Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp.
For the period ended Dec 31, 2024. Filed Mar 31, 2025.
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FY2024 · Filed Mar 31, 2025
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Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
| ITEM 11. | EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
|---|
The following describes the compensation earned by each of the executive officers identified below in the Summary Compensation Table, who are referred to collectively as our “named executive officers” or NEOs. Our NEOs with respect to the fiscal year that ended on December 31, 2024 are Robert J. Bitterman and Robert M. Infarinato.
Summary Compensation Table
| Name and principal position | Year | Salary ($) | Stock awards ($)(1) | Non-equity incentive plan compensation ($) | All other compensation ($)(2) | Total ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert J. Bitterman (3) | 2024 | 342,615 | 43,245 | – | 1,159 | 387,019 |
| President and Chief Executive Officer | 2023 | 380,000 | 57,640 | – | 252 | 437,892 |
| Robert M. Infarinato (4) | 2024 | 75,462 | 29,330 | – | 414 | 105,206 |
| Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||||||
| (1) | The amounts shown reflect the grant date fair value of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) computed in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718, “Compensation — Stock Compensation” for the indicated year. See Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report for further information. |
| (2) | Represents amounts for the dollar value of life insurance premiums paid. |
| (3) | Mr. Bitterman has served as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors since 2012 and served as the Company’s Interim Executive Chairman from September 2022 to February 2023 and was appointed as our President and Chief Executive Officer in February 2023. Upon his appointment to Interim Executive Chairman, Mr. Bitterman ceased receiving compensation in connection with his position as a director of the Company, including as Chairman of the Board. Effective as of October 16, 2023, Mr. Bitterman voluntarily reduced his base salary by $100,000. |
| (4) | Mr. Infarinato was appointed Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective August 1, 2024. |
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table shows information regarding outstanding equity awards as of December 31, 2024 for our NEOs:
| Option Awards · Stock Awards | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Grant Date | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable | Option Exercise Price ($) | 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 ($) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market Value of Unearned Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)(1) |
| Robert J. Bitterman (2) | 6/1/2015 | 1 | – | 225,720.00 | 6/1/2025 | – | – | – | – |
| 2/10/2016 | 1 | – | 169,884.00 | 2/10/2026 | – | – | – | – | |
| 2/1/2017 | 1 | – | 37,362.60 | 2/1/2027 | – | – | – | – | |
| 9/11/2024 | – | – | – | – | 15,500 | 43,245 | – | – | |
| Robert M. Infarinato(3) | 8/13/2024 | – | – | – | – | 8,000 | 20,960 | – | – |
| 9/11/2024 | – | – | – | – | 3,000 | 8,370 | – | – | |
| (1) | Value is based on the closing price of $1.80 of Common Stock on December 31, 2024. |
| (2) | The equity awards granted to Mr. Bitterman on June 2, 2014, June 1, 2015, February 10, 2016, and February 1, 2017 vested in one installment on the first anniversary of the grant date. The equity award granted to Mr. Bitterman on September 11, 2024 will vest in full on the first anniversary of the grant date. |
| (3) | The equity awards granted to Mr. Infarinato on August 13, 2024 and September 11, 2024 will each vest on the first anniversary of the respective grant date. |
Base Salary
When reviewing and approving our executive compensation arrangements, including the base salaries paid to our executive officers, the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) considers a number of factors, including, but not limited to: the performance of the executive officer to the Company’s overall performance, the performance of the executive officer against the Company’s corporate objectives, the executive officer’s skills, experience and qualifications in such executive officer’s role, review of compensation surveys of base salaries paid by comparable organizations and market compensation data. These factors provide the framework for decisions regarding the base salary compensation for each executive officer. No single factor is determinative in setting base salary levels, nor was the impact of any factor on the determination of pay levels quantifiable.
Incentive Compensation
Annual Incentive Bonus
Annual bonuses are based on the achievement of corporate goals typically comprised of a mix of clinical development, discovery, financial, business development, and investor relations related performance objectives. The corporate goals are approved by the Board on an annual basis at the start of each year. Annual bonuses for all employees, including executive officers, take into account the achievement of specified business objectives and individual performance objectives, with the exception of the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, whose annual bonus is determined solely by the achievement of business objectives. The Compensation Committee reviews our achievements against these corporate goals and their assessment of the goals and recommendations regarding funding is presented to our full Board for approval. The Compensation Committee maintains full discretion in determining overall performance under the annual bonus and may adjust bonus payouts based on factors it deems relevant. Neither of our NEOs received any annual incentive bonus payments in 2024 or 2023.
Equity Incentive
We maintain the Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. 2020 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”) pursuant to which we currently grant RSU awards to eligible participants. Grants of restricted stock units under this plan to our NEOs are disclosed in the Summary Compensation and Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End tables above.
The Compensation Committee last granted a stock option in October 2023. We have no program, practice or plan to grant stock options in coordination with the release of material nonpublic information. We also havenot timed the release of material nonpublic information for the purpose of affecting the value of stock options or other compensation, and we haveno plan to do so. These considerations are not applicable to RSUs or other types of equity awards that do not include an exercise price related to the market price of our stock on the date of grant.
Employment and Change of Control Agreements
The following provides description of the employment agreements that are currently in effect for our NEOs:
Robert J. Bitterman
Mr. Bitterman was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer and entered into an employment agreement, dated February 20, 2023, pursuant to which he was entitled to an initial annual base salary of $440,000 and is eligible to receive an annual bonus of up to 40% of his annual base salary, based on the achievement of certain performance goals established annually by the Board. In connection with his appointment, the Company granted Mr. Bitterman RSUs settleable for 11,000 shares of Common Stock under the Company's 2020 Plan. The RSUs vested in two equal annual installments, commencing on the first anniversary of the date of grant. Effective as of October 16, 2023, Mr. Bitterman voluntarily reduced his base salary by $100,000.
If Mr. Bitterman’s employment is terminated by the Company due to death or disability, the Company shall pay to Mr. Bitterman or to his estate, as applicable, any earned, but unpaid, base salary and any amounts owed to Mr. Bitterman for reimbursement of expenses properly incurred which are reimbursable, in each case as earned or incurred, as applicable through the date of termination (the “Accrued Benefits”), as well as pay any accrued but unpaid bonus then due to Mr. Bitterman and all equity awards that have been granted will immediately vest on a pro-rata basis. If Mr. Bitterman’s employment is terminated by the Board for cause or by Mr. Bitterman without good reason, the Company shall pay to Mr. Bitterman the Accrued Benefits through the date of termination. If Mr. Bitterman’s employment is terminated by Mr. Bitterman for good reason or by the Company other than as a result of death or disability and other than for cause, then the Company shall pay to Mr. Bitterman the Accrued Benefits through the date of termination, continue to pay Mr. Bitterman his base salary for three months from the date of separation, pay any accrued but unpaid bonus and if, and only if, such termination occurs within one year of a change in control all equity awards that have been granted but are not exercisable at the time of such termination shall immediately become exercisable in full.
Mr. Bitterman is eligible to participate in the Company’s 2020 Plan and other benefits available to the Company’s executive officers.
Robert M. Infarinato
Mr. Infarinato was appointed Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and entered into an offer letter and employment agreement, effective August 1, 2024, pursuant to which he is entitled to an initial annual base salary of $180,000 and is eligible to receive an annual bonus of up to 30% of his annual base salary, based on the achievement of certain performance goals established annually by the Board. In connection with his appointment, the Company granted Mr. Infarinato RSUs settleable for 8,000 shares of Common Stock under the 2020 Plan. The RSUs vest in equal annual installments over three years, commencing on the first anniversary of the grant date, subject to Mr. Infarinato’s continuous service with us through each such vesting date.
Mr. Infarinato’s employment is at-will, which means that we or Mr. Infarinato may terminate his employment with us at any time, with or without notice or cause.
Mr. Infarinato is eligible to participate in the Company’s 2020 Plan and other benefits available to the Company’s executive officers.
Pay versus Performance
As required by Section 953(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the following information about the relationship between the SEC-defined Compensation Actually Paid (“CAP”) to our NEOs and certain of our financial performance metrics during the fiscal years listed below. The SEC-defined CAP data set forth in the table below does not necessarily reflect amounts actually paid, earned or received by our NEOs, and the metrics are not those that the Compensation Committee uses when setting executive compensation.
The following table sets forth additional compensation information of our principal executive officer (“PEO”) along with total shareholder return and net income for our 2024, 2023 and 2022 fiscal years. The Company appointed Robert M. Infarinato as Chief Financial Officer in August of 2024, and Mr. Infarinato is considered a non-PEO NEO for fiscal year 2024. The Company did not have any non-PEO NEOs for 2023 and 2022 fiscal years.
| Year | Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO (1) | CAP to PEO (2) | Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEO | CAP to Non-PEO NEO (3) | Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based On Total Shareholder Return (4) | Net Income (Loss) (Thousands) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $387,019 | $384,546 | $105,206 | $106,566 | $23.25 | $(7,150) |
| 2023 | $437,892 | $379,393 | – | – | $6.33 | $(10,826) |
| 2022 | $109,380 | $94,715 | – | – | $13.83 | $(11,480) |
| (1) | Mr. Bitterman has served as a member of the Company’s Board since 2012, served as the Company’s Interim Executive Chair from September 2022 to February 2023 and was appointed as our President and Chief Executive Officer in February 2023. |
| (2) | CAP reflects the following exclusions and inclusions for the PEO in the table above: |
| Year | Summary Compensation Table Total | Minus: Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Awards and Option Awards from Summary Compensation Table | Plus: Year-end Fair Value of Unvested Equity Awards Granted During Year | Plus: Year-Over-Year Difference of Year-End Fair Value of Unvested Awards Granted in Prior Years | Plus: Fair Value at Vest Date for Awards Granted and Vested During Year | Plus: Year-Over-Year Difference of Year-End Fair Value of Prior Years’ Awards Vested During Year | Minus: Fair Value at Prior Year-end for Prior Years’ Awards that Fail to Meet Vesting Conditions During Year | Compensation Actually Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $387,019 | $(43,245) | $43,245 | – | – | $(2,473) | – | $384,546 |
| 2023 | $437,892 | $(57,640) | $8,360 | – | – | $(9,219) | – | $379,393 |
| 2022 | $109,380 | $(31,464) | $18,590 | – | – | $(1,791) | – | $94,715 |
(3) CAP reflects the following exclusions and inclusions for the Non-PEO NEO in the table above:
| Year | Summary Compensation Table Total | Minus: Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Awards and Option Awards from Summary Compensation Table | Plus: Year-end Fair Value of Unvested Equity Awards Granted During Year | Plus: Year-Over-Year Difference of Year-End Fair Value of Unvested Awards Granted in Prior Years | Plus: Fair Value at Vest Date for Awards Granted and Vested During Year | Plus: Year-Over-Year Difference of Year-End Fair Value of Prior Years’ Awards Vested During Year | Minus: Fair Value at Prior Year-end for Prior Years’ Awards that Fail to Meet Vesting Conditions During Year | Compensation Actually Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $105,206 | $(29,330) | $30,690 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $106,566 |
| 2023 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2022 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
(4) Total shareholder return as calculated based on a fixed investment of $100 measured from the market close on December 31, 2022 through and including the end of the fiscal year for each year reported in the table.
Relationship Between Pay and Performance
The following charts shown below illustrate the relationship of compensation actually paid to our PEO and, for 2024, to our Non-PEO NEO, as set forth in the table above, as compared to: our (1) total shareholder return and (2) net income (loss).
Director Compensation
Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy
We compensate our non-employee directors for their service as a member of our Board. Each non-employee director is entitled to receive an annual cash retainer of $35,000. The chairs of our Board and Audit Committee are entitled to receive an additional annual cash retainer of $15,000 and the chairs of the Compensation, Governance and Nominating Committees are entitled to receive an additional cash retainer of $7,500. In addition, the Lead Independent Director, if any, is entitled to receive an additional annual cash retainer of $12,500. Each non-employee director is also entitled to receive an annual grant of RSUs as determined by the Board, which vest in full on the one-year anniversary of the respective date of grant.
The Compensation Committee and the Board reassess the appropriate levels of cash and equity compensation for non-employee directors on an annual basis.
Non-employee directors are also reimbursed for their travel and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending Board and committee meetings and in attending continuing education seminars, to the extent that attendance is required by the Board or the committee(s) on which that director serves.
Non-Employee Director Compensation Table
The following table shows the compensation to the Company’s non-employee directors in fiscal year 2024. We compensate our non-employee directors for their service as a member of our Board. Compensation paid to Robert J. Bitterman, the Company's President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, is set forth above in the Summary Compensation Table due to Mr. Bitterman’s status as an NEO of the Company. As noted above, Mr. Deming did not join the Board until February 2025; accordingly, he is not included in the table below as this table relates to fiscal year 2024.
| Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | Stock Awards ($)(1) | Total ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patricia A. Bradford | 50,000 | 22,320 | 72,320 |
| Robert L. Ferrara | 62,500 | 27,900 | 90,400 |
| Jonathan E. Freeman, Ph.D. | 35,000 | 2,790 | 37,790 |
| Curtis A. Lockshin, Ph.D. | 42,500 | 5,580 | 48,080 |
| (1) | The amounts shown reflect the grant date fair value of RSUs computed in accordance with the FASB ASC Topic 718, “Compensation — Stock Compensation”. |
As of December 31, 2024, the aggregate number of shares underlying stock options and RSUs by our non-employee directors is as follows: Patricia A. Bradford — 8,000 RSUs, Robert L. Ferrara — 10,000 RSUs, Jonathan E. Freeman, Ph.D. — 1,000 RSUs, and Curtis A. Lockshin, Ph.D. —2,000 RSUs. Mr. Bitterman’s outstanding equity awards are also included in the Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End table above due to his status a NEO during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.