SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K/A

(Amendment No. 1)

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): August 10, 2010

 

 

AMPIO PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   333-146542   26-0179592

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Commission

File No.)

 

(IRS Employee

Identification No.)

8400 East Crescent Parkway

Suite 600

Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(303) 418-1000

(Issuer Telephone number)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Explanatory Note

Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) files this Amendment No. 1 on Form 8-K/A to provide exhibit 10.3, the Employment Agreement between the Company and Donald B. Wingerter, Jr. described herein under Item 5.02. The full text of the original Form 8-K, as amended, is set forth below.

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On August 11, 2010, the Company issued $430,000 in principal amount of 8% Senior Convertible Unsecured Debentures due January 31, 2011 (the “Debentures”) together with warrants. The Debentures were issued to Michael Macaluso, the Company’s Chairman of the Board, in the principal amount of $230,000, and in the principal amount of $100,000 each to Richard B. Giles and James A. Ludvik. As disclosed in Item 5.02 below, Mr. Giles joined the Company’s Board of Directors on August 11, 2010, and serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Ludvik Electric Co., which is wholly-owned by James A. Ludvik. Mr. Macaluso advanced $30,000 to the Company on August 3, 2010 against issuance of his Debenture, and transferred the remaining $200,000 to the Company on August 16, 2010. Funds paid to the Company by Messrs. Giles and Ludvik were received on August 10, 2010.

The Debentures accrue interest at the rate of 8% per annum. The Debentures are convertible into the Company’s common stock at the lower of (i) $1.75 per share, or (ii) the per-share price at which the Company issues common stock in an underwritten offering (the “Offering”). The conversion price may be adjusted pursuant to the other terms of the Debenture. The Debenture is due and payable at the earlier of one business day after the closing of the Offering or January 31, 2011. The Debenture terms specify that the Company is obligated to obtain an extension of the $400,000 in principal amount of promissory notes previously issued to DMI BioSciences, Inc., a related party, to a due date consistent with the maturity date of the Debentures, and require the Company to obtain a subordination agreement from DMI BioSciences, Inc., such that the Debentures will jointly constitute the senior unsecured indebtedness of the Company.

In conjunction with the issuance of the Debentures, the Company issued Warrants to the purchasers of the Debentures giving them the right to purchase an aggregate of 21,500 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price equal to the price at which the Company sells common stock in the Offering. The warrant exercise price is subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, and the like.

The Company paid no commission in connection with the sale of the Debentures and the Warrants, and did not engage a placement agent to assist it in the sale of these unregistered securities.

In the event that the Company issues additional debentures on terms that are more favorable to the purchasers than the terms of the Debenture, the Company has agreed that it will ascribe “most favored nation” status to the Debenture holders and will conform the terms of the Debenture such that the terms are as favorable to the initial purchasers as any other debenture issued thereafter until maturity.

From and after an event of default as defined under the Debentures and for so long as the event of default is continuing, the Debentures will bear default interest at a rate of 18% per annum. Events of default include the failure to timely pay principal, material breach of a covenant, representation or warranty, an uncured suspension in trading of the Company’s common stock that remains in effect for specified time periods, the appointment of a receiver or trustee, the filing of a material judgment or bankruptcy, default under other material agreements, and failure to deliver conversion stock or a replacement debenture.

 

Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registration.

The information included in Item 1.01 of this Form 8-K is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

 

Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

The information included in Item 1.01 of this Form 8-K is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02.

 

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Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(b) Resignation of Director

On August 11, 2010, Bruce G. Miller resigned as a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Miller remains the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Mr. Miller’s resignation did not arise from any disagreement with the Company or any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices. Mr. Miller does not serve on any committees of the Company’s board of directors. A copy of Mr. Miller’s resignation letter is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

(d)(1)-(2) Appointment of New Director

Pursuant to the Bylaws of Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”), the Board of Directors appointed Richard B. Giles to fill the vacancy on the Company’s Board of Directors on August 11, 2010.

There is no arrangement or understanding between Mr. Giles and any other person pursuant to which Mr. Giles was appointed as a director of the Company. Mr. Giles will be eligible to participate in all non-management director compensation plans or arrangements available to the Company’s other independent directors. Those arrangements were approved by the Board of Directors as described under (d)(5) below on August 11, 2010.

The Company has not been a party to any transaction in the last fiscal year, and is not a party to any currently proposed transaction, in which Mr. Giles or any of his immediate family members (as such term is defined in Item 404(b)(ii) of Regulation S-K) was or is a participant, or in which Mr. Giles or his immediate family members had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. Set forth below is information that has been furnished by Mr. Giles to the Company.

Richard B. Giles, age 60, currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Ludvik Electric Co., an electrical contractor headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado, a position he has held since 1985. Ludvik Electric is a private electrical contractor with 2009 revenues of over $100 million that has completed electrical contracting projects throughout the Western United States, Hawaii, and South Africa. As CFO and Treasurer of Ludvik Electric, Mr. Giles oversees accounting, risk management, financial planning and analysis, financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and tax-related accounting functions. He serves also as the trustee of Ludvik Electric Co.’s 401(k) plan. Prior to joining Ludvik Electric, Mr. Giles was for three years an audit partner with Higgins Meritt & Company, then a Denver, Colorado CPA firm, and during the preceding nine years he was an audit manager and a member of the audit staff of Price Waterhouse, one of the legacy firms which now comprises PricewaterhouseCoopers. While with Price Waterhouse, Mr. Giles participated in a number of public company audits, including one for a leading computer manufacturer. Mr. Giles received a B.S. degree in accounting from the University of Northern Colorado and is a Certified Public Accountant. He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Construction Financial Management Association. Mr. Giles owns beneficially 54,009 shares of the Company’s common stock, and 25,835 shares of DMI BioSciences, Inc., less than 1% of the outstanding shares of DMI BioSciences. The Company executed a letter of intent in April 2010 to acquire DMI BioSciences, which acquisition is currently pending execution of definitive documents.

We intend to enter into our standard form of indemnification agreement with Mr. Giles. The form of indemnification agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.9 to Amendment No. 1 to our Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17, 2010.

There are no family relationships between or among the executive officers or directors of the Company, including Mr. Giles. Raphael Bar-Or, a non-executive officer, is the son of David Bar-Or, our chief scientific officer.

(d)(3) Chartering of, and Appointments to, Board Committees

Pursuant to the Company’s Bylaws and contemporaneously with the appointment to the Board of Directors of Richard B. Giles, the Board of Directors authorized the adoption of charters for the Company’s Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, and the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors. The Company will post the charters for each of these Board committees to the Company’s web site, www.ampiopharma.com , within four business days of the adoption of the charters.

 

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Following the adoption of the foregoing charters for the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors appointed the directors identified below to chair, or to serve as members of, each such committee.

 

Audit Committee

 

Compensation Committee

 

Nominating and Governance Committee

Chair: Richard B. Giles  

Chair: Philip H. Coelho

  Chair: Philip H. Coelho

Member: Michael Macaluso

  Member: Michael Macaluso   Member: Richard B. Giles

Member: Philip H. Coelho

  Member: Richard B. Giles  

Each of the directors appointed to these Committees meets the definition of “independent director” established by the national securities exchanges and, in the case of the Audit Committee, the standards established by Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In addition, the charters adopted for these committees by the Board of Directors comply with the requirements of the national securities exchanges and such related matters as are required by the federal securities laws. Following Mr. Miller’s resignation from, and the appointment of Mr. Giles to, the Board of Directors, the Company’s Board of Directors is now comprised of a majority of independent directors. Because the Company’s securities are quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, the Company was not required to charter these Committees or to appoint independent directors to these committees.

(d)(5) Board and Committee Compensation

Contemporaneously with the changes to the membership of the Board of Directors described herein, the Board of Directors adopted and approved compensation arrangements which will apply to members of the Board and each Committee of the Board effective immediately, but which will be determined pro rata based upon time served in the 2010 calendar year by each member of the Board of Directors or the relevant Committee. Such compensation shall accrue until such time as the Company has obtained financing in the amount of $10 million or more, and may be modified subsequently as the Board then determines. Those arrangements are as follows:

 

  1. Members of the Board will receive:

 

  a. $20,000 cash retainer for the Chairman, to be paid on January 2 each year.

 

  b. $10,000 cash retainer for each non-employee director other than the Chairman, to be paid January 2 of each year.

 

  c. $10,000 restricted stock grant to each director, to be granted on the first trading day of the calendar year.

 

  d. $1,000 per meeting fee plus reimbursement of expenses for in-person attendance at meetings.

 

  e. $500 per meeting fee for telephonic or web-based attendance at meetings.

 

  2. Members of the Audit Committee will receive:

 

  a. $20,000 cash retainer for the Chairman of the Audit Committee, to be paid on January 2 of each year.

 

  b. $12,000 cash retainer for each Audit Committee member except the Chairman, to be paid on January 2 of each year.

 

  c. $2,500 meeting fee for the Chairman of the Audit Committee for each meeting attended in- person.

 

  d. $1,500 meeting fee for the Chairman of the Audit Committee for each meeting attended telephonically or via the Internet.

 

  e. $1,500 meeting fee for members of the Audit Committee for each meeting attended in- person.

 

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  f. $1,000 meeting fee for members of the Audit Committee for each meeting attended telephonically or via the Internet.

 

  3. Members of the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee will each receive ( i.e ., a separate cash retainer in the noted amount shall be paid to the Chair and members of each committee, and for each meeting of each committee, the meeting fees noted will be payable to each attending Chair or member):

 

  a. $20,000 cash retainer for the Chairman of each Committee, to be paid on January 2 of each year.

 

  b. $10,000 cash retainer for each member of each Committee, to be paid on January 2 of each year.

 

  c. $2,500 meeting fee for the Chairman of each Committee for each meeting attended in- person.

 

  d. $1,500 meeting fee for the Chairman of each Committee for each meeting attended telephonically or via the Internet.

 

  e. $1,500 meeting fee for members of each Committee for each meeting attended in- person.

 

  f. $1,000 meeting fee for members of each Committee for each meeting attended telephonically or via the Internet.

All meeting fees are payable within two weeks of the holding of a meeting, the determination of which will rest with the Chair of the Board or the Chair of the relevant Committee.

In addition to the foregoing, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors on August 12, 2010 authorized the grant of incentive stock options to the following members of the Board and executive officers of the Company. The options vested immediately except as noted below, have an exercise price equal to the last quoted price of the Company’s Common Stock on August 11, 2010 ($1.01), and a term of 10 years.

 

Name

   Number of Incentive
Stock Options
 

Philip H. Coelho

   220,000   

Richard Giles

   220,000   

Michael Macaluso

   220,000   

Donald B. Wingerter, Jr.

   675,000 1  

David Bar-Or, M.D.

   700,000 1  

Vaughan Clift

   365,000 1  

 

(1) All such options will vest in accordance with vesting schedule contained in Exhibit B to each such officer’s employment agreement dated August 12, 2010, and to be executed August 18, 2010, which are described below.

Following the issuance of these options and another 100,000 options to the Company’s counsel, the Company has no more shares available for issuance under its option plan. The Company anticipates increasing the number of shares reserved under its option plan by an additional 1.0 to 1.5 million shares in the next 30 days by consent of the majority shareholders of the Company, as permitted under the Company’s certificate of incorporation.

(e) Executive Officer Employment Agreements and Compensation

On August 12, 2010, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Donald B. Wingerter, Jr. The Company anticipates entering into employment agreements with David Bar-Or, M.D., and Vaughan Clift, M.D. prior to August 18, 2010. We refer to Messrs. Wingerter, Bar-Or and Clift as the “Officers” or a “Officer”. The Company will file an additional Form 8-K with the executed employment agreements of Drs. Bar-Or and Clift on or before August 18, 2010. The description set forth below represents the Company’s expectations with respect to the terms of such agreements. Under the employment agreements, Messrs. Wingerter, Bar-Or and Clift will serve as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Scientific Officer, and Vice President of Scientific and Clinical Affairs, respectively, of the Company for an initial term ending July 31, 2013. The agreements provide for annual salaries of $145,000 for Mr. Wingerter, $150,000 for Dr. Bar-Or, and $120,000 for Mr. Clift, which will automatically increase to annual salaries of $275,000, $300,000 and $250,000, respectively, following the Company’s receipt of financing in the amount of $10 million or more. The Compensation Committee established the current salary levels to reflect the Company’s presently limited financial resources.

 

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The Officers are each entitled to receive an annual bonus each year that will be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors based on individual achievement and company performance objectives established by the Compensation Committee. Included in those objectives for each officer are (i) obtaining a successful phase 2 clinical trial for a drug to treat diabetic retinopathy, (ii) preparation and compliance with a fiscal budget, (iii) the launch of a second clinical trial for an additional product approved by the Board of Directors, and (iv) the sale of intellectual property not selected for clinical trials by the Company at prices, and times, approved by the Board of Directors. The targeted amount of the annual bonus shall be 50% of the base salary paid to each Officer, although the actual bonus may be higher or lower.

The employment agreements provide for an immediate grant of stock options to Mr. Wingerter and Drs. Bar-Or and Clift in the amount of 675,000, 700,000 and 365,000 options, respectively. Each option is exercisable for a period of ten years at an exercise price per share equal to the quoted closing price of the Company’s common stock on August 11, 2010, the day immediately prior to the execution of the employment agreement. The options vest as follows: (i) one-third upon execution of the agreement, (ii) one-third on August 12, 2011, and (iii) one-third on August 12, 2012. The vesting of all options set forth above shall accelerate upon a “change in control” as defined in each agreement.

If the Officer’s employment is terminated at the Company’s election at any time, for reasons other than death, disability, cause (as defined in the agreement), or a voluntary resignation, or if an Officer terminates his employment for good reason (as defined in the agreement), the Officer in question shall be entitled to receive a lump sum severance payment equal to two times his base salary and of the continued payment of premiums for continuation of the Officer’s health and welfare benefits pursuant to COBRA or otherwise, for a period of two years from the date of termination, subject to earlier discontinuation if the Officer is eligible for comparable coverage from a subsequent employer. All severance payments, less applicable withholding, are subject to the Officer’s execution and delivery of a general release of the Company, its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates and each of its officers, directors, employees, agents, successors and assigns in a form acceptable to the Company, and a reaffirmation of the Officer’s continuing obligation under the Propriety Information and Inventions Agreement (or an agreement not so titled, but which pertains to the Officer’s obligations generally, without limitation, to maintain and keep confidential all proprietary and confidential information of the Company, and to assign all inventions made by the Officer to the Company, which inventions are made or conceived during the Officer’s employment).

Mr. Wingerter has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company since December 2009, and as a member of the Board of Directors since March 2010. Dr. Bar-Or served as Chairman of the Board from April 2009 through May 2010, is continuing to serve as a member of the Board of Directors. He has served as the Company’s Chief Scientific Officer since April 2009. Dr. Clift has served as the Vice President of Scientific and Clinical Affairs since June 2009.

 

Item 5.05 Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.

On August 14, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted and approved a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, effective immediately. The Company will post the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics on its web site, www.ampiopharma.com , within four business days of the adoption of the Code.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

The following exhibits are furnished with this report:

 

  10.1 Form of Senior Convertible Unsecured Debenture, issued by Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to Michael Macaluso, Richard B. Giles, and James A. Ludvik.*

 

  10.2 Form of Warrant issued by Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to Michael Macaluso, Richard B. Giles, and James A. Ludvik.*

 

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  10.3 Employment Agreement, dated August 12, 2010, by and between Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Donald B. Wingerter, Jr.†

 

  99.1 Resignation Letter of Bruce G. Miller as a director.*

 

Filed herewith
* Previously Filed

This Current Report on Form 8-K, including its Exhibits, may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements typically are identified by use of terms such as “may,” “project,” “should,” “plan,” “expect,” “anticipate,”“believe,” “estimate” and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. Forward-looking statements represent our management’s judgment regarding future events. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Current Report on Form 8-K and its Exhibits are forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Company cannot guarantee the accuracy of the forward-looking statements, and you should be aware that the Company’s actual results could differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including the statements under “Risk Factors” found in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 8, 2010 and any subsequent filings made by the Company with the SEC.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    AMPIO PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Dated: August 16, 2010     By:  

/s/ Donald B. Wingerter, Jr.

    Name:   Donald B. Wingerter, Jr.
    Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

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Exhibit 10.3

EXECUTION COPY

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”), is effective as of August 1, 2010 (the “Effective Date”), and executed August 12, 2010, between Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation headquartered at 8400 East Crescent Parkway, Suite 600, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 USA, hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), and Donald B. Wingerter, Jr. “Employee”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company is a duly organized Delaware corporation, with its principal place of business within the State of Colorado, and is in the business of developing and marketing pharmaceutical products; and

WHEREAS, the Company desires assurance of the continued association and services of the Employee in order to continue to retain the Employee’s experience, skills, abilities, background and knowledge, and is willing to continue to engage the Employee’s services on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, Employee desires to be in the continued employ of the Company, and is willing to accept such continued employment on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as follows:

1. Employment for Term. The Company hereby agrees to employ Employee and Employee hereby accepts such employment with the Company for the period of 36 months beginning on the Effective Date. The term of this Agreement (the “Term”) shall continue until the termination of Employee’s employment in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. The termination of Employee’s employment under this Agreement shall end the Term but shall not terminate Employee’s or the Company’s other obligations that are intended to survive the termination of this Agreement (including without limitation, the payments under Section 7 and 8 and Employee’s obligations under Section 9).

2. Position and Duties. During the Term, Employee shall serve as Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company, perform such duties as are consistent with his position and report to the Board of Directors of the Company. During the Term, Employee shall also hold such additional positions and titles as the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) may determine from time to time. During the Term, Employee shall devote as much time as is necessary to satisfactorily perform his duties as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Company hereby acknowledges that it consents to Employee’s participation in those outside activities described on Exhibit A hereto. Employee may engage in any civic and not-for-profit activities so long as such activities do not materially interfere with the performance of his duties hereunder or present a conflict of interest with the Company. During the Term of this Agreement, Employee agrees not to acquire, assume or participate in, directly or indirectly, any position, investment or interest known by the Employee to be adverse or antagonistic to the Company, its business or prospects, its financial position, or otherwise or in any company, person or entity that is, directly or indirectly, in competition with the business of the Company or any of its affiliates.

 

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The Company shall nominate Employee, and use its best efforts to have Employee elected, to the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) throughout the Term of this Agreement and, subject to the fiduciary duties of the Board and the Nominating Committee to act in the best interests of the stockholders, shall include him in the management slate for election as a director at every stockholders meeting during the Term at which his term as a director would otherwise expire. Employee agrees to accept election, and to serve during the Term, as director of the Company. On termination of Employee’s employment, regardless of the reason for such termination, Employee shall immediately (and with contemporaneous effect) resign any directorships, offices or other positions that Employee may hold in the Company or any affiliate, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the parties.

3. Compensation.

(a) Base Salary. The Company shall pay Employee a base salary of $145,000 per annum, payable at least monthly on the Company’s regular pay cycle for professional employees (the “Base Salary”). At such time as the Company receives additional funding in the amount of $10 million or more following the execution hereof, the Base Salary shall automatically increase, without additional action by the Compensation Committee or Board, to $275,000 per annum, payable as described above. Except as specifically otherwise provided herein, the Base Salary may be increased only by recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Board and ratified by the Compensation Committee or a majority of the independent members of the Board.

(b) Annual Review. The Base Salary shall be reviewed at the end of each calendar year (the first such review to occur at the end of calendar year 2010).

(c) Equity Compensation. In connection with the execution of this Agreement, the Company hereby agrees to grant initial equity compensation to Employee in the aggregate amount of 675,000 options to purchase shares of Company Common Stock. These options shall vest in accordance with the terms and schedule set forth in Exhibit B hereto. Such vesting schedule will be accelerated, to the extent provided in Section 8 of this agreement.

(d) Other and Additional Compensation. Subsections (a) and (c) above establish Employee’s compensation during the Term which shall not preclude the Board from awarding Employee a higher salary or any bonuses or stock options, restricted stock or other forms of additional equity awards in the discretion of the Board during the Term at any time. The Employee shall be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus (hereinafter referred to as the “Bonus”) with a target amount of fifty percent (50%) of the Base Salary , subject to standard deductions and withholdings, based on the Compensation Committee’s determination, in good faith, and based upon the Employee’s individual achievement and company performance objectives as set by the Board or the Compensation Committee, of whether the Employee has met such performance milestones as are established for the Employee by the Board or the Compensation Committee, in good faith, in consultation with the Employee (hereinafter referred to as the “Performance Milestones”). The Performance Milestones will be based on certain factors including, but not limited to, the Employee’s performance and the Company’s financial performance. The Employee’s Bonus target will be reviewed annually and may be adjusted by the Board or the Compensation Committee in its discretion, provided however, that the Bonus target may only be reduced upon Employee’s written consent. The Employee must be employed on the date the Bonus is awarded to be eligible for the Bonus, subject to the termination provisions hereof. Bonuses shall be paid during the calendar quarter following the calendar quarter for which such Bonus was earned when Performance Milestones are met during a calendar quarter. Fourth quarter Bonuses and Bonuses calculated on the basis of partial Performance Milestone satisfaction shall be paid within 120 days of fiscal year-end.

 

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4. Employee Benefits. During the Term, Employee shall be entitled to participate at the same level as other senior executive officers of the Company in any group insurance, hospitalization, medical, health and accident, disability, fringe benefit and tax-qualified retirement plans or programs of the Company now existing or hereafter established to the extent that he is eligible under the general provisions thereof. For the term of this Agreement, Employee shall be entitled to paid vacation at the rate of (4) weeks per annum. In accordance with Company policy, unused vacation may not be carried over from year to year.

5. Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Employee for actual, reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by him in the performance of his services for the Company upon the receipt of appropriate documentation of such expenses which shall be submitted in such form, and with such supporting documentation, as called for or required by Company policy.

6. Termination.

(a) General. The Term shall end immediately upon Employee’s death. Employee’s employment may also be terminated by the Company with or without Cause or as a result of Employee’s Disability, as defined in Section 7 or by Employee with or without Good Reason (as such terms are defined below).

(b) Notice of Termination. Either party shall give written notice of termination to the other party.

(c) Notification of New Employer . In the event that Employee leaves the employ of the Company, Employee grants consent to notification by the Company to Employee’s new employer about his rights and obligations under this Agreement and the PIA (hereinafter defined).

7. Severance Benefits.

(a) Cause Defined. “Cause” means (i) willful malfeasance or willful misconduct by Employee in connection with his employment; (ii) Employee’s gross negligence in performing any of his duties under this Agreement; (iii) Employee’s conviction of, or entry of a plea of guilty to, or entry of a plea of nolo contendre with respect to, any crime other than a traffic violation or infraction which is a misdemeanor; (iv) Employee’s willful and deliberate violation of a Company policy, (v) Employee’s unintended but material breach of any written policy applicable to all employees adopted by the Company which is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board of Directors within thirty (30) business days after notice thereof; (vi) the Employee’s unauthorized use or disclosure of any proprietary information or trade secrets of the Company or any other party as to which the Employee owes an obligation of nondisclosure as a result of the Employee’s relationship with the Company, (vii) the Employee’s willful and deliberate breach of his obligations under this Agreement, or (viii) any other material breach by Employee of any of his obligations in this Agreement which is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board of Directors within thirty (30) business days after notice thereof.

 

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(b) Disability Defined. “Disability” shall mean (i) Employee’s incapacity due to a physical or mental condition and, if reasonable accommodation is required by law, after any reasonable accommodation, that results in Employee being substantially unable to perform his duties hereunder for six consecutive months (or for six months out of any nine month period) or (ii) a qualified independent physician mutually acceptable to the Company and Employee determines that Employee is incapacitated due to a physical or mental condition and, if reasonable accommodation is required by law, after any reasonable accommodation so as to be unable to regularly perform the duties of his position and such condition is expected to be of a permanent or near-permanent duration. Until such time as Employee is terminated for Disability under this paragraph (b), Employee shall continue to receive his Base Salary hereunder, provided that if the Company provides Employee with disability insurance coverage, payments of Employee’s Base Salary shall be reduced by the amount of any disability insurance payments received by Employee due to such coverage. The Company shall give Employee written notice of termination due to Disability which shall take effect sixty (60) days after the date it is sent to Employee unless Employee shall have returned to the performance of his duties hereunder during such sixty (60) day period (whereupon such notice shall become void). In the event that the Company terminates Employee’s employment as a result of his Disability, Employee shall be entitled to the same benefits as if his employment had been terminated by the Company without Cause.

(c) Good Reason Defined. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean, without Employee’s written consent: (i) there is a material reduction of the level of Employee’s compensation (excluding any bonuses) (except where there is a general reduction applicable to the management team generally, provided, however, that in no case may the Base Salary be reduced below the amount stated in Section 3(a)), (ii) there is a material reduction in Employee’s overall responsibilities or authority, or scope of duties (it being understood that the occurrence of a Change in Control shall not, by itself, necessarily constitute a reduction in Employee’s responsibilities or authority); or (iii) there is a material change in the principal geographic location at which Employee must perform his services (it being understood that the relocation of Employee to a facility or a location within forty (40) miles of the State Capitol Building in Denver, Colorado shall not be deemed material for purposes of this Agreement). No event shall be deemed to be “Good Reason” if the Company has cured the event (if susceptible to cure) within 30 days of receipt of written notice from Employee specifying the event or events which, absent cure, would constitute “Good Cause.”

(d) Accrued Compensation Defined. Accrued Compensation shall mean an amount which shall include all amounts earned or accrued by Employee through the date of termination of this Agreement but not paid as of such date, including (i) Base Salary, (ii) reimbursement for business expenses incurred by the Employee on behalf of the Company, pursuant to the Company’s expense reimbursement policy in effect at such time, (iii) any expense allowance pursuant to Company policy, (iv) accrued but unused vacation pay per Company policy, and (v) bonuses and incentive compensation earned and awarded prior to the date of termination. Accrued Compensation shall be paid on the first regular pay date after the date of termination (or earlier, if required by applicable law).

(e) Termination.

(i) Cause; Without Good Reason; Death. If the Company ends the Term for Cause, if Employee resigns as an employee of the Company for reasons other than an event of Good Reason, or the Employee dies, then the Company shall pay to Employee the Accrued Compensation but shall have no obligation to pay Employee any amount, whether for salary, benefits, bonuses, or other compensation or expense reimbursements of any kind, accruing after the end of the Term, and such rights shall, except as otherwise required by law or pursuant to the applicable award agreement or plan, be forfeited immediately upon the end of the Term. For the sake of clarity, any stock options, restricted stock or other equity compensation shall, to the extent vested on the date of resignation without Good Reason, the date the Company ends the Term for Cause, or the date of Employee’s death, remain outstanding and exercisable to the extent provided in the applicable award agreement or plan, by the Employee or his personal representative or executor.

 

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(ii) Without Cause; Good Reason. In the event that the Company terminates Employee’s employment hereunder without Cause, Employee terminates his employment with Good Reason, he shall be entitled to the Accrued Compensation and, subject to Section 21 and 22 below,

(A) A lump sum payment equal to two times his Base Salary in effect at the date of termination, less applicable withholding.

(B) Continued participation (via state or federal insurance continuation laws such as COBRA, to the extent available) in the health and welfare plans (or comparable plans, if continued participation in the Company’s plans is not available) provided by the Company to Employee at the time of termination for a period of two years from the date of termination or, if earlier, until he is eligible for comparable coverage with a subsequent employer. The Company agrees to reimburse the payments Employee makes for such coverage, whether via continuation or separate comparable policy. Premium reimbursements shall be made by the Company to Employee consistent with the Company’s normal expense reimbursement policy, provided that Employee submits documentation to the Company substantiating his payments for insurance coverage. Employee shall give the Company prompt notice of his eligibility for comparable coverage.

(C) All vested stock options shall remain exercisable from the date of termination until the expiration date of the applicable award. So long as the Section 8 below does not apply, then all options which are unvested at the date of termination Without Cause or for Good Reason shall be accelerated as of the date of termination such that the number of option shares equal to 1/36 th the number of option shares multiplied by the number of full months of Employee’s employment hereunder shall be deemed vested and immediately exercisable by the Employee. Any unvested options over and above the foregoing shall be cancelled and of no further force or effect, and shall not be exercisable by the Employee.

(D) Any severance payments and/or other separation benefits contemplated by this Agreement are conditional on Employee: (i) continuing to comply with the terms of this Agreement and the PIA (as defined herein); (ii) delivering prior to or contemporaneously with any such severance payments, and not revoking, (x) a customary general release of claims relating to Employee’s employment and/or this Agreement against the Company or its successor, its subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers and stockholders and (y) a customary affirmation of Employee’s continuing obligations hereunder and under the PIA.

 

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Unless otherwise required by law, no severance payments and/or benefits under this Agreement will be paid and/or provided until after the expiration of any relevant revocation period.

8. Change in Control Payments. The provisions of this paragraph 8 set forth the terms of an agreement reached between Employee and the Company regarding Employee’s rights and obligations upon the occurrence of a “Change in Control” (as hereinafter defined) of the Company during the Term. These provisions are intended to assure and encourage in advance Employee’s continued attention and dedication to his assigned duties and his objectivity during the pendency and after the occurrence of any such Change in Control. The following provisions shall apply in the event of a Change in Control, in addition to any payment or benefit that may be required pursuant to Section 7.

(a) Equity. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, all stock options, restricted stock and other stock-based grants to Employee by the Company or that may be granted in the future shall, irrespective of any provisions of his award agreements, immediately and irrevocably vest and become exercisable and any restrictions thereon shall lapse. All stock options shall remain exercisable from the date of the Change in Control until the expiration of the term of such stock options.

(b) Definitions. For purposes of this paragraph 8, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Change in Control” shall mean any of the following:

(1) the acquisition by any individual, entity, or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (the “Acquiring Person”), other than the Company, or any of its Subsidiaries, of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3- promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of the combined voting power or economic interests of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (excluding any issuance of securities by the Company in a transaction or series of transactions made principally for bona fide equity financing purposes, and any issuance of Company securities in connection with the proposed acquisition of DMI BioSciences, Inc.; or

(2) the acquisition of the Company by another entity by means of any transaction or series of related transactions to which the Company is party (including, without limitation, any stock acquisition, reorganization, merger or consolidation but excluding any issuance of securities by the Company in a transaction or series of transactions made principally for bona fide equity financing purposes, and also excluding the issuance of Company securities in connection with the acquisition of DMI BioSciences, Inc.) other than a transaction or series of related transactions in which the holders of the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction or series of related transactions retain, immediately after such transaction or series of related transactions, as a result of shares in the Company held by such holders prior to such transaction or series of related transactions, at least a majority of the total voting power represented by the outstanding voting securities of the Company or such other surviving or resulting entity (or if the Company or such other surviving or resulting entity is a wholly-owned subsidiary immediately following such acquisition, its parent); or

(3) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in one transaction or series of related transactions.

 

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9. Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement . As a condition of Employee’s employment with the Company, Employee agrees to sign the Company’s standard form of Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement (“PIA”).

10. Successors and Assigns.

(a) Employee. This Agreement is a personal contract, and the rights and interests that the Agreement accords to Employee may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated by him. All rights and benefits of Employee shall be for the sole personal benefit of Employee, and no other person shall acquire any right, title or interest under this Agreement by reason of any sale, assignment, transfer, claim or judgment or bankruptcy proceedings against Employee. Except as so provided, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon Employee and his personal representatives, distributees and legatees.

(b) The Company. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and inure to the benefit of the Company and of its successors and assigns, including (but not limited to) any Company that may acquire all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or business or into or with which the Company may be consolidated or merged. Any such successor of the Company will be deemed substituted for the Company under the terms of this Agreement for all purposes. For this purpose, “successor” means any person, firm, corporation or other business entity which at any time, whether by purchase, merger or otherwise, directly or indirectly acquires all or substantially all of the assets or business of the Company.

11. Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the equity award agreements referred to herein) represents the entire agreement between the parties concerning Employee’s employment with the Company and supersedes all prior negotiations, discussions, understanding and agreements, whether written or oral, between Employee and the Company relating to the subject matter of this Agreement.

12. Amendment or Modification, Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived unless such amendment or waiver is agreed to in writing signed by Employee and by a duly authorized officer of the Company. No waiver by any party to this Agreement or any breach by another party of any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of a similar or dissimilar condition or provision at the same time, any prior time or any subsequent time.

13. Notices. Any notice to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by overnight courier or registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed to the party concerned at the address indicated below, or to such other address of which such party subsequently may give notice in writing:

 

If to Employee:

   To the address specified in the payroll records of the Company.

If to the Company:

  

Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

8400 East Crescent Parkway

Suite 600

Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111

 

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Any notice delivered personally or by overnight courier shall be deemed given on the date delivered and any notice sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, shall be deemed given on the date mailed.

14. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the application of any such provision to any party or circumstances shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction or arbitrator acting pursuant to Section 19 below to be invalid and unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement or the application of such provision to such person or circumstances other than those to which it is so determined to be invalid and unenforceable shall not be affected, and each provision of this Agreement shall be validated and shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law. If for any reason any provision of this Agreement containing restrictions is held to cover an area or to be for a length of time that is unreasonable or in any other way is construed to be too broad or to any extent invalid, such provision shall not be determined to be entirely null, void and of no effect; instead, it is the intention and desire of both the Company and Employee that, to the extent that the provision is or would be valid or enforceable under applicable law, any court of competent jurisdiction or arbitrator acting pursuant to Section 19 below shall construe and interpret or reform this Agreement to provide for a restriction having the maximum enforceable area, time period and such other constraints or conditions (although not greater than those contained currently contained in this Agreement) as shall be valid and enforceable under the applicable law.

15. Survivorship. The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary to the intended preservation of such rights and obligations.

16. Headings. All descriptive headings of sections and paragraphs in this Agreement are intended solely for convenience of reference, and no provision of this Agreement is to be construed by reference to the heading of any section or paragraph.

17. Withholding Taxes. All salary, benefits, reimbursements and any other payments to Employee under this Agreement shall be subject to all applicable payroll and withholding taxes and deductions required by any law, rule or regulation of and federal, state or local authority.

18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together constitute one and same instrument. The parties agree that facsimile signatures shall have the same force and effect as original signatures.

19. Applicable Law; Arbitration. The validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement and any amendments or modifications hereto shall be governed by the laws of the State of Colorado, as applied to a contract executed within and to be performed in such State. The parties agree that any disputes shall be definitively resolved by binding arbitration before the American Arbitration Association in Denver, Colorado in accordance with its rules of arbitration procedure then in effect. The parties consent to the jurisdiction to the federal courts of the District of Colorado or, if there shall be no jurisdiction, to the state courts located in Arapahoe County, Colorado, to enforce any arbitration award rendered with respect thereto. Each party shall choose one arbitrator and the two arbitrators shall choose a third arbitrator. All costs and fees related to such arbitration (and judicial enforcement proceedings, if any) shall be borne by the Company unless Employee’s claim is deemed to be frivolous by the arbitrator(s) or judge.

 

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20. Legal Fees. The Company shall pay the reasonable expenses of Employee’s counsel in negotiating this Agreement.

21. Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if Employee is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and the final regulations and any guidance promulgated thereunder (“Section 409A”) at the time of Employee’s termination (other than due to death), and the severance payable to Employee, if any, pursuant to this Agreement, when considered together with any other severance payments or separation benefits which may be considered deferred compensation under Section 409A (together, the “Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits”) will not and could not under any circumstances, regardless of when such termination occurs, be paid in full by March 15 of the year following Employee’s termination, then only that portion of the Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits which do not exceed the Section 409A Limit (as defined below) may be made within the first six (6) months following Employee’s termination of employment in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit. For these purposes, each severance payment is hereby designated as a separate payment and will not collectively be treated as a single payment. Any portion of the Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits in excess of the Section 409A Limit shall accrue and, to the extent such portion of the Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits would otherwise have been payable within the first six (6) months following Employee’s termination of employment, will become payable on the first payroll date that occurs on or after the date six (6) months and one (1) day following the date of Employee’s termination. All subsequent Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits, if any, will be payable in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if Employee dies following his termination but prior to the six (6) month anniversary of his termination, then any payments delayed in accordance with this paragraph will be payable in a lump sum as soon as administratively practicable after the date of Employee’s death and all other Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits will be payable in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit. The foregoing provision is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A so that none of the severance payments and benefits to be provided hereunder will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, and any ambiguities herein will be interpreted to so comply. The Company and Employee agree to work together in good faith to consider amendments to this Agreement and to take such reasonable actions which are necessary, appropriate or desirable to avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition prior to actual payment to Employee under Section 409A. For purposes of this Agreement, “Section 409A Limit” will mean the lesser of two (2) times: (A) Employee’s annualized compensation based upon the annual rate of pay paid to Employee during the Company’s taxable year preceding the Company’s taxable year of Employee’s termination of employment as determined under Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A)(1) and any Internal Revenue Service guidance issued with respect thereto; or (B) the maximum amount that may be taken into account under a qualified plan pursuant to Section 401(a)(17) of the Code for the year in which Employee’s employment is terminated.

22. Application of Internal Revenue Code Section 280G. If any payment or benefit Employee would receive pursuant to a Change in Control from the Company or otherwise (“ Payment ”) would (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (ii) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “ Excise Tax ”), then such Payment shall be equal to the Reduced Amount. The “Reduced Amount” shall be either (x) the largest portion of the Payment that would result in no portion of the Payment being subject to the Excise Tax or (y) the largest portion, up to and including the total, of the Payment, whichever amount, after taking into account all applicable federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes, and the Excise Tax (all computed at the highest applicable marginal rate), results in Employee’s receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater economic benefit notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax. If a reduction in payments or benefits constituting “parachute payments” is necessary so that the Payment equals the Reduced Amount, reduction shall occur in the manner that results in the greatest economic benefit for Employee. If more than one method of reduction will result in the same economic benefit, the items so reduced will be reduced pro rata.

 

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In the event it is subsequently determined by the Internal Revenue Service that some portion of the Reduced Amount as determined pursuant to clause (x) in the preceding paragraph is subject to the Excise Tax, Employee agrees to promptly return to the Company a sufficient amount of the Payment so that no portion of the Reduced Amount is subject to the Excise Tax. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Reduced Amount is determined pursuant to clause (y) in the preceding paragraph, Employee will have no obligation to return any portion of the Payment pursuant to the preceding sentence.

Unless Employee and the Company agree on an alternative accounting firm, the accounting firm engaged by the Company for general tax compliance purposes as of the day prior to the effective date of the Change in Control shall perform the foregoing calculations. If the accounting firm so engaged by the Company is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group effecting the Change in Control, the Company shall appoint a nationally recognized accounting firm to make the determinations required hereunder. The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such accounting firm required to be made hereunder.

The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the accounting firm engaged to make the determinations hereunder to provide its calculations, together with detailed supporting documentation, to the Employee and the Company within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date on which Employee’s right to a Payment is triggered (if requested at that time by the Employee or the Company) or such other time as requested by Employee or the Company.

23. Indemnification. As a condition to the effectiveness of this Agreement, the Company and Employee shall enter into a mutually acceptable indemnification agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

AMPIO PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

     EMPLOYEE
By:   

/s/ Philip H. Coelho

      

/s/ Donald B. Wingerter, Jr.

Name:    PHILIP H. COELHO      Name:   DONALD B. WINGERTER, JR.
   Chairman, Compensation Committee       
   Board of Directors       

 

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EXHIBIT A

Outside Activities

 

  1. Serve on the Board of Directors of no more than two private or public companies whose business is not competitive with that of Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

 

  2. Serve as a consultant no more than one private or public company whose business is not competitive with that of Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Note: Neither of the possible outside activities may interfere with employee’s best efforts in meeting the responsibilities of CEO of Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

 

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EXHIBIT B

Terms of Compensation

Management equity grant :

 

   

675,000 total options to purchase shares of the company’s common stock. The strike price for all options will be the last sale price of the Company’s common stock as reported on Nasdaq.com on August 11, 2010.

 

   

All options fully vest upon change in control, death, disability, termination without cause, termination for good reason

 

   

225,000 options are fully vested on Day 1 of this agreement

 

   

225,000 options vest 365 days thereafter

 

   

225,000 options vest 730 days thereafter

Management milestones that affect cash bonuses

 

  1. Obtaining $10 million in financing for the company

 

  2. Obtaining a successful phase 2 clinical trial for the diabetic retinopathy drug

 

  3. Preparing a fiscal budget, obtaining Board approval for that budget and meeting the spending limitations of that budget except for those extra budgetary expenditures approved by the Board.

 

  4. Launching a second clinical trial for a drug at an expense approved by the Board

 

  5. Selling any of the Company IP at prices, and at times, approved by the Board

 

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