Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments
None
We lease approximately 8,400 square feet of office and laboratory space located at 1900 Lake Park Drive, Suite 380, Smyrna, Georgia under a 62 month lease agreement which began November 1, 2009. We believe this space is adequate for our current needs.
We are not currently a party to any material legal proceedings. We may from time to time become involved in various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business.
PART II
Item 5.
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
Market Information
Our common stock is currently traded on the over-the-counter bulletin board market under the symbol “GOVX”. The following table sets forth the high and low bid prices for our common stock for the periods indicated. The prices represent quotations between dealers and do not include retail mark-up, markdown, or commission, and do not necessarily represent actual transactions:
Holders
On February 28, 2011, there were approximately 1,000 holders of record of our common stock. The number of record holders does not reflect the number of beneficial owners of our common stock for whom shares are held by brokerage firms and other institutions.
Dividends
We have not paid any dividends since our inception and do not contemplate paying dividends in the foreseeable future.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
There were no sales of unregistered securities during the period covered by this report that have not previously been reported on Form 10-Q or Form 8-K.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
We did not repurchase any of our equity securities during the fourth quarter of 2010.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
See “Item 12 - Securities Authorized Per Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans.”
Performance Graph
The following line graph presentation compares cumulative total Stockholder returns of GeoVax’s Common Stock with the Russell 2000 Index and the RDG SmallCap Biotechnology Index (the “Peer Index”) for the five-year period from December 31, 2005 to December 31, 2010. The graph and table assume that $100 was invested in each of GeoVax’s common stock, the Russell 2000 Index and the Peer Index on December 31, 2005, and that all dividends were reinvested. This data was furnished by the Research Data Group. This information includes information relating to the price of the Company’s shares prior to the merger of Dauphin Technology, Inc. and GeoVax, Inc. in September 2006.
The following selected financial data are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. The historical results presented below are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period. The information set forth below should be read in conjunction with the information contained in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes, beginning on page of this Report.
Item 7.
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with the discussion under “Selected Financial Data” and our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties because they are based on current expectations and relate to future events and our future financial performance. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many important factors, including those set forth under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report.
Overview
GeoVax, a biotechnology company, focuses on developing vaccines to protect against or to treat diseases caused by HIV. We have exclusively licensed vaccine technology from Emory University that was developed at Emory University in collaboration with the NIH and the CDC.
Our major ongoing research and development programs are focused on the clinical development of our DNA and MVA vaccines designed for use together in a prime-boost system for the prevention and/or treatment of HIV/AIDS. We are developing two clinical pathways for our vaccine candidates - (i) as a preventative vaccine to prevent or control infection of individuals who are exposed to the HIV virus, and (ii) as a therapeutic vaccine to prevent development of AIDS in those individuals who have already been infected with the HIV virus.
Our HIV vaccine candidates have successfully completed pre-clinical efficacy testing in non-human primates and our preventative HIV vaccine candidate has completed Phase 1 clinical testing trials in humans.
Our preventative vaccine candidate is currently in a Phase 2a clinical trial, being conducted by the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, or the “HVTN”, with funding from the NIH. We expect to complete patient enrollment and inoculations for this trial during 2011. Early results from this Phase 2a trial are still blinded, but consistent with continued safety and reproducible immunogenicity.
With regard to our therapeutic vaccine candidate, we recently initiated a Phase 1/2 human clinical trial and are currently recruiting patients. We expect this trial to begin generating vaccine safety and performance data in late 2011 and early 2012. If the data are encouraging, we expect that this study would then be amended and expanded into a larger Phase 2 clinical trial
In addition to our clinical development program, we are conducting pre-clinical research on the impact of adding adjuvants (immune system stimulants) to the DNA priming component of our vaccine. This work is being funded by the NIH through an Integrated Pre-clinical / Clinical AIDS Vaccine Development Grant, or the IPCAVD, grant to GeoVax. The HVTN is currently planning accelerated testing of a GM-CSF adjuvanted form of our vaccine that has demonstrated 71% prevention of infection in non-human primates.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
This discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates and adjusts the estimates as necessary. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Our significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010. We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements:
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the assets to the future net cash flows expected to be generated by such assets. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the discounted expected future net cash flows from the assets.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue in accordance with the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101, Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements, as amended by Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, Revenue Recognition, or SAB 104 provides guidance in applying U.S. generally accepted accounting principles to revenue recognition issues, and specifically addresses revenue recognition for upfront, non-refundable fees received in connection with research collaboration agreements. Our revenue consists solely of grant funding received from the NIH. Revenue from this arrangement is approximately equal to the costs incurred and is recorded as income as the related costs are incurred.
Stock-Based Compensation
We account for stock-based transactions in which the Company receives services from employees, directors or others in exchange for equity instruments based on the fair value of the award at the grant date. Compensation cost for awards of common stock is estimated based on the price of the underlying common stock on the date of issuance. Compensation cost for stock options or warrants is estimated at the grant date based on each instrument’s fair-value as calculated by the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company recognizes stock-based compensation cost as expense ratably on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the award.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
At December 31, 2010, we had cash and cash equivalents of $1,079,087 and total assets of $2,357,834, as compared to $3,515,784 and $4,315,597, respectively, at December 31, 2009. Working capital totaled $1,080,584 at December 31, 2010, compared to $3,309,355 at December 31, 2009.
Sources and Uses of Cash
We are a development-stage company as defined by Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, Topic 915, “Development Stage Entities” and do not have any products approved for sale. Due to our significant research and development expenditures, we have not been profitable and have generated operating losses since our inception in 2001. Our primary sources of cash are from sales of our equity securities and from government grant funding.
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $2,007,169, $1,425,150, and $2,367,886 for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Generally, the differences between periods are due to fluctuations in our net losses which, in turn, result from fluctuations in expenditures from our research activities, offset by net changes in our assets and liabilities.
The costs of conducting all of our human clinical trials to date, except for the therapeutic trial, have been borne by the HVTN, funded by the NIH, with GeoVax incurring costs associated with manufacturing the clinical vaccine supplies and other study support. The HVTN and the NIH are bearing the cost of conducting our ongoing Phase 2a human clinical trial, but we cannot predict the level of support we will receive from the HVTN or the NIH for any additional clinical trials.
We are currently not receiving any governmental support for our Phase 1/2 therapeutic vaccine trial, but in July 2010 we applied for certification of our qualified expenditures during 2009 and 2010 (including expenditures for the Phase 1 trial) under the Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project (QTDP) program enacted as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. The QTDP program was highly oversubscribed, and in November 2010, we received a cash grant of $244,500 related to our HIV/AIDS vaccine development activities, which is the maximum level allowable per project under the program.
Our operations are also partially funded by the IPCAVD grant awarded to us in September 2007 by the NIH to support our HIV/AIDS vaccine program. The project period for the grant, which is renewable annually, covers a five-year period which commenced in October 2007, with an expected annual award of generally between $3 and $4 million per year (approximately $19.4 million in the aggregate). The most recent annual award under the grant is for the period from September 1, 2010 through August 31, 2011 in the amount of $4.9 million. We are utilizing this funding to further our HIV/AIDS vaccine development, optimization and production for human clinical trial testing, primarily with regard to our research into vaccine adjuvants. The funding we receive pursuant to this grant is recorded as revenue at the time the related expenditures are incurred, and thus partially offsets our net losses. As of December 31, 2010, there is approximately $4.3 million remaining from the current grant year’s awards. Assuming that the remaining budgeted amounts under the grant are awarded to us, there is an additional $3.8 million available through the grant for the remainder of the original five year project period ending August 31, 2012. If the annual grant does not occur, we will experience a shortfall in anticipated cash flow and will be required to promptly seek other funds to address the shortfall.
We intend to pursue additional grants from the federal government. However, as we progress to the later stages of our vaccine development activities, government financial support may be more difficult to obtain, or may not be available at all. Therefore, it will be necessary for us to look to other sources of funding in order to finance our development activities.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Our investing activities have consisted predominantly of capital expenditures. Capital expenditures for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, were $4,706, $270,246, and $99,831, respectively.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net cash used by financing activities was $430,402 for the year ended December 31, 2010, as compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $3,020,000 and $2,668,541 for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The cash used by financing activities during 2010 relates to costs associated with our previous efforts to raise funds, as well as our proposed 2010 public offering. During 2009, we received $1,500,000 from the exercise of a stock purchase warrant. During 2009 and 2008, we received $1,520,000 and $406,091, respectively, net of associated costs, from the sale of our common stock pursuant to a stock purchase agreement that provided us the right to sell shares to an investor through July 31, 2010. The remaining cash generated by our financing activities during 2008 relates to the sale of our common stock and warrants to individual accredited investors.
Our capital requirements, particularly as they relate to product research and development, have been and will continue to be significant. We anticipate incurring additional losses for several years as we expand our drug development and clinical programs and proceed into higher cost human clinical trials. Conducting clinical trials for our vaccine candidates in development is a lengthy, time-consuming and expensive process. We will not generate revenues from the sale of our technology or products for at least several years, if at all. For the foreseeable future, we will be dependent on obtaining financing from third parties in order to maintain our operations, including our clinical program. Due to the existing uncertainty in the capital and credit markets, and adverse regional and national economic conditions that may persist or worsen, capital may not be available on terms acceptable to the Company or at all. If we fail to obtain additional funding when needed, we would be forced to scale back or terminate our operations, or to seek to merge with or to be acquired by another company.
In any event, we anticipate raising additional capital during 2011, although there can be no assurance that we will be able to do so. While we believe that we will be successful in obtaining the necessary financing to fund our operations through grants, our proposed 2011 public offering, exercise of options and warrants, and/or other sources, there can be no assurances that such additional funding will be available to us on reasonable terms or at all.
We believe that our current working capital combined with the proceeds from the IPCAVD grant awarded from the NIH, and without consideration given to net proceeds from our proposed public offering will be sufficient to support our planned level of operations into the first quarter of 2012. Assuming $5,000,000 of units is sold in our proposed public offering, we expect to have sufficient funding to support our planned operations through mid-2013. Assuming the maximum amount of units is sold in our proposed public offering, we expect to have sufficient funding to support our planned and expanded operations through at least mid-2014. Should the financing we require to sustain our working capital needs be unavailable or prohibitively expensive when we require it, the consequences could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, financial condition and prospects.
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that are likely or reasonably likely to have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Contractual Obligations
Contractual obligations represent future cash commitments and liabilities under agreements with third parties, and exclude contingent liabilities for which we cannot reasonably predict future payment. Additionally, the expected timing of payment of the obligations presented below is estimated based on current information. Timing of payments and actual amounts paid may be different depending on the timing of receipt of goods or services or changes to agreed-upon terms or amounts for some obligations.
The following table represents our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2010, aggregated by type (in thousands):
(1)
Our operating lease obligations relate to the facility lease for our 8,430 square foot facility in Smyrna, Georgia, which houses our laboratory operations and our administrative offices. The lease, which was effective November 1, 2009, expires on December 31, 2014.
(2)
Firm purchase commitments relate to contracts for production and testing of our vaccine products, conduct of clinical trials, and other research-related activities.
(3)
Pursuant to the Emory License, we have committed to make potential future milestone and royalty payments which are contingent upon the occurrence of future events. Such events include development milestones, regulatory approvals and product sales. Because the achievement of these milestones is currently neither probable nor reasonably estimable, the contingent payments have not been included in the table above or recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The aggregate total of all potential milestone payments included in the Emory License (excluding royalties on net sales) is approximately $3.5 million.
As of December 31, 2010, except as disclosed in the table above, we had no other material firm purchase obligations or commitments for capital expenditures and no committed lines of credit or other committed funding or long-term debt. We have employment agreements with our executive officers and a consulting agreement with a member of our Board of Directors, each of which may be terminated with no more than 90 days advance written notice. The table also excludes budgeted expenses under our two Research Agreements with Emory University which are fully reimbursable to us pursuant to the IPCAVD grant from the NIH and cover a period of less than one year.
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards
At December 31, 2010, we had consolidated net operating loss carryforwards for income tax purposes of $72.1 million, which will expire in 2011 through 2030 if not utilized. Approximately $59.7 million of our net operating loss carryforwards relate to the operations of our predecessor, Dauphin Technology, Inc. prior to the 2006 merger between Dauphin Technology, Inc. and GeoVax, Inc. We also have research and development tax credits of approximately $735,000 available to reduce income taxes, if any, which will expire in 2022 through 2030 if not utilized. The amount of net operating loss carryforwards and research tax credits available to reduce income taxes in any particular year may be limited in certain circumstances. Based on an assessment of all available evidence including, but not limited to, our limited operating history in our core business and lack of profitability, uncertainties of the commercial viability of our technology, the impact of government regulation and healthcare reform initiatives, and other risks normally associated with biotechnology companies, we have concluded that it is more likely than not that these net operating loss carryforwards and credits will not be realized and, as a result, a 100% deferred tax valuation allowance has been recorded against these assets.
Results of Operations - Years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008
Net Loss
We recorded net losses of $2,747,328, $3,284,252, and $3,728,187 for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Our operating results typically fluctuate due to the timing of activities and related costs associated with our vaccine research and development activities and our general and administrative costs, as described in more detail below.
Grant Revenue
We recorded grant revenues of $5,185,257, $3,668,195, and $2,910,170 for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. During 2007, we were awarded the IPCAVD grant by the NIH to support our HIV/AIDS vaccine program. The grant is subject to annual renewal, with the latest grant award covering the period from September 2010 through August 2011 in the amount of $4.9 million. As of December 31, 2010, there was approximately $4.3 million remaining from the current grant year’s award and (assuming that the remaining budgeted amounts under the grant are awarded to the Company) there is an additional $3.8 million available through the grant for the remainder of the original five-year project period ending August 31, 2012.
Research and Development
Our research and development expenses were $4,793,956, $4,068,682, and $3,741,489 for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Research and development expenses can vary considerably on a period-to-period basis, depending on our need for vaccine manufacturing by third parties, and due to fluctuations in the timing of expenditures related to our IPCAVD grant from the NIH. Research and development expense for these periods includes stock-based compensation expense of $206,501, $304,654, and $494,041 for 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively (see discussion under “Stock-Based Compensation Expense” below). Our research and development costs do not include costs incurred by HVTN in conducting trials of GeoVax vaccines.
The increase in research and development expense during each of the periods is due primarily to increased costs associated with activities funded by our IPCAVD grant, vaccine manufacturing costs, and costs associated with initiating a Phase 1/2 clinical trial for our therapeutic vaccine candidate. Our Phase 2a clinical trial for our preventative vaccine is being conducted and funded by the HVTN, but we are responsible for the manufacture of vaccine product to be used in the trial, and we are not currently receiving any government support for the Phase 1 clinical trial of our therapeutic vaccine. We cannot predict the level of support we may receive from HVTN or other federal agencies (or divisions thereof) for our future clinical trials. We expect that our research and development costs, including costs of conducting clinical trials for our therapeutic vaccine not currently being supported by HVTN, will continue to increase during 2011 and beyond as we progress through the human clinical trial process leading up to possible product approval by the FDA.
The table below summarizes our research and development expenses for each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 2010. The amounts shown related to the IPCAVD grant represent all direct costs associated with the grant activities, including salaries and personnel-related expenses, supplies, consulting, contract services and travel. The remainder of our research and development expense is allocated to our general HIV/AIDS vaccine program.
Our vaccine candidates still require significant, time-consuming and costly research and development, testing and regulatory clearances. Completion of clinical development will take several years or more, but the length of time generally varies substantially according to the type, complexity, novelty and intended use of a product candidate. The cost of the ongoing Phase 2a clinical trial for our preventative vaccine is being funded by the HVTN, but we cannot be certain whether the HVTN or any other external source will provide funding for further development. We intend to seek government and/or third party support for future clinical human trials, but there can be no assurance that we will be successful. The duration and the cost of future clinical trials may vary significantly over the life of the project as a result of differences arising during development of the human clinical trial protocols, including, among others:
•
the number of patients that ultimately participate in the clinical trial;
•
the duration of patient follow-up that seems appropriate in view of the results;
•
the number of clinical sites included in the clinical trials; and
•
the length of time required to enroll suitable patient subjects.
Due to the uncertainty regarding the timing and regulatory approval of clinical trials and pre-clinical studies, our future expenditures are likely to be highly volatile in future periods depending on the outcomes of the trials and studies. From time to time, we will make determinations as to how much funding to direct to these programs in response to their scientific, clinical and regulatory success, anticipated market opportunity and the availability of capital to fund our programs.
In developing our product candidates, we are subject to a number of risks that are inherent in the development of products based on innovative technologies. For example, it is possible that our vaccines may be ineffective or toxic, or will otherwise fail to receive the necessary regulatory clearances, causing us to delay, extend or terminate our product development efforts. Any failure by us to obtain, or any delay in obtaining, regulatory approvals could cause our research and development expenditures to increase which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows. Because of the uncertainties of clinical trials, estimating the completion dates or cost to complete our research and development programs is highly speculative and subjective. As a result of these factors, we are unable to accurately estimate the nature, timing and future costs necessary to complete the development of our product candidates. In addition, we are unable to reasonably estimate the period when material net cash inflows could commence from the sale, licensing or commercialization of such product candidates, if ever.
General and Administrative Expense
Our general and administrative expenses were $3,162,134, $2,914,845, and $2,970,068 for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. General and administrative costs include officers’ salaries, legal and accounting costs, patent costs, amortization expense associated with intangible assets, and other general corporate expenses. General and administrative expense includes stock-based compensation expense of $544,031, $994,011, and $1,525,008 for 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively (see discussion under “Stock-Based Compensation Expense” below). We expect that our general and administrative costs may increase in the future in support of expanded research and development activities and other general corporate activities.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
We recorded total stock-based compensation expense of $750,532, $1,298,665, and $2,019,049 during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, which was allocated to research and development expense or general and administrative expense according to the classification of cash compensation paid to the employee, consultant or director to whom the stock compensation was granted. In addition to amounts related to the issuance of stock options to employees, the figures include amounts related to common stock and stock purchase warrants issued to consultants and non-employee directors. For the three years ended December 31, 2010, stock-based compensation expense was allocated as follows:
Other Income
Interest income was $23,505, $31,080, and $73,200 for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The variances between years are primarily attributable to the cash available for investment and to interest rate fluctuations.
Impact of Inflation
For the three year period ended December 31, 2010, we do not believe that inflation and changing prices had a material impact on our operations or on our financial results.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have not entered into off-balance sheet financing arrangements, other than operating leases.
Item 7A.
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Our exposure to market risk is limited primarily to interest income sensitivity, which is affected by changes in the general level of United States interest rates, particularly because a significant portion of our investments are in short-term bank certificates of deposits and institutional money market funds. The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve principal while at the same time maximizing the income received without significantly increasing risk. Due to the nature of our short-term investments, we believe that we are not subject to any material market risk exposure. We do not have any derivative financial instruments or foreign currency instruments.
Item 8.
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Our consolidated financial statements and supplemental schedule and notes thereto as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and for each of the three years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, and from inception through December 31, 2010, together with the independent registered public accounting firms’ reports thereon, are set forth on pages to of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 9.
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting or Financial Disclosure
There were no disagreements with our accountants on matters of accounting or financial disclosure, or other reportable events requiring disclosure under this Item 9.
Item 9A.
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that financial information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the required time periods, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding disclosure.
An evaluation was performed by our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2010. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2010 to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Management has assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010 based on criteria established in Internal Control Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. As a result of this assessment, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2010, our internal control over financial reporting was effective in providing reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Limitations on Controls
Management does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all error and fraud. Any control system, no matter how well designed and operated, is based upon certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that its objectives will be met. Further, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected.
None.
PART III
Item 10.
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Directors and Executive Officers
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to our directors and executive officers.
(1)
Member of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.
(2)
Member of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors.
(3)
Member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
David A. Dodd. Mr. Dodd joined the Board of Directors in March 2010 and became Chairman of our Board of Directors on January 1, 2011. He is the Chief Executive Officer of RiversEdge BioVentures, an investment and advisory firm focused on the life sciences and pharmaceuticals industries, which he founded in 2009. He has more than 35 years of executive experience in the healthcare industry. From December 2007 to June 2009, Mr. Dodd was President, Chief Executive officer and Chairman of BioReliance Corporation, an organization that provided biological safety testing, viral clearance testing, genetic and mammalian technology testing and laboratory animal diagnostic services testing. From October 2006 to April 2009, he served as non-executive chairman of Stem Cell Sciences Plc. Before that, Mr. Dodd served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Serologicals Corporation (Nasdaq: SERO) before it was sold to Millipore Corporation in July 2006 for $1.5 billion. For five years prior to this, Mr. Dodd served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Chairman of its subsidiary Unimed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The Board of Directors concluded Mr. Dodd should serve on the Board of Directors due to his experience in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as his background in general management, business transformation, corporate partnering, and mergers and acquisitions.
Robert T. McNally, Ph.D. Dr. McNally joined the Board of Directors in December 2006 and was appointed as our President and Chief Executive Officer effective April 1, 2008. From 2000 to March 2008, Dr. McNally served as Chief Executive Officer of Cell Dynamics LLC, a cGMP laboratory services company. Previously, Dr. McNally was Senior Vice President of Clinical Research for CryoLife, Inc., a pioneering company in transplantable human tissues. Dr. McNally is a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, serves on the advisory boards of the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Dupree College of Management at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and is a former Chairman of Georgia Bio, a trade association. Dr. McNally graduated with a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. The Board of Directors has concluded that Dr. McNally should serve on its Board of Directors by virtue of his prior business and scientific experience, including his experience as Chief Executive Officer of Cell Dynamics, LLC and as Senior Vice President of Clinical Research for CryoLife, Inc., and due to his intimate involvement with the Company’s ongoing operations as its President and Chief Executive Officer.
Mark J. Newman, Ph.D. Dr. Newman joined the Company as Vice President, Research and Development in January 2010. Prior to joining GeoVax, Dr. Newman served in similar positions at PaxVax, Inc. (from March 2009 to December 2009), Pharmexa A/S (from January 2006 to December 2008), and Epimmune, Inc. (from February 1999 to December 2005). He has also served in senior scientific management roles at Vaxcel, Inc., Apollon, Inc. and Cambridge Biotech Corp. Dr. Newman’s experience includes directing research, pre-clinical development and early stage clinical testing of protein, peptide, plasmid DNA and viral vectored vaccines and multiple vaccine adjuvants. He has co-authored more than 100 scientific papers, reviews and book chapters during his professional career, and is a named co-inventor on six issued U.S. patents and one European patent, all related to vaccine technologies. He has also been awarded multiple federal government and foundation grants and contracts to support research and early stage clinical development in the field of vaccines. Dr. Newman is a graduate of the Ohio State University (B.Sc. and M.Sc.) and received his Ph.D. in Immunology from the John Curtin School of Medical Research, the Australian National University. He completed four years of post-doctoral training at Cornell University, the National Cancer Institute, and the NIH and served as a full time member of the Louisiana State University faculty prior to joining the biotech industry.
Mark W. Reynolds, CPA Mr. Reynolds joined the Company on a part-time basis in October 2006 as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary, becoming a full-time employee in January 2010. From 2003 to 2006, before being named Chief Financial Officer of GeoVax Labs, Inc., Mr. Reynolds provided financial and accounting services to GeoVax, Inc. as an independent contractor. From 2004 to 2008, Mr. Reynolds served as Chief Financial Officer for Health Watch Systems, Inc. a privately-held company in the consumer healthcare industry. From 2004 to 2006, he served as Chief Financial Officer for Duska Therapeutics, Inc., a publicly-held biotechnology company. From 1988 to 2002, Mr. Reynolds was first Controller and later Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of CytRx Corporation, a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company. Mr. Reynolds began his career as an auditor with Arthur Andersen & Co. from 1985 to 1988. He is a certified public accountant and earned a masters of accountancy degree from the University of Georgia.
Harriet L. Robinson, Ph.D. Dr. Robinson joined the Company as Senior Vice President, Research and Development on a part-time basis in November 2007 and on a full-time basis in February 2008, and was elected to the Board of Directors in June 2008. She is a co-founder of GeoVax, Inc. and has served as chief of its scientific advisory board since formation of the company in 2001. From 1999 to February 2008, Dr. Robinson served as the Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and from 1998 to February 2008 as Chief, Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Yerkes National Primate Center and Professor at the Emory University School of Medicine. She was Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center from 1988 to 1997 and Staff, then Senior, then Principal Scientist at the University of Massachusetts Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology from 1977 to 1987. She was also a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at the Virus Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, from 1965 to 1967. Dr. Robinson received a bachelor of arts degree from Swarthmore College and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Board of Directors has concluded that Dr. Robinson should serve on its Board of Directors by virtue of her extensive knowledge of the Company’s technology as its scientific founder.
Steven S. Antebi. Mr. Antebi joined the Board of Directors in March 2010. During the last five years, he has served as President of Maple Capital Management, a fund focusing on debt and equity investments in North America (May 2007 to present), President and Chief Executive Officer of Galileo Partners LLC (2006 to present), and President of Blue and Gold Enterprises Inc. (2002-2009), funds that invest in registered direct investments, PIPE transactions, private placements, and open market equity transactions. Prior to that, he served for twenty years in various senior positions at Bear Stearns and Company, including institutional sales, trading the firm’s capital in the over the counter market, syndicate distribution, and outside investment banking. He has served as a member of the Board of Governors of Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, one of the largest hospital/research centers in the world, for over ten years. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Epinex Diagnostic Inc., a late stage development company, creating a rapid diagnostic system for testing glycated albumen in diabetics. Mr. Antebi is also the Chairman of the Board of the Royalty Review Council, a company doing royalty accounting for web casting and digital media, covering all five major record labels. The Board of Directors concluded that Mr. Antebi should serve on the Board of Directors because of his substantial experience in finance and his experience in healthcare and technology.
Donald G. Hildebrand. Mr. Hildebrand joined the Board of Directors as Chairman and became our President and Chief Executive Officer upon consummation of the merger with GeoVax, Inc. in September 2006. Effective April 1, 2008, upon the appointment of Dr. Robert T. McNally as our President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Hildebrand executed a consulting agreement with the Company and remained as Chairman of the Board until January 1, 2011. Mr. Hildebrand is a founder of GeoVax, Inc., our wholly-owned subsidiary, and served as its President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of its Board of Directors from its inception in 2001 to April 2008. Prior to founding GeoVax, Mr. Hildebrand was North American President and Chief Executive Officer of Rhone Merieux, Inc., a subsidiary of Rhone Merieux, S.A., a world leader in the biopharmaceutical and animal health industries. In 1997, Mr. Hildebrand also became Global Vice President of Merial Limited, a position that he held until retiring in 2000. Mr. Hildebrand received his bachelor of science in microbiology from the University of Wisconsin. The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Hildebrand should serve on the Board of Directors by virtue of his prior experience in the vaccine industry and his intimate knowledge of the Company’s history and technology resulting from his prior service as its President and Chief Executive Officer.
Dean G. Kollintzas. Mr. Kollintzas joined the Board of Directors upon consummation of the merger with GeoVax, Inc. in September 2006. Since 2001 Mr. Kollintzas has been an intellectual property attorney specializing in biotechnology and pharmaceutical licensing, FDA regulation, and corporate/international transactions. Mr. Kollintzas received a microbiology degree from the University of Illinois and a J.D. from Franklin Pierce Law Center. He is a member of the Wisconsin and American Bar Associations. Since 2004, Mr. Kollintzas has owned and operated a restaurant in Joliet, Illinois called The Metro Grill. The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Kollintzas should serve on the Board of Directors by virtue of his experience with intellectual property matters, biotechnology and pharmaceutical licensing, and FDA regulation.
John N. (Jack) Spencer, Jr., CPA Mr. Spencer joined the Board of Directors upon consummation of the merger with GeoVax, Inc. in September 2006. Mr. Spencer is a certified public accountant and was a partner of Ernst & Young where he spent more than 38 years until he retired in 2000. Mr. Spencer also serves as a director SurgiVigon, Inc., a medical device company, where he also chairs the audit committee, and served as a director of Firstwave Technologies (Nasdaq:FSTW) from November 2003 until April of 2009. He also serves as a consultant to various companies primarily relating to financial accounting and reporting matters. Mr. Spencer received a bachelor of science degree from Syracuse University, and he earned an M.B.A. degree from Babson College. He also attended the Harvard Business School advanced management program. The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Spencer should serve on the Board of Directors by virtue of his experience at Ernst & Young where he was the partner in charge of that firm’s life sciences practice for the southeastern United States, and his clients included a large number of publicly-owned and privately-held medical technology companies, together with his continuing expertise as a director of, and a consultant to, other publicly owned and privately held companies.
Audit Committee
Our Board of Directors has a standing Audit Committee established in accordance with section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. At various times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, Mr. Antebi, Mr. Spencer, Mr. Kollintzas, and Mr. Tsolinas (a former director) served on our Audit Committee. Our Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Spencer qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the SEC’s rules, and that Mr. Spencer is independent in accordance with the criteria of independence set forth in Section 301(3)(B) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and that Mr. Spencer qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the SEC’s rules. The Audit Committee has adopted a charter, a copy of which is available on our website at www.geovax.com. The Audit Committee held five meetings during 2010.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Ethics in compliance with the applicable rules of the SEC that applies to our principal executive officer, our principal financial officer and our principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. A copy of this policy is available on our website at www.geovax.com under the heading “Investors - Corporate Governance” and is also available free of charge upon written request to the attention of our Corporate Secretary by regular mail, e-mail to mreynolds@geovax.com, or facsimile at (678) 384-7281. We intend to disclose any amendment to, or a waiver from, a provision of our code of ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions and that relates to any element of the code of ethics enumerated in applicable rules of the SEC. Such disclosures will be made on our website at www.geovax.com.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, as amended, requires our executive officers and directors and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities, as well as certain affiliates of those persons, to file with the SEC initial statements of beneficial ownership, reports of changes in ownership and annual reports concerning their ownership of common stock and other of our equity securities on Forms 3, 4, and 5, respectively. Executive officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file. Based solely on our review of the copies of such reports we received and written representations that no other reports were required to be filed for those persons, we believe that, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, all of our executive officers, directors and owners of more than 10% of our common stock filed all reports required by Section 16(a) on a timely basis, except that:
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
In the paragraphs that follow, the Compensation Committee provides an overview and analysis of our compensation program and policies, the material compensation decisions made under those programs and policies with respect to our executive officers, and the material factors considered in making those decisions.
The Compensation Committee reviews, analyzes and approves the compensation of our senior executive officers, including the “Named Executive Officers” listed in the tables that follow this Compensation Discussion and Analysis. The Named Executive Officers for 2010 include our chief executive officer, our chief financial officer, and the two other individuals who served as executive officers during 2010 and whose total compensation for 2010 exceeded $100,000, calculated in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. Our Named Executive Officers for 2010 were:
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Robert T. McNally, President and Chief Executive Officer
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Mark W. Reynolds, Chief Financial Officer
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Harriet L. Robinson, Chief Scientific Officer
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Mark J. Newman, VP, Research and Development
The tables that follow this Compensation Discussion and Analysis contain specific data about the compensation earned or paid in 2010 to the Named Executive Officers. The discussion below is intended to help readers understand the detailed information provided in the compensation tables and put that information into the context of our overall compensation program.
Objectives of Our Compensation Program
In general, we operate in a marketplace where competition for talented executives is intense and significant. The biopharmaceutical industry is highly competitive and includes companies with far greater resources than ours. We are engaged in the long-term development of drug candidates without the benefit of significant current revenues, and therefore our operations involve a high degree of risk and uncertainty. This level of risk and uncertainty may make it difficult to attract and retain talented executives. Nevertheless, continuity of personnel across multi-disciplinary functions is critical to the success of our business. Furthermore, since we have relatively few employees, each must perform a broad scope of functions, and there is very little redundancy in skills.
The objectives of our compensation program for our executive officers and other employees are to provide competitive cash compensation, health, and retirement benefits, as well as long-term equity incentives that offer significant reward potential for the risks assumed and for each individual’s contribution to our long-term performance. Although the Compensation Committee seeks to pay salaries and bonuses sufficient to hire and retain talented individuals, the Compensation Committee also believes, based on its subjective perception of their skills, that many of its employees could earn somewhat higher cash compensation at other companies, and seeks to address this concern by making stock option grants at a somewhat higher level than it would if the salaries and bonuses were higher. Individual performance is measured subjectively taking into account Company and individual progress toward overall corporate goals, as well as each individual’s skills, experience, and responsibilities, together with corporate and individual progress in the areas of scientific innovation, regulatory compliance, business development, employee development, and other values designed to build a culture of high performance. No particular weight is assigned to these measures, and the Compensation Committee is of the view that much of the Company’s progress results from team effort. These policies and practices are based on the principle that total compensation should serve to attract and retain those executives and employees critical to our overall success and are designed to reward executives for their contributions toward business performance that enhances stockholder value.
Role of the Compensation Committee
Our Compensation Committee assists our Board of Directors in discharging its responsibilities relating to the compensation of our executive officers. As such, the Compensation Committee has responsibility over certain matters relating to the fair and competitive compensation of our executives, employees and directors (only non-employee directors are compensated as directors) as well as matters relating to equity-based benefit plans. Each of the members of our Compensation Committee is independent in accordance with the criteria of independence set forth in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules and Rule 803(A)(2) of the NYSE Amex Listing Requirements. We believe that their independence from management allows the members of the Compensation Committee to provide unbiased consideration of various elements that could be included in an executive compensation program and apply independent judgment about which elements best achieve our compensation objectives.
In March 2010, the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors approved a new charter for the Compensation Committee. Pursuant to the new charter, the Compensation Committee is responsible for, among other things:
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reviewing the Company’s overall compensation philosophy and strategy;
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evaluating and determining the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer;
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evaluating and setting, in conjunction with the Chief Executive Officer, the compensation of other officers;
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reviewing and approving the annual Compensation Discussion and Analysis;
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evaluating and approving the components and amounts of compensation of the Company’s employees;
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evaluating, considering and approving, in its discretion, the Company’s equity-based compensation plans, as well as grants and awards made under any such plans to persons other than the Chief Executive Officer and submitting them to the Board of Directors for its consideration and approval;
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approving, with sole and exclusive authority, grants and awards made to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer under the Company’s equity-based compensation plans;
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evaluating, considering and approving, in its discretion, compensation for non-employee members of the Board of Directors; and
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managing and controlling the operation and administration of the Company’s stock option plans.
Pursuant to its charter as in effect prior to March 2010, the Compensation Committee was charged specifically with reviewing and determining annually the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, approving special bonus payments and perquisites paid to and other special compensation or benefit arrangements with executive officers, and approving (subject to approval of the Board of Directors) recommendations by the Chief Executive Officer with respect to grants under our stock option plan and any other equity-based plan we might adopt in the future. Subject to approval of the Board of Directors, the Compensation Committee also set salaries and determines bonuses, sometimes referred to as cash incentive awards, for the Company’s employees. The Compensation Committee gave due consideration to the Chief Executive Officer’s recommendations and could change them prior to recommending them to the Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee did not exercise the authority granted to it by its charter to approve a pool of options and other discretionary awards to be used by the Chief Executive Officer.
Elements of Compensation
To achieve the objectives described above, the three primary compensation elements used for executive officers are base salary, cash bonus, and stock option awards. We believe that these three elements are the most effective combination in motivating and retaining our executive officers at this stage in our development. The Compensation Committee has not utilized other companies for benchmarking purposes because it believes that those businesses which would be most comparable to the Company are either privately held or divisions of very large medical products companies.
Base Salary
Our philosophy is to maintain executive base salary at a competitive level sufficient to recruit and retain individuals possessing the skills and capabilities necessary to achieve our goals over the long term. Base salaries provide our executive officers with a degree of financial certainty and stability and also reward individual achievements and contributions.
Cash Bonus
Annual cash incentive awards motivate our executive officers to contribute toward the achievement of corporate goals and objectives. Generally, every employee is eligible to earn an annual cash incentive award, promoting alignment and pay-for-performance at all levels of the organization. The Company does not have a formalized cash incentive award plan, and awards are based on the subjective recommendation of the President and Chief Executive Officer (except as to the Chief Executive Officer’s cash bonus) and on the Compensation Committee’s subjective judgment.
Stock Option Awards
Stock option awards are a fundamental element in our executive compensation program because they emphasize our long-term performance, as measured by creation of stockholder value, and align the interests of our stockholders and management. In addition, the Compensation Committee believes they are crucial to a competitive compensation program for executive officers, and they act as a powerful retention tool. In our current pre-commercial state, we view the Company as still facing a significant level of risk, but with the potential for a high reward over a period of time, and therefore we believe that stock incentive awards are appropriate for executive officers. These awards are provided through initial grants at or near the date of hire and through subsequent, periodic grants. The initial grant is typically larger than subsequent, periodic grants and is intended to motivate the officer to make the kind of decisions and implement strategies and programs that will contribute to an increase in our stock price over time. Subsequent periodic stock option awards may be granted to reflect each executive officer’s ongoing contributions to the Company, to create an incentive to remain at the Company, and to provide a long-term incentive to achieve or exceed our corporate goals and objectives. The Company does not have a formula for determining stock option awards. Awards are generally based on the subjective recommendation of the President and Chief Executive Officer and on the Compensation Committee’s subjective judgment. The Compensation Committee does not typically give much weight to the overall levels of stock and stock options owned by the Company’s executive officers and directors.
Accounting and Tax Considerations
The accounting and tax treatment of compensation generally has not been a factor in determining the amounts of compensation for the Company’s executive officers.
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, limits tax deductions of public companies on compensation paid to certain executive officers in excess of $1 million. The Compensation Committee considers the impact of Section 162(m) on its compensation decisions, but has no formal policy to structure executive compensation so that it complies with the requirements of Section 162(m) due to the overall level of compensation paid. In general, stock options granted under the Company’s 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, or the Plan, are intended to qualify under and comply with the “performance based compensation” exemption provided under Section 162(m), thus excluding from the Section 162(m) compensation limitation any income recognized by executives at the time of exercise of such stock options.
Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States require us to recognize an expense for the fair value of equity-based compensation awards. The Compensation Committee is informed of the accounting implications of significant compensation decisions, especially in connection with decisions that relate to our equity incentive award plans, but has no formal policy to structure executive compensation to align accounting expenses of our equity awards with our overall executive compensation philosophy and objectives. The Compensation Committee has considered the impact of cash payments to its employees as compared to the costs it recognizes on an accrual basis when stock options are granted.
Setting Executive Compensation
Historically, we have not used quantitative methods or mathematical formulae in setting any element of executive compensation. We use discretion, guided in large part by the concept of pay-for-performance, and we consider all elements of an executive’s compensation package when setting each portion of compensation. There is no pre-established policy or target for the allocation between cash and equity incentive compensation, although the Compensation Committee believes its stock option grants are at a level that permits it to retain talented personnel at somewhat lower levels of cash compensation than these individuals might otherwise receive. Year-to-year changes in base salary have usually been relatively modest, and executive officer base salaries are within a relatively narrow range. The Compensation Committee considers relative levels of compensation among its various executive officers. Our annual cash incentive awards have generally been modest. When made at all, the individual cash incentive awards have ranged from $10,000 to $15,000 over the last three years. Bonuses have usually been paid to all Named Executive Officers when they were paid at all. We may choose other compensation approaches if circumstances warrant.
When determining compensation for a new executive officer, and when annually reviewing the compensation for our executive officers, factors taken into consideration are the individual’s skills, knowledge and experience, the individual’s past and potential future impact on our short-term and long-term success, the individual’s recent compensation levels in other positions, and any present and expected compensation information obtained from other prospective candidates interviewed during the recruitment process. In setting our executive compensation for 2010, no specific benchmarking activities were undertaken. We will generally make a grant of stock options when an executive officer joins us. Options are granted at no less than 100% of the fair market value on the date of grant. In determining the size of an initial stock option grant to an executive officer, we primarily consider company performance and the individual’s scope of responsibility. For periodic grants, we also consider the Company’s and the individual’s continuing performance and the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer, all on a subjective basis. Since the stock option grant is meant to be a retention tool, we also consider the importance to stockholders of that person’s continued service. Stock option grants to executives generally vest over a period of three years.
The Compensation Committee annually reviews and determines the compensation for our Chief Executive Officer. Each year, recommendations for the compensation for other executive officers (other than himself) are prepared by the Chief Executive Officer and are reviewed with the Compensation Committee and modified by it where appropriate.
In order to assess the performance of a full calendar year, annual cash incentive and stock option awards are generally determined in December of each year. We do not currently have any program, plan or practice in place to time stock option grants to our executives or other employees in coordination with the release of material non-public information.
As part of our executive compensation review conducted annually in December, we review a tally sheet prepared by the President and Chief Executive Officer setting forth all components of total compensation to our Named Executive Officers and all other employees. The tally sheet includes current and proposed base salary, proposed annual cash incentive awards and historical, as well as proposed, stock option awards. Post-termination pay under employment agreements to which our executive officers are parties is not considered to be material at the present time. These tools are employed by the Compensation Committee both in reviewing individual compensation awards and as a useful check on total compensation. These tools also show the effect of compensation decisions made over time on the total annual compensation to a Named Executive Officer and allow the Compensation Committee to review historical amounts for comparative purposes.
We considered whether our compensation policies and practices create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on GeoVax, and concluded that they do not.
2010 Executive Compensation
The amount of compensation earned by each of the Named Executive Officers during fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008 is shown in the Summary Compensation Table below.
In December 2009, the Compensation Committee established the salaries of the named Executive Officers for 2010. The Compensation Committee used its subjective judgment and considered the overall progress of the Company, and the skills, experience, responsibilities, achievements and historical compensation of each of the Named Executive Officers, in determining the salary levels for 2010. In its deliberations on executive compensation, the Compensation Committee considered the fact that, during the preceding year (at its meeting in December 2008) the Compensation Committee had accepted the recommendation from Dr. McNally that none of the Named Executive Officers receive salary increases for 2009, except as related to Mr. Reynolds with respect to a proportionate increase relative to his time commitment to the business of the Company. The Compensation Committee felt that, under the circumstances, it should increase the salaries of the Company’s executive officers, and decided to increase the salaries of the Company’s executive officers for 2010. The Compensation Committee reviewed the salary increases it had approved for the other employees of the Company and determined the average of the increases was approximately 6.3%. The Compensation Committee then increased executive officer salaries by 6.3%, with the exception of Dr. McNally, who received a 10% increase in salary, and also with the exception of Dr. Newman, whose initial employment did not begin until January 2010. The Compensation Committee provided a higher salary to Dr. McNally because it felt that the Chief Executive Officer should be the most highly compensated executive.
In December 2010, the Compensation Committee considered 2010 stock option grants and cash incentive awards as well as base salaries for 2011. The Compensation Committee used its subjective judgment and considered the same factors it considered in December 2009: the overall progress of the Company, and the skills, experience, responsibilities, achievements and historical compensation of each of the Named Executive Officers, in determining the award of cash bonuses and stock option grants for 2010 and salary levels for 2011. In its deliberations, the Compensation Committee also gave significant consideration to the status of the Company’s fund-raising efforts and Dr. McNally’s recommendation that no cash bonuses or salary increases be paid to the Named Executive Officers but reconsidered after completion of the Company’s next financing round. The Compensation Committee accepted Dr. McNally’s recommendation, partially in the interest of preserving the Company’s overall cash flow to the extent reasonably possible.
Robert T. McNally. Dr. McNally serves as our President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to an employment agreement effective April 1, 2008. In December 2010, the Compensation Committee awarded Dr. McNally a stock option grant for 10,000 shares at an exercise price of $1.98 per share. It did not award a cash bonus. The Compensation Committee did not increase Dr. McNally’s annual base salary of $275,000.
Mark W. Reynolds. Mr. Reynolds serves as our Chief Financial Officer pursuant to an employment agreement amended and restated effective January 1, 2010. In December 2010, the Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Reynolds a stock option grant for 10,000 shares at an exercise price of $1.98 per share. It did not award a cash bonus. The Compensation Committee did not increase Mr. Reynolds’ annual base salary of $212,600.
Harriet L. Robinson. Dr. Robinson serves as our Chief Scientific Officer pursuant to an employment agreement executed in November 19, 2007. In December 2009, the Compensation Committee awarded Dr. Robinson a stock option grant for 10,000 shares at an exercise price of $1.98 per share. It did not award a cash bonus. The Compensation Committee did not increase Dr. Robinson’s annual base salary of $265,750.
Mark J. Newman. Dr. Newman serves as our Vice President, Research and Development pursuant to an employment agreement dated January 4, 2010. In December 2010, the Compensation Committee awarded Dr. Newman a stock option grant for 10,000 shares at an exercise price of $1.98 per share. It did not award a cash bonus. The Compensation Committee did not increase Dr. Newman’s annual base salary of $225,000.
Benefits Provided to Executive Officers
We provide our executive officers with certain benefits that the Compensation Committee believes are reasonable and consistent with our overall compensation program. The Compensation Committee will periodically review the levels of benefits provided to our executive officers.
Dr. McNally, Dr. Newman, Mr. Reynolds and Dr. Robinson are eligible for health insurance and 401(k) benefits at the same level and subject to the same conditions as provided to all other employees. The amounts shown in the Summary Compensation Table under the heading “Other Compensation” represent the value of the Company’s matching contributions to the 401(k) accounts of these executive officers. Executive officers did not receive any other perquisites or other personal benefits or property from the Company or any other source.
Employment Agreements
Robert T. McNally. On March 20, 2008, GeoVax entered into an employment agreement with Robert T. McNally, Ph.D. to become our President and Chief Executive Officer effective April 1, 2008. The employment agreement has no specified term. The employment agreement provided for an initial annual salary of $200,000 to Dr. McNally, subject to periodic increases as determined by the Compensation Committee. The Board of Directors may also approve the payment of a discretionary bonus annually. Dr. McNally is eligible for grants of awards from the Plan and is entitled to participate in any and all benefits in effect from time-to-time for employees generally. We may terminate the employment agreement, with or without cause. If we terminate the employment agreement without cause, we will be required to provide Dr. McNally at least 30 days prior notice of the termination and one week of severance pay for each full year of service as President and Chief Executive Officer ($15,865 if terminated in fiscal 2011, paid as salary continuance). Dr. McNally may terminate the employment agreement at any time by giving us 60 days notice. In that event, he would not receive severance.
Mark W. Reynolds. On February 1, 2008, GeoVax entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with Mark W. Reynolds, our Chief Financial Officer. The employment agreement has no specified term. The employment agreement provided for an initial annual salary of $115,000 to Mr. Reynolds, which was increased to $150,000 by the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors effective January 1, 2009, commensurate with an increased time commitment provided by Mr. Reynolds (50% to 75%). The employment agreement was again amended and restated, effective January 1, 2010, to reflect a further adjustment for Mr. Reynolds time commitment (from 75% to 100%) together with a base salary increase to $212,600. The Board of Directors may also approve the payment of a discretionary bonus annually. Mr. Reynolds is eligible for grants of awards from the Plan and is entitled to participate in any and all benefits in effect from time-to-time for employees generally. We may terminate the employment agreement, with or without cause. If we terminate the employment agreement without cause, we will be required to provide Mr. Reynolds at least 30 days prior notice of the termination and one week of severance pay for each full year of service as Chief Financial Officer ($20,442 if terminated in fiscal 2011, paid as salary continuance). Mr. Reynolds may terminate the employment agreement at any time by giving us 60 days notice. In that event, he would not receive severance.
Harriet L. Robinson. On November 19, 2007, GeoVax entered into an employment agreement with Harriet L. Robinson, our Chief Scientific Officer. The employment agreement has no specified term. The employment agreement provided for an initial base salary of $250,000 to Dr. Robinson, subject to periodic increases as determined by the Compensation Committee. Dr. Robinson initially worked part-time for the Company, and became a full-time employee in February 2008. The Board of Directors may also approve the payment of a discretionary bonus annually. Dr. Robinson is eligible for grants of awards from the Plan and is entitled to participate in any and all benefits in effect from time-to-time for employees generally. We may terminate the employment agreement, with or without cause. If we terminate the employment agreement without cause, we will be required to provide Dr. Robinson at least 30 days prior notice of the termination and one week of severance pay for each full year of service ($20,443 if terminated in fiscal 2011, paid as salary continuance). Dr. Robinson may terminate the employment agreement at any time by giving us 60 days notice. In that event, she would not receive severance.
Mark Newman. On January 4, 2010, GeoVax entered into an employment agreement with Mark Newman, Ph.D. to become our Vice President, Research and Development. The employment agreement has no specified term. The employment agreement provides for an annual salary of $225,000 to Dr. Newman, subject to periodic increases as determined by the Compensation Committee. The Board of Directors may also approve the payment of a discretionary bonus annually. On January 4, 2010, in connection with his initial employment, Dr. Newman received a grant of 24,000 stock options at an exercise price of $8.00 per share. The options have a life of ten years and will vest over a three year period from the date of grant. Mr. Newman is also entitled to participate in any and all benefits in effect from time-to-time for employees generally. We may terminate the employment agreement, with or without cause. If we terminate the employment agreement without cause, we will be required to provide Dr. Newman at least 30 days prior notice of the termination and one week of severance pay for each full year of service ($4,327 if terminated in fiscal 2011, paid as salary continuance). Dr. Newman may terminate the employment agreement at any time by giving us 60 days notice. In that event, he would not receive severance.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with Company management and, based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee authorized and directed that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Respectfully Submitted,
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE:
David A. Dodd, Chairman
Steven S. Antebi
Dean G. Kollintzas
Indemnification Agreements
In October 2006 GeoVax Labs, Inc. and our subsidiary, GeoVax, Inc. entered into indemnification agreements with Messrs. McNally, Reynolds, Hildebrand, Kollintzas and Spencer. Pursuant to these agreements, we have agreed to indemnify them to the full extent permitted by Illinois and Georgia law against certain liabilities incurred by these individuals in connection with specified proceedings if they acted in a manner they believed in good faith to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that such conduct was unlawful. The agreements also provide for the advancement of expenses to these individuals subject to specified conditions.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
At various times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, Mr. Antebi, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Kollintzas, Mr. Spencer and Mr. Tsolinas (a former director) served on our Compensation Committee. None of these individuals were officers or employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, nor at any time prior thereto. Mr. Dodd became Chairman of the Board of Directors on January 1, 2011. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, none of the members of the Compensation Committee had any relationship with the Company requiring disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K, and none of the Company’s executive officers served on the compensation committee (or equivalent), or the Board of Directors, of another entity whose executive officer(s) served on our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Ethics in compliance with the applicable rules of the SEC that applies to our principal executive officer, our principal financial officer and our principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. A copy of this policy is available on our website at www.geovax.com under the heading “Investors - Corporate Governance” and is also available free of charge upon written request to the attention of our Corporate Secretary by regular mail, e-mail to mreynolds@geovax.com, or facsimile at (678) 384-7281. We intend to disclose any amendment to, or a waiver from, a provision of our code of ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions and that relates to any element of the code of ethics enumerated in applicable rules of the SEC. Such disclosures will be made on our website at www.geovax.com.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation earned during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 by our Named Executive Officers.
(1)
Amounts shown in the “Option Awards” column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of awards computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation (“FASB ASC Topic 718”). For a discussion of the various assumptions made and methods used for determining such amounts, see footnotes 2 and 7 to our 2010 consolidated financial statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(2)
Amounts shown in the “All Other Compensation” column represent employer contributions to the Company’s 401(k) retirement plan for Dr. McNally, Mr. Reynolds, Dr. Robinson, and Dr. Newman.
GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
The following table sets forth option awards. No stock awards or non-equity incentive awards were granted to the Named Executive Officers for the year ended December 31, 2010.
(1)
The exercise price for options is the closing trading price of the common stock of the Company on the grant date. The grant date is determined by the Compensation Committee. All stock option grants during 2010 will vest and become exercisable in three equal annual installments on the first three anniversary dates of the grant date.
(2)
Compensation expense is recognized for all share-based payments based on the grant date fair value estimated for financial reporting purposes. For a discussion of the various assumptions made and methods used for determining such amounts, see footnotes 2 and 7 to our 2010 consolidated financial statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Additional discussion regarding material factors that may be helpful in understanding the information included in the Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards table is included above under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to unexercised options previously awarded to our Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2010. There were no stock awards outstanding as of December 31, 2010.
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control
Under SEC rules, we are required to estimate and quantify the payment that would be payable at, following, or in connection with any termination, including without limitation resignation, severance, retirement or a constructive termination of each Named Executive Officer, or a change-in-control of the Company or a change in the Named Executive Officer’s responsibilities, with respect to each Named Executive Officer, as if the triggering event had occurred as of the last business day of the last fiscal year.
The Plan contains provisions that could lead to an accelerated vesting of options or other awards. In the event of certain change-in-control transactions described in the Plan, (i) outstanding options or other awards under the Plan may be assumed, converted or replaced; (ii) the successor corporation may substitute equivalent options or other awards or provide substantially similar consideration to Plan participants as were provided to stockholders (after taking into account the existing provisions of the options or other awards); or (iii) the successor corporation may replace options or awards with substantially similar shares or other property.
In the event the successor corporation (if any) refuses to assume or substitute options or other awards as described (i) the vesting of any or all options or awards granted pursuant to the Plan will accelerate upon the change-in-control transaction, and (ii) any or all options granted pursuant to the Plan will become exercisable in full prior to the consummation of the change-in-control transaction at such time and on such conditions as the Compensation Committee determines. If the options are not exercised prior to the consummation of the change-in-control transaction, they shall terminate at such time as determined by the Compensation Committee. Subject to any greater rights granted to Plan participants under the Plan, in the event of the occurrence of a change-in-control transaction any outstanding options or other awards will be treated as provided in the applicable agreement or plan of merger, consolidation, dissolution, liquidation, or sale of assets.
If the Company experienced a change-in-control transaction described in the Plan on December 31, 2010, the value of accelerated options for each Named Executive Officer, based on the difference between $1.16, the closing price of our common stock on the OTC Bulletin Board on December 31, 2010, and, if lower, the exercise price per share of each option for which vesting would be accelerated for each Named Executive Officer, would be as follows: Dr. McNally - $-0-; Mr. Reynolds - $-0-; Dr. Robinson - $-0-; and Dr. Newman - $-0-.
Additionally, our employment agreements with each Named Executive Officer provide for payment to each Named Executive Officer if we terminate such Named Executive Officer’s employment without cause. If each Named Executive Officer was terminated without cause on December 31, 2010, the following amounts, which represent one week of pay for each full year of service to the Company, would be payable to each Named Executive Officer as salary continuance under the terms of such Named Executive Officer’s employment agreement: Dr. McNally - $10,577; Mr. Reynolds - $16,354; Dr. Robinson - $15,332; and Dr. Newman - $-0-.
Risk Assessment
We considered whether our compensation policies and practices create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on GeoVax and concluded that they do not. We do not tie compensation to specific stock prices or milestones that might encourage risk taking to increase stock prices or meet specific milestones. When we have granted cash incentive awards, they have been retrospective or in relatively modest amounts so that they do not encourage inappropriate short-term risk taking. We give consideration to subjective elements when we determine salaries, bonuses, and option grants that help us evaluate employee productivity and contribution to the welfare of GeoVax and place less emphasis on short-term metrics or milestones that might encourage undue risk taking. When we use stock options, we require them to vest over a period of years so that their increase in value will be more closely associated with the long-term success of the Company.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation earned for service on our Board of Directors during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010 by each individual who served as a director at any time during the fiscal year.
Director Compensation Plan
In March 2007, the Board of Directors approved a recommendation from the Compensation Committee for director compensation, which we refer to as the “Director Compensation Plan.” It was subsequently amended in March 2008, December 2009, and in December 2010. The Director Compensation Plan applies only to non-employee directors. Directors who are employees of the Company receive no compensation for their service as directors or as members of committees.
Cash Fees
For 2010, each non-employee director received an annual retainer of $5,000 (paid quarterly) for service as a member of the Audit Committee and $3,300 for service as a member of the Compensation Committee. The Chairman of the Audit Committee received an annual retainer of $9,000, and the Chairman of each of the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee received an annual retainer of $6,000. These retainers were also paid quarterly. Non-employee directors also received fees for each Board of Directors or Committee meeting attended as follows: $3,000 for in person Board of Directors meetings and $1,500 for telephonic Board of Directors meetings, $1,000 per Committee meeting chaired, and $500 per Committee meeting attended as a non-chair member. Mr. Hildebrand, the non-employee Chairman of the Board during 2010, received an annual retainer of $30,000 (paid quarterly) and was not entitled to additional fees for meetings attended. In December 2010, the Board of Directors amended the Director Compensation Plan such that, effective January 1, 2011, the non-employee Chairman of the Board will continue to receive an annual retainer of $30,000 and will not be entitled to receive additional fees for Board meetings attended, but will be entitled to receive additional fees for committees on which he serves.
Stock Option Grants
Non-employee directors each receive an automatic grant of options to purchase 26,400 shares of common stock on the date that such non-employee director is first elected or appointed. We currently do not have a formula for determining annual stock option grants to directors (upon their re-election to the Board of Directors, or otherwise). Such option grants are currently determined by the Board of Directors, upon recommendation by the Compensation Committee based on the Compensation Committee’s annual deliberations and review of the director compensation structure of similar companies. At its meeting in December 2010, upon a recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors approved an annual stock option grant of 10,000 shares to its non-employee members.
In December 2010, at the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors approved a 160,000 share increase in the number of shares authorized to be issued pursuant to the Plan in order to avoid an over issuance arising from the grants of options to directors and employees.
Expense Reimbursement
All directors are reimbursed for expenses incurred in connection with attending meetings of the Board of Directors and committees.
Item 12.
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Security Ownership of Principal Stockholders, Directors and Executive Officers
Based solely upon information made available to us, the following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of January 31, 2011 by (1) each director; (2) each of our Named Executive Officers; (3) all executive officers and directors as a group; and (4) each additional person who is known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock. Except as otherwise indicated, the holders listed below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them.
Securities Authorized For Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
We have outstanding stock options under our 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) which was adopted by our board of directors and approved by our Stockholders. In December 2006, April 2010, and in December 2010, our Board of Directors amended the Plan to make an aggregate of 480,000 additional shares available under the Plan, increasing the total number of shares under the Plan from 720,000 to 1,200,000 shares. These amendments have not been approved by our Stockholders. We may grant options or other awards from the additional shares authorized by the Board but they may not qualify as incentive stock options. The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2010, with respect to our equity compensation plan.
The Plan became effective on September 28, 2006. Unless the Plan is earlier terminated in accordance with its provisions, no stock incentives will be granted under the Plan after the earlier of ten years from the effective date, or the date on which all of the shares reserved for the Plan have been issued or are no longer available for use under the Plan.
The Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors and the Committee may grant the following stock incentives under the Plan (each individually, a “Stock Incentive”):
•
stock options to purchase shares of common stock, including options intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Code (“incentive stock options”) and options not intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Code (“non-qualified stock options”);
•
restricted stock awards; and
•
restricted stock bonus.
Awards of Stock Incentives under the Plan may be made to employees of GeoVax and its subsidiaries, non-employee directors, and consultants or advisors that provide services (other than the offering, sale or marketing of our securities) to us or to our subsidiaries (collectively, the “Participants”). Only employees are eligible to receive a grant of incentive stock options, however, the Company currently follows a practice of granting only non-qualified stock options rather than incentive stock options.
Item 13.
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions, and Director Independence
Policies and Procedures for Approval of Related Party Transactions
Our Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving all transactions or arrangements between the Company and any of our directors, officers, principal stockholders or any of their respective affiliates, associates or related parties, other than transactions with officers which are covered by the duties of the Compensation Committee. In determining whether to approve or ratify a related party transaction, the Audit Committee will discuss the transaction with management and will consider all relevant facts and circumstances available to it including:
•
whether the terms of the transaction are fair to the Company and at least as favorable to the Company as would apply if the transaction did not involve a related party;
•
whether there are demonstrable business reasons for the Company to enter into the transaction;
•
whether the transaction would impair the independence of a non-employee director; and
•
whether the transaction would present an improper conflict of interest for any director or executive officer, taking into account the size of the transaction, the direct or indirect nature of the related party’s interest in the transaction and the ongoing nature of any proposed relationship, and any other factors the Audit Committee deems relevant.
These policies are in writing and included in the Company’s minute book. [Mark - is this accurate?]
In August 2010 our Board of Directors made the following findings and adopted the following policies regarding related party transactions:
•
The Company has not made and will not make loans or loan guarantees on behalf of any director, officer, beneficially owner of more than 5% of our common stock, or other person constituting a Promoter, as such term is defined in the NASAA Statement of Policy Regarding Corporate Securities Definitions.
•
The Company has not engaged and will not engage in material transactions with any director, officer, beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock, or other person constituting a Promoter, as such term is defined in the NASAA Statement of Policy Regarding Corporate Securities Definitions, except as described below or as otherwise approved by our Audit Committee consistent with the policies and procedures described below.
•
The Company will make any future material affiliated transactions on terms that are no less favorable to the Company than those that can be obtained from unaffiliated third parties.
•
A majority of the Company’s Audit Committee will approve all future material transactions.
•
The Company’s officers, directors, and counsel will:
•
consider their due diligence and assure that there is a reasonable basis for these representations, and
•
consider whether to embody the representations in the issuer’s charter or bylaws.
These policies are in writing.
Consulting Agreement with Donald Hildebrand
In March 2008, we entered into a consulting agreement with Donald Hildebrand, Chairman of our Board of Directors and our former President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to which Mr. Hildebrand provides business and technical advisory services to the Company. The term of the consulting agreement began on April 1, 2008 a termination date of December 31, 2010. In December 2010, the Company and Mr. Hildebrand extended the term of the consulting agreement for an additional year. During 2010, 2009 and 2008, Mr. Hildebrand received $57,600, $57,600 and $64,000, respectively, for his services pursuant to the consulting agreement. We also paid Mr. Hildebrand’s medical and dental coverage during 2009 and 2008.
Transactions with Emory University
Emory University is a significant stockholder of the Company, and our primary product candidates are based on technology rights subject to a license agreement with Emory University, which we refer to as the Emory License. The Emory License, among other contractual obligations, requires payments based on milestone achievements, royalties on sales by the Company or on payments to the Company by our sublicensees, and payment of maintenance fees in the event certain milestones are not met within the time periods specified in the Emory License. We may terminate the Emory License upon 90 days prior written notice. In any event, the Emory License expires on the date of the latest expiration date of the underlying patents. We are also obligated to reimburse Emory University for certain ongoing costs in connection with the filing, prosecution and maintenance of patent applications subject to the Emory License. The expense associated with these ongoing patent reimbursements to Emory University amounted to $193,674, $85,673, and $102,141 for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively.
Through November 2009, we leased office and laboratory space on a month-to-month basis from Emtech Biotechnology Development, Inc., a related party associated with Emory University. Rent expense associated with this lease totaled $43,112 and $47,041 for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
We have entered into two research agreements with Emory University for the purpose of conducting research and development activities associated with our IPCAVD grant from the NIH. During the years ended 2010, 2009 and 2008, we recorded $1,391,203, $816,651, and $723,887, respectively, of expense associated with these contracts. All amounts paid to Emory under these agreements are reimbursable to us pursuant to the IPCAVD grant from the NIH.
Director Independence
The Board of Directors has determined that Messrs. Antebi, Dodd, Kollintzas, and Spencer are the members of our Board of Directors who are “independent,” as that term is defined by Section 301(3)(B) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Board of Directors has also determined that these four individuals meet the definition of “independent director” set forth in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules and Rule 803(A)(2) of the NYSE Amex Listing Requirements. The Board also determined that Mr. Tsolinas, who was a member of our Board of Directors during 2010, and served on our Audit Committee and our Compensation Committee, was also independent, applying the same tests of independence as for Messrs. Antebi, Dodd, Kollintzas, and Spencer. As independent directors, Messrs. Antebi, Kollintzas and Spencer serve as the members of our Audit Committee, Messrs. Antebi, Dodd and Kollintzas serve as the members of our Compensation Committee, and Messrs. Dodd, Kollintzas and Spencer serve as the members of our Nominating and Governance Committee.
Item 14.
Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Our Audit Committee appointed the firm of Porter Keadle Moore LLP (“PKM”) to serve as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010 and its appointment was ratified by our shareholders in August 2010. PKM has served as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company since 2006, and is considered by the Audit Committee and management to be well qualified.
The aggregate fees billed for the services rendered to us by PKM for the years ended December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were as follows:
(1)
Audit Fees for 2010 and 2009 consisted principally of fees for professional services in connection with the audits of our consolidated financial statements, review of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, review of our interim financial statements and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and the audit of our internal control over financial reporting.
(2)
Audit-Related Fees consist principally of fees in connection with the review of registration statements and other SEC filings.
Audit Committee’s Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee has adopted policies and procedures for pre-approving all audit and non-audit services provided by our independent auditors (the “Policy”) prior to the engagement of the independent auditors with respect to such services. Under the Policy, proposed services may be pre-approved on a periodic basis or individual engagements may be separately approved by the Audit Committee prior to the services being performed. In each case, the Audit Committee considers whether the provision of such services would impair the independent auditor’s independence. All audit services and non-audit services provided by PKM for 2010 and 2009 were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
PART IV
Item 15.
Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)
Documents filed as part of this report:
(1)
Financial Statements
(2)
Financial Statement Schedules
The following financial statement schedule is set forth on page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
All other financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable or not required or because the information is included elsewhere in the Consolidated Financial Statements or the Notes thereto.
See Item 15(b) below. Each management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed has been identified.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been duly signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
EXHIBIT INDEX
GEOVAX LABS, INC.
(A DEVELOPMENT-STAGE ENTERPRISE)
INDEX TO 2010 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
ON FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
To the Board of Directors
GeoVax Labs, Inc.
Atlanta, Georgia
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of GeoVax Labs, Inc. and subsidiary (a development stage company) (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010, and for the period of time considered part of the development stage from June 27, 2001 to December 31, 2010, except we did not audit the Company’s financial statements for the period from June 27, 2001 to December 31, 2005 which were audited by other auditors. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of GeoVax Labs, Inc. and subsidiary (a development stage company) as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010, and for the period of time considered part of the development stage from June 27, 2001 to December 31, 2010, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
/S/ PORTER KEADLE MOORE LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
February 9, 2011
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
ON FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Board of Directors
GeoVax, Inc.
Atlanta, Georgia
We have audited the statements of operations, stockholders’ deficiency and cash flows of GeoVax, Inc. (a Georgia corporation in the development stage) for the period from inception (June 27, 2001) to December 31, 2005. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements of GeoVax, Inc. referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the results of its operations, changes in stockholders’ deficiency and cash flows for the period from inception (June 27, 2001) to December 31, 2005, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ TRIPP, CHAFIN & COMPANY, LLC
Marietta, Georgia
February 8, 2006, except for the twelfth paragraph
of Note 2, as to which the date is April 27, 2010
GEOVAX LABS, INC.
(A DEVELOPMENT-STAGE ENTERPRISE)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
See accompanying reports of independent registered public accounting firms and notes to financial statements.
GEOVAX LABS. INC.
(A DEVELOPMENT-STAGE ENTERPRISE)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
See accompanying reports of independent registered public accounting firms and notes to financial statements.
GEOVAX LABS, INC.
(A DEVELOPMENT-STAGE ENTERPRISE)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(DEFICIENCY)
Continued on following page
GEOVAX LABS, INC.
(A DEVELOPMENT-STAGE ENTERPRISE)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIENCY)
See accompanying reports of independent registered public accounting firms and notes to financial statements.
GEOVAX LABS. INC.
(A DEVELOPMENT-STAGE ENTERPRISE)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
In connection with the Merger discussed in Note 6, all of the outstanding shares of the Company’s mandatory redeemable convertible preferred stock were converted into shares of common stock as of September 28, 2006.
See accompanying reports of independent registered public accounting firms and notes to financial statements.
GEOVAX LABS, INC.
(A DEVELOPMENT-STAGE ENTERPRISE)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 and
Period from Inception (June 27, 2001) to December 31, 2010
1. Nature of Business
GeoVax Labs, Inc. (“GeoVax” or the “Company”), is a biotechnology company dedicated to developing vaccines that prevent and fight Human Immunodeficiency Virus (“HIV”) infections, that result in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (“AIDS”). We have exclusively licensed from Emory University (“Emory”) vaccine technology which was developed in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (“NIH”) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”). GeoVax is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware and our principal offices are located in Smyrna, Georgia (metropolitan Atlanta area).
We have preventative vaccines being evaluated in a Phase 2a human clinical trial in individuals who are not HIV infected. We are also conducting a Phase 1 human therapeutic clinical trial in individuals who are HIV infected. Our preventative vaccines seek to prevent or control infection by HIV, reduce the rate of disease progression to AIDS and reduce the risk of HIV transmission. Our therapeutic vaccines target impeding viral replication to reduce viral load in HIV infected individuals with a view to reducing or eliminating the need for anti-HIV medications, and thereby reduce the cost of treatment and the detrimental side effects associated with current drug treatments.
Our current vaccines under development address the subtype, known as clade B, of the HIV virus that is most prevalent in the developed world. Our vaccines have been shown to induce strong T-cell (a type of white blood cell) and antibody immune responses in non-human primates against the simian immunodeficiency virus, the primate version of the HIV virus. Our goals include applying our technology and expertise to develop additional HIV vaccines for global markets that have different clades of the virus, manufacturing and testing these vaccines, conducting human trials for vaccine safety and effectiveness, and obtaining regulatory approvals to advance the development and commercialization of our vaccines.
As discussed in Note 2, the Company is a development-stage enterprise and we are devoting substantially all of our present efforts to research and development. We have funded our activities to date almost exclusively from equity financings and government grants, and we will continue to require substantial funds to continue these activities. We expect that our existing cash resources, combined with the proceeds from the NIH grant discussed in Note 4, will be sufficient to fund our planned activities into the first quarter of 2012. In order to meet our operating cash flow requirements we plan additional offerings of our equity securities. We are also seeking additional funding for our research programs through government grant funding mechanisms.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of GeoVax, Inc. from inception together with those of GeoVax Labs, Inc. from September 28, 2006 (see Note 6). All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Development-Stage Enterprise
We are devoting all of our present efforts to research and development and GeoVax is a development stage enterprise as defined by Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 915, “Development Stage Entities”. All losses accumulated since inception (June 27, 2001) have been considered as part of our development stage activities.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
We consider all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Our cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of bank deposits and money market accounts. The recorded values approximate fair market values due to the short maturities.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that subject us to concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, which are maintained by a high credit quality financial institution. The carrying values reported in the balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents approximate fair values.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. The components of property and equipment as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:
Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred, while additions and improvements are capitalized. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets which range from three to five years. Amortization of leasehold improvements is computed using the straight-line method over the remaining term of the related lease. Depreciation and amortization expense was $94,887, $64,891, and $36,128 during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Deferred Offering Costs
During 2010, we filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for a public offering of our common stock and warrants (the “Proposed Offering”). We comply with the requirements of SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) Topic 5A-“Expenses of Offering”. Deferred offering costs consist principally of legal, accounting, and printing fees incurred through the balance sheet date that are related to the Proposed Offering and that will be charged to capital upon the completion of the Proposed Offering or charged to expense if the Proposed Offering is not completed.
Other Assets
Other assets consist principally of license agreements for the use of technology obtained through the issuance of the Company’s common stock. These license agreements are amortized on a straight line basis over ten years. Amortization expense related to these agreements was $24,886 during each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 and is expected to be $24,886, $19,923, $10,000, $10,000, and $-0- for each of the next five years, respectively.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
We review long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the assets to the future net cash flows expected to be generated by such assets. If we consider such assets to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the expected future net cash flows from the assets.
Accrued Liabilities
As part of the process of preparing our financial statements, we estimate expenses that we believe we have incurred, but have not yet been billed by our third party vendors. This process involves identifying services and activities that have been performed by such vendors on our behalf and estimating the level to which they have been performed and the associated cost incurred for such service as of each balance sheet date in our financial statements. Examples of expenses for which we accrue include fees for professional services and fees owed to contract manufacturers in conjunction with the manufacture of vaccines for our clinical trials. We make these estimates based upon progress of activities related to contractual obligations and information received from vendors.
Restatement for Recapitalization and Reverse Stock Split
All share amounts and per share figures in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and the related footnotes have been restated for the 2006 recapitalization discussed in Note 6.
Effective April 27, 2010, we enacted a one-for-fifty reverse stock split of our common stock. The accompanying consolidated financial statements, and all share and per share information contained herein, have been retroactively restated to reflect the reverse stock split.
Net Loss Per Share
Basic and diluted loss per common share are computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. All common share equivalents (which consist of options and warrants) are excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share since the effect would be anti-dilutive. Common share equivalents which could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in the future, and which were excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share, totaled 2,013,522, 1,866,550, and 2,296,582 shares at December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue in accordance with the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101, Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements, as amended by Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, Revenue Recognition, (“SAB 104”). SAB 104 provides guidance in applying GAAP to revenue recognition issues, and specifically addresses revenue recognition for upfront, nonrefundable fees received in connection with research collaboration agreements. During 2010, 2009 and 2008, our revenue consisted of grant funding received primarily from the NIH (see Note 4). Revenue from this arrangement is approximately equal to the costs incurred and is recorded as income as the related costs are incurred.
Research and Development Expense
Research and development expense primarily consists of costs incurred in the discovery, development, testing and manufacturing of our product candidates. These expenses consist primarily of (i) fees paid to third-party service providers to perform, monitor and accumulate data related to our preclinical studies and clinical trials, (ii) costs related to sponsored research agreements, (iii) the costs to procure and manufacture materials used in clinical trials, (iv) laboratory supplies and facility-related expenses to conduct development, and (v) salaries, benefits, and share-based compensation for personnel. These costs are charged to expense as incurred.
Patent Costs
Our expenditures relating to obtaining and protecting patents are charged to expense when incurred, and are included in general and administrative expense.
Period to Period Comparisons
Our operating results are expected to fluctuate for the foreseeable future. Therefore, period-to-period comparisons should not be relied upon as predictive of the results for future periods.
Income Taxes
We account for income taxes using the liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted rates in effect for the year in which temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance unless, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will be realized.
Stock-Based Compensation
We account for stock-based transactions in which the Company receives services from employees, directors or others in exchange for equity instruments based on the fair value of the award at the grant date. Compensation cost for awards of common stock is estimated based on the price of the underlying common stock on the date of issuance. Compensation cost for stock options or warrants is estimated at the grant date based on each instrument’s fair-value as calculated by the Black-Scholes option pricing model. We recognize stock-based compensation cost as expense ratably on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the award. See Note 7 for additional stock-based compensation information.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In January 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2010-02, “Consolidation (Topic 810): Accounting and Reporting for Decreases in Ownership of a Subsidiary”. This amendment to Topic 810 clarifies, but does not change, the scope of current U.S. GAAP. It clarifies the decrease in ownership provisions of Subtopic 810-10 and removes the potential conflict between guidance in that Subtopic and asset derecognition and gain or loss recognition guidance that may exist in other U.S. GAAP. We do not expect the provisions of ASU 2010-02 to have a material effect on our results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.
In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-06, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820): Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements.” This ASU requires certain new disclosures and clarifies existing disclosure requirements about fair value measurement as set forth in Codification Subtopic 820-10. The FASB’s objective is to improve these disclosures and, thus, increase the transparency in financial reporting. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2009, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of ASU No. 2010-06 did not have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.
In February 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-09, Subsequent Events (Topic 855): Amendments to Certain Recognition and Disclosure Requirements,” effective immediately. The amendments in the ASU remove the requirement for an SEC filer to disclose a date through which subsequent events have been evaluated in both issued and revised financial statements. The FASB believes these amendments remove potential conflicts with the SEC’s literature. The adoption of ASU No. 2010-09 did not have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.
There have been no other recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements which we expect to have a material impact on our financial statements, nor do we believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards if currently adopted would have a material effect on our financial statements.
3. License Agreements
Emory License - During 2002, we entered into a license agreement with Emory University (the “Emory License”), a related party, for technology required in conjunction with certain products under development by us in exchange for 704,534 shares of our common stock valued at $148,856. The Emory License, among other contractual obligations, requires payments based on milestone achievements, royalties on our sales or on payments to us by our sublicensees, and payment of maintenance fees in the event certain milestones are not met within the time periods specified in the agreement. The Emory License expires on the date of the latest expiration date of the underlying patents.
MFD License -During 2004, we entered into a license agreement with MFD, Inc. in exchange for 49,420 shares of our common stock valued at $100,000. Pursuant to this agreement, we obtained a fully paid, worldwide, irrevocable exclusive license to certain patents covering technology that may be employed by our products.
4. Government Grants
NIH Grant
In September 2007, the NIH awarded us an Integrated Preclinical/Clinical AIDS Vaccine Development (IPCAVD) grant to support our HIV/AIDS vaccine program. The project period for the grant, which is renewable annually, covers a five-year period which commenced October 2007, with an expected annual awards of generally between $3 and $4 million per year (approximately $19.4 million in the aggregate). The most recent award is for the period September 1, 2010 through August 31, 2011 in the amount of $4.9 million. We are utilizing this funding to further our HIV/AIDS vaccine development, optimization and production. We record revenue associated with the grant as the related costs and expenses are incurred and such revenue is reported as a separate line item in our statements of operations. During 2010, 2009 and 2008, we recorded $4,940,778, $3,668,195, and $2,910,170, respectively, of revenue associated with this grant.
QTDP Grant
In November 2010, we were awarded a one-time grant of $244,479 pursuant to the Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project (QTDP) program enacted as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. The QTDP program was intended to provide incentive to smaller companies who are focusing on innovative therapeutic discoveries. We received the full amount of the grant during 2010, which is recorded as revenue for 2010 in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations.
5. Commitments
Lease Agreements
We lease approximately 8400 square feet of office and laboratory space located in Smyrna, Georgia (metropolitan Atlanta). Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $118,988, $63,350, and $71,041, respectively. Future minimum lease payments pursuant to the 62 month lease total $118,010 in 2011, $121,560 in 2012, $125,180 in 2013 and $128,920 in 2014.
Other Commitments
In the normal course of business, we may enter into various firm purchase commitments related to production and testing of our vaccine material, conduct of clinical trials, and other research-related activities. As of December 31, 2010, we had approximately $942,000 of unrecorded outstanding purchase commitments to our vendors and subcontractors, of which we expect approximately $641,000 will be due in 2011, $211,000 in 2012, and $90,000 in 2013.
6. 2006 Merger and Recapitalization
The Company was originally incorporated in June 1988 under the laws of Illinois as Dauphin Technology, Inc. (“Dauphin”). Dauphin was unsuccessful and its operations were terminated in December 2003. In September 2006, Dauphin completed a merger (the “Merger”) with GeoVax, Inc. which was incorporated under the laws of Georgia in June 2001. As a result of the Merger, the shareholders of GeoVax, Inc. exchanged their shares of common stock for Dauphin common stock and GeoVax, Inc. became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dauphin. Dauphin then changed its name to GeoVax Labs, Inc. and replaced its officers and directors with those of GeoVax, Inc. Subsequent to the Merger, the Company has not conducted any business other than GeoVax, Inc.’s business of developing human vaccines. The Merger was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting as a reverse acquisition in accordance with GAAP. Under this method of accounting, Dauphin was treated as the acquired company and, accordingly, all financial information prior to the date of Merger presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements, or in the notes herein, as well as any references to prior operations, are those of GeoVax, Inc. In June 2008, the Company was reincorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware.
7. Stockholders’ Equity
Common Stock Transactions
In September 2009, we issued 462,826 shares of our common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $1,500,000 upon the exercise of a previously issued stock purchase warrant.
In February 2010, we issued 12,000 shares of our common stock in settlement of an obligation accrued at December 31, 2009 in the amount of $90,000.
From time to time, we issue shares of our common stock to consultants or others in exchange for services. During 2010, 2009 and 2008 we issued 10,500, 4,500, and 10,000 shares, respectively, for consulting services; and we recorded general and administrative expense of $53,813, $31,500, and $74,000 during each respective period related to these issuances.
Stock Options
In 2006 we adopted the GeoVax Labs, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Stock Option Plan”) for the granting of qualified incentive stock options (“ISO’s”), nonqualified stock options, restricted stock awards or restricted stock bonuses to employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors of the Company. The exercise price for any option granted may not be less than fair value (110% of fair value for ISO’s granted to certain employees). Options granted under the Stock Option Plan have a maximum ten-year term and generally vest over three years. The Company has reserved 1,200,000 shares of its common stock for issuance under the Stock Option Plan.
A summary of activity under the Stock Option Plan as of December 31, 2010, and changes during the year then ended is presented below:
Additional information concerning our stock options for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 is as follows:
We use the Black-Scholes model for determining the grant date fair value of our stock option grants. This model utilizes certain information, such as the interest rate on a risk-free security with a term generally equivalent to the expected life of the option being valued and requires certain other assumptions, such as the expected amount of time an option will be outstanding until it is exercised or expired, to calculate the fair value of stock options granted. The significant assumptions we used in our fair value calculations were as follows:
Stock-based compensation expense related to the Stock Option Plan was $575,662, $1,221,764, and $1,798,169 during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The 2008 expense includes $425,725 associated with extensions of previously issued stock option grants (accounted for as reissuances) which were due to expire in 2009 to 2011. Stock option expense is allocated to research and development expense or to general and administrative expense based on the related employee classifications and corresponds to the allocation of employee salaries. For the three years ended December 31, 2010, stock option expense was allocated as follows:
As of December 31, 2010, there was $872,996 of unrecognized compensation expense related to stock-based compensation arrangements. The unrecognized compensation expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average remaining period of 2.1 years.
Compensatory Warrants
From time to time, we issue stock purchase warrants to consultants or others in exchange for services. A summary of our compensatory warrant activity as of December 31, 2010, and changes during the year then ended is presented below:
Additional information concerning our compensatory warrants for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 is as follows:
We use the Black-Scholes model for determining the grant date fair value of our compensatory warrants. The significant assumptions we used in our fair value calculations were as follows:
Expense associated with compensatory warrants was $121,057, $45,401, and $146,880 during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. All such expense was allocated to general and administrative expense. As of December 31, 2010, there was no unrecognized compensation expense related to compensatory warrant arrangements.
Investment Warrants
In addition to outstanding stock options and compensatory warrants, as of December 31, 2010 we have a total of 816,766 outstanding stock purchase warrants issued to investors in connection with previous financing transactions. These warrants have a weighted-average exercise price of $16.50 per share and a weighted-average remaining contractual life of 1.7 years.
8. Retirement Plan
We participate in a multi-employer defined contribution retirement plan (the “401k Plan”) administered by a third party service provider; and the Company contributes to the 401k Plan on behalf of its employees based upon a matching formula. During the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 our contributions to the 401k Plan were $52,632, $25,057, and $11,691, respectively.
9. Income Taxes
At December 31, 2010, we have a consolidated federal net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforward of approximately $72.1 million, available to offset against future taxable income which expires in varying amounts in 2011 through 2030. Additionally, we have approximately $735,000 in research and development (“R&D”) tax credits that expire in 2022 through 2030 unless utilized earlier. No income taxes have been paid to date.
As a result of the Merger discussed in Note 6, our NOL carryforward increased substantially due to the addition of approximately $59.7 million of historical NOL carryforwards for Dauphin Technology, Inc. However, Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code contains provisions that may limit our utilization of NOL and R&D tax credit carryforwards in any given year as a result of significant changes in ownership interests that have occurred in past periods or may occur in future periods.
Deferred income taxes reflect the net effect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of our deferred tax assets and liabilities included the following at December 31, 2010 and 2009:
We have established a full valuation allowance equal to the amount of our net deferred tax assets due to uncertainties with respect to our ability to generate sufficient taxable income to realize these assets in the future. A reconciliation of the income tax benefit on losses at the U.S. federal statutory rate to the reported income tax expense is as follows:
10. Related Party Transactions
We are obligated to reimburse Emory University (a significant stockholder of the Company) for certain prior and ongoing costs in connection with the filing, prosecution and maintenance of patent applications subject to the Emory License (see Note 3). The expense associated with these ongoing patent cost reimbursements to Emory amounted to $193,674, $85,673, and $102,141 for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively.
We have entered into two subcontracts with Emory for the purpose of conducting research and development activities associated with our grant from the NIH (see Note 4). During 2010, 2009, and 2008, we recorded $1,391,203, $816,651, and $723,887, respectively, of expense associated with these subcontracts. All amounts paid to Emory under these subcontracts are reimbursable to us pursuant to the NIH grant.
Through November 2009, we leased office and laboratory space on a month-to-month basis from Emtech Biotechnology Development, Inc., a related party associated with Emory. Rent expense associated with this lease totaled $43,112 and $47,041 for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
In March 2008, we entered into a consulting agreement with Donald Hildebrand, a member of our Board of Directors and our former President & Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to which Mr. Hildebrand provides business and technical advisory services to the Company. The term of the consulting agreement, as amended, began on April 1, 2008 and ends on December 31, 2011. During 2010, 2009, and 2008, we recorded $57,600, $57,600, and $64,000, respectively, of expense associated with the consulting agreement.
11. Selected Quarterly Financial Data
(unaudited)
A summary of selected quarterly financial data for 2010 and 2009 is as follows:
GEOVAX LABS, INC.
SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008