Genprex, Inc DEF 14A, filed Apr 29, 2026
Genprex, Inc. (GNPX)
About this DEF 14A
Genprex, Inc filed this DEF 14A on April 29, 2026.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant ☒
Filed by a party other than the Registrant ☐
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material under § 240.14a-12 |
(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):
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No fee required |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
GENPREX, INC.
3300 Bee Cave Road, #650-227, Austin, TX 78746
April 29, 2026
To Our Stockholders:
You are cordially invited to attend the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Genprex, Inc. (“Genprex” or the “Company”) to be held at 9:30 a.m. Central Time on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
The Annual Meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format at www.proxydocs.com/GNPX. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person.
Details regarding the virtual meeting, the business to be conducted at the virtual meeting, and information about Genprex that you should consider when you vote your shares are described in the accompanying proxy statement.
At the Annual Meeting, (i) two people will be nominated for election to our Board of Directors; (ii) we will ask stockholders to ratify the appointment of WithumSmith+Brown, PC as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2026; (iii) we will ask stockholders to approve, on an advisory basis, the executive compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as described in the proxy statement; (iv) we will ask stockholders to approve an amendment and restatement of our 2018 Equity Incentive Plan; (v) we will ask stockholders to adopt and approve an amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of our issued shares of common stock, at a specific ratio, ranging from one-for-five (1:5) to one-for-fifty (1:50), at any time prior to December 31, 2027, subject to our Board of Directors’ determination, in its sole discretion, whether or not to implement the reverse stock split and, if so, at what specific ratio within the foregoing range, without further approval or authorization of our stockholders; and (vi) we will ask stockholders to approve the adjournment of the Annual Meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies if the number of shares of common stock present or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and voting “FOR” any of the foregoing matters presented are insufficient to approve any of said matters. We may also ask stockholders to consider and act upon other matters which may properly come before the meeting and/or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof.
On or about April 30, 2026, we intend to begin mailing to our stockholders a Notice for our Annual Meeting (the “Notice”) along with our proxy statement for our Annual Meeting, our 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Annual Report”) and a proxy card. The Notice also provides instructions on how to vote online.
We hope you will be able to attend the Annual Meeting. Whether you plan to attend the Annual Meeting or not, it is important that you cast your vote. You may vote over the Internet, 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 Genprex. We look forward to seeing you during the webcast of the Annual Meeting.
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Sincerely, |
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Ryan M. Confer |
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President, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Financial Officer |
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GENPREX, INC.
3300 Bee Cave Road, #650-227, Austin, TX 78746
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To be held on June 18, 2026
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Genprex, Inc. (“Genprex” or the “Company”) will be held on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. Central Time. This year’s Annual Meeting will be a virtual meeting via live webcast on the Internet. You will be able to attend our Annual Meeting virtually via the Internet and vote during the meeting by visiting www.proxydocs.com/GNPX. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting at a physical location.
THE ANNUAL MEETING WILL BE HELD FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:
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To elect two Class III directors named herein to hold office until the 2029 annual meeting of stockholders. |
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To ratify the selection by the Audit Committee (the “Audit Committee”) of our Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors” or the “Board”) of WithumSmith+Brown, PC as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026. |
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To approve, on an advisory basis, the executive compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as described in this proxy statement. |
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To approve the Company’s amended and restated 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2018 Plan”, and as so amended and restated, the “Amended Equity Plan”). |
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To adopt and approve an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Charter”) to effect a reverse stock split of the Company’s issued shares of common stock, at a specific ratio, ranging from one-for-five (1:5) to one-for-fifty (1:50), at any time prior to December 31, 2027, subject to the Board’s determination, in its sole discretion, whether or not to implement the reverse stock split and, if so, at what specific ratio within the foregoing range, without further approval or authorization of the Company’s stockholders. |
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To approve the adjournment of the Annual Meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies if the number of shares of common stock present or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and voting “FOR” any of the foregoing proposals presented are insufficient to approve any of said proposals. |
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To conduct any other business properly brought before the meeting and/or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof. |
These items of business are more fully described in the proxy statement accompanying this notice.
WHO MAY VOTE:
You may vote if you were the record owner of Genprex common stock at the close of business on April 24, 2026.
To participate in the Annual Meeting virtually via the Internet, please visit www.proxydocs.com/GNPX. In order to attend, you must register in advance at www.proxydocs.com/GNPX prior to the deadline of June 16, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Upon completing your registration, you will receive further instructions via email, including your unique links that will allow you access to the meeting and to submit questions in advance of the meeting. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person.
All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting. Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote by following the instructions in the Notice and to submit your proxy over the Internet or by 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 meeting.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JUNE 18, 2026
Our proxy materials including our proxy statement for the 2026 Annual Meeting, our Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 and proxy card are available on the Internet at www.proxydocs.com/GNPX. Hard copies of such proxy materials and this Notice are being mailed to our stockholders of record beginning on or about April 30, 2026.
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By Order of the Board of Directors, |
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Ryan M. Confer |
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President, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Financial Officer |
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Austin, Texas
April 29, 2026
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING |
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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF CLASS III DIRECTORS |
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INFORMATION REGARDING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
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INFORMATION REGARDING COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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STOCKHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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ETHICS CODE |
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INSIDER TRADING POLICY |
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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS |
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT |
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EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION |
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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION |
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PAY VERSUS PERFORMANCE |
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RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS |
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PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM |
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PROPOSAL 3: ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS |
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PROPOSAL 4: APPROVAL OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED 2018 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN |
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PROPOSAL 5: APPROVAL OF THE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT PROPOSAL |
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PROPOSAL 6: APPROVAL OF THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL |
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STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS |
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ANNUAL REPORT |
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HOUSEHOLDING OF ANNUAL MEETING MATERIALS |
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OTHER MATTERS |
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APPENDIX A: AMENDED AND RESATED 2018 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN |
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APPENDIX B: CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION |
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GENPREX, INC.
3300 Bee Cave Road, #650-227, Austin, TX 78746
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE GENPREX, INC. 2026 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held on June 18, 2026
This proxy statement contains information about the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Genprex, Inc. (the “Annual Meeting”), including any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting. We are holding the Annual Meeting at 9:30 a.m., Central Time, on Thursday, June 18, 2026. The Annual Meeting will be a virtual meeting via live webcast on the Internet. You will be able to attend our Annual Meeting virtually via the Internet, vote and submit your questions in advance of the meeting by visiting www.proxydocs.com/GNPX. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. In this proxy statement, we refer to Genprex, Inc. as “Genprex,” “the Company,” “we,” and “us.”
This proxy statement relates to the solicitation of proxies by our Board of Directors for use at the Annual Meeting. The proxy materials relating to the Annual Meeting are being mailed to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting on or about April 30, 2026. A list of record holders of the Company’s stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting (the “Stockholder List”) will be available for examination by any stockholder of the Company, for any purpose germane to the Annual Meeting, for a period of ten days ending on the day before the date of the Annual Meeting, during ordinary business hours, at the Company’s principal executive office located at 3300 Bee Cave Road, #650-227, Austin, TX 78746. If you wish to view this list, please contact Investor Relations at Genprex, Inc., 3300 Bee Cave Road, #650-227, Austin, TX 78746.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING
Why are we calling this Annual Meeting?
Our Board of Directors is soliciting your proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting to be held virtually via live webcast on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. Central Time and any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) of the meeting. This proxy statement summarizes the purposes of the meeting and the information you need to know to vote at the Annual Meeting.
We have sent you this proxy statement, the proxy card and a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, because you owned shares of our common stock on the record date.
We are calling the Annual Meeting to seek the approval of our stockholders:
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To elect Jose Antonio Moreno Toscano and Ryan M. Confer to serve as directors for a three-year term expiring at the 2029 annual meeting of stockholders (the “Director Election Proposal”). |
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To ratify the appointment of WithumSmith+Brown, PC as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026 (the “Auditor Ratification Proposal”). |
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To approve, on an advisory basis, the executive compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers (defined below) as described in the proxy statement (the “Say-on-Pay Proposal”). |
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To approve the Company’s amended and restated 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated effective April 15, 2026 (the “2018 Plan”, and as so amended and restated, the “Amended Equity Plan”) (the “Incentive Plan Proposal”). |
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To adopt and approve an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Charter”) to effect a reverse stock split of the Company’s issued shares of common stock, at a specific ratio, ranging from one-for-five (1:5) to one-for-fifty (1:50), at any time prior to December 31, 2027, subject to our Board of Directors’ determination, in its sole discretion, whether or not to implement the reverse stock split and, if so, at what specific ratio within the foregoing range, without further approval or authorization of the Company’s stockholders (the “Reverse Stock Split Proposal”). |
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To approve the adjournment of the Annual Meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies if the number of shares of common stock present or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and voting “FOR” any of the foregoing proposals presented are insufficient to approve any of said proposals (the “Adjournment Proposal”). |
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To consider any other matters that may properly come before the Annual Meeting and/or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof. |
How Does the Board of Directors Recommend That I Vote on the Proposals?
Our Board of Directors believes that: (i) the election of the director nominees identified herein; (ii) the appointment of WithumSmith+Brown, PC as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026; (iii) the compensation of our Named Executive Officers for the year ended December 31, 2025, as described in this proxy statement, was appropriate; (iv) the Company’s Amended Equity Plan; (v) an amendment to the Company’s Charter to effect a reverse stock split of the Company’s issued shares of common stock, at a specific ratio, ranging from one-for-five (1:5) to one-for-fifty (1:50), at any time prior to December 31, 2027, subject to our Board of Directors’ determination, in its sole discretion, whether or not to implement the reverse stock split and, if so, at what specific ratio within the foregoing range, without further approval or authorization of the Company’s stockholders; and (vi) the adjournment of the Annual Meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies if the number of shares of common stock present or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and voting “FOR” any of the foregoing proposals presented are insufficient to approve any of said proposals, are advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and recommends that you vote as follows:
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“FOR” the Director Election Proposal. |
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“FOR” the Auditor Ratification Proposal. |
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“FOR” the Say-on-Pay Proposal. |
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“FOR” the Incentive Plan Proposal. |
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“FOR” the Reverse Stock Split Proposal. |
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“FOR” the Adjournment Proposal. |
If any other matter is presented at the Annual Meeting, your proxy provides that your shares will be voted by the proxy holder listed in the proxy in accordance with his or her 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 Annual Meeting, other than those discussed in this proxy statement.
What Constitutes a Quorum for the Annual Meeting?
In order to hold the Annual Meeting, there must be a quorum. At the Annual Meeting, the presence in person (including, in the case of the virtual Annual Meeting, by remote communication) or represented by proxy, of one-third (1/3) of the voting power of our stock outstanding on the record date and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will constitute a quorum for the Annual Meeting. Pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, abstentions will be counted for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present. If brokers have, and exercise, discretionary authority on at least one item on the agenda for the Annual Meeting, uninstructed shares for which broker non-votes occur will constitute voting power present for the discretionary matter and will therefore count towards the quorum.
Why is the Company Holding an Annual Meeting in Virtual Format?
This year’s Annual Meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format only. The virtual format provides the opportunity for participation by a broader group of our stockholders, while reducing costs associated with planning, holding and arranging logistics for in-person meeting proceedings. Hosting a virtual meeting also (i) enables increased stockholder attendance and participation because stockholders can participate equally from any location around the world, at little to no cost, and (ii) reduces the environmental impact of our Annual Meeting. You will be able to attend the Annual Meeting online and submit your questions in advance of the meeting by visiting www.proxydocs.com/GNPX. You also will be able to vote your shares electronically at the Annual Meeting by following the instructions above.
Who Is Entitled to Vote at the Annual Meeting?
Only stockholders who owned our common stock at the close of business on April 24, 2026, the record date for the Annual Meeting, are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. On this record date, there were 10,417,400 shares of our common stock outstanding and entitled to vote. Our common stock is our only outstanding class of voting stock.
You do not need to attend the Annual Meeting to vote your shares. Shares represented by valid proxies, received in accordance with the time periods specified in this proxy statement and not revoked prior to the Annual Meeting, will be voted at the Annual 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 as of the close of business on April 24, 2026, entitles you to one vote.
Who Can Attend the Meeting?
All stockholders as of the record date, or their duly appointed proxies, may attend the virtual Annual Meeting. For instructions on how to attend the Annual Meeting, see “How Do I Attend the Annual Meeting?” below.
What is the Difference Between Holding Shares as a Stockholder of Record and as a Beneficial Owner?
Many of our stockholders hold their shares through a broker, bank or other nominee rather than directly in their own name. As summarized below, there are some distinctions between shares held of record and those owned beneficially.
Stockholder of Record
If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, VStock Transfer, LLC, you are considered, with respect to those shares, the stockholder of record. As the stockholder of record, you have the right to directly grant your voting proxy directly to us or to vote by remote communication at the Annual Meeting.
Beneficial Owner
If your shares of our common stock are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in street name, and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by your broker, bank or nominee which is considered, with respect to those shares, the stockholder of record. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker as to how to vote and are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting. However, because you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote these shares by remote communication at the Annual Meeting unless you obtain a signed proxy from the record holder giving you the right to vote the shares. If you do not provide the stockholder of record with voting instructions or otherwise obtain a signed proxy from the record holder giving you the right to vote the shares, broker non-votes may occur for the shares that you beneficially own. The effect of broker non-votes is more specifically described in “What Vote is Required to Approve Each Proposal and How are Votes Counted?” below.
How Do I Attend the Annual Meeting?
Both stockholders of record and stockholders who hold their shares in “street name” will need to register to be able to attend the Annual Meeting, vote their shares during the Annual Meeting, and submit their questions during the Annual Meeting live via the Internet by following the instructions below.
If you are a stockholder of record, you must:
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Follow the instructions provided on your Notice card to first register at www.proxydocs.com/GNPX by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 16, 2026. You will need to enter your name, phone number, control number (included on your proxy card), and email address as part of the registration, following which you will receive an email confirming your registration. |
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On the day of the Annual Meeting, if you have properly registered, you will receive an email approximately one-hour prior to the Annual Meeting with a unique access URL. To enter the Annual Meeting, log in using the unique access URL. |
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If you wish to vote your shares electronically at the Annual Meeting, you may do so by following the instructions below. |
If you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name”, you must:
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Obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank, or other nominee. |
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Register at www.proxydocs.com/GNPX by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 16, 2026. As part of the registration process you will need to enter your name, phone number, and email address, and provide a copy of the legal proxy (which can be sent via email to the address listed on the registration website), following which you will receive an email confirming your registration and your control number. Please note, if you do not provide a copy of the legal proxy, you may still attend the Annual Meeting but you will be unable to vote your shares electronically at the Annual Meeting. |
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On the day of the Annual Meeting, if you have properly registered, you will receive an email approximately one-hour prior to the Annual Meeting with a unique access URL. To enter the Annual Meeting, log in using the unique access URL. |
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If you wish to vote your shares electronically at the Annual Meeting, you may do so by following the instructions below. |
How Do I Vote?
Whether you plan to attend the Annual 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. You may specify whether your shares should be voted for or withheld for each nominee for director and whether your shares should be voted for, against or abstain with respect to the other proposals. If you properly submit a proxy without giving specific voting instructions, your shares will be voted in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendations. Voting by proxy will not affect your right to attend the Annual Meeting. If your shares are registered directly in your name through our stock transfer agent, VStock Transfer, LLC, or you have stock certificates registered in your name, you may vote:
Voting During the Annual Meeting:
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To vote during the live webcast of the Annual Meeting, you must first register at www.proxydocs.com/GNPX. Upon completing your registration, you will receive further instructions via email, including your unique link that will allow you access to the Annual Meeting and to submit questions in advance of the meeting. Please be sure to follow the instructions found on your proxy card and/or voting authorization form and subsequent instructions that will be delivered to you via email. |
Voting Prior to the Annual Meeting:
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Over the Internet. You may submit your vote over the Internet at www.proxypush.com/GNPX. 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 June 17, 2026. Have your proxy card in hand as you will be prompted to enter your control number. |
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By Mail. You can vote by mail by completing, signing, dating and returning the proxy card mailed to you 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 the Board of Directors’ recommendations. Proxies submitted by mail must be received by the close of business on June 17, 2026 in order to ensure that your vote is counted. |
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By Telephone. To vote over the telephone, dial toll-free 866-356-9132 using any touch-tone telephone and follow the recorded instructions. You will be asked to provide the control number from the proxy card. Your telephone vote must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 17, 2026, to be counted. Have your proxy card in hand as you will be prompted to enter your control number. |
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.
May I Change or Revoke My Proxy?
If you give us your proxy, you may change or revoke it at any time before the Annual Meeting. You may change or revoke your proxy in any one of the following ways:
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by signing a new proxy card with a date later than your previously delivered proxy and submitting it as instructed above; |
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by re-voting over the Internet as instructed above; |
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by notifying our Corporate Secretary in writing before the Annual Meeting that you have revoked your proxy; or |
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by attending the Annual Meeting and voting at the meeting. Attending the Annual Meeting will not in and of itself revoke a previously submitted proxy. |
Your most current vote, whether by Internet, telephone, or proxy card is the one that will be counted. For purposes of submitting your vote over the Internet before the Annual Meeting, you may change your vote until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 17, 2026. At this deadline, the last vote submitted will be the vote that is 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 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.
What are “broker non-votes”?
Banks, brokers and other agents acting as nominees are permitted to use discretionary voting authority to vote for proposals that are deemed “routine” by the New York Stock Exchange, which means that they can submit a proxy or cast a ballot on behalf of stockholders who do not provide a specific voting instruction. Brokers, banks or other nominees are not permitted to use discretionary voting authority to vote for proposals that are deemed “non-routine” by the New York Stock Exchange. The determination of which proposals are deemed “routine” versus “non-routine” may not be made by the New York Stock Exchange until after the date on which this proxy statement has been mailed to you. As such, it is important that you provide voting instructions to your bank, broker or other nominee as to how to vote your shares, if you wish to ensure that your shares are present and voted at the Annual Meeting on all matters and if you wish to direct the voting of your shares on “routine” matters.
When there is at least one “routine” matter to be considered at a meeting, a “broker non-vote” occurs when a proposal is deemed “non-routine” and a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not have discretionary voting authority with respect to the “non-routine” matter being considered and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner.
The Director Election Proposal, the Say-on-Pay Proposal, and the Incentive Plan Proposal have historically been considered to be “non-routine” matters and brokers, banks or other nominees are not permitted to vote on these matters if the broker, bank or other nominee has not received instructions from the beneficial owner. Accordingly, it is particularly important that beneficial owners instruct their brokers, banks or other nominees how they wish to vote their shares on these proposals. The Auditor Ratification Proposal, the Reverse Stock Split Proposal, and the Adjournment Proposal have historically been considered to be “routine” matters, hence, a broker, bank or other nominee will have discretionary authority to vote on the Auditor Ratification Proposal, the Reverse Stock Split Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal even if it does not receive instructions from the beneficial owner. However, if the Auditor Ratification Proposal, the Reverse Stock Split Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal are deemed by the New York Stock Exchange to be “non-routine” matters, brokers will not be permitted to vote on the Auditor Ratification Proposal, the Reverse Stock Split Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal if the broker has not received instructions from the beneficial owner. Accordingly, it is particularly important that beneficial owners instruct their brokers how they wish to vote their shares.
Will My Shares be Voted if I Do Not Vote?
If you are the stockholder of record, your votes will not be counted if you do not vote as described under “How Do I Vote?” above. If you are the beneficial owner of shares held in street name and you do not provide voting instructions to the bank, broker or other nominee that holds your shares, the bank, broker or other nominee that holds your shares has the authority to vote your unvoted shares only on matters that are considered to be “routine” by the New York Stock Exchange. The Auditor Ratification Proposal, the Reverse Stock Split Proposal, and the Adjournment Proposal have historically been considered to be “routine” matters by the New York Stock Exchange but the Director Election Proposal, the Say-on-Pay Proposal, and the Incentive Plan Proposal have historically been considered to be “non-routine” matters. If you are the beneficial owner of shares held in street name, we encourage you to provide voting instructions to your bank, broker or other nominee. This ensures your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting and in the manner you desire.
What Vote is Required to Approve Each Proposal and How are Votes Counted?
Proposal 1: Director Election Proposal
Our directors are elected by a plurality, which means that the nominees for director who receive the most votes (also known as a “plurality” of the votes cast) will be elected up to the number of directors being elected at this meeting. This means that the two nominees who receives the largest number of affirmative votes cast on the election of directors will be elected. You may vote either FOR each nominee or WITHHOLD your vote from any one or more of the nominees. Votes that are withheld will not be included in the vote tally for the election of the directors. The Director Election Proposal has historically been considered to be a “non-routine” matter which means that banks, brokers or other nominees do not have discretionary authority to vote on this matter. As a result, withheld votes and “broker non-votes,” if any, will not affect the outcome of the vote on the Director Election Proposal. Holders of common stock are not entitled to cumulative voting in the election of directors.
Proposal 2: Auditor Ratification Proposal
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes properly cast on the Auditor Ratification Proposal is required to approve the Auditor Ratification Proposal. The Auditor Ratification Proposal has historically been considered to be a “routine” matter which means that banks, brokers or other nominees will have discretionary authority to vote on this matter. Accordingly, we do not expect that any broker non-votes will occur on the Auditor Ratification Proposal; however, if any broker non-votes were to occur on the Auditor Ratification Proposal such broker non-votes would not have any effect on the Auditor Ratification Proposal. Abstentions, if any, will also not have any effect on the Auditor Ratification Proposal. We are not required to obtain the approval of our stockholders to select our independent registered public accounting firm. However, if our stockholders do not ratify the appointment of WithumSmith+Brown, PC as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2026, the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors values the opinion of our stockholders and will reconsider its appointment, taking the results of this vote into consideration.
Proposal 3: Say-on-Pay Proposal
With respect to the Say-on-Pay Proposal, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes properly cast on the Say-on-Pay Proposal is required to approve the Say-on-Pay Proposal. The Say-on-Pay vote on our Named Executive Officers’ compensation is advisory, and therefore not binding on the Company. The Say-on-Pay Proposal has historically been considered to be a “non-routine” matter which means that banks, brokers or other nominees do not have discretionary authority to vote on this matter. Accordingly, broker non-votes may occur on this proposal. Abstentions, if any, and broker non-votes, if any, will not have any effect on the Say-on-Pay Proposal.
Proposal 4: Incentive Plan Proposal
With respect to the Incentive Plan Proposal, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes properly cast on the Incentive Plan Proposal is required to approve the Incentive Plan Proposal. The Incentive Plan Proposal has historically been considered to be a “non-routine” matter which means that banks, brokers or other nominees do not have discretionary authority to vote on this matter. Accordingly, broker non-votes may occur on this proposal. Abstentions, if any, and broker non-votes, if any, will not have any effect on the Incentive Plan Proposal.
Proposal 5: Reverse Stock Split Proposal
With respect to the Reverse Stock Split Proposal, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes properly cast on the Reverse Stock Split Proposal is required to approve the Reverse Stock Split Proposal. The Reverse Stock Split Proposal has historically been considered to be a “routine” matter which means that banks, brokers or other nominees will have discretionary authority to vote on this matter. Accordingly, we do not expect that any broker non-votes will occur on the Reverse Stock Split Proposal; however, if any broker non-votes were to occur on the Reverse Stock Split Proposal such broker non-votes would not have any effect on the Reverse Stock Split Proposal. Abstentions, if any, will also not have any effect on the Reverse Stock Split Proposal.
Proposal 6: Adjournment Proposal
With respect to the Adjournment Proposal (if necessary), the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of our common stock present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the Adjournment Proposal is required to approve the Adjournment Proposal. The Adjournment Proposal has historically been considered to be a “routine” matter which means that banks, brokers or other nominees will have discretionary authority to vote on this matter. Accordingly, we do not expect that any broker non-votes will occur on the Adjournment Proposal; however, if any broker non-votes were to occur on the Adjournment Proposal such broker non-votes would not have any effect on the Adjournment Proposal. Abstentions, if any, will also not have any effect on the Adjournment Proposal.
Where Can I Find the Voting Results of the Annual Meeting?
The preliminary voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting, and we will publish final results in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) within four business days of the Annual Meeting. If final results are unavailable at the time we file the Form 8-K, then we will file an amended report on Form 8-K to disclose the final voting results within four business days after the final voting results are known.
Who Will Pay the Costs of Soliciting these Proxies?
We are soliciting this proxy on behalf of our Board of Directors and will pay all expenses associated therewith. Some of our officers, directors and other employees also may, but without compensation other than their regular compensation, solicit proxies by further mailing or personal conversations, or by telephone, fax or other electronic means. We will also, upon request, reimburse brokers and other persons holding stock in their names, or in the names of nominees, for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy materials to the beneficial owners of the capital stock and to obtain proxies.
In addition, we have engaged Mediant Communications Inc., a BetaNXT business, to assist in the solicitation of proxies and provide related informational support, for a services fee, which is not expected to exceed $20,000.
Proposals should be addressed to:
Genprex, Inc.
Attn: Corporate Secretary
3300 Bee Cave Road, #650-227
Austin, TX 78746
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF CLASS III DIRECTORS
Our Board of Directors is divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class consists, as nearly as possible, of one-third of the total number of directors, and each class has a three-year term. Vacancies on the Board of Directors may be filled only by persons elected by a majority of the remaining directors. A director elected by the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy in a class, including vacancies created by an increase in the number of directors, shall serve for the remainder of the full term of that class and until the director’s successor is duly elected and qualified.
The Board of Directors presently has four members. There are two Class III directors, Jose Antonio Moreno Toscano and Ryan M. Confer, whose terms of office expire in 2026. Proxies may not be voted for a greater number of persons than the two nominees, Mr. Moreno Toscano and Mr. Confer, named in this proxy statement. Mr. Moreno Toscano and Mr. Confer, both current directors of the Company, were recommended for nomination to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors. If elected at the Annual Meeting, Mr. Moreno Toscano and Mr. Confer would each serve until the 2029 annual meeting of stockholders and until his respective successor has been duly elected and qualified, or, if sooner, until his death, resignation or removal. While the Company does not have a formal policy requiring members of our Board of Directors to attend our annual meetings, it is our general practice to invite directors and nominees for director to attend the annual meeting each year. Each of our then-incumbent directors attended our annual meeting of stockholders in August 2025.
Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes of the holders of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of directors. Accordingly, the two nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes will be elected. The only nominees for Class III directorship to be considered at the Annual Meeting are Mr. Moreno Toscano and Mr. Confer. Shares represented by executed proxies will be voted, if authority to do so is not withheld, for the election of Mr. Moreno Toscano and Mr. Confer. If either Mr. Moreno Toscano or Mr. Confer becomes unavailable for election as a result of an unexpected occurrence, shares that would have been voted for that nominee will instead be voted for the election of a substitute nominee proposed by the Company. Each of Mr. Moreno Toscano and Mr. Confer has agreed to serve if elected. The Company’s management has no reason to believe that either Mr. Moreno Toscano or Mr. Confer will be unable to serve.
Nominees
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee seeks to assemble a Board of Directors that, as a whole, possesses the appropriate balance of professional and industry knowledge, financial expertise and high-level management experience necessary to oversee and direct the Company’s business. To that end, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has identified and evaluated nominees in the broader context of the Board of Directors’ overall composition, with the goal of recruiting members who complement and strengthen the skills of other members and who also exhibit integrity, collegiality, sound business judgment and other qualities that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee views as critical to effective functioning of the Board of Directors. The biographies below include information, as of the date of this proxy statement, regarding the specific and particular experience, qualifications, attributes or skills of each director or nominee that led the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to believe that that nominee should continue to serve on the Board of Directors. However, each member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may have a variety of reasons why he believes a particular person would be an appropriate nominee for the Board of Directors, and these views may differ from the views of other members.
Nominees for Election for A Three-Year Term Expiring at the 2029 Annual Meeting
Jose Antonio Moreno Toscano, 53, has served as a member of our Board of Directors since March 18, 2020 and as non-executive Chairman of our Board of Directors since May 8, 2024. Since April 2018, Mr. Moreno Toscano has been Chief Executive Officer of LFB USA Inc., the US subsidiary of LFB Group, a global integrated biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing innovative products through recombinant, plasma derived and cell therapy technology. From July 2017 to March 2018, Mr. Moreno Toscano served as President of Safe Harbor Compliance and Clinical Services, an integrated health care services provider dedicated to providing specialty pharmaceuticals and ancillary services in primary care offices, and from July 2016 to September 2018, he also served as a member of its board of directors. From March 2016 to March 2017, Mr. Moreno Toscano served as CEO, Americas, for Kompan Inc., a US subsidiary of Kompan A/S, a world leader in playground equipment. From March 2006 to March 2016, Mr. Moreno Toscano served as President of ALK-Abello Inc., a US subsidiary of ALK-Abello A/S, a pharmaceutical company that is a world leader in allergy immunotherapy. Prior to his tenure with ALK-Abello, Mr. Moreno Toscano was the Chief Financial Officer of Applus A/S, a market leader in automotive inspection services, and prior to Applus, he held several positions at Christian Hansen Holding A/S, a global leader in pharmaceutical manufacturing and producer of natural ingredients for the food, beverage, dietary supplement and agricultural industries. Mr. Moreno Toscano holds a Master’s Degree in Law from the Universidad de Murcia in Spain and an MBA in International Finance and Strategy from the Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees in Paris. Mr. Moreno Toscano holds the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Directorship CertificationTM.
Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Board of Directors believe that Mr. Moreno Toscano’s more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, building, developing and transforming organizations, and successful track record of identifying and capitalizing on opportunities to drive exponential revenue growth and market expansion, revitalizing underperforming operations and establishing foundations for successful start-up operations, as well as his experience in strategic planning, corporate restructuring, business development, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations, and general management, make him a valuable member of our Board of Directors.
Ryan M. Confer, 44, has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our Board of Directors since May 8, 2024. Mr. Confer also currently serves as our Chief Financial Officer, a position he has held since September 2016. From December 2013 through September 2016, he served as our Chief Operating and Financial Officer, and from June 2011 to December 2013 as our Business Manager. Mr. Confer has served us in a variety of strategic, operations, and finance capacities since our inception in 2009 both as a consultant through his own firm, Confer Capital, Inc., and as an employee. Mr. Confer has over 10 years of entrepreneurial and executive experience in planning, launching, developing, and growing emerging technology companies. He has served in c-level and vice president roles for non-profit and for-profit entities since 2008. Most notably, Mr. Confer served as Vice President of Customer Experience and then later as Vice President of Strategy for KaiNexus Inc., an emerging technology company that develops continuous improvement software. Prior to his entrepreneurial experience, Mr. Confer served as a business development consultant for the University of Texas at Austin’s IC2 Institute, an international think tank and incubator, where he focused on evaluating the commercialization potential of nascent technologies in emerging growth markets. Mr. Confer holds a BS in finance and legal studies from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and an MS in technology commercialization from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.
Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Board of Directors believe that Mr. Confer’s broad experience in areas and disciplines including corporate and business strategy and operations, finance and accounting, as well as his positions and service as President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, make him a valuable member of our Board of Directors.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF JOSE ANTONIO MORENO TOSCANO AND RYAN M. CONFER AS CLASS III DIRECTORS.
Class I Director Continuing in Office Until the 2027 Annual Meeting
Brent M. Longnecker, 69, has served as a member of our Board of Directors since March 18, 2020. Since January 2021, Mr. Longnecker has been the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of 1 Reputation, a strategy, executive compensation, and corporate governance consulting firm. From August 2003 to February 2022, Mr. Longnecker was Founder & CEO of Longnecker & Associates. From June 1999 to August 2003, Mr. Longnecker served as President of Resources Consulting Group, and Executive Vice President of Resources Connection. Mr. Longnecker has over 36 years of consulting experience, including as National Partner-In-Charge for the Performance Management and Compensation Consulting Practice of Deloitte & Touche and as partner at KPMG Peat Marwick. Mr. Longnecker has worked with companies globally including the industries of high tech, finance, service, manufacturing and more. He is a Board Fellow with the NACD and is a past board member of NACD. Mr. Longnecker has also been a member of the Board of Advisors for True Velocity, a privately-held technology and defense manufacturing company since January 2021, and a member of the Board of Advisors for Hartman Income REIT Management, a privately-held commercial real estate firm since June 2024. Mr. Longnecker holds Bachelor of Business Administration and MBA degrees from the University of Houston and holds numerous governance, strategic planning and corporate director curriculum certifications from the Harvard Business School. He is a prolific author about executive compensation and corporate governance.
Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Board of Directors believe that Mr. Longnecker’s more than 36 years of experience in corporate governance, executive compensation, and risk management consulting for public, private, and non-profit organizations, and his deep expertise in healthcare, energy, real estate, manufacturing, and financial companies, make him a valuable member of our Board of Directors.
Class II Director Continuing in Office Until the 2028 Annual Meeting
William (“Will”) R. Wilson, Jr., 76, has served as a member of our Board of Directors since March 18, 2020. Since January 2006, he has served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wilson Land & Cattle Co., an investment company. Mr. Wilson has more than 40 years of legal experience in health care regulation, biotechnology, clinical trial management, nursing home licensing and regulation, physician accreditation, securities, corporate governance, contractual and other legal matters. Mr. Wilson is a member of the State Bar of Texas and has been admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. Mr. Wilson previously served as Judge of the 250th District Court of Travis County, Texas, where he presided over civil litigation, and as Assistant District Attorney for Dallas County, Texas. Mr. Wilson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vanderbilt University and a JD degree from Southern Methodist University.
Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Board of Directors believe that Mr. Wilson’s more than 40 years of experience as an attorney in fields related to our business and 20 years of experience as an investor, make him a valuable member of our Board of Directors.
INFORMATION REGARDING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Independence of the Board of Directors
Under the listing requirements and rules of The Nasdaq Capital Market, independent directors must constitute a majority of a listed company’s board of directors. In addition, the rules of The Nasdaq Capital Market require that each member of a listed company’s audit, compensation and nominating and governance committee be independent. Under the rules of The Nasdaq Capital Market, a director will only qualify as an “independent director” if, in the opinion of that company’s board of directors, that person does not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director.
Audit committee members must also satisfy independence criteria set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), or Rule 10A-3. To be considered independent for purposes of Rule 10A-3, a member of an audit committee may not, other than in his or her capacity as a member of a company’s audit committee, the company’s board of directors or any other board of directors committee: (1) accept, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the listed company or any of its subsidiaries; or (2) be an affiliated person of the listed company or any of its subsidiaries.
Our Board of Directors has undertaken a review of its composition, the composition of its committees and the independence of each director. Based upon information requested from and provided by each director concerning his background, employment and affiliations, including family relationships, our Board of Directors has determined that, other than Ryan M. Confer, our President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and member of our Board of Directors, each of our directors does not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director and that each of these directors is “independent” as that term is defined under the applicable rules and regulations of the listing requirements and rules of The Nasdaq Capital Market and under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC. In making this determination, our Board of Directors considered the current and prior relationships that each non-employee director has with us and all other facts and circumstances our Board of Directors deemed relevant in determining their independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each non-employee director.
Board of Director Composition
Our Board of Directors is currently composed of four directors. Our directors hold office until their successors have been elected and qualified or until the earlier of their resignation or removal. We have no formal policy regarding diversity of our Board of Directors. Our priority in selection of members of our Board of Directors is identification of members who will further the interests of our stockholders through his or her established record of professional accomplishment, the ability to contribute positively to the collaborative culture among Board of Directors members, knowledge of our business and understanding of the competitive landscape.
Board of Directors Leadership Structure
Jose Antonio Moreno Toscano currently serves as the non-executive Chairman of our Board of Directors. The Board of Directors does not currently have a lead independent director. We believe that the leadership structure of our Board of Directors is appropriate at the present time, in light of the small size of our Board of Directors. We believe that the fact that three of the four members of the Board of Directors are independent reinforces the independence of the Board of Directors in its oversight of our business and affairs and provides for objective evaluation and oversight of management’s performance, as well as management accountability. In addition, we have a separate chair for each committee of the Board of Directors. The chair of each committee is expected to report to the Board of Directors from time to time, or whenever so requested by the Board of Directors, on the activities of his committee.
Role of the Board of Directors in Risk Oversight
Risk is inherent with every business, and how well a business manages risk can ultimately determine its success. We face a number of risks, including those described under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, and other reports filed with the SEC. The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors is primarily responsible for overseeing our risk management processes on behalf of our Board of Directors. The Audit Committee receives reports from management regarding our assessment of risks. In addition, the Audit Committee reports regularly to our Board of Directors, which also considers our risk profile. The Audit Committee and our Board of Directors focus on the most significant risks we face and our general risk management strategies. Our Board of Directors is responsible for the oversight of our cybersecurity risk management. Our Board of Directors delegates oversight of the cybersecurity risk management program to our Audit Committee and our Audit Committee updates our Board of Directors on our cybersecurity risk management program, including any critical cybersecurity risks, ongoing cybersecurity initiatives and strategies, and applicable regulatory requirements and industry standards on an annual and as-needed basis. While our Board of Directors oversees our risk management, management is responsible for day-to-day risk management team processes. Our Board of Directors believes that full and open communication between management and our Board of Directors is essential for effective risk management and oversight.
Meetings of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors met 14 times in 2025. All directors attended at least 75% of the meetings (i) of the Board of Directors during 2025, and (ii) of all committees of our Board of Directors on which the director served. While we do not have a formal policy requiring members of the Board of Directors to attend our annual meetings, it is our general practice to invite directors and nominees for director to attend our annual meeting each year. Our last annual meeting of stockholders was held on August 15, 2025. All of our directors serving at the time attended last year’s annual meeting.
INFORMATION REGARDING COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors has established an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The composition and functions of each of these committees are described below. Members serve on these committees until their resignation or until otherwise determined by our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors may establish other committees from time to time to facilitate the management of our business.
Audit Committee
Our Audit Committee currently consists of Brent M. Longnecker, Jose Antonio Moreno Toscano and William R. Wilson, Jr., each of whom is “independent” as that term is defined under applicable SEC rules and Nasdaq listing standards. Mr. Moreno Toscano has served as the chair of the Audit Committee since July 24, 2020. Our Board of Directors has determined that each of Mr. Longnecker and Mr. Moreno Toscano is an “audit committee financial expert” as that term is defined by applicable SEC rules, and that each qualifies as a financially sophisticated audit committee member under the listing standards of The Nasdaq Capital Market. In determining that (i) each of our Audit Committee members satisfies the financial literacy requirements for audit committee members and (ii) each of our audit committee financial experts satisfies the financial sophistication requirements under applicable Nasdaq listing standards and SEC rules, our Board of Directors made a qualitative assessment of each of Mr. Longnecker’s, Mr. Moreno Toscano’s and Mr. Wilson’s level of knowledge and experience based on a number of factors, including each of their formal educations, experience in finance and other areas and business acumen. The Board of Directors has adopted a written Charter of the Audit Committee that is available to stockholders on our website at www.genprex.com/investors/corporate-governance. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this proxy statement or our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. The Audit Committee met six times during the year ended December 31, 2025.
The responsibilities of our Audit Committee include:
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appointing, approving the compensation of, and assessing the independence of our registered public accounting firm; |
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overseeing the work of our registered public accounting firm, including through the receipt and consideration of reports from such firm; |
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reviewing and discussing with management and the registered public accounting firm our annual and quarterly financial statements and related disclosure; |
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monitoring our internal control over financial reporting, disclosure controls and procedures and code of business conduct and ethics; |
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discussing our risk management policies; |
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oversight of our cybersecurity risk management program, as delegated by our Board of Directors; |
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reviewing and approving or ratifying any related person transactions; and |
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preparing the Audit Committee report required by SEC rules. |
Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
The following Audit Committee Report shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material,” deemed “filed” with the SEC or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of the Company’s previous filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act that might incorporate by reference future filings, including this proxy statement, in whole or in part, the following Audit Committee Report shall not be incorporated by reference into any such filings.
The Audit Committee is comprised of three independent directors (as defined under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2)).
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, with management of the Company. The Audit Committee has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) and the SEC. The Audit Committee has also received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the accounting firm’s independence. Based on the foregoing, the Audit Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, for the filing with the SEC.
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The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Genprex, Inc.
Jose Antonio Moreno Toscano, Chair Brent M. Longnecker William R. Wilson, Jr.
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Compensation Committee
Our Compensation Committee currently consists of Brent M. Longnecker, Jose Antonio Moreno Toscano and William R. Wilson, Jr., each of whom is “independent” as that term is defined under applicable SEC rules and Nasdaq listing standards. Mr. Longnecker has served as the chair of our Compensation Committee since July 24, 2020. The Board of Directors has adopted a written Charter of the Compensation Committee that is available to stockholders on our website at www.genprex.com/investors/corporate-governance. The Compensation Committee met four times during the year ended December 31, 2025.
The responsibilities of our Compensation Committee include:
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reviewing and approving (or, if it deems appropriate, making recommendations to our Board of Directors regarding) corporate performance goals and objectives, which shall support and reinforce our Company’s long-term strategic goals, relevant to our compensation plans and programs; |
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evaluating (including, if it deems appropriate, with the input of some or all of the other members of our Board of Directors) risks associated with and potential consequences of our compensation policies and practices; |
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reviewing and approving, or recommending that our Board approve, the compensation of our chief executive officer and our other executive officers; |
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overseeing and administering our Compensation Recovery Policy; |
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reviewing and recommending to our Board the compensation of our directors; |
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selecting independent compensation consultants and advisers and assessing whether there are any conflicts of interest with any of the Compensation Committee’s compensation advisers; and |
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reviewing and approving, or recommending that our Board of Directors approve, incentive compensation and equity plans. |
Compensation Committee Processes and Procedures
The Compensation Committee discusses and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors for annual compensation adjustments, annual bonuses, annual equity awards, and performance goals and objectives for our executive officers. For executives other than the Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee solicits and considers evaluations and recommendations submitted to the Compensation Committee by the Chief Executive Officer. In the case of the Chief Executive Officer, the evaluation of his performance is conducted by the Compensation Committee, which makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding any adjustments to his compensation as well as awards to be granted. The Chief Executive Officer does not participate in, and is not present during, any deliberations or determinations of the Compensation Committee regarding his compensation or individual performance objectives. For all compensation matters, the Compensation Committee may review and consider, as appropriate, materials such as financial reports and projections, operational data, executive and director stock ownership information, company stock performance data, analyses of historical executive compensation levels and current Company-wide compensation levels, compensation data from comparative companies, compensation surveys, and recommendations of any compensation consultant, if applicable.
In addition, under its Charter, the Compensation Committee has the authority (i) to obtain, at the expense of the Company, advice and assistance from, and shall have sole authority to retain and terminate, any external legal, accounting or other advisers and consultants, including any compensation consultant, to assist in the evaluation of director, chief executive officer or senior executive compensation (each an “Advisor”); (ii) appoint, compensate and oversee the work of any such Advisor, and such Advisor shall report directly, and be accountable, to the Compensation Committee; and (iii) form and delegate authority to subcommittees as appropriate, including, but not limited to, a subcommittee composed of one or more members of the Board of Directors to grant stock awards under the Company’s equity incentive plans to persons who are not (a) “Covered Employees” under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the “Code”); (b) individuals with respect to whom the Company wishes to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code or (c) then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. The Compensation Committee is required to evaluate the independence of any compensation consultant it engages based on the six factors for assessing independence and identifying potential conflicts of interest that are set forth in Exchange Act Rule 10C-1(b)(4), Rule 5605(d)(3)(D) of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules, and such other factors as are deemed relevant under the circumstances.
In 2025, after taking into account the six factors prescribed by the SEC and Nasdaq, the Compensation Committee engaged Aon Radford as an independent compensation consultant. Aon Radford was retained to provide various compensation consulting services, including access to benchmarking databases to assist with the assessment of the Company’s executive and director compensation programs in comparison to executive and director compensation programs at selected publicly-traded peer companies. In 2026, after taking into account the six factors prescribed by the SEC and Nasdaq, the Compensation Committee engaged Pearl Meyer as an independent compensation consultant. Pearl Meyer was retained to assist with the assessment of the Company’s executive and director compensation programs in comparison to executive and director compensation programs at selected publicly-traded peer companies.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee currently consists of Brent M. Longnecker, Jose Antonio Moreno Toscano and William R. Wilson, Jr., each of whom is “independent” as that term is defined under applicable SEC rules and Nasdaq listing standards. Mr. Longnecker has served as the chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee since July 24, 2020. The Board of Directors has adopted a written Charter of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee that is available to stockholders on our website at www.genprex.com/investors/corporate-governance. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met two times during the year ended December 31, 2025.
The responsibilities of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee include:
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identifying individuals qualified to become members of our Board of Directors; |
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recommending to our Board of Directors the persons to be nominated for election as directors and for appointment to each of the Board of Directors’ committees; |
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reviewing and making recommendations to our Board of Directors with respect to management succession planning; |
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developing and recommending to our Board of Directors corporate governance principles; and |
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overseeing a periodic evaluation of our Board of Directors. |
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not set specific criteria for directors, but seeks individuals who have the ability to read and understand basic financial statements, the highest personal integrity and ethics, relevant expertise upon which to be able to offer advice and guidance to management, sufficient time to devote to the affairs of the Company, the ability to exercise sound business judgment and the commitment to rigorously represent the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may modify these qualifications from time to time. Candidates for director nominees are reviewed in the context of the current composition of the Board of Directors, the operating requirements of the Company and the long-term interests of stockholders. In conducting this assessment, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers expertise, integrity, commitment, judgment, diversity, age, skills and such other factors as it deems appropriate to maintain a balance of knowledge, experience and capability.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider director candidates recommended by stockholders. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not intend to alter the manner in which it evaluates candidates based on whether or not the candidate was recommended by a stockholder. Stockholders who wish to recommend individuals for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to become nominees for election to the Board of Directors may do so by delivering a written recommendation to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee at the following address: c/o Genprex, Inc., 3300 Bee Cave Road, #650-227, Austin, TX 78746, Attn: Secretary, in accordance with the timeline set forth and other applicable requirements referenced in the section captioned “Stockholder Proposals” below.
STOCKHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors has adopted a formal process by which stockholders may communicate with the Board of Directors or any of its directors. Stockholders who wish to communicate with the Board of Directors may do so by sending written communications addressed to the Secretary of Genprex, Inc., 3300 Bee Cave Road, #650-227, Austin, TX 78746. These communications will be reviewed by the Secretary of Genprex or other appropriate designee, who will determine whether the communication is appropriate for presentation to the Board of Directors or the relevant director. The purpose of this screening is to allow the Board of Directors to avoid having to consider irrelevant or inappropriate communications (such as advertisements, solicitations and hostile communications).
ETHICS CODE
We have adopted a written Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, or Ethics Code, that applies to all of our officers, directors and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. A current copy of our Ethics Code is available on our website at www.genprex.com/investors/corporate-governance. We may satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding a substantive amendment to, or a waiver from, a provision of our Ethics Code that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions and that relates to any element of the code of ethics definition enumerated in paragraph (b) of Item 406 of the SEC’s Regulation S-K, by posting such information on our website, www.genprex.com, or by filing a Form 8-K.
INSIDER TRADING POLICY
Our Company
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Ryan M. Confer, 44, has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our Board of Directors since May 8, 2024 and as our Chief Financial Officer since September 2016. For Mr. Confer’s biography, please see the section above entitled “Nominees for Election for A Three-Year Term Expiring at the 2029 Annual Meeting.”
Mark S. Berger, M.D., 71, has served as our Chief Medical Officer since September 27, 2021. In this role, Dr. Berger serves as a member of our executive leadership team and oversees our pipeline of clinical development programs. Previously, Dr. Berger served as Chief Medical Officer of Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, from January 2017 to September 2021. Prior to joining Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Dr. Berger served as Senior Vice President of Clinical Research at Kadmon Corporation, from September 2013 to January 2017. Dr. Berger has also served in various other capacities including Chief Medical Officer of Deciphera Pharmaceuticals; Vice President of Clinical Development of Gemin X Pharmaceuticals; Group Director of GlaxoSmithKline; and Senior Director of Wyeth Research. Dr. Berger holds a B.A. in Biology from Wesleyan University and an M.D. from the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He completed his Hematology/Oncology fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was an Assistant Professor of Medicine, and also served as a Research Fellow at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, both in London. Dr. Berger is board certified in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships between any of our directors or executive officers.
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
To our knowledge, none of our directors or executive officers have, during the past ten years, been involved in any legal proceedings described in subparagraph (f) of Item 401 of Regulation S-K.
Arrangements between Officers and Directors
To our knowledge, there is no arrangement or understanding between any of our executive officers or any of our directors, and any other person, pursuant to which the executive officer or director was selected to serve as an executive officer or director.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF
CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information available to us with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of April 15, 2026 (unless otherwise noted) by:
|
● |
each person, or group of affiliated persons, known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock; |
|
● |
each of our directors (including nominees for director); |
|
● |
each of our Named Executive Officers; and |
|
● |
all of our current executive officers and directors as a group. |
The table lists applicable percentage ownership based on 9,205,437 shares of common stock outstanding as of April 15, 2026. Options and warrants to purchase shares of our common stock that are exercisable as of April 15, 2026, or within 60 days of April 15, 2026, and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) that are vested as of April 15, 2026, or within 60 days of April 15, 2026 (unless otherwise noted), are deemed to be beneficially owned by the persons holding these options for the purpose of computing percentage ownership of that person, but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing any other person’s ownership percentage.
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Except as noted by footnote, and subject to community property laws where applicable, we believe, based on the information provided to us, that the persons and entities named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by them.
Except as otherwise noted below, the address for each person or entity listed in the table is c/o Genprex, Inc., 3300 Bee Cave Road, #650-227, Austin, TX 78746.
|
Name of Beneficial Owner |
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned |
Percent of Class |
||||||
|
Directors (including Nominees) and Named Executive Officers |
||||||||
|
Ryan M. Confer |
14,660 | (1) | * | |||||
|
Brent M. Longnecker |
244 | (2) | * | |||||
|
Jose Antonio Moreno Toscano |
244 | (3) | * | |||||
|
William R. Wilson, Jr. |
244 | (4) | * | |||||
|
Mark S. Berger |
7,767 | (5) | * | |||||
|
All current executive officers and directors as a group (5 persons) |
23,159 |
(6) |
* |
|||||
|
* |
Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%. |
|
(1) |
Represents (i) 13,831 shares of common stock held by Ryan M. Confer and (ii) 829 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. |
|
(2) |
Represents (i) 157 shares of common stock held by Brent M. Longnecker, and (iii) 87 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. |
|
|
|
||
|
(3) |
Represents (i) 157 shares of common stock held by Jose Antonio Moreno Toscano, and (ii) 87 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. |
|
(4) |
Represents (i) 157 shares of common stock held by William R. Wilson, Jr., and (ii) 87 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. |
|
(5) |
Represents (i) 7,442 shares of common stock held by Mark S. Berger and (ii) 325 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. |
|
(6) |
Represents (i) an aggregate of 21,744 shares of common stock, and (ii) an aggregate of 1,415 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options, in each case held by our current executive officers and directors. |
EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
The following is a discussion of compensation arrangements of our named executive officers (the “Named Executive Officers”). As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to include a Compensation Discussion and Analysis section and have elected to comply with the scaled disclosure requirements applicable to smaller reporting companies.
For smaller reporting companies, compensation disclosure is required for the group of Named Executive Officers defined to consist of: (i) our principal executive officer, (ii) our two most highly compensated executive officers, other than the principal executive officer, whose total compensation for 2025 exceeded $100,000 and who were serving as executive officers as of December 31, 2025, and (iii) up to two additional individuals for whom disclosure would have been provided pursuant to the foregoing clause (ii) but for the fact that the individual was not serving as an executive officer as of December 31, 2025. Our Named Executive Officers for the year ended December 31, 2025 are:
|
(i) |
Ryan M. Confer (our President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer, who additionally serves as a member of our Board of Directors); and |
|
(ii) |
Mark S. Berger (our Chief Medical Officer). |
Summary Compensation Table
|
Name and Principal Position |
Year |
Salary ($) |
Bonus ($) |
Stock |
All Other |
Total ($) |
|||||||||||||||
|
Ryan M. Confer(1) |
2025 |
$ | 480,000 | $ | 96,000 | $ | 90,450 | $ | 62,421 | $ | 728,871 | ||||||||||
|
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer |
2024 |
$ | 462,468 | $ | — | $ | 31,725 | $ | 47,374 | $ | 541,567 | ||||||||||
|
Mark S. Berger |
2025 |
$ | 486,500 | $ | 97,300 | $ | 57,285 | $ | 47,519 | $ | 688,604 | ||||||||||
|
Chief Medical Officer |
2024 |
$ | 486,500 | $ | — | $ | 19,710 | $ | 45,505 | $ | 551,715 | ||||||||||
|
(1) |
Mr. Confer served as our Chief Financial Officer since September 2016. On May 8, 2024, Mr. Confer was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer (and additionally appointed to our Board of Directors), and since May 8, 2024 has served as our President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (and as a director). |
|
|
|
|
(2) |
In accordance with SEC rules, this column reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of the RSUs and/or stock option awards granted during 2025 and 2024, respectively. These amounts have been computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are described in Note 4 to our financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. These amounts do not reflect the actual economic value that will be realized by the Named Executive Officer upon the vesting of the stock options or RSUs, the exercise of the stock options, or the sale of the common stock underlying such stock options and/or RSUs. |
|
|
|
|
(3) |
This column reflects medical and term life insurance premiums paid by us on behalf of each of the Named Executive Officers. The insurance benefits are provided to the Named Executive Officers on the same terms as provided to all of our regular full-time employees. This column also reflects Company matching contributions under the 401(k) plan, educational and certification training programs, and certain home office allowances, including internet/IT and/or home office furniture and equipment stipends. For more information regarding these benefits, see below under “—Perquisites, Health, Welfare and Retirement Benefits.” |
Equity-Based Incentive Awards
Our equity-based incentive awards are designed to align our interests and those of our stockholders with those of our employees and consultants, including our Named Executive Officers. The Board of Directors is responsible for approving equity grants. RSUs were the form of equity award we granted to our Named Executive Officers in 2025 and 2024. In connection with his commencement of employment, Dr. Berger received an inducement option award in September 2021. Historically, stock options were the only form of equity award we granted to our employees, Board of Directors and/or consultants but in February 2023, the Board of Directors approved the recommendation of the Compensation Committee and its third-party compensation consultant to authorize and approve RSUs grants as another form of equity award to be granted to employees, including our Named Executive Officers.
As described above, prior to 2023 we have historically used stock options as an incentive for long-term compensation to our Named Executive Officers. The award recipient is able to profit from a stock option grant only if our stock price increases relative to the stock option’s exercise price, which exercise price is set at no less than the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. In addition, commencing in 2023, we began granting RSU awards that vest over time. The value of these awards depends entirely on the value of our common stock. RSU ownership, together with the shares of our common stock that our Named Executive Officers otherwise own as reflected elsewhere in this proxy statement, incentivize them to build long-term value for the benefit of our stockholders. We may grant equity awards at such times as our Board of Directors determines appropriate. Our executives generally are awarded an initial grant in the form of a stock option in connection with their commencement of employment with us. Additional grants of RSUs and/or stock options may be made periodically in order to specifically incentivize executives with respect to achieving certain corporate goals or to reward executives for exceptional performance.
Prior to the initial public offering of our common stock, we granted all stock options pursuant to our 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2009 Plan”). Following our initial public offering, we have granted and will grant equity incentive awards under the terms of our 2018 Plan, as may be amended or restated from time to time, including pursuant to the Incentive Plan Proposal described herein. All options are granted with an exercise price per share that is no less than the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant of such award. Our stock option awards generally vest over a three-year period and may be subject to acceleration of vesting and exercisability under certain termination and change in control events. See “—Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End.”
On February 18, 2023 (the “2023 Grant Date”), the Board of Directors granted (i) 6,125 RSUs to Mr. Confer and (ii) 6,125 RSUs to Dr. Berger. Each of these RSU grants were pursuant to the 2018 Plan. One half (50%) of the RSUs granted to each of Mr. Confer and Dr. Berger vested on February 18, 2024, the first anniversary of the 2023 Grant Date, and the remaining one half (50%) of the RSUs vested on February 18, 2025, the second anniversary of the 2023 Grant Date. On December 5, 2024, the Board of Directors granted (i) 588 RSUs to Mr. Confer and (ii) 365 RSUs to Dr. Berger. Each of these RSU grants were pursuant to the 2018 Plan. One hundred percent (100%) of these RSUs granted to each of Mr. Confer and Dr. Berger vested on June 30, 2025. On December 22, 2025, the Board of Directors granted: (i) 45,000 RSUs to Mr. Confer and (ii) 28,500 RSUs to Dr. Berger. Each of these RSU grants were pursuant to the 2018 Plan. One half (50%) of the RSUs granted to each of Mr. Confer and Dr. Berger vested on February 27, 2026 and the remaining one half (50%) of the RSUs will vest on February 27, 2027, provided that Mr. Confer and Dr. Berger continue to serve as Service Providers (as defined in the 2018 Plan) through the vesting date. Vested RSUs are paid in shares of the Company’s common stock on a one-to-one basis.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table provides certain information with respect to all of the Company’s equity compensation plans in effect as of December 31, 2025:
|
Equity Compensation Plan Information |
||||||||||||
|
Plan Category |
Number of securities exercise of warrants, (a) |
Weighted- average of options, |
Number of securities available under compensation reflected |
|||||||||
|
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders: |
89,844 (3) | $ | 6,699.09 (4) | 1,663 | ||||||||
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders (5): |
1,565 | $ | 6,889.98 | - | ||||||||
|
Total |
91,409 | 1,663 | ||||||||||
| (1) | Includes the 2018 Plan, the 2009 Plan and our 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”). An aggregate of 105 shares under column (c) have been reserved for issuance under the ESPP as of December 31, 2025; however, while the ESPP has been approved by our Board of Directors and stockholders, the ESPP has not yet been utilized as a benefit available to the Company’s employees and the Company has not conducted any offerings under the ESPP to date and does not intend to do so until approved by our Board of Directors. Does not include 1,850,000 additional shares of common stock that may be available under the 2018 Plan if stockholders approve the Incentive Plan Proposal. |
| (2) | In accordance with the “evergreen” provision of the 2018 Plan, the number of shares of common stock available for grant and issuance under the 2018 Plan is subject to an automatic annual increase on the first day of each fiscal year by an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 5% of the outstanding shares of common stock on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year or (ii) a lower amount determined by our Board. The amounts reported in column (c) above exclude the additional 164,574 shares of common stock made available for grant and issuance under the 2018 Plan on January 1, 2026 pursuant to the evergreen provision of the 2018 Plan, as these shares were not available for issuance under the 2018 Plan at the year-end 2025 reporting date, and became available under the 2018 Plan on the first day of 2026. |
| (3) | Includes 85,179 shares of common stock reserved for issuance underlying unvested RSUs granted under our 2018 Plan. Vested RSUs are paid in shares of the Company’s common stock on a one-to-one basis. |
|
(4) |
Does not include outstanding RSUs, which have no exercise price. |
|
(5) |
Consists of inducement options issued in connection with the hiring of new executives and warrants issued to providers of consulting services to us. Pursuant to these agreements, we are obligated to issue to these providers of consulting services additional shares of our common stock, as follows: 5,000 shares per calendar quarter to one provider. |
Agreements with Named Executive Officers
Employment Agreement with Ryan M. Confer
Mr. Confer served as our Chief Financial Officer since September 2016. On May 8, 2024, Mr. Confer was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer, and to our Board of Directors, and since May 8, 2024 has served as our President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and as a member of our Board of Directors.
In April 2018, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Confer, then our Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Confer’s employment under the agreement is at will and may be terminated at any time by us or by him. Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Confer was initially entitled to receive an annual base salary of $240,000. The agreement provides that the Company may pay Mr. Confer a bonus and provides that the Company may grant to Mr. Confer options to purchase shares of our common stock.
The agreement provides that during the term of Mr. Confer’s employment with us and for one year after the termination of his employment, Mr. Confer will not encourage any of our employees or consultants to leave the Company and will not compete or assist others to compete with us.
Pursuant to the April 2018 employment agreement (subject to certain amendments in 2024 as described below), if we terminate Mr. Confer’s employment without cause or if Mr. Confer resigns for good reason, and Mr. Confer delivers to us a signed settlement agreement and general release of claims, we are obligated to pay Mr. Confer: (i) a severance payment equal to 12 months of Mr. Confer’ base salary then in effect; (ii) a payment equal to Mr. Confer’s then applicable annual target bonus, calculated at full attainment; (iii) reimbursement of COBRA premium payments made by Mr. Confer for the 12 months following such termination; and (iv) acceleration as to 100% of Mr. Confer’s unvested equity awards from us, subject in the case of (i) and (ii) to our having at least $5 million in cash or cash equivalents and a net worth of at least $5 million on the date of termination.
For the purposes of Mr. Confer’s employment agreement, “cause” means the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) a determination by our Board of Directors that Mr. Confer’s performance is unsatisfactory after there has been delivered to him a written demand for performance which describes the specific deficiencies in his performance and the specific manner in which his performance must be improved, and which provides 30 business days from the date of notice to remedy such performance deficiencies; (ii) Mr. Confer’s conviction of or plea of nolo contendere to a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude which our Board of Directors reasonably finds has had or will have a detrimental effect on our reputation or business; (iii) Mr. Confer’s engaging in an act of gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of his employment obligations and duties that materially harms us; (iv) Mr. Confer’s committing an act of fraud against, material misconduct or willful misappropriation of property belonging to us; or (v) Mr. Confer’s material breach of his confidentiality, invention assignment and noncompetition agreement with us or of any other unauthorized misuse of our trade secrets or proprietary information.
For purposes of Mr. Confer’s employment agreement, “good reason” means the occurrence of any of the following taken without Mr. Confer’s written consent and conditioned on (a) his providing us with notice of the basis for such resignation for good reason, (b) our failure to cure the event constituting good reason within 30 days after notice and (c) his termination of his employment within 30 days following the expiration of the cure period: (i) a material change in Mr. Confer’s position, titles, offices or duties; (ii) an assignment of any significant duties to Mr. Confer that are inconsistent with his positions or offices held under his employment agreement; (iii) a decrease in Mr. Confer’s then current annual base salary by more than 10% (other than in connection with a general decrease in the salary of all of our other similarly situated employees); or (iv) the relocation of Mr. Confer to a facility or a location more than 50 miles from his then current location.
On June 24, 2024 and effective as of May 8, 2024, the Company and Mr. Confer entered into an amendment to Mr. Confer’s employment agreement pursuant to which (i) Mr. Confer’s title change to President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer was confirmed, (ii) his base salary was increased to $480,000 per year, and (iii) the reference periods utilized for determining the amount of certain severance payments due upon a separation of service without Cause or for Good Reason prior to a Change in Control (as such terms are defined in Mr. Confer’s employment agreement), were changed from twelve months to eighteen months in length. In March 2026, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, our Board of Directors approved (i) an increase in Mr. Confer’s annual base salary to $552,500, effective retroactively to January 1, 2026, and (ii) Mr. Confer’s eligibility for a discretionary bonus for 2026 at a target level of 55% of base salary, subject to the satisfaction of certain subjective and/or objective criteria as recommended by the Compensation Committee to our Board of Directors.
Offer Letter with Dr. Mark S. Berger
Dr. Berger has served as our Chief Medical Officer since September 27, 2021.
On September 9, 2021, we entered into an offer letter agreement with Dr. Berger (the “Offer Letter Agreement”). Dr. Berger’s employment under the offer letter is at will and may be terminated at any time by us or by him. Under the terms of the offer letter, Dr. Berger was initially entitled to receive an annual base salary of $450,000. Dr. Berger received a one-time sign-on bonus of $25,000 and may also be entitled to receive an annual target incentive bonus, of up to 40% of Dr. Berger’s annual base salary, based upon the achievement of objective or subjective criteria established by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and approved by our Board of Directors. In February 2023, our Board of Directors approved an increase in Dr. Berger’s annual base salary to $486,500.
If we terminate Dr. Berger’s employment without cause, and Dr. Berger returns all Company property and delivers to us a signed settlement agreement and general release of claims, we are obligated to pay Dr. Berger: (i) a severance payment equal to six months of Dr. Berger’s base salary then in effect; and (ii) continuation of group health benefits to the extent authorized by and consistent with COBRA and with the cost of the regular payment for such benefits shared in the same relative proportion by the Company and Dr. Berger for the six months following such termination (or such earlier time as Dr. Berger becomes eligible for health benefits through another employer).
For the purposes of Dr. Berger’s offer letter, “cause” means the occurrence of any of the following events by Dr. Berger: (i) unauthorized use or disclosure of the Company’s confidential information or trade secrets, which use or disclosure may cause material harm to the Company, (ii) material breach of any agreement between Dr. Berger and the Company, (iii) material failure to comply with the Company’s written policies or rules, (iv) conviction of, or plea of “guilty” or “no contest” to a felony under the laws of the United States or any State, (v) gross negligence or willful misconduct, (vi) continuing failure to perform assigned duties after receiving written notification of the failure, or (vii) failure to cooperate in good faith with a government or internal investigation of the Company or its directors, officers or employees, if the Company has requested Dr. Berger’s cooperation.
In connection with the Offer Letter Agreement, Dr. Berger and the Company also entered into the Company’s standard Confidential Information, Assignment of Inventions and Non-Compete Agreement, which prohibits Dr. Berger from (i) encouraging any of our employees or consultants to leave Genprex for twelve months after the termination of his employment, and (ii) competing or assisting others to compete against us during the term of Dr. Berger’s employment with us and for twelve months after the termination of his employment.
In March 2026, our Board of Directors approved (i) an increase in Dr. Berger’s annual base salary to $545,000, effective retroactively to January 1, 2026, and (ii) Dr. Berger’s eligibility for a discretionary bonus for 2026 at a target level of 45% of base salary, subject to the satisfaction of certain subjective and/or objective criteria as established by our Chief Executive Officer and approved by our Board of Directors.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table sets forth certain information regarding equity awards granted to our Named Executive Officers that were outstanding as of December 31, 2025.
|
Option Awards |
Stock Awards |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Name |
Number of (#) |
Number of (#) |
Option ($)(2) |
Option |
Number of shares or units of stock that have not vested |
Market value of shares of units of stock that have not vested |
Equity awards: Number of units or other rights that have not vested |
Equity incentive awards: Market or payout value of units or other rights that have not vested |
Number of shares or units of stock that have not vested |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
(a) |
(b) |
(c) |
(d) |
(e) |
(f) |
(g) |
(h) |
(i) |
(j) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ryan M. Confer |
81 | — | 1,930.00 |
4/11/2026 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 44 | — | 10,572.00 |
9/30/2026 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 164 | — | 19,600.00 |
5/21/2028 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 116 | — | 3,240.00 |
1/27/2019 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 135 | — | 7,600.00 |
8/21/2030 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 118 | — | 10,160.00 |
3/23/2031 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 171 | — | 4,400.00 |
2/3/2032 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 45,000 | (3) | $ | 78,750 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Mark S. Berger |
275 | — | 5,700.00 |
9/26/2031 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 50 | — | 4,400.00 |
2/3/2032 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28,500 | (3) | $ | 49,875 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
(1) |
All of the outstanding equity awards were granted under and subject to the terms of our 2009 Plan or our 2018 Plan, as applicable, described above under “Equity-Based Incentive Awards”. As of December 31, 2025, each option award becomes exercisable as it becomes vested, and vesting of all option and/or RSU awards are subject to the executive’s continuous service with us through the vesting dates and the potential vesting acceleration described above under “—Agreements with Named Executive Officers.” |
|
(2) |
All of the stock option awards were granted with a per share exercise price no less than the fair market value of one share of our common stock on the date of grant, as determined in good faith by our Board of Directors. |
|
(3) |
Under terms of award, the unvested RSUs vest on February 27, 2027, subject to continuous service through such date. |
Perquisites, Health, Welfare and Retirement Benefits
Our Named Executive Officers, during their employment with us, are eligible to participate in our employee benefit plans, including our medical, dental, vision, employee whole life, disability and accidental death and dismemberment insurance plans, in each case on the same basis as all of our other employees. In addition, we provide certain home office allowances for our eligible employees, including a monthly internet/IT stipend and a stipend for home office furniture or equipment. We also maintain a defined contribution employee retirement plan (the “401(k) plan”) for our eligible employees. Our Named Executive Officers are eligible to participate in the 401(k) plan on the same terms as our other employees. The 401(k) plan, which is intended to qualify as a tax-qualified plan under Section 401(k) of the Code, allows participants to defer a portion of their compensation, within limits prescribed by the Code, on a pre-tax basis. Currently, after six months of employment with the Company, participants become eligible to receive Company matching contributions under the 401(k) plan up to a specified percentage, and these matching contributions are fully vested as of the date on which the contribution is made.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
We do not maintain nonqualified defined contribution plans or other nonqualified deferred compensation plans. Our Board of Directors may elect to provide our officers and other employees with nonqualified defined contribution or other nonqualified deferred compensation benefits in the future if it determines that doing so is in our best interests.
Prohibition Against Speculative Trading
Our insider trading policy prohibits our officers, directors, other employees or consultants from engaging in short sales, transactions in put or call options, hedging transactions or other inherently speculative transactions with respect to our stock at any time. In addition, none of our executives, directors, other employees or consultants may margin, or make any offer to margin, or otherwise pledge as security, any of our stock, including without limitation, borrowing against such stock, at any time. See also the discussion set forth under the caption “Insider Trading Policy,” appearing elsewhere in this proxy statement.
Policies and Practices Related to the Grant of Certain Equity Awards Close in Time to the Release of Material Nonpublic Information
The
No stock options were issued to executive officers in 2025 during any period beginning four business days before the filing of a periodic report or current report disclosing material non-public information and ending one business day after the filing or furnishing of such report with the SEC.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth in summary form information concerning the compensation that we paid or awarded during the year ended December 31, 2025, to each of our non-employee directors:
|
Name |
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) |
Stock Awards ($)(1) |
Option Awards ($)(2) |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan |
Nonqualified Deferred |
All Other Compensation ($) |
Total ($) |
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|
Brent M. Longnecker |
70,000 | 18,090 | - | - | - | - | 88,090 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Jose Antonio Moreno Toscano |
85,000 | 18,090 | - | - | - | - | 103,090 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
William R. Wilson, Jr. |
60,000 | 18,090 | - | - | - | - | 78,090 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
(1) |
In accordance with SEC rules, this column reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of the equity awards (RSUs) granted in 2025 computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are described in Note 4 to our audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. These amounts do not reflect the actual economic value that will be realized by the non-employee director upon the vesting of the equity awards, the exercise of stock option awards (as applicable) or the sale of the common stock underlying such equity awards. |
|
(2) |
As of December 31, 2025, the aggregate number of shares outstanding under all options to purchase our common stock held by our non-employee directors were: Mr. Longnecker: 87 shares; Mr. Moreno Toscano: 87 shares; and Mr. Wilson: 87 shares and the aggregate number of shares outstanding under all unvested RSU grants held by each of our non-employee directors were 9,000 shares. |
We have reimbursed and will continue to reimburse all of our non-employee directors for their travel, lodging and other reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings of our Board of Directors and committees of our Board of Directors.
We have adopted an Amended and Restated Outside Director Compensation Policy, effective as of January 1, 2026, which provides that non-employee directors will receive the following compensation elements, as applicable, for service on our Board of Directors and its committees:
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an annual cash retainer of $50,000; |
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an additional annual cash fee of $25,000 for service as Chairman of the Board (Non-Executive); |
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an additional annual cash fee of $20,000 for service as Chair of the Audit Committee; |
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● |
an additional annual cash fee of $10,000 for service as a member of the Audit Committee (other than the Chair of the Audit Committee); |
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an additional annual cash fee of $10,000 for service as Chair of the Compensation Committee; |
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an additional annual cash fee of $5,000 for service as a member of the Compensation Committee (other than the Chair of the Compensation Committee); |
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an additional annual cash fee of $10,000 for service as Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee; |
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an additional annual cash fee of $5,000 for service as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (other than the Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee); |
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for each non-employee director who first joins our Board of Directors, an initial option grant to purchase shares of our common stock with a value of $80,000, prorated monthly for the period between the date of our last annual meeting of stockholders and the date such non-employee director first joins our Board of Directors, on the date of commencement of service on the Board of Directors; and |
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an annual grant of either stock options or RSUs, subject to the annual determination of the Board of Directors and based on recommendations and input from the Compensation Committee’s third-party compensation consultant, having a value of $80,000 for each non-employee director serving on the Board of Directors on the date of our annual stockholder meeting. |
Each annual cash retainer and each additional annual cash fee will be paid quarterly in arrears on a prorated basis.
Each initial option grant and each annual option grant will vest as to all of the shares subject to the option upon the earlier of (i) the one-year anniversary of the grant date and (ii) the day prior to the next annual stockholder meeting occurring after the grant date. Each annual RSU grant will vest upon the earlier of (i) the one-year anniversary of the grant date and (ii) the day prior to the next annual stockholder meeting occurring after the grant date. Vested RSUs are paid in shares of the Company’s common stock on a one-to-one basis.
Each of the RSU and option grants described above will vest and each option grant will become exercisable subject to the director’s continuous service to us, provided that each RSU and/or option will vest in full upon a change in control (as defined under our 2018 Plan). The term of each option will be 10 years, subject to earlier termination as provided in the 2018 Plan. The options will be granted under our 2018 Plan, the terms of which are described in more detail above under “Equity-Based Incentive Awards.”
PAY VERSUS PERFORMANCE
Pay Versus Performance Table
In accordance with rules adopted by the SEC as required by Section 953(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, we provide the following disclosure regarding executive compensation for our principal executive officer (“PEO”) and Non-PEO Named Executive Officers (“NEOs”) and Company performance for the fiscal years listed below. The Compensation Committee did not consider the pay versus performance disclosure below in making its pay decisions for any of the years shown.
|
Year |
Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO (Current) ($) (1) |
Compensation Actually Paid to PEO (Current) ($) (1) |
Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO (Former) ($) (2) |
Compensation Actually Paid to PEO (Former) ($) (2) |
Average Summary Compensation |
Average Compensation Actually Paid to |
Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on Total Stockholder Return ($) (4) |
Net Loss ($) |
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|
2025 |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ ( |
$ ( |
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|
2024 |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ ( |
$ ( |
||||||||
|
2023 |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ ( |
$ ( |
|
(1) |
Amounts represent compensation paid to |
|
(2) |
Amounts represent compensation paid to |
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(3) |
Our Non-PEO NEO for 2025 was Mark S. Berger. Dr. Berger is our Chief Medical Officer. Our Non-PEO NEOs for 2024 and 2023 were Catherine M. Vaczy and Mark S. Berger. Ms. Vaczy previously served as our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Strategy Officer until February 4, 2024, on which date Ms. Vaczy’s employment with the Company terminated. On June 21, 2024 we entered into a Separation Agreement and Release with Ms. Vaczy (the “Separation Agreement”). Amounts include amounts payable to Ms. Vaczy pursuant to the Separation Agreement. |
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(4) |
Cumulative total stockholder return (“TSR”) is calculated by dividing the sum of the cumulative amount of dividends for the measurement period, assuming dividend reinvestment, and the difference between our Company’s share price at the end and the beginning of the measurement period by our Company’s share price at the beginning of the measurement period. No dividends were paid on our common stock in 2025, 2024 or 2023. The dollar amounts reported represent the amount of net loss reflected in our consolidated audited financial statements for the applicable year. |
Amounts represent the Summary Compensation Table Total Compensation for the applicable fiscal year adjusted as follows:
| Fiscal Year (“FY”) |
2025 |
2024 |
|
2023 |
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|
PEO |
Average Non-PEO NEOs |
Current PEO |
Former PEO |
Average Non-PEO NEOs |
Former PEO |
Average Non-PEO NEOs |
|||
|
Deduction for ASC 718 Fair Value as of Grant Date Reported |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ ( |
$ ( |
||
|
Increase based on ASC 718 Fair Value of Stock Awards Granted |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
||
|
Increase based on ASC 718 Fair Value of Stock Awards Granted |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
||
|
Increase/deduction based on ASC 718 Fair Value of Outstanding Unvested |
$ |
$ |
$ ( |
$ |
$ ( |
$ ( |
$ ( |
||
|
Increase/deduction based on ASC 718 Fair Value of Prior FY Stock Awards |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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|
Total Adjustments |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ ( |
$ ( |
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Analysis of the Information Presented in the Pay Versus Performance Table
Relationship Between Financial Performance Measures
In accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, the graphs below compare the compensation actually paid to our PEO (including each of our current and former PEO, in the case of fiscal 2024), and the average of the compensation actually paid to our remaining NEOs, with (i) our TSR, and (ii) our net income (net loss), in each case, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2025. TSR amounts reported in the graph assume an initial fixed investment of $100.
A portion of our Named Executive Officers’ compensation consists of equity awards. As a result, the change between the values disclosed in our Summary Compensation Table and Compensation Actually Paid tends to be directionally aligned with changes in our TSR.
While we are required by SEC rules to disclose the relationship between our net income and Compensation Actually Paid to our Named Executive Officers, this is not a metric our Compensation Committee currently uses in evaluating our Named Executive Officers’ compensation as we are a clinical-stage gene therapy company that has not generated any revenues from the sale of products.
All information provided above under the “Pay Versus Performance” heading will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing of our company under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Other than compensation arrangements for our Named Executive Officers and directors, we describe below each transaction or series of similar transactions, since January 1, 2024, to which we were a party or will be a party, in which:
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the amounts involved exceeded or will exceed the lesser of (i) $120,000 or (ii) 1% of the average total assets of the Company at year end for the last two completed fiscal years; and |
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any of our directors, executive officers, promoters, or holders of more than 5% of our capital stock, or any member of the immediate family of the foregoing persons, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. |
Royalty Payments to Introgen Research Institute, Inc.
We have entered certain arrangements with Introgen Research Institute, Inc. (“IRI”) related to the sublicensing to us of technologies related to ONCOPREX and REQORSA. IRI is a Texas-based technology company formed by J. Rodney Varner, who prior to his passing in May 2024, was our Chief Executive Officer, President, and Chairman and who was IRI’s sole officer. IRI is owned by trusts of which Mr. Varner’s descendants are the sole beneficiaries. Pursuant to an Amended Collaboration and Assignment Agreement dated July 1, 2011 between us and IRI, we are obligated to pay IRI a royalty of 1% of net sales of licensed products and 1% of certain other payments received by us, with respect to intellectual property owned by the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (“MD Anderson”) and licensed to us by IRI. This royalty obligation continues for 21 years after the later of: (i) the termination of the Patent and Technology License Agreement dated July 20, 1994, as amended, between MD Anderson and Introgen Therapeutics, Inc., and (ii) the termination of the sublicense assigned by IRI to us.
Separation Agreement
We entered into a Separation Agreement effective as of June 21, 2024 (the “Separation Agreement”) with Catherine M. Vaczy, our former Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Strategy Officer whose employment with our Company terminated on February 4, 2024. Pursuant to the terms of the Separation Agreement, Ms. Vaczy and we agreed, among other things, that: (i) so long as Ms. Vaczy did not revoke her acceptance of the ADEA (as defined in the Separation Agreement) waiver prior to the expiration of the seven-day statutory revocation period, or June 28, 2024 (the “ADEA Revocation Date”), on the next calendar day following the ADEA Revocation Date, Ms. Vaczy’s Executive Employment Agreement with us, dated March 12, 2020, as amended by that First Amendment to the Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of March 24, 2021, and Ms. Vaczy’s Confidential Information Agreement (as defined in the Separation Agreement), and all rights and obligations of the parties thereto were terminated, except for indemnification and advancement rights and obligations, if any, and certain go forward obligations pursuant to the Confidential Information Agreement, and except for the rights and obligations of the parties as set forth in the Separation Agreement; (ii) we paid Ms. Vaczy (conditioned upon Ms. Vaczy’s having not revoked her ADEA waiver on or prior to the ADEA Revocation Date): (a) $300,000 (less applicable withholdings and deductions), in funds released on the next business day after the ADEA Revocation Date, and (b) $50,000 (less applicable withholdings and deductions) paid on or before July 1, 2024; and (iii) the vesting of equity awards previously granted to Ms. Vaczy under our 2018 Plan were accelerated, such that effective as of the next business day following the ADEA Revocation Date, an aggregate of 6,125 unvested RSUs and 4,374 unvested options previously awarded to Ms. Vaczy, were vested in full. The Separation Agreement further provides for mutual general releases and mutual non-disparagement provisions. All benefits described above were subject to required tax withholding.
Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into, and intend to continue to enter into, an indemnification agreement with each of our directors and executive officers.
Policies and Procedures for Transactions with Related Persons
Our Audit Committee oversees procedures regarding the identification, review, consideration, and oversight of “related-person transactions.” For purposes of our policy, a “related-person transaction” is a transaction, arrangement, or relationship (or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships) in which we and any “related person” are participants involving an amount that exceeds the lesser of $120,000 and 1% of the average of our total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years.
Transactions involving compensation for services provided to us as an employee, consultant or director are not considered related-person transactions under this policy. A related person is any executive officer, director, nominee to become a director or a holder of more than five percent of our common stock, including any of their immediate family members and affiliates, including entities owned or controlled by such persons.
Under the policy, where a transaction has been identified as a related-person transaction, management must present information regarding the proposed related-person transaction to our Audit Committee (or, where review by our Audit Committee would be inappropriate, to another independent body of our Board of Directors) for review. The presentation must include a description of, among other things, all the parties thereto, the direct and indirect interests of the related persons, the purpose of the transaction, the material facts, the benefits of the transaction to us and whether any alternative transactions are available, an assessment of whether the terms are comparable to the terms available from unrelated third parties and management’s recommendation. To identify related-person transactions in advance, we rely on information supplied by our executive officers, directors and certain significant stockholders. In considering related-person transactions, our Audit Committee or another independent body of our Board of Directors considers the relevant available facts and circumstances including, but not limited to:
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the risks, costs and benefits to us; |
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the impact on a director’s independence in the event the related person is a director, immediate family member of a director or an entity with which a director is affiliated; |
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the terms of the transaction; |
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the availability of other sources for comparable services or products; and |
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the terms available to or from, as the case may be, unrelated third parties. |
In the event a director has an interest in the proposed transaction, the director must recuse himself or herself from the deliberations and approval.
PROPOSAL 2
RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee has selected WithumSmith+Brown, PC (“Withum”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, and has further directed that management submit the selection of its independent registered public accounting firm for ratification by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting. Withum has audited our financial statements since 2023. Representatives of Withum will be present at the Annual Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.
Neither our Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended, nor other governing documents or law require stockholder ratification of the selection of Withum as our independent registered public accounting firm. However, the Audit Committee is submitting the selection of Withum to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the stockholders fail to ratify the selection, the Audit Committee values the opinion of our stockholders and will reconsider whether or not to retain that firm, taking the results of the stockholder vote into consideration. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may direct the appointment of different independent auditors at any time during the year if they determine that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes properly cast on this Auditor Ratification Proposal will be required to approve this Auditor Ratification Proposal and thereby ratify the selection of Withum.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The following table sets forth the fees billed and billable by Withum, our principal accountant, for audit, audit-related, tax and all other services rendered for 2025 and 2024:
|
Fee Category |
2025 |
2024 |
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|
Audit Fees |
$ | 406,500 | $ | 300,702 | ||||
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Audit-Related Fees |
- | - | ||||||
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Tax Fees |
23,608 | 26,951 | ||||||
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All Other Fees |
- | - | ||||||
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Total Fees |
$ | 430,108 | $ | 327,653 | ||||
Audit Fees. Audit fees consist of fees billed for the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements and the review of the interim consolidated financial statements, and accounting services that are provided in connection with registration statements, including the registration statements for our registered direct offerings.
Audit-Related Fees. For the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company was not billed by Withum for any audit-related services (defined as services which are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and are not reported under the caption “Audit Fees” above).
Tax Fees. Tax fees consist of aggregate fees for tax compliance and tax advice, including the review and preparation of our income tax returns for various jurisdictions.
All Other Fees. Other fees consist of fees billed for products and services provided other than the services reported in the categories above.
The Audit Committee pre-approved all services performed.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee has adopted a policy for the pre-approval of audit and non-audit services rendered by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, Withum. The policy generally pre-approves specified services in the defined categories of audit services, audit-related services, and tax services up to specified amounts. Pre-approval may also be given as part of the Audit Committee’s approval of the scope of the engagement of the independent auditor or on an individual, explicit, case-by-case basis before the independent auditor is engaged to provide each service.
The pre-approval of services may be delegated to one or more of the Audit Committee’s members, but the decision must be reported to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
The Audit Committee has determined that the rendering of services other than audit services by Withum is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF WITHUMSMITH+BROWN, PC AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2026.
PROPOSAL 3
ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The Board of Directors has approved the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as described in this proxy statement under “Executive Officer Compensation” pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K. The Board and the Compensation Committee believe that our Company’s compensation policies and practices are effective in achieving our goals of motivating our executive officers to further the Company’s long-term strategic plans, enhancing long-term stockholder value and attracting and retaining the highest quality executive and key employee talent available.
In accordance with applicable federal securities laws including Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, we are asking stockholders to vote, on an advisory basis, on the approval of the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as disclosed in this proxy statement. This vote, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal, gives you the opportunity to express your views on our Named Executive Officers’ compensation. At our 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, we conducted a non-binding stockholder vote on the frequency of future say-on-pay votes. We recommended that such votes be conducted annually and our stockholders approved that recommendation. Our Board of Directors has decided, consistent with the vote of our stockholders at our 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, to hold this non-binding say-on-pay vote on an annual basis. As such, we are presenting this non-binding Say-on-Pay Proposal at the Annual Meeting, and intend to again present a non-binding say-on-pay vote at our 2027 annual meeting of stockholders.
Because your vote on this Say-on-Pay Proposal is advisory, it will not be binding upon the Compensation Committee or the Board. However, the Board and the Compensation Committee will review and consider the results of this vote when making future executive compensation decisions.
The Say-on-Pay Proposal is as follows: The Board of Directors believes that the compensation of our Named Executive Officers is appropriate, and recommends a vote “FOR” the following advisory resolution:
“RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s Named Executive Officers, as disclosed in the Company’s proxy statement for the 2026 Annual Meeting, including the various compensation tables and the related narrative disclosures, is hereby approved.”
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes properly cast on this Say-on-Pay Proposal will be required to approve this Say-on-Pay Proposal and thereby approve the foregoing advisory resolution.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THIS SAY-ON-PAY PROPOSAL.
PROPOSAL 4
APPROVAL OF THE COMPANY’S AMENDED AND RESTATED 2018 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
Introduction
On April 15, 2026, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, our Board of Directors, subject to the approval of our stockholders, amended and restated our 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, as previously amended and restated effective June 30, 2025 (the “2018 Plan”) primarily to increase the number of shares of our Common Stock authorized for issuance under the 2018 Plan by an additional 1,850,000 (subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends and similar events). The 2018 Plan as so amended and restated is referred to as the “Amended Equity Plan”.
As of April 15, 2026, there were 187,724 shares available for issuance for future grants under the 2018 Plan. If the Amended Equity Plan is approved by our stockholders, there will be an additional 1,850,000 shares available for issuance of awards, increasing the total number of shares reserved under the Amended Equity Plan to 2,163,978 (which includes the number of shares reserved under the 2018 Plan and all “evergreen” share increases as described below through January 1, 2026).
Our Compensation Committee and our Board of Directors believe that it is critical for us to continue to have the ability to offer competitive equity compensation awards to attract, retain and motivate the members of our management team and other key employees and service providers upon whom the Company’s success depends.
Our Board of Directors seeks stockholder approval of the Amended Equity Plan in order to satisfy certain legal requirements, including requirements of Nasdaq Capital Market, and to make awards under it eligible for beneficial tax treatment. In addition, our Board of Directors regards stockholder approval of the Amended Equity Plan as desirable and consistent with good corporate governance practices.
Description of the Amended Equity Plan
The following description of the principal terms of the Amended Equity Plan is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Amended Equity Plan, which is attached as Appendix A hereto. For avoidance of doubt, all share numbers and related data in this proxy statement, including in this Incentive Plan Proposal and in the copy of the Amended Equity Plan attached as Appendix A hereto, have been appropriately adjusted to give effect as applicable to our one-for-forty (1:40) and one-for-fifty (1:50) reverse stock splits of our common stock implemented on February 2, 2024 and October 21, 2025, respectively.
Stock Awards. The Amended Equity Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options (or ISOs), nonstatutory stock options (or NSOs), stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, performance based stock awards, and other forms of equity compensation, which we refer to collectively as stock awards. Additionally, the Amended Equity Plan provides for the grant of performance cash awards. ISOs may be granted only to employees. All other awards may be granted to employees, including officers, and to non-employee directors and consultants of us and our affiliates. As of April 15, 2026, our Company and its subsidiaries had a total of 13 employees, including 2 executive officers, and had 3 non-employee directors and 10 consultants.
Share Reserve. If the Amended Equity Plan is approved by our stockholders, there will be an additional 1,850,000 shares available for issuance of awards, increasing the aggregate number of shares of our common stock that may be issued pursuant to stock awards under the Amended Equity Plan to 2,163,978 shares (which includes the number of shares reserved under the 2018 Plan and all “evergreen” increases as described below through January 1, 2026), plus, as with the 2018 Plan, that number of shares subject to outstanding awards granted under the Genprex, Inc. 2009 Stock Plan (up to a maximum of 1,314 shares) that expire or are forfeited, or tendered to or withheld by the Company for payment of an exercise price or for tax withholding (the sum of these comprise the “Plan Reserve”). Like the 2018 Plan, the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under our Amended Equity Plan will automatically increase on January 1 of each year by 5% of the total number of shares of our capital stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding calendar year, or a lesser number of shares determined by our Board of Directors (we refer to these automatic increases as “evergreen” shares). The maximum number of shares that may be issued upon the exercise of ISOs under our Amended Equity Plan is equal to 200% of the Plan Reserve.
As of April 24, 2026, the record date for the Annual Meeting, the closing price of our common stock was $1.02 per share.
The maximum number of shares of our common stock subject to stock awards granted under the Amended Equity Plan during any one calendar year to any non-employee director will not exceed $1,000,000 in total value, or, with respect to the calendar year in which a non-employee director is first appointed or elected to our Board of Directors, $2,000,000.
If a stock award granted under the Amended Equity Plan expires or otherwise terminates for any reason prior to exercise or settlement, the shares of our common stock not acquired pursuant to the stock award again will become available for new awards under the Amended Equity Plan. In addition, the following types of shares under the Amended Equity Plan may become available for the grant of new awards under the Amended Equity Plan: (1) shares that are forfeited to or repurchased by us prior to becoming fully vested; (2) shares withheld to satisfy income or employment withholding taxes; and (3) shares used to pay the exercise or purchase price of a stock award. Shares issued under the Amended Equity Plan may be previously unissued shares or reacquired shares bought by us on the open market.
Administration. Our Board of Directors, or a duly authorized committee thereof, has the authority to administer the Amended Equity Plan. Our Board of Directors may also delegate to one or more of our officers the authority to (1) designate employees (other than officers) to be recipients of certain stock awards, and (2) determine the number of shares of common stock to be subject to such stock awards. Subject to the terms of the Amended Equity Plan, our Board of Directors or the authorized committee, referred to herein as the plan administrator, determines recipients, dates of grant, the numbers and types of stock awards to be granted and the terms and conditions of the stock awards, including the period of their exercisability and vesting schedule applicable to a stock award. Subject to the limitations set forth below, the plan administrator will also determine the exercise price, strike price or purchase price of awards granted and the types of consideration to be paid for the award.
The plan administrator has the authority to modify outstanding awards under our Amended Equity Plan. Subject to the terms of our Amended Equity Plan, the plan administrator has the authority (as it did under the 2018 Plan) to reduce the exercise, purchase or strike price of any outstanding stock award, cancel any outstanding stock award in exchange for new stock awards, cash or other consideration, or take any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles, with the consent of any adversely affected participant.
Stock Options. ISOs and NSOs are granted pursuant to stock option agreements approved by the plan administrator. The plan administrator determines the exercise price for a stock option, within the terms and conditions of the Amended Equity Plan, provided that the exercise price of a stock option generally cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. Options granted under the Amended Equity Plan vest at the rate specified by the plan administrator.
The plan administrator determines the term of stock options granted under the Amended Equity Plan, up to a maximum of 10 years. Unless the terms of an optionholder’s stock option agreement provide otherwise, if an optionholder’s service relationship with us, or any of our affiliates, ceases for any reason other than disability, death or cause, the optionholder may generally exercise any vested options for a period of three months following the cessation of service. The option term may be extended in the event that exercise of the option following such a termination of service is prohibited by applicable securities laws or our insider trading policy. If an optionholder’s service relationship with us or any of our affiliates ceases due to disability or death, or an optionholder dies within a certain period following cessation of service, the optionholder or a beneficiary may generally exercise any vested options for a period of 12 months in the event of disability and 18 months in the event of death. In the event of a termination for cause, all options generally terminate immediately upon the termination of the individual for cause. In no event may an option be exercised beyond the expiration of its term.
Acceptable consideration for the purchase of common stock issued upon the exercise of a stock option will be determined by the plan administrator and may include (1) cash, check, bank draft or money order, (2) a broker-assisted cashless exercise, (3) the tender of shares of our common stock previously owned by the optionholder, (4) a net exercise of the option if it is an NSO, and (5) other legal consideration approved by the plan administrator.
Unless the plan administrator provides otherwise, options generally are not transferable except by will, the laws of descent and distribution, or pursuant to a domestic relations order. An optionholder may designate a beneficiary, however, who may exercise the option following the optionholder’s death.
Tax Limitations on Incentive Stock Options. The aggregate fair market value, determined at the time of grant, of our common stock with respect to ISOs that are exercisable for the first time by an optionholder during any calendar year under all of our stock plans and the stock plans of any of our affiliates may not exceed $100,000. Options or portions thereof that exceed such limit will generally be treated as NSOs. No ISO may be granted to any person who, at the time of the grant, owns or is deemed to own stock possessing more than 10% of our total combined voting power or that of any of our affiliates unless (1) the option exercise price is at least 110% of the fair market value of the stock subject to the option on the date of grant, and (2) the term of the ISO does not exceed five years from the date of grant.
Restricted Stock Awards. Restricted stock awards are granted pursuant to restricted stock award agreements approved by the plan administrator. Restricted stock awards may be granted in consideration for (1) cash, check, bank draft or money order, (2) services rendered to us or our affiliates, and/or (3) any other form of legal consideration. Common stock acquired under a restricted stock award may, but need not, be subject to a share repurchase option in our favor in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the plan administrator. A restricted stock award may be transferred only upon such terms and conditions as approved by the plan administrator. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, restricted stock that has not vested will be forfeited or repurchased by us upon the participant’s cessation of continuous service for any reason.
Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Restricted stock unit awards are granted pursuant to restricted stock unit award agreements approved by the plan administrator. Restricted stock unit awards may be granted in consideration for any form of legal consideration. A restricted stock unit award may be settled by cash, delivery of stock, a combination of cash and stock as deemed appropriate by the plan administrator, or in any other form of consideration set forth in the restricted stock unit award agreement. Additionally, dividend equivalents may be credited in respect of shares covered by a restricted stock unit award. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, restricted stock units that have not vested will be forfeited upon the participant’s cessation of continuous service for any reason.
Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock appreciation rights are granted pursuant to stock appreciation grant agreements approved by the plan administrator. The plan administrator determines the strike price for a stock appreciation right, which generally cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. Upon the exercise of a stock appreciation right, we will pay the participant an amount equal to the product of (1) the excess of the per share fair market value of our common stock on the date of exercise over the strike price, multiplied by (2) the number of shares of common stock with respect to which the stock appreciation right is exercised. A stock appreciation right granted under the Amended Equity Plan vests at the rate specified in the stock appreciation right agreement as determined by the plan administrator.
The plan administrator determines the term of stock appreciation rights granted under the Amended Equity Plan, up to a maximum of 10 years. Unless the terms of a participant’s stock appreciation right agreement provides otherwise, if a participant’s service relationship with us or any of our affiliates ceases for any reason other than cause, disability or death, the participant may generally exercise any vested stock appreciation right for a period of three months following the cessation of service. The stock appreciation right term may be further extended in the event that exercise of the stock appreciation right following such a termination of service is prohibited by applicable securities laws. If a participant’s service relationship with us, or any of our affiliates, ceases due to disability or death, or a participant dies within a certain period following cessation of service, the participant or a beneficiary may generally exercise any vested stock appreciation right for a period of 12 months in the event of disability and 18 months in the event of death. In the event of a termination for cause, stock appreciation rights generally terminate immediately upon the occurrence of the event giving rise to the termination of the individual for cause. In no event may a stock appreciation right be exercised beyond the expiration of its term.
Performance Awards. The Amended Equity Plan permits the grant of performance-based stock and cash awards. The plan administrator may structure such awards so that stock or cash will be issued or paid pursuant to such award only after the achievement of certain pre-established performance goals during a designated performance period.
The performance goals that may be selected include one or more of the following: (1) earnings (including earnings per share and net earnings); (2) earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation; (3) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; (4) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and legal settlements; (5) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, legal settlements and other income (expense); (6) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, legal settlements, other income (expense) and stock-based compensation; (7) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, legal settlements, other income (expense), stock-based compensation and changes in deferred revenue; (8) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, legal settlements, other income (expense), stock-based compensation, other non-cash expenses and changes in deferred revenue; (9) total stockholder return; (10) return on equity or average stockholder’s equity; (11) return on assets, investment, or capital employed; (12) stock price; (13) margin (including gross margin); (14) income (before or after taxes); (15) operating income; (16) operating income after taxes; (17) pre-tax profit; (18) operating cash flow; (19) sales or revenue targets; (20) increases in revenue or product revenue; (21) expenses and cost reduction goals; (22) improvement in or attainment of working capital levels; (23) economic value added (or an equivalent metric); (24) market share; (25) cash flow; (26) cash flow per share; (27) cash balance; (28) cash burn; (29) cash collections; (30) share price performance; (31) debt reduction; (32) implementation or completion of projects or processes (including, without limitation, discovery of a preclinical drug candidate, recommendation of a drug candidate to enter a clinical trial, clinical trial initiation, clinical trial enrollment and dates, clinical trial results, regulatory filing submissions (such as IND, BLA and NDA), regulatory filing acceptances, regulatory or advisory committee interactions, regulatory approvals, and product supply); (33) stockholders’ equity; (34) capital expenditures; (35) financings; (36) operating profit or net operating profit; (37) workforce diversity; (38) growth of net income or operating income; (39) employee retention; (40) initiation of studies by specific dates; (41) budget management; (42) submission to, or approval by, a regulatory body (including, but not limited to the FDA) of an applicable filing or a product; (43) regulatory milestones; (44) progress of internal research or development programs; (45) progress of partnered programs; (46) partner satisfaction; (47) timely completion of clinical trials; (48) milestones related to research development (including, but not limited to, preclinical and clinical studies), product development and manufacturing; (49) expansion of sales in additional geographies or markets; (50) research progress, including the development of programs; (51) strategic partnerships or transactions (including in-licensing and out-licensing of intellectual property; (52) filing of patent applications and granting of patents; and (53) and other measures of performance selected by the plan administrator.
The performance goals may be based on a company-wide basis, with respect to one or more business units, divisions, affiliates, or business segments, and in either absolute terms or relative to the performance of one or more comparable companies or the performance of one or more relevant indices. Unless specified otherwise (1) in the award agreement at the time the award is granted or (2) in any other document setting forth the performance goals at the time the goals are established, we will appropriately make adjustments in the method of calculating the attainment of performance goals as follows: (a) to exclude restructuring and/or other nonrecurring charges; (b) to exclude exchange rate effects; (c) to exclude the effects of changes to generally accepted accounting principles; (d) to exclude the effects of any statutory adjustments to corporate tax rates; (e) to exclude the effects of any “items of an unusual nature or of infrequency of occurrence or non-recurring items” as determined under generally accepted accounting principles; (f) to exclude the dilutive effects of acquisitions or joint ventures; (g) to assume that any business divested by us achieved performance objectives at targeted levels during the balance of a performance period following such divestiture; (h) to exclude the effect of any change in the outstanding shares of our common stock by reason of any stock dividend or split, stock repurchase, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares or other similar corporate change, or any distributions to common stockholders other than regular cash dividends; (i) to exclude the effects of stock based compensation and the award of bonuses under our bonus plans; (j) to exclude costs incurred in connection with potential acquisitions or divestitures that are required to be expensed under generally accepted accounting principles; (k) to exclude the goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges that are required to be recorded under generally accepted accounting principles; (l) to exclude the effect of any other unusual, non-recurring gain or loss or other extraordinary item; and (m) to exclude the effects of the timing of acceptance for review and/or approval of submissions to the FDA or any other regulatory body. In addition, we retain the discretion to reduce or eliminate the compensation or economic benefit due upon attainment of the goals. The performance goals may differ from participant to participant and from award to award.
Other Stock Awards. The plan administrator may grant other awards based in whole or in part by reference to our common stock. The plan administrator will set the number of shares under the stock award and all other terms and conditions of such awards.
Changes to Capital Structure. In the event that there is a specified type of change in our capital structure, such as a stock split or recapitalization, appropriate adjustments will be made to (1) the class and maximum number of shares reserved for issuance under the Amended Equity Plan, (2) the class and maximum number of shares by which the share reserve may increase automatically each year, (3) the class and maximum number of shares that may be issued upon the exercise of ISOs, (4) the class and maximum number of shares that may be granted to non-employee directors, and (5) the class and number of shares and exercise price, strike price, or purchase price, if applicable, of all outstanding stock awards.
Corporate Transactions. In the event of certain specified significant corporate transactions (or a change in control, as described below), the plan administrator has the discretion to take any of the following actions with respect to stock awards:
• arrange for the assumption, continuation or substitution of a stock award by a surviving or acquiring entity or parent company;
• arrange for the assignment of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by us to the surviving or acquiring entity or parent company;
• accelerate the vesting of the stock award and provide for its termination prior to the effective time of the transaction;
• arrange for the lapse of any reacquisition or repurchase right held by us;
• cancel or arrange for the cancellation of the stock award in exchange for such cash consideration, if any, as our Board of Directors may deem appropriate; or
• make a payment equal to the excess of (a) the value of the property the participant would have received upon exercise of the stock award immediately prior to the effective time of the transaction, over (b) the exercise price otherwise payable by the participant in connection with such exercise.
Our plan administrator is not obligated to treat all stock awards, even those that are of the same type, in the same manner.
Under the Amended Equity Plan, a corporate transaction is generally the consummation of (1) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets, (2) a sale or other disposition of more than 50% of our outstanding securities, (3) a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which we are not the surviving corporation, or (4) a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which we are the surviving corporation but the shares of our common stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction are converted or exchanged into other property by virtue of the transaction.
Change in Control. In addition to the above, the plan administrator may provide, in an individual award agreement or in any other written agreement between a participant and us that the stock award will be subject to additional acceleration of vesting and exercisability in the event of a change in control. Under the Amended Equity Plan, a change in control is generally (1) the acquisition by a person or entity of more than 50% of our combined voting power other than by merger, consolidation or similar transaction; (2) a consummated merger, consolidation or similar transaction immediately after which our stockholders cease to own more than 50% of the combined voting power of the surviving entity (or its parent); (3) a consummated sale, lease, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially of our assets; (4) a complete dissolution or liquidation of the Company, except for a liquidation into a parent corporation; or (5) when a majority of our Board of Directors becomes comprised of individuals who were not serving on our Board of Directors on the date of adoption of the Amended Equity Plan, or the incumbent Board, or whose nomination, appointment, or election was not approved by a majority of the incumbent Board then still in office.
Amendment and Termination. Our Board of Directors has the authority to amend, suspend, or terminate our Amended Equity Plan, provided that such action does not impair the existing rights of any participant without such participant’s written consent. No awards may be made under the Amended Equity Plan on or after April 15, 2036 (the “expiration date”), but the Amended Equity Plan will continue thereafter while awards granted prior to the expiration date remain outstanding.
Clawback Policy. All awards, and any shares issued or cash paid pursuant to an award, are also subject to any applicable recoupment or clawback policy adopted by our Board of Directors or any recoupment or similar requirement contained in applicable law, regulation or the listing requirements of the exchange or system on which our common stock is principally traded.
New Plan Benefits
Awards under the Amended Equity Plan are within the discretion of the plan administrator and we cannot determine now the number or type of options or other awards to be granted in the future to any particular person or group. The awards granted during 2025 under the 2018 Plan, which would not have changed if the Amended Equity Plan had been in place instead of the 2018 Plan, are set forth in the table below.
|
Name and Position |
Dollar Value of Awards Granted During 2025 Under the 2018 Plan ($) (1) |
Number of Shares Subject to Awards Granted During 2025 Under the 2018 Plan (2) |
|
Named Executive Officers |
||
|
Ryan M. Confer President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer |
$ 90,450 | 45,000 |
|
Mark S. Berger Chief Medical Officer |
$ 57,285 | 28,500 |
|
All current executive officers, as a group |
$ 147,735 | 73,500 |
|
All Director Nominees |
|
|
|
Jose Antonio Moreno Toscano |
$ 18,090 | 9,000 |
| Ryan M. Confer | ||
|
All current directors who are not executive officers, as a group |
$ 54,270 | 27,000 |
|
All current employees who are not executive officers, as a group |
$ 110,655 | 39,100 |
|
(1) |
Dollar value reflects the Grant Date Fair Value of awards granted during 2025. |
|
| (2) | Number of shares reflects the total shares subject to awards granted to the respective person or group during 2025. During 2025, all awards granted under the 2018 Plan consisted of RSUs. |
Awards Granted under the Plan
Since the adoption of the 2018 Plan through April 15, 2026, we have granted the following stock options under the 2018 Plan (even if not currently outstanding) 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 Subject to Stock Options |
|
Named Executive Officers |
|
|
Ryan M. Confer President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer |
829 |
|
Mark S. Berger Chief Medical Officer |
325 |
|
All current executive officers, as a group |
1,154 |
|
All Director Nominees |
|
|
Jose Antonio Moreno Toscano |
87 |
| Ryan M. Confer | |
|
All current directors who are not executive officers, as a group |
261 |
|
All current employees who are not executive officers, as a group |
459 |
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
Following is a summary of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of option and other grants under the Amended Equity Plan. Optionees and recipients of other rights and awards granted under the Amended Equity Plan are advised to consult their personal tax advisors before exercising an option or stock appreciation right or disposing of any stock received pursuant to the exercise of an option or stock appreciation right or following the vesting and payment of any award. In addition, the following summary is based upon an analysis of the Code as currently in effect, existing laws, judicial decisions, administrative rulings, regulations and proposed regulations, all of which are subject to change and does not address state, local, foreign or other tax laws.
Treatment of Options
The Code treats ISOs and NSOs differently. However, as to both types of options, no income will be recognized by the optionee at the time of the grant of the options under the Amended Equity Plan, nor will we be entitled to a tax deduction at that time.
Generally, upon exercise of a NSO (including an option intended to be an ISO but which has not continued to so qualify at the time of exercise), an optionee will recognize ordinary taxable income equal to the excess of the fair market value of the stock on the exercise date over the option price. We will be entitled to a tax deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the optionee in the fiscal year which includes the end of the optionee’s taxable year. We will be required to satisfy applicable withholding requirements in order to be entitled to a tax deduction. In general, if an optionee, in exercising a NSO, tenders shares of common stock in partial or full payment of the option price, no gain or loss will be recognized on the tender. However, if the tendered shares were previously acquired upon the exercise of an ISO and the tender is within two years from the date of grant or one year after the date of exercise of the ISO, the tender will be a disqualifying disposition of the shares acquired upon exercise of the ISO.
For ISOs, there is no taxable income recognized by an optionee at the time of exercise. However, the excess of the fair market value of the stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price will be taken into account in determining whether the “alternative minimum tax” will apply for the year of exercise. If the shares acquired upon exercise are held until at least two years from the date of grant and more than one year from the date of exercise, any gain or loss upon the sale of such shares, if held as capital assets, will be long-term capital gain or loss (measured by the difference between the sales price of the stock and the exercise price). Under current federal income tax law, a long-term capital gain will be taxed at a rate which is less than the maximum rate of tax on ordinary income. If the two-year and one year holding period requirements are not met (a “disqualifying disposition”), an optionee will recognize ordinary income in the year of disposition in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the stock on the date of exercise minus the exercise price or (ii) the amount realized on disposition minus the exercise price. The remainder of the gain will be treated as short-term or long-term capital gain, depending upon whether the stock has been held for more than a year or not. If an optionee makes a disqualifying disposition, we will be entitled to a tax deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the optionee.
In general, if an optionee, in exercising an ISO, tenders shares of our common stock in partial or full payment of the option price, no gain or loss will be recognized on the tender. However, if the tendered shares were previously acquired upon the exercise of another ISO and the tender is within two years from the date of grant or one year after the date of exercise of the other option, the tender will be a disqualifying disposition of the shares acquired upon exercise of the other option.
As noted above, the exercise of an ISO could subject an optionee to the alternative minimum tax. The application of the alternative minimum tax to any particular optionee depends upon the particular facts and circumstances which exist with respect to the optionee in the year of exercise. However, as a general rule, the amount by which the fair market value of the common stock on the date of exercise of an option exceeds the exercise price of the option will constitute an item of “adjustment” for purposes of determining the alternative minimum taxable income on which the alternative tax may be imposed. As such, this item will enter into the tax base on which the alternative minimum tax is computed and may therefore cause the alternative minimum tax to become applicable in any given year.
Treatment of Stock Appreciation Rights
Generally, the recipient of a stock appreciation right will not recognize any income upon grant of the stock appreciation right, nor will we be entitled to a deduction at that time. Upon exercise of a stock appreciation right, the holder will recognize ordinary income, and we generally will be entitled to a corresponding deduction, equal to the excess of fair market value of our common stock at that time over the exercise price.
Treatment of Stock Awards
Generally, absent an election to be taxed currently under Section 83(b) of the Code (a “Section 83(b) Election”), there will be no federal income tax consequences to either the recipient or us upon the grant of a restricted stock award or award of performance shares. At the expiration of the restriction period and the satisfaction of any other restrictions applicable to the restricted shares, the recipient will recognize ordinary income and we generally will be entitled to a corresponding deduction equal to the fair market value of our common stock at that time. If a Section 83(b) Election is made within 30 days after the date the restricted stock award is granted, the recipient will recognize an amount of ordinary income at the time of the receipt of the restricted shares, and we generally will be entitled to a corresponding deduction, equal to the fair market value (determined without regard to applicable restrictions) of the shares at such time, less any amount paid by the recipient for the shares. If a Section 83(b) Election is made, no additional income will be recognized by the recipient upon the lapse of restrictions on the shares (and prior to the sale of such shares), but, if the shares are subsequently forfeited, the recipient may not deduct the income that was recognized pursuant to the Section 83(b) Election at the time of the receipt of the shares.
The recipient of an unrestricted stock award will recognize ordinary income, and we generally will be entitled to a corresponding deduction, equal to the fair market value of our common stock that is the subject of the award when the award is made.
The recipient of a restricted stock unit generally will recognize ordinary income as and when the units vest and are settled. The amount of the income will be equal to the fair market value of the shares of our common stock issued at that time, and we will be entitled to a corresponding deduction. The recipient of a restricted stock unit will not be permitted to make a Section 83(b) Election with respect to such award.
Treatment of Performance Cash Awards
Generally, the recipient of a performance cash award will not recognize any income upon grant of the award, nor will we be entitled to a deduction at that time. Upon payment with respect to such an award, the recipient will recognize ordinary income, and we generally will be entitled to a corresponding deduction, equal to the amount of cash paid at that time.
Potential Limitation on Company Deductions
Section 162(m) of the Code generally disallows a tax deduction for compensation in excess of $1 million paid in a taxable year by a publicly held corporation to its chief executive officer and certain other “covered employees.” Our Board of Directors intends to consider the potential impact of Section 162(m) on grants made under the Amended Equity Plan, but reserves the right to approve grants of options and other awards for an executive officer that exceed the deduction limit of Section 162(m).
Tax Withholding
As and when appropriate, we shall have the right to require each optionee purchasing shares of our common stock and each grantee receiving an award under the Amended Equity Plan to pay any federal, state or local taxes required by law to be withheld.
Approval Required
Stockholder approval of this Incentive Plan Proposal will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes properly cast on this proposal at the Annual Meeting.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE COMPANY’S AMENDED AND RESTATED 2018 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN.
PROPOSAL 5
ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO OUR CHARTER TO EFFECT A REVERSE STOCK SPLIT OF OUR ISSUED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK, AT A SPECIFIC RATIO, RANGING FROM ONE-FOR-FIVE (1:5) TO ONE-FOR-FIFTY (1:50), AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO DECEMBER 31, 2027, SUBJECT TO THE BOARD’S DETERMINATION, IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION, WHETHER OR NOT TO IMPLEMENT THE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT AND, IF SO, AT WHAT SPECIFIC RATIO WITHIN THE FOREGOING RANGE,
WITHOUT FURTHER APPROVAL OR AUTHORIZATION OF OUR STOCKHOLDERS
Overview
At the Annual Meeting, you are being asked to approve an amendment to our Charter to effect a reverse stock split (the “Charter Amendment”) of our issued shares of common stock at a specific ratio, ranging from one-for-five (1:5) to one-for-fifty (1:50) (the “Approved Split Ratios”), at any time prior to December 31, 2027, subject to the Board’s determination, in its sole discretion, whether or not to implement the reverse stock split and, if so, at what specific ratio within the foregoing range, without further approval or authorization of our stockholders (the “Reverse Split”). A vote for this Reverse Stock Split Proposal will constitute adoption and approval of the Charter Amendment and the Reverse Split that, once effected by filing the Charter Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, will combine between five and fifty shares of our common stock into one share of our common stock. If implemented, the Reverse Split will have the effect of decreasing the number of shares of our common stock issued, but will have no effect on the number of shares of common stock we are authorized to issue.
Our Board has determined that the Charter Amendment is advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, provided that effectuation of any Reverse Split will be subject to Board’s determination, in its sole discretion, whether or not to implement the Reverse Split and, if so, at what specific ratio within the range of the Approved Split Ratios, pursuant to the authorization that is sought to be granted by our stockholders pursuant to this Reverse Stock Split Proposal. Our Board is seeking stockholder approval of Reverse Split at this time to maintain flexibility to effect a reverse split if the Board should determine that implementation of a reverse split at such time would be warranted, prudent or otherwise appropriate. Our Board has no immediate plans at the present time to effect a reverse stock split. Our Board will file the Charter Amendment to our Charter only in the event our Board deems such action warranted, prudent or otherwise appropriate, such as, for example, in connection with maintaining our Nasdaq listing, a future listing on another exchange or market, or for the purpose of enhancing investor interest generally, or other considerations as may be deemed pertinent by the Board.
Accordingly, stockholders are asked to adopt and approve the Charter Amendment set forth in Appendix B to effect the Reverse Split as set forth in the Charter Amendment, subject to the Board’s determination, in its sole discretion, whether or not to implement the Reverse Split and, if so, at what specific ratio within the range of the Approved Split Ratios, provided that if implemented, the Reverse Split must be effected on or prior to December 31, 2027. As set forth on Appendix B, by approving this Reverse Stock Split Proposal, the stockholders will be deemed to have adopted and approved an amendment to effect the Reverse Split at each of the Approved Split Ratios.
If adopted and approved by our stockholders, the Reverse Split (if implemented in the Board’s sole discretion) would be effected at an Approved Split Ratio approved by the Board prior to December 31, 2027, if at all. If the Reverse Split is implemented by the Board, the Charter Amendment setting forth the Approved Split Ratio approved by the Board will be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and any amendment to effect the Reverse Split at the other Approved Split Ratios will be abandoned. The Board reserves the right to elect to abandon the Charter Amendment and the Reverse Split at any of the Approved Split Ratios if it determines, in its sole discretion, that the Reverse Split is no longer in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
Purpose and Rationale for the Reverse Split
Maintaining our Nasdaq Listing. We believe it is in the Company’s and our stockholders’ best interests to maintain the listing of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market. Pursuant to the Nasdaq listing rules, Nasdaq may delist a stock that fails to comply with the $1.00 Minimum Bid Price requirement set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market (the “Minimum Bid Price Requirement”). The market price of our common stock historically has been, and may continue to be, volatile. On April 15, 2026, our common stock closed at a price of $1.28 per share. From January 1 through April 15, 2026, our common stock traded as low as $1.15 and as high as $3.56 per share, and during 2025, our common stock traded as low as $1.71 and as high as $55.00 per share. If the Reverse Stock Split Proposal is approved, the Board’s ability to effect a reverse split might help us to maintain our Nasdaq listing in the event our common stock were to sell below $1.00 per share and we were to be in noncompliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement, though there can be no assurances that in such an event effecting a reverse split would allow us to maintain our listing. As previously disclosed, we have previously received listing deficiency notices for prior non-compliance with Nasdaq’s Minimum Bid Price Requirement. Pursuant to prior authorizations of our stockholders, our Board implemented a 1:40 reverse stock split in February 2024 and a 1:50 reverse stock split in October 2025 to resolve these Minimum Bid Price Requirement matters.
Our Board believes that authorizing a reverse stock split now will provide the flexibility to effectuate a reverse stock split to respond to similar scenarios should they arise in the future. In the event we were to experience noncompliance with Nasdaq’s Minimum Bid Price Requirement in the future, and we did not already have authorization to implement a reverse stock split, this could have potentially serious, adverse effects on us and our stockholders. Our common stock could be delisted from Nasdaq because shares of our common stock could trade below the requisite $1.00 per share price needed to maintain our listing in accordance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement. Our shares may then trade on the OTC Bulletin Board or other small trading markets, such as the pink sheets. In that event, our common stock could trade thinly as a microcap or penny stock, adversely decrease to nominal levels of trading and may be avoided by retail and institutional investors, resulting in the impaired liquidity of our common stock. However, we can provide no assurances that we will maintain our Nasdaq listing. Authorization to effect a reverse split would be helpful in maintaining, but would by no means guarantee, continued compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement, and we must additionally satisfy all other Nasdaq listing requirements in order to maintain our Nasdaq listing.
Our Board strongly believes that the Reverse Split is necessary to help maintain our listing on Nasdaq. Accordingly, the Board has approved resolutions proposing the Charter Amendment to effect the Reverse Split and directed that it be submitted to our stockholders for approval at the Annual Meeting.
Future Listing Applications. We may also consider application for listing of our common stock on other exchanges or markets in or outside the United States. Any such listing may require the market price of our common stock to be increased above its then current level. While authorization to effect a reverse stock split may be helpful in achieving any such relevant minimum share price, a reverse stock split could not guarantee that our common stock would achieve any such relevant minimum price.
Potential Increased Investor Interest; Other Effects. In approving the proposal approving the Charter Amendment, our Board noted that a low share price can reduce the effective marketability of stocks because of the reluctance of some brokerage firms to recommend low-priced stocks to their clients and because many institutional investors generally do not invest in low priced stocks. Further, a variety of brokerage house policies and practices tend to discourage individual brokers within those firms from dealing in low-priced stocks. Some of those policies and practices pertain to the payment of brokers’ commissions and to time-consuming procedures that function to make the handling of low-priced stocks unattractive to brokers from an economic standpoint. In addition, the structure of trading commissions also tends to have an adverse impact upon holders of low-priced stocks because the brokerage commission on a sale of low-priced stock generally represents a higher percentage of the sales price than the commission on a relatively higher-priced issue. Our Board believes that the Reverse Split may result in a higher trading range for our common stock and may encourage institutional investors to invest in, and brokerage houses to recommend, our common stock. If the Reverse Split is effected, the market price of our common stock will also be based on our performance and other factors unrelated to the number of shares outstanding.
Our Board does not intend for any Reverse Split, if implemented, to be the first step in a series of plans or proposals to effect a “going private transaction” within the meaning of Rule 13e-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
In addition, because the number of authorized shares of our common stock would not be reduced, a Reverse Split will result in an effective increase in the authorized number of shares of our common stock. The effect of the relative increase in the amount of authorized and unissued shares of our common stock would allow us to issue additional shares of common stock in connection with future financings, employee and director benefit programs and other desirable corporate activities, without requiring our stockholders to approve an increase in the authorized number of shares of common stock each time such an action is contemplated.
Risks of the Proposed Reverse Split
We cannot assure you that any implementation of a Reverse Split would increase the price of our common stock and have the desired effect of regaining and/or maintaining compliance with Nasdaq listing standards.
If a Reverse Split is implemented, our Board would expect that it would increase the market price of our common stock to facilitate regaining and maintaining compliance with the Nasdaq Minimum Bid Price Requirement, should we experience issues with complying with such Nasdaq listing standards. However, the effect of the Reverse Split upon the market price of our common stock cannot be predicted with any certainty, and the history of similar stock splits for companies in like circumstances is varied. It is possible that (i) the per share price of our common stock after implementing a Reverse Split will not rise in proportion to the reduction in the number of shares of our common stock outstanding resulting from the Reverse Split, (ii) the market price per post-Reverse Split share may not exceed or remain in excess of the $1.00 minimum bid price for a sustained period of time, or (iii) the Reverse Split may not result in a per share price that would attract brokers and investors who do not trade in lower priced stocks. Even if a Reverse Split is implemented, the market price of our common stock may decrease due to factors unrelated to the Reverse Split. In any case, the market price of our common stock would be based on other factors which may be unrelated to the number of shares outstanding, including our future performance. If a Reverse Split is consummated and the trading price of our common stock declines, the percentage decline as an absolute number and as a percentage of our overall market capitalization may be greater than would occur in the absence of a Reverse Split. Even if the market price per post-Reverse Split share of our common stock were to remain in excess of $1.00 per share, we may be delisted should we fail to meet one or more of the other continued listing requirements, including the minimum stockholders’ equity requirement under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) and Nasdaq requirements related to the minimum number of shares that must be in the public float and the minimum market value of the public float.
A decline in the market price of our common stock after a Reverse Split is implemented may result in a greater percentage decline than would occur in the absence of a reverse stock split.
If a Reverse Split is implemented and the market price of our common stock declines, the percentage decline may be greater than would occur in the absence of a reverse stock split. The market price of our common stock will, however, also be based upon our performance and other factors, which are unrelated to the number of shares of common stock outstanding.
Implementation of a Reverse Split may decrease the liquidity of our common stock.
The liquidity of our common stock may be harmed by a Reverse Split given the reduced number of shares of common stock that would be outstanding after a Reverse Split, particularly if the stock price does not increase as a result of the Reverse Split.
If we effect a Reverse Split and then the market price of our common stock declines and we fail to meet the continued Nasdaq listing requirement for the Minimum Bid Price, we may not be eligible for any compliance period.
In January 2025, the SEC approved amendments, which are now effective, to the Nasdaq listing rules that significantly affect companies seeking to use reverse stock splits to regain or maintain compliance with Nasdaq’s $1.00 minimum bid price requirement. The changes to the Nasdaq rules alter, among others, the frequency of reverse stock splits to prevent companies from repeatedly using them as part of their minimum bid price compliance strategy. Under the amended Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A)(iv), if a company’s security fails to meet the continued listing requirement for minimum bid price and the company has effected a reverse stock split over the prior one-year period or has effected one or more reverse stock splits over the prior two-year period with a cumulative ratio of 250 shares or more to one, then the company shall not be eligible for any compliance period to address the bid price deficiency. Instead, Nasdaq will move forward with delisting proceedings.
As a result, since we effected prior reverse stock splits of our common stock at ratios of one-for-forty (1:40) and one-for-fifty (1:50) on February 2, 2024 and October 21, 2025, respectively, then (i) if a Reverse Split is implemented at any ratio within the Approved Split Ratio and we subsequently fail to satisfy the Minimum Bid Price Requirement prior to October 21, 2027, or (ii) if a Reverse Split is implemented at any ratio within the Approved Split Ratio and we subsequently fail to satisfy the Minimum Bid Price Requirement within the one-year period following implementation, then, in either case, Nasdaq will begin the process of delisting our common stock without providing any compliance period.
Determination of the Ratio for the Reverse Split
If the Reverse Stock Split Proposal is approved by stockholders and the Board determines that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to move forward with a Reverse Split, the Approved Split Ratio will be selected by the Board, in its sole discretion. However, the Approved Split Ratio will not be less than a ratio of one-for-five (1:5) or exceed a ratio of one-for-fifty (1:50). In determining which Approved Split Ratio to use, the Board will consider numerous factors, including the historical and projected performance of our common stock, prevailing market conditions and general economic trends, and will place emphasis on the expected closing price of our common stock in the period following the effectiveness of the Reverse Split. The Board will also consider the impact of the Approved Split Ratios on investor interest. The purpose of selecting a range is to give the Board the flexibility to meet business needs as they arise, to take advantage of favorable opportunities and to respond to a changing corporate environment. Based on the number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of April 15, 2026, after completion of a Reverse Split, we will have between 184,109 and 1,841,088 shares of common stock issued and outstanding, depending on the Approved Split Ratio selected by the Board.
Principal Effects of a Reverse Split
After the effective date of a Reverse Split, each stockholder will own a reduced number of shares of common stock. Except for adjustments that may result from the treatment of fractional shares as described below, a Reverse Split will affect all stockholders uniformly. The proportionate voting rights and other rights and preferences of the holders of our common stock will not be affected by a Reverse Split except for adjustments that may result from the treatment of fractional shares as described below. For example, a holder of 2% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of our common stock immediately prior to a Reverse Split would continue to hold 2% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of our common stock immediately after a Reverse Split. The number of stockholders of record also will not be affected by a Reverse Split.
The following table contains approximate number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock, and the estimated per share trading price following a 1:5 to 1:50 Reverse Split, without giving effect to any adjustments for fractional shares of common stock or the issuance of any derivative securities, as of April 15, 2026.
After Each Reverse Split Ratio
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Current |
1:5 |
1:25 |
1:50 |
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Common Stock Authorized (1) |
200,000,000 | 200,000,000 | 200,000,000 | 200,000,000 | ||||||||||||
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Common Stock Issued and Outstanding |
9,205,437 |
1,841,088 |
368,218 |
184,109 |
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Number of Shares of Common Stock Reserved for Issuance (2) |
1,597,865 |
319,574 |
63,917 |
31,960 |
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Number of Shares of Common Stock Authorized but Unissued and Unreserved |
189,196,698 |
197,839,338 |
199,567,865 |
199,783,931 |
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Price per share, based on the closing price of our Common Stock on April 15, 2026 (3) |
$1.28 |
$6.40 |
$32.00 |
$64.00 |
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(1) A Reverse Split will not have any impact in the number of shares of common stock we are authorized to issue under our Charter.
(2) Includes (i) warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,319,683 shares of common stock with a weighted average exercise price of $24.26 per share, (ii) 85,179 shares of common stock underlying unvested RSUs, (iii) 5,174 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options, with a weighted average exercise price of $6,508.03 per share, (iv) 187,724 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2018 Plan (does not include 1,850,000 additional shares of common stock that may be available under the 2018 Plan if stockholders approve the Incentive Plan Proposal), and (v) 105 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under the ESPP.
(3) The price per share indicated reflects solely the application of the applicable reverse split ratio to the closing price of the common stock on April 15, 2026.
After the effective date of a Reverse Split, our common stock would have a new committee on uniform securities identification procedures (CUSIP) number, a number used to identify our common stock.
Our common stock is currently registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and we are subject to the periodic reporting and other requirements of the Exchange Act. A Reverse Split will not affect the registration of our common stock under the Exchange Act. Our common stock would continue to be reported on Nasdaq under the symbol “GNPX,” although it is likely that Nasdaq would add the letter “D” to the end of the trading symbol for a period of twenty trading days after the effective date of a Reverse Split to indicate that a Reverse Split had occurred.
Effect on Outstanding Derivative Securities
A Reverse Split will require that proportionate adjustments be made to the per share exercise price and the number of shares issuable upon the exercise of the following outstanding derivative securities issued or reserved for future issuance by us, in accordance with the Approved Split Ratio (all figures are as of April 15, 2026 and are on a pre-Reverse Split basis), including:
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● |
1,319,683 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, with a weighted average exercise price of $24.26 per share; |
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● |
85,179 shares of common stock underlying unvested RSUs; |
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● |
5,174 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options, with a weighted average exercise price of $6,508.03 per share; |
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● |
187,724 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2018 Plan (does not include 1,850,000 additional shares of common stock that may be available under the 2018 Plan if stockholders approve the Incentive Plan Proposal); and |
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105 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under the ESPP. |
The adjustments to the above securities, as required by a Reverse Split and in accordance with the Approved Split Ratio, would result in approximately the same aggregate price being required to be paid under such securities upon exercise, and approximately the same value of shares of common stock being delivered upon such exercise or conversion, immediately following a Reverse Split as was the case immediately preceding a Reverse Split.
Effect on our Equity Incentive Plan
As of April 15, 2026, we had 5,174 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the exercise of outstanding options issued under our 2018 Plan, and 85,179 shares of common stock reserved for issuance underlying unvested RSUs issued under our 2018 Plan, as well as 187,724 shares of common stock available for issuance in connection with future awards under our 2018 Plan. Stockholders are being asked to approve the Incentive Plan Proposal, which would increase the shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2018 Plan by 1,850,000 shares. Pursuant to the terms of the 2018 Plan, the Board, or a designated committee thereof, as applicable, will adjust the number of shares of common stock underlying outstanding stock options, the exercise price per share of outstanding stock options and other terms of outstanding awards issued pursuant to the 2018 Plan to equitably reflect the effects of a Reverse Split. Furthermore, the number of shares available for future grant under the 2018 Plan will be similarly adjusted.
Effect on our Employee Stock Purchase Plan
As of April 15, 2026, we had 105 shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the ESPP. Pursuant to the terms of the ESPP, the administrator of the ESPP will adjust the number of shares of common stock which may be delivered under the ESPP, the purchase price per share and number of shares of common stock covered by any unexercised outstanding options under the ESPP, and other numerical limits under the ESPP, so as to equitably reflect the effects of the Reverse Split. The ESPP has not yet been utilized as a benefit available to our employees.
Effective Date
A Reverse Split would become effective on the date of filing of the Charter Amendment with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware unless another effective date is set forth in the Charter Amendment. On the effective date, shares of common stock issued immediately prior thereto will be combined and reclassified, automatically and without any action on the part of our stockholders, into new shares of common stock in accordance with the Approved Split Ratio set forth in this Reverse Stock Split Proposal. If the proposed Charter Amendment is not adopted and approved by our stockholders, the Reverse Split will not occur.
Treatment of Fractional Shares
No fractional shares of common stock will be issued as a result of a Reverse Split. Instead, record holders of our common stock who otherwise would be entitled to receive a fractional share because they hold a number of shares not evenly divisible by the Approved Split Ratio will automatically be entitled to receive an additional fraction of a share of common stock to round up to the next whole share. In any event, cash will not be paid for fractional shares.
Record and Beneficial Stockholders
If the Charter Amendment is adopted and approved and the Reverse Stock Split Proposal is authorized by our stockholders and our Board elects to implement the Reverse Split, stockholders of record holding some or all of their shares of common stock electronically in book-entry form under the direct registration system for securities will receive a transaction statement at their address of record indicating the number of shares of common stock they hold after the Reverse Split. Non-registered stockholders holding common stock through a bank, broker or other nominee should note that such banks, brokers or other nominees may have different procedures for processing the consolidation than those that would be put in place by us for registered stockholders. If you hold your shares with such a bank, broker or other nominee and if you have questions in this regard, you are encouraged to contact your nominee.
If the Charter Amendment is adopted and approved and the Reverse Stock Split Proposal is authorized by our stockholders and our Board elects to implement the Reverse Split, stockholders of record holding some or all of their shares in certificated form can surrender certificates representing pre-Reverse Split shares to our transfer agent, VStock Transfer, LLC, in exchange for a certificate representing post-Reverse Split shares. Each certificate representing shares before the Reverse Split would continue to be valid and would represent the adjusted number of whole shares based on the Approved Split Ratio selected by the Board. No new post-Reverse Split share certificates will be issued to a stockholder until such stockholder has surrendered such stockholder’s outstanding certificate(s).
STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD NOT DESTROY ANY PRE-SPLIT STOCK CERTIFICATE AND SHOULD NOT SUBMIT ANY CERTIFICATES UNTIL THEY ARE REQUESTED TO DO SO.
Accounting Consequences
The par value per share of common stock would remain unchanged at $0.001 per share after the Reverse Split. As a result, on the effective date of the Reverse Split, the stated capital on our balance sheet attributable to the common stock will be reduced proportionally, based on the Approved Split Ratio selected by the Board, from its present amount, and the additional paid-in capital account shall be credited with the amount by which the stated capital is reduced. The per share common stock net income or loss and net book value will be increased because there will be fewer shares of common stock outstanding. The shares of common stock held in treasury, if any, will also be reduced proportionately based on the Approved Split Ratio selected by the Board. Retroactive restatement will be given to all share numbers in our financial statements, and accordingly all amounts including per share amounts will be shown on a post-split basis. We do not anticipate that any other accounting consequences would arise as a result of the Reverse Split.
No Appraisal Rights
Our stockholders are not entitled to dissenters’ or appraisal rights under the Delaware General Corporation Law with respect to this Reverse Stock Split Proposal and we will not independently provide our stockholders with any such right if the Reverse Split is implemented.
Material Federal U.S. Income Tax Consequences of the Reverse Split
The following is a summary of material U.S. federal income tax consequences of a Reverse Split to our U.S. Holders (as defined below). The summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), applicable Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial authority and current administrative rulings and practices as in effect on the date of this proxy statement. Changes to the laws could alter the tax consequences described below, possibly with retroactive effect. We have not sought and will not seek an opinion of counsel or a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service regarding the federal income tax consequences of a Reverse Split. This discussion only addresses U.S. Holders who hold common stock as capital assets. It does not purport to be complete and does not address U.S. Holders subject to special tax treatment under the Code, including, without limitation, financial institutions, tax-exempt organizations, insurance companies, dealers in securities, foreign stockholders, stockholders who hold their pre-reverse stock split shares as part of a straddle, hedge or conversion transaction, and stockholders who acquired their pre-reverse stock split shares pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation. If a partnership (or other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is the beneficial owner of our common stock, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Accordingly, partnerships (and other entities treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holding our common stock and the partners in such entities should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the proposed Reverse Split to them. In addition, the following discussion does not address the tax consequences of the Reverse Split under state, local and foreign tax laws. Furthermore, the following discussion does not address any tax consequences of transactions effectuated before, after or at the same time as the Reverse Split, whether or not they are in connection with the Reverse Split.
For purposes of the discussion below, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of shares of the Company’s common stock that for U.S. federal income tax purposes is: (i) an individual citizen or resident of the United States; (ii) a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state therein or the District of Columbia; (iii) an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or (iv) a trust with respect to which a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions of the trust, or that has a valid election in effect to be treated as a U.S. person under applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations.
The Reverse Split is expected to constitute a “recapitalization” for U.S. federal income tax purposes pursuant to Section 368(a)(1)(E) of the Code. A U.S. Holder generally will not recognize gain or loss on the deemed exchange of shares pursuant to the Reverse Split, except potentially with respect to any additional fractions of a share of our common stock received as a result of the rounding up of any fractional shares that otherwise would be issued, as discussed below. Subject to the following discussion regarding a U.S. Holder’s receipt of a whole share of the Company’s common stock in lieu of a fractional share, a U.S. Holder’s aggregate tax basis in the shares of common stock received in the Reverse Split will equal the U.S. Holder’s basis in its old shares of common stock and such U.S. Holder’s holding period in the shares received will include the holding period in its old shares exchanged. The Treasury Regulations provide detailed rules for allocating the tax basis and holding period of shares of common stock surrendered in a recapitalization to shares received in the recapitalization. U.S. Holders of our common stock acquired on different dates and at different prices should consult their tax advisors regarding the allocation of the tax basis and holding period of such shares.
As described above under “Treatment of Fractional Shares,” no fractional shares of the Company’s common stock will be issued as a result of the Reverse Split. Instead, record holders of our common stock who otherwise would be entitled to receive a fractional share because they hold a number of shares not evenly divisible by the Approved Split Ratio will automatically be entitled to receive an additional fraction of a share of common stock to round up to the next whole share. A U.S. Holder who receives one whole share of the Company’s common stock in lieu of a fractional share may recognize income or gain in an amount not to exceed the excess of the fair market value of such share over the fair market value of the fractional share to which such U.S. Holder was otherwise entitled. The Company is not making any representation as to whether the receipt of one whole share in lieu of a fractional share will result in income or gain to any stockholder, and stockholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors as to the possible tax consequences of receiving a whole share in lieu of a fractional share in the Reverse Split.
We will not recognize any gain or loss as a result of the proposed Reverse Split.
THE PRECEDING DISCUSSION IS INTENDED ONLY AS A SUMMARY OF CERTAIN FEDERAL U.S. INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE REVERSE SPLIT AND DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE A COMPLETE ANALYSIS OR DISCUSSION OF ALL POTENTIAL TAX EFFECTS RELEVANT THERETO. YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE PARTICULAR FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE REVERSE SPLIT IN LIGHT OF YOUR SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES.
Required Vote and Recommendation
In accordance with our Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended, and Delaware law, approval and adoption of this Reverse Stock Split Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, with respect to this proposal are not counted as votes cast and will not affect the outcome of this proposal. As described above, we believe that this proposal will likely be considered a “routine” matter under New York Stock Exchange rules, and accordingly, we do not expect any broker non-votes on this proposal.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER TO EFFECT THE REVERSE SPLIT.
PROPOSAL 6
THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE ANNUAL MEETING, IF NECESSARY, TO SOLICIT ADDITIONAL PROXIES IF THE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK PRESENT OR REPRESENTED BY PROXY AT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING “FOR” ANY OF THE FOREGOING PROPOSALS PRESENTED ARE INSUFFICIENT TO APPROVE ANY OF SAID PROPOSALS
Adjournment of the Annual Meeting
If the number of shares of common stock present or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and voting “FOR” any of the foregoing proposals presented are insufficient to approve any of said proposals, we may move to adjourn the Annual Meeting in order to enable the Board to solicit additional proxies in favor of the approval of any of such proposals. In that event, we may ask stockholders to vote upon the Adjournment Proposal and not on the other proposals discussed in this proxy statement. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
Required Vote and Recommendation
If a quorum is present, approval of the proposal to adjourn the Annual Meeting to a later date requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of our common stock present or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on this Adjournment Proposal. Abstentions, if any, will not have any effect on this Adjournment Proposal. Shares that are not represented at the Annual Meeting and, if this proposal is deemed to be “non-routine,” broker non-votes with respect to this proposal will also not affect the outcome of the vote on this proposal. As described above, we believe that this proposal will likely be considered a “routine” matter under New York Stock Exchange rules, and accordingly, we do not expect any broker non-votes on this proposal.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE ANNUAL MEETING IF THE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK PRESENT OR REPRESENTED BY PROXY AT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING “FOR” ANY OF THE FOREGOING PROPOSALS PRESENTED ARE INSUFFICIENT TO APPROVE ANY OF SAID PROPOSALS.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Stockholder Proposals for 2027 Annual Meeting
Any stockholder proposals submitted for inclusion in our proxy statement and form of proxy for our 2027 annual meeting of Stockholders in reliance on Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, must be received by us no later than December 31, 2026 in order to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement and form of proxy. Such proposal must also comply with the requirements as to form and substance established by the SEC if such proposals are to be included in the proxy statement and form of proxy. Any such proposal shall be mailed to: Genprex, Inc., 3300 Bee Cave Road, #650-227, Austin, TX 78746, Attn: Corporate Secretary.
Our Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended, state that a stockholder must provide timely written notice of any nominations of persons for election to our Board of Directors or any other proposal to be brought before the meeting together with supporting documentation as well as be present at such meeting, either in person or by a representative. For our 2027 annual meeting of Stockholders, a stockholder’s notice shall be timely received by us at our principal executive office no later than March 22, 2027 and no earlier than February 18, 2027; provided, however, that in the event the 2027 annual meeting is scheduled to be held more than thirty (30) days before the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting (the “Anniversary Date”) or more than thirty (30) days after the Anniversary Date, a stockholder’s notice shall be timely if received by our Secretary at our principal executive office not earlier than the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Proxies solicited by our Board of Directors will confer discretionary voting authority with respect to these nominations or proposals, subject to the SEC’s rules and regulations governing the exercise of this authority. Any such nomination or proposal shall be mailed to: Genprex, Inc., 3300 Bee Cave Road, #650-227, Austin, TX 78746, Attn: Corporate Secretary.
Further, if you intend to nominate a director and solicit proxies in support of such director nominee(s) at our 2027 annual meeting of Stockholders, you must also provide the notice and additional information required by Rule 14a-19 to: Genprex, Inc., 3300 Bee Cave Road #650-227, Austin, Texas 78746, Attn: Corporate Secretary, no later than April 19, 2027. This deadline under Rule 14a-19 does not supersede any of the timing requirements for advance notice under our Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended. The supplemental notice and information required under Rule 14a-19 is in addition to the applicable advance notice requirements under our Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended, as described in this section, and it shall not extend any such deadline set forth under our Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended.
ANNUAL REPORT
Copies of our Annual Report on Form 10-K (including audited financial statements) filed with the SEC may be obtained without charge by writing to: Genprex, Inc., 3300 Bee Cave Road, #650-227, Austin, TX 78746, Attn: Investor Relations. A request for a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K must set forth a good-faith representation that the requesting party was either a holder of record or a beneficial owner of our common stock on April 24, 2026. Exhibits to the Form 10-K will be mailed upon similar request and payment of specified fees to cover the costs of copying and mailing such materials.
Our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 and certain other related financial and business information are contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is being made available to our stockholders along with this proxy statement, but which is not deemed a part of the proxy soliciting material.
HOUSEHOLDING OF ANNUAL MEETING MATERIALS
SEC rules concerning the delivery of annual disclosure documents allow us or your broker to send a single set of our proxy materials to any household at which two or more of our stockholders reside, if we or your broker believe that the stockholders are members of the same family. This practice, referred to as “householding,” benefits both you and us. It reduces the volume of duplicate information received at your household and helps to reduce our expenses. The rule applies to our annual reports, proxy statements, notices of internet availability of proxy materials, and information statements. Once you receive notice from your broker or from us that communications to your address will be “householded,” the practice will continue until you are otherwise notified or until you revoke your consent to the practice. Stockholders who participate in householding will continue to have access to and utilize separate proxy voting instructions.
If a broker or other nominee holds your shares and (1) your household received a single set of the proxy materials this year, but you would prefer to receive your own copy or you do not wish to participate in householding and would like to receive your own set of our proxy materials in future years or (2) you share an address with another stockholder and together both of you would like to receive only a single set of proxy materials, please contact the broker or other nominee directly and inform them of your request. Be sure to include your name, the name of your brokerage firm and your account number.
We will promptly deliver a separate copy of this proxy statement to any stockholder upon written or oral request to: Genprex, Inc., 3300 Bee Cave Road, #650-227, Austin, TX 78746, Attn: Investor Relations, or by phone at (877) 774-4679. Any stockholder who wants to receive a separate copy of this proxy statement, or of our proxy statements or annual reports in the future, or any stockholder who is receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy per household, should contact the stockholder’s bank, broker, or other nominee record holder, or the stockholder may contact us at the address and phone number above.
OTHER MATTERS
As of the date of this proxy statement, the Board of Directors knows of no other matters that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters are properly brought before the meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote on such matters in accordance with the recommendation of the Board of Directors, or in the absence of such a recommendation, in their best judgment.
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By Order of the Board of Directors, |
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Ryan M. Confer |
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President, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Financial Officer |
April 29, 2026
APPENDIX A
GENPREX, INC. 2018 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
As Amended and Restated Effective April 15, 2026 (the “Restatement Date”)
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1. |
Purposes of the Plan. |
The purposes of this Plan are to attract and retain personnel for positions with the Company, to provide additional incentive to Employees, Directors, and Consultants (collectively, “Service Providers”), and to promote the success of the Company’s business.
The Plan permits the grant of Incentive Stock Options to Employees and the grant of Nonstatutory Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, and Performance Awards to any Service Provider.
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2. |
Shares Subject to the Plan. |
(a) Allocation of Shares to Plan. The maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan is:
(i) 2,163,978 Shares, plus
(ii) a number of Shares equal to the number of shares of common stock of the Company subject to outstanding awards granted under the Genprex, Inc. 2009 Stock Plan that, after the Registration Date, expire or otherwise terminate without having been exercised in full and a number of Shares equal to the number of Shares of common stock of the Company issued under awards granted under the Genprex, Inc. 2009 Stock Plan that, after the Registration Date, are forfeited to the Company, tendered to or withheld by the Company for payment of an exercise price or for tax withholding, or repurchased by the Company due to failure to vest, with the maximum number of Shares that may be added to the Plan under this Section 2(a)(i) being equal to 1,314 Shares, plus
(iii) any additional Shares that become available for issuance under the Plan under Sections 2(b) and 2(c). The Shares may be authorized but unissued Common Stock or Common Stock issued and then reacquired by the Company.
(b) Automatic Share Reserve Increase. The number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan will be increased on the first day of each Fiscal Year beginning with the 2019 Fiscal Year, in an amount equal to the lesser of:
(i) 5% of the total number of shares of all classes of the Company’s common stock outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding Fiscal Year, and
(ii) a lower number of Shares determined by the Administrator.
(c) Lapsed Awards.
(i) Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. If an Option or Stock Appreciation Right expires or becomes unexercisable without having been exercised in full or is surrendered under an Exchange Program, the unissued Shares subject to the Option or Stock Appreciation Right will become available for future issuance under the Plan.
(ii) Stock Appreciation Rights. Only Shares actually issued pursuant to a Stock Appreciation Right (i.e., the net Shares issued) will cease to be available under the Plan; all remaining Shares originally subject to the Stock Appreciation Right will remain available for future issuance under the Plan.
(iii) Full-Value Awards. Shares issued pursuant to Awards of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units or stock-settled Performance Awards that are reacquired by the Company due to failure to vest or are forfeited to the Company will become available for future issuance under the Plan.
(iv) Withheld Shares. Shares used to pay the Exercise Price of an Award or to satisfy tax withholding obligations related to an Award will become available for future issuance under the Plan.
(v) Cash-Settled Awards. If any portion of an Award under the Plan is paid to a Participant in cash rather than Shares, that cash payment will not reduce the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan.
(d) Incentive Stock Options. The maximum number of Shares that may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will equal 200% of the aggregate Share number stated in Section 2(a)(i) and 2(a)(ii) plus, to the extent allowable under Code Section 422, any Shares that become available for issuance under the Plan under Sections 2(b) and 2(c).
(e) Adjustment. The numbers provided in Sections 2(a), 2(b), and 2(d) will be adjusted as a result of changes in capitalization referred to in Section 13. For avoidance of doubt, all share numbers and related data have been appropriately adjusted as applicable to give effect to the Company’s one-for-forty (1:40) and one-for-fifty (1:50) reverse stock splits of the Common Stock implemented on February 2, 2024 and October 21, 2025, respectively.
(f) Substitute Awards. If the Committee grants Awards in substitution for equity compensation awards outstanding under a plan maintained by an entity acquired by or consolidated with the Company, the grant of those substitute Awards will not decrease the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan.
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3. |
Administration of the Plan. |
(a) Procedure.
(i) General. The Plan will be administered by the Board or a Committee (the “Administrator”). Different Administrators may administer the Plan with respect to different groups of Service Providers. The Board may retain the authority to concurrently administer the Plan with a Committee and may revoke the delegation of some or all authority previously delegated.
(ii) Further Delegation. To the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, the Board or a Committee may delegate to 1 or more Officers the authority to grant Awards to Employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries who are not Officers, provided that the delegation must specify any limitations on the authority required by Applicable Laws, including the total number of Shares that may be subject to the Awards granted by such Officer(s). Such delegation may be revoked at any time by the Board or Committee. Any such Awards will be granted on the form of Award Agreement most recently approved for use by the Board or a Committee made up solely of Directors, unless the resolutions delegating the authority permit the Officer(s) to use a different form of Award Agreement approved by the Board or a Committee made up solely of Directors.
(b) Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the terms of the Plan, any limitations on delegations specified by the Board, and any requirements imposed by Applicable Laws, the Administrator will have the authority, in its sole discretion, to make any determinations and perform any actions deemed necessary or advisable to administer the Plan including:
(i) to determine the Fair Market Value;
(ii) to approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan (provided that all forms of Award Agreement must be approved by the Board or the Committee of Directors acting as the Administrator);
(iii) to select the Service Providers to whom Awards may be granted and grant Awards to such Service Providers;
(iv) to determine the number of Shares to be covered by each Award granted;
(v) to determine the terms and conditions, consistent with the Plan, of any Award granted. Such terms and conditions may include, but are not limited to, the Exercise Price, the time(s) when Awards may be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Award or the Shares relating to an Award;
(vi) to institute and determine the terms and conditions of an Exchange Program;
(vii) to interpret the Plan and make any decisions necessary to administer the Plan;
(viii) to establish, amend and rescind rules relating to the Plan, including rules relating to sub-plans established to satisfy laws of jurisdictions other than the United States or to qualify Awards for favorable tax treatment under laws of jurisdictions other than the United States;
(ix) to interpret, modify or amend each Award (subject to Section 18), including extending the Expiration Date and the post-termination exercisability period of such modified or amended Awards;
(x) to allow Participants to satisfy tax withholding obligations in any manner permitted by Section 15;
(xi) to delegate ministerial duties to any of the Company’s employees;
(xii) to authorize any person to take any steps and execute, on behalf of the Company, any documents required for an Award previously granted by the Administrator to be effective; and
(xiii) to allow Participants to defer the receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares otherwise due to any such Participants under an Award.
(c) Termination of Status.
(i) Unless a Participant is on a leave of absence approved by the Company as set forth in Section 11, the Participant’s status as a Service Provider will end at midnight at the end of the last day the Participant actively provides services for a member of the Company Group (the “Termination of Status Date”). The Administrator has the sole discretion to determine the date on which a Participant stops actively providing services and whether a Participant may still be considered to be providing services while on a leave of absence and the Administrator may delegate this decision, other than with respect to Officers, to the Company’s senior human resources officer.
(ii) This termination of status as a Service Provider will occur regardless of the reason for such termination even if the termination is later found to be invalid, in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is providing services, or in violation of the terms of Participant’s employment or service agreement, if any such agreement exists.
(iii) Unless otherwise expressly provided in an Award Agreement or otherwise determined by the Administrator, a Participant’s right to vest in any Award under the Plan will cease as of the Termination of Status Date and will not be extended by any notice period, whether arising under contract, statute or common law, including any period of “garden leave” or similar period mandated under employment laws in the jurisdiction where the Participant is providing services.
(d) Grant Date. The grant date of an Award (“Grant Date”) will be the date that the Administrator makes the determination granting such Award or may be a later date if such later date is designated by the Administrator on the date of the determination or under an automatic grant policy. Notice of the determination will be provided to each Participant within a reasonable time after the Grant Date.
(e) Waiver. The Administrator may waive any terms, conditions or restrictions.
(f) Fractional Shares. Except as otherwise provided by the Administrator, any fractional Shares that result from the adjustment of Awards will be canceled. Any fractional Shares that result from vesting percentages will be accumulated and vested on the date that an accumulated full Share is vested.
(g) Electronic Delivery. The Company may deliver by e-mail or other electronic means (including posting on a website maintained by the Company or by a third party under contract with the Company or another member of the Company Group) all documents relating to the Plan or any Award and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including prospectuses, annual reports and proxy statements).
(h) Choice of Law; Choice of Forum. The Plan, all Awards and all determinations made and actions taken under the Plan, to the extent not otherwise governed by the laws of the United States, will be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law. For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises under this Plan, a Participant’s acceptance of an Award is his or her consent to the jurisdiction of the State of Delaware, and agreement that any such litigation will be conducted in Delaware Court of Chancery, or the federal courts for the United States for the District of Delaware, and no other courts, regardless of where a Participant’s services are performed.
(i) Effect of Administrator’s Decision. The Administrator’s decisions, determinations and interpretations will be final and binding on all Participants and any other holders of Awards.
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4. |
Stock Options. |
(a) Stock Option Award Agreement. Each Option will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the number of Shares subject to the Option, its per share exercise price (“Exercise Price”), its Expiration Date, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator determines. Each Option will be designated in the Award Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option. An Option not designated as an Incentive Stock Option is a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
(b) Exercise Price. The Exercise Price for the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option will be determined by the Administrator.
(c) Form of Consideration. The Administrator will determine the acceptable forms of consideration for exercising an Option and those forms of consideration will be described in the Award Agreement. The consideration may consist of any combination of the following, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws:
(i) cash;
(ii) check or wire transfer;
(iii) promissory note;
(iv) other Shares that have a fair market value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Shares as to which such Option will be exercised. To the extent not prohibited by the Administrator, this shall include the ability to tender Shares to exercise the Option and then use the Shares received on exercise to exercise the Option with respect to additional Shares;
(v) consideration received by the Company under a cashless exercise arrangement (whether through a broker or otherwise) implemented by the Company for the exercise of Options that has been approved by the Board or a Committee of Directors;
(vi) consideration received by the Company under a net exercise program under which Shares are withheld from otherwise deliverable Shares that has been approved by the Board or a Committee of Directors; and
(vii) any other consideration or method of payment to issue Shares (provided that other forms of considerations may only be approved by the Board or a Committee of Directors).
(d) Incentive Stock Option Limitations.
(i) The Exercise Price of an Incentive Stock Option may not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the Grant Date.
(ii) To the extent that the aggregate fair market value of the shares with respect to which incentive stock options under Code Section 422(b) are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year (under all plans and agreements of the Company Group) exceeds $100,000, the incentive stock options whose value exceeds $100,000 will be treated as nonstatutory stock options. Incentive stock options will be considered in the order in which they were granted. For this purpose the fair market value of the shares subject to an option will be determined as of the grant date of each option.
(iii) The Expiration Date of an Incentive Stock Option will be the day prior to the 10th anniversary of the Grant Date or any earlier date provided in the Award Agreement, subject to clause (iv) below.
(iv) The following rules apply to Incentive Stock Options granted to Participants who own stock representing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company:
(1) the Expiration Date of the Incentive Stock Option may not be after the day prior to the 5th anniversary of the Grant Date; and
(2) the Exercise Price may not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value on the Grant Date.
If an Option is designated in the Administrator action that granted it as an Incentive Stock Option but the terms of the Option do not comply with Sections 4(d)(iv)(1) and 4(d)(iv)(2), then the Option will not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. All Options granted under the Plan are Nonstatutory Stock Options unless specifically designated as Incentive Stock Options in the Award Agreement pursuant to which such Options are granted.
(e) Exercise of Option. An Option is exercised when the Company receives: (i) a notice of exercise (in such form as the Administrator may specify from time to time) from the person entitled to exercise the Option and (ii) full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised (together with applicable withholding taxes). Shares issued upon exercise of an Option will be issued in the name of the Participant. Until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder will exist with respect to the Shares subject to an Option, despite the exercise of the Option. The Company will issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares promptly after the Option is exercised. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share. Exercising an Option in any manner will decrease the number of Shares thereafter available, both for purposes of the Plan and for purchase under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.
(f) Expiration of Options. Subject to Section 4(d), an Option’s Expiration Date will be set forth in the Award Agreement. An Option may expire before its expiration date under Sections 14 or 16(b) or under the Award Agreement.
(g) Tolling of Expiration. If exercising an Option prior to its expiration is not permitted because of Applicable Laws, other than the rules of any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted, the Option will remain exercisable until 30 days after the first date on which exercise would no longer be prevented by such provisions. If this would result in the Option remaining exercisable past its Expiration Date, then it will remain exercisable only until the end of the later of (x) the first day on which its exercise would not be prevented by Section 19(a) and (y) its Expiration Date.
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5. |
Restricted Stock. |
(a) Restricted Stock Award Agreement. Each Award of Restricted Stock will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Period of Restriction (if any), the number of Shares granted, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator determines. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, Shares of Restricted Stock will be held in escrow until the end of the Period of Restriction applicable to such Shares. All grants of Restricted Stock and interpretative decisions about Restricted Stock may only be made by the Administrator.
(b) Restrictions:
(i) Except as provided in this Section 5 or the Award Agreement, Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated until the end of the Period of Restriction applicable to such Shares.
(ii) During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock may exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares, unless the Administrator determines otherwise.
(iii) During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock will not be entitled to receive dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Shares, unless the Administrator provides otherwise. If the Administrator provides that dividends and distributions will be received and any such dividends or distributions are paid in cash they will be subject to the same provisions regarding forfeitability as the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid and if such dividend or distributions are paid in Shares, the Shares will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid and, unless the Administrator determines otherwise, the Company will hold such Shares until the restrictions on the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid have lapsed.
(iv) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 5 or an Award Agreement, Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock Award made under the Plan will be released from escrow when practicable after the last day of the applicable Period of Restriction.
(v) The Administrator may impose, prior to grant, or remove any restrictions on Shares of Restricted Stock.
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6. |
Restricted Stock Units. |
(a) Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement. Each Award of Restricted Stock Units will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the terms, conditions, and restrictions related to the grant, including the number of Restricted Stock Units.
(b) Vesting Criteria and Other Terms. The Administrator will set vesting criteria that, depending on the extent to which the criteria are met, will determine the number of Restricted Stock Units paid out to the Participant. The Administrator may set vesting criteria based upon the achievement of Company-wide, divisional, business unit, or individual goals (that may include continued employment or service) or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.
(c) Earning Restricted Stock Units. Upon meeting the applicable vesting criteria, the Participant will have earned the Restricted Stock Units and will be paid as determined in Section 6(d). The Administrator may reduce or waive any criteria that must be met to earn the Restricted Stock Units.
(d) Form and Timing of Payment. Payment of earned Restricted Stock Units will be made when practicable after the date set forth in the Award Agreement and determined by the Administrator. The Administrator may settle earned Restricted Stock Units in cash, Shares, or a combination of both.
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7. |
Stock Appreciation Rights. |
(a) Stock Appreciation Right Award Agreement. Each Stock Appreciation Right grant will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Exercise Price (which may not be less than 100% of Fair Market Value on the Grant Date), its Expiration Date, the conditions of exercise, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator determines.
(b) Payment of Stock Appreciation Right Amount. When a Participant exercises a Stock Appreciation Right, he or she will be entitled to receive a payment from the Company equal to:
(i) the difference between the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise and the Exercise Price multiplied by
(ii) the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised.
Payment upon Stock Appreciation Right exercise may be made in cash, in Shares of equivalent value, or any combination of cash and Shares, with the determination of form of payment made by the Administrator. Shares issued upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right will be issued in the name of the Participant. Until Shares are issued (as evidenced by the entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder will exist with respect to the Shares subject to a Stock Appreciation Right, despite the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right. The Company will issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares promptly after the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised. A Stock Appreciation Right may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.
Exercising a Stock Appreciation Right in any manner will decrease (x) the number of Shares thereafter available under the Stock Appreciation Right by the number of Shares as to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised and (y) the number of Shares thereafter available under the Plan by the number of Shares issued upon such exercise.
(c) Expiration of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right’s Expiration Date will be set forth in the Award Agreement. A Stock Appreciation Right may expire before its expiration date under Sections 14 or 16(b) or under the Award Agreement.
(d) Tolling of Expiration. If exercising an Stock Appreciation Right prior to its expiration is not permitted because of Applicable Laws, other than the rules of any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted, the Stock Appreciation Right will remain exercisable until 30 days after the first date on which exercise would no longer be prevented by such provisions. If this would result in the Stock Appreciation Right remaining exercisable past its Expiration Date, then it will remain exercisable only until the end of the later of (x) the first day on which its exercise would not be prevented by Section 19(a) and (y) its Expiration Date.
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8. |
Performance Stock Units and Performance Shares. |
(a) Award Agreement. Each Award of Performance Stock Units/Shares will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the time period during which the performance objectives or other vesting provisions will be measured which shall not exceed 5 years (“Performance Period”) and the material terms of the Award. The Administrator may set performance objectives based upon the achievement of Company-wide, divisional, business unit or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment or service) or any other basis determined by the Administrator.
(b) Value of Performance Stock Units/Shares. Each Performance Stock Unit will have an initial value established by the Administrator on or before the Grant Date. Each Performance Share will have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value on the Grant Date.
(c) Performance Objectives and Other Terms. The Administrator will set performance objectives or other vesting provisions (that may include continued employment or service). These objectives or vesting provisions may determine the number or value of Performance Stock Units/Shares paid out.
(d) Earning of Performance Stock Units/Shares. After an applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Stock Units/Shares will be entitled to receive a payout of the number of Performance Stock Units/Shares earned by the Participant over the Performance Period. The Administrator may reduce or waive any performance objectives or other vesting provisions for such Performance Stock Unit/Share.
(e) Payment of Performance Stock Units/Shares. Payment of earned Performance Stock Units/Shares will be made when practicable after the end of the applicable Performance Period. Payment with respect to earned Performance Stock Units/Shares may be made in cash, in Shares of equivalent value, or any combination of cash and Shares, with the determination of form of payment made by the Administrator.
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9. |
Performance Awards. |
(a) Award Agreement. Each Performance Award will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Performance Period and the material terms of the Award. The Administrator may set performance objectives based upon the achievement of Company-wide, divisional, business unit or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment or service) or any other basis determined by the Administrator.
(b) Value of Performance Awards. Each Performance Award’s threshold, target, and maximum payout values will be established by the Administrator on or before the Grant Date.
(c) Performance Objectives and Other Terms. The Administrator will set performance objectives or other vesting provisions (that may include continued employment or service). These objectives or vesting provisions will determine the value of the payout for the Performance Awards.
(d) Earning of Performance Awards. After an applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of a Performance Award will be entitled to receive a payout for the Performance Award earned by the Participant over the Performance Period. The Administrator may reduce or waive any performance objectives or other vesting provisions for such Performance Award.
(e) Payment of Performance Awards. Payment of earned Performance Awards will be made when practicable after the end of the applicable Performance Period. Payment with respect to earned Performance Awards will be made in cash, in Shares of equivalent value, or any combination of cash and Shares, with the determination of form of payment made by the Administrator at the time of payment.
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10. |
Outside Director Limitations. |
No Outside Director may be granted, in any Fiscal Year, Awards with a grant date fair value (determined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles) of more than $1,000,000, increased to $2,000,000 in connection with his or her initial service as an Outside Director. Awards granted to an individual while he or she was an Employee, or while he or she was a Consultant but not an Outside Director, will not count for purpose of this limitation.
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11. |
Leaves of Absence/Transfer Between Locations/Change of Status. |
(a) General. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, a Participant will not cease to be an Employee in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company or other member of the Company Group employing such Employee or (ii) any transfer between locations of the Company or members of the Company Group.
(b) Vesting. Unless a leave policy approved by the Administrator provides otherwise or it is otherwise required by Applicable Law, vesting of Awards granted under the Plan will continue only for Participants on an approved leave of absence.
(c) Incentive Stock Option Status. If a Participant’s leave of absence approved by the Company or other member of the Company Group employing such Employee exceeds 3 months and reemployment upon expiration of such leave is not guaranteed by statute or contract, then 3 months following the 1st day of such leave the Participant will no longer be an employee for incentive stock option purposes. If reemployment upon expiration of such leave of absence is not guaranteed by statute or contract, then 6 months following the 1st day of such leave any Incentive Stock Option held by the Participant will cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and will be treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
(d) Protected Leaves.
(i) Any leave of absence by a Participant will be subject to any Applicable Laws that apply to leaves of absence.
(ii) For a Participant on a military leave, if required by Applicable Laws, vesting will continue for the longest period that vesting continues under any other statutory or Company-approved leave of absence. When a Participant returns from military leave (under conditions that would entitle him or her to such protection under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act), the Participant will be given vesting credit to the same extent as if the Participant had continued to provide services to the Company or other member of the Company Group, as applicable, through the military leave.
(e) Changes in Status. If a Participant who is an Employee has a reduction in hours worked, the Administrator may unilaterally:
(i) make a corresponding reduction in the number of Shares or cash amount subject to any portion of an Award that is scheduled to vest or become payable after the date of such extend leave or reduction in hours; and
(ii) in lieu of or in combination with such a reduction, extend the vesting or payment schedule applicable to such Award.
If any such reduction occurs, the Participant will have no right to any portion of the Award that is reduced.
(f) Determinations. The effect of a Company-approved leave of absence, a transfer, or a Participant’s reduction in hours of employment or service on the vesting of an Award shall be determined, under policies reviewed by the Administrator, by the Company’s senior human resources officer or other person performing that function or, with respect to Directors or Officers by the Compensation Committee of the Board, and any such determination will be final.
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12. |
Transferability of Awards. |
(a) General Rule. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, or otherwise required by Applicable Laws, an Award may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant. If the Administrator makes an Award transferable, the Award will be limited by any additional terms and conditions imposed by the Administrator. Any unauthorized transfer of an Award will be void.
(b) Domestic Relations Orders. If approved by the Administrator, an Award may be transferred under a domestic relations order, official marital settlement agreement or other divorce or separation instrument as permitted by Treasury Regulations Section 1.421-1(b)(2). An Incentive Stock Option may be converted into a Nonstatutory Stock Option as a result of such transfer.
(c) Limited Transfers for the Benefit of Family Members. The Administrator may permit an Award or Share issued under this Plan to be assigned or transferred subject to the applicable limitations, set forth in the General Instructions to Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act, if applicable, and any other Applicable Laws.
(d) Permitted Transferees. Any individual or entity to whom an Award is transferred will be subject to all of the terms and conditions applicable to the Participant who transferred the Award, including the terms and conditions in this Plan and the Award Agreement. If an Award is unvested then the service of the Participant will continue to determine whether the Award will vest and any Expiration Date.
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13. |
Adjustments; Dissolution or Liquidation. |
(a) Adjustments. If any extraordinary dividend or other extraordinary distribution (whether in cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to acquire securities of the Company, other change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the Shares, or any similar equity restructuring transaction, as that term is used in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (or any of its successors) affecting the Shares occurs (including, without limitation, a Change in Control), the Administrator, to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be provided under the Plan, will adjust the number and class of shares that may be delivered under the Plan and/or the number, class, and price of shares covered by each outstanding Award, and the numerical Share limits in Section 2 in such a manner as it deems equitable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the conversion of any convertible securities of the Company and ordinary course repurchases of shares or other securities of the Company will not be treated as an event that will require adjustment.
(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator will notify each Participant when practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. To the extent it has not been previously exercised, an Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action.
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14. |
Change in Control. |
(a) Administrator Discretion. If a Change in Control or a merger of the Company with or into another corporation or other entity occurs, each outstanding Award will be treated as the Administrator determines, including, without limitation, that such Award be continued by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation.
(b) Identical Treatment Not Required. The Administrator need not take the same action or actions with respect to all Awards or portions thereof or with respect to all Participants. The Administrator may take different actions with respect to the vested and unvested portions of an Award. The Administrator will not be required to treat all Awards similarly in the transaction.
(c) Continuation. An Award will be considered continued if, following the Change in Control or merger:
(i) the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the transaction, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the transaction by holders of Shares for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration received by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided that if the consideration received in the transaction is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon exercising an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or upon the payout of a Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Stock Unit, Performance Share or Performance Award, for each Share subject to such Award, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the transaction; or
(ii) the Award is terminated in exchange for an amount of cash and/or property, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction. Any such cash or property may be subjected to any escrow applicable to holders of Common Stock in the Change of Control. If as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction the Administrator determines that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment. The amount of cash or property can be subjected to vesting and paid to the Participant over the original vesting schedule of the Award.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 14(c) to the contrary, an Award that vests, is earned or paid-out upon the satisfaction of one or more performance goals will not be considered assumed if the Company or its successor modifies any of such performance goals without the Participant’s consent; provided, however, a modification to such performance goals only to reflect the successor corporation’s post-transaction corporate structure will not invalidate an otherwise valid Award assumption.
(d) The Administrator will have authority to modify Awards in connection with a Change in Control or merger:
(i) in a manner that causes them to lose their tax-preferred status,
(ii) to terminate any right a Participant has to exercise an Option prior to vesting in the Shares subject to the Option (i.e., “early exercise”), so that following the closing of the transaction the Option may only be exercised to the extent it is vested;
(iii) to reduce the Exercise Price subject to the Award in a manner that is disproportionate to the increase in the number of Shares subject to the Award, as long as the amount that would be received upon exercise of the Award immediately before and immediately following the closing of the transaction is equivalent and the adjustment complies with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(v)(D); and
(iv) to suspend a Participant’s right to exercise an Option during a limited period of time preceding and or following the closing of the transaction without Participant consent if such suspension is administratively necessary or advisable to permit the closing of the transaction.
(e) Non-Continuation. If the successor corporation does not continue for an Award (or some portion such Award), the Participant will fully vest in (and have the right to exercise) 100% of the then-unvested Shares subject to his or her outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, all restrictions on 100% of the Participant’s outstanding Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units will lapse, and, regarding 100% of Participant’s outstanding Awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be treated as achieved at 100% of target levels and all other terms and conditions met. In no event will vesting of an Award accelerate as to more than 100% of the Award. If Options or Stock Appreciation Rights are not continued when a Change in Control or a merger of the Company with or into another corporation or other entity occurs, the Administrator will notify the Participant in writing or electronically that the Participant’s vested Options or Stock Appreciation Rights (after considering the foregoing vesting acceleration, if any) will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion and all of the Participant’s Options or Stock Appreciation Rights will terminate upon the expiration of such period (whether vested or unvested).
(f) Outside Director Awards. With respect to Awards granted to an Outside Director that are continued, if on the date of or following such continuation the Participant’s status as a Director or a director of the successor corporation, as applicable, is terminated other than upon a voluntary resignation by the Participant that is not at the request of the acquirer, then the Participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights as to all of the Shares underlying such Award, including those Shares not otherwise vested or exercisable, all restrictions on Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units will lapse, and, with respect to Awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be treated as achieved at 100% of target levels and all other terms and conditions met.
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15. |
Tax Matters. |
(a) Withholding Requirements. Prior to the delivery of any Shares or cash under an Award (or exercise thereof) or such earlier time as any tax withholding obligations are due, the Company may deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy any taxes (including the Participant’s social tax obligations) required to be withheld with respect to such Award (or exercise thereof).
(b) Withholding Arrangements. The Administrator, in its sole discretion and under such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may permit or may require a Participant to satisfy such tax withholding obligations, in whole or in part by (without limitation) (i) paying cash, (ii) electing to have the Company withhold otherwise deliverable cash (including cash from the sale of Shares issued to Participant) or Shares having a fair market value equal to the minimum statutory amount required to be withheld or a greater amount if that would not result in unfavorable financial accounting treatment, (iii) delivering to the Company already-owned Shares having a fair market value equal to the minimum statutory amount required to be withheld, or (iv) requiring the Participant to engage in a cashless exercise transaction (whether through a broker or otherwise) implemented by the Company in connection with the Plan. The fair market value of the Shares to be withheld or delivered will be determined as of the date the taxes must be withheld.
(c) Compliance With Code Section 409A. Except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, it is intended that Awards will be designed and operated so that they are either exempt from the application of Code Section 409A or comply with any requirements necessary to avoid the imposition of additional tax under Code Section 409A(a)(1)(B) so that the grant, payment, settlement or deferral will not be subject to the additional tax or interest applicable under Code Section 409A and the Plan and each Award Agreement will be interpreted consistent with this intent. This Section 15(c) is not a guarantee to any Participant of the consequences of his or her Awards.
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16. |
Other Terms. |
(a) No Effect on Employment or Service. Neither the Plan nor any Award will confer upon a Participant any right regarding continuing the Participant’s relationship as a Service Provider with the Company or member of the Company Group, nor will they interfere with the Participant’s right, or the Participant’s employer’s right, to terminate such relationship with or without cause, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws.
(b) Forfeiture Events.
(i) All Awards granted under the Plan will be subject to recoupment under any clawback policy that the Company is required to adopt pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which the Company’s securities are listed or as is otherwise required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other Applicable Laws. In addition, the Administrator may impose such other clawback, recovery or recoupment provisions in an Award Agreement as the Administrator determines necessary or appropriate, including but not limited to a reacquisition right regarding previously acquired Shares or other cash or property. Unless this Section 16(b) is specifically mentioned and waived in an Award Agreement or other document, no recovery of compensation under a clawback policy or otherwise will give a Participant the right to resign for “good reason” or “constructive termination” (or similar term) under any agreement with the Company.
(ii) The Administrator may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award will be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. In the event of termination of such Participant’s status as Service Provider for Cause or any act by a Participant, whether before or after such Participant’s Termination Status Date, that would constitute cause for termination of such Participant’s status as a Service Provider, all Awards will terminate immediately.
(iii) If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under securities laws, any Participant who (i) knowingly or through gross negligence engaged in the misconduct or who knowingly or through gross negligence failed to prevent the misconduct or (ii) is one of the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, must reimburse the Company the amount of any payment in settlement of an Award earned or accrued during the 12-month period following the first public issuance or filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (whichever first occurred) of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement.
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17. |
Term of Plan. |
Subject to Sections 18 and 20, the Plan will continue in effect until the 10th anniversary of the Restatement Date (the “Expiration Date”), provided that any Awards granted under the Plan shall, subject to Section 18, continue in effect in accordance with their terms and the Plan after the Expiration Date.
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18. |
Amendment and Termination of the Plan. |
(a) Amendment and Termination. The Board or Compensation Committee of the Board may amend, alter, suspend or terminate the Plan.
(b) Stockholder Approval. The Company will obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary or desirable to comply with Applicable Laws.
(c) Consent of Participants Generally Required. Subject to Section 18(d) below, no amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Plan or an Award under it will materially impair the rights of any Participant without a signed, written agreement between the Participant and the Company. Termination of the Plan will not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it regarding Awards granted under the Plan prior to such termination.
(d) Exceptions to Consent Requirement.
(i) A Participant’s rights will not be deemed to have been impaired by any amendment, alteration, suspension or termination if the Administrator, in its sole discretion, determines that the amendment, alteration, suspension or termination taken as a whole, does not materially impair the Participant’s rights; and
(ii) Subject to any limitations of Applicable Laws, the Administrator may amend the terms of any one or more Awards without the affected Participant’s consent even if it does materially impair the Participant’s right if such amendment is done
(1) in a manner permitted under the Plan,
(2) to maintain the qualified status of the Award as an Incentive Stock Option under Code Section 422,
(3) to change the terms of an Incentive Stock Option, if such change results in impairment of the Award only because it impairs the qualified status of the Award as an Incentive Stock Option under Code Section 422,
(4) to clarify the manner of exemption from Code Section 409A or compliance with any requirements necessary to avoid the imposition of additional tax under Code Section 409A(a)(1)(B), or
(5) to comply with other Applicable Laws.
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19. |
Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. |
(a) Legal Compliance. Shares will not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Award unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such Shares will comply with Applicable Laws. If required by the Administrator, issuance will be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction or to complete or comply with the requirements of any Applicable Laws will relieve the Company of any liability regarding the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such authority, registration, qualification or rule compliance was not obtained and the Administrator reserves the authority, without the consent of a Participant, to terminate or cancel Awards with or without consideration in such a situation.
(b) Investment Representations. As a condition to the exercise of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising such Award to represent and warrant during any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and with no present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required.
(c) Failure to Accept Award. If a Participant has not accepted an Award or has not taken all administrative and other steps (e.g. setting up an account with a broker designated by the Company) necessary for the Company to issue Shares upon the vesting, exercise, or settlement of the Award prior to the first date the Shares subject such Award are scheduled to vest, then the Award will be cancelled on such date and the Shares subject to such Award immediately will revert to the Plan for no additional consideration unless otherwise provided by the Administrator.
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20. |
Stockholder Approval. |
The Plan, as amended and restated effective as of the Restatement Date, will be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company within 12 months after the Restatement Date. Such stockholder approval will be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under Applicable Laws.
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21. |
Definitions. |
The following definitions are used in this Plan:
(a) “Applicable Laws” means the requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards and the related issuance of Shares under U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and, only to the extent applicable with respect to an Award or Awards, the tax, securities or exchange control laws of any jurisdictions other than the United States where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan. Reference to a section of an Applicable Law or regulation related to that section shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation issued under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.
(b) “Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Stock Units, Performance Shares, or Performance Awards.
(c) “Award Agreement” means the written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms applicable to an Award granted under the Plan. The Award Agreement is subject to the terms of the Plan.
(d) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) “Cause” means (i) the commission of an act of theft, embezzlement, fraud, or dishonesty, (ii) a breach of fiduciary duty to the Company or a member of the Company Group including misappropriation of any Company corporate opportunity, (iii) violation of the terms of Employee’s Confidential Information, Assignment of Inventions, and Noncompetition Agreement with the Company, (iv) final conviction of a felony that adversely affects the Company (with all appeals exhausted), or (v) a failure to materially perform the customary duties of Employee’s employment.
(f) “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) A change in the ownership of the Company which occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (“Person”), acquires ownership of the stock of the Company that, with the stock held by such Person, constitutes more than 50% of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; provided, that for this subsection, the acquisition of additional stock by any one Person, who prior to such acquisition is considered to own more than 50% of the total voting power of the stock of the Company will not be considered a Change in Control. Further, if the stockholders of the Company immediately before such change in ownership continue to retain immediately after the change in ownership, in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company’s voting stock immediately prior to the change in ownership, direct or indirect beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company, such event shall not be considered a Change in Control under this Section 21(e)(i). For this purpose, indirect beneficial ownership shall include, without limitation, an interest resulting from ownership of the voting securities of one or more corporations or other business entities which own the Company, as the case may be, either directly or through one or more subsidiary corporations or other business entities; or
(ii) A change in the effective control of the Company which occurs on the date a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any 12-month period by Directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the appointment or election. For this Section 21(e)(ii), if any Person is in effective control of the Company, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same Person will not be considered a Change in Control; or
(iii) A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets which occurs on the date that any Person acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such Person or Persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 50% of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions; provided, that for this Section 21(e)(iii), the following will not constitute a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets:
(1) a transfer to an entity controlled by the Company’s stockholders immediately after the transfer, or
(2) a transfer of assets by the Company to:
(A) a stockholder of the Company (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to the Company’s stock,
(B) an entity, 50% or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company,
(C) a Person, that owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the Company, or
(D) an entity, at least 50% of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a Person described in subsections 21(e)(iii)(2)(A) to 21(e)(iii)(2)(C).
For this definition, gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets. For this definition, persons will be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the Company.
A transaction will not be a Change in Control:
(iv) unless the transaction qualifies as a change in control event within the meaning of Code Section 409A; or
(v) if its sole purpose is to (1) change the state of the Company’s incorporation, or (2) create a holding company owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction.
(g) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Reference to a section of the Code or regulation related to that section shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation issued under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.
(h) “Committee” means a committee of Directors or of other individuals satisfying Applicable Laws appointed by the Board.
(i) “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.
(j) “Company” means Genprex, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any of its successors.
(k) “Company Group” means the Company, any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, and any entity that, from time to time and at the time of any determination, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company.
(l) “Consultant” means any natural person engaged by a member of the Company Group to render bona fide services to such entity, provided the services (i) are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital raising transaction, and (ii) do not directly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities. A Consultant must be a person to whom the issuance of Shares registered on Form S-8 under the Securities Act is permitted.
(m) “Director” means a member of the Board.
(n) “Disability” means, with respect to a Participant, the inability of such Participant to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, as provided in Sections 22(e)(3) and 409A(a)(2)(c)(i) of the Code, and will be determined by the Board on the basis of such medical evidence as the Board deems warranted under the circumstances.
(o) “Employee” means any person, including Officers and Directors, employed by the Company or any member of the Company Group. However, with respect to Incentive Stock Options, an Employee must be employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company at the time of grant. Notwithstanding Stock Options granted to individuals not providing services to the Company or a subsidiary of the Company should be carefully structured to comply with the payment timing rule of Code Section 409A. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company will constitute “employment” by the Company.
(p) “Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
(q) “Exchange Program” means a program under which (i) outstanding Awards are surrendered or cancelled in exchange for awards of the same type (which may have higher or lower Exercise Prices and different terms), awards of a different type, and/or cash, (ii) Participants would have the opportunity to transfer any outstanding Awards to a financial institution or other person or entity selected by the Administrator, and/or (iii) the Exercise Price of an outstanding Award is increased or reduced. The Administrator will determine the terms and conditions of any Exchange Program in its sole discretion.
(r) “Expiration Date” means the last possible day on which an Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised. Any exercise must be completed by midnight Central Time between the Expiration Date and the following date.
(s) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of a Share, determined as follows:
(i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Global Market or the NASDAQ Capital Market of The NASDAQ Stock Market, the Fair Market Value will be the closing sales price for a Share (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system on the day of determination, as reported by such source as the Administrator determines to be reliable;
(ii) If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a Share will be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock on the day of determination (or, if no bids and asks were reported on that date on the last Trading Day such bids and asks were reported), as reported by such source as the Administrator determines to be reliable;
(iii) For any Awards granted on the Registration Date, the Fair Market Value will be the initial price to the public set forth in the final prospectus included within the registration statement in Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the initial public offering of the Company’s Common Stock; or
(iv) Absent an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value will be determined in good faith by the Administrator.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the determination date for the Fair Market Value occurs on a weekend, holiday or other non-Trading Day, the Fair Market Value will be the price as determined under subsections (i) or (ii) above on the immediately preceding Trading Day, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator. In addition, for purposes of determining the fair market value of shares for any reason other than the determination of the Exercise Price of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, fair market value will be determined by the Administrator in a manner compliant with Applicable Laws and applied consistently for such purpose. Note that the determination of fair market value for purposes of tax withholding may be made in the Administrator’s sole discretion subject to Applicable Laws and is not required to be consistent with the determination of Fair Market Value for other purposes.
(t) “Fiscal Year” means a fiscal year of the Company.
(u) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is intended to qualify and does qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Code Section 422.
(v) “Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option that by its terms does not qualify or is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
(w) “Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(x) “Option” means a stock option to acquire Shares granted under Section 4.
(y) “Outside Director” means a Director who is not an Employee.
(z) “Parent” means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Code Section 424(e).
(aa) “Participant” means the holder of an outstanding Award.
(bb) “Performance Awards” means an Award which may be earned in whole or in part upon attainment of performance goals or other vesting criteria as the Administrator may determine and which will be settled for cash, Shares or other securities or a combination of the foregoing under Section 9.
(cc) “Performance Factors” means one or more of the following: (1) earnings (including earnings per share and net earnings); (2) earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation; (3) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; (4) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and legal settlements; (5) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, legal settlements and other income (expense); (6) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, legal settlements, other income (expense) and stock-based compensation; (7) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, legal settlements, other income (expense), stock-based compensation and changes in deferred revenue; (8) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, legal settlements, other income (expense), stock-based compensation, other non-cash expenses and changes in deferred revenue; (9) total stockholder return; (10) return on equity or average stockholder’s equity; (11) return on assets, investment, or capital employed; (12) stock price; (13) margin (including gross margin); (14) income (before or after taxes); (15) operating income; (16) operating income after taxes; (17) pre-tax profit; (18) operating cash flow; (19) sales or revenue targets; (20) increases in revenue or product revenue; (21) expenses and cost reduction goals; (22) improvement in or attainment of working capital levels; (23) economic value added (or an equivalent metric); (24) market share; (25) cash flow; (26) cash flow per share; (27) cash balance; (28) cash burn; (29) cash collections; (30) share price performance; (31) debt reduction; (32) implementation or completion of projects or processes (including, without limitation, discovery of a preclinical drug candidate, recommendation of a drug candidate to enter a clinical trial, clinical trial initiation, clinical trial enrollment and dates, clinical trial results, regulatory filing submissions (such as IND, BLA and NDA), regulatory filing acceptances, regulatory or advisory committee interactions, regulatory approvals, and product supply); (33) stockholders’ equity; (34) capital expenditures; (35) financings; (36) operating profit or net operating profit; (37) workforce diversity; (38) growth of net income or operating income; (39) employee retention; (40) initiation of studies by specific dates; (41) budget management; (42) submission to, or approval by, a regulatory body (including, but not limited to the FDA) of an applicable filing or a product; (43) regulatory milestones; (44) progress of internal research or development programs; (45) progress of partnered programs; (46) partner satisfaction; (47) timely completion of clinical trials; (48) milestones related to research development (including, but not limited to, preclinical and clinical studies), product development and manufacturing; (49) expansion of sales in additional geographies or markets; (50) research progress, including the development of programs; (51) strategic partnerships or transactions (including in-licensing and out-licensing of intellectual property; (52) filing of patent applications and granting of patents; and (53) and any other measures of performance selected by the Board.
(dd) “Performance Share” means an Award denominated in Shares which may be earned in whole or in part upon attainment of performance goals or other vesting criteria as the Administrator may determine under Section 8.
(ee) “Performance Stock Units” means an Award which may be earned in whole or in part upon attainment of performance goals or other vesting criteria as the Administrator may determine and which may be settled for cash, Shares or other securities or a combination of the foregoing under Section 8.
(ff) “Period of Restriction” means the period during which the transfer of Shares of Restricted Stock is subject to restrictions and therefore, the Shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. Such restrictions may be based on the passage of time, the achievement of target levels of performance, or the occurrence of other events as determined by the Administrator.
(gg) “Plan” means this 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated effective as of the Restatement Date and as the Plan may be further amended from time to time.
(hh) “Registration Date” means the effective date of the first registration statement filed by the Company and declared effective under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, with respect to any class of the Company’s securities.
(ii) “Restricted Stock” means Shares issued under an Award granted under Section 5 or issued as a result of the early exercise of an Option.
(jj) “Restricted Stock Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing an amount equal to the Fair Market Value, granted under Section 6. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company.
(kk) “Securities Act” means Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(ll) “Service Provider” means an Employee, Director or Consultant.
(mm) “Share” means a share of Common Stock.
(nn) “Stock Appreciation Right” means an Award granted (alone or in connection with an Option) under Section 7.
(oo) “Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation” as defined in Code Section 424(f).
(pp) “Trading Day” means a day on which the applicable stock exchange or national market system is open for trading.
APPENDIX B
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF THE
AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
GENPREX, INC.
Genprex, Inc. (the “Company”), a corporation duly organized and validly existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”);
DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:
FIRST: That the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (as heretofore amended, the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) is hereby amended as follows:
Article IV of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation be and hereby is amended by adding, immediately after the seventh paragraph of Section A of Article IV (with the second through fourth paragraphs and fifth through seventh paragraphs of Section A of Article IV having been added to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation by those certain Certificates of Amendment filed on January 31, 2024 and October 16, 2025, respectively), the following:
“Upon the effectiveness (“Effective Time”) of this amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation, a one-for-[●]1 reverse stock split (the “Reverse Split”) of the Company’s Common Stock shall become effective, pursuant to which each [●] shares of Common Stock outstanding and held of record by each stockholder of the Company or held in treasury by the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time (“Old Common Stock”) shall automatically, and without any action by the holder thereof, be reclassified and combined into one (1) validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock (“New Common Stock”), subject to the treatment of fractional interests as described below and with no corresponding reduction in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock. The Reverse Split shall also apply to any outstanding securities or rights convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, Old Common Stock and all references to such Old Common Stock in agreements, arrangements, documents and plans relating thereto or any option or right to purchase or acquire shares of Old Common Stock shall be deemed to be references to the New Common Stock or options or rights to purchase or acquire shares of New Common Stock, as the case may be, after giving effect to the Reverse Split.
No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued in connection with the Reverse Split. If, upon aggregating all of the Common Stock held by a holder of Common Stock immediately following the Reverse Split a holder of Common Stock would otherwise be entitled to a fractional share of Common Stock, the Company shall issue to such holder such fractions of a share of Common Stock as are necessary to round the number of shares of Common Stock held by such holder up to the nearest whole share.
Each holder of record of a certificate or certificates for one or more shares of the Old Common Stock shall be entitled to receive as soon as practicable, upon surrender of such certificate, a certificate or certificates representing the largest whole number of shares of New Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled pursuant to the provisions of the immediately preceding paragraphs. Each stock certificate that, immediately prior to the Effective Time, represented shares of Old Common Stock that were issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, automatically and without the necessity of presenting the same for exchange, represent that number of whole shares of New Common Stock after the Effective Time into which the shares formerly represented by such certificate have been reclassified, subject to adjustment for fractional shares as described above.”
SECOND: That the amendment set forth in this Certificate of Amendment was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company and the stockholders of the Company in accordance with Section 242 of the DGCL.
THIRD: That said amendment will have an Effective Time of [●], Eastern Time, on [●].
[Signature Page Follows]
1 Shall be a whole number equal to or greater than five and equal to or lesser than fifty, which number is referred to as the “Approved Split Ratio” (it being understood that any Approved Split Ratio within such range shall, together with the remaining provisions of this Certificate of Amendment not appearing in brackets, constitute a separate amendment being approved and adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company and the stockholders of the Company in accordance with Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware). The Board of Directors of the Company shall select the Approved Split Ratio prior to the filing of the Certificate of Amendment and any amendment not setting forth the Approved Split Ratio selected by the Board of Directors and included in the Certificate of Amendment filed with the Secretary of State shall be automatically abandoned upon the filing of such Certificate of Amendment.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed this Certificate of Amendment on this _____ day of ______________, 202_.
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