Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Related Party Transactions

v3.20.2
Related Party Transactions
12 Months Ended
May 31, 2020
Related Party Transactions
Note 17 – Related Party Transactions
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) reviews and approves all related party transactions. The above terms and amounts are not necessarily indicative of the terms and amounts that would have been incurred had comparable transactions been entered into with independent parties.
On July 12, 2018, the Company announced certain leadership changes in connection with the strategic expansion and entry into certain cancer and immunologic indications. In connection with such leadership changes and effective July 11, 2018, Denis R. Burger, Ph.D. and A. Bruce Montgomery, M.D., resigned as members the Board. Dr. Burger also resigned as Chief Science Officer of the Company, which was not an executive officer position. On July 10, 2018, in connection with the resignations of Dr. Burger and Dr. Montgomery, the Board determined to accelerate the vesting of all outstanding and unvested stock options held by Dr. Burger and Dr. Montgomery. Upon the effectiveness of their resignations, stock options covering 500,000 shares and 100,000 shares, held by Dr. Burger and Dr. Montgomery, respectively, became fully vested. The stock options retained their exercise period through their respective expiration dates and the terms of the stock options remained otherwise unchanged.
 
On November 16, 2018, the Company closed its acquisition of ProstaGene assets, as described in Note 8. In connection with the closing of the acquisition, the Company hired Richard Pestell, M.D., as its Chief Medical Officer. As previously disclosed by the Company, prior to the acquisition Dr. Pestell was the holder of approximately 77.2% of the outstanding equity interests in ProstaGene and consequently held an indirect interest in approximately (i) 8,611,427 of 13,258,000 shares of the Company’s common stock and (ii) 4,171,013 of 5,400,000 shares of common stock, held in escrow for the benefit of ProstaGene and its members, which were subject to forfeiture to satisfy certain indemnity obligations of ProstaGene and subject to being released ratably every six months over the eighteen-month period following the closing date. In addition, as specified in a Stock Restriction Agreement with the Company entered into on the closing date, 8,342,000 additional shares of common stock previously distributed to Dr. Pestell in the ProstaGene acquisition are currently subject to transfer restrictions and forfeiture obligations.
As specified in a Confidential Information, Inventions and Noncompetition Agreement between the Company and Dr. Pestell, which was entered into on the closing date of the ProstaGene acquisition, the Company obtained the right to participate in the development and license of certain intellectual property created by Dr. Pestell, in connection with Dr. Pestell’s then ongoing research obligations to outside academic institutions. The Company also obtained the right to work with Dr. Pestell to manage any potential conflict between the Company’s clinical development activities and such ongoing research obligations.
On December 10, 2018, Anthony D. Caracciolo resigned as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, but remained a director and Scott A. Kelly, M.D., was named Chairman of the Board. On December 19, 2018, the Compensation Committee of the Board approved an amendment to certain compensation arrangements for Anthony D. Caracciolo, pursuant to which his employment with the Company would be extended through April 16, 2019, at a salary reduced from $16,667 to $5,000 per month, with continuing benefits. In addition, the Compensation Committee approved an extension to 10 years of the expiration terms of certain previously awarded stock options covering an aggregate of 150,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, provided that such stock options
were out-of-the-money upon
the date of such extension. These arrangements were conditioned upon Mr. Caracciolo’s agreement to resign from the Board upon identification by the Company of an appropriately qualified candidate to fill the vacancy. Mr. Caracciolo had agreed to the foregoing terms and his resignation was effective January 10, 2019. These arrangements were not the result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.
On January 8, 2019, Argonne Trading LLC (“Argonne”), participated in the private placement of convertible promissory notes, as fully described in Note 5. Michael A. Klump, the manager of Argonne, was a director of the Company at the time of investment. Argonne purchased a convertible promissory note, bearing interest of 10% for $500,000 in aggregate principal and received a warrant covering 500,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.30 per share. The terms and conditions of the Argonne investment were identical to those offered to all other investors in the offering and his investment was approved by the Audit Committee of the Board.
On May 8, 2019, Dr. David F. Welch entered into Exercise Agreements for warrants beneficially owned by him, covering an aggregate of 1,651,281 shares of common stock and 825,640 additional shares. Additionally, Michael A. Klump entered into Exercise Agreements for warrants beneficially owned by him, covering an aggregate of 3,625,000 shares of common stock and 1,812,499 additional shares. Dr. Welch and Mr. Klump were members of the Company’s board of directors at the time of exercise and participated on terms identical to those applicable to other investors.
On July 15, 2019, the Company entered into consulting agreements with two of its directors, one with Scott A. Kelly, M.D. in the capacity
of non-executive Chief
Science Officer, the other with David F. Welch, Ph.D. in the capacity
of non-executive interim
Strategy Advisor. Dr. Kelly’s agreement terminated on April 9, 2020 when he became the Company’s Chief Medical Officer in a full-time employee capacity. On September 12, 2019, the Company and Dr. Welch agreed to amend his consulting agreement to eliminate any cash compensation (including previously earned entitlements) thereunder and in October 2019, the consulting agreement between Dr. Welch and the Company was terminated. The Company has issued stock options covering an aggregate of 1,375,000 shares of common stock to Dr. Kelly and Dr. Welch as compensation pursuant to such agreements, including options to Dr. Kelly for 750,000 shares at an exercise price of $0.385, on September 12, 2019, and 187,500 shares at an exercise price of $0.39, on October 7, 2019; and options to Dr. Welch for 250,000 shares at an exercise price of $0.385, on September 12, 2019, and 187,500 shares at an exercise price of $0.39, on October 7, 2019. The options granted on September 12, 2019 vested immediately upon issuance and have
a 10-year expiration
term. The options issued on October 7, 2019 vest in four equal quarterly installments beginning on the grant date and have
a 10-year expiration
term.
On June 12, 2019, the Company concluded a warrant tender offer (the “June 2019 Warrant Tender Offer”) for certain outstanding series of eligible warrants, offering the holders of such warrants the opportunity to amend and exercise their warrants at a reduced exercise price equal to the lower of (i) their respective existing exercise price or (ii) $0.40 per share of common stock. As an inducement to holders to participate in the June 2019 Warrant Tender Offer, the Company offered to issue to participating holders shares of common stock equal to an additional 50% of the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the eligible warrants (collectively, the “Additional Shares”). Dr. Kelly validly tendered warrants beneficially owned by him, covering an aggregate of 50,000 shares of common stock, and received 25,000 Additional Shares. Dr. Kelly participated on terms identical to those applicable to other holders in the June 2019 Warrant Tender Offer.
On July 31, 2019, the Company concluded an additional warrant tender offer on terms identical to the June 2019 Warrant Tender Offer (the “July 2019 Warrant Tender Offer”). Dr. Welch tendered warrants beneficially owned by him, covering an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of common stock, and received 500,000 Additional Shares. Dr. Welch participated on terms identical to those applicable to other holders in the July 2019 Warrant Tender Offer.
On September 30, 2019, an entity controlled by Dr. Welch exchanged a 2019 Short-term Convertible Note in the principal amount of $1 million and accrued but unpaid interest of $75,343, for an Exchange Note in the principal amount of $1,075,343 and a warrant to purchase 1,000,000 shares of common stock. The entity controlled by Dr. Welch participated on similar terms to the other holders in the exchange.
On October 8, 2019, an entity controlled by then director, Mr. Michael Klump, exchanged a 2019 Short-term Convertible Note in the principal amount of $0.5 million and accrued but unpaid interest of $37,397, for an Exchange Note in the principal amount of $537,397 and a warrant to purchase 500,000 shares of common stock. The entity controlled by Mr. Klump participated on similar terms to the other holders in the exchange.
On December 13, 2019, Mr. Jordan Naydenov, a director of the Company, participated in a registered direct equity offering. Mr. Naydenov purchased 833,333 shares of common stock and received warrants covering 625,000 shares. The terms and conditions of Mr. Naydenov’s $250,000 investment were identical to those offered to other investors in this offering.
On December 23, 2019, an entity controlled by Dr. Welch participated in a registered direct equity offering. The entity controlled by Dr. Welch purchased 1,639,344 shares of common stock and received warrants covering 819,672 shares. The terms and conditions of the $500,000 investment made by the entity controlled by Dr. Welch were identical to those offered to other investors in this offering.
On January 31, 2020, an entity controlled by Dr. Welch participated in the January 31, 2020 offering. The entity controlled by Dr. Welch purchased 1,000 shares of Series D convertible preferred shares and received warrants covering 500,000 shares of common stock. The terms and conditions of the $1,000,000 investment made by the entity controlled by Dr. Welch were identical to those offered to other investors in this offering.
 
On February 26, 2020, an entity controlled by Dr. Welch entered into a private warrant exchange in which the entity purchased common stock at $0.18 per share as compared to the stated exercise price on the warrants of $0.30 per share of common stock. The entity controlled by Dr. Welch purchased 1,819,672 shares of common stock, as well as 181,967 additional shares as an inducement to exercise their warrants, for a total of 2,001,639 shares of common stock. The terms and conditions of the approximate $330,000 investment made by the entity controlled by Dr. Welch were identical to those offered to other investors in this offering.