UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
PROXY
STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed
by the Registrant ☒
Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check
the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as
permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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☐ |
Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Materials Under §240.14a-12 |
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BONE
BIOLOGICS CORPORATION |
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(Name of Registrant as
Specified in its Charter) |
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(Name of Person(s) Filing
Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) |
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Payment
of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):
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No fee required. |
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Fee paid previously with
preliminary materials. |
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Fee computed on table in
exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
BONE
BIOLOGICS CORPORATION
2
Burlington Woods Drive, Ste 100
Burlington,
MA 01803
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2024
Dear
Stockholder:
You
are cordially invited to attend the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Bone Biologics Corporation for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2023 (the “Annual Meeting”), to be held at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday,
September 17, 2024 at Bone Biologics Corporation offices, 2 Burlington Woods Drive, Ste 100, Burlington, MA 01803. Stockholders may also
listen to the Annual Meeting via telephone at 520-525-8845. Directions to our corporate headquarters are available at www.bonebiologics.com.
The
Annual Meeting is being held for the following purposes, which are more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement:
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To elect four directors
to our Board of Directors; |
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To approve, in an advisory
(non-binding) vote, our executive officer compensation; |
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To ratify the appointment
of Weinberg & Company, P.A., as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024;
and |
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To transact any other business
as may properly come before the meeting or at any adjournment thereof. |
Our
Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on July 19, 2024 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled
to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Only our stockholders of record at the close of business on that date will be entitled
to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
We
are pleased to take advantage of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s “e-proxy” rules that allow public companies
to furnish proxy materials to stockholders via the Internet. The “e-proxy” rules remove the requirement for public companies
to automatically send stockholders a full, printed copy of proxy materials and allow them instead to deliver to their stockholders a
Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice and Access Card”) and to provide online access to the documents.
The Notice and Access Card contains instructions on how to access those documents and to cast your vote via the Internet. The Notice
and Access Card also contains instructions on how to request a paper copy of our proxy materials and our 2023 Annual Report. We believe
that this process allows us to provide our stockholders with the information they need on a timelier basis, while reducing the environmental
impact and lowering the costs of printing and distributing our proxy materials.
We
made this proxy statement and our 2023 Annual Report to stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, which includes our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available
to stockholders on or about August 8, 2024.
IMPORTANT
NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2024:
The
proxy statement, proxy card and 2023 Annual Report to stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 are available at the following
website: www.bonebiologics.com/investor-relation. These documents are also available to any stockholder who wishes to receive
a paper copy by calling 866-870-3684, visiting www.investorelections.com/BBLG or emailing paper@investorelections.com.
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By Order of the Board of Directors, |
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/s/ Don
Hankey |
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Don Hankey |
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Chairman of the Board of Directors |
August
8, 2024
YOUR
VOTE IS IMPORTANT REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF SHARES YOU OWN. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, YOU ARE URGED TO
VOTE ELECTRONICALLY VIA THE INTERNET OR BY COMPLETING, SIGNING, DATING AND RETURNING THE PROXY/VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD. IF GIVEN, YOU
MAY REVOKE YOUR PROXY BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE PROXY STATEMENT AND PROXY/VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
BONE
BIOLOGICS CORPORATION
2
Burlington Woods Drive, Ste 100
Burlington,
MA 01803
PROXY
STATEMENT
Annual
Meeting of Stockholders to be Held on September 17, 2024
The
Annual Meeting
This
proxy statement is being furnished to the stockholders of Bone Biologics Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) for use at the Annual
Meeting to be held at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at Bone Biologics
Corporation offices, 2 Burlington Woods Drive, Ste 100, Burlington, MA 01803, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof. Stockholders
may also listen to the Annual Meeting via telephone at 520-525-8845. Directions to our corporate headquarters are available at www.bonebiologics.com.
The
Annual Meeting is being held for the following purposes, which are more fully described in this proxy statement:
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To elect four directors
to our Board; |
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To approve, in an advisory
(non-binding) vote, our executive officer compensation; |
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To ratify the appointment
of Weinberg & Company, P.A., as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024;
and |
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To transact any other business
as may properly come before the meeting or at any adjournment thereof. |
Stockholders
of the Company as of July 19, 2024, the Record Date, may vote in one of the following four ways: (1) by Internet at www.proxypush.com/BBLG,
we encourage you to vote this way, (2) by touch tone telephone: call toll-free at 1-866-883-3382, (3) by completing, signing, dating
and returning your proxy card, if you requested a printed copy of the proxy materials, and (4) at the Annual Meeting. It is important
that you vote your shares whether or not you attend the Annual Meeting in person. If you attend the Annual Meeting, you may vote in person
even if you have previously returned your proxy card or completed your proxy on the Internet. Only the latest vote you submit will be
counted. Shares represented by proxy will be voted in accordance with the instructions you provide to the individuals named on the proxy.
If you provide no instruction, the shares will be voted for all of the proposals.
NO
MATTER WHAT METHOD YOU ULTIMATELY DECIDE TO USE TO VOTE YOUR SHARES, WE URGE YOU TO VOTE PROMPTLY.
We
have elected to provide access to our proxy materials to our stockholders via the Internet. Accordingly, on or about August 8, 2024,
we will begin mailing a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice and Access Card”). Our proxy materials,
including the Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, this proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card or, for shares held
in street name (i.e., held for your account by a broker or other nominee), a voting instruction form, and the 2023 Annual Report to stockholders,
which includes our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “2023 Annual Report”), will be mailed or made available to stockholders on the Internet on the same date.
Record
Date; Shares Entitled To Vote; Vote Required To Approve the Transaction
The
Board has fixed the close of business on July 19, 2024 (the “Record Date”), as the date for the determination of stockholders
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. On the Record Date, 1,315,489 shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per
share (“Common Stock”) were issued and outstanding, and pursuant to our Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended (the “Bylaws”),
each outstanding share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to vote at a meeting of our stockholders.
At
least one-third of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote, represented either in person or by proxy, is necessary
to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. In the absence of a quorum, the Annual Meeting may be postponed
from time to time until stockholders holding the requisite number of shares of our Common Stock are represented in person or by proxy.
Broker non-votes and abstentions will be counted towards a quorum at the Annual Meeting.
Solicitation,
Voting and Revocation of Proxies
This
solicitation of proxies is being made by our Board, and our Company will pay the entire cost of preparing, assembling, printing, mailing
and distributing these proxy materials. In addition to the mailing of these proxy materials, the solicitation of proxies or votes may
be made in person, by telephone or by electronic communications by directors, officers and employees of our Company, who will not receive
any additional compensation for such solicitation activities. We have retained Advantage Proxy, Inc. (“Advantage”) to assist
in the proxy solicitation process. We have agreed to pay Advantage $5,000. We also will reimburse brokerage houses and other custodians,
nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy and solicitation materials to our stockholders.
Shares
of our Common Stock represented by a proxy received at or prior to the Annual Meeting, unless properly revoked, will be voted in accordance
with the instructions on the proxy. If a proxy card is signed and returned without any voting instructions, shares of our Common Stock
represented by the proxy card will be voted “FOR” the proposals described in this proxy statement, and in accordance with
the determination of the majority of our Board, as to any other matter which may properly come before the Annual Meeting, including any
adjournment or postponement thereof. A stockholder may revoke any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation by: (i) submitting a later-dated
vote by internet or telephone by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on September 16, 2024 (only
your latest internet or telephone vote will be counted); (ii) delivering to our corporate secretary, at or prior to the Annual
Meeting, a duly executed proxy card relating to the same shares and bearing a later date; (iii) delivering to our Corporate Secretary
a timely written notice that you are revoking your proxy, which must be received no later than
September 16, 2024 or (iv) voting in person at the Annual Meeting. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not, in and of itself,
constitute a revocation of a proxy. All written notices of revocation and other communications with respect to the revocation of a proxy
should be addressed to:
BONE
BIOLOGICS CORPORATION
2
Burlington Woods Drive, Ste 100
Burlington,
MA 01803
Attention:
Corporate Secretary
Our
Board is not aware of any business to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting other than consideration of the proposals described herein.
Internet
and Telephone Voting
In
addition to marking, signing, dating and mailing the enclosed proxy card, you may vote over the Internet or by telephone. Voting via
the Internet and telephone is fast, convenient and your vote is immediately confirmed and tabulated. If you choose to vote via the Internet
or telephone, instructions to do so are set forth on the Notice and Access Card. If you own your shares in your own name, you can vote
via the Internet or telephone in accordance with the instructions provided on the Notice and Access Card. If your shares are held in
“street name” by a bank, broker or other nominee, please contact your broker or other organization regarding
how to revoke your instructions and change your vote. You may change your vote by submitting a later-dated vote on the internet or by
telephone, if offered, or by participating in the Annual Meeting and submitting a later vote during the meeting. You may also
be instructed to obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other nominee and to submit a copy in advance of the Annual Meeting if
you intend to vote shares held in “street name” at the Annual Meeting.
If
you vote via the Internet or telephone, you do not have to mail in a proxy card, but your vote must be received by 11:59 p.m.,
Eastern Time, on September 16, 2024.
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS PROXY STATEMENT AND ANNUAL MEETING
Q: |
WHAT IS THIS PROXY STATEMENT
AND WHY AM I RECEIVING A NOTICE AND ACCESS CARD? |
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You are receiving a Notice
and Access Card in connection with the Annual Meeting of stockholders called by our Board in connection with soliciting stockholder
votes for the purpose of (i) electing four directors to our Board to serve for a term ending on the date of the next Annual Meeting
of stockholders following the date such persons are elected as directors, or until their successors are duly elected and qualified;
(ii) approve in an advisory (non-binding) vote, our executive officer compensation; and (iii) ratifying the appointment of Weinberg
& Company, P.A. as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024; in each case,
as more fully described in this proxy statement. You have been sent the Notice and Access card because our Board is soliciting your
proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of voting on the foregoing matters. |
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Q: |
WHY DID I RECEIVE A NOTICE
AND ACCESS CARD INSTEAD OF A FULL SET OF PROXY MATERIALS? |
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A: |
Pursuant to rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), for most stockholders, we are providing access to our proxy materials over the Internet rather than printing and mailing our proxy materials. We believe following this process will expedite the receipt of such materials and will help lower our costs and reduce the environmental impact of our annual meeting materials. Therefore, the Notice and Access Card was mailed to holders of record and beneficial owners of our Common Stock starting on or about August 8, 2024. The Notice and Access Card provides instructions as to how stockholders may access and review our proxy materials, including the Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, this proxy statement, the proxy card and our 2023 Annual Report, on the website referred to in the Notice and Access Card or, alternatively, how to request that a copy of the proxy materials, including a proxy card, be sent to them by mail. The Notice and Access Card also provides voting instructions. In addition, stockholders of record may request to receive the proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically by e-mail on an ongoing basis for future stockholder meetings. Please note that, while our proxy materials are available at the website referenced in the Notice and Access Card and our Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, this proxy statement and our 2023 Annual Report are available on our website.
Additionally, upon written request by a stockholder, we will furnish a
copy of our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, including the financial statements and the financial
statement schedules, free of charge, except that copies of any exhibit to that report will be furnished once the requesting stockholder
has paid our reasonable expenses in furnishing the exhibit. Please direct any written requests to Bone Biologics Corporation, Attention:
Corporate Secretary, 2 Burlington Woods Drive, Ste 100, Burlington, MA 01803. Stockholders may also view our Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 in the Investors section of our website, at www.bonebiologics.com/investor-relation. No
other information contained on either website is incorporated by reference in, or considered
to be a part of, this proxy statement. |
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Q: |
WHAT INFORMATION IS CONTAINED
IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT? |
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A: |
The information included
in this proxy statement relates to the proposals to be voted on at the Annual Meeting, the voting process, compensation of our directors
and named executive officers, and certain other required information. |
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Q: |
WHO IS ENTITLED TO VOTE
AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, AND WHAT VOTE IS REQUIRED TO APPROVE THE PROPOSALS? |
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A: |
Only holders of shares
of our Common Stock, as of the Record Date, are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of July 19, 2024, the Record Date, there
were 1,315,489 shares of our Common Stock issued and outstanding, and entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. For
all matters each outstanding share of our Common Stock will be entitled to one vote on each matter. Pursuant to our Bylaws, at least
one-third of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote, represented either in person or by proxy, is necessary
to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. The table below shows the vote required to approve
each of the proposals described in this proxy statement, assuming the presence of a quorum, in person or by proxy, at the Annual
Meeting. |
Proposal |
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Description |
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Vote
Required |
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Effect
of Abstentions |
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Effect
of Broker Non-Votes |
One |
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Election of the four directors |
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Plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting(1) |
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None |
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None |
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Two |
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Approval, in an advisory (non-binding) vote, our executive
officer compensation |
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Affirmative
vote of the majority of votes cast on the proposal (2)
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None |
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None |
Three |
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To ratify the appointment of Weinberg & Company,
P.A., as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024 |
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Affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast on the
proposal (3) |
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None |
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N/A because this proposal is a matter on which brokers
may vote |
(1) |
Our stockholders elect
directors by a plurality vote, which means that the director nominees receiving the most votes will be elected. A vote to “withhold”
will have no effect on the election of director nominees because the nominees who receive the highest number of “for”
votes are elected, and since the nominees are running unopposed they only need a single “for” vote to be elected. |
(2) |
The advisory vote to approve
the compensation of our named executive officers is not binding upon our Board or the Compensation Committee of our Board. However,
the Board and the Compensation Committee will consider the outcome of this vote when making future compensation decisions. |
(3) |
We are presenting the appointment
of Weinberg & Company, P.A. to our stockholders for ratification. The Audit Committee of our Board will consider the outcome
of this vote in its future discussions regarding the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm. |
Q: |
WHO COUNTS THE VOTES? |
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A: |
Equiniti Trust Company,
LLC has been appointed inspector of election by the Company and will tabulate votes at the Annual Meeting. |
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Q: |
DOES OUR BOARD RECOMMEND
VOTING “FOR” THE PROPOSALS? |
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A: |
Yes. Our Board unanimously
recommends that our stockholders vote “FOR” each of the four director nominees in this proxy statement, and “FOR”
Proposals two and three. |
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Q: |
HOW MAY I VOTE ON THE PROPOSALS
IF I OWN SHARES IN MY OWN NAME? |
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A: |
If you own your shares
in your own name, you may vote on the proposals presented in this proxy statement in one of the following four ways whether or not
you plan to attend the Annual Meeting: (1) by Internet at www.proxypush.com/BBLG, we encourage you to vote this way, (2) by touch
tone telephone: call toll-free at 1-866-883-3382, (3) by completing, signing, dating and returning your proxy card, if you requested
a printed copy of the proxy materials, and (4) at the Annual Meeting. It is important that you vote your shares whether or not you
attend the meeting in person. If you provide no instructions on your proxy card, the shares will be voted “FOR” (i) the
election of four nominees listed on the proxy card; (ii) the approval, in an advisory (non-binding) vote, our executive officer compensation;
and (iii) ratifying the appointment of Weinberg & Company, P.A. as our independent registered public accounting firm for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. In the event other business properly comes before the Annual Meeting or at any adjournment
or postponement of the meeting, the individuals named in the proxy will vote the shares represented by the proxy in their discretion. |
Q: |
HOW MAY I VOTE ON THE PROPOSALS
IF MY SHARES ARE HELD IN “STREET NAME” BY MY BROKER, BANK OR OTHER NOMINEE? |
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A: |
If
on the Record Date, your shares of our Common Stock were held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer or other similar organization,
which we collectively refer to as a broker, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and these
proxy materials are being made available to you by that organization along with a voting instruction card. As a beneficial owner,
you must vote your shares in the manner prescribed by your broker. Your broker has enclosed or otherwise provided a voting instruction
card for you to use in directing the broker how to vote your shares. Your shares will be voted as you indicate. Check the voting
instruction card used by that organization to see if it offers internet or telephone voting.
If
you hold your shares in street name, you will receive instructions from your broker, bank or nominee that you must follow in order
to submit your voting instructions and have your shares voted at the Annual Meeting. If you want to vote in person at the Annual
Meeting you may be instructed to obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other nominee and to submit a copy in advance of
the meeting.
Brokerage
firms do not have authority to vote shares for which their customers do not provide voting instructions except with respect to the
ratification of Weinberg & Company, P.A. which is considered a routine matter. A broker, banker or other nominee no longer has
discretion to vote for or against the other proposals in this proxy statement which are considered non-routine matters. Accordingly,
we encourage you to provide instructions to your brokerage firm on how to vote your shares.
Even
if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we recommend that you submit your proxy or voting instructions in advance of the Annual
Meeting as described above so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend or are unable to attend the Annual
Meeting. You may be instructed to obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other nominee and to submit a copy in advance of
the Annual Meeting if you intend to vote shares held in “street name” at the Annual Meeting. |
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Q: |
CAN I CHANGE MY MIND AND
REVOKE MY PROXY? |
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A: |
Yes. If you are a stockholder
of record, you may change your vote at any time before the polls close at the meeting. You may do this by (i) submitting a later-dated
vote by internet or telephone; (ii) delivering to our Corporate Secretary, at or prior to the Annual Meeting, a duly executed proxy
card relating to the same shares and bearing a later date; (iii) delivering to our Corporate Secretary a timely
written notice that you are revoking your proxy, which must be received no later than September 16, 2024 or (iv) voting in
person at the Annual Meeting. Attendance at the Annual Meeting, in and of itself, will not constitute a revocation of a proxy. If
you voted by Internet or telephone, you may change your vote at any time up until 11:59 p.m.,
Eastern Time, on September 16, 2024, by resubmitting a new vote by Internet or telephone. Your last vote will be the one which is
used for voting purposes. If you hold your shares in “street name,” you may submit new voting instructions by contacting
your broker, bank or other nominee. You may be instructed to obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other nominee and to
submit a copy in advance of the Annual Meeting if you intend to vote shares held in “street name” at the Annual Meeting. |
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Q: |
CAN I VOTE MY SHARES IN
PERSON? |
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A: |
Yes. The Annual Meeting
is open to all holders of our Common Stock as of the Record Date. To vote in person, you will need to attend the meeting and bring
with you evidence of your stock ownership. If your shares are registered in your name, you will need to bring a copy of stock certificate(s)
together with valid picture identification. If your shares are held in the name of your broker, bank or another nominee or you received
your proxy materials electronically, you will need to bring evidence of your stock ownership, such as your most recent brokerage
account statement, and valid picture identification, and may be instructed to obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other
nominee and to submit a copy in advance of the Annual Meeting. |
Q: |
HOW CAN I FIND OUT THE
VOTING RESULTS OF THE ANNUAL MEETING? |
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A: |
Preliminary voting results
will be announced at the Annual Meeting. Final voting results will be published in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with
the SEC within four business days after the Annual Meeting. |
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Q: |
DO I HAVE DISSENTERS’
RIGHTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSALS? |
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A: |
No. Under Delaware law,
“dissenters’ rights” are not available in connection with the proposals presented in this proxy statement. |
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Q. |
HOW MAY I REQUEST A SINGLE
SET OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR MY HOUSEHOLD? |
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A: |
If you share an address
with another stockholder and have received multiple copies of our proxy materials, you may write us to request delivery of a single
copy of these materials. Written requests should be made to Bone Biologics Corporation, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 2 Burlington
Woods Drive, Ste 100, Burlington, MA 01803. |
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Q. |
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I RECEIVE
MORE THAN ONE SET OF VOTING MATERIALS? |
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A: |
You may receive more than
one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this proxy statement and multiple proxy cards or voting instruction cards.
For example, if you hold your shares in more than one brokerage account, you may receive a separate voting instruction card for each
brokerage account in which you hold shares. If you are a stockholder of record and your shares are registered in more than one name,
you will receive more than one proxy card. Please complete, sign, date, and return each proxy card and voting instruction card that
you receive. |
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Q. |
WHAT HAPPENS IF ADDITIONAL
MATTERS ARE PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING? |
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A: |
Other than the proposals
described in this proxy statement, we are not aware of any other business to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting. If you grant a
proxy, the persons named as proxy holders will have the discretion to vote your shares on any additional matters properly presented
for a vote at the meeting. If for any reason any of our nominees are not available as a candidate for director, the persons named
as proxy holders will vote your proxy for such other candidate or candidates as may be nominated by the Board. |
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Q. |
IS MY VOTE CONFIDENTIAL?
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A: |
Proxy instructions, ballots
and voting tabulations that identify individual stockholders are handled in a manner that protects your voting privacy. Your vote
will not be disclosed either within the Company or to third parties, except: (1) as necessary to meet applicable legal requirements,
(2) to allow for the tabulation of votes and certification of the vote, and (3) to facilitate a successful proxy solicitation. |
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Q. |
WHO IS PAYING FOR THIS
PROXY SOLICITATION? |
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A: |
Our Board is making this
solicitation, and we will pay the entire cost of preparing, assembling, printing, mailing and distributing these proxy materials.
In addition to the mailing of these proxy materials, the solicitation of proxies or votes may be made in person, by telephone or
by electronic communications by our directors, officers and employees, who will not receive any additional compensation for such
solicitation activities. We will also reimburse brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy and solicitation materials to stockholders. |
PROPOSAL
I – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our
Board currently has four directors. The Board proposes that all of the nominees listed below, each of whom currently serves on the Board,
be elected as directors to serve for a term ending on the date of the next annual meeting of stockholders following the date such persons
are elected as directors, and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
has approved and recommended for election as directors at the Annual Meeting the nominees described in this proxy statement.
Each
of the nominees has consented to serve if elected. If any of them becomes unavailable to serve as a director, the Board may designate
a substitute nominee. In that case, the persons named as proxies will vote for the substitute nominee designated by the Board. There
are no family relationships between any director, executive officer, or person nominated or chosen by the Company to become a director
or executive officer.
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position |
Don Hankey |
|
81 |
|
Chairman of the Board of Directors |
Bruce Stroever |
|
74 |
|
Director |
Siddhesh Angle |
|
40 |
|
Director |
Robert Gagnon |
|
50 |
|
Director |
The
biographies and work experience of each of our nominees for directors is set forth below under “Directors and Executive Officers.”
Vote
Required and Recommendation of Board
The
affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting is required for the election of directors. A properly executed proxy
marked “WITHHELD” with respect to the election of one or more directors will not be voted with respect to the director or
directors indicated, although it will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum.
The
Board Recommends a Vote “For” Each of the Nominees Listed Above.
PROPOSAL
II – ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
This
proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal, gives you as a stockholder the opportunity to endorse or not endorse
our executive pay practices. This vote is intended to provide an overall assessment of our executive compensation program rather than
focus on any specific item of compensation. The goal for our executive compensation program is to motivate and retain highly-talented
executives who are critical to the successful implementation of our strategic business plan.
At
our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, our stockholders approved that we hold this non-binding, advisory vote on executive compensation
every year. Our Board subsequently adopted this preference, and we are providing our stockholders with a say-on-pay vote this year.
We
invite you to consider the details of our executive compensation program provided in the tables and narrative discussion relating to
the program. These will provide you with the individual elements of our compensation program and allow you to view the trends in compensation
for the years presented.
We
request stockholder approval of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to the SEC’s compensation
disclosure rules, which disclosures include the compensation tables and the narrative discussion pertaining to compensation. As an advisory
vote, this proposal is not binding upon our Board or us. However, we expect that our Compensation Committee, which is responsible for
designing and administering our executive compensation program, will consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation
decisions for our named executive officers. Accordingly, we are asking you to approve the following resolution:
RESOLVED,
that the compensation paid to the named executive officers of Bone Biologics Corporation, as disclosed in the 2024 Proxy Statement of
Bone Biologics Corporation pursuant to Item 402 of SEC Regulation S-K, including the compensation tables and narrative discussion, hereby
is approved.
The
Board unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive
officers. Proxies received will be so voted unless stockholders vote otherwise via the Internet or specify otherwise in their completed
and returned proxy cards.
PROPOSAL
III – RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
General
The
Audit Committee of our Board has appointed Weinberg & Company, P.A. (“Weinberg & Company”) to act as our independent
registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, and recommends that our stockholders vote to ratify such
appointment. Representatives of Weinberg & Company are not expected to be present at the Annual Meeting.
Stockholder
ratification of the selection of Weinberg & Company is not required by our Bylaws or otherwise. However, the Board is submitting
the selection of our independent registered accounting firm to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate governance.
If the stockholders fail to ratify this appointment, the Audit Committee may, but is not required to, reconsider whether to retain Weinberg
& Company. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may direct the appointment of a different accounting
firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
Principal
Accountant Fees and Services
Audit
Fees
| |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
Weinberg & Company, P.A. | |
$ | 121,437 | | |
$ | 76,194 | |
Audit
fees during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual consolidated
financial statements, for the reviews of our quarterly financial statements, and for services that are normally provided in connection
with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.
Audit
Related Fees
| |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
Weinberg & Company, P.A. | |
$ | 19,310 | | |
$ | - | |
Audit-related
fees consist of fees for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our
financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees.”
Tax
Fees
There
were no fees billed to us by Weinberg & Company for services that are reasonably related to the performance of tax compliance, tax
advice, and tax planning.
Other
Fees
There
were no fees billed to us by Weinberg & Company for services not set forth above.
Our
Audit Committee has determined that the services provided by Weinberg & Company are compatible with maintaining the independence
of Weinberg & Company as our independent registered public accounting firm.
Audit
Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures. The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and permissible non-audit services provided
by our independent registered public accounting firm. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services
and other services. The Audit Committee has adopted policies and procedures for the pre-approval of services provided by our independent
registered public accounting firm. The policies and procedures provide that management and our independent registered public accounting
firm jointly submit to the Audit Committee a schedule of audit and non-audit services for approval as part of the annual plan for each
year. In addition, the policies and procedures provide that the Audit Committee may also pre-approve particular services not in the annual
plan on a case-by-case basis. For each proposed service, management must provide a detailed description of the service and the projected
fees and costs (or a range of such fees and costs) for the service. The policies and procedures require management and our independent
registered public accounting firm to provide quarterly updates to the Audit Committee regarding services rendered to date and services
yet to be performed. All of the services provided and fees charged by Weinberg & Company were approved by our Audit Committee.
Vote
Required and Recommendation of Board
Under
Delaware law and pursuant to our Bylaws, the proposal to ratify Weinberg & Company as our independent registered public accounting
firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, will be approved by the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast on the
proposal.
THE
BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF WEINBERG & COMPANY AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM.
Security
Ownership of Management and Certain Beneficial Owners
The
following table sets forth information, as of July 19, 2024, regarding the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock by:
|
● |
each person known by us
to be a beneficial owner of more than five percent of our outstanding Common Stock; |
|
● |
each of our directors and
director nominee; |
|
● |
each of our named executive
officers; and |
|
● |
all directors and executive
officers as a group. |
The
amounts and percentage of Common Stock beneficially owned are reported on the basis of regulations of the SEC governing the determination
of beneficial ownership of securities. Under the rules of the SEC, a person is deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of a security
if that person has or shares “voting power,” which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of such security, or
“investment power,” which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of such security. A person is also
deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities of which that person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days. Under
these rules, more than one person may be deemed a beneficial owner of the same securities and a person may be deemed a beneficial owner
of securities as to which he has no economic interest. Except as indicated by footnote, the persons named in the table below have sole
voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by them.
Name of Beneficial Owner or Identity of Group | |
Shares(1) | | |
Percentage | |
| |
| | |
| |
Executive
Officers and Directors(2): | |
| | | |
| | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Don R. Hankey | |
| 29,776 | (3) | |
| 2.3 | % |
Jeffrey Frelick | |
| 27,528 | (4) | |
| 2.1 | % |
Sid Angle | |
| 11,009 | (5) | |
| * | |
Bruce Stroever | |
| 10,925 | (6) | |
| * | |
Deina H. Walsh | |
| 14,454 | (7) | |
| 1.1 | % |
Robert E. Gagnon | |
| 8,015 | (8) | |
| * | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Total Officers and Directors as a Group (6 persons) | |
| 101,707 | (9) | |
| 7.5 | % |
*
Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1% of our outstanding Common Stock.
(1) |
Based on 1,315,489 outstanding
shares. The number of shares issued and outstanding that was used to calculate the percentage ownership of each listed person includes
the shares underlying stock options and warrants that are exercisable within 60 days from our report date. |
(2) |
Except as indicated by
footnote, the address for our executive officers and directors is 2 Burlington Woods Drive, Ste 100, Burlington, MA 01803. |
(3) |
Mr. Hankey is the beneficial
owner of 27,931 shares and 1,845 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants of the Company consisting of 17,833 shares and 1,170 shares
issuable upon exercise of warrants owned by the Don Hankey Trust (the “Trust”) of which Mr. Hankey is the Trustee, 133
shares held by H&H Funding LLC of which Mr. Hankey is the sole manager, 325 shares and 22 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants
held by Knight Services, Inc. which is 100% owned by the Trust, and 9,640 shares and 653 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants
of which Knight Insurance Company, Ltd. is the beneficial owner consisting of 6,112 shares and 414 shares issuable upon exercise
of warrants held by Knight Insurance Company, Ltd., 1,190 shares and 81 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants held by Knightbrook
Insurance Company which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Knight Insurance Company, Ltd. and 2,338 shares and 158 shares issuable upon
exercise of warrants held by Knight Specialty Insurance Company a wholly owned subsidiary of Knight Insurance Company, Ltd. The address
for Mr. Hankey is 4751 Wilshire Blvd #110, Los Angeles, CA 90010. |
(4) |
Includes 25,377 shares
underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days. |
(5) |
Includes 11,009 shares
underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days. |
(6)
|
Includes 10,925 shares
underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days. |
(7) |
Includes 12,579 shares
underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days. |
(8) |
Includes 8,015 shares underlying
stock options exercisable within 60 days. |
(9) |
Consists of 31,957 shares,
1,845 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants and 67,905 shares underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days. |
DIRECTORS
AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS;
The
following table and biographical summaries set forth information, including principal occupation and business experience, about our directors
and executive officers as of the date of this proxy statement:
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position |
Jeffrey Frelick |
|
59 |
|
Chief Executive Officer and President |
Deina H. Walsh |
|
60 |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
Don Hankey |
|
81 |
|
Chairman of the Board of Directors |
Bruce Stroever |
|
74 |
|
Director |
Siddhesh Angle |
|
40 |
|
Director |
Robert Gagnon |
|
50 |
|
Director |
Jeffrey
Frelick: Chief Executive Officer and President
Jeffrey
Frelick serves as our President and Chief Executive Officer, bringing more than 25 years of leadership, operational, and investment experience
in the life science industry. He joined Bone Biologics in 2015 as our Chief Operating Officer and assumed his current role in June 2019.
Prior to Bone Biologics, Mr. Frelick spent 15 years on Wall Street as a sell-side analyst following the med-tech industry at investment
banks Canaccord Genuity, ThinkEquity and Lazard. He also previously worked at Boston Biomedical Consultants where he provided strategic
planning assistance, market research data and due diligence for diagnostic companies. He began his career at Becton Dickinson in sales
and sales management positions after gaining technical experience as a laboratory technologist with Clinical Pathology Facility. Mr.
Frelick received a B.S. in Biology from University of Pittsburgh and an M.B.A. from Suffolk University’s Sawyer Business School.
Deina
H. Walsh: Chief Financial Officer
Deina
Walsh has served as our Chief Financial Officer since November 2014. She is a certified public accountant and was owner/founder of DHW
CPA, PLLC, a Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) registered firm. Prior to forming her firm, Ms. Walsh spent 13 years at
a public accounting firm where as a partner she was actively responsible for leading firm audit engagements of publicly held entities
in accordance with PCAOB standards and compliance with SEC regulations, including internal control requirements under Section 404 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Ms. Walsh had a global client base including entities throughout the United States, Canada and China. These entities
encompass a diverse range of industries including manufacturing, wholesale, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and technology. Her experience
includes work with start-up companies and well-established operating entities. She has assisted many entities seeking debt and equity
capital. Areas of specialty include mergers, acquisitions, reverse mergers, consolidations, complex equity structures, foreign currency
translations and revenue recognition complexities. Ms. Walsh has an Associates of Science Degree in Business Administration from Monroe
Community College and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the State University of New York at Brockport.
Don
Hankey: Chairman of the Board of Directors
Mr.
Hankey has served as Chairman of the Board since 2018. Mr. Hankey holds his BA Degree and has done post-graduate work from the University
of Southern California. At age 27, Mr. Hankey became Vice President of a major investment banking firm, which would later become part
of USB Paine Weber. Mr. Hankey acquired Midway Ford in 1972 and founded Hankey Investment Company. During the 1980s, Mr. Hankey’s
organization grew its portfolio and established a foothold in the financial services industry. Mr. Hankey has incorporated technology
into every aspect of the Hankey Group of companies improving efficiencies and outcomes. Mr. Hankey has been the manager of Hankey Capital,
LLC, since its formation in 2002. Given Mr. Hankey’s financial experience, we believe he is well qualified to serve as the Chairman
of the Board.
Bruce
Stroever: Director
Mr.
Stroever has served on the Board since 2012, bringing forty years of product development and general management experience in the medical
device and orthobiologics fields. Mr. Stroever most recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer at MTF until he retired
in 2018 after 30 years of service. Under Mr. Stroever’s leadership, MTF grew to be the largest tissue bank in the world. From 1971
to 1988, Mr. Stroever held several positions with Ethicon, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson, Inc. subsidiary. Mr. Stroever served on the
advisory board for the New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network. He was also elected to the Board of Governors of the American Association
of Tissue Banks for a three-year term in 1999 and subsequently in 2012. He was a founding member of the Tissue Policy Group subsidiary
of the AATB and served as its Chairman for two terms. Mr. Stroever serves on the Board of Donate Life New York State, a non-profit based
in Albany, New York. Mr. Stroever received his B.E. in Mechanical/Chemical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in 1972 and
a M.S. in Bioengineering from Columbia University in 1977. Given Mr. Stroever’s educational background, his senior management experience
in our industry and the continuity he brings to the Board, we believe that Mr. Stroever is well qualified to serve as a member of the
Board.
Siddhesh
(Sid) R. Angle: Director
Dr.
Angle’s appointment to the Board became effective upon completion of October 2021 Offering. From 2018 to the present, Dr. Angle
is Co-Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Regenosine, an early stage start-up for osteoarthritic disease. From 2021 to
present, Dr. Angle also serves on the Executive Team of Vetosine, an animal health affiliate of Regenosine. From 2020 to 2021, Dr. Angle
was Associate Director, Innovation Commercialization at NYU Langone. From 2017 to 2020, Dr. Angle was Program Manager, Innovation Commercialization
at NYU Langone. From 2013 to 2017, Dr. Angle worked in various R&D capacities at Zimmer Biomet, culminating as R&D manager of
global orthobiologics. From 2011 to 2013, Dr. Angle served as Research Scientist at Carnegie Mellon University. Given Mr. Angle’s
extensive background in research and development, we believe that Mr. Angle is well qualified to serve as a member of the Board.
Robert
Gagnon: Director
Mr.
Gagnon’s appointment to the Board became effective on January 8, 2024. Mr. Gagnon has served as the Chief Financial Officer of
Remix Therapeutics, a biotechnology company, since March 2023. Prior to Remix Therapeutics, Mr. Gagnon served as an Operating Partner
at Gurnet Point Capital, a healthcare venture capital and private equity fund, from October 2022 to June 2023. Earlier, he served as
Chief Financial Officer of Verastem, Inc. from August 2018 to October 2022 in addition to serving as Chief Business Officer from June
2019 to October 2022. Prior to Verastem, Mr. Gagnon served as the Chief Financial Officer for Harvard Bioscience, Inc. from November
2013 to August 2018. From 2012 through 2013, Mr. Gagnon served as the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
at Clean Harbors, Inc. Mr. Gagnon’s prior experience includes serving as Chief Accounting Officer and Controller at Biogen Idec,
Inc., as well as a variety of senior positions at Deloitte & Touche, LLP, and PriceWaterhouseCoopers, LLP. Mr. Gagnon holds an M.B.A.
from the MIT Sloan School of Management and a B.A. in accounting from Bentley College. Mr. Gagnon currently serves as on the board of
directors at Verastem and Purple Biotech Ltd. Given Mr. Gagnon’s significant financial, accounting and management expertise, as
well as his experience within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, we believe that Mr. Gagnon is well qualified to serve
as a member of the Board.
Family
Relationships
There
are no family relationships between any of our directors or executive officers.
Legal
Proceedings
On
July 11, 2019, Dr. Bessie (Chia) Soo and Dr. Kang (Eric) Ting (“Plaintiffs”) filed a complaint (the “Complaint”)
in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts against the Company, Bruce Stroever (“Stroever”), John
Booth (“Booth”), Stephen LaNeve (“LaNeve”, and together with Stroever and Booth, the “Individual Defendants”),
and MTF Biologics (f/k/a The Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation, Inc.) (“MTF”). The Complaint alleged claims for breach
of contract against the Company and tortious interference with contract against the Individual Defendants and MTF arising from the termination
of the Professional Service Agreements, dated as of January 8, 2016, between the Company and each of the Plaintiffs. The Individual Defendants
were sued for actions taken by them in connection with their service to the Company as directors and/or officers of the Company. As such,
we have certain indemnification obligations to the Individual Defendants.
On
January 10, 2024 we entered into a Settlement Agreement and Mutual General Release (the “Agreement”) with the Plaintiffs
on the one hand, and the Company and LaNeve on the other hand, in settlement of the claims for breach of contract and tortious interference
with contract. The Agreement is effective as of January 9, 2024.
Under
the Agreement, the Company agreed to pay the plaintiffs $750,000, and on February 7, 2024, the Company paid $414,989, and the Company’s
insurance carrier paid $335,011 for the total settlement.
In
the normal course of our business, we may periodically become subject to various lawsuits. However, except as noted above, there are
currently no legal actions pending against us or, to our knowledge, are any such proceedings contemplated.
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
Our Board consists of four (4) members: Don Hankey, Bruce Stroever, Sid Angle, and Robert Gagnon. The Board met
four times during 2023.
Director
Independence
The
listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) require that a majority of our Board be independent. No director
will qualify as independent unless the board affirmatively determines that the director has no relationship with us that would interfere
with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Based upon the Nasdaq listing standards
and applicable SEC rules and regulations, our board has determined that each of Sid Angle, Robert Gagnon and Bruce Stroever are independent
and that Erick Lucera, who resigned from our board effective January 8, 2024, was independent during his service on the Board of Directors.
Board
Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight
The
Board believes it is important to select the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in the manner it considers in the best
interests of the Company at any given time. The Board has elected a Chairman of the Board who is different from the Company’s Chief
Executive Officer.
The
Board currently includes three individuals who are independent from the management of the Company. The Board and its committees meet
regularly throughout the year to assure that the independent directors are well briefed and informed with regard to the Company’s
affairs. Independent directors have unfettered access to any employee within the Company and are encouraged to call upon whatever employee
he deems fit to secure the information each director feels is important to their understanding of our Company. In this fashion, we seek
to maintain well informed, independent directors who are prepared to make informed decisions regarding our business affairs.
Management
is responsible for the day-to-day management of risks the Company faces, while the Board as a whole plays an important role in overseeing
the identification, assessment and mitigation of such risks. The Board reviews information regarding the Company’s finances and
operations, as well as the risks associated with each. For example, the oversight of financial risk management lies primarily with the
Board’s Audit Committee, which is empowered to appoint and oversee our independent auditors, monitor the integrity of our financial
reporting processes and systems of internal controls and provide an avenue of communication among our independent auditors, management
and the Board. The Company’s Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing the management of risks relating to the Company’s
compensation plans and arrangements. Our Board administers its cybersecurity risk oversight function
directly. In fulfilling its risk oversight responsibility, the Board, as a whole and acting through any established committees,
regularly consults with management to evaluate and, when appropriate, modify our risk management strategies.
Board
Committees
Our
Board has appointed an audit committee, nominating and corporate governance committee, and compensation committee. The table below shows
the number of meetings held by our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee during
fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (“fiscal year 2023”) and the names of the directors who are currently serving on each
committee.
Committee
Name |
|
Number
of
Meetings
Held |
|
Committee
Members |
Audit |
|
2(2) |
|
Bruce
Stroever
Robert
Gagnon (1)
Sid
Angle |
Compensation |
|
0(3) |
|
Bruce
Stroever (1)
Robert
Gagnon
Sid
Angle |
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
|
0(4) |
|
Bruce
Stroever
Robert
Gagnon
Sid
Angle (1) |
(1)
Committee Chair
(2)
The Audit Committee acted by unanimous written consent 4 times in fiscal year 2023.
(3)
The Compensation Committee acted by unanimous written consent 2 times in fiscal year 2023.
(4)
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee acted by unanimous written consent 2 times in fiscal year 2023.
Each
committee acts pursuant to a written charter adopted by our Board. The current charters for each committee are available on our website,
www.bonebiologics.com under the heading, “Investors” and the subheading, “Corporate Governance.” The information
contained on our website is not a part of this proxy statement.
Audit
Committee
The
Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing: (i) our accounting and reporting practices and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
regarding such accounting and reporting practices; (ii) the quality and integrity of our financial statements; (iii) our internal control
and compliance programs; (iv) our independent auditors’ qualifications and independence and (v) the performance of our independent
auditors. In so doing, the Audit Committee maintains free and open means of communication between our directors and management.
The
Audit Committee is a separately designated standing committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee meets the
independence and financial literacy requirements applicable to audit committee members under the Nasdaq listing standards and SEC rules.
The Board has further determined that Mr. Gagnon qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” in accordance with the
applicable rules and regulations of the SEC.
Compensation
Committee
The
Compensation Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving the compensation of our executive officers and directors and our performance
plans and other compensation plans. The Compensation Committee makes recommendations to our Board in connection with such compensation
and performance plans.
Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee
The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for (i) identifying, screening and reviewing individuals qualified to serve
as directors (consistent with criteria approved by our Board) and recommending to our Board candidates for nomination for election at
the annual meeting of stockholders or to fill Board vacancies or newly created directorships; (ii) developing and recommending to our
Board and overseeing the implementation of our corporate governance guidelines (if any); (iii) overseeing evaluations of our Board and
(iv) recommending to our Board candidates for appointment to Board committees.
The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee receives recommendations for potential director candidates from stockholders, management,
directors, and other sources. In its assessment of each potential candidate, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers,
among other things, each candidate’s experience, qualifications, attributes, diversity and skills in light of the Company’s
business, structure and current needs of the Board. Stockholders may recommend candidates for Nominating and Governance Committee consideration
by submitting such recommendation using the method described under “Communications with the Board.” Stockholders may also
nominate director candidates in accordance with our Bylaws as described under “2025 Annual Meeting ⸻ Stockholder Nominations
of Directors.”
Board
(and Committee) Meetings and Attendance
For
fiscal year 2023, each of our directors attended 75% or more of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board, and the committee(s) of
the Board on which he serves. Each director is expected to attend and participate in, either in person or by means of telephonic or video
conference, all scheduled meetings of the Board and all meetings of the committees of the Board on which such director serves, and all
scheduled meetings of stockholders of the Company. All of our current directors are expected to attend the Annual Meeting via teleconference.
Board
Diversity
The
following Board Diversity Matrix presents our Board Diversity statistics, in accordance with Nasdaq Rule 5606, as self-disclosed by the
directors. While the Board satisfies minimum objectives of Nasdaq Rule 5605(f)(2), the Board will continue to consider the diversity
of the Board in its selection of director nominees.
BOARD
DIVERSITY MATRIX (as of August 8, 2024)
Total Number of Directors |
|
4 |
|
|
Female |
|
Male |
|
Did
Not Disclose Gender |
Part I: Gender Identity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors |
|
- |
|
4 |
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Part II: Demographic Background |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Asian |
|
- |
|
1 |
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
White |
|
- |
|
3 |
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Did Not Disclose Demographic
Background |
|
- |
Indemnification
Agreements
Our
Board has approved and we have entered into an indemnification agreement with each of our directors and executive officers (“Indemnification
Agreement”). The Indemnification Agreement provides for indemnification against expenses, judgments, fines and penalties actually
and reasonably incurred by an indemnitee in connection with threatened, pending or completed actions, suits or other proceedings, subject
to certain limitations. The Indemnification Agreement also provides for the advancement of expenses in connection with a proceeding prior
to a final, non-appealable judgment or other adjudication, provided that the indemnitee provides an undertaking to repay to us any amounts
advanced if the indemnitee is ultimately found not to be entitled to indemnification by us. The Indemnification Agreement sets forth
procedures for making and responding to a request for indemnification or advancement of expenses, as well as dispute resolution procedures
that will apply to any dispute between us and an indemnitee arising under the Indemnification Agreement.
Code
of Conduct and Ethics
The
Company adopted a formal code of ethics within the meaning of Item 406 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller,
or persons performing similar functions and that that establishes, among other things, procedures for handling actual or apparent conflicts
of interest. Our Code of Conduct and Ethics is available at our website www.bonebiologics.com/investor-relation.
Anti-Hedging
Policy
We
have an insider trading policy that prohibits directors, officers and employees from engaging in transactions that hedge or offset any
decrease in the market value of equity securities granted as compensation.
Communications
with the Board
Stockholders
may communicate directly with the Board by writing to them at Board, c/o Corporate Secretary, Bone Biologics Corporation, 2 Burlington
Woods Drive, Ste 100, Burlington, MA 01803. Such communications will be forwarded to the director or directors to whom it is addressed,
except for communications that are (1) advertisements or promotional communications, (2) solely related to complaints with respect to
ordinary course of business issues, or (3) clearly unrelated to the Company’s business, industry, management or Board or committee
matters.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
This
proxy statement contains information about the compensation earned and paid to our named executive officers during fiscal year 2023 and
fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 (“fiscal year 2022”). For fiscal year 2023, in accordance with the executive compensation
disclosure rules and regulations of the SEC, we determined that the following officers were our named executive officers:
|
● |
Jeffrey Frelick, Chief
Executive Officer and President; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
Deina Walsh, Chief Financial
Officer. |
Summary
Compensation Table
As
a smaller reporting company under the Exchange Act, we are providing the following executive compensation information in accordance with
the scaled disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K. The table below summarizes the compensation earned for services rendered to us
in all capacities, for the fiscal years indicated, by its named executive officers:
Name and Principal Position | |
Year | | |
Salary ($) | | |
Option Awards ($)(1) | | |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(2) | | |
All Other Compensation ($) | | |
Total Compensation ($) | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Jeffrey Frelick, Chief Executive Officer and President | |
| 2023 | | |
$ | 300,000 | | |
$ | 51,600 | | |
$ | 25,000 | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | 376,600 | |
| |
| 2022 | | |
$ | 300,000 | | |
$ | 76,965 | | |
$ | 37,750 | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | 414,715 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Deina Walsh, Chief Financial Officer | |
| 2023 | | |
$ | 200,000 | | |
$ | 25,800 | | |
$ | 12,500 | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | 238,300 | |
| |
| 2022 | | |
$ | 200,000 | | |
$ | 31,583 | | |
$ | 18,875 | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | 250,458 | |
(1) |
Represents the grant date
fair value of the option award, calculated in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification
(“ASC”) 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation,” or ASC 718. The assumptions used in calculating the
grant date fair value of the option awards for 2023 are set forth in Note 7 of the consolidated financial statements to our Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. |
(2) |
The amounts shown in this
column reflect performance-based cash awards earned during the applicable fiscal year under our executive compensation program. |
Annual
Performance-Based Awards
The
Company has an annual performance-based cash award program for our executive officers, which is designed to reinforce the Company’s
goals and strategic initiatives, and reward our executive officers for meeting objective performance goals for a fiscal year. The annual
performance-based awards are determined by the achievement of Company and individual performance metrics established at the beginning
of each fiscal year by the Compensation Committee and our Board. For each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, annual
bonuses were based on achievement of Company goals related to clinical development objectives, business development goals, capital raising
and certain investor goals. The target award opportunity under the annual performance-based award program for each of the fiscal years
ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 as a percentage of base salary was 50% for Mr. Frelick and 25% for Ms. Walsh.
Following
the Compensation Committee’s review of the achievement of corporate and individual performance for fiscal year ended December 31,
2023 the Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Frelick $25,000 in cash and options to purchase 25,000 shares of Common Stock and Ms. Walsh
$12,500 in cash and options to purchase 12,500 shares of Common Stock, respectively. For fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, Mr. Frelick
was awarded $37,750 in cash and options to purchase 158 shares of Common Stock and Ms. Walsh was awarded $18,875 in cash and options
to purchase 79 shares of Common Stock, respectively.
Employment
Agreements with Consultants and Named Executive Officers
Jeffrey
Frelick – Chief Executive Officer and President
On
March 12, 2024, the Company entered into an amended and restated letter agreement, effective as of January 1, 2024 (the “Frelick
Agreement”), with Jeffrey Frelick, to continue to serve as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer. The Frelick Agreement continues
to be automatically renewable for successive one-year periods on January 1st of each calendar year, unless either party provides
notice of non-renewal to the other no later than July 9th during any term. The Frelick Agreement continues to provide Mr.
Frelick: (i) an annual base salary of $300,000, (ii) the opportunity to earn an annual bonus targeted at 50% of the then-current salary
based on reasonably achievable key performance indicators, (iii) eligibility to participate in the Company’s benefit plans, and
(iv) reimbursement for expenses necessarily and properly incurred in accordance with the Company’s policies on the same. Under
the terms of the amended and restated agreement, Mr. Frelick is eligible to receive a transaction bonus of 1% to 2% of the transaction
value depending on the size of the transaction in the event the Company is acquired. The Frelick agreement contains standard restrictive
covenants, including non-competition and non-solicitation, and terms and conditions customarily found in similar agreements.
Pursuant
to the Frelick Agreement, he is eligible to earn an annual target bonus of 50% of his base salary as in-effect for the applicable calendar
year, subject to the achievement of personal and corporate objectives or milestones to be established by the Board, or the Compensation
Committee (after considering any input or recommendations from Mr. Frelick) within 60 days of the beginning of each calendar year during
Mr. Frelick’s employment. In order to earn the annual bonus under this provision, the applicable objectives must be achieved and
Mr. Frelick must be employed by Company at the time the annual bonus is distributed by Company. The annual bonus, if any, shall be paid
on or before March 15th of the calendar year following the year in which it is considered earned. The actual annual bonus paid may be
more or less than 50% of Mr. Frelick’s base salary. In the event of Mr. Frelick’s termination
without cause, Mr. Frelick is entitled to receive any unpaid salary and expenses, a payment equal to 12 months of his base salary, a
pro-rated annual bonus at the Board’s discretion, and a continuation of benefits for 12 months. To allow Mr. Frelick to
prevent or mitigate dilution of his equity interests in the Company, in connection with each financing, Mr. Frelick will be provided
an opportunity to invest in the Company such that his interest, at his option, remains undiluted or partially diluted.
Deina
Walsh – Chief Financial Officer
The
Company entered into an Independent Contractor Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2019, with Deina Walsh, whereby she provided services
to the Company at a rate of $100.00 per hour. On December 17, 2021, the Company entered into an
employment agreement with Ms. Walsh, effective January 3, 2022, to serve as the Company’s full time Chief Financial Officer
with an annual salary of $200,000. Pursuant to her employment agreement, Ms. Walsh received a vested stock option grant entitling her
to purchase 105 shares of Common Stock, which expires on January 3, 2024. Ms. Walsh’s employment agreement has an indeterminate
term and is at will.
Pursuant
to Ms. Walsh’s employment agreement she is eligible to earn an annual target bonus of 25% of her base salary as in-effect for the
applicable calendar year, subject to the achievement of personal and corporate objectives or milestones to be established by the Board,
or any compensation committee thereof, (after considering any input or recommendations from Ms. Walsh) within 60 days of the beginning
of each calendar year during Ms. Walsh’s employment. In order to earn the annual bonus under this provision, the applicable objectives
must be achieved and Ms. Walsh must be employed by Company at the time the annual bonus is distributed by Company. The annual bonus,
if any, shall be paid on or before March 15th of the calendar year following the year in which it is considered earned. The actual annual
bonus paid may be more or less than 25% of Ms. Walsh’s base salary. In the event of Ms. Walsh’s
termination without cause, Ms. Walsh is entitled to receive any unpaid salary and expenses, a payment equal to 4 months of her base salary,
a pro-rated annual bonus at the Boards discretion, and a continuation of benefits for 4 months. To allow Ms. Walsh to prevent
or mitigate dilution of her equity interests in the Company, in connection with each financing, Ms. Walsh shall be provided an opportunity
to invest in the Company such that her interest, at her option, remains undiluted or partially diluted.
On
March 12, 2024, the Company entered into an amendment (the “Amendment”) to the letter agreement between the Company and Ms.
Walsh, dated December 17, 2021. The Amendment became effective as of March 11, 2024. Under the terms of the Amendment, Ms. Walsh is eligible
to receive a transaction bonus of 0.5% to 1% of the transaction value depending on the size of the transaction in the event the Company
is acquired.
Stock
Options
On
January 17, 2024, Mr. Frelick received a stock option grant whereby he is entitled to purchase 25,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise
price of $3.61. The stock options vested immediately and expire on January 17, 2026. In the event Mr. Frelick is terminated prior to
January 17, 2026, any unexercised portion of this this stock option grant will be forfeited unless such termination is without Cause,
as defined in the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, in which case the vested and unexercised options will not be forfeited until the earlier
of three months from such termination or January 17, 2026.
On
January 17, 2024, Ms. Walsh received a stock option grant whereby she is entitled to purchase 12,500 shares of Common Stock at an exercise
price of $3.61. The stock options vested immediately and expire on January 17, 2026. In the event Ms. Walsh is terminated prior to January
17, 2026, any unexercised portion of this this stock option grant will be forfeited unless such termination is without Cause, as defined
in the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, in which case the vested and unexercised options will not be forfeited until the earlier of three
months from such termination or January 17, 2026.
On
January 25, 2023, Mr. Frelick received a stock option grant whereby he is entitled to purchase 158 shares of Common Stock at an exercise
price of $57.60. The stock options vested immediately and expire on January 25, 2025. In the event Mr. Frelick is terminated prior to
January 25, 2025, any unexercised portion of this this stock option grant will be forfeited unless such termination is without Cause,
as defined in the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, in which case the vested and unexercised options will not be forfeited until the earlier
of three months from such termination or January 25, 2025.
On
January 25, 2023, Ms. Walsh received a stock option grant whereby she is entitled to purchase 79 shares of Common Stock at an exercise
price of $57.60. The stock options vested immediately and expire on January 25, 2025. In the event Ms. Walsh is terminated prior to January
25, 2025, any unexercised portion of this this stock option grant will be forfeited unless such termination is without Cause, as defined
in the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, in which case the vested and unexercised options will not be forfeited until the earlier of three
months from such termination or January 25, 2025.
Our
Compensation Committee believes the compensation under the employment agreements and other incentives granted to our named executive
officers align our named executive officers’ interests with those of our stockholders. Our Compensation Committee and Board continues
to evaluate our executive compensation program with a view toward motivating our named executive officers to meet our strategic operational
and financial goals in the best interests of our stockholders.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
Name | |
Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) exercisable | | |
Option exercise price ($) | | |
Option expiration date |
(a) | |
| (b) | | |
| (e) | | |
(f) |
Jeffrey Frelick, Chief Executive Officer and President | |
| 158 | | |
$ | 57.60 | | |
January 25, 2025 |
| |
| 209 | | |
$ | 892.80 | | |
January 1, 2024 |
| |
| 45 | | |
$ | 12,300.00 | | |
May 26, 2026 |
| |
| 174 | | |
$ | 9,540.00 | | |
December 27, 2025 |
Deina Walsh, Chief Financial Officer | |
| 79 | | |
$ | 57.60 | | |
January 25, 2025 |
| |
| 105 | | |
$ | 892.80 | | |
January 3, 2024 |
PAY
VERSUS PERFORMANCE
We
are providing the following information about the relationship between executive compensation actually paid (“CAP”) and certain
financial performance of the Company as required by SEC rules (see “Executive Compensation” above for discussion of our compensation
program).
Year | |
Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO(1) | | |
Compensation Actually Paid to PEO(2) | | |
Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs(3) | | |
Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs(2) | | |
Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on Total Shareholder Return(4) | | |
Net (Loss)(5) | |
2023 | |
$ | 376,600 | | |
$ | 332,965 | | |
$ | 238,300 | | |
$ | 216,483 | | |
$ | 0.37 | | |
$ | (8,948,731 | ) |
2022 | |
$ | 414,715 | | |
$ | 406,750 | | |
$ | 250,458 | | |
$ | 246,475 | | |
$ | 4.12 | | |
$ | (1,484,620 | ) |
2021 | |
$ | 290,000 | | |
$ | 290,000 | | |
$ | 21,100 | (6) | |
$ | 21,100 | | |
$ | 69.15 | | |
$ | (1,610,685 | ) |
|
(1) |
Amounts shown
reflect total compensation set forth in the Summary Compensation Table for our PEO, Mr. Frelick, for fiscal years 2023, 2022 and
2021. |
|
|
|
|
(2) |
The following table describes
the adjustments for fiscal year 2023, each of which is prescribed by SEC rule, to calculate the compensation actually paid (“CAP”)
amounts from the summary compensation table (“SCT”) amounts. The SCT amounts and the CAP amounts do not reflect the actual
amount of compensation earned by or paid to our executives during the applicable years, but rather are amounts determined in accordance
with Item 402 of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act. To determine CAP, adjustments below were made to our executive officers’
total compensation. The adjustments made for fiscal years 2022 and 2021 can be found in our proxy statement filed with the SEC on
August 3, 2023. |
| |
2023 | |
Adjustments | |
PEO | | |
Other NEO | |
SCT Amounts | |
$ | 376,600 | | |
$ | 238,300 | |
Adjustments for stock awards and option awards | |
| | | |
| | |
(Deduct): Aggregate value for stock awards and option awards included in SCT Total for the covered fiscal year | |
$ | (51,600 | ) | |
$ | (25,800 | ) |
Add: Fair value at year end of awards granted during the covered fiscal year that were outstanding and unvested at the covered fiscal year end | |
| | | |
| | |
Add (Deduct): Year-over-year change in fair value at covered fiscal year end of awards granted in any prior fiscal year that were outstanding and unvested at the covered fiscal year end | |
| | | |
| | |
Add: Vesting date fair value of awards granted and vested during the covered fiscal year | |
$ | 7,965 | | |
$ | 3,983 | |
Add (Deduct): Change as of the vesting date (from the end of the prior fiscal year) in fair value of awards granted in any prior fiscal year for which vesting conditions were satisfied during the covered fiscal year | |
| | | |
| | |
(Deduct): Fair value at end of prior fiscal year of awards granted in any prior fiscal year that failed to meet the applicable vesting conditions during the covered fiscal year | |
| | | |
| | |
Add: Change in incremental fair value of awards modified during the covered fiscal year | |
| | | |
| | |
Add: Dividends or other earnings paid on awards in the covered fiscal year prior to vesting if not otherwise included in the SCT Total for the covered fiscal year | |
| | | |
| | |
CAP Amounts | |
$ | 332,965 | | |
$ | 216,483 | |
|
(3) |
Amounts shown
reflect average total compensation set forth in the Summary Compensation Table for our NEO, Ms. Walsh, for fiscal year 2023, 2022,
2021. |
|
(4) |
Amounts shown reflect the
value of a fixed investment of $100 on October 13, 2021, of $1,221.60, our initial listing on Nasdaq, and on January 1, 2022 of $844.80
and on December 29, 2023 of $4.52 as quoted by Nasdaq. All amounts have been adjusted for a 1-for-30 reverse stock split effective
June 5, 2023 and a 1-for-8 reverse stock split effective December 20, 2023. |
|
(5) |
The amounts reported in
this column represent net loss reflected in the Company’s audited financial statements for the applicable fiscal year. |
|
(6) |
From June 28, 2019 through
January 2, 2022, Ms. Walsh was employed through an independent contractor agreement. On December 17, 2021, the Company entered into
a revised employment agreement with Ms. Walsh to become full time, which became effective on January 3, 2022 and was amended on March
12, 2024. |
Analysis
of Information Presented in the Pay Verses Performance Table
We
are providing the following descriptions of the relationships between information presented in the Pay Versus Performance table, including
CAP, as required by Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. We are a pre-revenue medical device development stage entity engaged in research and
development activities focused the development of a medical device to assist in bone regeneration in spinal fusion. Accordingly, the
Compensation Committee does not use total stockholder return or net income (loss) in its compensation programs. However, the Compensation
Committee does utilize several other performance measures, including management of research efforts, development and management of intellectual
property assets, budget management, and capital raising efforts, to align executive compensation with our performance and business objectives
(see “Executive Compensation”).
In
2023, the compensation paid to the PEO decreased by $73,785 compared to 2022. This reduction was influenced by a bonus awarded when the
Company fully resumed operations in 2022 after scaling back during most of 2021 due to limited capital resources. Additionally, in 2023,
the PEO received a cash bonus of $25,000 and was granted 25,000 stock options. Similarly, the compensation paid to non-PEO NEOs decreased
in 2023 compared to 2022, also attributable to the bonus granted during the Company’s full resumption of operations in 2022 after
scaling back in 2021 due to limited capital resources.
Compensation
actually paid to the PEO increased by $116,750 in 2022 as compared to 2021 due to the Company fully resuming operations in 2022 after
scaling back operations during most of 2021 as a result of limited capital resources. In 2022, our PEO was paid a cash bonus of $37,750
and was granted 158 stock options. In 2021, our PEO was not paid a cash bonus and was not granted any stock options. Compensation actually
paid to the non-PEO NEOs increased in 2022 as compared to 2021, as Ms. Walsh, our Chief Financial Officer, became a full-time employee
in 2022.
The
information provided above under the “Pay Versus Performance” heading will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference
into any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether
made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing, except to the extent
the Company specifically incorporates such information by reference.
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION
As
a smaller reporting company under the Exchange Act, we are providing the following director compensation information in accordance with
the scaled disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K.
The
following table shows information regarding the compensation earned during the year ended December 31, 2023 by the members of our Board.
Name | |
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash | | |
Option Awards(1) | | |
Total | |
Bruce Stroever | |
$ | 30,000 | | |
$ | 46,883 | | |
$ | 76,883 | |
Don Hankey(2) | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Erick Lucera(3) | |
| 30,000 | | |
| 46,883 | | |
| 76,883 | |
Sid Angle | |
| 30,000 | | |
| 46,883 | | |
| 76,883 | |
(1) |
The
amounts in this column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of stock options under FASB ASC Topic 718, which was determined
using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the assumptions disclosed in our consolidated financial statements to our Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2023. The following
table provides information regarding equity awards held by each independent non-employee director as of December 31, 2023: |
Name | |
Stock Options Outstanding (#) | |
Bruce Stroever | |
| 10,925 | |
Don Hankey(2) | |
| - | |
Erick Lucera(3) | |
| 5,649 | |
Sid Angle | |
| 11,009 | |
(2) |
Non-independent director.
No compensation paid per our Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy. |
|
|
(3) |
Resigned effective January
8, 2024. |
The
Board adopted a Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy (the “Director Compensation Policy”) as follows:
Annual
Cash Compensation
Each
member of the Board who (i) is an independent director under applicable Nasdaq Listing Rules, except that the amount of compensation
as referred to in the Nasdaq Rule 5605 shall not exceed $10,000 per year and/or (ii) does not beneficially own, or is not a director
or executive officer of an entity which beneficially owns, 5% or more of the Company’s Common Stock (each such member an, “Independent
Director”) will receive compensation set forth below for service on the Board. The annual cash compensation amounts will be payable
in equal quarterly installments, in arrears following the end of each quarter in which the service occurred, pro-rated for any partial
months of service. All annual cash fees are vested upon payment.
|
1. |
Annual Board Service Retainer: |
|
a. |
All Independent Directors
other than the Board Chair: $25,000 |
|
b. |
Independent Director who
is the Board Chair: $35,000 |
|
2. |
Annual Committee Chair
Service Retainer (in addition to Annual Board Service Retainer): |
|
a. |
Chairman of the Audit Committee:
$5,000 |
|
b. |
Chairman of the Compensation
Committee: $5,000 |
|
c. |
Chairman of the Corporate
Governance Committee: $5,000 |
Equity
Compensation
Equity
awards will be granted under the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Plan or any successor equity incentive plan (the “Plan”).
All stock options granted under this Director Compensation Policy will be Nonstatutory Stock Options (as defined in the Plan), with a
term of ten years from the date of grant and an exercise price per share equal to 100% of the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan)
of the underlying Common Stock of the Company on the date of grant.
(a)
Automatic Equity Grants.
(i)
Initial Grant for New Directors. Without any further action of the Board, each person who, after the effective date of the Director
Compensation Policy, is elected or appointed for the first time to be an Independent Director will automatically, upon the date of his
or her initial election or appointment to be an Independent Director, be granted a Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase 9 shares of
Common Stock (the “Initial Grant”), regardless of when such person is elected or appointed to the Board. Each Initial Grant
will fully vest on the date of the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Company next following the Initial Grant.
(ii)
Annual Grant. Without any further action of the Board, at the close of business on the date of each annual meeting of stockholders
following the effective date of the Director Compensation Policy, each person who is then an Independent Director will automatically
be granted to a Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock having an option value (calculated on the date
of grant) of $50,000 (the “Annual Grant”). Each Annual Grant will vest in a series of four successive equal quarterly installments
over the one-year period measure from the date of grant.
(iii)
Pro-rated Annual Grant. If a person is elected or appointed to the Board at a time other than at the annual stockholder meeting,
then on the date of such election or appointment, the person will be automatically, and without further action by the Board, granted
an Annual Grant covering a pro-rated number of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Director Compensation Policy.
REPORT
OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
In
connection with our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Audit Committee has: (1) reviewed and discussed
the audited financial statements with management; (2) discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm (the “Auditors”)
the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the SEC; and
(3) received the written disclosures and the letter from the Auditors required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board regarding the Auditors’ communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with
the Auditors their independence.
Based
on the review and discussions referred to in items (1) through (3) of the above paragraph, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board
that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, for
filing with the SEC.
Robert
Gagnon, Chair
Bruce
Stroever
Sid
Angle
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
None
of the following persons has any direct or indirect material interest in any transaction to which we are a party or in any proposed transaction
to which we are proposed to be a party since January 1, 2022:
● |
Any of our directors or
officers; |
|
|
● |
Any proposed nominee for
election as our director; |
|
|
● |
Any person who beneficially
owns, directly or indirectly, shares carrying more than 5% of the voting rights attached to our Common Stock; or |
|
|
● |
Any relative or spouse
of any of the foregoing persons, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same house as such person or who is a director or officer
of any parent or subsidiary of our Company. |
Review,
Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons
Due
to the small size of our Company, we do not at this time have a formal written policy regarding the review of related party transactions,
and rely on our full Board to review, approve or ratify such transactions and identify and prevent conflicts of interest. Our Board reviews
any such transaction in light of the particular affiliation and interest of any involved director, officer or other employee or stockholder
and, if applicable, any such person’s affiliates or immediate family members. Management aims to present transactions to our Board
for approval before they are entered into or, if that is not possible, for ratification after the transaction has occurred. If our Board
finds that a conflict of interest exists, then it will determine the appropriate action or remedial action, if any. Our Board approves
or ratifies a transaction if it determines that the transaction is consistent with our best interests and the best interest of our stockholders.
DELINQUENT
SECTION 16(a) REPORTS
Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class
of the Company’s equity securities, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of Common
Stock and other equity securities of the Company. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent stockholders are required by SEC regulation
to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
To
our knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of such reports furnished to us during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023,
all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners were complied
with except with respect to Messrs. Frelick, Lucera, Angle and Stroever who each filed one late Form 4 each reporting one transaction
and Ms. Walsh who filed one late Form 4 reporting one transaction.
2025
ANNUAL MEETING
Stockholder
Proposals for Inclusion in the Company’s Proxy Materials for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
We
will include in our proxy materials for our 2025 annual meeting of stockholders any stockholder proposals that comply with Rule 14a-8
under the Exchange Act. Among other things, Rule 14a-8 requires that we receive such proposals not less than 120 days prior to the one-year
anniversary of this proxy statement, or April 10, 2025. If the proposal is in compliance with all of the requirements set forth in Rule
14a-8 under the Exchange Act, we will include the stockholder proposal in our proxy statement and place it on the form of proxy issued
for the 2025 annual meeting. Stockholder proposals submitted for inclusion in our proxy materials should be mailed to the following address:
Bone Biologics Corporation, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 2 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100, Burlington, MA 01803.
Stockholder
Proposals for Consideration at the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, but not for Inclusion in the Proxy Materials.
Pursuant
to our Bylaws, items of business that are proposed outside of the process pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act as described
above, may properly be brought before the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders only if we receive notice of such business no earlier than
120 days and no later than 90 days prior to the one-year anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting. Thus, for the 2025
annual meeting of stockholders, we must receive notice of business that is not submitted for inclusion in our proxy materials pursuant
to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act between May 20, 2025 and June 19, 2025. The notice must be in accordance with and contain all information
provided for in our Bylaws and such business must be a proper matter for stockholder action under the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
We will not permit business that does not comply with the foregoing notice requirement to be brought before the 2025 annual meeting of
stockholders. Stockholder business that is not submitted for inclusion in our proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 should be mailed
to the following address: Bone Biologics Corporation, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 2 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100, Burlington,
MA 01803. You may obtain a copy of Bylaws by writing to the Corporate Secretary at the address above.
Stockholder
Nominations of Directors.
Pursuant
to our Bylaws, no nominations for directors shall be acted upon at the annual meeting except for those made by the Board and those made
by stockholders of record upon timely notice in writing to our Corporate Secretary. To be considered timely, notice must be received
by us no earlier than 120 days and no later than 90 days prior to the one-year anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting.
Thus, for the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders, we must receive the notice between May 20, 2025 and June 19, 2025. The notice must
contain all information, including the completed questionnaire, referenced in our amended and restated by-laws. Stockholder notice of
nominations for directors should be mailed to the following address: Bone Biologics Corporation, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 2 Burlington
Woods Drive, Suite 100, Burlington, MA 01803. You may obtain a copy of our Bylaws by writing to the Corporate Secretary at the address
above.
In
addition to satisfying the advance notice requirements under our Bylaws, to comply with the universal proxy rules under the Exchange
Act, stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company’s nominees must provide
notice to our Corporate Secretary that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act no later than July 21,
2025.
HOUSEHOLDING
OF PROXY MATERIALS
The
SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries (e.g., brokers) to satisfy the delivery requirements Notices of Internet
Availability of Proxy Materials or other Annual Meeting materials with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by
delivering a single Notice and Access Card or other Annual Meeting materials addressed to those stockholders. This process, which is
commonly referred to as “householding,” potentially means extra convenience for stockholders and cost savings for companies.
This
year, a number of brokers with account holders who are Company stockholders will be “householding” the Company’s proxy
materials. A single Notice and Access Card will be delivered to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions
have been received from the affected stockholders. Once you have received notice from your broker that they will be “householding”
communications to your address, “householding” will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent.
If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in “householding” and would prefer to receive a separate Notice and Access
Card, please notify your broker or the Company. Direct your written request to Bone Biologics Corporation, Attention: Corporate Secretary,
2 Burlington Woods Drive, Ste 100, Burlington, MA 01803 and oral requests may be made by calling the Company at (781) 552-4452 and we
will promptly deliver a separate copy. Stockholders who currently receive multiple copies of the Notices of Internet Availability of
Proxy Materials at their addresses and would like to request “householding” of their communications should contact their
brokers.
OTHER
MATTERS
Management
does not intend to present any other items of business and knows of no other matters that will be brought before the Annual Meeting.
Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please sign and date the enclosed proxy card.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This
proxy statement and materials delivered with this proxy statement, including our 2023 Annual Report, contains “forward-looking”
statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this proxy statement and materials delivered with this
proxy statement, including, without limitation, statements regarding our financial position, business strategy, and plans and objectives
of management for future operations and capital expenditures, are forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations
reflected in the forward-looking statements and the assumptions upon which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, we
can give no assurance that such expectations and assumptions will prove to have been correct. Additional statements concerning important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are disclosed in the “Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking
Statements” section of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. All written and oral forward-looking
statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf subsequent to the date of this proxy statement are expressly qualified
in their entirety by such cautionary statements.
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By Order of the Board of Directors, |
|
|
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/s/ Don
Hankey |
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Don Hankey |
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Chairman of the Board of Directors |
|
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August 8, 2024 |
|
![](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1419554/000149315224030670/proxy_001.jpg)
![](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1419554/000149315224030670/proxy_002.jpg)
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