | | X | | | | | | X | | | | | | X | | | | | | X | | |
|
Total Meetings in 2024
|
| | | | 4 | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | 0 | | | | | | 0 | | |
Daniel S. Messina
Eric Semler
A VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
A VOTE IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL OF THE SHARE INCREASE.
| | | |
Year Ended December 31,
|
| |||||||||
|
Fee Type
|
| |
2024
|
| |
2023
|
| ||||||
|
Audit Fees
|
| | | $ | 807,658 | | | | | $ | 473,070 | | |
|
Audit-related Fees
|
| | | | 28,016 | | | | | | 22,000 | | |
|
Total
|
| | | $ | 835,674 | | | | | $ | 495,070 | | |
A VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF BDO USA, P.C.
AS INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.
CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
|
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
|
| |
Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned |
| |
Percentage of
Shares Beneficially Owned |
| ||||||
| Named Executive Officers and Directors: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
William H.C. Chang(1)
|
| | | | 910,017 | | | | | | 6.6% | | |
|
Eric Semler(2)
|
| | | | 786,552 | | | | | | 5.7% | | |
|
Douglas Murphy-Chutorian(3)
|
| | | | 594,993 | | | | | | 4.2% | | |
|
Daniel S. Messina(4)
|
| | | | 22,630 | | | | | | * | | |
|
Renae Cormier(5)
|
| | | | 11,336 | | | | | | * | | |
|
Natalie Brunell(6)
|
| | | | 4,249 | | | | | | * | | |
|
All directors and executive officers as a group (6 persons)
|
| | | | 2,330,397 | | | | | | 16.4% | | |
|
Name
|
| |
Age
|
| |
Position(s)
|
|
| Douglas Murphy-Chutorian, M.D. | | |
71
|
| |
chief executive officer and director
|
|
| Renae Cormier | | |
53
|
| |
chief financial officer
|
|
|
Name and Principal Position
|
| |
Fiscal
Year |
| |
Salary
($)(1) |
| |
Bonus
($) |
| |
Option
Award(s) ($)(2) |
| |
Stock
Awards ($)(3) |
| |
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(4) |
| |
All Other
Compensation ($)(5) |
| |
Total
($) |
| ||||||||||||||||||
|
Douglas Murphy-Chutorian, M.D.(6)
Director and chief executive officer |
| | | | 2024 | | | |
$450,000
|
| | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 224,550 | | | |
—
|
| | | $ | 400,000 | | | | | $ | 35,111 | | | | | $ | 1,109,661 | | |
| | | | 2023 | | | |
$488,508
|
| | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | | |
—
|
| | | $ | 400,000 | | | | | $ | 40,389 | | | | | $ | 928,897 | | | ||
|
Renae Cormier(7)
Chief financial officer |
| | | | 2024 | | | |
$374,375
|
| | | $ | 90,000 | | | | | $ | 224,550 | | | |
—
|
| | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 42,024 | | | | | $ | 730,949 | | |
| | | | 2023 | | | |
$273,724
|
| | | $ | 72,000 | | | | | $ | 95,200 | | | |
$55,000
|
| | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 28,987 | | | | | $ | 524,911 | | | ||
|
Name
|
| |
Number of
Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable |
| |
Number of
Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable |
| |
($)
|
| |
Date
|
| ||||||||||||
|
Douglas Murphy-Chutorian(1)
|
| | | | 60,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 2.56 | | | | | | 12/31/2025 | | |
|
Douglas Murphy-Chutorian(1)
|
| | | | 125,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 2.23 | | | | | | 02/17/2026 | | |
|
Douglas Murphy-Chutorian(1)
|
| | | | 125,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 1.72 | | | | | | 01/19/2027 | | |
|
Douglas Murphy-Chutorian(1)
|
| | | | 125,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 8.00 | | | | | | 12/31/2027 | | |
|
Douglas Murphy-Chutorian
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 15,000 | | | | | $ | 22.92 | | | | | | 05/10/2034 | | |
|
Renae Cormier
|
| | | | 3,226 | | | | | | 1,774 | | | | | $ | 30.48 | | | | | | 05/16/2032 | | |
|
Renae Cormier
|
| | | | 1,770 | | | | | | 3,230 | | | | | $ | 25.47 | | | | | | 07/09/2033 | | |
|
Renae Cormier
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 15,000 | | | | | $ | 22.92 | | | | | | 05/10/2034 | | |
| Year | | | Summary Compensation Table Total for Douglas Murphy- Chutorian, M.D. ($) | | | Summary Compensation Table Total for Dr. Wayne T. Pan ($) | | | Compensation Actually Paid to Douglas Murphy- Chutorian, M.D. ($) | | | Compensation Actually Paid to Dr. Wayne T. Pan ($) | | | Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs ($) | | | Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs ($) | | | Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on Total Shareholder Return ($) | | | Net Income (Thousands) ($) | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) | | | (b)(4) | | | (c)(4) | | | (d)(5) | | | (e)(5) | | | (f)(6) | | | (g)(7) | | | (h)(8) | | | (i)(9) | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024(1) | | | | $ | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | ||||||
| 2023(2) | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | ||||||||
| 2022(3) | | | | $ | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | ||||||
| | | | Fiscal Year 2024 | | |||
| | | | Douglas Murphy- Chutorian, M.D. | | |||
| Summary Compensation Table (SCT) Total | | | | $ | | | |
| Deduct: Amount reported under the ‘Stock Awards’ and ‘Option Awards’ columns of the SCT | | | | | ( | | |
| Add: Fair value of awards granted during 2024 and unvested as of 12/31/2024 | | | | | | | |
| Add/(Deduct): Change in fair value of awards granted in prior years unvested as of 12/31/2024 | | | | | — | | |
| Add: Fair value at the vesting of awards granted and vested in 2024 | | | | | — | | |
| Add/(Deduct): Change in fair value of awards granted in prior years that vested during 2024 as of 12/31/2024 | | | | | — | | |
| Compensation Actually Paid | | | | $ | | | |
| | | | Fiscal Year 2024 | | |||
| | | | Average for Non-PEO NEOs | | |||
| Summary Compensation Table (SCT) Total | | | | $ | | | |
| Deduct: Amount reported under the ‘Stock Awards’ and ‘Option Awards’ columns of the SCT | | | | | ( | | |
| Add: Fair value of awards granted during 2024 and unvested as of 12/31/2024 | | | | | | | |
| Add/(Deduct): Change in fair value of awards granted in prior years unvested as of 12/31/2024 | | | | | | | |
| Add: Fair value at the vesting of awards granted and vested in 2024 | | | | | — | | |
| Add/(Deduct): Change in fair value of awards granted in prior years that vested during 2024 as of 12/31/2024 | | | | | ( | | |
| Compensation Actually Paid | | | | $ | | | |
|
Name
|
| |
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash ($)(1) |
| |
Option
Awards ($)(2) |
| |
Stock Awards
($)(3) |
| |
Total
($) |
| ||||||||||||
|
Daniel S. Messina
|
| | | $ | 70,500 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 100,000 | | | | | $ | 170,500 | | |
|
Eric Semler
|
| | | $ | 108,750 | | | | | $ | 279,450 | | | | | $ | 100,000 | | | | | $ | 488,200 | | |
|
William H.C. Chang
|
| | | $ | 74,250 | | | | | $ | 279,450 | | | | | $ | 100,000 | | | | | $ | 453,700 | | |
| | [ ], 2025 | | | By Order of the Board of Directors | |
| | | | |
Renae Cormier
Corporate Secretary |
|
AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
SEMLER SCIENTIFIC, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
SEMLER SCIENTIFIC, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
SEMLER SCIENTIFIC, INC.