UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
Amendment No. 1
(Mark One)
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For
the fiscal year ended
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from ____________to_________________
Commission
file Number:
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
None | N/A | N/A |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2)
has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule
405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☐ | Smaller
reporting company | |
Emerging
growth company |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness
of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered
public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐
The
aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share, held by non-affiliates of the registrant on
June 30, 2022, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was $
As of April 15, 2023, shares of the registrant’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share, were issued and outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Audit Firm ID | Auditor Name | Auditor Location | ||
EXPLANATORY NOTE
We are filing this Amendment solely for the purpose of including in Part III the information that was to be incorporated by reference from the Company’s definitive proxy statement for its 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders because the Company’s definitive proxy statement will not be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. This Amendment amends and restates in its entirety Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of Part III and amends and restates in its entirety Part IV of the Original Filing to include the prior exhibits and additional certifications required of the principal executive officer and principal financial officer under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Because no financial statements are contained within this Amendment, we are not including new certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Except as described above, no other changes have been made to the Original Filing and the Original Filing continues to speak as of the date of the Original Filing. Except as expressly set forth herein, this Amendment does not reflect events occurring after the date of the Original Filing or modify or update any of the other disclosures contained therein in any way other than as required to reflect the amendments discussed above. Accordingly, this Amendment should be read in conjunction with the Original Filing and the Company’s other filings with the SEC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3 |
PART III
ITEM 10. | DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) currently consists of seven members, divided into three classes with two directors in Class I, three directors in Class II and two directors in Class III. Directors serve for three-year terms with one class of directors being elected by the Company’s stockholders at each annual meeting. The terms of our Class I directors, Messrs. Aggarwal and Sullivan, will expire at the 2025 annual meeting, and the term of our Class III directors, Messrs. Burnell and Keegan, will expire at the 2023 Annual Meeting. The terms of our Class II directors, Messrs. Chan, Gorman, and Rocca, will expire at the 2024 annual meeting.
NAME | CLASS | AGE | PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION OR EMPLOYMENT | |||
Vijay Aggarwal | I | 74 | CEO of Phase Forward Technologies | |||
Thomas W. Burnell | III | 61 | President and Chief Executive Officer of Interpace Biosciences, Inc. | |||
Edward Chan | II | 40 | Partner of 1315 Capital Management, LLC | |||
Robert Gorman | II | 65 | Managing Partner of MLC, LLC | |||
Joseph Keegan, Ph.D. | III | 69 | Independent Investor | |||
Fortunato Ron Rocca | II | 61 | Former President and Chief Executive Officer of Exagen Inc. | |||
Stephen J. Sullivan | I | 76 | Founder, CRO Advisors LLC |
The biographies and qualifications of the members of the Board are set forth below. No director is related to any of our other directors, executive officers, or persons nominated or chosen by the Company to become a director or executive officer that would require disclosure pursuant to Item 401(d) of Regulation S-K. Likewise, there are no family relationships between any director, executive officer, or person nominated or chosen by the Company to become a director or executive officer that would require disclosure pursuant to Item 401(d) of Regulation S-K.
Vijay Aggarwal, Class I Director and Ampersand Designee. Dr. Vijay Aggarwal was designated as a director by Ampersand 2018 Limited Partnership, a fund managed by Ampersand Capital Partners (“Ampersand”), as a holder of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock, and thereby appointed and elected as a director effective February 1, 2022, replacing Eric B. Lev as designee of Ampersand. Dr. Aggarwal serves as Chair of the Board’s Compliance and Regulatory Committee (“Regulatory Compliance Committee”) which was formerly part of the Company’s Audit Committee and was formed in January 2020 and as a member of the Board’s Nominating Committee. Currently CEO of Phase Forward Technologies, and formerly a Managing Partner of The Channel Group, Dr. Aggarwal provides strategic advisory and capital formation services to companies with operations or investments in the clinical diagnostics, molecular diagnostic, and anatomic pathology sectors. He is also an active investor in early-stage medical technology companies. Prior to The Channel Group, he served as CEO of Vaxigenix, a pharmaceutical company developing vaccine treatments for colorectal cancer. From 2004-2009, Dr. Aggarwal was President and CEO of Aureon Laboratories, Inc., a predictive pathology company offering advanced tissue analysis services to practicing physicians and the pharmaceutical industry. From 2001 to 2004, he served as President of AAI Development Services, Inc., a global contract research and development services company serving the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. In 1999, following the acquisition of SmithKline Beecham Clinical Laboratories by Quest Diagnostics, Dr. Aggarwal led the team that planned the integration of the two companies and served on the Chairman’s Council. In addition, he served as President of Quest Diagnostic Ventures, where his responsibilities included new technology, new business models, clinical trials testing, and direct–to-consumer strategies.
Dr. Aggarwal spent 14 years with SmithKline Beecham Clinical Laboratories (“SBCL”), the clinical laboratory operations of SmithKline Beecham plc. During his tenure with the company, he held many positions, including Director of Business Development, Executive Vice President of Laboratories, having direct responsibility for all of SBCL’s U.S.-based laboratories, and as Vice President of Managed Care, responsible for third party reimbursement.
Early in his career, Dr. Aggarwal spent 8 years at Bio Science Laboratories, finishing his time with the company as Manager of Toxicology and Special Chemistry. He currently holds Board positions at Accugenomics, Allergenis, Moleculera and Slone Partners. Previous Board positions include Hycor Biomedical, Targeted Diagnostics and Therapeutics and ViraCor IBT Laboratories. He earned a BA in Chemistry from Case Western Reserve University and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology/Toxicology from the Medical College of Virginia.
4 |
Dr. Aggarwal brings extensive leadership in clinical diagnostic services as well as institutional and individual investment experience.
Thomas W. Burnell, Class III Director. Effective December 1, 2020, Mr. Burnell was named President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company. From October 15, 2019 until November 30, 2020, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Cardiovascular Clinic of Nebraska LLC, a medical treatment facility focused on diagnosis and treatment of cardiac and vascular disorders, and from October 2, 2017 until November 29, 2017 he served as Chief Executive Officer and a director of True Nature Holding, Inc., a public company now known as Mitesco, Inc. that focuses on development and acquisition of innovative technologies. From July 16, 2016 until March 31, 2017, Mr. Burnell was the President of Boston Heart Diagnostics Corporation, a diagnostics subsidiary of Eurofins Scientific, Inc. (“Eurofins”). From January 2014 to December 2016, Mr. Burnell was an Operating Partner of Ampersand , a private equity firm and the manager of private equity fund that are a major stockholder of the Company, where he represented Ampersand’s investment in a dietary supplement manufacturer, Elite One Source Nutrisciences, Inc., as its President and Chief Executive Officer. From October 2014 until May 2016, Mr. Burnell served as Executive Chairman of Accuratus Lab Services, Inc., a provider of laboratory testing services, and from September 2012 until July 2014 he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Viracor-IBT Laboratories, Inc., a specialty testing laboratory with an emphasis on the transplant market, during which time it was majority-owned by Ampersand prior to its sale to Eurofins. Mr. Burnell performed the above-described services, except for his services to us, as the Co-Owner, General Partner, and Chief Executive Officer of Milestone Business Management, a consulting firm focused on strategic, financial, and organizational performance of food, pharmaceutical, and life science companies.
In addition, from September 2005 until August 2010, Mr. Burnell served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Nebraska Heart Institute Heart Hospital, a hospital which was acquired during his tenure by Catholic Health Initiatives. From February 2001 until August 2005, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Eurofins, a U.S. wholly owned subsidiary of Eurofins Scientific Group, a publicly held international laboratory company (“Eurofins Group”). From September 2000 until June 2002, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of GenomicFX, Inc., a leader in livestock and aquaculture genomics. From June 1989 until July 2000, Mr. Burnell held various senior management positions at ContiGroup Companies, Inc., a global agriculture, food and nutrition company. Mr. Burnell holds a PhD in Nutrition from the University of Kentucky and a BS and MS in animal sciences and nutrition, respectively, from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Mr. Burnell has extensive leadership experience in the healthcare, biotechnology, laboratory sciences and manufacturing sectors, which has led the Board to conclude that Mr. Burnell should serve as a director of the Company.
Edward Chan, Class II Director and 1315 Capital Designee. Edward Chan was designated as a director by 1315 Capital as a holder of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock and thereby appointed and elected to the Board effective January 15, 2020 and was subsequently named to the Board’s Compensation & Management Development Committee (the “Compensation Committee”), Nominating Committee, and Regulatory Compliance Committee. From June 2021 through the present, Mr. Chan has been a partner of 1315 Capital Management, LLC, a Philadelphia-based firm that provides expansion and growth capital to healthcare companies. From October 2016 through June 2021, Mr. Chan served as a principal of 1315 Capital Management, LLC. Mr. Chan has over [17] years of experience in healthcare investing. From 2012 to 2016, Mr. Chan was a vice president at NaviMed Capital Advisors, LLC, a lower middle-market healthcare investment firm and an associate at Siemens Venture Capital, the investment arm of Siemens. Mr. Chan started his career developing and commercializing a molecular diagnostic product at a venture backed company and has been involved in several diagnostics and biopharma services investments including China Diagnostics Medical Corporation (acquired by Actis Capital), BioImagene, Inc. (acquired by Roche Holding AG), RadPharm, Inc. (acquired by JLL Partners), Cylex, Inc. (acquired by Viracor-IBT Laboratories, Inc.), Sequenom, Inc. (acquired by Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings) and Genoptix, Inc. (acquired by NeoGenomics, Inc.). He currently serves on the board of the private company Homestead Smart Health Plans LLC and the board of Integration Health Holdings, LLC. Mr. Chan received a BSc in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Chan’s designation as director brings to the Board experience in expanding healthcare companies and biomedical engineering and business backgrounds.
5 |
Robert Gorman, Class II Director and Ampersand Designee. Robert Gorman was initially designated as director on October 17, 2019 by Ampersand as holder of the Company’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, which is no longer outstanding, and thereby appointed and elected to the Board and was re-designated as director by Ampersand as holder of Series B Preferred Stock and thereby re-appointed and re-elected to the Board effective January 15, 2020. On January 22, 2020, the Company named Mr. Gorman to the Compensation Committee and the Regulatory Compliance Committees. On April 16, 2020, Mr. Gorman resigned as a member of the Compensation Committee and was appointed as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Gorman’s experience includes over 30 years in healthcare leadership positions. The majority of his career has been in the laboratory services industry with both public and private companies. After leaving public accounting, he served as Operations Controller for Home Medical Systems, Inc., a company focused on the roll-up of the durable medical equipment business in the United States and sold to Beverly Enterprises. He joined Central Diagnostic Laboratory, the largest independent laboratory at the time, as East Coast Controller, which was acquired by Corning Clinical Laboratory (now known as Quest Diagnostics Incorporated). He spent over 20 years at Quest Diagnostics Incorporated. While at Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, he held various leadership roles including responsibility for the New York and New England laboratories and the East Region, and he ultimately became the Vice President of U.S. operations. After retiring from Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, Mr. Gorman along with WaterStreet Healthcare Partners acquired Converge Diagnostic Services LLC in 2009, where he served as Chief Executive Officer. He helped transform Converge Diagnostic Services LLC into a full-service regional laboratory services company servicing the New England market. After approximately four and a half years, Converge Diagnostics Services LLC was acquired by Quest Diagnostics Incorporated. Mr. Gorman served as Senior Vice President of U.S. Clinical Diagnostics for Eurofins Group, , with responsibility for clinical diagnostic businesses in the U.S. from January 2017 to July 2018. Since July 2018, Mr. Gorman serves as a consultant for MLC, LLC, for which he is also the managing partner. Mr. Gorman has served on several for profit and not for profit boards, including for Eurofins’s subsidiary Boston Heart Diagnostics Corporation from January 2017 to July 2018. Mr. Gorman earned his B.S. in Accounting from Villanova University.
Mr. Gorman brings leadership in the laboratory services industry in public and private companies, including clinical diagnostic businesses, to the Board.
Joseph Keegan, Class III Director. Joseph Keegan, Ph.D. was appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2016 and was subsequently appointed Chairman of our Audit Committee and our Nominating Committee. Dr. Keegan has more than 30 years of experience in life science businesses. From 2007 to 2012, when it was sold to Pall Corporation, Dr. Keegan was chief executive officer at ForteBio, Inc., a life science tool company, where he helped to lead a financing round and established product development and sales strategies for that company. From 1998 to 2007, Dr. Keegan was chief executive officer at Molecular Devices Corporation (NASDAQ: MDCC), a provider of bioanalytical measurement systems, software and consumables, where Dr. Keegan helped grow the company both internally and through acquisitions. From 1992 to 1998, Dr. Keegan worked at Becton Dickinson and Company, a medical technology company that manufactures and sells medical devices and instrument systems, where he served as President of Worldwide Tissue Culture and Vice President, General Manager of Worldwide Flow Cytometry. From 1988 to 1992, Dr. Keegan was Vice President of the Microscopy and Scientific Instruments Division of Leica, Inc., a life science tool and semiconductor equipment provider. He currently serves on the boards of directors as the chairman of the board for the following privately held companies: Halo Labs (formerly known as Optofluidics, Inc.), Carterra (formerly known as Wasatch Microfluidics, Inc.), and Fluidic Analytics and currently serves on the board of directors of Nuclera Nucleics. In April 2017, he joined the board of ArrayJet Ltd., a privately held Scottish company and is currently chairman of the board. During 2022, Dr. Keegan joined the board of Hayward, CA based Biolog, Inc. Dr. Keegan is a member of the board of directors of Bio-Techne Corporation (NASDAQ: TECH), a publicly held biotech company. Dr. Keegan holds a B.A. in Chemistry from Boston University and a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Stanford University.
Dr. Keegan’s specific qualifications and skills in the areas of life science businesses, product development and sales strategies led the Board to conclude that Dr. Keegan should serve as a director.
6 |
Fortunato Ron Rocca, Class II Director and 1315 Capital Designee. Ron Rocca was elected to the Board as a Class II director on January 22, 2020 following his designation by 1315 Capital as a holder of Series B Preferred Stock. Mr. Rocca was concurrently appointed to the Audit and Compensation Committees. From October 2011 through October 2022, Mr. Rocca served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Exagen Inc. (NASDAQ: XGN), a company dedicated to transforming the care continuum for patients suffering from debilitating and chronic autoimmune diseases. From 2005 to October 2011, Mr. Rocca served as Vice President, Sales and Marketing, and as General Manager at Prometheus, a specialty pharmaceutical and diagnostic company which was acquired by Nestlé SA in 2011, where he was responsible for leading the commercial organization, strategic planning and implementation of projects designed to maximize brand sales. Prior to joining Prometheus, Mr. Rocca served as the General Manager of Alpharma Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company. Earlier in his career, Mr. Rocca served in senior sales and marketing management positions for Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a neuroscience-focused biotechnology company and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. Mr. Rocca received a B.S. in Marketing and Personnel Management from Towson State University. Mr. Rocca’s extensive knowledge of our business, as well as his over 25 years of experience in the diagnostic and pharmaceutical industries, contributed to our board of directors’ conclusion that he should serve as a director of our Company.
Mr. Rocca brings to the Board extensive experience as an officer at public companies developing healthcare tests.
Stephen J. Sullivan, Class I Director. Stephen J. Sullivan is currently a director and served as Chairman of the Board from June 21, 2016 until April 16, 2020. Mr. Sullivan served as Interim Chairman of the Board from January 1, 2016 to June 20, 2016. Mr. Sullivan joined Interpace as a director in September 2004 and has served as Chairman of various committees of the Board. Mr. Sullivan currently serves as Chairman of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Audit and Nominating Committees. In early 2010, Mr. Sullivan founded CRO Advisors LLC, a specialty consulting firm he continues to head. Previously, Mr. Sullivan was the president and chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors of Harlan Laboratories, Inc. (“Harlan”) (acquired by Huntingdon Life Sciences Inc.), a privately held global provider of preclinical research tools and services, from February 2006 through January 2010, when he retired from that position. Prior to joining Harlan in 2006, Mr. Sullivan was a senior vice president of Covance, Inc. (“Covance”) and the president of Covance Central Laboratories, Inc., a major division of Covance. Prior to joining Covance, Mr. Sullivan was chairman and chief executive officer of Xenometrix, Inc. (“Xenometrix”), a biotechnology company with proprietary gene expression technology. He assisted with the merger of Xenometrix with Discovery Partners International. Prior to Xenometrix, Mr. Sullivan was vice president and general manager of a global diagnostic sector of Abbott Laboratories.
Mr. Sullivan has extensive experience as a director. In 2019, Mr. Sullivan became a director of The Emmes Company, LLC, a clinical research collaborator within the contract research organization industry. In July of 2022, The Emmes Company LLC was sold to New Mountain Capital, at which time Mr. Sullivan resigned from the board. Since April 2018, Mr. Sullivan has been a member of the board of Transnetyx, Inc., a privately held genotyping company. Since May 2015, Mr. Sullivan has been chairman of the board of Analytical Lab Group (formerly known as Microbiology Research Associates), a privately held microbiology services company. In May of 2020, Analytical Lab group was sold to Element, a UK company, at which time Mr. resigned as Chairman and left the board. From April 2011 through March 2019, Mr. Sullivan was chairman of the board of MI Bioresearch, Inc. (formerly known as Molecular Imaging, Inc.), a privately held venture-backed drug discovery services company. In February of 2020, MI Bioresearch was sold to LabCorp, at which time Mr. Sullivan resigned as Chairman and left the board. In January 2016, Mr. Sullivan became chairman of the board of H2O Clinical (acquired by Pharma Start LLC). In July 2016, Mr. Sullivan became chairman of the board of PharmaStart, LLC. As of June 2017, both H20 Clinical and PharmaStart are doing business as Firma Clinical Research, a privately held specialty contract research organization. As of July 2018, Firma Clinical Research has been sold and Mr. Sullivan is no longer a member of its board. From November 2015 until August 2017, Mr. Sullivan was a member of the board of Accel Clinical Research, a phase 1 contract research organization. From June 2013 through January 2016, when the company was sold, Mr. Sullivan was the chairman of the board of BioreclamationIVT, LLC, a privately-owned bio-materials company. From May 2013 through March 2015, when the company was sold, Mr. Sullivan was a member of the board of directors of PHT Corporation (acquired by eResearchTechnology, Inc.), a privately-owned leader in electronic patient recorded outcomes in clinical trials.
Mr. Sullivan graduated from the University of Dayton, was a commissioned officer in the Marine Corps, and completed his M.B.A. in Marketing and Finance at Rutgers University. Mr. Sullivan is currently an adjunct Professor of Management at Georgetown University.
7 |
Mr. Sullivan has held senior leadership positions in companies in the life sciences and healthcare services industries. His specific qualifications and skills in the areas of general operations, financial operations and administration, and mergers and acquisitions led the Board to conclude that Mr. Sullivan should serve as a director of the Company.
Executive Officers
The following table sets forth the names, ages and principal position of our executive officers as of the date of this Amendment:
Name | Age | Position | ||
Thomas W. Burnell | 61 | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||
Christopher McCarthy | 31 | Vice President of Finance and Enterprise Systems and Principal Financial Officer |
Thomas W. Burnell. The principal occupation and business experience for at least the last five years for Mr. Burnell is discussed in this Amendment under the heading “Board of Directors” in this Item 10.
There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Burnell and any other persons pursuant to which he was selected as an officer. In addition, there is no family relationship between Mr. Burnell and any director, executive officer or person nominated or chosen by the Company to become a director or executive officer that would require disclosure pursuant to Item 401(d) of Regulation S-K. There is no related party transaction as of the date hereof between Mr. Burnell and the Company that would require disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Christopher McCarthy. Christopher McCarthy has served as the Company’s Vice President of Finance and Enterprise Systems since August 2022, and was appointed Principal Financial Officer in April 2023. Prior to serving as the Company’s Vice President of Finance and Enterprise Systems, Mr. McCarthy served as the Company’s Senior Director of Operations Finance from August 2020 to August 2022 and the Company’s Senior Financial Analyst from June 2019 to August 2020. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. McCarthy served as a Senior Financial Systems Analyst at Simon & Schuster, Inc. from January 2016 to June 2019.
Except as described above, Mr. McCarthy has served in no other Company positions and there is no arrangement or understanding between Mr. McCarthy and any other person pursuant to which he was selected to serve as Principal Financial Officer. Mr. McCarthy has no family relationship with any director or executive officer or person nominated or chosen by the Company to become a director or executive officer of the Company. There are no related party transactions as of the date hereof between Mr. McCarthy and the Company that would require disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Governance of the Company
Corporate Governance and Code of Business Conduct
Our Board has adopted a written Code of Business Conduct that applies to our directors, officers, and employees, as well as Guidelines on Corporate Governance applicable specifically to our Board. You can find links to these documents in the “Investors-Corporate Governance” section of our website page at www.interpace.com. The content contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated into this Amendment. Disclosure regarding any amendments to, or any waivers from, a provision of our Code of Business Conduct that applies to one or more of our directors, our principal executive officer, our principal financial or our principal accounting officer will be included in a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days following the date of the amendment or waiver, or posted on our website (www.interpace.com). Our common stock is quoted on the OTCQX, which is operated by OTC Markets Group, Inc. (“OTC Markets”).
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee is currently comprised of Dr. Keegan (Chairperson), Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Rocca. The primary purposes of our Audit Committee are to assist the Board in fulfilling its legal and fiduciary obligations with respect to matters involving the accounting, auditing, financial reporting, internal control, legal compliance and risk management functions of the Company, including, without limitation, assisting the Board’s oversight of: (i) the integrity of our financial statements; (ii) the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting; (iii) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; (iv) the qualifications and independence of our independent registered public accounting firm; (v) the selection, retention and termination of our independent registered public accounting firm; and (vi) the performance of our internal audit function and independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee is also responsible for preparing the report of the Audit Committee required by the rules and regulations of the SEC for inclusion in our annual proxy statement.
Our Board has determined that each member of our Audit Committee is independent within the meaning of the rules of OTC Markets and as required by the Audit Committee charter. Our Board has determined that the chairperson of the Audit Committee, Dr. Keegan, is an “audit committee financial expert,” as that term is defined in Item 407(d) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
8 |
Our Audit Committee charter is posted and can be viewed in the “Investors-Corporate Governance” section of our website at www.interpace.com.
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
To the best of our knowledge, none of our directors or executive officers has been involved in any material legal proceeding during the past ten years.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than ten percent (10%) of our common stock, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. Executive officers, directors and greater than ten percent (10%) stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
To the best of our knowledge, based solely on our review of the copies of such forms furnished to us, or written representations that no other forms were required, we believe that all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to our executive officers, directors and greater than ten percent (10%) stockholders were complied with during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
ITEM 11. | EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth certain information concerning compensation for 2022 and 2021 earned by our Chief Executive Officer and our former Chief Financial Officers during 2022 and 2021.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE FOR 2022 AND 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($)(1) | Stock Awards ($)(2) | Option Awards ($)(2) | Non-Equity Incentive Compensation | All Other Compen-sation (3) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thomas W. Burnell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CEO | 2022 | $ | 433,854 | $ | 185,000 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 15,315 | $ | 634,169 | |||||||||||||||||
2021 | 425,000 | 160,000 | - | - | - | 3,352 | 588,352 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thomas Freeburg (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CFO | 2022 | 190,417 | - | - | - | - | 159,008 | 349,425 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 231,254 | 60,000 | 250,000 | 229,000 | - | 502 | 770,756 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fred Knechtel (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CFO | 2021 | 25,833 | - | - | - | - | 173,737 | 199,570 |
(1) | The amount set forth in this column represents an annual cash incentive bonus. | |
(2) | The dollar amounts set forth under the headings “Stock Awards” and “Option Awards” represent aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For purposes of computing such amounts, we disregarded estimates of forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. For additional information regarding our valuation assumptions, please refer to Note 15 – “Stock-Based Compensation” to our consolidated financial statements included in our Original Filing. | |
(3) | For the named executive officers, this column includes the following amounts in 2022: |
401(k) Company Match ($) | Term Life/Disability Insurance Payment ($) | Other ($) (1) | Totals ($) | |||||||||||||
Thomas Burnell | $ | 12,272 | $ | 3,043 | $ | - | $ | 15,315 | ||||||||
Thomas Freeburg (1) | - | 790 | 158,218 | 159,008 |
(1) | The amounts set forth in this column for Mr. Freeburg represent severance of $127,500, continuation of health benefits of $11,218 and consulting fees of $19,500. |
(4) | Mr. Freeburg no longer served as Chief Financial Officer effective September 30, 2022. | |
(5) | Mr. Knechtel no longer served as Chief Financial Officer effective January 31, 2021. |
9 |
Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table
The following narrative discusses the base salary, annual cash incentives, long-term equity incentives, and perquisites of the Company with respect to Messrs. Burnell, Freeburg and Knechtel during 2022.
Base Salary
Initially, base salaries are generally set according to the executive officer’s employment agreement with the Company and adjusted based on the individual’s current and historical performance. The base salary levels and any changes to those levels for each executive are reviewed each year by the Compensation Committee and adjustments may be based on factors such as new roles and/or responsibilities assumed by the executive and the executive’s impact on our strategic goals and financial performance.
Tom Burnell. Upon appointment as Chief Executive Officer on December 1, 2020, Mr. Burnell’s annual base salary was set at $425,000. There was a 2.5% increase to Mr. Burnell’s salary in 2022.
Thomas Freeburg. Upon appointment as Chief Financial Officer on February 1, 2021, Mr. Freeburg’s annual base salary was set at $225,000. Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, his base salary was increased to $250,000 on August 1, 2021. There was a 2% increase to Mr. Freeburg’s salary in 2022.
Annual Cash Incentives
The annual cash incentive program provides our executive officers with an opportunity to receive a cash award at the discretion of the Compensation Committee (and the full Board, in the case of the Chief Executive Officer). Annual cash incentive targets and performance metrics are usually determined by the Compensation Committee during the first quarter of each fiscal year, based on competitive market data generally available to the Compensation Committee as well as consideration based upon the financial condition of the Company, including revenue and adjusted EBITDA.
Long-Term Equity Incentives
Our executives are also eligible to participate in a long-term equity incentive program, which is currently administered under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. The long-term equity incentive component of our compensation program is used to promote alignment with stockholders and to balance the short-term focus of the annual cash incentive component by linking a substantial part of compensation to our long-term stockholder returns. The Compensation Committee believes that long-term stock-based compensation enhances our ability to attract and retain high quality talent, provides motivation to improve our long-term financial performance, and increase stockholder value.
10 |
No stock awards or stock options were granted to our executive officers in 2022 as the awards issued in 2021 were to cover a two-year period. In March 2021, Mr. Freeburg was awarded 50,000 RSUs and 50,000 stock options, which became fully vested pursuant to the terms of the Consulting Agreement described below.
Perquisites
As a matter of practice, we provide only limited perquisites to our executive officers that are not generally provided to all employees. Executives are eligible for the standard benefits and programs generally available to all of our employees. The value of special perquisites, as well as additional benefits that are available generally to all of our employees, that were provided to each named executive officer in 2022 are set forth in footnote 3 to the Summary Compensation Table.
Qualified Plan
The Company maintains a tax-qualified savings plan under Section 401(k) of the Code. Employees who participate in the plan may make elective deferrals to the plan, subject to the limitations imposed by the Code. In addition, the Company currently offers a safe harbor matching contribution equal to 100% of the first 3% of an employee’s contributed base salary plus 50% of the employee’s base salary contributed exceeding 3% but not more than 5%.
Employment Agreements and Severance Arrangements
Tom Burnell
On December 1, 2020, the Company appointed Mr. Burnell as Chief Executive Officer and President and entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Burnell (the “Burnell Employment Agreement”). Under the Burnell Employment Agreement, Mr. Burnell is to receive an annual base salary of at least $425,000, a target annual bonus opportunity of up to 50% of such base salary, and certain other benefits such as housing and participation in the benefit plans and programs maintained by the Company.
In the event that Mr. Burnell’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Mr. Burnell for Good Reason (in each case, as defined in the Burnell Employment Agreement), then subject to, among other things, Mr. Burnell’s execution and non-revocation of a release agreement in favor of the Company, Mr. Burnell would be entitled to: (i) salary continuation payments for a period of (a) six (6) months, if such termination of employment occurs on or after the first anniversary of employment but prior to the second anniversary of employment, or (b) twelve (12) months, if such termination of employment occurs on or after the second anniversary of employment; provided, however, that there will be no salary continuation payments in the event such termination of employment occurs prior to the first anniversary of employment; (ii) all outstanding equity awards that were scheduled to vest during the 24-month period following the termination date, but for the termination, would become fully vested and exercisable (including any such awards that vest in whole or in part based on the attainment of performance-vesting conditions that would be deemed achieved at the target level of the applicable award agreement); and, (iii) continuation of health and welfare benefits for the applicable salary continuation period.
Thomas Freeburg
On February 1, 2021, the Company appointed Mr. Freeburg as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Secretary of the Company, effective as of February 1, 2021 and entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Freeburg (the “Freeburg Employment Agreement”). Under the Freeburg Employment Agreement, Mr. Freeburg received an annual base salary of $225,000 and a target annual bonus opportunity of up to 40% of such base salary. Effective as of the date six (6) months after the Effective Date, the Base Salary increased to $250,000. On March 10, 2021 Mr. Freeburg, was awarded 50,000 RSUs and 50,000 stock options vesting in equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date, subject to Mr. Freeburg’s continued employment with the Company through the applicable vesting date, with accelerated vesting upon a Change in Control, as defined in the applicable equity incentive plan, subject to Mr. Freeburg’s continuous employment through such Change in Control.
11 |
On September 30, 2022, Mr. Freeburg resigned from his position as Chief Financial Officer and as an employee of the Company. In connection with his resignation the Company entered into a severance and consulting agreement, (the “Consulting Agreement”). Pursuant to the Consulting Agreement, the Company agreed to provide Mr. Freeburg with the following payments and benefits: (i) a cash amount equal to $127,500 payable in semi-monthly installments over a six-month period, (ii) payment for the cost of COBRA premiums for six months, and (iii) the accelerated vesting of all outstanding equity grants on September 30, 2022. Mr. Freeburg has consulted and remained the Company’s principal financial officer through March 31, 2023.Mr. Freeburg earned approximately $61,000 for consulting in 2023.
Confidential Information, Non-Disclosure, Non-Solicitation, Non-Compete and Rights to Intellectual Property Agreement (“Restrictive Covenants Agreement”)
Each of Messrs. Freeburg and Burnell also entered into a Restrictive Covenants Agreement with the Company that includes customary provisions regarding confidentiality and non-disclosure, customary non-competition and non-solicitation provisions that extend for up to one (1) year following termination of employment, and a customary invention assignment regarding ownership of intellectual property. The payment of any severance benefits under each executive’s employment agreement and/or severance agreement is conditioned on continued compliance with his Restrictive Covenants Agreement. Mr. Freeburg remains subject to the Restrictive Covenants Agreement pursuant to the terms of the Consulting Agreement.
Treatment of Outstanding Equity on a Change in Control
Pursuant to the terms of our 2004 Stock Award and Incentive Plan, awards outstanding under that plan will generally become fully vested and exercisable upon a change in control of the Company. There is no similar automatic vesting provision upon a change in control for awards granted under the Interpace Biosciences, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan.
Outstanding Equity Awards as of December 31, 2022
The following table provides information concerning the number and value of unexercised stock options and RSUs for the named executive officers outstanding as of the year ended December 31, 2022:
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT DECEMBER 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable | Option Exercise Price ($) | Option Expiration Date | Number of Shares/RSUs that have not Vested (#) | Market Value of Shares/RSUs that have not Vested ($)(1) | ||||||||||||||||||
Thomas W. Burnell | - | - | - | 125,000 | (2) | 130,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
- | - | - | 33,333 | (3) | 34,666 |
(1) | The market value is based on the closing price of $1.04 on December 30, 2022, the last day of trading in 2022. | |
(2) | Consists of 125,000 performance based RSUs which will be eligible to vest on the day following a 30 calendar day period in which, for each trading day of such period, a share of Common Stock has a closing per share price of at least $11.34. | |
(3) | Includes 33,333 time based RSUs which will fully vest on December 1, 2023. |
12 |
Director Compensation in 2022
The following table presents information relating to total compensation for our non-employee directors for the year ended December 31, 2022. Mr. Burnell, our Chief Executive Officer, does not receive compensation for his services on the Board. Information regarding the compensation of Mr. Burnell can be found above, under the heading “Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table”.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION IN 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
Name | Fees earned or paid in cash ($) | Stock awards ($) (1) (2) | Option awards ($) (1) | Total ($) | ||||||||||||
Vijay Aggarwal (3) | 45,695 | - | 126,195 | 171,890 | ||||||||||||
Edward Chan (4) | 40,000 | - | - | 40,000 | ||||||||||||
Robert Gorman | 170,000 | - | - | 170,000 | ||||||||||||
Joseph Keegan | 50,000 | - | - | 50,000 | ||||||||||||
Fortunato Ron Rocca | 40,000 | - | - | 40,000 | ||||||||||||
Stephen J. Sullivan | 50,000 | - | - | 50,000 |
(1) | Outstanding option awards held by the non-employee directors as of December 31, 2022 consist of the following outstanding stock option amounts: Mr. Aggarwal – 28,000; Mr. Gorman -168,000; Dr. Keegan – 32,920; Mr. Rocca – 28,000; Mr. Sullivan – 33,820. | |
(2) | The dollar amounts set forth under the headings “Stock Awards” and “Option Awards” represent aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For purposes of computing such amounts, we disregarded estimates of forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. For additional information regarding our valuation assumptions, please refer to Note 15 – “Stock-Based Compensation” to our consolidated financial statements included in our Original Filing. | |
(3) | Dr. Aggarwal received 28,000 stock options upon his appointment to the Board on February 1, 2022. | |
(4) | Mr, Chan’s director compensation is payable to 1315 Capital. |
Director Compensation
The Compensation Committee is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations to the Board regarding all matters pertaining to compensation paid to directors for Board and committee chair services. Directors who also serve as employees of the Company do not receive payment for services as directors. The current compensation program for non-employee directors has been in effect since April 29, 2020 when it was approved by Board resolution, and is described further below.
Cash Compensation Policy
In 2022, each of our non-employee directors received an annual director’s fee of $40,000, payable quarterly in arrears. Additionally, any non-employee director (except Mr. Gorman as Chairman) serving as Chairperson of a Board Committee received an annual fee of $10,000 (regardless of the number of Committees chaired.) For his roles as a director and Chairman of the Board, Mr. Gorman received a total annual fee of $170,000.
From time to time, the Board may form special committees to address discrete issues and the non-employee directors sitting on such special committees may receive additional compensation. In addition, our non-employee directors are entitled to reimbursement for travel and related expenses incurred in connection with attendance at Board and committee meetings.
13 |
Equity Compensation Policy
Commencing in 2020, each new appointee to the Board receives a grant of 28,000 stock options which vest in equal annual installments over a three-year period. Director equity compensation is reviewed on a regular basis with the assistance of Radford from time to time.
ITEM 12. | SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS |
The following table shows, as of April 15, 2023, the number of shares of our Common Stock beneficially owned by: (i) each stockholder who is known by us to own beneficially in excess of 5% of our outstanding Common Stock; (ii) each of our current directors; (iii) each of our current named executive officers, and (iv) all current directors and named executive officers as a group.
Except as otherwise indicated, the persons listed below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock owned by them and all information with respect to beneficial ownership has been furnished to us by the respective stockholder. Except as otherwise indicated, the address of the persons listed below is c/o Interpace Biosciences, Inc., Morris Corporate Center 1, Building C, 300 Interpace Parkway, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054. The percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 4,311,414 shares of Common Stock outstanding on April 15, 2023.
Name of Beneficial Owner | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned (1) | Percent of Shares Outstanding | ||||||
5% Holders: | ||||||||
Ampersand 2018 Limited Partnership(2) | 4,666,666 | (3) | 52.0 | %(19) | ||||
1315 Capital II, L.P.(4) | 3,166,666 | (5) | 42.3 | %(20) | ||||
Peter H. Kamin (6) | 781,956 | (7) | 18.1 | % | ||||
Douglas M. Singer (8) | 355,165 | (9) | 8.2 | % | ||||
Executive officers and directors: | ||||||||
Thomas W. Burnell (10) | 56,521 | (13) | 1.3 | % | ||||
Vijay Aggarwal (11) | 9,333 | (14) | * | |||||
Edward Chan (11) | - | * | ||||||
Robert Gorman (12) | 80,091 | (15) | 1.9 | % | ||||
Joseph Keegan (11) | 25,009 | (16) | * | |||||
Fortunato Ron Rocca (11) | 18,666 | (17) | * | |||||
Stephen J. Sullivan (11) | 26,511 | (18) | * | |||||
as a group (8 persons) | 216,131 | (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18) | 4.8 | % |
* | Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1% of our outstanding Common Stock |
(1) | Beneficial ownership and percentage ownership are determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and include voting or investment power with respect to shares of stock. This information does not necessarily indicate beneficial ownership for any other purpose. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, we include shares underlying common stock derivatives, such as stock options and RSUs that a person has the right to acquire within 60 days of April 15, 2023. Such shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. | |
(2) | The reported address of Ampersand is 55 William Street, Suite 240, Wellesley, MA 02481. | |
(3) | This information is based solely on an amended Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on November 12, 2021 by Ampersand. Ampersand reported shared voting power and shared dispositive power of 4,666,666 shares of common stock underlying 28,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock. Series B Preferred Stock is convertible into shares of common stock at any time and from time to time, at the option of holders. The Series B Preferred Stock is convertible into shares of common stock pursuant to the terms of the Certificate of Designation of Series B Preferred Stock. | |
(4) | The reported address of 1315 Capital is 2929 Walnut Street, Suite 1240, Philadelphia, PA 19104. |
14 |
(5) | This information is based solely on an amended Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on November 11, 2021 by 1315 Capital. 1315 Capital reported shared voting power and shared dispositive power of 3,166,666 shares of common stock underlying 19,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock. Series B Preferred Stock is convertible into shares of common stock at any time and from time to time, at the option of holders. The Series B Preferred Stock is convertible into shares of common stock pursuant to the terms of the Certificate of Designation of Series B Preferred Stock. | |
(6) | The reported address of Mr. Kamin is 2720 Donald Ross Road, #311, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. | |
(7) | Includes 234,805 shares of common stock held by the Peter H. Kamin Revocable Trust dated February 2003, of which Peter H. Kamin is the sole trustee, 133,186 shares of common stock held by the Peter H. Kamin Childrens Trust dated March 1997 of which Mr. Kamin is the trustee, 44,670 shares of common stock held by 3K Limited Partnership, of which Mr. Kamin is the General Partner and 99,187 shares of common stock held by the Peter H. Kamin Family Foundation of which Mr. Kamin is the trustee. This information is based solely on a Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on February 1, 2022 by Mr. Kamin. Mr. Kamin reported sole voting power and sole dispositive power of 781,956 shares of common stock. | |
(8) | The reported address of Mr. Singer is 9600 North 96th Street, Unit 241, Scottsdale, AZ 85258 | |
(9) | Includes 355,165 shares of common stock held by Mr. Singer. This information is based solely on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 10, 2023 by Mr. Singer. Mr. Singer reported sole voting power and sole dispositive power of 355,165 shares of common stock. | |
(10) | Currently serves as our President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board. | |
(11) | Currently serves as a member of the Board. | |
(12) | Currently serves as Chairman of the Board. | |
(13) | Includes 10,855 shares owned by Mr. Burnell’s spouse. Mr. Burnell disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares. | |
(14) | Includes 9,333 shares issuable pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 15, 2023. | |
(15) | Includes 61,332 shares issuable pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 15, 2023. | |
(16) | Includes 23,252 shares issuable pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 15, 2023. | |
(17) | Includes 18,666 shares issuable pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 15, 2023. | |
(18) | Includes 24,052 shares issuable pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 15, 2023. | |
(19) | Ampersand’s ownership would be 38.4%, assuming the conversion of all 47,000 outstanding shares of Series B into an aggregate of 7,833,332 shares of common stock. | |
(20) | 1315 Capital’s ownership would be 26.1% assuming the conversion of all 47,000 outstanding shares of Series B into an aggregate of 7,833,332 shares of common stock. |
* Represents less than 1% of shares of common stock outstanding.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The table below sets forth certain information with respect to all of our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2022, and does not reflect grants, awards, exercises, terminations or expirations since that date.
15 |
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Year Ended December 31, 2022
Plan Category | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (a) | Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (b) | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (c) | |||||||||
Equity compensation plan approved by security holders (2019 Equity Compensation Plan and Restated 2004 Stock Award and Incentive Plan) | 527,844 | $ | 6.46 | 1,672,746 | ||||||||
Equity compensation plan not approved by security holders | - | - | - | |||||||||
Total | 527,844 | $ | 6.46 | 1,672,746 |
ITEM 13. | CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE |
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
We are required to disclose transactions since January 1, 2022, to which we have been a party, in which the amount involved in the transaction exceeds $120,000, and in which any of our directors, executive officers or, to our knowledge, beneficial owners of more than 5% of our capital stock or an affiliate or immediate family member thereof had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than employment, compensation, termination and change in control arrangements with our named executive officers.
On August 31, 2022, the Company and its subsidiary, Interpace Pharma Solutions, Inc. (“IPS”), entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Flagship Biosciences, Inc. (“Flagship”) pursuant to which Flagship agreed to (i) acquire substantially all of the assets of IPS used in IPS’s business and (ii) assume and pay certain liabilities related to the purchased assets as set forth in the Purchase Agreement (collectively, the “Asset Sale”). The Asset Sale closed on August 31, 2022. An affiliate of Ampersand Management LLC and an affiliate of BroadOak Capital Partners have each provided equity financing to Flagship, collectively own a majority of Flagship’s outstanding equity securities and are represented on its Board of Directors. The affiliate of Ampersand Management LLC also owns 28,000 shares of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock, convertible into 4,666,666 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase and Exchange Agreement dated January 10, 2020. The affiliate of Ampersand Management LLC has designated two directors to the Company’s Board of Directors, Robert Gorman and Vijay Aggarwal. In addition, an affiliate of BroadOak Capital Partners provided the Company a term loan in the aggregate principal amount of $8,000,000 pursuant to that certain Loan and Security Agreement dated October 29, 2021 and a Convertible Note which converted into a term loan advance in the aggregate amount of $2,000,000. The total purchase price for the Asset Sale was determined following a sales process conducted by the Company and its advisors and an arms length negotiation between Flagship and the Company. The purchase price was based on a market consistent multiple of anticipated revenue for a non-profitable, cash-negative business. The Asset Sale was approved by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Company.
Director Independence
The Board determined that each of the members of the current Board, except Mr. Burnell and Mr. Gorman, are independent directors within the meaning of the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and OTC Markets.
ITEM 14. | PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES |
EisnerAmper LLP (“EisnerAmper”), an independent registered public accounting firm, has served as our indpenednt accountants since April 13, 2022. Prior to April 13, 2022, BDO USA LLP (“BDO”) had served as our independent accountants. Fees for services provided by EisnerAmper and BDO for the past two completed years ended December 31 were as follows:
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES | ||||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
Audit Fees (1)(2)(3) | $ | 346,974 | $ | 379,000 | ||||
Audit-Related Fees | - | - | ||||||
Tax Fees | - | - | ||||||
All Other Fees | - | - | ||||||
Total Fees | $ | 346,974 | $ | 379,000 |
16 |
(1) | Audit fees include the audit of our consolidated financial statements. |
(2) | Included within audit fees for the year ended December 31, 2021 are those fees totaling $25,000 associated with our S-1 filing in 2021. |
(3) | Included within audit fees for the year ended December 31, 2022 are $85,000 billed by BDO for the review of the Company’s 2021 financials that were adjusted for discontinued operations. |
Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services
Under its charter, the Audit Committee must pre-approve all engagements of our independent registered public accounting firm unless an exception to such pre-approval exists under the Exchange Act or the rules of the SEC. The Audit Committee approved the termination of our relationship with BDO and our retention of EisnerAmper as our independent registered accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. Each year, the independent registered public accounting firm’s retention to audit our financial statements and permissible non-audit services, including the associated fees, is approved by the Audit Committee. At the beginning of each fiscal year, the Audit Committee evaluates other known potential engagements of the independent registered public accounting firm, in light of the scope of the work proposed to be performed and the proposed fees, and approves or rejects each service, taking into account whether the services are permissible under applicable law and the possible impact of each non-audit service on the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence. At subsequent Audit Committee meetings, the Audit Committee receives updates on the services actually provided by the independent registered public accounting firm, and management may present additional services for approval. Typically, these would be services, such as due diligence for an acquisition, that were not known at the beginning of the year. The Audit Committee has delegated to the Chairperson of the Audit Committee the authority to evaluate and approve engagements on behalf of the Audit Committee in the event that a need arises for pre-approval between committee meetings. If the Chairperson so approves any such engagements, he will report that approval to the full Audit Committee at the next Audit Committee meeting. All of the services and corresponding fees described above were approved by the Audit Committee.
17 |
PART IV
ITEM 15. | EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES |
The following documents are filed as part of this Form 10-K/A, as previously listed on Form 10-K, filed March 27, 2023:
Exhibits
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
INTERPACE BIOSCIENCES, INC. | |
Date: April 28, 2023 | /s/ Thomas W. Burnell |
Thomas W. Burnell | |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
22 |