UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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SCHEDULE 14A
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Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant
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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant
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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 Material under §240.14a-12
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INMED PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
___________________________________________________________
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box)
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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.
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INMED PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
AND
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR
OCTOBER 28, 2024
This proxy statement and management information circular is dated October 28, 2024, and is first being made available to shareholders on or about October 28, 2024.
INMED PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Suite 1445 – 885 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 3E8
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TAKE NOTICE that the annual general meeting (the “Meeting”) of the shareholders (the “Shareholders”) of INMED PHARMACEUTICALS INC. (“InMed” or the “Company”) will be held virtually on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at 4:00 p.m., Pacific Standard Time, for the following purposes:
1. to receive the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company, together with the auditor’s report thereon, for the year ended June 30, 2024;
2. to elect five directors of the Company named in the accompanying proxy statement and management information circular (the “Information Circular”) to hold office until the next annual meeting of the Shareholders of the Company or until their successors are duly elected;
3. to re-appoint Marcum LLP as the auditor/independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the ensuing year and to authorize the directors to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditors; and
4. to transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof.
The Company elected to conduct the Meeting virtually again this year, in order to maximize Shareholder attendance for those who would be unable to attend in person. The Meeting will be held in virtual only format, which will be conducted via telephone conference. You will not be able to attend the Meeting in person. All Shareholders, regardless of their geographic location, will have an equal opportunity to participate in the Meeting. We remain committed to ensuring that Shareholder meetings encourage Shareholder participation and engagement and to making the Meeting accessible and engaging for all involved.
Registered Shareholders and validly appointed proxyholders can access the meeting by using the following dial-in details for the call:
Canada/USA Toll Free:
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+1.844.763.8274
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International Toll:
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+1.647.484.8814
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The Meeting will begin promptly at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. Access to the Meeting will open 15 minutes prior to the start of the Meeting. We encourage you to access the Meeting in advance of the designated start time. Registered Shareholders and validly appointed proxyholders who attend the Meeting will have an equal opportunity to participate at the Meeting, regardless of their geographic location.
As permitted by Canadian securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Company has elected to use notice-and-access provisions under National Instrument 54-101 and National Instrument 51-102 and applicable SEC rules (collectively, the “Notice and Access Provisions”) for this Meeting. Notice and Access Provisions are a set of rules developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators and the SEC that reduce the volume of materials that must be physically mailed to Shareholders by allowing the Company to post the Information Circular and any additional materials online. Under Notice and Access Provisions, instead of receiving printed copies of the Meeting materials, Shareholders will receive a Notice-and-Access notification/Notice of Internet Availability of proxy materials containing details of the Meeting date, login particulars and purpose, as well as information on how they can access the Meeting materials electronically. Shareholders will also receive a form of Proxy (for registered Shareholders) or a Voting Instruction Form (for beneficial Shareholders), allowing each Shareholder to submit their vote by proxy.
Accompanying this Notice of Meeting is an Information Circular, a form of Proxy, and a financial statements’ request card whereby Shareholders can request to be added to the Company’s supplemental mailing list. The Information Circular provides more detailed information relating to the matters to be addressed at the Meeting and forms part of this Notice of the Meeting. The Information Circular is available at www.inmedpharma.com, at www.sec.gov and under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
For more information regarding notice-and-access or to obtain a paper copy of the Meeting materials you may contact our transfer agent, Odyssey Trust Company (“Odyssey”), via www.odysseycontact.com or by phone at +1.888.290.1175 (toll-free within North America) or +1.587.885.0960 (direct from outside North America).
The board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) has fixed the close of business on October 21, 2024 (the “Record Date”) for the determination of Shareholders who are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Shareholders who are unable to or who do not wish to attend the Meeting by telephone conference as provided above are requested to read, date and sign the accompanying Proxy and deliver it to Odyssey. If a Shareholder does not deliver a Proxy to Odyssey by 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on December 16, 2024 (or at least 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, before any adjournment or postponement of the meeting at which the proxy is to be used) then the Shareholder will not be entitled to vote at the Meeting by proxy. The time limit for deposit of proxies may be waived or extended by the chair of the Meeting at his or her discretion without notice.
To Vote Your Shares in Advance of the Meeting:
Shareholders are urged to vote by proxy in advance of the Meeting to help ensure that the vote will be represented at the Meeting, by one of the following alternative methods, whether or not the Shareholders plan to attend the Meeting:
1. To Vote Your Proxy Online please visit: https://vote.odysseytrust.com and click on LOGIN. You will require the CONTROL NUMBER printed with your address to the right on your proxy form. If you vote by Internet, do not mail the Proxy.
2. By mail or personal delivery to Odyssey Trust Company, Attn: Proxy Department, Suite 702, 67 Yonge St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5E 1J8; or
3. By fax to Odyssey Trust Company, to the attention of the Proxy Department at +1.800.517.4553 (toll-free within Canada and the U.S.) or +1.416.263.9524 (international).
DATED at Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, October 28, 2024.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD
(signed) Eric A. Adams
President & CEO
INMED PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Suite 1445 – 885 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 3E8
PROXY STATEMENT AND
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR
unless otherwise noted, as at October 28, 2024
THE MEETING
This proxy statement and management information circular (this “Information Circular”) is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the management of InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc. for use at the annual general meeting (the “Meeting”) of its shareholders to be held on December 18, 2024 at the time and place and for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Meeting.
In this Information Circular, references to the “Company,” “InMed,” “we,” and “our” refer to InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc.; “Common Shares” or “Shares” means Common Shares without par value in the capital of the Company; “Shareholders” means holders of Common Shares; “Beneficial Shareholders” means Shareholders who do not hold Common Shares registered in their own name; “Registered Shareholders” means Shareholders which are registered holders of Common Shares; and “Intermediaries” refers to brokers, investment firms, clearing houses and similar entities that own securities on behalf of Beneficial Shareholders.
No person is authorized to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained in this Information Circular and, if given or made, such information or representation should not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company. The information contained herein is given as of October 21, 2024, except as otherwise indicated. The delivery of this Information Circular shall not, under any circumstances, create an implication that there has not been any change in the information set forth herein since the date of this Information Circular.
All dollar amounts in this Information Circular are in United States dollars unless specifically otherwise indicated.
Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to the “Meeting” in this Information Circular include all adjournments and postponements thereof.
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voting INFORMATION
InMed’s management is using this Information Circular to solicit proxies from Shareholders for use at the Meeting.
Solicitation of Proxies
The solicitation of proxies will be primarily by mail, but InMed’s directors, officers and regular employees may also solicit proxies personally or by telephone. InMed will bear all costs of the solicitation, including the printing, handling and mailing of the Meeting materials. InMed has arranged for Intermediaries to forward the Meeting materials to certain beneficial owners of InMed held of record by those Intermediaries and InMed may reimburse the Intermediaries for their reasonable fees and disbursements in that regard. The Company has not been informed of any persons wishing to oppose the proposals of the Company.
Appointment of Proxyholders
The individuals named in the accompanying form of proxy (the “Proxy”) are directors or officers of InMed. If you are a Shareholder entitled to vote at the Meeting, you have the right to appoint an individual or company other than either of the individuals designated in the Proxy, who need not be a Shareholder, to attend and act for you and on your behalf at the Meeting. You may do so either by striking out the name of the persons named in the Proxy and inserting the name desired of that other individual or company in the blank space provided in the Proxy or by completing and delivering another suitable form of proxy.
The only methods by which you may appoint a person as proxy are submitting a proxy by mail, internet, or fax.
Voting by Proxyholder
If a Shareholder specifies a choice for a matter in the Proxy, and if the Proxy is duly completed and delivered and has not been revoked, the individuals named in the Proxy will vote, or withhold voting, the Common Shares represented thereby in accordance with the choice you specify on any ballot that may be called for. The Proxy confers discretionary authority on the individuals named therein with respect to:
• each matter or group of matters identified therein for which a choice is not specified;
• any amendment to or variation of any matter identified therein; and
• any other matter that properly comes before the Meeting.
In respect of a matter for which a choice is not specified in the Proxy, the individuals named in the Proxy will vote Common Shares represented by the Proxy for the approval of such matter.
Registered Shareholders
If you are a Registered Shareholder, you may wish to vote by proxy whether or not you attend the Meeting. If you wish to submit a Proxy, you must complete, date and sign the Proxy, and then return it to InMed’s transfer agent, Odyssey Trust Company (“Odyssey”) before 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on Monday, December 16, 2024, or, if the Meeting is adjourned or postponed, the day that is two business days before any reconvening thereof at which the Proxy is to be used, or to the chair of the Meeting on the day of the Meeting or any reconvening thereof, or in any other manner provided by law. The chair of the Meeting may waive the proxy cut-off without notice.
Beneficial Shareholders
The following information is of significant importance to Shareholders who do not hold Common Shares in their own name. Beneficial Shareholders should note that the only proxies that can be recognized and acted upon at the Meeting are those deposited by Registered Shareholders.
If Common Shares are listed in an account statement provided to a Shareholder by a broker, then in almost all cases those Common Shares will not be registered in the Shareholder’s name on the records of InMed. Such Common Shares will more likely be registered under the names of the Shareholder’s broker or an agent of that broker.
Intermediaries are required to seek voting instructions from Beneficial Shareholders in advance of shareholders’ meetings. Every Intermediary has its own mailing procedures and provides its own return instructions to clients.
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The Information Circular is being sent to both Registered Shareholders and Beneficial Shareholders. There are two kinds of Beneficial Shareholders — those who object to their names being made known to the issuers of securities which they own (called “OBOs” for Objecting Beneficial Owners), and those who do not object (called “NOBOs” for Non-Objecting Beneficial Owners). InMed does not intend to pay for Intermediaries to deliver proxy-related materials to OBOs and OBOs will not receive such materials unless their Intermediary assumes the cost of delivery.
InMed is taking advantage of National Instrument 54-101 — Communications with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer (“NI-54-101”), which permits it to deliver proxy-related materials indirectly to its NOBOs and OBOs. If you are a Beneficial Shareholder and InMed or its agent has sent these materials directly to you, your name and address and information about your holdings of securities have been obtained in accordance with applicable securities regulatory requirements from the broker or other Intermediary of your Common Shares on your behalf. As a result, NOBOs and OBOs can expect to receive Meeting materials from their Intermediaries via Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (“Broadridge”), including a voting instruction form (the “Voting Instruction Form”, or “VIF”). Beneficial Shareholders should follow the instructions in the VIF to ensure that their Common Shares are voted at the Meeting. The VIF or form of Proxy will name the same individuals as InMed’s Proxy to represent you at the Meeting. You have the right to appoint a person (who need not be a Shareholder of InMed) other than the individuals designated in the VIF, to represent you at the Meeting. To exercise this right, you should insert the name of your desired representative in the blank space provided in the VIF. The completed VIF must then be returned in accordance with the instructions in the VIF. Broadridge then tabulates the results of all instructions received and completed in accordance with the instructions provided in the VIF and provides appropriate instructions respecting the voting of Common Shares to be represented at the Meeting. If you receive a VIF from Broadridge, you cannot use it to vote Common Shares directly at the Meeting — the VIF must be completed and returned in accordance with its instructions, well in advance of the Meeting in order to have your Common Shares voted.
Although as a Beneficial Shareholder you may not be recognized directly at the Meeting for the purposes of voting Common Shares registered in the name of your broker, you, or a person designated by you, may attend at the Meeting as proxyholder for your broker and vote your Common Shares in that capacity. If you wish to attend the Meeting and indirectly vote your Common Shares as proxyholder for your broker, or to have a person designated by you do so, you should enter your own name, or the name of the person you wish to designate, in the blank space on the VIF provided to you and return the same in accordance with the instructions provided in the VIF, well in advance of the Meeting.
Alternatively, you can request in writing that your broker send you a legal proxy which would enable you to attend the Meeting and vote your Common Shares.
In accordance with the requirements of NI 54-101 and SEC Rule 14a-16, the Company is using notice-and-access to send proxy-related materials for use in connection with the Meeting to Beneficial Shareholders using the “indirect” sending procedures set out in NI 54-101 and SEC Rule 14a-16. Accordingly, the Company has distributed copies of the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or, if a Beneficial Shareholder has so requested, proxy materials, in connection with the Meeting to Broadridge to deliver, on behalf of the Intermediaries, to each non-registered Shareholder.
Revocation of Proxies
In addition to revocation in any other manner permitted by law, a Registered Shareholder who has given a Proxy may revoke it (i) by executing a proxy bearing a later date, (ii) by executing a valid notice of revocation (where a new proxy is not also filed), or (iii) personally attending the Meeting and voting the Registered Shareholder’s Common Shares.
A later dated proxy or notice of revocation must be executed by the Registered Shareholder or the Registered Shareholder’s authorized attorney in writing, or, if the Registered Shareholder is a corporation, under its corporate seal by an officer or attorney duly authorized, and delivered to the Proxy Department, Odyssey Trust Company, Suite 702, 67 Yonge St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5E 1J8, or to the address of the registered office of InMed at Suite 1445 – 885 West Georgia St., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 3E8.
A later dated proxy must be received before 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on Monday, December 16, 2024, or, if the Meeting is adjourned or postponed, the day that is two business days before any reconvening thereof at which the Proxy is to be used, or to the chair of the Meeting on the day of the Meeting or any reconvening thereof, or in any other manner provided by law.
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A notice of revocation must be received at the Company’s registered office before 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on Monday, December 16, 2024, or, if the Meeting is adjourned or postponed, the last business day before any reconvening thereof at which the Proxy is to be used, or to the chair of the Meeting on the day of the Meeting or any reconvening thereof, or in any other manner provided by law.
Only Registered Shareholders have the right to revoke a proxy. Beneficial Shareholders who wish to change their vote must, in sufficient time in advance of the Meeting, arrange for their Intermediaries to change the vote and, if necessary, revoke their proxy.
A revocation of a proxy will not affect a matter on which a vote is taken before the revocation. Any votes cast by such Registered Securityholder at the Meeting will be counted and the previously submitted proxy will be disregarded. If a Registered Securityholder does not wish to revoke a previously submitted vote, then they should not vote at the Meeting.
Voting Securities and Principal Holders of Voting Securities
Record Date, Quorum and Outstanding Shares
The record date for determining persons entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Meeting is October 21, 2024. Only Shareholders of record as of the close of business on October 21, 2024 are entitled to receive notice of and vote or grant proxies to vote at the Meeting, or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof, in the manner and subject to the procedures described in this Information Circular. Two persons who hold not less than 33⅓% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares of the Company entitled to vote at the Meeting must be present, in person or by proxy, for the transaction of business of the Meeting. This is the quorum for the Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes are included in the calculation of the number of votes considered to be present at the Meeting for purposes of determining a quorum.
Registered Shareholders or proxyholders representing Shareholders participating in the Meeting virtually will be considered to be present in person at the Meeting for the purposes of determining quorum. In the absence of a quorum, the Meeting will be adjourned in accordance with the Company’s Articles.
At the close of business on October 21, 2024, 13,353,431 Common Shares of InMed were issued and outstanding.
Each Shareholder is entitled to one vote per Common Share held on all matters to come before the Meeting. Common Shares of InMed are the only securities of InMed which will have voting rights at the Meeting.
Vote Required
Proposal 1 does not require an approval and therefore there is no voting standard for this proposal. With respect to Proposal 2, assuming the existence of a quorum, each of the director nominees receiving a plurality of the votes of the holders of Common Shares present in person or by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors will be elected directors. With respect to Proposals 3, the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the Common Shares cast, either in person or represented by proxy, and entitled to vote at the Meeting is required to decide such matters. All votes will be tabulated by the inspector of election or scrutineer appointed for the Meeting, who will separately tabulate affirmative and negative votes, abstentions, withheld votes and broker non-votes. Abstentions represent a shareholder’s affirmative choice to decline to vote on a proposal and withheld votes represent a shareholder’s affirmative choice to decline to vote for a particular director nominee or the re-appointment of Marcum LLP (“Marcum”) as the auditor for the ensuing year. Properly executed proxy cards that are marked “abstain” or “withhold” on any proposal, as applicable, will be treated as abstentions for that proposal.
Broker non-votes occur when a broker or nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a non-routine proposal because the broker or nominee has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner and does not have discretionary voting power with respect to such proposal. A broker or other nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner may generally vote on routine matters, but not non-routine matters, without receiving voting instructions. The uncontested election of directors (Proposal 2) is considered a non-routine matter. The ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal 3) is considered a routine matter. If your shares are held by a broker or nominee and you do not provide such voting instructions, your shares will not be voted on Proposal 2. Please provide instructions to your brokers or nominee on how to vote your shares. Any Shares represented at the Meeting but not voted (whether by abstention, broker non-vote or otherwise) will have no impact on any matters to be acted upon at the Meeting.
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COMPANY STRUCTURE
InMed was incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). InMed has undergone a number of corporate name changes since its incorporation, most recently changing its name to InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc. on October 6, 2014.
The Common Shares of the Company are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) under the trading symbol “INM”.
The financial/fiscal year end of the Company is June 30. The reporting currency of the Company is the United States dollar.
InMed’s head office is located at Suite 1445 – 885 West Georgia St., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 3E8 and its registered office is located at 510 West Georgia St., Suite 1800, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6B 0M3.
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS OR COMPANIES IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
No director, director nominee or executive officer of the Company, nor any person who has been a director or executive officer of the Company since the beginning of the last completed financial year of the Company, nor any associate or affiliate of any of the foregoing persons, has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matter to be acted on at the Meeting other than the election of directors.
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Except for compensation arrangements for our directors and executive officers, which are described elsewhere in this Information Circular, or as disclosed below, there have been no related party transactions in our two most recently completed financial/fiscal years, and there are no currently proposed related party transactions, that required disclosure under any applicable Canadian or U.S. securities laws.
On February 11, 2022, the Board appointed Janet Grove as a director of the Company. Ms. Grove is a Partner of Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP (“NRFC”). During the years ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, NRFC rendered legal services in the amount of $130,267 and $248,272, respectively, to the Company. From July 1, 2024 to the date of this Circular, NRFC rendered legal services in the amount of $144,517 to the Company. These transactions were in the normal course of operations and were measured at the exchange amount which represented the amount of consideration established and agreed to by NRFC. No legal services rendered by NRFC were rendered by Ms. Grove directly.
Indemnification Agreements
The Company’s Articles contain provisions limiting the liability of directors and provide that the Company will indemnify each of its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted under law. In addition, we have entered into an indemnification agreement with each of our directors, which requires us to indemnify them.
Policies and Procedures for Transactions with Related Persons
The Company has adopted a written policy that its executive officers, directors, nominees for election as a director, beneficial owners of more than 5% of any class of the Company’s Common Shares and any members of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons are not permitted to enter into a related person transaction with us without the approval or ratification of our Board or the audit committee of our Board (the “Audit Committee”). Any request for us to enter into a transaction with an executive officer, director, nominee for election as a director, beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of the Company’s Common Shares, or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons, in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and such person would have a direct or indirect interest, must be presented to the Board or the Audit Committee for review, consideration and approval. In approving or rejecting any such proposal, the Board or the Audit Committee is to consider the material facts of the transaction, including whether the transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related person’s interest in the transaction.
Indebtedness of Directors and Officers
No current or former director, officer or employee of the Company, or any associate of any such individual, is, or was at any time during the most recently completed financial/fiscal year, indebted to the Company, nor is any indebtedness of any such person to another entity the subject of a guarantee, support agreement, letter of credit or other similar arrangement or understanding provided by the Company.
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PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF COMMON SHARES OF INMED
The table below sets forth information known to us regarding the beneficial ownership of the Common Shares as of October 21, 2024 for:
• each person or group of affiliated persons known by us to be the beneficial owner(s) of more than 5% of our outstanding Common Shares;
• each of the Company’s directors and named executive officers (“NEOs”); and
• all of the directors and executive officers as a group.
The number of Common Shares beneficially owned by a person includes shares subject to options, warrants or other convertible securities held by that person that are currently exercisable or that become exercisable within 60 days of October 21, 2024. Percentage calculations assume, for each person and group, that all Common Shares that may be acquired by such person or group pursuant to options, warrants, or other convertible securities that are held currently exercisable or that become exercisable within 60 days of October 21, 2024 are outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of Common Shares owned by such person or group. However, such unissued Common Shares described above are not deemed to be outstanding for calculating the percentage of Common Shares owned by any other person. The percentage of Common Shares beneficially owned is computed on the basis of 13,353,431 Common Shares outstanding as of October 21, 2024, except with respect to the percent held by the named executive officers and directors, which is deemed to be 13,519,950 Common Shares outstanding, on a partially diluted basis.
Except as otherwise indicated, the persons in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all Common Shares shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws where applicable. The Company does not know of any arrangement, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change of control.
Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the individuals and entities listed in the table below is Suite 1445-885 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6C 3E8.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
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Number of Common Shares Beneficially Owned
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Percentage of Common Shares Beneficially Owned (%)
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Five Percent Shareholders(12):
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AdvisorShares Pure Cannabis ETF(1)
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733,296
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5.5
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%
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Named Executive Officers and Directors:
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Eric A. Adams(2)
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110,517
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0.82
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%
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Andrew Hull(3)
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39,700
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0.30
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%
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Janet Grove(4)
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1,371
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0.01
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%
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Bryan Baldasare(5)
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1,326
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0.01
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%
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Nicole Lemerond(6)
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1,281
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*
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Alexandra Mancini(7)
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20,750
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0.16
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%
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Eric Hsu(8)
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20,801
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0.16
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%
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Michael Woudenberg(9)
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29,987
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0.22
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%
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Netta Jagpal(10)
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12,501
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*
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Jonathan Tegge(11)
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10,574
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*
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All executive officers and directors as a group (10 persons)
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248,808
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1.85
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%
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PARTICULARS OF MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
PROPOSAL 1: PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, including the related management’s discussion and analysis and auditors report will be presented to Shareholders at the Meeting. No vote will be taken with respect to the audited annual financial statements and receipt of the audited annual financial statements will not constitute approval or disapproval of any matters referred to therein. These documents are available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, at www.sec.gov, the Company’s website at www.inmedpharma.com, and copies may be obtained from the Company upon request.
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PROPOSAL 2: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board presently consists of five directors. The Board is nominating five individuals to stand for election as directors at the Meeting.
The term of office of each of the present directors expires at the Meeting. The Board proposes to nominate the persons named below for election as directors of the Company at the Meeting. In accordance with the Articles of the Company, each director elected will hold office until the next annual general meeting of the Shareholders of the Company or until their successor is duly elected or appointed, unless such office is earlier vacated in accordance with the Articles or such director becomes disqualified to act as a director pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia).
Except where authority to vote on the election of directors is withheld, unless otherwise indicated, the named proxyholders will vote “FOR” the election of each of the proposed nominees set forth below as directors of the Company.
The following table and notes thereto sets forth the name of each person proposed to be nominated by the Board for election as a director, the municipality in which they are ordinarily resident, all offices of the Company now held by them, the period of time for which they have been a director of the Company, and the number of Common Shares beneficially owned by them, directly or indirectly, or over which they exercise control or direction, as at the date hereof:
Name and Address of Nominee and Present Position with Company
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Principal Occupation During the Last Five Years
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Director Since
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Number of Approximate Voting Securities(1)
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Nicole Lemerond(3)(4)(5)(6)
New York, USA
Director
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Director of GeoVax Labs (August 2022 to present); Director of MediciNova (August 2023 to present); Managing Partner of NV Capital (February 2010 to August 2022).
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August 8, 2022
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Nil
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Janet Grove(3)(5)(6)
British Columbia, Canada
Director
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Partner Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP and its predecessor firm in Vancouver (October 2008 to present), including being appointed as Head of Canadian Life Sciences and Healthcare Group (2018 to present) and former Vancouver Managing Partner; Board of Genome BC (June 2020 to present); member of the Audit and Assurance Standards Council of Canada (July 2018 to July 2024); Vice President and Corporate Counsel, QLT Inc. (August 2000 to February 2008).
|
|
February 11, 2022
|
|
Nil
|
Bryan Baldasare(3)(4)(6)
Ohio, USA
Director
|
|
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Hilltop Basic Resources, Inc. (January 2022 to present). Meridian Bioscience, Inc. (April 2000 to December 2021) — EVP, CFO and Secretary (October 2019 to December 2021), SVP, Interim CFO, Corporate Controller and Treasurer (July 2019 to September 2019), SVP, Corporate Controller and Treasurer (January 2018 to June 2019).
|
|
May 12, 2022
|
|
Nil
|
10
Name and Address of Nominee and Present Position with Company
|
|
Principal Occupation During the Last Five Years
|
|
Director Since
|
|
Number of Approximate Voting Securities(1)
|
Andrew Hull(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)
Illinois, USA
Director
|
|
Takeda Pharmaceuticals — Head of Global Alliances, (April 2014 – April 2018), Head of Global Alliance Management (June 2008 – April 2014), SVP of Marketing (February 2006 – June 2008); Former Chairman, Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization (2 terms); former member of Kenyon College Board of Trustees; Director of Zucara Therapeutics (March 2019 – March 2020).
|
|
September 12, 2016
|
|
38,258 Common Shares
|
Eric. A. Adams(2)
British Columbia, Canada
President & CEO
Director
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer of InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc. (June 2016 to present).
|
|
June 16, 2016
|
|
43,959 Common Shares
|
Profile of the Board
Eric A. Adams (also President and Chief Executive Officer) (Age: 61)
Mr. Adams has been the President and Chief Executive Officer, and a Director of InMed since 2016. Mr. Adams is a seasoned biopharmaceutical executive with over 30 years’ experience in company and capital formation, global market development, mergers and acquisitions, licensing and corporate governance. During the period from 2011 to 2016, Mr. Adams served as a mentor and senior consultant to several biopharmaceutical and innovative technology companies. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer and Director at EnGene Inc. between 2004 and 2011. Prior to EnGene, he held senior roles in global market development with QLT Inc., Advanced Tissues Science Inc., Abbott Laboratories, and Fresenius AG. He is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States and holds a Master of International Business degree from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Southern Indiana. Mr. Adams makes valuable contributions to the Board based on his extensive international business development experience in a wide range of disease categories and contributions to growing several organizations across the pharmaceutical and medical device arenas.
Nicole Lemerond (Age: 49)
Ms. Lemerond has been a director of the company since August 2022. Ms. Lemerond is a financial executive with over 25 years of experience in investment management, private equity, investment banking and leveraged finance. She has significant experience executing complex transactions, managing diligence processes, raising capital and structuring balance sheets. Throughout her career, Ms. Lemerond has worked with public and private company management teams and boards to increase stakeholder value. She established and led healthcare groups at leading investment firms and has also worked at several large financial institutions, including Lehman Brothers and The Carlyle Group. Ms. Lemerond is a member of the Board of Directors of GeoVax, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX) and MediciNova, Inc. (Nasdaq: MNOV). Ms. Lemerond holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and is a CFA charterholder. Ms. Lemerond makes valuable contributions to our Board based on her extensive experience in investment management and her experience working with management teams to increase stakeholder value.
11
Janet Grove (Age: 57)
Ms. Grove has served as a member of the Board since February 2022. Ms. Grove is a corporate lawyer and partner at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP where she is Canadian head of their Life Sciences and Healthcare Group. Janet was previously managing partner of Vancouver based law firm, Bull, Housser & Tupper LLP and led Bull, Housser in its merger discussions with global law firm, Norton Rose Fulbright. She then served as managing partner of Norton Rose Fulbright’s Vancouver office until her term expired at the end of 2019. She was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2017 by Women’s Executive Network and appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2020. Ms. Grove also currently serves on the board of Genome BC. She is also a former member of the Audit and Assurance Standards Council of Canada, Chair and director of St. John Ambulance Vancouver Branch and a former director of Canadian Business for Social Responsibility. In 2000, Ms. Grove joined the legal team at a Canadian biotechnology company then listed on the TSX and Nasdaq, where she was a member of the company’s executive management team. She held a number of roles, including the position of Vice-President and Corporate Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and Business Ethics Officer prior to returning to private practice in 2008. Ms. Grove makes valuable contributions to our Board based on her extensive managerial experience and experience in the life sciences sector.
Bryan Baldasare (Age: 58)
Mr. Baldasare has been a member of the Board since May 2022. Mr. Baldasare is a well-rounded biotech executive with a wealth of experience in finance and accounting, financial planning and analysis, treasury management, commercial operations and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Baldasare spent over 20 years at Meridian Bioscience, most recently as Chief Financial Officer where during his tenure, Meridian expanded into a diversified global business with 15 sites in 10 countries, developed and launched dozens of new products, and grew its revenues to over $300 Million. Mr. Baldasare is currently the CFO at Hilltop Companies, a leading supplier to the construction industry, and is also a volunteer in the Guardianship Assistance Program through Meals on Wheels Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky. Prior to Meridian, Mr. Baldasare spent over 10 years in public accounting at Arthur Andersen LLP. Mr. Baldasare has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati and is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Ohio (inactive license). Mr. Baldasare makes valuable contributions to our Board based on his financial and accounting expertise and his experience as a former executive in the biotechnology sector.
Andrew Hull (Age: 61)
Mr. Hull has been a director of the company since September 2016. Mr. Hull most recently served as Head of Global Alliances for Takeda Pharmaceuticals from 2014 to 2018, where he was responsible for maximizing the success of Takeda’s growing number (40+) of commercial and research and development partnerships with many of the industry’s leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies. In previous roles as Senior Vice President, Marketing, and Senior Vice President, Business Development and Strategic Product Planning, Mr. Hull led marketing and commercial development of Takeda’s U.S. portfolio of over $3 billion and led partnering activities including licensing and acquisitions. Additionally, he held positions of increasing responsibility at Immunex and Abbott Laboratories. Mr. Hull received a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Kenyon College in 1985. He also recently served as a member of the Board of the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization, where he served two terms as Chairman, and recently was a member of the Kenyon College Board of Trustees. Mr. Hull recently served as a Director of Zucara Therapeutics. Mr. Hull makes valuable contributions to the Board based on his over 30 years of experience in various commercial and business development roles with leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies.
12
Board Diversity Matrix
The following table summarizes certain self-identified personal characteristics of our directors as of October 21, 2024. Each of the categories listed in the table below has the definition provided in Nasdaq Rule 5605(f).
Total Number of Directors
|
|
2024: 5
|
|
2023: 5
|
|
|
Female
|
|
Male
|
|
Non-Binary
|
|
Did Not Disclose Gender
|
|
|
2024
|
|
2023
|
|
2024
|
|
2023
|
|
2024
|
|
2023
|
|
2024
|
|
2023
|
Part I: Gender Identity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors
|
|
2
|
|
2
|
|
3
|
|
3
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
Part II: Demographic Background
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
African American or Black
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
Alaskan Native or Native American
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
Asian
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
Hispanic or Latinx
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
White
|
|
2
|
|
2
|
|
3
|
|
3
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
Two or More Races or Ethnicities
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
LGBTQ+
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
Did Not Disclose Demographic Background
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
Majority Voting Policy
The Board has adopted a policy (the “Majority Voting Policy”) providing for majority voting in director elections at any meeting where an “uncontested election” of directors is held. An “uncontested election” means an election where the number of nominees for election as directors is equal to the number of directors to be elected.
Pursuant to the Majority Voting Policy, the forms of proxy circulated in connection with a meeting of Shareholders at which an election of directors is conducted will provide Shareholders with the ability to vote in favour of, or to withhold from voting for, each director nominee. If the number of proxy votes withheld for a particular director nominee is greater than the votes in favour of that nominee, the director nominee is required to submit his or her resignation to the Chair of the Board. Following receipt of a resignation, the Governance and Nomination Committee will consider whether to accept the offer of resignation and recommend to the Board whether or not to accept it. Absent exceptional circumstances, the Board will accept the resignation of the directors in question and will, in any case, publicly disclose a decision within 90 days following the applicable meeting of Shareholders. If a resignation is accepted, the Board may, in accordance with the Company’s Articles and the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), appoint a new director to fill the vacancy created by the resignation, reduce the size of the Board, leave the vacancy open, call a special meeting to fill the vacancy, or any combination of the foregoing. In the event that any director who received a greater number of proxy votes withheld than votes in favour of such director’s election does not tender his or her resignation in accordance with the Majority Voting Policy, they will not be re-nominated by the Board.
Insider Trading Policy
The Board has adopted an Insider Trading Policy governing the purchase, sale, and/or other dispositions of the Company’s securities by directors, officers and employees, that are reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules and regulations, and Nasdaq listing standards applicable to the Company. A copy of the Company’s Insider Trading Policy is available on the Company’s website at www.inmedpharma.com/about/corporate_governance/.
Policies and Terms of Reference
In addition to the Majority Voting Policy and the Insider Trading Policy, the Board has adopted an Auditor Services Pre-Approval Policy, Corporate Disclosure Policy, Related Person Transaction Approval Policy, Code of Conduct, Whistle Blower Policy and Terms of Reference for the Board, Chair of the Board, Audit Committee, Governance and Nominations Committee, and Compensation Committee, the text of each of which can be found on the Company’s website at www.inmedpharma.com/about/corporate_governance/.
13
Corporate Cease Trade Orders, Bankruptcies, Penalties, Sanctions or Individual Bankruptcies
To the knowledge of the Company, no nominees for election as a director of the Company:
a) is at the date of this Information Circular, or has been, within 10 years before the date of this Information Circular, a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any company (including the Company) or has been, or acted in that capacity for a company that:
(i) was subject to a cease trade or similar order or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemptions under securities legislation, that was in effect for a period of more than 30 consecutive days (collectively, an “Order”); when such Order was issued while the person was acting in the capacity of a director, chief executive office or chief financial officer of the relevant company; or
(ii) was subject to an Order that was issued after such person ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of the relevant company, and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive office or chief financial officer of the relevant company; or
b) is, as at the date of this Information Circular, or has been within 10 years before the date of the Information Circular, a director or executive officer of any company that, while that person was acting in that capacity, or within a year of that person ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets; or
c) has, within the 10 years before the date of this Information Circular, become bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or become subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold the assets of the proposed director; or
d) has been subject to any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation or by a securities regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority; or
e) has been subject to any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable securityholder in deciding whether to vote for a proposed director.
Shareholder Proposals and Nominations for the 2025 Annual General Meeting
Any proposals of holders of Common Shares intended to be presented pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (“Rule 14a-8”) under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), at the annual general meeting of Shareholders to be held in 2025 must be received by the Company, addressed to the Secretary of the Company at Suite 1445-885 West Georgia St., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 3E8, by June 30, 2025, and must satisfy all applicable requirements of Rule 14a-8, to be considered for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement and information circular and form of proxy related to such meeting.
After June 30, 2025, notice to the Company of a shareholder proposal submitted otherwise than pursuant to Rule 14a-8 will be considered untimely, and the person named in proxies solicited by the Board for the Company’s 2025 annual general meeting may exercise discretionary authority voting power with respect to any such proposal as to which the Company does not receive timely notice.
Shareholders intending to nominate a person for election as a director at the annual general meeting of Shareholders to be held in 2025 must comply with the requirements set forth in our Articles and any applicable requirements under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). In addition to any other requirements under applicable laws, our Articles require, among other things, that our Secretary receive notice, in proper written form (as defined in our Articles), from the Shareholder of record not less than 30 days nor more than 65 days prior to the date of the annual general meeting of Shareholders, provided, however, that if the annual general meeting of Shareholders is to be held on a date that is less than 50 days after the date on which the first public announcement (as defined in our Articles) of
14
the date of the annual general meeting was made, notice by the nominating Shareholder may be made not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the date of such first public announcement. The notice must be in proper form and contain the information required by our Articles, a copy of which is available upon request to our Secretary, as well as on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
Notwithstanding the above, if the Company’s 2025 annual general meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 30 days after December 18, 2025, the time period for a Shareholder to submit a proposal or nomination will be modified, and such modification will be communicated to Shareholders, in accordance with applicable law.
Communications with the Board of Directors
Individuals may communicate with the Board by submitting a letter addressed to the member or members of the Board to whom the communication is directed, care of the Company’s Secretary, at Suite 1445-885 West Georgia St., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 3E8. All such communications, other than unsolicited commercial solicitations or communications, will be forwarded to the appropriate director or directors for review.
Director Independence
The Board has undertaken a review of its composition, the composition of its committees and the independence of current directors and considered whether any current director has a material relationship with the Company that could compromise his or her ability to exercise independent judgment in carrying out his or her responsibilities.
Based upon information requested from and provided by each director concerning his or her background, employment and affiliations, including family relationships, the Board has determined that each of its directors (other than Mr. Adams) is “independent” as that term is defined under the applicable rules of the SEC and Nasdaq and Canadian securities laws. In addition, the Board has determined that the directors who comprise the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Governance and Nomination Committee, satisfy the independence standards for those committees established by applicable SEC and Nasdaq rules and Canadian securities laws.
Leadership Structure
The Company currently separates the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board. The Board believes that having an independent, non-executive chair increases the independent oversight of the Company and enhances the Board’s objective evaluation of the Chief Executive Officer; provides the Chief Executive Officer with an experienced sounding board in the Chair; and, provides an independent spokesperson for the Company.
Eric A. Adams was appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer and President in June 2016. Mr. Adams has been with the Company for eight years and has been a key player in driving the Company’s growth including of its research and development programs, strengthening the leadership team, implementing capital strategy and ensuring effectiveness of operations. The Board believes Mr. Adams’ primary role should be to lead and manage the day-to-day operations of the Company.
Andrew Hull was appointed Chair of the Board in December 2022. The Chair of the Board is expected to organize the Board activities to enable the Board to effectively guide, oversee and hold management accountable. To fulfill that role, the Chair of the Board is expected to create and maintain an effective working relationship with the Chief Executive Officer and other members of the Board; provide the Chief Executive Officer on-going direction as to Board needs, interests and opinions; and ensure that the Board agenda is appropriately directed to the matters of greatest importance to the Company. The Chair of the Board is expected to preserve the distinction between management and oversight, ensuring that management develops a corporate strategy and the Board reviews and expresses its views on the corporate strategy. In addition, the Chair of the Board’s roles include but are not limited to: (i) advising the Chief Executive Officer as to an appropriate schedule of Board meetings, (ii) seeking to ensure that the directors can perform their duties responsibly while not interfering with on-going Company operations, (iii) approving, with the Chief Executive Officer, an agenda and the meeting schedules for the Board and Board committee meetings, (iv) advising the Chief Executive Officer as to the quality, quantity and timeliness of the information submitted to the Board by the Company’s management for the directors to perform their duties, (v) calling meetings of the directors, and (vi) acting as the principal liaison between the directors and the Chief Executive Officer on sensitive issues.
15
Risk Management
The Board plays an active role, as a whole and also at the committee level, in overseeing the management of risks. The Board is responsible for general oversight of risks and regular review of information regarding risks, including operational risks. The Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing the management of risks relating to the executive compensation plans and arrangements. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the management of risks relating to credit, liquidity, accounting matters and financial reporting. The Governance and Nomination Committee is responsible for overseeing the management of risks associated with the independence of the Board and potential conflicts of interest. While each committee is responsible for evaluating certain risks and overseeing the management of such risks, the entire Board is regularly informed through discussions from committee members about such risks.
Anti-Hedging Policy
Under the Company’s Insider Trading Policy, executive officers and directors of the Company are not permitted to purchase financial instruments (including prepaid variable contracts, equity swaps, collars or units of exchange funds) that are designed to hedge or offset a decrease in market value of equity securities granted as compensation or held directly or indirectly by the executive officer or director. See “Executive Compensation — Compensation Governance and Risk Assessment” for additional details.
Committees of our Board
Our Board has established an Audit Committee, a compensation committee (the “Compensation Committee”) and a governance and nominations committee (the “Governance and Nomination Committee”), each of which operates pursuant to a written charter adopted by our Board. Our Board may also establish other committees from time to time to assist the Board. The composition and functioning of all of our committees comply with all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Nasdaq and SEC rules and regulations. Each committee has a charter, which is available on our website at www.inmedpharma.com.
Governance and Nomination Committee
The Governance and Nomination Committee is appointed by the Board to ensure that the Board is appropriately constituted to meet its fiduciary obligations to the Company and the Shareholders. The Governance and Nomination Committee assists in monitoring and shaping the corporate governance of the Company and assists the Board in connection with Board nominations matters. The Governance and Nomination Committee evaluates the structure and membership of the Board and its committees and assesses the qualifications of prospective nominees to the Board. In evaluating director candidates, the Governance and Nomination Committee considers factors it deems relevant, including, at a minimum, each member and nominee’s general understanding of marketing, finance, accounting, research and development, business development or other elements relevant to the success of a publicly traded company in the current business environment, understanding of the business on an operational level, integrity, education and professional background, and willingness to devote time to the Board’s duties.
In addition, the Governance and Nomination Committee evaluates each individual in the context of the Board as a whole, with the objective of recommending individuals that can best perpetuate the success of the business and represent shareholder interests through the exercise of sound business judgment using their diversity of experience, including the differences in viewpoints and skills in various areas. The Governance and Nomination Committee oversees Chief Executive Officer and senior management succession planning. The process focuses on building management depth, considers continuity and stability within the Company, and responds to the Company’s evolving needs and changing circumstances.
The Governance and Nomination Committee focuses on improving the diversity of the Board, although the Governance and Nomination Committee does not have a formal written policy regarding diversity of director nominee candidates to specifically consider diversity in regards to ethnicity, gender, race or age in assessing the qualifications of director nominees.
16
The Governance and Nomination Committee periodically reviews and assesses the adequacy of the Company’s Code of Conduct and makes recommendations to the Board regarding any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions thereof. A copy of the most up-to-date version of the Company’s Code of Conduct is available within the “Investors” section on the Company’s website located at www.inmedpharma.com/about/corporate_governance/ and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca/. A copy of the Code of Conduct is also available free of charge in print to any Shareholder upon written request to Suite 1445-885 West Georgia St., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 3E8, Attention: Secretary. The Company will post amendments to the Code of Conduct or waivers of the same for directors and executive officers on the “Investors” section on the Company’s website located at https://www.inmedpharma.com/about/corporate_governance/.
The Governance and Nomination Committee is currently composed of four members of the Board, each of whom meets the independence requirements under the applicable listing standards of Nasdaq, the SEC rules and the applicable Canadian securities laws. The Governance and Nomination Committee is currently composed of Ms. Grove (Chair), Mr. Hull, Ms. Lemerond, and Mr. Baldasare. The Board has adopted a written charter for the Governance and Nomination Committee, which is available on the Company’s website. The Governance and Nomination Committee met twice during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.
Shareholders desiring to make recommendations for candidacy to the Board in future years should submit such recommendations to the Secretary of the Company at Suite 1445-885 West Georgia St., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 3E8. The Governance and Nomination Committee will, as a policy, evaluate candidates properly proposed by Shareholders in the same manner as all other candidates.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee assists the Board in overseeing and monitoring the Company’s financial reporting process, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the Company’s internal and external audit processes. The Audit Committee’s role and responsibilities are set forth in the charter adopted by the Board, which is available on the Company’s website at www.inmedpharma.com/investors/corporate-governance/. The Audit Committee reviews and reassesses the charter annually and recommends any changes to the Board for approval. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the overall financial reporting process, and for the appointment, compensation, retention, and oversight of the work of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.
The Audit Committee is currently composed of three members of the Board, each of whom meets the independence requirements under the applicable listing standards of Nasdaq, the SEC rules and the applicable Canadian securities laws. The Audit Committee is currently composed of Mr. Baldasare (Chair), Mr. Hull and Ms. Lemerond. The Audit Committee met four times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. Our Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is “independent” as that term is defined in Nasdaq rules and has sufficient knowledge in financial and auditing matters to serve on the Audit Committee. In addition, our Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee meets the heightened independence requirements for Audit Committee members required under Section 10A of the Exchange Act and related SEC and Nasdaq rules. Our Board has determined that Mr. Baldasare is an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K.
Compensation Committee
Details regarding the Compensation Committee are set forth under “Executive Compensation — Compensation Committee.”
17
Meetings
The full Board met 6 times during the financial/fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. The following attendance records relate to meetings of the Board, and the committees thereof, held during the most recently completed financial/fiscal year of the Company (including regularly scheduled and special meetings).
Director
|
|
Board of Directors’ Meetings
|
|
Audit Committee Meetings
|
|
Compensation Committee Meetings
|
|
Governance and Nomination Committee Meetings
|
Andrew Hull
|
|
6/6
|
|
4/4
|
|
3/3
|
|
2/2
|
Janet Grove
|
|
5/6
|
|
—
|
|
3/3
|
|
2/2
|
Bryan Baldasare
|
|
6/6
|
|
4/4
|
|
—
|
|
2/2
|
Nicole Lemerond
|
|
6/6
|
|
4/4
|
|
3/3
|
|
2/2
|
Eric A. Adams
|
|
6/6
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
Currently, we do not maintain a formal policy regarding director attendance at annual general meetings; however, it is expected that some of our directors will attend the Meeting virtually. All of our current directors attended the annual general meeting of Shareholders held during the financial/fiscal year ended June 30, 2023.
The Board unanimously recommends that the Shareholders vote “FOR” the election of each proposed director.
Unless contrary instructions are indicated on the Proxy or the Voting Instruction Form, or such authority is withheld, the persons designated in the accompanying Proxy or the Voting Instruction Form intend to vote “FOR” the election, as director, of the persons whose names are set forth above and identified in the accompanying Proxy or the Voting Instruction Form, as applicable.
18
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following sets forth certain information concerning our executive officers.
Name of Executive Officer
|
|
Age
|
|
Position(s)
|
Eric A. Adams
|
|
61
|
|
Chief Executive Officer and President, Director
|
Netta Jagpal
|
|
51
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
Jonathan Tegge
|
|
35
|
|
Former Interim Chief Financial Officer
|
Michael Woudenberg
|
|
55
|
|
Chief Operating Officer
|
Alexandra Mancini
|
|
72
|
|
Senior Vice President, Clinical & Regulatory Affairs
|
Eric Hsu
|
|
54
|
|
Senior Vice President, Preclinical Research & Development
|
The following is a biographical summary of the experience of our executive officers, with the exception of Eric A. Adams, whose biographical summary is set forth under the heading “Proposal 2: Election of Directors — Profile of the Board”.
Netta Jagpal
Ms. Jagpal joined InMed with over 20 years of experience in financial leadership roles, primarily in the biotech industry. Prior to InMed, Ms. Jagpal served as Vice President, Financial Reporting & Compliance for D-Wave Systems Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) where she led a finance team through the initial public offering process. Prior to D-Wave, Netta spent 11 years at Zymeworks Inc. (NYSE: ZYME), a leading Vancouver based clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, in various financial roles including Senior Director, Finance & Corporate Controller. Netta has also previously held roles at Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANP) and Ernst & Young. Netta is a Chartered Professional Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting and Organization Behaviour from Simon Fraser University.
Jonathan Tegge
Mr. Tegge joined us on December 15, 2022, as Interim Chief Financial Officer of the Company pursuant to an agreement dated December 12, 2022, between the Company and Brio Financial Group. Mr. Tegge has been a corporate accountant since 2015. In this capacity, he consults with various private and public companies with respect to financial reporting, analysis of complex financial instruments, and the valuation of such instruments. Before joining us, Mr. Tegge held the interim CFO position of three other publicly traded companies. Prior to joining Brio Financial Group, Mr. Tegge was an accounting consultant at Robert Half Finance & Accounting from 2014 to 2015, where he was involved in their accounting practice with industry focuses in healthcare and professional service firms. Mr. Tegge has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Michael Woudenberg
Mr. Woudenberg joined us in 2018 with more than 20 years of successful drug development, process engineering, Good Manufacturing Practice manufacturing and leadership experience. He brings valuable expertise in the development, technology transfer and commercialization of APIs and drug products. Mr. Woudenberg previously served as our Senior Vice President of Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls, until his appointment as our Chief Operating Officer in July 2022. Prior to joining us in 2018, Mr. Woudenberg held various positions within 3M, Cardiome Pharma, Arbutus Biopharma and most recently as the Managing Director of Phyton Biotech, LLC. His experience includes process and formulation development from lab/preclinical products through the various stages of clinical development to validated and successfully approved and inspected commercial APIs and drug products. Additionally, he has extensive experience with regards to regulatory inspections (e.g., FDA, European, Australian, Korean, Japanese, Canadian) and their related chemistry, manufacturing and control requirements from clinical to commercial production of approved products. Mr. Woudenberg received his Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, and Bachelor of Engineering Science, Chemical, at Western University of London, Ontario, Canada.
Alexandra Mancini
Ms. Mancini joined InMed as head of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs in October 2016. Ms. Mancini has more than 30 years of global biopharmaceutical R&D experience, overseeing a wide range of drug development activities, with a particular emphasis on clinical development and regulatory affairs. Prior to joining us, she served as an executive
19
with numerous biotech companies, including as Senior Vice President of Clinical & Regulatory Affairs at Sirius Genomics, where her responsibilities included identifying and managing external resources for medical expertise in sepsis, clinical data management and statistical theory, programming and analyses. Prior to joining Sirius Genomics, Ms. Mancini served as Senior Vice President of Clinical & Regulatory Affairs at INEX Pharmaceuticals, and as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at QLT Inc. Ms. Mancini holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Toronto. Ms. Mancini retired from her position at the Company effective June 30, 2024 and entered into a Consulting Agreement with the Company to ensure a smooth transition.
Eric Hsu
Dr. Hsu joined InMed as head of Preclinical Research and Development in March 2018. He has more than 22 years of scientific leadership experience in preclinical research, including benchtop research, formulation development and manufacturing process development, as well as patent prosecution, vendor contract negotiations and execution, and research partnerships. He is also responsible for expanding product pipelines, and managing R&D budgets and timelines. Prior to joining InMed, he held various positions within EnGene Inc., including V.P. of Research and V.P. of Scientific Affairs and Operations. Dr. Hsu received his Doctorate from the Department of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto and his Bachelor’s degree from McGill University.
20
Executive Compensation
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes the objectives and design of the Company’s compensation program for the 2024 named executive officers (NEOs), who are as follows:
Eric A. Adams
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
Neeta Jagpal
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
Jonathan Tegge
|
|
Former Interim Chief Financial Officer
|
Mike Woudenberg
|
|
Chief Operating Officer
|
Eric Hsu
|
|
Senior Vice President, Preclinical Research & Development
|
Alexandra Mancini
|
|
Senior Vice President, Clinical & Regulatory Affairs
|
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
General
The Company is committed to growing its business over the long-term. As a result of the competitive nature of the industry in which the Company operates, executives have significant career mobility and as a result, the competition for experienced executives is intense. The existence of this competition and the need for talented and experienced executive officers to realize the Company’s business objectives underlies the design and implementation of the Company’s compensation programs. At the same time, the Company seeks to keep its approach to compensation simple and streamlined to reflect the growing but still relatively small size of the Company.
For the purpose of this Statement of Executive Compensation:
“compensation securities” includes stock options, convertible securities, exchangeable securities and similar instruments granted or issued by the Company or one of its subsidiaries for services provided or to be provided, directly or indirectly, to the Company or any of its subsidiaries;
“NEO” or “named executive officer” means, as an “emerging growth company,” as such term is defined in the rules promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (i) each individual who served as the Company’s principal executive officer during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, (ii) the Company’s two most highly compensated executive officers (other than the principal executive officer) in respect of their service to the Company for fiscal year 2024, who were serving as executive officers of the Company on June 30, 2024 and (iii) up to two additional individuals for whom disclosure would have been provided pursuant to clause (ii) but for the fact that the individual was not serving as an executive officer of the Company on June 30, 2024.
“Underlying securities” means any securities issuable on conversion, exchange or exercise of compensation securities.
Unless otherwise indicated, references to “$” or “United States dollars” are to United States dollars. Canadian dollars are referred as “Canadian dollars” or “C$”.
Objectives
The objectives of the Company’s compensation program are to:
• attract and retain qualified executive officers via a competitive compensation package;
• incentivize executive officers to deliver strong business performance;
• align the interests of the executive officers with the interests of Shareholders to create Shareholder value by ensuring a significant portion of executive compensation is dependent upon individual and overall business performance; and
• ensure the executive compensation program is simple to communicate and administer.
21
InMed’s compensation program is designed to reward personal competencies as they pertain to the specific position for which the person is employed and overall contribution to building the Company’s business including the science and the R&D pipeline towards commercialization.
As such, the Company has included several factors to assist in developing its compensation philosophy, including the following:
• using a consistent compensation structure among executive officers to encourage aligned goals;
• including financial regulatory compliance as a performance metric to encourage accountability, as and when appropriate;
• compensation in line with the company’s financial position;
• incentive plan awards that include long-term metrics to avoid short-sighted decisions;
• anti-hedging policies in order to prohibit directors and senior management from directly or indirectly hedging against future declines in the securities of the Company; and
• periodically retaining independent compensation consultants to provide benchmarks and additional perspective.
While the Company’s objective is to reward for performance and remain competitive in the marketplace for executive talent, the Company carefully considers the expense of compensation and benefits in relation to the Company’s consolidated budget and financial strength as significant factors in determining compensation levels.
The Company intends to keep its compensation program simple to communicate and administer by focusing on base salary, short-term incentives, and long-term incentives. Directors and executive officers are encouraged to increase their ownership interest in the Company in order to, among other things, better align their interests with those of Shareholders. See “Executive Compensation — Components of Compensation”. The Company does not currently have a pension plan.
Compensation Principles
The Company’s overall approach to compensation is to provide senior executives with total compensation that is generally competitive with compensation provided to individuals working in similar positions in the biopharmaceutical industry in Canada and the United States. To best define what a ‘competitive compensation package’ would be, the Company undertook a comprehensive analysis of its compensation practices during 2023. At the behest of the Board, the Compensation Committee engaged an external consulting agency, AON/Radford, to advise on its approach to compensation for executives and the Board. The results of this exercise are detailed in the sections below.
In determining all aspects of executive compensation, the Compensation Committee and the Board engage in discussion with the Chief Executive Officer to align compensation with the skill set, experience, and performance of the executive team members. The Compensation Committee and the Board also rely on input from third party assessments in determining compensation ranges for each executive. Current compensation targets have been established utilizing the AON/Radford compensation assessment undertaken by the Company in 2023. The assessment included several variables across comparable companies in the biopharmaceutical industry to determine a proper compensation range for each executive. Variables included but were not limited to (i) size of the company (as measured by number of employees), (ii) stage of company pipeline development (bio/pharma pre-commercial), (iii) market capitalization of the company, (iv) amount of invested capital, (v) private versus public entities and (vi) region in which the comparator companies operate, among other variables. Once a range was determined for each position, the employee’s specific compensation level was set based on variables such as experience and importance to the overall corporate success.
The AON/Radford compensation assessment determined the most similar industry comparables to arrive at a competitive compensation level. The assessment included data from a total of US and Canadian public, pre-commercial and commercial biopharmaceutical companies with under 60 employees, less than $75M in revenues and market capitalization less than $150 million.
22
This assessment benchmarked the 25th, 50th and 75th percentile of salary levels, cash bonus levels (% of base salary), and equity levels. The Compensation Committee is currently aiming to target cash compensation (salaries plus bonus) around the 25th percentile and equity-based compensation around the 50th percentile of this benchmark data set. The net effect is to conserve cash for R&D programs based on lower cash compensation of this benchmark while strongly aligning executive interests with those of Shareholders by establishing significant equity-based compensation levels.
Compensation Components
There are three main elements of InMed’s executive compensation program: base salary, annual performance-based cash bonus, and equity-based awards in the form of stock options that reflect the Company’s operating results as well as achievement of significant strategic initiatives. Equity-based awards enable the Company to attract and retain executive talent by aligning the executives’ interests with the Company’s long-term corporate objectives. Additionally, the Company offers to all employees extended health insurance. In certain instances, employee expenses for other minor business-related expenses are reimbursed (such as cell phones and parking, among others).
Base Salary
The Company’s executives are currently compensated based on fixed, or ‘base’, salary paid semi-monthly in arrears. In establishing salaries for the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers, consideration is given to salary ranges for comparable positions in similar size and stage biotechnology companies. Data for such comparisons is obtained from the evaluation of compensation against industry peers including those with a similar market capitalization and in the business of biotechnology. In setting salaries within competitive ranges, the Company considers performance-related factors including the Company’s overall results during the past year and its performance relative to a budgeted plan or stated objectives. Consideration is also given to an individual’s contribution to the Company and the accomplishments of departments for which that officer has management responsibility, and the potential for future contributions to the Company. Overall, salaries are currently targeted somewhat below the 25th percentile. Over time, the Company intends to move towards the 25th percentile.
Cash Bonus
A cash bonus system has been developed by the Company to encourage the achievement of critical success factors, or goals, of the Company. The target bonus level is determined by position and typically ranges from 30%-40% of base salary for the Company’s executives other than the Chief Executive Officer, who has a target bonus of 50%. Goals are determined by the direct supervisor of each employee, in discussion with the Chief Executive Officer and, ultimately, the Compensation Committee and Board.
The goals for each position are split into two segments: Task Achievement and Personal Effectiveness. The Task Achievement portion is heavily weighted (75%) and aligns with the overall corporate objectives. The Personal Effectiveness (25%) portion analyzes several criteria for each employee such as initiative, problem solving, teamwork, integrity, and leadership, among other criteria. Scoring for both sections are combined to determine what percentage of the employee’s target bonus will be paid, if any.
An example:
Task Achievement (50/75) + Personal Effectiveness (23/25) = Goal Achievement Score (73%);
Goal Achievement Score (73%) x Target Bonus (30%) x Base Salary ($100,000) = Cash Bonus ($21,900)
Even where the employee has met some or all of their Task Achievement and Personal Effectiveness goals, the payment of cash bonuses to employees, if any, is based on several factors as determined by the Board. Key elements include:
• The Company’s financial position. As determined solely by the Board, the Company’s current cash position relative to anticipated R&D expenditures, ability to raise additional capital and other factors play a large role in the payment of any bonuses to any employees.
• Achievement of critical goals. Should the Company fail to reach its key corporate strategic goals, as defined by the Board, then the payment of any cash bonuses to any employee, regardless of their specific role within the Company, may be negatively impacted such that the Board may determine that no bonuses be paid to anyone.
23
Additionally, the Board has the sole discretion to award a bonus to any individual employee beyond the target bonus amount based on significantly exceeding their goals, or through accomplishment of objectives well beyond the scope of their role.
Share-based and option-based awards
The Compensation Committee believes that equity-based compensation is an important component of InMed’s overall compensation structure. Based on the data from the AON/Radford compensation assessment, the Compensation Committee has determined that in order to present executives with a competitive package, the equity positions (via stock option grants) needed to target Company ownership levels at the 50th percentile to offset the lower range of salaries. The Compensation Committee believes this approach will better align executives with the long-term prospects of the Company.
In accordance with the Compensation Committee’s charter, any equity award to employees is recommended by the Compensation Committee and submitted for approval by the full Board. In addition to regularly scheduled grants, the Chief Executive Officer may make a recommendation for other grants (referred to herein as “off-cycle grants”) in situations where InMed is seeking to attract a senior level hire, recognize employees for certain achievements or in other special circumstances.
Annual and Off-Cycle Stock Option Grants
The Compensation Committee believes that establishing fixed grant dates for the award of equity grants as the Company move forward is an important practice to ensure the consistency of the award granting process. Accordingly, each annual grant and off-cycle grant of equity-based compensation is awarded as follows:
• Annual Grant. A grant of equity-based compensation awards for employees must be approved annually by the Compensation Committee and the Board.
• Off-Cycle Grants. Off-cycle grants must be recommended in writing by the Chief Executive Officer to the Compensation Committee and the Board and may be granted on an as-needed basis throughout the year.
• Other Awards. With respect to awards other than the annual grant or off-cycle grants, the date the Compensation Committee acts to approve an award, or such later specified date as the Compensation Committee shall designate in the approval, is used as the grant date of the award for purposes of InMed’s equity compensation plans. If action is taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting, the date of the Compensation Committee action is the date that the last Compensation Committee member has executed the consent.
Director Compensation
Director compensation is limited strictly to non-management directors. InMed’s director compensation philosophy is as follows:
• to provide a compensation level that will attract exceptionally experienced and skilled candidates and encourage them to play an active role in the strategic development of the Company;
• to compensate for Board work and work on Board committees; and
• to provide stock-based compensation to align director compensation with increases in long-term shareholder value.
Stock-Based Compensation
In addition to any stock options granted to new directors upon becoming a member of the Board, on an annual basis and immediately after election of directors at each annual general meeting of Shareholders, each non-management director shall be granted stock options, priced as of the close of market on the date of the Company’s annual general meeting, vesting 100% on the one year anniversary of the grant date or immediately prior to the following year’s annual general meeting of Shareholders, whichever is sooner, and expiring five years after date of grant.
24
Annual Cash Retainers
Each non-employee director’s annual retainer was set at $35,000 per year and the Chair of the Board received an additional retainer of $25,000 per year.
For committee participation, directors are eligible to receive up to an additional $15,000 per year paid quarterly in arrears, assuming a minimum of two committee memberships. There are no incremental fees for chairing a committee.
There are no other compensation elements for directors such as meeting fees and per diems. If a Director traveled on behalf of the Company, they are reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
The following table summarizes director compensation earned for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024:
InMed Directors (all figures in US$)
|
|
Annual Director Fees (inclusive of committee membership) ($)
|
|
Annual Chairman Fee ($)
|
|
Committee(1)
|
|
Total Annual Fees(2) ($)
|
Andrew Hull
|
|
50,000
|
|
25,000
|
|
C, A, G
|
|
75,000
|
Janet Grove
|
|
50,000
|
|
Nil
|
|
C, G
|
|
50,000
|
Bryan Baldasare
|
|
50,000
|
|
Nil
|
|
A, G
|
|
50,000
|
Nicole Lemerond
|
|
50,000
|
|
Nil
|
|
C, A, G
|
|
50,000
|
Eric A. Adams
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
None
|
|
Nil
|
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee acts on behalf of the Board to determine and approve the compensation of executive officers of the Company and to provide oversight of the Company’s global compensation philosophy. The committee oversees the Company’s compensation plans, including equity compensation plans and plans applicable to directors and senior management. The purpose of the Compensation Committee is also to establish a plan of continuity for executives and other key employees, and to ensure a broad plan of executive compensation is established that is competitive and incentivizing in order to attract and retain the executive management and other key employees of InMed and to oversee compliance by executive management with the Company’s Code of Conduct.
The Compensation Committee is currently comprised of three members, all of whom are “independent” under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and Nasdaq and applicable Canadian securities laws. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, Ms. Lemerond (Chair), Ms. Grove and Mr. Hull served on the Compensation Committee. Each of these individuals has been involved in establishing compensation for executive-level employees, and has direct experience in negotiating executive employment agreements. Additionally, they have been entrusted on behalf of their respective organizations to make important strategic decisions as they pertain to proper resource allocation to maximize the likelihood of corporate success.
Any Compensation Committee member may be removed or replaced at any time by the Board and shall cease to be a member upon ceasing to be a director of the Company. Each member shall hold office until the close of the next annual general meeting of Shareholders of the Company or until the member resigns or is replaced, whichever first occurs.
The Compensation Committee met three times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. The Compensation Committee is required to meet at least annually. Additional meetings may be held as deemed necessary by the Chair of the Compensation Committee or as requested by any member. A quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the Compensation Committee is a majority of the authorized number of members. Questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present, and in case of an equality of votes the Chair of the Compensation Committee shall have a second casting vote.
The Chair of the Compensation Committee shall:
(a) Call and conduct the meetings of the Compensation Committee.
(b) Be entitled to vote to resolve any ties.
25
(c) Prepare and forward to members of the Compensation Committee the agenda for each meeting of the Compensation Committee, and include, in the agenda, any items proposed for inclusion in the agenda by any member of the Compensation Committee.
(d) Review with the Chief Executive Officer the Company’s policies and strategies in determining the compensation of its executive management.
(e) Engage, on behalf of the Compensation Committee and the Board, independent consultants to advise the Compensation Committee on the compensation strategies and policies of the Company.
(f) Appoint a secretary to take minutes of the meetings of the Compensation Committee.
(g) Ensure that the Compensation Committee meetings are conducted in an efficient, effective and focused manner.
Subject to the powers and duties of the Board, the Board has delegated to the Compensation Committee the following powers and duties to be performed by the Compensation Committee on behalf of and for the Board. The Compensation Committee shall:
(a) Review the organizational structure and report any significant organizational changes, along with the Compensation Committee’s recommendations, to the Board.
(b) Review and approve corporate goals and objectives relevant to Chief Executive Officer compensation, evaluating the Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of those corporate goals and objectives, and determining (or making recommendations to the Board with respect to) the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation level based on this evaluation.
(c) Review the compensation philosophy and guidelines for Executive Management, for recommendation to the Board for its consideration and approval.
(d) Review and recommend the compensation of each member of executive management and report its broad conclusions to the Board for its consideration and approval.
(e) Recommend to the Board for consideration and approval any short-term incentive plan, long term incentive plan, stock option plan, omnibus securities-based compensation or other incentive plan, pension plan or employee benefit plan to be granted to executive management and guidelines with respect thereto.
(f) With respect to the granting of securities-based compensation to Executive Management:
i. in conjunction with management, administer such incentive plans or other benefit plans as determined and established by the Board to be granted to Executive Management;
ii. review management’s recommendations for and, subject to confirmation by the Board, approve the granting of securities-based awards under any incentive plan to executive management and other key employees of the Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries; and
iii. suggest and review any amendments which the Compensation Committee considers necessary to any incentive plan and make recommendations to the Board with respect to those amendments; provided, however, that all amendments to such plans shall be subject to the consideration and approval of the Board.
(g) Recommend the directors’ compensation plan to the Board.
(h) Within any guidelines established by the Board:
(i) in conjunction with management, administer the matching contribution plan, if any; and
(ii) suggest and review any amendments which the Compensation Committee considers for the matching contribution plan, if any, and make recommendations to the Board for the consideration and approval of the Board; provided, however, that all amendments to such plans be subject to the consideration and approval of the Board.
26
(i) Subject to the approval of the Board, review and approve benefits other than those applicable to employees generally to be granted to executive management including levels and types of benefits.
(j) Approve and recommend to the Board any changes in the benefit provisions of any pension plan.
(k) Consider and make recommendations to the Board for its approval all matters concerning incentive awards, perquisites and other remuneration matters with respect to Executive Management.
(l) Oversee the selection of and terms of reference for outside consultants to review the executive management and Board compensation programs as appropriate.
(m) With respect to board of directors of unrelated corporations which operate for-profit and which compensate members of their board and/or significant commitments with respect to non-profit organizations:
(i) review a limit on the number of such board on which individual members of senior management may participate;
(ii) receive notice of proposed membership by a member of senior management and upon consultation with the Chief Executive Officer have a right to object to such membership; and
(iii) confirm in writing, through the Chief Executive Officer, to such member of senior management that the Company shall not indemnify the employee nor be exposed to liability with respect to the employee’s participation on such board.
(n) Review and approve executive and Board compensation disclosure in the annual information circular and other disclosure documents before such information is publicly disclosed.
(o) Have such other powers and duties as delegated to it by the Board.
(p) The Compensation Committee may annually develop a calendar of activities or forward agenda to be undertaken by the Compensation Committee for each ensuing year and to submit the calendar/agenda in the appropriate format to the Board following each annual general meeting of Shareholders.
The Compensation Committee shall report to the Board at its next regular meeting all such action it has taken since the previous report.
The Compensation Committee is authorized to request the presence at any meeting, but without voting rights, of a representative from the external advisors, senior management, legal counsel or anyone else it considers to be able contribute substantively to the subject of the meeting and assist in the discussion and consideration of the business of the Compensation Committee, including directors, officers and employees of the Company. The Compensation Committee has a charter, which is available on the Company’s website at www.inmedpharma.com/investors/corporate-governance/.
Compensation Governance and Risk Assessment
The Board and the Compensation Committee have not formally considered the implications of the risks associated with the Company’s compensation policies and practices. Although the Company does not have formal policies specifically targeting risk-taking in a compensation context, the practice of management and the Board is to consider all factors relating to an executive officer’s performance, including any risk mitigation efforts or excessive risk-taking, in determining compensation. Such risks, however, are mitigated by the Board’s active involvement at the strategic level of the Company’s businesses, including:
• annual approval of the Company’s operational and capital budgets and results;
• frequent discussions between Board members and with management; and
• approval of business opportunities as they arise, including a review of the partnering process and undertaking of due diligence.
The Board’s oversight helps to ensure proper monitoring of the level of risk-taking by management. This allows the Board to be responsive to management’s potential bias towards achieving short-term goals at the expense of long-term sustainability and Shareholders’ value. Furthermore, the Compensation Committee and the Board can use their discretion when assessing both an individual NEO’s and the Company’s overall performance.
27
InMed has developed an Employee Handbook that contains corporate policies and guidelines for professional behaviour. The Company policies and practices apply to all employees, regardless of title. These guidelines include Code of Conduct, Terms of Reference for Board of Directors and all Committees, and policies for corporate disclosure, insider trading, whistle blower.
Under the Company’s Insider Trading Policy, executive officers and directors are not permitted to purchase financial instruments (including prepaid variable contracts, equity swaps, collars or units of exchange funds) that are designed to hedge or offset a decrease in market value of equity securities granted as compensation or held directly or indirectly by the executive officer or director. Specifically, to the issue of hedging/speculation in the Company’s securities, the Insider Trading Policy states:
Speculating in Securities
Directors, officers, and employees of the Company shall not:
(i) short-sell securities of the Company or its affiliates (i.e., sell securities that they do not yet own), except in limited circumstances permitted by corporate and securities laws; and
(ii) buy put options, or sell call options, on securities of the Company or its affiliates.
In fiscal year 2024, the Compensation Committee did not identify any significant risks arising from the Company’s executive compensation programs that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table represents information regarding the total compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to the named executive officers during the fiscal years ended June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2023:
Name and principal position
|
|
Fiscal year
|
|
Salary(1) ($)
|
|
Bonus(1)(2) ($)
|
|
Option-based awards(3) ($)
|
|
All other compensation ($)
|
|
Total compensation ($)
|
Eric A. Adams
|
|
2024
|
|
294,100
|
|
73,500
|
|
47,800
|
|
Nil
|
|
415,400
|
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
|
2023
|
|
278,253
|
|
69,563
|
|
19,755
|
|
Nil
|
|
367,571
|
Netta Jagpal(4)
|
|
2024
|
|
87,600
|
|
19,100
|
|
13,800
|
|
Nil
|
|
120,500
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
2023
|
|
N/A
|
|
N/A
|
|
N/A
|
|
N/A
|
|
N/A
|
Jonathan Tegge(5)
|
|
2024
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
10,500
|
|
Nil
|
|
10,500
|
Former Interim Chief Financial Officer
|
|
2023
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
2,100
|
|
Nil
|
|
2,100
|
Michael Woudenberg
|
|
2024
|
|
272,000
|
|
54,400
|
|
22,800
|
|
Nil
|
|
349,200
|
Chief Operating Officer
|
|
2023
|
|
239,619
|
|
47,924
|
|
9,878
|
|
Nil
|
|
297,421
|
Alexandra Mancini
|
|
2024
|
|
261,000
|
|
36,800
|
|
15,800
|
|
Nil
|
|
313,600
|
Senior Vice President, Clinical & Regulatory Affairs
|
|
2023
|
|
237,778
|
|
41,611
|
|
5,531
|
|
Nil
|
|
284,920
|
Eric Hsu
|
|
2024
|
|
261,000
|
|
45,700
|
|
15,800
|
|
Nil
|
|
322,500
|
Senior Vice President, Preclinical Research & Development
|
|
2023
|
|
217,000
|
|
38,000
|
|
5,500
|
|
Nil
|
|
260,500
|
28
The Company is party to the following formal employment agreements with its NEOs. See “Termination and Change in Control” for further details.
Eric A. Adams
The Company entered into an initial employment agreement with Mr. Adams, effective June 16, 2016, providing for compensation at an initial annual base salary of C$120,000. After several annual compensation reviews and updates thereto, on January 1, 2023, Mr. Adams base salary was increased to C$384,000 and was further increased to C$400,000 effective July 1, 2023. Mr. Adams’ employment agreement provides that he is eligible to be considered for an annual discretionary bonus which will be subject to the approval of the Board and the Compensation Committee, in their sole discretion, on an annual basis in accordance with the annual performance and compensation review process. Additionally, other benefits include eligibility to participate in the insurance benefits plan, if any, and vacation entitlement of 30 days per calendar year.
Michael Woudenberg
The Company entered into an initial employment agreement with Mr. Woudenberg, effective September 20, 2018, providing for compensation at an initial annual base salary of C$270,000. After several annual compensation reviews and updates thereto, on January 1, 2023, Mr. Woudenberg’s base salary was increased to C$350,000 and was further increased to C$370,000 effective July 1, 2023. Mr. Woudenberg’s employment agreement provides that he is eligible to be considered for an annual discretionary bonus which will be subject to the approval of the Board and the Compensation Committee, in their sole discretion, on an annual basis in accordance with the annual performance and compensation review process. Additionally, other benefits include eligibility to participate in the insurance benefits plan, if any, and vacation entitlement of 30 days per calendar year.
Netta Jagpal
Effective February 20, 2024, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Jagpal providing for an initial base salary of C$326,000. Ms. Jagpal’s employment agreement provides that she is eligible to be considered for an annual discretionary bonus which will be subject to approval of the Board and the Compensation Committee, in their sole discretion, on an annual basis in accordance with the annual performance and compensation review process. Additionally, other benefits include eligibility to participate in the insurance benefits plan, if any, and vacation entitlement of 25 days per calendar year.
Alexandra Mancini
The Company entered into an initial employment agreement with Ms. Mancini effective October 28, 2016, providing for compensation at an initial annual base salary of C$140,000. After several annual compensation reviews and updates thereto, on January 1, 2023, Ms. Mancini’s base salary was increased to C$345,000 and was further increased to C$355,000 effective July 1, 2023. Ms. Mancini’s employment agreement provides that she is eligible to be considered for an annual discretionary bonus which will be subject to approval of the Board and the Compensation Committee, in their sole discretion, on an annual basis in accordance with the annual performance and compensation review process. Ms. Mancini retired from her position effective June 30, 2024 and subsequently entered into a consulting agreement with the Company.
Eric Hsu
The Company entered into an initial employment agreement with Mr. Hsu effective March 8, 2018, providing for compensation at an initial annual full-time base salary of C$240,000. After several annual compensation reviews and updates thereto, on January 1, 2023, Mr. Hsu’s base salary was increased to C$335,000 and was further increased to C$355,000 effective July 1, 2023. Mr. Hsu’s employment agreement provides that he is eligible to be considered for
29
an annual discretionary bonus which will be subject to the approval of the Board and the Compensation Committee, in their sole discretion, on an annual basis in accordance with the annual performance and compensation review process. Additionally, other benefits include eligibility to participate in the insurance benefits plan, if any, and vacation entitlement of 30 days per calendar year.
Incentive Plan Awards
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table presents information regarding outstanding equity awards held by the NEOs as of June 30, 2024:
Option Awards
Name
|
|
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable (#)
|
|
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Unexercisable (#)
|
|
Exercise Price ($)
|
|
Expiration Date
|
Eric A. Adams
|
|
5,000
|
(2)
|
|
—
|
|
|
70.32
|
(1)
|
|
12/15/2025
|
|
|
5,000
|
(2)
|
|
—
|
|
|
35.00
|
|
|
10/17/2026
|
|
|
11,250
|
(2)
|
|
3,750
|
(2)
|
|
1.78
|
|
|
12/15/2027
|
|
|
22,668
|
(2)
|
|
113,332
|
(2)
|
|
0.37
|
|
|
12/22/2028
|
Michael Woudenberg
|
|
1,200
|
(2)
|
|
—
|
|
|
70.32
|
(1)
|
|
12/15/2025
|
|
|
1,200
|
(2)
|
|
—
|
|
|
35.00
|
|
|
10/17/2026
|
|
|
200
|
(2)
|
|
—
|
|
|
25.25
|
|
|
2/22/2027
|
|
|
5,625
|
(2)
|
|
1,875
|
(2)
|
|
1.78
|
|
|
12/15/2027
|
|
|
10,836
|
(2)
|
|
54,164
|
(2)
|
|
0.37
|
|
|
12/22/2028
|
Eric Hsu
|
|
1,400
|
(2)
|
|
—
|
|
|
70.32
|
(1)
|
|
12/15/2025
|
|
|
1,400
|
(2)
|
|
—
|
|
|
35.00
|
|
|
10/17/2026
|
|
|
3,150
|
(2)
|
|
1,050
|
(2)
|
|
1.78
|
|
|
12/15/2027
|
|
|
7,500
|
(2)
|
|
37,500
|
(2)
|
|
0.37
|
|
|
12/22/2028
|
Alexandra Mancini
|
|
1,400
|
(25)
|
|
—
|
|
|
70.32
|
(1)
|
|
12/15/2025
|
|
|
1,400
|
(26)
|
|
—
|
|
|
35.00
|
|
|
10/17/2026
|
|
|
3,150
|
(2)
|
|
1,050
|
(2)
|
|
1.78
|
|
|
12/15/2027
|
|
|
7,500
|
(2)
|
|
37,500
|
(2)
|
|
0.37
|
|
|
12/22/2028
|
Netta Jagpal
|
|
5,556
|
(3)
|
|
44,444
|
(3)
|
|
0.37
|
|
|
2/19/2029
|
Jonathan Tegge
|
|
1,400
|
(4)
|
|
—
|
|
|
1.78
|
|
|
12/15/2027
|
|
|
5,004
|
(3)
|
|
24,996
|
(3)
|
|
0.37
|
|
|
12/22/2028
|
Stock Option Plan
Pursuant to the Company’s 2017 Amended Stock Option Plan, as amended, approved by Shareholders at the Company’s special meeting on March 24, 2017 and amended on November 20, 2020 (the “Option Plan”), the Board may, from time to time, in its discretion and in accordance with applicable securities exchange requirements, grant to directors,
30
officers, employees and consultants of the Company (each, an “Optionee”), non-transferable options to acquire Common Share (the “Options”), provided that the number of Common Shares reserved for issuance will not exceed 20% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares at the date the Options are granted (on a non-diluted basis), exercisable for a period of up to ten years from the date of grant.
The exercise price and the term of Options are determined by the Board and are subject to approval by the securities exchange on which the Company’s securities are listed. However, the exercise price cannot be lower than the greater of the closing market prices of the Common Shares on the trading day prior to the date of grant of the Options and the date of grant of the Options.
In the event an Optionee dies prior to the expiry of their option, their legal representatives may, by the earlier of:
a) one year from the date of the Optionee’s death (or such lesser period as may be specified by the Board at the time of granting the Option); and
b) the expiry date of the Option; exercise any portion of such Option.
If an Optionee ceases to be a director, officer, employee or consultant for any reason other than death, their Option shall terminate as specified by the Board at the time of granting the Option, and all rights to purchase Common Shares under such Option shall cease and expire and be of no further force or effect.
Subject to securities exchange policies, if any Option granted under the Option Plan shall expire or terminate for any reason without having been exercised in full, such unexercised Options shall become available for future Option grants under the Option Plan.
The Board may amend the Option Plan, subject to, as the case may require, the approvals of the securities exchange, or the Optionees who have been granted Options.
The full text of the Option Plan is available at www.sec.gov and will be supplied free of charge to Shareholders upon written request made directly to the Company at its registered head office located at Suite 1445-885 West Georgia St., Vancouver British Columbia, Canada V6C 3E8, Attention: President and Chief Executive Officer.
Pension Plan Benefits
During the Company’s most recently completed financial/fiscal year, the Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries did not have a defined benefit plan, deferred contribution plan, deferred compensation plan or pension plan.
Termination and Change in Control Benefits
The Company does not have any pension or retirement plan which is applicable to the NEO’s. The Company has not provided compensation, monetary or otherwise, during the most recently completed fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, to any person who now or previously has acted as an NEO of the Company, in connection with or related to the retirement, termination or resignation of such person, and the Company has provided no compensation to any such person as a result of a change of control of the Company. In the case of resignation, retirement or termination of employment with cause, every NEO contract provides there will be no severance payment made. However, the NEO would be entitled to any vacation due.
The Company has employment agreements with its NEOs which include termination and change of control provisions as described below. The change of control provisions recognize the critical nature of these positions and the individuals involved and the requirement to protect the individuals from disruption to their engagement in the event of a change of control of the Company. The change of control provisions are designed to treat the individuals in a manner consistent with industry standards for executives in similar positions.
For the purposes of the employment agreements with the NEOs, “Change in Control” is defined as (i) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to an unrelated person or entity; (ii) a merger, reorganization, or consolidation involving the Company in which the shares of the voting stock outstanding immediately prior to the transaction represent or are converted into or exchanged for securities of the surviving or resulting entity that immediately upon completion of the transaction, represents 51% or less of the outstanding voting power of the surviving or resulting entity; (iii) the acquisition of all or a majority of the outstanding voting stock of the Company in
31
a single transaction or a series of related transactions by a person or group of persons; or (iv) any other acquisition of the business of the Company, as determined by the Board (but any public offering by the Company or another capital raising event, or a merger effected solely to change the Company’s domicile does not constitute a Change in Control).
For the purposes of the employment agreements with the NEOs and in the context of a Change in Control, “Good Reason” is defined as the occurrence of any of the following events without the NEO’s prior written consent: (i) a change in the NEO’s position which materially reduces the NEO’s responsibilities from the responsibilities in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control; (ii) a reduction by the Company of the NEO’s base salary or target bonus percentage, except for an across-the-board salary reduction affecting all senior executives of the Company; or (iii) a relocation of the NEO’s principal place of employment by more than 30 kilometres.
The employment agreements with the NEOs provide that if, following a Change in Control, the Company terminates the NEO’s employment with the Company without cause or the NEO resigns from his/her employment with the Company for Good Reason, then the NEO will be entitled to a Change in Control Severance Amount.
The actual amounts that the NEO would receive upon termination of employment can only be determined at the time of termination and is based on the number of months of base salary at that time. The following table provides a description of the severance requirements and the estimated corresponding value that the NEO that were employed by the Company at the end of the financial year would have received if the termination had occurred on June 30, 2024:
|
|
Termination without cause
|
|
Change in Control
|
|
|
Description(1)
|
|
Value ($)(2)
|
|
Description(1)
|
|
Value ($)(2)
|
Eric A. Adams President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
|
24 month’s salary plus Average Bonus Payment
|
|
635,000
|
|
|
24 month’s salary plus Average Bonus Payment
|
|
635,000
|
|
Michael Woudenberg Chief Operating Officer
|
|
12 months’ Base Salary plus one month per year of employment beyond 5 years, up to a maximum of 18 months total, plus Average Bonus Payment
|
|
330,200
|
|
|
18 month’s salary plus Average Bonus Payment
|
|
443,600
|
|
Eric Hsu Senior Vice President, Preclinical Research & Development
|
|
12 month’s Base Salary plus one month per year of employment beyond, up to a maximum of 18 months total, plus Average Bonus Payment
|
|
310,400
|
|
|
12 month’s salary plus Average Bonus Payment
|
|
288,700
|
|
Netta Jagpal Chief Financial Officer
|
|
If terminated during initial 12 months from effective date of employment, 6 months base salary; if terminated after 12 months of service, then 12 months of salary plus one month per year, up to 18 months total; plus Average Bonus Payment
|
|
138,000
|
(3)
|
|
12 months plus one month per year, up to 18 months total; plus Average Bonus Payment
|
|
257,000
|
(3)
|
Director Compensation
The Company currently pays cash compensation to non-management directors as outlined in the earlier section “Director Compensation — Annual Cash Retainers”. In addition, the directors are reimbursed for expenses incurred in carrying out their duties as directors and are granted stock options.
The Company has a formalized Option Plan for the granting of incentive stock options to the officers, employees and directors. The purpose of granting such options is to assist the Company in compensating, attracting, retaining and incentivizing the directors of the Company and to closely align the personal interests of such persons to that of the Shareholders. The granting of incentive options allows the Company to reward directors’ efforts to increase value for Shareholders without requiring the Company to use cash from its treasury.
32
The following table summarizes the compensation of the directors for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. We do not provide separate compensation to our directors who are also our employees, such as Mr. Adams, our President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Adams’ compensation as our principal executive officer in fiscal year ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 is set forth under “Executive Compensation — Summary Compensation Table.”
Name
|
|
Fees Earned ($)
|
|
Option-based Awards(1) ($)
|
|
Total Compensation ($)
|
Andrew Hull
|
|
75,000
|
|
2,495
|
|
77,495
|
Janet Grove
|
|
50,000
|
|
2,495
|
|
52,495
|
Bryan Baldasare
|
|
50,000
|
|
2,495
|
|
52,495
|
Nicole Lemerond
|
|
50,000
|
|
|