ARTELO BIOSCIENCES INC
For the period ended Dec 31, 2024. Filed Mar 3, 2025.
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FY2024 · Filed Mar 3, 2025
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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2024
The following table shows the compensation earned by our named executive officer for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023:
| Name and · Salary · Bonus · StockAwards · OptionAwards · Non-Equity Incentive PlanCompensation · Nonqualified DeferredCompensation Earnings · AllOther Compensation · Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal Position | Year | ($) | ($) | ($) | ($)(1) | ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | ||||||||||||||
| Gregory D. Gorgas | 2024 | 520,000 | 242,450 | - | 240,016 | (2) | - | - | 58,004 | (3) | 1,060,470 | ||||||||||||
| President, CEO, CFO, | 2023 | 485,417 | 251,203 | - | 251,644 | - | - | 5,831 | 994,095 | ||||||||||||||
| Secretary, Treasurer and Director | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | In accordance with SEC rules, the amounts shown reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of stock awards granted to Non-Employee Directors during 2024, computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (“FASB ASC 718”). The grant date fair value for stock options is measured based on the Black-Scholes Model. See Note 5 – Equity to our audited financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. |
| (2) | New option awards granted in 2024 totaled $115,834. On February 28, 2024, previously issued options were repriced to $1.55 and had their vesting schedules modified. As per ASC 718 the changes were treated as modifications to the options. This modification resulted in an additional option award in the amount $124,182. |
| (3) | This is comprised of health insurance premiums of $52,173 and life insurance premiums of $5,831. |
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End December 31, 2024
The following table sets forth certain information regarding equity awards granted to our named executive officer that remained outstanding as of December 31, 2024.
| Name · Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options: Exercisable · Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options:Unexercisable · Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options · Option Exercise Price · Option Expiration Date · Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested · Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested · Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested · Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) | (6) | (7) | (8) | (9) | ||||||
| Gregory D. Gorgas | - | 5,000(1) | - | $1.55 | August 29, 2029 | - | - | - | - | |||||
| President, CEO, CFO, Secretary, | - | 55,634(2) | - | $1.55 | February 12, 2031 | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Treasurer and Director | - | 38,340(3) | - | $1.55 | March 5, 2031 | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | 90,334(4) | - | $1.55 | December 3, 2031 | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | 85,000(5) | - | $1.55 | February 1, 2033 | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | 92,000(6) | - | $1.49 | January 5, 2034 | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| (1) | 1,667 Options vesting on February 28, 2025, and 139 each month until February 2027. |
| (2) | 18,546 Options vesting on February 28, 2025, and 1,545 each month until February 2027. |
| (3) | 12,780 Options vesting on February 28, 2025, and 1,065 each month until February 2027. |
| (4) | 30,112 Options vesting on February 28, 2025, and 2,509 each month until February 2027. |
| (5) | 28,333 Options vesting on February 28, 2025, and 2,361 each month until February 2027. |
| (6) | 23,000 Options vesting on January 31, 2025, and 1,917 each month until January 2028. |
Executive Employment Agreement with our Named Executive Officer
On August 30, 2019, and effective as of June 20, 2019, the Company and Mr. Gorgas entered into an amended and restated employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement”).
Mr. Gorgas’ current annual base salary is $520,000 per year, less applicable withholdings, and he is eligible to earn an annual target bonus of up to 50% of his base salary upon achievement of performance objectives to be determined by the Board or its Compensation Committee. Mr. Gorgas is also eligible to participate in any employee benefit plans sponsored by us.
The Employment Agreement also provides that the Company shall pay the premiums for a life insurance policy for Mr. Gorgas for coverage of up to $1,000,000, and Mr. Gorgas shall be entitled to select personal beneficiaries for 100% of the proceeds of such policy. Mr. Gorgas may also choose to pay any additional premiums to increase the coverage of this life insurance policy.
The Employment Agreement also provides benefits in connection with a termination of employment under specified circumstances. Under the terms of the Employment Agreement, if we terminate Mr. Gorgas’ employment other than for cause, death, or disability, or Mr. Gorgas terminates his employment for good reason, Mr. Gorgas will be entitled to receive, subject to his timely execution and non-revocation of a release of claims, non-disparagement and his continued adherence to the non-solicitation provision of the Employment Agreement the following benefits: (A) if his termination of service occurs within the period 3 months prior to and 12 months after a change of control of the Company, (i) a lump sum severance payment equal to (x) 12 months of his then-current base salary and (y) his prorated annual bonus at the target level of achievement for the year in which the termination occurs, (ii) reimbursements for Mr. Gorgas and his eligible dependents’ COBRA premiums for up to 12 months; and (iii) accelerated vesting as to 100% of Mr. Gorgas’ then-outstanding time-based and performance-based equity awards; or (B) if his termination of service occurs outside of the period 3 months prior to and 12 months after a change of control of the Company, (i) continuing monthly payments of his then-current base salary for 12 months, (ii) a lump sum payment equal to a pro-rata portion of his then-current year target bonus, (iii) reimbursements for Mr. Gorgas and his eligible dependents’ COBRA premiums for up to 12 months; and (iv) accelerated vesting as to (x) 100% of Mr. Gorgas’ then-outstanding time-based equity awards and (y) that portion of Mr. Gorgas’ then-outstanding performance based equity awards for the performance goals that had been satisfied at the time of termination or are expected to be satisfied.
If any of the severance and other benefits provided for in the Employment Agreement or otherwise payable to Mr. Gorgas constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code and could be subject to excise tax under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, then such payments will be delivered in full or delivered as to such lesser extent which would result in no portion of such benefits being subject to excise tax, whichever results in the greater amount of after-tax benefits to Mr. Gorgas.
Director Compensation
The following table shows the compensation earned by persons who served on our Board during the year ended December 31, 2024, who are not one of our Named Executive Officers.
| Fees Earned | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| or Paid · Stock · Option · Incentive Plan · Deferred · Other | ||||||||||||||
| in Cash · Awards · Awards · Compensation · Compensation · Compensation · Total | ||||||||||||||
| Name | ($) | ($) | ($)(1) | ($) | Earnings ($) | ($) | ($) | |||||||
| Connie Matsui(3) | 76,500 | - | 12,005 | (2) | - | - | - | 88,505 | ||||||
| Douglas Blayney, M.D.(4) | 48,000 | - | 10,452 | (2) | - | - | - | 58,452 | ||||||
| Gregory R. Reyes, M.D., Ph.D.(5) | 45,000 | - | 5,630 | (2) | - | - | - | 50,630 | ||||||
| R. Martin Emanuele, Ph.D.(6) | 44,000 | - | 10,136 | (2) | - | - | - | 54,136 | ||||||
| Steven Kelly(7) | 59,500 | - | 10,956 | (2) | - | - | - | 70,456 | ||||||
| Tamara A. Favorito(8) | 60,000 | - | 3,251 | (2) | - | - | - | 63,251 | ||||||
| (1) | In accordance with SEC rules, the amounts shown reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of stock awards granted to Non-Employee Directors during 2024, computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (“FASB ASC 718”). The grant date fair value for stock options is measured based on the Black-Scholes Model. See Note 5 – Equity to our audited financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K: |
| (2) | On February 28, 2024, previously issued options were repriced to $1.55 and had their vesting schedules modified. As per ASC 718 the changes were treated as modifications to the options. |
| (3) | 17,235 option awards outstanding as of December 31, 2024. |
| (4) | 15,334 option awards outstanding as of December 31, 2024. |
| (5) | 12,834 option awards outstanding as of December 31, 2024. |
| (6) | 14,869 option awards outstanding as of December 31, 2024. |
| (7) | 15,952 option awards outstanding as of December 31, 2024. |
| (8) | 6,834 option awards outstanding as of December 31, 2024. |
Outside Director Compensation Policy
In August 2023, the Company revised the Outside Director Compensation Policy. The Outside Director Compensation Policy provides for the following cash compensation program for our non-employee directors:
| · | $40,000 per year for service as a non-employee director; |
| · | $25,000 per year additionally for service as chairperson of our board of directors; |
| · | $15,000 per year additionally for service as chairperson of the audit committee; |
| · | $7,500 per year additionally for service as an audit committee member; |
| · | $12,000 per year additionally for service as chairperson of the compensation committee; |
| · | $5,000 per year additionally for service as a compensation committee member; |
| · | $8,000 per year additionally for service as chairperson of the corporate governance and nominating committee; and |
| · | $4,000 per year additionally for service as a corporate governance and nominating committee member. |
The terms of our outside director compensation policy also allow for new non-employee directors to receive, upon becoming a non-employee director, an initial award of stock options to purchase 3,500 shares of our common stock at a per-share exercise price equal to the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the first trading date on or after the date on which such individual first becomes a non-employee director. The initial award shall vest in three (3) equal installments on each anniversary of the date the applicable non-employee director’s service commenced, in each case subject to the non-employee director continuing to be a service provider through the applicable vesting date.
Our outside director compensation policy, also provides for an annual award (the “Annual Award”) to continuing non-employee directors who have served as a non-employee director for at least six (6) months on the date of each annual meeting of stockholders of stock options to purchase 1,750 shares of our common stock at a per-share exercise price equal to the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of each annual meeting; provided, however, that the Board may make exceptions to this requirement of being an outside director for six (6) months to receive an Annual Award. The Annual Award shall vest on the earlier of the one-year anniversary of the date the annual award is granted, or the day prior to the date of the annual meeting next following the date the annual award is granted, in each case, subject to the non-employee director continuing to be a service provider through the applicable vesting date.
We also reimburse our directors for expenses associated with attending meetings of our Board and committees of our Board. Directors who are also our employees receive no additional compensation for their service as a director.
Our outside director compensation policy further provides that in any given fiscal year, a non-employee director may not receive cash compensation and equity awards with an aggregate value greater than $750,000 (determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America). Any cash compensation paid or awards granted to an individual for his or her services as an employee or a consultant (other than as a non-employee director) will not count for purposes of this limitation.
Our 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, or the 2018 Plan, provides that in the event of a merger or change in control, as defined in our 2018 Plan, each outstanding equity award granted under our 2018 Plan that is held by a non-employee director will fully vest, all restrictions on the shares subject to such award will lapse, and with respect to awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at 100% of target levels, and all of the shares subject to such award will become fully exercisable, if applicable.
In January 2024, the Company granted options to an officer of the Company to purchase an aggregate of 92,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock with an exercise price of $1.49 and vesting as follows: twenty-five (25%) of the shares subject to the option shall vest on the one-year anniversary of the vesting commencement date, and one forty-eighth (1/48 th) of the shares subject to the option shall vest each month thereafter on the same day of the month as the vesting commencement date. The vesting commencement date is January 5, 2024.
In February 2024, 488,069 options were repriced to $1.55 and had their vesting schedules modified. As per ASC 718 the changes were treated as modifications to the options and vest as follows: 1/3 rd of the shares subject to the options will vest on the first anniversary and 1/36 th of the shares subject to the option will vest each month thereafter. The amendment date was February 28, 2024.
On December 20, 2024, the Company granted options to directors to purchase a total of 10,500 shares of the Company’s common stock with an exercise price of $0.9476 and one hundred percent (100%) of the shares subject to the option shall vest on the earlier of (i) the one (1) year anniversary of the vesting commencement date, or (ii) the day prior to the date of the annual meeting of the Issuer's stockholders next following the vesting commencement date. The vesting commencement date is December 20, 2024.
Compensation Recovery Policy
We have adopted a compensation recovery policy, effective as of October 2, 2023, that complies with the new SEC rules under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Clawback Policy”). Subject to the terms of the Clawback Policy, the Clawback Policy requires us to recover certain cash or equity-based incentive compensation payments or awards made or granted to an executive officer in the event we are required to prepare an accounting restatement due to our material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, including any required accounting restatement to correct an error in previously issued financial statements that is material to the previously issued financial statements, or that would result in a material misstatement if the error were corrected in the current period or left uncorrected in the current period.
Benefits and Perquisites
We provide benefits to our executive officer on the same basis as provided to all of our employees, including health, dental and vision insurance; life insurance; accidental death and dismemberment insurance. We do not maintain any executive-specific benefit or perquisite programs.
Employee Stock Plan
2018 Equity Incentive Plan
Our Board has adopted a 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2018 Plan”), and our stockholders have approved it. Our 2018 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, to our employees and any parent and subsidiary corporations’ employees, and for the grant of non-statutory stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and stock appreciation rights to our employees, directors and consultants and our parent and subsidiary corporations’ employees and consultants.
Authorized Shares. On January 1, 2024, the 2018 Plan was increased to permit the issuance of an additional 478,344 shares of common stock awards. On February 28, 2025, an additional 484,155 shares of our common stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to the 2018 Plan.
As of December 31, 2024, 1,529,223 shares of our common stock have been reserved for issuance pursuant to the 2018 Plan, of which options to purchase 773,605 shares of common stock are issued and outstanding.
Plan Administration. Our Board or one or more committees appointed by our Board will administer the 2018 Plan. Our Compensation Committee currently administers our 2018 Plan. In addition, if we determine it is desirable to qualify transactions under the 2018 Plan as exempt under Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, or Rule 16b-3, such transactions will be structured to satisfy the requirements for exemption under Rule 16b-3. Subject to the provisions of our 2018 Plan, the administrator has the power to administer the plan, including but not limited to, the power to determine the fair market value of our common stock, select the service providers to whom awards may be granted, determine the number of shares covered by each award, approve forms of award agreements for use under the 2018 Plan, determine the terms and conditions of awards (including, but not limited to, the exercise price, the time or times at which awards may be exercised, any vesting acceleration or waiver or forfeiture restrictions and any restriction or limitation regarding any award or the shares relating thereto), construe and interpret the terms of our 2018 Plan and awards granted under it, prescribe, amend and rescind rules relating to our 2018 Plan, including creating sub-plans, modify or amend each award, including but not limited to the discretionary authority to extend the post-termination exercisability period of awards (except no option or stock appreciation right will be extended past its original maximum term) and allow a participant to defer the receipt of payment of cash or the delivery of shares that would otherwise be due to such participant under an award). The administrator also has the authority to allow participants the opportunity to transfer outstanding awards to a financial institution or other person or entity selected by the administrator and to institute an exchange program by which outstanding awards may be surrendered or cancelled in exchange for awards of the same type, which may have a higher or lower exercise price and/or different terms, awards of a different type and/or cash or by which the exercise price of an outstanding award is increased or reduced. The administrator’s decisions, interpretations and other actions are final and binding on all participants.
Stock Options. We may grant stock options under the 2018 Plan. The exercise price of options granted under our 2018 Plan will at least be equal to 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. The term of an option may not exceed 10 years. With respect to any participant who owns more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of our outstanding stock, the term of an incentive stock option granted to such participant must not exceed five years and the exercise price must equal at least 110% of the fair market value on the grant date. The administrator will determine the methods of payment of the exercise price of an option, which may include cash, shares or other property acceptable to the administrator, as well as other types of consideration permitted by applicable law. After the termination of service of an employee, director or consultant, he or she may exercise his or her option, to the extent vested as of the termination date, for the period of time stated in his or her option agreement. Generally, if termination is due to death or disability, the option will remain exercisable for 6 months. In all other cases, in the absence of a specified time in an award agreement, the option will generally remain exercisable for 30 days following the termination of service. However, in no event may an option be exercised later than the expiration of its term. Subject to the provisions of our 2018 Plan, the administrator determines the other terms of options.
Stock Appreciation Rights. We may grant stock appreciation rights under our 2018 Plan. Stock appreciation rights allow the recipient to receive the appreciation in the fair market value of our common stock between the exercise date and the date of grant. Stock appreciation rights may not have a term exceeding 10 years. After the termination of service of an employee, director, or consultant, he or she may exercise his or her stock appreciation right for the period of time stated in his or her option agreement. In the absence of a specified time in an award agreement, if termination is due to death or disability, the stock appreciation rights will remain exercisable for 6 months. In all other cases, in the absence of a specified time in an award agreement, the stock appreciation rights will remain exercisable for 30 days following the termination of service. However, in no event may a stock appreciation right be exercised later than the expiration of its term. Subject to the provisions of our 2018 Plan, the administrator determines the other terms of stock appreciation rights, including when such rights become exercisable and whether to pay any increased appreciation in cash or with shares of our common stock, or a combination thereof, except that the per share exercise price for the shares to be issued pursuant to the exercise of a stock appreciation right will be no less than 100% of the fair market value per share on the date of grant.
Restricted Stock. We may grant restricted stock under our 2018 Plan. Restricted stock awards are grants of shares of our common stock that vest in accordance with terms and conditions established by the administrator. The administrator will determine the number of shares of restricted stock granted to any employee, director or consultant and, subject to the provisions of our 2018 Plan, will determine the terms and conditions of such awards. The administrator may impose whatever vesting conditions it determines to be appropriate (for example, the administrator may set restrictions based on the achievement of specific performance goals or continued service to us), except the administrator, in its sole discretion, may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed. Recipients of restricted stock awards generally will have voting and dividend rights with respect to such shares upon grant without regard to vesting, unless the administrator provides otherwise. Shares of restricted stock that do not vest are subject to our right of repurchase or forfeiture.
Restricted Stock Units. We may grant restricted stock units under our 2018 Plan. Restricted stock units are bookkeeping entries representing an amount equal to the fair market value of one share of our common stock. Subject to the provisions of our 2018 Plan, the administrator determines the terms and conditions of restricted stock units, including the vesting criteria and the form and timing of payment. The administrator may set vesting criteria based upon the achievement of company-wide, divisional, business unit or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment or service) or any other basis determined by the administrator in its discretion. The administrator, in its sole discretion, may pay earned restricted stock units in the form of cash, in shares or in some combination thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the administrator, in its sole discretion, may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed.
Non-Transferability of Awards. Unless the administrator provides otherwise, our 2018 Plan generally does not allow for the transfer of awards and only the recipient of an award may exercise an award during his or her lifetime. If the administrator makes an award transferrable, such award will contain such additional terms and conditions as the administrator deems appropriate.
Certain Adjustments. In the event of any dividend or other distribution, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of our shares or other securities, or other change in our corporate structure affecting our shares, to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits available under our 2018 Plan, the administrator will adjust the number and class of shares that may be delivered under our 2018 Plan and/or the number, class and price of shares covered by each outstanding award and the numerical share limits set forth in our 2018 Plan.
Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of our proposed liquidation or dissolution, the administrator will notify participants as soon as practicable and, to the extent not exercised, all awards will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed transaction.
Merger or Change in Control. Our 2018 Plan provides that in the event of a merger or change in control, as defined under our 2018 Plan, each outstanding award will be treated as the administrator determines, without a participant’s consent. The administrator is not required to treat all awards, all awards held by a participant or all awards of the same type, similarly.
If a successor corporation does not assume or substitute for any outstanding award, then the participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise all of his or her outstanding options and stock appreciation rights, all restrictions on restricted stock and restricted stock units will lapse, and for awards with performance-based vesting, unless specifically provided for otherwise under the applicable award agreement or other agreement or policy applicable to the participant, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at 100% of target levels and all other terms and conditions met. If an option or stock appreciation right is not assumed or substituted, the administrator will notify the participant in writing or electronically that such option or stock appreciation right will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the administrator in its sole discretion and the option or stock appreciation right will terminate upon the expiration of such period.
Clawback. Awards will be subject to our clawback policy, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 97.1 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Amendment; Termination*.*** The administrator has the authority to amend, alter, suspend or terminate our 2018 Plan, provided such action does not materially impair the rights of any participant. Our 2018 Plan automatically will terminate in 2028, unless we terminate it sooner.
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
During the year ended December 31, 2024, we granted stock options to purchase a total of 254,500 shares of common stock.
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
During the year ended December 31, 2024, there were no options exercised by our named officers.
Pension, Retirement or Similar Benefit Plans
There are no arrangements or plans in which we provide pension, retirement or similar benefits for directors or executive officers.
Indebtedness of Directors, Senior Officers, Executive Officers and Other Management
None of our directors or executive officers or any associate or affiliate of our company during the last two fiscal years, is or has been indebted to our company by way of guarantee, support agreement, letter of credit or other similar agreement or understanding currently outstanding.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.