UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

(RULE 14a-101)

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

Check the appropriate box:

vTv Therapeutics Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

N/A

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

 

 

 

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3980 Premier Drive, Suite 310

High Point, North Carolina 27265

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD May 3, 2021

To the Stockholders of vTv Therapeutics Inc.:

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of vTv Therapeutics Inc. will be held on May 3, 2021 at 9:00AM EDT as a virtual-only meeting that will be held via live audio webcast with no physical in-person meeting due to the public health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, recommendations and orders from federal, state and local authorities, and to support the health and well-being of its stockholders, employees, and others. The meeting is called for the following purposes:

These matters are more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice.

To participate in the Annual Meeting virtually via the Internet, please visit www.proxydocs.com/vtvt. In order to attend, you must register in advance at www.proxydocs.com/vtvt. Upon completing your registration, you will receive further instructions via email, including your unique links that will allow you access to the meeting and to submit questions in advance of the meeting. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person.

If you were a stockholder of record of vTv Therapeutics Inc. Class A common stock or Class B common stock as of the close of business on March 8, 2021, you are entitled to receive this Notice and vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders and any adjournments or postponements thereof, provided that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for an adjourned meeting. Our stock transfer books will not be closed. A list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting may be examined at our principal executive offices in High Point, North Carolina during ordinary business hours or on a reasonably accessible electronic network as provided by applicable law in the 10-day period preceding the meeting and during the meeting for any purposes related to the meeting.  

We are pleased to take advantage of the Securities and Exchange Commission rules that allow us to furnish these proxy materials (including an electronic Proxy Card for the meeting) and our 2020 Annual Report (including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020) to stockholders via the Internet. On or about March 18, 2021, we will mail to our stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials containing instructions on how to access our Proxy Statement and 2020 Annual Report to Stockholders and how to

 

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vote. We believe that posting these materials on the Internet enables us to provide stockholders with the information they need to vote more quickly, while lowering the cost and reducing the environmental impact of printing and delivering annual meeting materials.

You are cordially invited to attend the meeting conducted via live webcast, by registering at www.proxydocs.com/vtvt. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. Whether or not you expect to attend, the Board of Directors respectfully requests that you vote your stock in the manner described in the Proxy Statement. You may revoke your proxy in the manner described in the Proxy Statement at any time before it has been voted at the meeting.

By Order of the Board of Directors of vTv Therapeutics Inc.,

 

 

 

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VTV THERAPEUTICS INC.

Proxy Statement

for the

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

To Be Held May 3, 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

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VTV THERAPEUTICS INC.

PROXY STATEMENT

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD May 3, 2021

Information Concerning Solicitation and Voting

This Proxy Statement is furnished to the holders of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 3, 2021 at 9:00AM EDT as a virtual-only meeting that will be held via live audio webcast, or for use at any adjournment or postponement thereof, for the purposes set forth herein and in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 8, 2021 are entitled to notice of and to vote at our Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”).

In accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, instead of mailing a printed copy of our proxy materials to each stockholder of record, we are furnishing proxy materials, including the Notice, this Proxy Statement, our 2020 Annual Report to Stockholders, including financial statements, and a Proxy Card for the Annual Meeting, by providing access to them on the Internet to save printing costs and benefit the environment. These materials were first available on the Internet on March 18, 2021. We mailed a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials on or about March 18, 2021 to our stockholders of record and beneficial owners as of March 8, 2021, the record date for the Annual Meeting. This Proxy Statement and the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials contain instructions for accessing and reviewing our proxy materials on the Internet and for voting by proxy over the Internet. You will need to obtain your own Internet access if you choose to access the proxy materials and/or vote over the Internet. If you prefer to receive printed copies of our proxy materials, the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials contains instructions on how to request the materials by mail. You will not receive printed copies of the proxy materials unless you request them. If you elect to receive the materials by mail, you may also vote by proxy on the Proxy Card or Voter Instruction Card that you will receive in response to your request.

Each holder of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock is entitled to one vote for each share held as of the record date with respect to all matters that may be considered at the Annual Meeting. Stockholder votes will be tabulated by persons appointed by the Board of Directors to act as inspectors of election for the Annual Meeting.

We bear the expense of soliciting proxies. Our directors, officers, or employees may also solicit proxies personally or by telephone, telegram, facsimile, or other means of communication. We do not intend to pay additional compensation for doing so. In addition, we might reimburse banks, brokerage firms, and other custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries representing beneficial owners of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock, for their expenses in forwarding soliciting materials to those beneficial owners.

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE 2021 ANNUAL MEETING

Proxies in proper form received by us at or before the time of the Annual Meeting will be voted as specified. Stockholders may specify their choices by marking the appropriate boxes on your Proxy Card. If a Proxy Card is dated, signed and returned without specifying choices, the proxies will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors set forth in this Proxy Statement, and, in their discretion, upon such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting. Business transacted at the Annual Meeting will be confined to the purposes stated in the Notice of Annual Meeting. Shares of our Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class A Common Stock”), and shares of our Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class B Common Stock”), cannot be voted at the Annual Meeting unless the holder is present in person or represented by proxy.

If your shares are held in a brokerage account or by another nominee or trustee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in street name. In that case, the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or proxy materials have been forwarded to you by your broker, bank or other holder of record who is considered, with respect to those shares, the stockholder of record. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other holder of record on how to vote your shares by using the voting instructions included in the Notice of Internet Availability or proxy materials.

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If you are present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting, but withhold your vote or abstain from voting on any or all proposals, your shares are still counted as present and entitled to vote. Each of the proposals listed in this Proxy Statement identifies the votes needed to approve the proposed action.

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To vote during the live webcast of the Annual Meeting, you must first register at www.proxydocs.com/vtvt. Upon completing your registration, you will receive further instructions via email, including your unique link that will allow you access to the Annual Meeting and to submit questions during the meeting.  Please be sure to follow instructions found on your proxy card and/or voting authorization form and subsequent instructions that will be delivered to you via email.  Stockholders will be able to attend the Annual Meeting platform beginning at 8:45 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) on May 3, 2021 pursuant to the unique access instructions they receive following their registration at www.proxydocs.com/vtvt.

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Even if you plan to attend the live webcast of the Annual Meeting, we encourage you to vote in advance by Internet, telephone or mail so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the Annual Meeting.

The Internet and telephone voting procedures are designed to authenticate stockholders’ identities by use of a control number to allow stockholders to vote their shares and to confirm that stockholders’ instructions have been properly recorded. Voting via the Internet or telephone must be completed before the commencement of the Annual Meeting at 9:00AM EDT on May 3, 2021. Of course, as described in the immediately preceding question and answer, you can always attend the live webcast of the Annual Meeting and vote your shares at that time. If you submit or return a Proxy Card without giving specific voting instructions, your shares will be voted as recommended by the Board of Directors, as permitted by law.

If you are a beneficial owner of shares, you may submit new voting instructions by contacting your bank, broker, or other holder of record. You may also vote in person at the Annual Meeting if you obtain a legal proxy from them.

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PROPOSAL ONE

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Nominees

At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will vote to elect the six nominees named in this Proxy Statement as directors, each of whom will serve until his successor is duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. If you are a stockholder of record, unless you mark your proxy card to withhold authority to vote, the proxy holder will vote the proxies received by it for the six nominees named below, each of whom is currently a director and each of whom has consented to be named in this Proxy Statement and to serve if elected. In the event that any nominee is unable or declines to serve as a director at the time of the Annual Meeting, your proxy will be voted for any nominee designated by the Board of Directors to fill the vacancy and subject to any required consents under the Investor Rights Agreement described below. We do not expect that any nominee will be unable or will decline to serve as a director. If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name and you do not provide your broker with voting instructions, your broker may not vote your shares on the election of directors. Therefore, it is important that you vote.

In connection with our initial public offering in July 2015 (our “IPO”), we entered into the Investor Rights Agreement, which provides that M&F, subject to applicable corporate governance rules of the SEC and the NASDAQ Stock Market listing rules (which may require M&F to designate independent directors), has the right to designate as nominees: (i) a majority of the directors (and if the number of directors is even, one director more than 50% of the number of directors) if MacAndrews beneficially owns more than 50% of our outstanding common stock, (ii) one less than a majority of the directors (and if the number of directors is even, 50% of the number of directors) if MacAndrews beneficially owns more than 25% but 50% or less of our outstanding common stock, and (iii) one-third of the directors (rounded down to the nearest whole number) if MacAndrews beneficially owns more than 10% but 25% or less of our outstanding common stock. M&F loses the right to designate directors once it owns 10% or less of our outstanding common stock. Messrs. Kozlov, Nelson, and Weiner and Ms. Abrams, who are presently serving as directors and are named in this Proxy Statement for re-election to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting, are MacAndrews Nominees.

The name of and certain information regarding each director nominee as of March 8, 2021 is set forth below. This information is based on data furnished to us by the nominees. There is no family relationship between any director, executive officer or person nominated to become a director or executive officer. The business address for each nominee for matters regarding the Company is 3980 Premier Drive, Suite 310, High Point, North Carolina 27265.

Director Nominees

 

 

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Director Nominees

Robin E. Abrams—Executive Chairperson of Company and our Board of Directors

Robin E. Abrams was appointed Chairperson of our Board of Directors in December 2020.  Prior to that, Ms. Abrams served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel.  Ms. Abrams also currently serves as General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer for SIGA Technologies. Prior to joining vTv, Ms. Abrams had a fourteen-year tenure at Purdue Pharma L.P., where she served as Vice President and Associate General Counsel. While at Purdue, Ms. Abrams was Purdue’s primary legal contact with government entities including the Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration and other federal, state and local authorities. Ms. Abrams also served as Purdue’s liaison with congressional committees and caucuses that focused on issues related to Purdue’s products, such as abuse and diversion of opioid pharmaceutical products. Ms. Abrams also oversaw Purdue’s legal regulatory, employment, and government litigation groups. Prior to Purdue, Ms. Abrams served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York and prior to that, Ms. Abrams clerked for then-Chief Judge Jack B. Weinstein, federal District Court, Eastern District of New York. Ms. Abrams earned her Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law, and her Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University. Ms. Abrams has extensive expertise in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries with nearly 20 years in senior legal roles.  For these reasons, we believe she is well qualified to serve on our Board of Directors.

John A. Fry—Director

John A. Fry was appointed to our Board of Directors in March 2016. Mr. Fry has served as President of Drexel University since 2010. From 2002 to 2010, Mr. Fry served as the President of Franklin & Marshall College and from 1995 to 2002, he served as Executive Vice President of the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Fry was a management consultant for the higher education and nonprofit sectors. He worked closely with some of the nation’s premier colleges and universities, first with KPMG Peat Marwick and then with Coopers & Lybrand’s National Higher Education Consulting Practice where he was elected a partner in the firm and eventually became partner-in-charge of the national practice. Mr. Fry is a member of the Board of Directors of Community Health Systems, a leading operator of general acute care hospitals, Macquarie Investment Management (formerly Delaware Investments), a U.S. based asset management firm, and FS Investments, an asset management firm. Mr. Fry holds a bachelor’s degree from Lafayette College and a master’s degree in business administration from the New York University Stern School of Business. Mr. Fry brings extensive experience in leadership and corporate governance. For these reasons, we believe he is well qualified to serve on our Board of Directors.

Hersh Kozlov—Director

Hersh Kozlov has served on our Board of Directors since September 2019.  Mr. Kozlov is the managing partner of the Cherry Hill, NJ office of Duane Morris, an international law firm, and has been a partner there since 2009. Previously he was a partner at Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen LLP, a law firm, from 2001 to 2009. In the course of his practice, Mr. Kozlov has represented investment banks, lenders, private equity firms, financial institutions and banks.   He is also a member of the board of directors of The Bancorp, Inc. and a former member of the board of directors of Resource America, Inc., prior to its sale.  He holds a bachelor of arts degree from Temple University and a J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.   Mr. Kozlov has extensive legal and business experience from his position as a partner at leading law firms.  For these reasons, we believe he is well qualified to serve on our Board of Directors.

Richard S. Nelson—Director

Richard S. Nelson was appointed to our Board of Directors in November 2020.  Mr. Nelson currently serves as Executive Vice President, Corporate and Business Development for Vericast and Senior Vice President, Corporate Development for MacAndrews & Forbes.  In these roles, Mr. Nelson is responsible for the identification and execution of global merger and acquisition opportunities. Mr. Nelson works with business leaders to source, negotiate and close acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships that complement MacAndrews & Forbes’s and Vericast’s long-term vision and strategy. Prior to Vericast, Mr. Nelson served as Senior Vice President of Global Corporate Development at The Nielsen Company.  Mr. Nelson also served as Managing Director, Mergers and Acquisitions at IAC/InterActive Corp. Previously, Mr. Nelson had been President and Co-Founder of Trendum,

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n/k/a Nielsen BuzzMetrics and SVP/General Counsel of RSL Communications, a telecommunications company. Mr. Nelson began his career as a mergers and acquisition attorney at Skadden Arps. Mr. Nelson earned a Bachelors in Business Administration in Finance with High Distinction from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and a J.D. from New York University School of Law.  Mr. Nelson is a member of the National Advisory Board for the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, the Board of Directors of Think Pink Rocks breast cancer charity, and a former member of the Board of Directors of Reply.com, RSL COM U.S.A., and Trendum, Inc. Mr. Nelson is an active venture investor and advisor to various stage private companies and their Boards, including Woolsey Pharmaceuticals, and for these reasons we believe he is well qualified to serve on our Board of Directors.

Noel J. Spiegel—Director

Noel J. Spiegel was appointed to our Board of Directors in July 2015. Mr. Spiegel was a partner at Deloitte & Touche, LLP, a global professional services firm, where he practiced from September 1969 until his retirement in May 2010. In his over 40 year career at Deloitte, he served in numerous management positions, including as Deputy Managing Partner, member of the Executive Committee, Managing Partner of Deloitte’s Transaction Assurance practice, Global Offerings and IFRS practice and Technology, Media and Telecommunications practice (Northeast Region), and as Partner-in-Charge of Audit Operations in Deloitte’s New York office. Mr. Spiegel also serves on the Board of Directors of American Eagle Outfitters, Inc., a leading apparel and accessories retailer, and Radian Group, Inc., a leading mortgage insurance company.  He holds a bachelor’s degree from Long Island University and attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. Mr. Spiegel provides expertise in public accounting, disclosure and financial system management to our Board of Directors and our Audit Committee. For these reasons, we believe he is well qualified to serve on our Board of Directors.

Howard L. Weiner—Director

Howard L. Weiner was appointed to our Board of Directors in July 2017. Dr. Weiner, the Robert L. Kroc Professor of Neurology at the Harvard Medical School since 1997 and Co-Director of the Center for Neurologic Diseases at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital since 1985, pioneered the use of immunotherapy for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and has investigated immune abnormalities in the disease. He also pioneered the use of the mucosal immune system for the treatment of autoimmune and other diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and Lou Gehrig’s disease.  Based on his work, vaccines are being tested in multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and most recently in Alzheimer’s disease.  Dr. Weiner attended Dartmouth College, and received his M.D. from the University of Colorado School of Medicine.  Dr. Weiner provides significant medical expertise and clinical experience to our Board of Directors.  For these reasons, we believe he is well qualified to serve on our Board of Directors.

Required Vote

The six director nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes of our Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, present or represented and voted as a single class, shall be elected as directors. In accordance with Delaware law, votes withheld from any nominee are counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the transaction of business, but they have no legal effect on the election of directors. While broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum, they will not be counted for purposes of determining the number of shares represented and voted with respect to the particular proposal on which the broker has expressly not voted and, accordingly, will not affect the election of directors.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders vote FOR the six director nominees listed above.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Our executive officers are set forth below:

 

 

Set forth below is certain additional information concerning our executive officers, including their respective positions with us and prior business experience (other than Ms. Abrams, for whom such information is provided above under the caption “Proposal 1: Election of Directors”).  

Stephen L. Holcombe—President and Chief Executive Officer

Stephen L. Holcombe has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since April 2015. Mr. Holcombe was the President and Chief Financial Officer of TransTech Pharma, LLC and High Point Pharmaceuticals, LLC, our predecessors, from 2014 to March 2015, where he previously served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 2002 to 2014. Mr. Holcombe has over 35 years of experience in financial and managerial roles focusing on the execution of private and public financings, developing corporate alliance and partnership strategies and managing relationships with external constituents. Positions that Mr. Holcombe held prior to joining our predecessors include Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Vanguard Cellular Systems, Inc., one of the largest independent wireless operators in the United States, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of BuildNet Inc., an e-commerce software solutions provider, and various positions with KPMG Peat Marwick Mitchell. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from Wake Forest University.

Rudy C. Howard—Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Rudy C. Howard has served as our Chief Financial Officer since June 2015. Prior to joining vTv Therapeutics Inc., Mr. Howard served from January 2010 through May of 2015 as Chief Financial Officer of SciQuest, Inc., an international spend management software company. From November 2008 until joining SciQuest, Mr. Howard served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of MDS Pharma Services, a pharmaceutical services company. From 2003 until joining MDS Pharma Services, Mr. Howard operated his own financial consulting company, Rudy C. Howard, CPA Consulting, in Wilmington, North Carolina, where his services included advising on merger and acquisition transactions, equity and debt issuances and other general management matters. From 2001 through 2003, Mr. Howard served as Chief Financial Officer for Peopleclick, Inc., an international human capital management software company. From 2000 until joining Peopleclick, Mr. Howard served as Chief Financial Officer for Marketing Services Group, Inc., a marketing and internet technology company. From 1995 until 2000, Mr. Howard served as Chief Financial Officer for PPD, Inc., a clinical research organization. Prior to joining PPD, Mr. Howard was a partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Mr. Howard holds a B.A. in Accounting from North Carolina State University, and he is a Certified Public Accountant.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS

Information about the Board

Our Board of Directors currently consists of six directors. In accordance with our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, a majority of our Board of Directors may fix the number of directors. Each director is to hold office until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. At any meeting of our Board of Directors, the presence in person of a majority of the total number of directors then in office will constitute a quorum for all purposes. Pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement, MacAndrews currently has the right to designate as nominees four directors. The MacAndrews Nominees are Messrs. Kozlov, Nelson, and Weiner and Ms. Abrams.

We separate the position of Chairperson of our Board of Directors, currently Ms. Abrams, and that of Chief Executive Officer, currently Stephen L. Holcombe. While our Board of Directors currently believes the separation of these positions serves the aims of our company, our Board of Directors does not believe that it is appropriate to prohibit one person from serving as both Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer. We believe our leadership structure is appropriate given its balance and separation of powers, the industry experience of Ms. Abrams, and the historical experience and understanding of our Company of Mr. Holcombe.

Director Independence

Our Board of Directors has established an Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Our Audit Committee currently consists of directors Messrs. Spiegel (Chair), Fry and Weiner. Our Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Fry (Chair) and Kozlov. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee currently consists of Ms. Abrams (Chair) and Mr. Spiegel. The Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee were established in July 2015 in connection with our IPO.

Our Board of Directors has undertaken a review of the independence of our directors and has determined that Messrs. Fry, Spiegel and Weiner are independent within the meaning of the NASDAQ Stock Market listing rules and meet the additional test for independence for Audit Committee members imposed by SEC regulation and the NASDAQ Stock Market listing rules.

We are a “controlled company” as set forth in NASDAQ Stock Market listing rules because more than 50% of the voting power of our common stock is held by MacAndrews. Under the NASDAQ Stock Market listing rules, a controlled company is exempt from the NASDAQ Stock Market corporate governance requirements that a majority of the Board of Directors consist of independent directors and that directors’ nominations and executive compensation must be approved by a majority of independent directors or a nominating and corporate governance committee or compensation committee composed solely of independent directors. We will rely on some of these exemptions from the corporate governance requirements until we are no longer a controlled company or the Board of Directors determines to no longer rely on these exemptions.

Family Relationships

There is no family relationship between any director, executive officer or person nominated to become our director or executive officer.

Selection of Nominees for the Board of Directors

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of our Board of Directors has the responsibility of identifying individuals qualified to become members of our Board of Directors, consistent with criteria approved by our Board of Directors. The committee also recommends to our Board of Directors for approval director nominees, consistent with our director qualification criteria and any obligations under our contractual arrangements, including the Investor Rights Agreement. Our corporate governance guidelines call for the committee to consider diversity to be an additional desirable characteristic in potential nominees. Although the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not have a formal diversity policy concerning membership of the Board of Directors, it does consider diversity in its broadest sense when evaluating candidates, including persons diverse in gender, ethnicity, experience, and background.

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With respect to director nominee procedures, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee utilizes a broad approach for identification of director nominees and may seek recommendations from our directors, officers or stockholders, or it may choose to engage a search firm. In evaluating and determining whether to ultimately recommend a person as a candidate for election as a director, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers the qualifications set forth in our corporate governance guidelines, including the highest personal and professional ethics, integrity and values, demonstrated business acumen, experience and ability to use sound judgment to contribute to effective oversight of our business or financial affairs, strategic planning, and independence from management. It also takes into account specific characteristics and expertise that it believes will enhance the diversity of knowledge, expertise, background and personal characteristics of the Board of Directors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may engage a third party to conduct or assist with the evaluation. Ultimately, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee seeks to recommend to the Board of Directors those nominees whose specific qualities, experience and expertise will augment the current Board of Directors’ composition and whose past experience evidences that they will: (1) dedicate sufficient time, energy and attention to ensure the diligent performance of Board of Directors duties; (2) comply with the duties and responsibilities set forth in our corporate governance guidelines and in our amended and restated by-laws; (3) comply with all duties of care, loyalty and confidentiality applicable to them as directors of publicly traded corporations organized in our jurisdiction of incorporation; and (4) adhere to our Code of Conduct and Ethics, including, but not limited to, the policies on conflicts of interest expressed therein.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers stockholder recommendations of qualified nominees when such recommendations are submitted in accordance with the procedures described in our amended and restated by-laws. To have a nominee considered by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for election at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, a stockholder must submit the recommendation in writing to the attention of our Secretary at our corporate headquarters no later than February 2, 2022 and no earlier than January 3, 2022. Any such recommendation must include the information as required by our amended and restated by-laws. Once we receive the recommendation, we will deliver to the stockholder nominee a questionnaire that requests additional information about his or her independence, qualifications and other matters that would assist the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in evaluating the stockholder nominee, as well as certain information that must be disclosed about him or her in our proxy statement or other regulatory filings, if nominated. Stockholder nominees must complete and return the questionnaire within the timeframe provided to be considered for nomination by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. See our amended and restated by-laws for additional information regarding stockholder nominees.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee received no recommendation for a director nominee from any stockholder for the director election to be held at the Annual Meeting.

Information Regarding Meetings of the Board and Committees

During 2020, our Board of Directors held eight meetings and took action by written consent seven times, and its three permanent committees, the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, collectively held four meetings, and took action by written consent seven times.

All of our directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate of all meetings of the Board of Directors and the committees on which he or she served during 2020. Under our corporate governance guidelines, a copy of which is available on our website at www.vtvtherapeutics.com, members of our Board of Directors are expected to attend the annual meeting of stockholders.  Messrs. Kindler, Fry, Kozlov and Spiegel attended the annual meeting of stockholders on June 11, 2020.

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Board Committees

Committees of our Board of Directors

In July 2015, our Board of Directors adopted written charters for each of its permanent committees, all of which are available in the Media and Investors—Corporate Governance—Documents & Charters section of our website at www.vtvtherapeutics.com. Pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement, so long as MacAndrews beneficially owns 25% or more of our outstanding common stock, MacAndrews has the right, subject to applicable corporate governance rules of the SEC and the NASDAQ Stock Market listing rules, to designate the members of the committees of the Board of Directors. The following table provides membership information of our directors in each committee of our board. Since the last annual meeting of stockholders on June 11, 2020, Jeffrey B. Kinder and Paul G. Savas resigned from the Board of Directors and the Board appointed Hersh Kozlov to the Compensation Committee and Robin E. Abrams to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

 

 

= Committee Chair

= Member

Audit Committee

Our Audit Committee currently consists of Messrs. Noel J. Spiegel (Chair), John A. Fry, and Howard L. Weiner. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Spiegel qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K. Our Board of Directors has determined that Messrs. Fry, Spiegel and Weiner are independent within the meaning of the NASDAQ Stock Market listing rules and meet the additional test for independence for Audit Committee members imposed by SEC regulation and the NASDAQ Stock Market listing rules. As of the date of this Annual Report, our Audit Committee is fully independent and is in compliance with the applicable SEC and NASDAQ rules and regulations.

Our Audit Committee met four times during our 2020 fiscal year. Our Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in monitoring the audit of our financial statements, our independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and independence, the performance of our independent auditors and our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The Audit Committee has direct responsibility for the appointment, compensation, retention (including termination) and oversight of our independent auditors, and our independent auditors report directly to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee also reviews and approves related party transactions as required by the applicable NASDAQ rules.

Compensation Committee

Our Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. John A. Fry (Chair) and Hersh Kozlov. Because we are a controlled company under the NASDAQ Stock Market listing rules, our Compensation Committee is not required to be fully independent. Our Compensation Committee took action by written consent twice during our 2020 fiscal year. Our Compensation Committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending policies relating to the compensation and benefits of our directors and employees, including our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers.

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The Compensation Committee has the sole authority to retain and terminate any compensation consultant to assist in the evaluation of employee compensation and to approve the consultant’s fees and the other terms and conditions of the consultant’s retention. The Compensation Committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees where appropriate, provided that the subcommittees are composed entirely of directors who satisfy the applicable independence requirement of our Corporate Governance Guidelines and the NASDAQ Stock Market listing rules, subject to any applicable controlled company or other exemption.

In accordance with the Compensation Committee’s charter, our President and Chief Executive Officer may not be present during voting or deliberations of the Committee regarding his or her compensation.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee currently consists of Ms. Robin E. Abrams (Chair) and Noel J. Spiegel.  Because we are a controlled company under the NASDAQ Stock Market listing rules, our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is not required to be fully independent. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee took action by written consent five times during our 2020 fiscal year. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for selecting or recommending that the Board of Directors select candidates for election to our Board of Directors, developing and recommending to the Board of Directors corporate governance guidelines that are applicable to us and overseeing Board of Director and management evaluations.

Risk Oversight

Our Board of Directors has an oversight role, as a whole and also at the committee level, in overseeing management of our risks. Our Board of Directors regularly reviews information regarding our credit, liquidity and operations, as well as the risks associated with each. The Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing the management of risks relating to its employee compensation plans and arrangements, and the Audit Committee oversees the management of financial risks. While each committee is responsible for evaluating certain risks and overseeing the management of such risks, the entire Board of Directors is regularly informed through committee reports about such risks.

Code of Conduct and Ethics

Our Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of our directors, officers and employees and is intended to comply with the relevant listing requirements for a code of conduct as well as qualify as a “code of ethics” as defined by the rules of the SEC. The Code of Conduct and Ethics contains general guidelines for conducting our business consistent with the highest standards of business ethics. We intend to disclose any future amendments to certain provisions of our Code of Conduct and Ethics, or waivers of such provisions applicable to any principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and controller, or persons performing similar functions, and our directors, on our website at www.vtvtherapeutics.com. The Code of Conduct and Ethics is available on our website under Documents & Charters in the Media and Investors—Corporate Governance section of our website at www.vtvtherapeutics.com.

Communications with the Board of Directors

Stockholders who wish to communicate with members of our Board of Directors, including the independent directors individually or as a group, may send correspondence to them in care of our Secretary at our principal executive offices at 3980 Premier Drive, Suite 310, High Point, North Carolina 27265. Such communication will be forwarded to the intended recipient(s). We currently do not intend to have our Secretary screen this correspondence, but we may change this policy if directed by our Board of Directors due to the nature or volume of the correspondence.

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The following table sets forth the total compensation paid to each of our directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.  Ms. Abrams was a named executive officer of the Company and her compensation is set forth in the “Summary Compensation Table” and not in this Director Compensation section.

 

 

In 2016, our Board of Directors established the following compensation program for our non-employee directors, other than Messrs. Nelson and Savas and no changes were made in 2020:

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In addition, all directors will be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with their services.

 

The outstanding option awards for our non-employee directors as of December 31, 2020 are as follows:

 

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Summary Compensation Table

The following summary compensation table sets forth information regarding the compensation paid, awarded to or earned by our President and Chief Executive Officer and our two other most highly compensated executive officers (“Named Executive Officers”) for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, for services rendered in all capacities during the fiscal year presented.

 

 

Employment and Services Agreements

We have entered into employment agreements with our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer. The employment agreements set forth the annual base salary, target bonus percentage, target equity grants, terms of severance and eligibility for employee benefits. We also entered into a services agreement with our Executive Chairperson.

Executive Chairperson Services Agreement. The services agreement with our Executive Chairperson, Robin E. Abrams, addresses her services and compensation only in her capacity as Executive Chairperson of our Company. The services agreement provided for a base fee of not less than $250,000. Our Executive Chairperson is also eligible to receive an annual performance bonus in respect of each completed fiscal year the type of award shall be determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion (payable in stock options, restricted stock or restricted stock units or, at our election, in cash).  The services agreement does not specify the performance metrics and goals for the annual target cash and equity awards, which metrics and goals will be established by the Compensation Committee. Such equity or cash awards will generally vest in three equal installments of 33.33% on each anniversary of the date of grant, subject to continued employment on the applicable vesting date (provided that

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upon certain qualifying terminations, such awards shall vest in full). The services agreement contains a customary one-year post termination non-compete and non-solicit and other customary terms.

Employment Agreement with our President and Chief Executive Officer.  In 2019, we entered into an employment agreement with Stephen L. Holcombe, our President and Chief Executive Officer, which provides for a term through December 31, 2020, a base salary of not less than $450,000, and a cash bonus of up to 50% of base salary, based on achievement of performance targets. Our President and Chief Executive Officer is also eligible to receive an annual equity performance bonus in respect of each completed fiscal year in an amount determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion (payable in stock options, restricted stock or restricted stock units or, at our election, in cash). The performance metrics and goals for the annual cash and equity awards will be determined by our Compensation Committee. Such equity or cash awards will generally vest in three equal installments of 33.33% on each anniversary of the date of grant, subject to acceleration of vesting upon certain qualifying terminations on or within the 12-month period following a change-in-control.

On December 10, 2020, we entered into a new employee agreement with Mr. Holcombe, which provides for a term through December 31, 2021 with other terms the same as the 2019 agreement described above.

Employment Agreement with our Chief Financial Officer. In 2019, we entered into an employment agreement with Rudy C. Howard, our Chief Financial Officer, which provides for a term through December 31, 2020, a base salary of not less than $325,000, and a cash bonus of up to 40% of base salary, based on achievement of performance targets. Our Chief Financial Officer is also eligible to receive an annual equity performance bonus in respect of each completed fiscal year in an amount determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion (payable in stock options, restricted stock or restricted stock units or, at our election, in cash). The performance metrics and goals for the annual cash and equity awards will be determined by our Compensation Committee. Such equity or cash awards will generally vest in three equal installments of 33.33% on each anniversary of the date of grant, subject to acceleration of vesting upon certain qualifying terminations on or within the 12-month period following a change-in-control.  

On December 10, 2020, we entered into a new employee agreement with Mr. Howard, which provides for a term through December 31, 2021 with other terms the same as the 2019 agreement described above.

Our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer (each, an “Executive”) will be eligible for other standard employee benefits. If the Executive’s employment is terminated by us without cause or he resigns for “good reason,” then subject to the execution of a release of claims, the Executive shall receive as severance pay:

In addition, the Executive will be entitled to all accrued benefits. Treatment of the Executive’s outstanding equity awards will be governed by the terms of the underlying award agreements, but if the Executive’s employment is terminated by us without cause or upon resignation by the Executive with good reason, in each case on or within 12 months following a change-in-control, then the Executive’s outstanding equity awards shall vest in full.

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The employment agreements contain other customary terms and conditions, including a two-year post-employment noncompete, a three-year post-employment non-solicit and other nondisclosure of confidential information, intellectual property and non-disparagement provisions.

Prior to December 31, 2021, the Company and each Executive will discuss whether the term of employment should be extended. If the Company does not renew the term and terminates the Executive’s employment other than for cause, death or disability, then the post-employment noncompetition period shall be reduced from two years to one year and in lieu of the severance listed above, the Executive will receive the greater of (i) six months of base salary in continuing installments and six months of COBRA continuation coverage with the same cost sharing as noted above or (ii) severance and benefits in accordance with Company policy as in effect at the time of termination. If the Company is willing to extend the term of employment and the Executive does not agree, then the executive will not be eligible for severance and the post-employment noncompete period shall not be reduced.

Outstanding Equity Awards as of December 31, 2020

The following table lists the outstanding equity awards held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2020:

 

 

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PROPOSAL TWO

APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF VTV THERAPEUTICS INC.

 

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Charter”) currently authorizes the Company to issue a total of 250,000,000 shares, consisting of 200,000,000 shares of common stock, divided into (a) 100,000,000 shares of Class A common stock (the “Class A Common Stock”) and (b) 100,000,000 shares of Class B common stock (the “Class B Common Stock” and, together with Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”); and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock. The Board of Directors adopted, subject to approval of the Company’s stockholders, an amendment to the Charter (the “Charter Amendment”) to increase the number of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock from 100,000,000 shares to 200,000,000 shares.

If stockholders approve this Proposal Two, we expect to file the Charter Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to increase the number of authorized shares of our Class A Common Stock as soon as practicable following stockholder approval. Upon filing of the Charter Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, Section 4.1 of the Charter would be amended as follows, with the proposed additions underlined and proposed deletions stricken through:

“The total number of shares of all classes of stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 250,000,000 350,000,000 shares, consisting of: (i) 200,000,000 300,000,000 shares of common stock, divided into (a) 100,000,000 200,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, with the par value of $0.01 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”) and (b) 100,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, with the par value of $0.01 per share (the “Class B Common Stock” and, together with Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”); and (ii) 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, with the par value of $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).”

As of the close of business on March 8, 2021, of the 100,000,000 currently authorized shares of Class A Common Stock, there were 57,562,376 shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding and 39,429,517 shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to an exchange of outstanding Class B Common Stock, warrants and under our equity compensation plans. Accordingly, there are currently 3,008,107 available unissued and unreserved authorized shares of our Class A Common Stock.

The Charter Amendment would increase the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that we are authorized to issue from 100,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock to 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, representing an increase of 100,000,000 shares of authorized Class A Common Stock, with a corresponding increase in the total authorized Common Stock, which includes Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, from 200,000,000 to 300,000,000, and a corresponding increase in the total authorized capital stock, which includes Common Stock and preferred stock, from 250,000,000 shares to 350,000,000 shares.

The foregoing is a summary of the key changes effected by the Charter Amendment and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Charter Amendment, a copy of which is attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix A.

Reasons for the Charter Amendment

Currently, we have no products approved for commercial sale, and to date we have not generated any revenue from product sales. We have incurred net losses in each year since beginning to develop our drug candidates, including net losses of approximately $8.5 million, $17.9 million and $8.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. As of December 31, 2020, we had a total accumulated deficit of approximately $290.0 million. Until such time that we can generate substantial revenue from product sales, we expect to finance our operating activities through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, marketing and distribution arrangements and other collaborations, strategic alliances and licensing arrangements.

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We do not currently have any committed external source of funds other than those available to us under the Controlled Equity Offering^SM  Sales Agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (the “ATM Offering”) and our purchase agreement with Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC (the “LPC Purchase Agreement”).  Accordingly, until we can generate sufficient product revenues, if ever, we expect to finance our cash needs through combination of equity offerings, debt financings, marketing and distribution arrangements and other collaborations, strategic alliances and licensing arrangements.

As of the date of this Proxy Statement, we have no definitive plans, arrangements or understandings to issue any of the additional shares of Class A Common Stock that would be available as a result of the approval of the proposed Charter Amendment. Our Board of Directors believes that these additional shares will provide the Company with needed flexibility to issue shares of Class A Common Stock in the future to take advantage of market conditions or favorable opportunities without the potential expense or delay incident to obtaining stockholder approval for a particular issuance. The cost, prior notice requirements and delay involved in obtaining stockholder approval at the time that corporate action may be necessary or desirable could eliminate our ability to opportunistically capitalize on favorable market windows, which could delay or preclude our ability to advance our development and potential commercialization efforts.

The Board of Directors believes that the proposed increase in authorized Class A Common Stock will make sufficient shares available to provide the additional flexibility necessary to fund our continuing operations and pursue our strategic objectives.

Effect of Stockholder Approval of Charter Amendment

The additional Class A Common Stock proposed to be authorized under the Charter Amendment would have rights identical to our current outstanding Class A Common Stock. Stockholder approval of the Charter Amendment and issuance of the Class A Common Stock authorized thereby would not affect the rights of the holders of our currently outstanding Class A Common Stock, except for effects incidental to increasing the number of shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding, such as dilution of the earnings per share and voting rights of current holders of Class A Common Stock. The additional shares of Class A Common Stock authorized by the proposed Charter Amendment could be issued by the Board of Directors without further vote of our stockholders except as may be required in particular cases by the Charter, applicable law, regulatory agencies or Nasdaq rules. Under the Charter, our stockholders do not have preemptive rights to subscribe for additional securities that may be issued by us, which means that current stockholders do not have a prior right thereunder to purchase any newly issued shares of Class A Common Stock in order to maintain their proportionate ownership interests in us.

Although this Proposal Two to approve the Charter Amendment has been prompted by business and financial considerations and not by the threat of any hostile takeover attempt (nor is the Board of Directors currently aware of any such attempts directed at us), and the Board of Directors does not intend or view the proposed increase in the number of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock as an anti-takeover measure, the increase in our authorized shares of Class A Common Stock could have an anti-takeover effect because additional shares could be issued (within the limits imposed by applicable law) in one or more transactions that could make a change in control or takeover of the Company difficult.

Vote Required

Approval of the Charter Amendment requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, entitled to vote, voting together as a single class.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders vote FOR the approval of the Amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

 

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PROPOSAL THREE

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Our Board of Directors, including our Audit Committee, has selected Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”), Raleigh, North Carolina, as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, and recommends that our stockholders vote to ratify this appointment. If our stockholders ratify this appointment, our Audit Committee, in its discretion, may appoint a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it believes that doing so would be in the best interests of our stockholders. If our stockholders do not ratify this appointment, our Audit Committee may reconsider, but might not change, its appointment.

EY has audited our annual financial statements since 2000. Representatives of EY are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting of stockholders with the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Summary of Fees

The Audit Committee has adopted a policy for the pre-approval of all audit and permitted non-audit services that may be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm. Under the policy, the Audit Committee must give prior approval for any amount or type of service within four categories—audit, audit-related, tax services or, to the extent permitted by law, other services—that the independent auditor provides. Prior to the annual engagement, the Audit Committee may grant general pre-approval for independent auditor services within these four categories. During the year, circumstances may arise when it may become necessary to engage the independent auditor for additional services not contemplated in the original pre-approval and, in those instances, such service will require separate pre-approval by the Audit Committee if it is to be provided by the independent auditor. For any pre-approval, the Audit Committee will consider whether such services are consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence, whether the auditor is best-positioned to provide the most cost-effective and efficient service and whether the service might enhance our ability to manage or control risk or improve audit quality. The Audit Committee may delegate to one or more of its members authority to approve a request for pre-approval, provided the member reports any approval so given to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. All fees incurred subsequent to our IPO were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

The following table summarizes the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by EY to us in 2019 and 2020. A description of these various fees and services follows the table.

 

 

Audit Fees

The aggregate fees billed to us by EY in 2019 and 2020 reflected as audit fees above include fees associated with the annual audit of our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 and reviews of our financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.  Additionally, the audit fees above for both years include work performed with respect to an S-3 Registration Statement filed in 2019 to register shares previously issued to MacAndrews under the Letter Agreements and with respect to our S-8 Registration Statement and the S-3 and S-1 Registration Statements filed in 2020 to register shares under our ATM Offering and Lincoln Park Agreement.

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All Other Fees

The aggregate fees billed to us by EY in 2019 and 2020 reflected as all other fees above relate to the license of accounting research software.

Vote Required

Approval of the ratification of the appointment of EY as our independent registered public accounting firm requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, entitled to vote as a single class, that are present or represented at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions will be counted for purposes of determining the number of shares present or represented at the Annual Meeting and, accordingly will affect the outcome of this proposal.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders vote FOR the ratification of the appointment of EY as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021.

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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

Our Audit Committee has (1) reviewed and discussed with management the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020, (2) discussed with EY, our independent registered public accounting firm, the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 61, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and (3) received the written disclosures and the letter from EY concerning applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding EY’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with EY its independence. Based upon these discussions and reviews, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, which is filed with the SEC.

Our Board of Directors has determined that Messrs. Fry, Spiegel and Weiner are independent within the meaning of the NASDAQ Stock Market listing rules and meet the additional requirements for independence for Audit Committee members imposed by Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act (collectively, the “Audit Committee Independence Requirements”). As a result, our Audit Committee is composed, and will be composed following our Annual Meeting, entirely of directors who are independent within the meaning of the NASDAQ Stock Market listing rules and meet the Audit Committee Independence Requirements. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Spiegel qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K. Our Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors, a copy of which is available under Documents & Charters in the Investors — Corporate Governance section of our website at www.vtvtherapeutics.com.

EY is responsible for performing an independent audit of the consolidated financial statements and expressing an opinion on the conformity of those financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The Audit Committee’s responsibility is to monitor, evaluate and oversee these processes. The Audit Committee members are not our employees and are not professional accountants or auditors. The Audit Committee’s primary purpose is to assist the Board of Directors to fulfill its oversight responsibilities by reviewing the financial information provided to stockholders and others, the systems of internal controls that management has established to preserve the Company’s assets and the audit process. It is not the Audit Committee’s duty or responsibility to conduct auditing or accounting reviews or procedures or to determine that our financial statements are complete and accurate and in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management. In giving the Audit Committee’s recommendation to the Board, it has relied on management’s representations that the consolidated financial statements have been prepared with integrity and objectivity and in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and on the representations of the independent registered public accounting firm, EY, included in its report on our consolidated financial statements.

EY has served as our auditor since 2000.

 

 

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of our Class A Common Stock as of March 8, 2021 unless otherwise noted below for the following:

The number of shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding and the percentage of beneficial ownership are based on the number of shares of Class B Common Stock and nonvoting common units of vTv Therapeutics LLC (“vTv Units”) outstanding and after giving effect to the exchange of all outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock (together with the corresponding vTv Units) into shares of Class A Common Stock. Pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, vTv Units may, subject to the terms of the Exchange Agreement and the vTv Therapeutics LLC Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, be exchanged at any time (along with a corresponding number of shares of our Class B Common Stock) with vTv Therapeutics LLC for shares of our Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis, or for cash, at our option (as the managing member of vTv Therapeutics LLC). See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Exchange Agreement.”

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. These rules generally attribute beneficial ownership of securities to persons who possess sole or shared voting power or investment power with respect to such securities. Except as otherwise indicated, all persons listed below have sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned by them, subject to applicable community property laws. Common stock subject to options exercisable on or within 60 days after March 8, 2021 are deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of the person holding those options, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each listed stockholder is c/o vTv Therapeutics Inc., 3980 Premier Drive, Suite 310, High Point, North Carolina 27265.

 

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Other than compensation arrangements for our named executive officers and directors, we describe below each transaction or series of similar transactions, since January 1, 2020, to which we were a party or will be a party, in which:

Compensation arrangements for our named executive officers and directors are described in the sections entitled “Executive Compensation-Employment and Services Agreements” and “Director Compensation”.

Policies and Procedures for Related Party Transactions

We have adopted a written Related Person Transaction Policy, which sets forth our policy with respect to the review, approval, ratification and disclosure of all related person transactions by our Audit Committee. In accordance with our Related Person Transaction Policy, our Audit Committee has overall responsibility for the implementation and compliance with this policy.

For the purposes of our Related Person Transaction Policy, a “related person transaction” is a transaction, arrangement or relationship (or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships) in which we were, are or will be a participant and in which any related person (as defined in our Related Person Transaction Policy) had, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest, in excess of $120,000. A “related person transaction” does not include any employment relationship or transaction involving an executive officer and any related compensation resulting solely from that employment relationship which has been reviewed and approved by our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.

Our Related Person Transaction Policy requires that notice of a proposed related person transaction be provided to our legal department or our Chief Financial Officer prior to entering into such transaction. If our legal department determines that such transaction is a related person transaction, the proposed transaction will be submitted to our Audit Committee for consideration at its next meeting. Under our Related Person Transaction Policy, only our Audit Committee will be permitted to approve those related person transactions that are in, or not inconsistent with, our best interests. In the event we become aware of a related person transaction that has not been previously reviewed, approved or ratified under our Related Person Transaction Policy and that is ongoing or is completed, the transaction will be submitted to our Audit Committee so that it may determine whether to ratify, rescind or terminate the related person transaction.

Our Related Person Transaction Policy also provides that our Audit Committee will review certain previously approved or ratified related person transactions that are ongoing to determine whether the related person transaction remains in our best interests and the best interests of our stockholders.

Exchange Agreement

In connection with the IPO, we, vTv Therapeutics LLC and vTv Therapeutics Holdings LLC (“Holdings”), and other existing and future holders of the vTv Units (and corresponding shares of Class B Common Stock) entered into an exchange agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”) under which, from time to time, the holders (or certain transferees thereof) have the right to exchange their vTv Units (along with a corresponding number of our Class B Common Stock) for (i) shares of our Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis or (ii) cash (based on the market price of the shares of Class A common stock), at our option, subject to customary conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications. Any decision to require an exchange for cash rather than shares of Class A Common Stock will ultimately be determined by our Board of Directors.

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On October 5, 2015, Holdings was dissolved and made a liquidating distribution of shares of Class B Common Stock and the corresponding vTv Units to its members. As a result of the dissolution, M&F TTP Holdings LLC became the successor to Holdings under the Exchange Agreement, Investor Rights Agreement and the Tax Receivable Agreement pursuant to the terms of each respective agreement, and various other holders of Class B Common Stock became parties to the Exchange Agreement. On December 28, 2015, M&F TTP Holdings LLC contributed its shares of Class B Common Stock and the corresponding vTv Units to its subsidiary, M&F, which became the successor to M&F TTP Holdings LLC under the Exchange Agreement, Investor Rights Agreement and Tax Receivable Agreement pursuant to the terms of each respective agreement.

Tax Receivable Agreement

As further described above, our Class B Common Stock, together with the corresponding number of vTv Units, may be exchanged for shares of our Class A Common Stock, or for cash, at our option. These future exchanges of Class B Common Stock, together with the corresponding number of vTv Units, may result in increases in the tax basis of the assets of vTv Therapeutics LLC that otherwise would not have been available. Such increases in tax basis are likely to increase (for tax purposes) depreciation and amortization deductions and therefore reduce the amount of income tax we would otherwise be required to pay in the future and may also decrease gain (or increase loss) on future dispositions of certain assets to the extent the increased tax basis is allocated to those assets. The IRS may challenge all or part of these tax basis increases and a court could sustain such a challenge.

In connection with our IPO, we entered into a Tax Receivable Agreement with M&F, as successor in interest to Holdings, and M&F TTP Holdings LLC that provides for the payment by us to M&F (or certain of its transferees or other assignees) of 85% of the amount of cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income tax or franchise tax that we actually realize (or, in some circumstances, we are deemed to realize) as a result of (a) the exchange of Class B Common Stock, together with the corresponding number of vTv Units, for shares of our Class A Common Stock (or for cash), (b) tax benefits related to imputed interest deemed to be paid by us as a result of the Tax Receivable Agreement and (c) certain tax benefits attributable to payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement. Although the actual increase in tax basis and the amount and timing of any payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement will vary depending upon a number of factors, including the timing of exchanges, the price of shares of our Class A common stock at the time of the exchange, the nature of the assets, the extent to which such exchanges are taxable, the tax rates then applicable, and the amount and timing of our income, we expect that the payments that we make to M&F could be substantial.

M&F generally will not reimburse us for any payments that previously have been made under the Tax Receivable Agreement even if the IRS subsequently disallows the tax basis increase or any other relevant tax item. Instead, any excess cash payments made by us to M&F will be netted against any future cash payments that we might otherwise be required to make under the terms of the Tax Receivable Agreement. However, we might not determine that we have effectively made an excess cash payment to M&F for a number of years following the initial time of such payment. As a result, in certain circumstances we could make payments to M&F under the Tax Receivable Agreement in excess of our cash tax savings. Our ability to achieve benefits from any tax basis increase and the payments to be made under the Tax Receivable Agreement, will depend upon a number of factors, including the timing and amount of our future income and the nature of our assets.

To the extent that we are unable to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for any reason, such payments will be deferred and will accrue interest until paid. In addition, the Tax Receivable Agreement provides that, upon a merger, asset sale or other form of business combination or certain other changes of control or if, at any time, we elect an early termination of the Tax Receivable Agreement, our (or our successor’s) obligations with respect to exchanged or acquired Class B common stock, together with the corresponding number of vTv Units (whether exchanged or acquired before or after such change of control or early termination) would be required to be paid significantly in advance of the actual realization, if any, of any future tax benefits and would be based on certain assumptions, including that we would have sufficient taxable income to fully utilize the deductions arising from the increased tax deductions and tax basis and other benefits related to entering into the Tax Receivable Agreement, and, in the case of certain early termination elections, that any Class B Common Stock, together with the corresponding number of vTv Units, that have not been exchanged will be deemed exchanged for the market value of the Class A common stock at the time of termination. Consequently, it is possible that the actual cash tax savings realized by us will be significantly less than the corresponding Tax Receivable Agreement payments.

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We are a holding company, and we have no material assets other than our ownership of vTv Units, and we have no independent means of generating revenue or cash flow. We intend, as its managing member, to cause vTv Therapeutics LLC to make distributions in an amount sufficient to allow us to pay our operating expenses, including any payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreement. However, vTv Therapeutics LLC’s ability to make such distributions may be subject to various limitations and restrictions including, but not limited to, restrictions on distributions that would either violate any contract or agreement to which vTv Therapeutics LLC is then a party, including potential debt agreements, or any applicable law, or that would have the effect of rendering vTv Therapeutics LLC insolvent. If vTv Therapeutics LLC does not distribute sufficient funds for us to pay our operating expenses, including any payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreement, we may have to borrow funds, which could materially adversely affect our liquidity and subject us to various restrictions imposed by any such lenders. To the extent that we are unable to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for any reason, such payments will be deferred and will accrue interest until paid.

Our organizational structure, including the fact that M&F owns more than 50% of the voting power of our voting stock and owns part of its economic interest in our business through vTv Therapeutics LLC, confers certain benefits upon M&F that will not benefit the holders of our Class A Common Stock to the same extent as it will benefit M&F. Although we will retain 15% of the amount of the tax benefits described above, it is possible that the interests of M&F may in some circumstances conflict with our interests and the interests of our other stockholders. For example, M&F may have different tax positions from us, especially in light of the Tax Receivable Agreement, that could influence their decisions regarding whether and when we should dispose of assets, whether and when we should incur new or refinance existing indebtedness, and whether and when we should terminate the Tax Receivable Agreement and accelerate our obligations thereunder. In addition, the determination of future tax reporting positions, the structuring of future transactions and the handling of any future challenges by any taxing authority to our tax reporting positions may take into consideration M&F’s tax or other considerations, which may differ from the considerations of us or our other stockholders. To the extent that M&F is dissolved or liquidated, MacAndrews and/or its affiliates will succeed to the rights and obligations of M&F under the Tax Receivable Agreement.

Investor Rights Agreement

In connection with our IPO, we entered into an Investor Rights Agreement with M&F, as successor in interest to Holdings. The Investor Rights Agreement provides M&F with certain demand, shelf and piggyback registration rights with respect to its shares of our common stock and also provides M&F with certain governance rights, depending on the size of its holdings of our common stock.

Under the registration rights provisions of the Investor Rights Agreement:

The registration rights provisions also contain customary provisions relating to cooperation with the registration process, black-out periods and customary securities law indemnity provisions in favor of the selling stockholders. With certain customary exceptions, we will be required to bear all registration expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, associated with any registration of shares pursuant to the agreement. Registration rights may be transferred by M&F and its affiliates, subject to certain restrictions. No predetermined penalties or liquidated damages will be payable by us if we fail to comply with the registration rights provisions of the Investor Rights Agreement.

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The Investor Rights Agreement also provides that M&F, subject to applicable corporate governance rules of the SEC and the NASDAQ Stock Market listing rules (which may require M&F to designate independent directors), has the right to designate: (i) a majority of the directors (and if the number of directors is even, one director more than 50% of the number of directors) if it beneficially owns more than 50% of our outstanding common stock, (ii) one less than a majority of the directors if it beneficially owns more than 25% but 50% or less of our outstanding common stock, and (iii) one-third of the directors (rounded down to the nearest whole number) if it beneficially owns more than 10% but 25% or less of our outstanding common stock. M&F loses the right to designate directors once it owns 10% or less of our outstanding common stock. So long as M&F beneficially owns 25% or more of our outstanding common stock, it will have the right, subject to applicable corporate governance rules of the SEC and the NASDAQ Stock Market listing rules, to designate the members of the committees of our Board of Directors. The Investor Rights Agreement will terminate when MacAndrews (which indirectly controls approximately 74.0% of our outstanding common stock as of the record date) and its permitted transferees hold less than 2.5% of our outstanding common stock. To the extent that M&F is dissolved or liquidated, MacAndrews and/or its affiliates will succeed to M&F rights and obligations under the Investor Rights Agreement.

Letter Agreements

The Company has entered into the Letter Agreements with MacAndrews.  Under the terms of the Letter Agreements, the Company has the right to sell to MacAndrews shares of its Class A Common Stock at a specified price per share, and MacAndrews has the right (exercisable up to three times) to require the Company to sell to it shares of Class A Common Stock at the same price.  An aggregate of $59.0 million worth of Class A Common Stock were sold under the letter agreements with M&F Group in December 2017, July 2018, December 2018, March 2019, September 2019 and December 2019.  In addition, in connection with the entrance into many of these Letter Agreements, the Company also issued to M&F Group the Letter Agreement Warrants to purchase additional shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock.

Certain terms of these Letter Agreements are set forth in the table below:  

 

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Each of the December 5, 2017 and July 30, 2018 Letter Agreements resulted in a deemed capital contribution to the Company as the fair value of the financial instrument received by the Company exceeded the fair value of those financial instruments issued to MacAndrews.  The December 11, 2018, March 18, 2019, September 26, 2019 and December 23, 2019 Letter Agreements resulted in a deemed distribution to MacAndrews as the fair value of the financial instruments issued to MacAndrews exceeded the fair value of the financial instrument received by the Company.  

Indemnification Agreements

We have entered into customary indemnification agreements with our executive officers and directors that provide, in general, that we will provide them with customary indemnification in connection with their service to us or on our behalf.

These indemnification agreements require us, among other things, to indemnify our directors and officers against liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers, other than liabilities arising from willful misconduct. These indemnification agreements also require us to advance any expenses incurred by the directors or officers as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified and to obtain directors’ and officers’ insurance, if available on reasonable terms.

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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

Our Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Fry (Chair) and Kozlov. None of our executive officers serves as a member of the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee (or other committee performing equivalent functions) of another entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee. No interlocking relationship exists between any member of the Board of Directors or any member of the Compensation Committee (or other committee performing equivalent functions) of any other company.

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STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

Stockholders may present proposals for action at meetings of stockholders only if they comply with the proxy rules established by the SEC, applicable Delaware law and our amended and restated by-laws. We have not received any stockholder proposals for consideration at our 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Under Rule 14a-8 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act (“Rule 14a-8”), in order for a stockholder proposal to be included in our proxy solicitation materials for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, it must be delivered to our principal executive offices located at 3980 Premier Drive, Suite 310, High Point, North Carolina 27265 by November 18, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Any stockholder who desires to bring a proposal at our 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders without including such proposal in our proxy statement must deliver written notice thereof to our Secretary no earlier than January 3, 2022 and no later than February 2, 2022. The stockholder proposals must otherwise comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8.

If a stockholder proposal is not properly submitted for inclusion in the 2022 proxy statement pursuant to the requirements described above (but otherwise complies with the advance notice provisions of our amended and restated by-laws), management will be permitted to vote proxies in its discretion if it advises stockholders in the 2022 proxy statement about the nature of the matter and how management intends to vote on such matter.

HOUSEHOLDING MATTERS

The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies to deliver a single Notice of Internet Availability or a single copy of proxy materials to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless a company has received contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders at that address. This means that only one copy of the Annual Report, this Proxy Statement and Notice may have been sent to multiple stockholders in your household. If you would prefer to receive separate copies of the Notice of Internet Availability and/or Proxy Statement either now or in the future, please contact our Secretary either by calling 336-841-0300 or by mailing a request to Attn: Secretary, 3980 Premier Drive, Suite 310, High Point, North Carolina 27265. Upon written or oral request to the Secretary, we will promptly provide a separate copy of the Annual Report and this Proxy Statement and Notice. In addition, stockholders at a shared address who receive multiple Notices of Internet Availability or multiple copies of proxy statements may request to receive a single Notice of Internet Availability or a single copy of proxy statements in the future in the same manner as described above.

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 as filed with the SEC is accessible free of charge on our website at www.vtvtherapeutics.com under Investors—Financial Information—SEC Filings. The Annual Report on Form 10-K contains our audited consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in redeemable noncontrolling interest and stockholders’ deficit and cash flows for each of the three years in the periods ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018. You can request a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K free of charge by sending a written request to vTv Therapeutics Inc., Attn: Secretary, 3980 Premier Drive, Suite 310, High Point, North Carolina 27265. Please include your contact information with the request.

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OTHER MATTERS

Other than those matters set forth in this Proxy Statement, we do not know of any additional matters to be submitted at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy to vote the shares they represent as the Board of Directors recommends.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dated: March 18, 2021

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HOW TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING

Online access to the Annual Meeting will begin 15 minutes prior to the meeting start time of 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on May 3, 2021. To be admitted to the Annual Meeting's live webcast, you must have previously registered at www.proxydocs.com/vtvt.

 

 

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APPENDIX A

 

 

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
TO
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
VTV THERAPEUTICS INC.

vTv Therapeutics Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies as follows:

FIRST: The certificate of incorporation of the Corporation as heretofore in effect is hereby amended by amending and restating Section 4.1 thereof to provide in its entirety as follows:

“4.1The total number of shares of all classes of stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 350,000,000 shares, consisting of: (i) 300,000,000 shares of common stock, divided into (a) 200,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, with the par value of $0.01 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”) and (b) 100,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, with the par value of $0.01 per share (the “Class B Common Stock” and, together with Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”); and (ii) 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, with the par value of $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).”

SECOND: The foregoing amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

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vTv Therapeutics P.O. BOX 8016, CARY, NC 27512-9903 Your Vote is Important! PLEASE VOTE BY: INTERNET Go to:  www.proxypush.com/VTVT Cast your vote online Have your Proxy Card ready. Follow the simple instructions to record your vote. PHONE Call 1-866-240-5352 Use any touch-tone telephone, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Have your Proxy Card ready. Follow the simple recorded instructions. MAIL Mark, sign and date your Proxy Card. Fold and return your Proxy Card Form in the postage-paid envelope provided. vTv Therapeutics Inc. Annual Meeting of Stockholders For Stockholders as of March 08, 2021 Control Number <— Please fold here — Do not separate —> TIME: Monday, May 03, 2021 09:00 AM, Local Time PLACE: Annual Meeting to be held live via the Internet - please visit www.proxydocs.com/VTVT for more details This proxy is being solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors The undersigned hereby appoints Stephen L. Holcombe and Rudy C. Howard, and each or either of them, as the true and lawful attorneys of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and revocation, and authorizes them, and each of them, to vote all the shares of capital stock of vTv Therapeutics Inc. which the undersigned is entitled to vote at said meeting and any adjournment thereof upon the matters specified and upon such other matters as may be properly brought before the meeting or any adjournment thereof, conferring authority upon such true and lawful attorneys to vote in their discretion on such other matters as may properly come before the meeting and revoking any proxy heretofore given. THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, SHARES WILL BE VOTED IDENTICAL TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDATION. This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein. In their discretion, the Named Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other matters that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. You are encouraged to specify your choice by marking the appropriate box (SEE REVERSE SIDE) but you need not mark any box if you wish to vote in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendation. The Named Proxies cannot vote your shares unless you sign (on the reverse side) and return this card. PLEASE BE SURE TO SIGN AND DATE THIS PROXY CARD AND MARK ON THE REVERSE SIDE Copyright © 2021 Mediant Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved

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vTv Therapeutics Inc. Annual Meeting of Shareholders Please make your marks like this:  Use dark black pencil or pen only THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR PROPOSAL(S) 1, 2, 3. Proposal Your Vote Board of Directors Recommends To elect six director nominees to serve until our next annual meeting or until their successors have been elected and qualified:  For Withhold 1.01 Robin E. Abrams For 1.02 John A. Fry For 1.03 Hersh Kozlov For 1.04 Richard S. Nelson For 1.05 Noel J. Spiegel For 1.06 Howard L. Weiner For For Against Abstain To approve an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock. For To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2021 For You must pre-register to attend the meeting online and/or participate at the email address indicated. Authorized Signatures - Must be completed for your instructions to be executed. Please sign exactly as your name(s) appears on your account. If held in joint tenancy, all persons should sign. Trustees, administrators, etc., should include title and authority. Corporations should provide full name of corporation and title of authorized officer signing the Proxy/Vote Form. Signature (and Title if applicable) Date Signature (if held jointly) Date