DEF 14A 1 formdef14a.htm

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Filed by the Registrant ☒

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐

Check the appropriate box:

 

Preliminary Proxy Statement
Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
Definitive Proxy Statement
Definitive Additional Materials
Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

 

INSPIREMD, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

 

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
 
No fee required.
   
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
   
Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a–6(i)(1) and 0–11

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

InspireMD, Inc.

4 Menorat Hamaor St.

Tel Aviv, Israel 6744832

Telephone: (888) 776-6804

 

April 18, 2024

 

Dear Stockholder:

 

You are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting of stockholders of InspireMD, Inc. to be held at 10.00 a.m., Eastern Time, on June 10, 2024, at the offices of InspireMD, Inc., 4 Menorat Hamaor St., Tel-Aviv, Israel. Please note that in order to gain admission to the site of our annual meeting, all attendees will need to present a photo identification card and have their name previously provided to building security. As such, in order to facilitate your attendance at the annual meeting, we strongly encourage you to advise Craig Shore by email at craigs@inspiremd.com or phone at + 972-3-6917691 if you plan to attend the meeting prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on May 31, 2024, so that we can timely provide your name to building security.

 

Under Securities and Exchange Commission rules that allow companies to furnish proxy materials to stockholders over the Internet, we have elected to deliver our proxy materials to our stockholders over the Internet. This delivery process allows us to provide stockholders with the information they need, while at the same time conserving natural resources and lowering the cost of delivery. On or about April 18, 2024, we intend to begin sending to our stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) containing instructions on how to access our proxy statement for our annual meeting of stockholders and our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Notice also provides instructions on how to vote online and how to receive a paper copy of the proxy materials by mail.

 

Your vote is very important, regardless of the number of shares of our voting securities that you own. I encourage you to vote by telephone, over the Internet, or by marking, signing, dating and returning your proxy card so that your shares will be represented and voted at the annual meeting, whether or not you plan to attend. If you attend the annual meeting, you will, of course, have the right to revoke the proxy and vote your shares in person.

 

If your shares are held in the name of a broker, trust, bank or other intermediary, and you receive notice of the annual meeting through your broker or through another intermediary, please vote or return the materials in accordance with the instructions provided to you by such broker or other intermediary, or contact your broker directly in order to obtain a proxy issued to you by your intermediary holder to attend the meeting and vote in person. Failure to do so may result in your shares not being eligible to be voted by proxy at the meeting.

 

On behalf of the board of directors, I urge you to submit your proxy as soon as possible, even if you currently plan to attend the meeting in person.

 

Thank you for your support of our company.

 

  Sincerely,
   
  /s/ Paul Stuka
  Paul Stuka
  Chairman

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR

THE ANNUAL STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON JUNE 10, 2024:

 

Our Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Proxy Statement, Proxy Card and

2023 Annual Report to Stockholders are available at:

 

www.proxyvote.com

 

InspireMD, Inc.

4 Menorat Hamaor St.

Tel Aviv, Israel 6744832

Telephone: (888) 776-6804

 

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held June 10, 2024

 

The 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of InspireMD, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”, “we”, “our”, or “us”), will be held at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on June 10, 2024, at the offices of InspireMD, Inc., 4 Menorat Hamaor St., Tel-Aviv, Israel. We will consider and act on the following items of business at the Annual Meeting:

 

  (1) Election of two Class 1 directors to serve on our board of directors for a term of three years or until his or her successor is elected and qualified, for which Paul Stuka and Gary Roubin are the nominees (the “Director Election Proposal”).
     
  (2) To approve, on an advisory basis, the Company’s executive compensation (the “Say on Pay Proposal”).
     
  (3) To approve, on an advisory basis, the frequency of future advisory votes on the Company’s executive compensation (the “Frequency of Say on Pay Proposal”).
     
  (4) Ratification of the appointment of Kesselman & Kesselman, Certified Public Accountants, a member of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2024 (the “Auditor Reappointment Proposal”).
     
  (5) Such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting.

 

Stockholders are referred to the Proxy Statement accompanying this notice for more detailed information with respect to the matters to be considered at the Annual Meeting. After careful consideration, our board of directors recommends a vote FOR the election of the director nominees named in the Director Election Proposal (Proposal 1), FOR the approval of the executive compensation that is described in the Say on Pay Proposal (Proposal 2), FOR the approval of holding an advisory vote every three years regarding approval of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers in the Frequency of Say on Pay Proposal (Proposal 3) and FOR the ratification of the re-appointment of Kesselman & Kesselman, Certified Public Accountants, a member of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2024, under the Auditor Reappointment Proposal (Proposal 4).

 

The board of directors has fixed the close of business on April 18, 2024 as the record date (the “Record Date”). Only holders of record of shares of our common stock are entitled to receive notice of the Annual Meeting and to vote at the Annual Meeting or at any postponement(s) or adjournment(s) of the Annual Meeting. A complete list of registered stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be available for inspection at the office of the Company during regular business hours for the 10 calendar days prior to and during the Annual Meeting.

 

Please note that in order to gain admission to the site of our Annual Meeting, all attendees will need to present a photo identification card and have their name previously provided to building security. As such, in order to facilitate your attendance at the Annual Meeting, we strongly encourage you to advise Craig Shore by email at craigs@inspiremd.com or phone at + 972-3-6917691 if you plan to attend the meeting prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on May 31, 2024, so that we can timely provide your name to building security. In the event that you do not advise us ahead of time that you will be attending the Annual Meeting, we encourage you to arrive at the meeting no later than 9:30 a.m., Eastern Time, in order to ensure that you are able to pass through security prior to the start of the meeting.

 

Under Securities and Exchange Commission rules that allow companies to furnish proxy materials to stockholders over the Internet, we have elected to deliver our proxy materials to our stockholders over the Internet. This delivery process allows us to provide stockholders with the information they need, while at the same time conserving natural resources and lowering the cost of delivery. On or about April 18, 2024, we intend to begin sending to our stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) containing instructions on how to access our proxy statement for our annual meeting of stockholders and our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Notice also provides instructions on how to vote online and how to receive a paper copy of the proxy materials by mail.

 

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YOUR VOTE AND PARTICIPATION IN THE COMPANY’S AFFAIRS ARE IMPORTANT.

 

If your shares are registered in your name, even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment of the Annual Meeting in person, we request that you vote by telephone, over the Internet, or by completing, signing and mailing your proxy card to ensure that your shares will be represented at the Annual Meeting.

 

If your shares are held in the name of a broker, trust, bank or other intermediary, and you receive notice of the Annual Meeting through your broker or through another intermediary, please vote online, by telephone or by completing and returning the voting instruction form in accordance with the instructions provided to you by such broker or other intermediary, or contact your broker directly in order to obtain a proxy issued to you by your intermediary holder to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person. Failure to do any of the foregoing may result in your shares not being eligible to be voted at the Annual Meeting.

 

  By Order of The Board of Directors,
   
  /s/ Paul Stuka
  Paul Stuka
  Chairman
   
April 18, 2024  

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR

THE ANNUAL STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON JUNE 10, 2024:

 

Our Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Proxy Statement, Proxy Card and

2023 Annual Report to Stockholders are available at:

 

www.proxyvote.com

 

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Table of Contents

 

ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING 6
   
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS MATTERS 12
   
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE 16
   
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT 16
   
PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF CLASS 1 DIRECTORS 20
   
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS 24
   
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 25
   
PROPOSAL 2: ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 37
   
PROPOSAL 3: ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF FUTURE ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 37
   
PROPOSAL 4: RATIFICATION OF REAPPOINTMENT OF KESSELMAN & KESSELMAN, CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS, A MEMBER OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM 38
   
OTHER BUSINESS 39
   
SUBMISSION OF FUTURE STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS 40

 

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InspireMD, Inc.

4 Menorat Hamaor St.

Tel Aviv, Israel 6744832

Telephone: (888) 776-6804

 

 

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

FOR

 

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

To Be Held June 10, 2024

 

 

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this Proxy Statement to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” or “InspireMD” refer to InspireMD, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its direct and indirect subsidiaries. In addition, unless the context otherwise requires, references to “stockholders” are to the holders of our voting securities, which consist of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

 

The accompanying proxy is solicited by the board of directors on behalf of InspireMD, Inc., a Delaware corporation, to be voted at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held on June 10, 2024, at the time and place and for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and at any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) of the Annual Meeting.

 

The executive office of the Company is located at, and the mailing address of the Company is, 4 Menorat Hamaor St., Tel Aviv, Israel 6744832.

 

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY

MATERIALS FOR

THE ANNUAL STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON JUNE 10, 2024:

 

Our Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Proxy Statement, Proxy Card and

2023 Annual Report to Stockholders are available at:

 

www.proxyvote.com

 

REVOCABILITY OF PROXY AND SOLICITATION

 

Any stockholder executing a proxy that is solicited hereby has the power to revoke it prior to the voting of the proxy. Revocation may be made by attending the Annual Meeting and voting the shares of stock in person, or by delivering to the Secretary of the Company at the principal office of the Company prior to the Annual Meeting a written notice of revocation or a later-dated, properly executed proxy. Solicitation of proxies may be made by directors, officers and other employees of the Company by personal interview, telephone, facsimile transmittal or electronic communications. No additional compensation will be paid for any such services. This solicitation of proxies is being made by the Company which will bear all costs associated with the mailing of this proxy statement and the solicitation of proxies.

 

ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING

 

What is a proxy?

 

A proxy is another person whom you legally designate to vote your stock. If you designate someone as your proxy in a written document, that document is also called a “proxy” or a “proxy card.” If you are a street name holder, you must obtain a proxy from your broker or intermediary in order to vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting.

 

What is a proxy statement?

 

A proxy statement is a document that regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) require that we give to you when we ask you to sign a proxy card to vote your stock at the Annual Meeting.

 

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What is the purpose of the Annual Meeting?

 

At our Annual Meeting, stockholders will be requested to act upon the matters outlined in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, consisting of the following:

 

  (1) Election of two Class 1 directors to serve on our board of directors for a term of three years or until his or her successor is elected and qualified, for which Paul Stuka and Gary Roubin are the nominees (the “Director Election Proposal”).
     
  (2) To approve, on an advisory basis, the Company’s executive compensation (the “Say on Pay Proposal”).
     
  (3) To approve, on an advisory basis, the frequency of future advisory votes on the Company’s executive compensation (the “Frequency of Say on Pay Proposal”).
     
  (4) Ratification of the appointment of Kesselman & Kesselman, Certified Public Accountants, a member of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2024 (the “Auditor Reappointment Proposal”).
     
  (5) Such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting.

 

Why did I receive a notice regarding the availability of proxy materials on the internet?

 

Pursuant to rules adopted by the SEC, we have elected to provide access to our proxy materials over the internet. Accordingly, we are sending a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice) to our stockholders of record. All stockholders will have the ability to access the proxy materials on the website referred to in the Notice or request to receive a printed set of the proxy materials. Instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the internet or to request a printed copy of the proxy materials (including a proxy card) may be found in the Notice.

 

We intend to mail the Notice on or about April 18, 2024 to all stockholders of record entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

 

What is “householding” and how does it affect me?

 

With respect to eligible stockholders who share a single address, we may send only one Notice or other Annual Meeting materials to that address unless we receive instructions to the contrary from any stockholder at that address. This practice, known as “householding,” is designed to reduce our printing and postage costs. However, if a stockholder of record residing at such address wishes to receive a separate notice or proxy statement in the future, he or she may contact InspireMD, Inc., 4 Menorat Hamaor St., Tel Aviv, Israel 6744832, Attn: Investor Relations, via email to craigs@inspiremd.com or by calling + 972-3-6917691 and asking for Investor Relations. Eligible stockholders of record receiving multiple copies of our Notice or other Annual Meeting materials can request householding by contacting us in the same manner. Stockholders who own shares through a bank, broker or other intermediary can request householding by contacting the intermediary.

 

We hereby undertake to deliver promptly, upon written or oral request, a copy of Notice or other Annual Meeting materials to a stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the document was delivered. Requests should be directed to our Investor Relations at the address or phone number set forth above.

 

What should I do if I receive more than one set of voting materials?

 

You may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple proxy cards or voting instruction forms. For example, if you hold your shares in more than one brokerage account, you may receive a separate voting instruction form for each brokerage account in which you hold shares. Similarly, if you are a stockholder of record and also hold shares in a brokerage account, you will receive a proxy card for shares held in your name and a voting instruction form for shares held in street name. Please follow the directions provided in the Notice and in each proxy card or voting instruction form you receive to ensure that all your shares are voted.

 

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What is the record date and what does it mean?

 

The record date to determine the stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting is the close of business on April 18, 2024 (the “Record Date”). The Record Date is established by the board of directors as required by Delaware law. On the Record Date, 23,401,435 shares of common stock were issued and outstanding.

 

Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?

 

Holders of common stock at the close of business on the Record Date may vote at the Annual Meeting.

 

What are the voting rights of the stockholders?

 

On each matter to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting, you have one vote for each share of common stock you own as of the Record Date.

 

What is the quorum requirement?

 

The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of 33.3% of the shares of the stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum to transact business. If a quorum is not present or represented at the Annual Meeting, the stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, present in person or by proxy, may adjourn the Annual Meeting from time to time without notice or other announcement until a quorum is present or represented.

 

What is the difference between a stockholder of record and a “street name” holder?

 

If your shares are registered directly in your name with Securities Transfer Corporation, our stock transfer agent, you are considered the stockholder of record with respect to those shares. The Notice has been sent directly to you by us.

 

If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other intermediary, the intermediary is considered the record holder of those shares. You are considered the beneficial owner of those shares, and your shares are held in “street name.” Follow the instructions from your broker, bank or other intermediary included with these proxy materials, or contact your broker, bank or other intermediary to request a proxy card. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your intermediary concerning how to vote your shares by using the Notice or by following their instructions for voting.

 

What is a broker non-vote?

 

A broker non-vote occurs when a broker holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the broker does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that item and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner. Your broker does not have discretionary authority to vote your shares with respect to the Director Election Proposal (Proposal 1), the Say on Pay Proposal (Proposal 2) and the Frequency of Say on Pay Proposal (Proposal 3) in the absence of specific instructions from you.

 

With respect to the Auditor Reappointment Proposal (Proposal 4), your broker will have the discretion to vote your shares and, therefore, will be able to vote your shares with respect to such proposal even if you do not provide your broker with instructions on that proposal.

 

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How do I vote my shares?

 

Your vote is very important to us. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please vote by proxy in accordance with the instructions on your proxy card or voting instruction form (from your broker or other intermediary). There are three convenient ways of submitting your vote:

 

  By Telephone or Internet - All record holders can vote by touchtone telephone from the United States using the toll free telephone number on the proxy card, or over the Internet, using the procedures and instructions described on the proxy card. “Street name” holders may vote by telephone or Internet if their bank, broker or other intermediary makes those methods available, in which case the bank, broker or other intermediary will enclose the instructions with the proxy materials. The telephone and Internet voting procedures are designed to authenticate stockholders’ identities, to allow stockholders to vote their shares, and to confirm that their instructions have been recorded properly.
     
 

In Person - All record holders may vote in person at the Annual Meeting. “Street name” holders may vote in person at the Annual Meeting if their bank, broker or other intermediary has furnished a legal proxy. If you are a “street name” holder and would like to vote your shares by proxy, you will need to ask your bank, broker or other intermediary to furnish you with an intermediary issued proxy. You will need to bring the intermediary issued proxy with you to the Annual Meeting and hand it in with a signed ballot that will be provided to you at the Annual Meeting. You will not be able to vote your shares without an intermediary issued proxy. Note that a broker letter that identifies you as a stockholder is not the same as an intermediary issued proxy.

 

There may be limitations on our ability to hold the Annual Meeting in person this year. See “Do you plan to hold the Annual Meeting in person this year?” below.

     
  By Written Proxy or Voting Instruction Form - All record holders can vote by written proxy card, if they have requested to receive printed proxy materials. If you are a “street name” holder and you request to receive printed proxy materials, you will receive a voting instruction form from your bank, broker or other intermediary.

 

The board of directors has appointed Craig Shore, chief financial officer, and Marvin Slosman, president, chief executive officer and director, to serve as the proxies for the Annual Meeting.

 

If you complete and sign the proxy card but do not provide instructions for one or more of the proposals, then the designated proxies will or will not vote your shares as to those proposals, as described under “What if I do not specify how I want my shares voted?” below. We do not anticipate that any other matters will come before the Annual Meeting, but if any other matters properly come before the meeting, then the designated proxies will vote your shares in accordance with applicable law and their judgment.

 

If you hold your shares in “street name,” and complete the voting instruction form provided by your broker or other intermediary except with respect to one or more of the proposals, then, depending on the proposal(s), your broker may be unable to vote your shares with respect to those proposal(s). See “What is a broker non-vote?” above.

 

Even if you currently plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we recommend that you vote by telephone or Internet or return your proxy card or voting instructions as described above so that your votes will be counted if you later decide not to attend the Annual Meeting or are unable to attend.

 

Who counts the votes?

 

All votes will be tabulated by Craig Shore, the inspector of election appointed for the Annual Meeting. Each proposal will be tabulated separately.

 

What are my choices when voting?

 

In the Director Election Proposal (Proposal 1), stockholders may vote for the director nominee or may withhold their vote as to the director nominee. With respect to the Say on Pay Proposal (Proposal 2), the Frequency of Say on Pay Proposal (Proposal 3) and the Auditor Reappointment Proposal (Proposal 4), stockholders may vote for the proposal, against the proposal, or abstain from voting on the proposal.

 

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What are the board of directors’ recommendations on how I should vote my shares?

 

The board of directors recommends that you vote your shares as follows:

 

Proposal 1—FOR the election of the director nominees under the Director Election Proposal.

 

Proposal 2—FOR the approval of the executive compensation as described in the Say on Pay Proposal.

 

Proposal 3—FOR an advisory vote on executive compensation every three years as described in the Frequency of Say on Pay Proposal.

 

Proposal 4—FOR the Auditor Reappointment Proposal.

 

What if I do not specify how I want my shares voted?

 

If you are a record holder who returns a completed, executed proxy card that does not specify how you want to vote your shares on one or more proposals, the proxies will vote your shares for each proposal as to which you provide no voting instructions, and such shares will be voted in the following manner:

 

Proposal 1—FOR the election of the director nominees under the Director Election Proposal.

 

Proposal 2—FOR the approval of the executive compensation as described in the Say on Pay Proposal.

 

Proposal 3—FOR an advisory vote on executive compensation every three years as described in the Frequency of Say on Pay Proposal.

 

Proposal 4—FOR the Auditor Reappointment Proposal.

 

If you are a street name holder and do not provide voting instructions on one or more proposals, your bank, broker or other intermediary may be unable to vote those shares. See “What is a broker non-vote?” above.

 

Can I change my vote?

 

Yes. If you are a record holder, you may revoke your proxy at any time by any of the following means:

 

  Attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Your attendance at the Annual Meeting will not by itself revoke a proxy. You must vote your shares by ballot at the Annual Meeting to revoke your proxy.
     
  Voting again by telephone or over the Internet (only your latest telephone or Internet vote submitted prior to the Annual Meeting will be counted).
     
  If you requested and received written proxy materials, completing and submitting a new valid proxy bearing a later date.
     
  Giving written notice of revocation to the Company addressed to Craig Shore, chief financial officer, by the close of business on May 31, 2024.

 

If you are a street name holder, your bank, broker or other intermediary should provide instructions explaining how you may change or revoke your voting instructions.

 

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What percentage of the vote is required to approve each proposal?

 

Proposal 1—Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast. With respect to the election the director nominee, you may vote “FOR” or “WITHHOLD” authority to vote for the nominee to the board of directors. “WITHHOLD” votes and broker non-votes are not considered votes cast for the foregoing purpose, and will have no effect on the election of the director nominee.

 

Proposal 2—Adoption of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast. You may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN.” Adoption of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast, meaning the number of shares voted “FOR” this proposal must exceed the number of shares voted “AGAINST” this proposal.

 

Proposal 3— Adoption of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast. You may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN.” Adoption of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast, meaning the number of shares voted “FOR” this proposal must exceed the number of shares voted “AGAINST” this proposal.

 

Proposal 4—Adoption of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast. You may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN.” Adoption of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast, meaning the number of shares voted “FOR” this proposal must exceed the number of shares voted “AGAINST” this proposal. If you abstain from voting on this Proposal, your vote will have no effect for this Proposal. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the vote for this Proposal.

 

How are abstentions and broker non-votes treated?

 

Abstentions are included in the determination of the number of shares present at the Annual Meeting for determining a quorum at the meeting. Abstentions will have no effect with respect to the election of directors under the Director Election Proposal (Proposal 1), the approval of the executive compensation that is described in the Say on Pay Proposal (Proposal 2) and the approval of holding an advisory vote every three years regarding approval of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers in the Frequency of Say on Pay Proposal (Proposal 3), or the ratification of the reappointment of the independent registered public accounting firm under the Auditor Reappointment Proposal (Proposal 4).

 

Broker non-votes are included in the determination of the number of shares present at the Annual Meeting for determining a quorum at the meeting. Broker non-votes will have no effect upon the election of directors under the Director Election Proposal (Proposal 1), the approval of the executive compensation that is described in the Say on Pay Proposal (Proposal 2) or the approval of holding an advisory vote every three years regarding approval of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers in the Frequency of Say on Pay Proposal (Proposal 3). With respect to the ratification of the reappointment of the independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal 4), we expect that there will be only minimal (if any) broker-non-votes because that proposal is considered a routine matter and a broker holding shares for a beneficial owner will therefore have discretionary authority to vote those shares for that proposal in the absence of voting instructions from the beneficial owner.

 

Do I have any dissenters’ or appraisal rights with respect to any of the matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting?

 

No. None of our stockholders has any dissenters’ or appraisal rights with respect to the matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting.

 

What are the solicitation expenses and who pays the cost of this proxy solicitation?

 

Our board of directors is asking for your proxy and we will pay all of the costs of asking for stockholder proxies. We will reimburse brokerage houses and other custodians, intermediaries and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding solicitation material to the beneficial owners of common stock and collecting voting instructions. We may use officers and employees of the Company to ask for proxies, as described below.

 

Is this Proxy Statement the only way that proxies are being solicited?

 

No. In addition to the solicitation of proxies by use of the mail may solicit the return of proxies, either by mail, telephone, fax, e-mail or through personal contact. These officers and employees will not receive additional compensation for their efforts but will be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses. Brokerage houses and other custodians, intermediaries and fiduciaries, in connection with shares of the common stock registered in their names, will be requested to forward solicitation material to the beneficial owners of shares of common stock.

 

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Are there any other matters to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting?

 

Management does not intend to present any business at the Annual Meeting for a vote other than the matters set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and has no information that others will do so. If other matters requiring a vote of the stockholders properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy to vote the shares represented by the proxies held by them in accordance with applicable law and their judgment on such matters.

 

Where can I find voting results?

 

The Company expects to publish the voting results in a Current Report on Form 8-K, which it expects to file with the SEC within four business days following the Annual Meeting.

 

Who can help answer my questions?

 

The information provided above in this “Question and Answer” format is for your convenience only and is merely a summary of the information contained in this Proxy Statement. We urge you to carefully read this entire Proxy Statement, including the documents we refer to in this Proxy Statement.

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS MATTERS

 

Director Independence

 

The board of directors has determined that Dr. Roubin, Ms. Arnold and Messrs. Stuka, Berman and Kester, satisfy the requirement for independence as defined under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2) and that each of these directors has no material relationship with us (other than being a director and/or a stockholder). In making its independence determinations, the board of directors sought to identify and analyze all of the facts and circumstances relating to any relationship between a director, his or her immediate family or affiliates and our company and our affiliates and did not rely on categorical standards other than those contained in the Nasdaq listing rule referenced above.

 

Board Committees

 

Our board of directors has established an audit committee, a nominating and corporate governance committee and a compensation committee, each of which has the composition and responsibilities described below.

 

Audit Committee. Our audit committee is currently comprised of Messrs. Berman, Stuka and Kester, each of whom our board has determined to be financially literate and qualify as an independent director under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2). Mr. Kester is the chairman of our audit committee and qualifies as a financial expert, as defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K. The audit committee’s duties are to recommend to our board of directors the engagement of independent auditors to audit our financial statements and to review our accounting and auditing principles. The audit committee will review the scope, timing and fees for the annual audit and the results of audit examinations performed by the internal auditors and independent public accountants, including their recommendations to improve the system of accounting and internal controls. The audit committee held a total of 6 meetings during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023. The audit committee operates under a formal charter adopted by the board of directors that governs its duties and conduct. Copies of the charter can be obtained free of charge from the Company’s web site, www.inspiremd.com, by contacting the Company at the address appearing on the first page of this Proxy Statement to the attention of Investor Relations, via email to craigs@inspiremd.com or by telephone to (888) 776-6804.

 

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Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Our nominating and corporate governance committee is currently comprised of Messrs. Berman and Stuka, each of whom qualify as an independent director under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2). Mr. Berman is the chairman of our nominating and corporate governance committee. The nominating and corporate governance committee identifies and recommends to our board of directors individuals qualified to be director nominees. In addition, the nominating and corporate governance committee recommends to our board of directors the members and chairman of each board committee who will periodically review and assess our code of business conduct and ethics and our corporate governance guidelines. The nominating and corporate governance committee also makes recommendations for changes to our code of business conduct and ethics and our corporate governance guidelines to our board of directors, reviews any other matters related to our corporate governance and oversees the evaluation of our board of directors and our management. The nominating and corporate governance committee did not hold any meetings during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023. The nominating and corporate governance committee operates under a formal charter adopted by the board of directors that governs its duties and conduct. Copies of the charter can be obtained free of charge from the Company’s web site, www.inspiremd.com, by contacting the Company at the address appearing on the first page of this Proxy Statement to the attention of Investor Relations, via email to craigs@inspiremd.com or by telephone to (888) 776-6804.

 

Compensation Committee. Our compensation committee is currently comprised of Messrs. Stuka and Kester and Ms. Arnold, each of whom qualify as an independent director under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2). Mr. Stuka is the chairman of our compensation committee. The compensation committee reviews and approves our salary and benefits policies, including compensation of executive officers and directors. The compensation committee also administers our stock option plans and recommends and approves grants of stock options under such plans. The compensation committee held 4 meetings during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023. The compensation committee operates under a formal charter adopted by the board of directors that governs its duties and conduct. Copies of the charter can be obtained free of charge from the Company’s web site, www.inspiremd.com, by contacting the Company at the address appearing on the first page of this Proxy Statement to the attention of Investor Relations, via email to craigs@inspiremd.com or by telephone to (888) 776-6804.

 

Meetings and Attendance

 

The board of directors held a total of 10 meetings during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, and each director attended at least 100 percent of the aggregate number of all (i) board meetings held during the period for which he/she was a director and (ii) committee meetings held during the period for which he/she was a committee member. We do not have a policy requiring director attendance at stockholder meetings, but members of our board of directors are encouraged to attend. None of our directors attended our 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

Board Leadership Structure

 

The board of directors is committed to promoting effective, independent governance of the Company. Our board believes it is in the best interests of the stockholders and the Company for the board to have the flexibility to select the best director to serve as chairman at any given time, regardless of whether that director is an independent director or the chief executive officer. Consequently, we do not have a policy governing whether the roles of chairman of the board and chief executive officer should be separate or combined. This decision is made by our board of directors, based on the best interests of the Company considering the circumstances at the time.

 

Currently, the offices of the chairman of the board and the chief executive officer are held by two different people. Mr. Stuka is our independent, non-executive chairman of the board of directors and Mr. Slosman is our chief executive officer. The chief executive officer is responsible for the day to day leadership and performance of the Company, while the chairman of the board of directors provides guidance to the chief executive officer and sets the agenda for board meetings and presides over meetings of the board. We believe that separation of the positions reinforces the independence of the board in its oversight of the business and affairs of the Company, and creates an environment that is more conducive to objective evaluation and oversight of management’s performance, increasing management accountability and improving the ability of the board to monitor whether management’s actions are in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Furthermore, we believe that Mr. Stuka is especially suited to serve as our chairman of the board, in light of his significant strategic and investment management experience in the U.S. healthcare industry, which provide him with a unique perspective on the best methods of growth for a life sciences company.

 

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Role in Risk Oversight

 

Our board of directors oversees an enterprise-wide approach to risk management, designed to support the achievement of business objectives, including organizational and strategic objectives, to improve long-term organizational performance and enhance stockholder value. The involvement of our board of directors in setting our business strategy is a key part of its assessment of management’s plans for risk management and its determination of what constitutes an appropriate level of risk for the company. The participation of our board of directors in our risk oversight process includes receiving regular reports from members of senior management on areas of material risk to our company, including operational, financial, legal and regulatory, and strategic and reputational risks.

 

While our board of directors has the ultimate responsibility for the risk management process, senior management and various committees of our board of directors also have responsibility for certain areas of risk management.

 

Our senior management team is responsible for day-to-day risk management and regularly reports on risks to our full board of directors or a relevant committee. Our finance and regulatory personnel serve as the primary monitoring and evaluation function for company-wide policies and procedures, and manage the day-to-day oversight of the risk management strategy for our ongoing business. This oversight includes identifying, evaluating and addressing potential risks that may exist at the enterprise, strategic, financial, operational, compliance, cybersecurity and reporting levels.

 

The audit committee focuses on monitoring and discussing our major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, including our risk assessment and risk management policies. As appropriate, the audit committee provides reports to and receives direction from the full board of directors regarding our risk management policies and guidelines, as well as the audit committee’s risk oversight activities.

 

In addition, the compensation committee assesses our compensation policies to confirm that the compensation policies and practices do not encourage unnecessary risk taking. The compensation committee regularly reviews and discusses the relationship between risk management policies and practices, corporate strategy and senior executive compensation and, when appropriate, reports on the findings from the discussions with our board of directors. Our compensation committee intends to set performance metrics that will create incentives for our senior executives that encourage an appropriate level of risk-taking that is commensurate with our short-term and long-term strategies.

 

Anti-hedging Policy

 

Our insider trading policy prohibits directors, officers and other employees from engaging in short sales, hedging transactions or monetization transactions with respect to our stock at any time.

 

Code of Ethics

 

We have adopted a code of ethics and business conduct that applies to our officers, directors and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, which is posted on our website at www.inspiremd.com. We intend to disclose future amendments to certain provisions of the code of ethics, or waivers of such provisions granted to executive officers and directors, on this website within four business days following the date of such amendment or waiver.

 

Communications with the Board of Directors

 

A stockholder who wishes to communicate with our board of directors, any committee of our board of directors, the non-management directors or any particular director, may do so by writing to such director or directors in care of the Secretary, c/o InspireMD, Inc., 4 Menorat Hamaor St., Tel Aviv, Israel 6744832. Our secretary will forward such communication to the full board of directors, to the appropriate committee or to any individual director or directors to whom the communication is addressed, unless the communication is unrelated to the duties and responsibilities of our board of directors (such as spam, junk mail and mass mailings, ordinary course disputes over fees or services, personal employee complaints, business inquiries, new product or service suggestions, resumes and other forms of job inquiries, surveys, business solicitations or advertisements) or is unduly hostile, threatening, illegal, or harassing, in which case our secretary has the authority to discard the communication or take appropriate legal action regarding the communication.

 

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Director Nomination Policies

 

We have a standing nominating and corporate governance committee consisting entirely of independent directors. The director nominee for reelection at the Annual Meeting was recommended to the board by the nominating and corporate governance committee for selection.

 

The nominating and corporate governance committee will consider all proposed nominees for the board of directors, including those properly put forward by stockholders. Stockholder nominations should be addressed to the nominating and corporate governance committee in care of the Secretary, c/o InspireMD, Inc., 4 Menorat Hamaor St., Tel Aviv, Israel 6744832, in accordance with the provisions of the Company’s amended and restated bylaws. The nominating and corporate governance committee annually reviews with the board the applicable skills and characteristics required of board nominees in the context of current board composition and our circumstances. In making its recommendations to the board, the nominating and corporate governance committee considers all factors it considers appropriate, which may include experience, accomplishments, education, understanding of the business and the industry in which we operate, specific skills, general business acumen and the highest personal and professional integrity. Generally, the nominating and corporate governance committee will first consider current board members because they meet the criteria listed above and possess an in-depth knowledge of us, our history, strengths, weaknesses, goals and objectives. This level of knowledge has proven very valuable to us. In determining whether to recommend a director for re-election, the nominating and corporate governance committee also considers the director’s past attendance at meetings and participation in and contributions to the activities of the board.

 

The board and the nominating and corporate governance committee aim to assemble a diverse group of board members and believe that no single criterion such as gender or minority status is determinative in obtaining diversity on the board. The board defines diversity as differences of viewpoint, professional experience, education and skills such as a candidate’s range of experience serving on other public company boards, the balance of the business interest and experience of the candidate as compared to the incumbent or other nominated directors, and the need for any particular expertise on the board or one of its committees.

 

Certain Related Transactions and Relationships

 

In accordance with our audit committee charter, the audit committee is required to approve all related party transactions. In general, the audit committee will review any proposed transaction that has been identified as a related party transaction under Item 404 of Regulation S-K, which means a transaction, arrangement or relationship in which we and any related party are participants in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000. A related party includes (i) a director, director nominee or executive officer of us, (ii) a security holder known to be an owner of more than 5% of our voting securities, (iii) an immediate family member of the foregoing or (iv) a corporation or other entity in which any of the foregoing persons is an executive, principal or similar control person or in which such person has a 5% or greater beneficial ownership interest.

 

Other than as described below and other than compensation, termination, change in control and other arrangements, which are described under “Executive Compensation” and “Director Compensation”, there were no related party transactions that are required to be disclosed pursuant to Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

In May 2023, we entered into a securities purchase agreement pursuant to which we agreed to sell and issue in a private placement (the “Private Placement Offering) an aggregate of 10,266,270 shares of our common stock, pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 15,561,894 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 51,656,328 shares of common stock, consisting of Series H warrants to purchase up to 12,914,086 shares of common stock, Series I warrants to purchase up to 12,914,078 shares of common stock, Series J warrants to purchase up to 12,914,086 shares of common stock and Series K warrants to purchase up to 12,914,078 shares of common stock, at an offering price of $1.6327 per share and associated warrants and an offering price of $1.6326 per pre-funded warrant and associated warrants. Certain of our directors participated in the Private Placement Offering along and with other investors in the Private Placement Offering. The number of shares of our common stock and warrants that certain of our directors purchased and the aggregate purchase price paid is set forth in the table below:

 

Name of
Related Party
  Common
Shares
  Series H
Warrants
  Series I
Warrants
  Series J
Warrants
  Series K
Warrants
  Total Purchase Price
Michael Berman    122,497    61,249    61,248    61,249    61,248   $169,376.60
Thomas Kester   61,249    30,625    30,624    30,625    30,624   $84,688.99
Gary Roubin   61,249    30,625    30,624    30,625    30,624   $84,688.99
Paul Stuka    175,000    87,500    87,500    87,500    87,500   $241,972.50

 

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REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

The audit committee has reviewed and discussed the Company’s audited financial statements and related footnotes for the year ended December 31, 2023, and the independent auditor’s report on those financial statements, with management and with our independent auditor, Kesselman & Kesselman, Certified Public Accountants, a member of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited (“Kesselman”). The audit committee has also discussed with Kesselman the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”). The audit committee has also received the written disclosures and the letter from Kesselman required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding Kesselman’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence, and has discussed with Kesselman that firm’s independence.

 

Based on the review and the discussions referred to in the preceding paragraph, the audit committee determined that the Company’s audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC.

 

  The Audit Committee:
   
  Michael Berman
  Thomas J. Kester (Chairman)
  Paul Stuka

 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of April 18, 2024 by:

 

  each person known by us to beneficially own more than 5.0% of our common stock;
     
  each of our directors;
     
  each of our named executive officers; and
     
  all of our directors and executive officers as a group.

 

The percentages of common stock beneficially owned are reported on the basis of regulations of the SEC governing the determination of beneficial ownership of securities. Under the rules of the SEC, a person is deemed to be a beneficial owner of a security if that person has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of the security, or investment power, which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of the security.

 

Under the terms of pre-funded and warrants, certain of the beneficial owners may not exercise the pre-funded and warrants (and pre-funded warrants that the beneficial owner may elect to receive in lieu of shares of common stock under the terms of the warrant) to the extent such exercise would cause such beneficial owner, together with its affiliates and attribution parties, to beneficially own a number of shares of common stock which would exceed 9.99% of our then outstanding common stock following such exercise, excluding for purposes of such determination common stock issuable upon exercise of the pre-funded and warrants which have not been exercised. The number of shares in the first column does not reflect this limitation.

 

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Except as indicated in the footnotes to this table, each beneficial owner named in the table below has sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares beneficially owned and each person’s address is c/o InspireMD, Inc., 4 Menorat Hamaor St., Tel Aviv, Israel 6744832. As of April 18, 2024, we had 23,424,219 shares outstanding.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner  Number of Shares Beneficially Owned(1)   Percentage Beneficially Owned(1) 
5% Owners          
MW XO Health Innovations Fund, LP   26,037,498 (2)  9.99%
Entities affiliated with Orbimed   17,141,214 (3)  9.99%
Soleus Private Equity Fund III, L.P.   8,268,768 (4)  9.99%
Entities affiliated with Nantahala Capital Management, LLC   10,843,439 (5)  9.99%
Entities affiliated with Rosalind Advisors, Inc.   9,978,258 (6)  9.99%
           
Officers and Directors          
Marvin Slosman   766,914 (7)  3.17%
Craig Shore   2,495,393 (8)  10.62%
Michael Berman   399,490 (9)  1.69%
Paul Stuka   946,249 (10)  3.98%
Thomas Kester   446,535 (11)  1.90%
Gary Roubin, M.D.   647,267 (12)  2.75%
Kathryn Arnold   238,968 (13)  1.02%
Shane Gleason   542,858 (14)  2.32%
Andrea Tommasoli   534,180 (15)  2.28%
Patrick Verta   225,460 (16)  *%
All directors and executive officers as a group (10 persons)   7,243,314    29.72%

 

* Represents ownership of less than one percent.
   
(1) Shares of common stock beneficially owned and the respective percentages of beneficial ownership of common stock assumes the exercise of all options, warrants and other securities convertible into common stock beneficially owned by such person or entity currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 18, 2024. Shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of stock options and warrants exercisable within 60 days are deemed outstanding and held by the holder of such options or warrants for computing the percentage of outstanding common stock beneficially owned by such person but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of outstanding common stock beneficially owned by any other person.
   
(2) Based on our knowledge, including a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 22, 2023. Represents (i) 1,860,405 shares of common stock issued in the Private Placement Offering, (ii) 6,818,761 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of pre-funded warrants issued in the Private Placement Offering, (iii) 4,339,583 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series H Warrants issued in the Private Placement Offering, (iv) 4,339,583 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series I Warrants issued in the Private Placement Offering, (v) 4,339,583 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series J Warrants issued in the Private Placement Offering, and (vi) 4,339,583 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series K Warrants issued in the Private Placement Offering. The exercise of the foregoing warrants is subject to a 9.99% blocker. Marshall Wace, LLC, as general partner of Marshall Wace North America, LP, is the investment manager of MW XO Health Innovations Fund, LP. No individual has ultimate beneficial ownership of the shares owned by MW XO Health Innovations Fund, LP. The address of the stockholder is 350 Park Ave, New York, NY 10022.

 

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(3) Based on our knowledge, including a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 14, 2024. Represents (i) 1,638,304 shares of common stock issued in the Private Placement Offering issued to OrbiMed Private Investments IX, LP, or OPI IX, (ii) 3,393,310 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of pre-funded warrants issued to OPI IX in the Private Placement Offering, (iii) 2,515,807 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series H Warrants issued to OPI IX in the Private Placement Offering, (iv) 2,515,807 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series I Warrants issued to OPI IX in the Private Placement Offering, (v) 2,515,807 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series J Warrants issued to OPI IX in the Private Placement Offering, (vi) 2,515,807 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series K Warrants issued to OPI IX in the Private Placement Offering, (vii) 222,101 shares of common stock issued in the Private Placement Offering issued to OrbiMed Genesis Master Fund, L.P., or Genesis Master Fund, (viii) 460,023 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of pre-funded warrants issued to Genesis Master Fund in the Private Placement Offering, (ix) 341,062 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series H Warrants issued to Genesis Master Fund in the Private Placement Offering, (x) 341,062 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series I Warrants issued to Genesis Master Fund in the Private Placement Offering, (xi) 341,062 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series J Warrants issued to Genesis Master Fund in the Private Placement Offering, (xii) 341,062 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series K Warrants issued to Genesis Master Fund in the Private Placement Offering and (xiii) 273,000 shares of common stock held by funds managed by OrbiMed Advisors LLC, or OrbiMed Advisors. The exercise of the foregoing warrants is subject to a 9.99% blocker. OrbiMed Capital GP IX LLC, or GP IX, is the general partner of OPI IX and OrbiMed Advisors is the managing member of GP IX. By virtue of such relationships, GP IX and OrbiMed Advisors may be deemed to have voting power and investment power over the securities held by OPI IX and as a result, may be deemed to have beneficial ownership over such securities. OrbiMed Genesis GP LLC, or Genesis GP, is the general partner of Genesis Master Fund and OrbiMed Advisors is the managing member of Genesis GP. By virtue of such relationships, Genesis GP and OrbiMed Advisors may be deemed to have voting power and investment power over the securities held by Genesis Master Fund and as a result, may be deemed to have beneficial ownership over such securities. OrbiMed Advisors exercises voting and investment power through a management committee comprised of Carl L. Gordon, Sven H. Borho, and W. Carter Neild, each of whom disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by OPI IX and Genesis Master Fund. The business address of the entities is c/o OrbiMed Advisors LLC, 601 Lexington Avenue, 54th Floor, New York, NY 10022.
   
(4) Based on our knowledge, including a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 24, 2023. Represents (i) 1,378,128 shares of common stock issued in the Private Placement Offering, (ii) 1,378,128 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of pre-funded warrants issued in the Private Placement Offering, (iii) 1,378,128 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series H Warrants issued in the Private Placement Offering, (iv) 1,378,128 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series I Warrants issued in the Private Placement Offering, (v) 1,378,128 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series J Warrants issued in the Private Placement Offering, and (vi) 1,378,128 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series K Warrants issued in the Private Placement Offering. The exercise of the foregoing warrants is subject to a 9.99% blocker. Soleus Private Equity GP III, LLC is the sole general partner of the stockholder. Soleus PE GP III, LLC is the sole manager of Soleus Private Equity GP III, LLC. Mr. Guy Levy is the sole managing member of Soleus PE GP III, LLC. Each of Mr. Guy Levy, Soleus PE GP III, LLC and Soleus Private Equity GP III, LLC disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities held by the stockholder, except to the extent of their respective pecuniary interests therein. The address of the stockholder is 104 Field Point Road, Second Floor, Greenwich, CT 06830.
   
(5) Based on our knowledge, including a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 14, 2024. Represents (i) 2,162,392 shares of common stock issued in the Private Placement Offering, (ii) 1,448,565 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of pre-funded warrants issued in the Private Placement Offering, (iii) 1,808,121 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series H Warrants issued in the Private Placement Offering, (iv) 1,808,120 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series I Warrants issued in the Private Placement Offering, (v) 1,808,121 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series J Warrants issued in the Private Placement Offering, and (vi) 1,808,120 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series K Warrants issued in the Private Placement Offering held by the following stockholders affiliated with Nantahala Capital Management, LLC: Nantahala Capital Partners Limited Partnership, Nantahala Capital Partners II Limited Partnership, NCP RFM LP, Blackwell Partners LLC - Series A and Pinehurst Partners, L.P. The exercise of the foregoing warrants is subject to a 9.99% blocker. The above shall not be deemed to be an admission by any stockholder that it is itself a beneficial owner of any these securities for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, or any other purpose. Nantahala Capital Management, LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser, has the power to vote and/or direct the disposition of the securities held by the stockholder, either as a General Partner, Investment Manager, or Sub-Advisor, and may be deemed the beneficial owner of the shares of common stock held by such stockholder. Further, these stockholders may exercise certain rights to acquire shares of common stock disclosed above only if such acquisition would not cause the total number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by it and its affiliates to exceed 9.99% of the shares of common stock then outstanding. Wilmot Harkey and Daniel Mack are managing members of Nantahala Capital Management, LLC and may be deemed to have voting and dispositive power over the shares held by the stockholder. The address of Nantahala Capital Partners Limited Partnership is 130 Main St., 2nd Floor, New Canaan, Connecticut 06840. The address of Nantahala Capital Partners II Limited Partnership is 130 Main St., 2nd Floor, New Canaan, Connecticut 06840. The address of NCP RFM LP is 130 Main St., 2nd Floor, New Canaan, Connecticut 06840. The address of Blackwell Partners LLC - Series A is 280 South Mangum Street, Suite 210 Durham, NC 27701. The address of Pinehurst Partners, L.P. is c/o Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street Wilmington, DE 19801.

 

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(6) Based on our knowledge, including Amendment No.1 to a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 14, 2024. Represents (i) 705,066 shares of common stock issued to Rosalind Master Fund L.P. in the Private Placement Offering, (ii) 1,488,710 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of pre-funded warrants issued to Rosalind Master Fund L.P. in the Private Placement Offering, (iii) 1,532,121 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series H Warrants issued to Rosalind Master Fund L.P. in the Private Placement Offering, (iv) 1,532,120 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series I Warrants issued to Rosalind Master Fund L.P. in the Private Placement Offering, (v) 1,532,121 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series J Warrants issued to Rosalind Master Fund L.P. in the Private Placement Offering, (vi) 1,532,120 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series K Warrants issued to Rosalind Master Fund L.P. in the Private Placement Offering, (vii) 284,874 shares of common stock issued to Rosalind Opportunities Fund I L.P. in the Private Placement Offering, (viii) 267,126 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of pre-funded warrants issued to Rosalind Opportunities Fund I L.P. in the Private Placement Offering, (ix) 276,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series H Warrants issued to Rosalind Opportunities Fund I L.P. in the Private Placement Offering, (x) 276,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series I Warrants issued to Rosalind Opportunities Fund I L.P. in the Private Placement Offering, (xi) 276,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series J Warrants issued to Rosalind Opportunities Fund I L.P. in the Private Placement Offering, and (xii) 276,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series K Warrants issued to Rosalind Opportunities Fund I L.P. in the Private Placement Offering. The exercise of the foregoing warrants is subject to a 4.99% blocker, except that the exercise of the pre-funded warrants mentioned in (ii) above is subject to a 9.99% blocker. Rosalind Advisors, Inc., or the Advisor, is the investment advisor to Rosalind Master Fund L.P., or RMF, and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of shares held by RMF. Steven Salamon is the portfolio manager of the Advisor and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of shares held by RMF. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Advisor and Mr. Salamon disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares. The address of the stockholder is c/o TDWaterhouse, 77 Bloor St W, 3rd Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1M2. The address of the stockholder is c/o TDWaterhouse, 77 Bloor St W, 3rd Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1M2.
   
(7) Consists of (i) 6,392 shares of common stock, (ii) 12,159 Restricted Stock Units granted outside the plan that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 18, 2024, (iii) 78,352 Restricted Stock Units granted under the InspireMD, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2013 Equity Incentive Plan”), (iv) 446,095 Restricted Stock Units granted under the InspireMD Inc. 2021 Equity Compensation Plan (the “2021 Equity Incentive Plan”), (v) 218,868 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 18, 2024, and (vi) 5,048 shares of common stock exercisable upon exercise of warrants that are currently exercisable.
   
(8) Consists of (i) 94,313 shares of common stock, (ii) 96,034 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 18, 2024, , (iii) 785,531 shares of restricted stock granted under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, (v) 45,530 shares of restricted stock granted to employees under the Israeli Appendix of the 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan held in trust, and with respect to which Mr. Shore was granted a proxy with the right to vote such shares at his discretion and (vi) 1,473,985 shares of restricted stock granted to employees under Section 5 of the 2021 Plan held in trust, and with respect to which Mr. Shore was granted a proxy with the right to vote such shares at his discretion.
   
(9) Consists of (i) 127,875 shares of common stock, (ii) 247,682 shares of common stock exercisable upon exercise of warrants that are currently exercisable, and (iii) 23,933 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 18, 2024. Excludes 10,710 shares of restricted stock granted under the Israeli Appendix of InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan and 215,955 shares of restricted stock granted under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan held in trust, with respect to which the trustee has a proxy with the right to vote such shares at his discretion.
   
(10) Paul Stuka is the principal and managing member of Osiris Investment Partners, L.P., and, as such, has beneficial ownership of (A) 248,534 shares of common stock (B) personally holding (i) 36,184 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 18, 2024, (ii) 277,921 shares of restricted stock granted under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, and (iii) 33,610 shares of common stock, and (vi) 350,000 shares of common stock upon exercise of warrants that are currently exercisable.

 

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(11) Consists of (i) 112,034 shares of common stock, (ii) 184,042 shares of restricted stock granted under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, (iii) 126,530 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants that are currently exercisable, and (v) 23,930 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 18, 2024.
   
(12) Consists of (i) 287,121 shares of common stock, (ii) 184,042 shares of restricted stock granted under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, and (iii) 145,378 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants that are currently exercisable and (iv 30,726 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 18, 2024.
   
(13) Consists of (i) 27,486 shares of common stock, (ii) 187,554 shares of restricted stock granted under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, and (iv 23,928 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 18, 2024.
   
(14) Consists of (i) 514,365 shares of restricted stock granted under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan., (ii) 28,493 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 18, 2024.
   
(15) Consists of (i) 57,616 shares of common stock, (ii) 437,462 shares of restricted stock granted under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, and (iii) 39,102 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 18, 2024.
   
(16) Consists of (i) 225,460 shares of restricted stock granted under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF CLASS 1 DIRECTORS

 

The board of directors currently consists of six members and is classified into three classes of nearly equal size. The members of each class are elected in different years, so that only one-third of the board is elected in each year. As indicated below, we currently have two directors in Class 1 (with a term of office expiring this year), one director in Class 2 (with a term of office expiring in 2025), and three directors in Class 3 (with a term of office expiring in 2026).

 

This year, the board of directors has nominated Paul Stuka and Gary Roubin, for re-election as a Class 1 director to serve for a term of office to expire at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2027 and to hold office until his successor has been duly elected and qualified. Stockholders will be unable to vote for more than three persons.

 

Assuming the presence of a quorum, the two director nominees receiving the most votes cast in the election of directors will be elected as Class 1 directors. Should the director nominees become unable or unwilling to accept nomination or election, the proxy holders may vote the proxies for the election, in his or her stead, of any other person the board of directors may nominate or designate. The director nominees have expressed his or her intention to serve the entire term for which election is sought.

 

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Directors and Nominees

 

The following table and text set forth the name, age and positions of the director nominee (who are Class 3 directors) and each additional director currently serving on our board of directors:

 

Name   Age   Director Class   Position   Term Expiration
Paul Stuka   69   Class 1   Chairman of the Board of Directors   2024 Annual Meeting
                 
Gary Roubin   75   Class 1   Director   2024 Annual Meeting
                 
Michael Berman   66   Class 2   Director   2025 Annual Meeting
                 
Marvin Slosman   60   Class 3   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director   2026 Annual Meeting
                 
Thomas J. Kester   77   Class 3   Director   2026 Annual Meeting
                 
Kathryn Arnold   51   Class 3   Director   2026 Annual Meeting

 

Biographies

 

Biography of Class 1 Director Nominees Subject to Re-election at the Annual Meeting

 

Paul Stuka has served as a director since August 8, 2011 and has served as our chairman since June 2, 2017. Mr. Stuka has served as the managing member of Osiris Partners, LLC, an investment fund, since 2000. Prior to forming Osiris Partners, LLC, Mr. Stuka, with 40 years of experience in the investment industry, was a managing director of Longwood Partners, managing small cap institutional accounts. In 1995, Mr. Stuka joined State Street Research and Management as manager of its Market Neutral and Mid Cap Growth Funds. From 1986 to 1994, Mr. Stuka served as the general partner of Stuka Associates, where he managed a U.S.-based investment partnership. Mr. Stuka began his career in 1980 as an analyst at Fidelity Management and Research. As an analyst, Mr. Stuka followed a wide array of industries including healthcare, energy, transportation, and lodging and gaming. Early in his career he became the assistant portfolio manager for three Fidelity Funds, including the Select Healthcare Fund which was recognized as the top performing fund in the United States for the five-year period ending December 31, 1985. From 2013 to 2022 Mr. Stuka served as a director of Caliber Imaging & Diagnostics, Inc. (formerly Lucid, Inc.). Mr. Stuka’s qualifications to serve on the board include his significant strategic and business insight from his years of experience investing in the healthcare industry.

 

Gary Roubin, M.D. has served as a director since October 13, 2020. Dr. Roubin cofounded Essential Medical Inc. in 2010, which has had success in bringing a large bore vascular closure device to world markets and was recently acquired by Teleflex Inc. From 2002 to 2003, Dr. Roubin served as Chief Medical Officer of the Medicines Company during the release of its Angiomax product. From 2003 to 2012, Dr. Roubin served as Department Chairman and Chief of Service of the Lenox Hill Hospital Cardiac and Vascular program in New York. From 1989 to 1997, he served as Chief of Interventional Cardiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, to which he joined in 1989 as Professor of Medicine and Radiology and Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories and Interventional Cardiology Section at the University Hospital. In 2001, Dr. Roubin played a pivotal role in the success of Mednova Inc., which was acquired by Abbott Vascular, resulting in the introduction and marketing in the U.S. of the top selling carotid embolic protection system (NAV6) and stent system (XACT). In 1987, he developed and placed the world’s first balloon expandable coronary stent. In 1984, Dr. Roubin joined Andreas Gruentzig at Emory University to continue his post-doctoral research. He is also acknowledged for the development of coronary stenting and the first FDA-approved coronary stent. Dr. Roubin received his M.D. from the University of Queensland medical school and his Ph.D. from Sydney University. Dr. Roubin is qualified to serve on the board given that he is an internationally renowned interventional cardiologist recognized for his pioneering work in carotid stenting and embolic and protection devices. He is also acknowledged for the development of coronary stenting and the first FDA-approved coronary stent.

 

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Biographies of Other Directors

 

Michael Berman has served as our director since February 7, 2013. Mr. Berman is a medical device entrepreneur who has worked with high-potential development and early-stage commercial companies since 2000. From 2005 to 2012, Mr. Berman was a co-founder and the chairman of BridgePoint Medical, Inc., which developed technology to treat coronary and peripheral vascular chronic total occlusions and which was sold to Boston Scientific. Mr. Berman was also a member of the board of Lutonix, Inc. from 2007 until 2011, when the company was sold to C.R. Bard, Inc. From 2011 to 2018, Mr. Berman served as a co-founder and director of Rebiotix Inc., a company developing an innovative treatment for C Diff colitis. Rebiotix was sold to Ferring Pharmaceuticals in 2018. From 2014 till 2018 Mr. Berman served as a director of Mazor Robotics, a company pioneering Spinal Robotic Surgery. Mazor was sold to Medtronic in 2018. Mr. Berman has served (i) since 2011 as an advisor to, and since 2012 as a director of, Cardiosonic, Inc., a company developing a system for hypertension reduction via renal denervation, (ii) since 2005 as a director of PharmaCentra, LLC, which creates customizable marketing programs that help pharmaceutical companies communicate with physicians and patients, (iii) since 2018 as a Director of STMedical, a medical device company that has developed a temporary stent for the treatment of chronic sinusitis, (iv) since 2019 as a director of CardiacSense Inc, a medical device company that has developed a smart watch vital sign monitor, (v) since 2017 as a Director of Owlytics Healthcare, (vi) since 2013 as a Director of ClearCut Inc., a medical device company that has developed an MRI system for tumor margin assessment, (vii) since 2013 as a director of PulmOne Ltd., a medical device company developing an innovative Pulmonary Function Testing system, (viii) since 2019 as a director of QArt, a medical device company, (ix) since 2014 as a venture partner at RiverVest Ventures. (x) since 2020 as a Director of ReVamp, Medical(xi) since 2022 as a Director of Kedma Solar Ltd., and (xii) since 2023 as a Director of VenaCore. Mr. Berman brings to the board his extensive executive and entrepreneurial experiences in the field of medical devices and vascular intervention, which should assist in strengthening and advancing our strategic focus.

 

Marvin Slosman has served as our president, chief executive officer and director since January 1, 2020. Mr. Slosman has served as chief operating officer for MEDCURA Inc. from May 2019 to December 2019. From September 2017 to September 2019, Mr. Slosman served as a Business Consultant, overseeing international commercial strategy and market development, at Integra Life Sciences, a leading innovator in orthopedic extremity surgery, neurosurgery, and reconstructive and general surgery. From 2010 to 2014 Mr. Slosman served as President of Itamar Medical, Inc., a medical technology company focused on cardiovascular and sleep diagnostics. Mr. Slosman also served as chief executive officer of Ovalum Vascular Ltd. from 2008 to 2010. Mr. Slosman’s qualifications to serve on the board of directors of the Company include his significant experience in senior management positions of leading medical device companies.

 

Mr. Slosman is a party to an agreement related to his service as president, chief executive officer and director described under “Executive Compensation – Agreements with Named Executive Officers.”

 

Thomas J. Kester has served as a director since September 6, 2016. Mr. Kester has been serving as the chief financial officer of Kester Search Group, LLC Inc., a private executive search firm specializing in sales force placement for medical, dental and diagnostic device companies, since October 2014. From 2004 to 2010, Mr. Kester served as a director of Orthofix International, NV (NASDAQ: OFIX), a global medical device company. From 2004 till 2019 Mr. Kester served as a director of Conestee Foundation Inc, a not for profit organization that developed a 400 acre Nature Preserve in the center of Greenville County, SC . Mr. Kester has served (i) since 2003 as a director of Upstate forever, a not for profit in Greenville, SC focused on protecting special places in the 10 county upstate region of South Carolina and promoting sustainable development, (ii) since 2021 as a director of South Carolina Environmental Law Project, a not for profit law firm representing clients on environmental issues. Mr. Kester’s experience includes 28 years from 1974 until 2002 at KPMG LLP, including 18 years as an audit partner, advising public and private companies in connection with annual audit and financings. Mr. Kester’s qualifications to serve on the board include his significant strategic and business insight from his years of experience auditing global companies and serving on the boards of several public and not-for-profit organizations. Mr. Kester received his B.S. in mechanical engineering from Cornell University and an M.B.A. from Harvard University.

 

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Kathryn Arnold has served as our director since May 10, 2021. Ms. Arnold is the Founder and CEO of SPRIG Consulting, a strategic marketing consulting firm with over 15 years of success in the medical space. Also, Ms. Arnold is Co-Founder and Operating Partner at SPRIG Equity, a healthcare venture capital fund investing in late-stage and growth equity medical technology companies. Prior to founding SPRIG, Ms. Arnold held sales and marketing management roles with Guidant Corporation (acquired by Abbott Laboratories and Boston Scientific) and Kensey Nash Corporation (acquired by Spectranetics Corporation / Royal Philips). Additionally, Ms. Arnold is an adjunct faculty member at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University where she teaches a course specific to medical product commercialization and financing. Ms. Arnold received a bachelor of arts in environmental science from the University of Vermont and a M.B.A. degree from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

 

Board Diversity Matrix

 

The table below provides certain information regarding the diversity of our board of directors as of the date of this annual report.

 

Board Diversity Matrix (As of April 18, 2024)
 
Total Number of Directors   6
    Female   Male   Non-Binary   Did Not Disclose Gender
Part I: Gender Identity                
Directors   1   5   #   #
Part II: Demographic Background                
African American or Black   #   #   #   #
Alaskan Native or Native American   #   #   #   #
Asian   #   #   #   #
Hispanic or Latinx   #   #   #   #
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander   #   #   #   #
White   1   5   #   #
Two or More Races or Ethnicities   #   #   #   #
LGBTQ+   0
Did Not Disclose Demographic Background                

 

Family Relationships

 

There are no family relationships amongst our directors and executive officers.

 

Arrangements between Officers and Directors

 

To our knowledge, there is no arrangement or understanding between any of our officers and any other person, including directors, pursuant to which the officer was selected to serve as an officer.

 

Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

 

We are not aware of any of our directors or officers being involved in any legal proceedings in the past ten years relating to any matters in bankruptcy, insolvency, criminal proceedings (other than traffic and other minor offenses), or being subject to any of the items set forth under Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K.

 

Vote Required

 

The Class 1 directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of our common stock voting in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting. The two director nominees who receive the most votes cast in the election of directors will be elected as Class 1 directors.

 

   Board Recommendation
 
     The board of directors recommends a vote FOR the Class 1 director nominees under the Director Election Proposal.

 

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

In addition to Marvin Slosman, whose information is set forth above under the caption “Proposal 1: Election of Class 1 Directors – Directors and Nominee” and “– Biographies,” below is certain information with respect to our other executive officers as of April 18, 2024.

 

Name   Age   Position(s)
Craig Shore   63   Chief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, Secretary and Treasurer
Andrea Tommasoli   52   Chief Operating Officer
Shane Gleason   50   Chief Commercial Officer
Patrick Verta   66   Executive Vice President of Clinical and Medical Affairs

 

Our officers hold office until the earlier of their death, resignation or removal by our board of directors or until their successors have been selected. They serve at the pleasure of our board of directors.

 

Craig Shore has served as our chief financial officer, secretary and treasurer since March 31, 2011 and as our chief administrative officer since May 3, 2013. In addition, from November 10, 2010 through March 31, 2011, Mr. Shore served as InspireMD Ltd.’s vice president of business development. Mr. Shore has vast experience in financial management in the United States, Europe and Israel for companies such as Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Bristol Myers Squibb and General Electric. His experience includes raising capital both in the private and public markets. Mr. Shore graduated with honors and received a B.Sc. in Finance from Pennsylvania State University and an M.B.A. from George Washington University.

 

Mr. Shore is a party to an agreement related to his service as chief financial officer described under “Executive Compensation – Agreements with Named Executive Officers.”

 

Andrea Tommasoli has served as our Chief Operating Officer since March 19, 2023. Prior to Mr. Tommasoli’s appointment as Chief Operating Officer, he served as our Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing since November 2020 bringing over two decades of life sciences industry experience to the Company. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Tommasoli held commercial leadership positions at Integra LifeSciences, a medical device manufacturing company that manufactures products for skin regeneration, neurosurgery, reconstructive and general surgery, from 2011 to 2020, serving as the Senior Director of Indirect Markets from January 2017 to October 2020, as Director of Sales for Specialty Surgical Solutions Europe from June 2014 to December 2016 and as Director of Sales for Neurosurgery EMEA from July 2011 to June 2014. Prior to joining Integra, Mr. Tommasoli was a Managing Partner at Alticare, an independent company focusing on start-ups and growth companies in the medtech business from 2009 to 2011 and was the Director of St. Jude Medical Neuromodulation division in France from 2007 to 2009. Mr. Tommasoli has vast experience in commercializing innovative medical technology solutions that improve and advance standard of care. Mr. Tommasoli received his B.A. in nuclear engineering from Bologna University, Italy and his M.B.A. from HEC Paris, France.

 

Shane Gleason has served as our Chief Commercial Officer since August 28, 2023 after joining the company as general manager of North America and vice president of global marketing on February 20, 2023. Prior to joining us, Mr. Gleason served as served as vice president of sales, vascular interventions at Surmodics from 2021. Before that, from 2019 to 2021, he served as senior director, US marketing at Edwards Life Sciences (NYSE: EW), a developer of artificial heart valve and hemodynamic monitoring technologies, and, before that, from 2017 to 2019 as, chief commercial officer at Nuvaira, Inc., a privately held developer of COPD therapies that preserve patient lung health. Earlier in his career, Mr. Gleason held sales and marketing leadership roles at Cordis, a Cardinal Health company (NYSE: CAH) from 2015 to 2016, Trivascular Technologies (part of Endologix) from 2010 to 2015, and Abbott Vascular (NYSE: ABT) from 2002 to 2010, where he launched the second FDA approved carotid stent system. Mr. Gleason received a Bachelor of Science, Engineering Science and Mechanics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland Smith School of Business.

 

Mr. Gleason is a party to an agreement related to his service as chief commercial officer described under “Executive Compensation – Agreements with Named Executive Officers.”

 

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Patrick Verta, D.V.M., M.D. has served as our executive Vice-President of Clinical and Medical Affairs since October 2, 2023. Prior to joining the Company, Dr. Verta served as Chief Medical Officer, overseeing medical, clinical affairs and reimbursement at Canary Medical, a developer of implantable remote patient monitoring sensor technology and analytics. Before that Dr. Verta founded Axelmed LLC, a consultancy company focused on clinical, medical, reimbursement and regulatory affairs strategies for medical device companies. Between 2015 and 2020, he served as the global Vice-President of Medical Affairs at Edwards Lifesciences, where he led Medical Affairs, Clinical Science and Biometrics of the Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies (TMTT) division, and before that as Vice-President and Medical Director in Business Development. Prior to Edwards Lifesciences, Dr. Verta served in a variety of leadership roles in the interventional medical device space, including Chief Medical Officer for the start-up companies Sunshine Heart and Neomend. Between 2005 and 2012, Dr. Verta served in roles of increasing responsibility at Abbott and Guidant (acquired by Abbott), where he directed endovascular clinical programs that led to the approval of stents systems in the carotid, renal, and lower limb anatomies. During that time, he was instrumental in the approval of the Acculink carotid stents and clearance of two embolic protection devices (Accunet and Emboshield Pro) and led large post-market studies that enrolled over 15,000 patients and helped define the field of carotid artery stenting. He was instrumental in the approval of the Acculink/Accunet in patients at standard risk for Carotid endarterectomy, after a successful FDA circulatory panel vote in 2011. Dr. Verta has published extensively and is recognized as an expert on Carotid Artery Stenting. Dr. Verta earned his doctorate in medicine from the Faculté de Médecine de Paris XII, and in parallel attended the École Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, where he received his doctorate in veterinary medicine. Dr. Verta also holds a master’s degree in biostatistics from Université de Paris VI.

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Compensation Philosophy and Process

 

The responsibility for establishing, administering and interpreting our policies governing the compensation and benefits for our executive officers lies with our compensation committee and our board of directors. During the review of named executive officer compensation for 2023, the compensation committee did not retain the services of any compensation consultants.

 

The goals of our compensation policy are to ensure that executive compensation rewards management for helping us achieve our financial goals (increased sales, profitability, etc.) and meet our clinical trial milestones and aligns management’s overall goals and objectives with those of our stockholders. In 2023, we designed our executive compensation program to achieve the following objectives:

 

  provide a competitive compensation package that enables us to attract and retain superior management personnel;
     
  provide incentives that reward the achievement of performance goals that directly correlate to the enhancement of stockholder value and facilitate executive retention;

 

  reward our officers fairly for their role in our achievements; and
     
  align executives’ interests with those of stockholders through long-term incentives linked to specific performance.

 

We have determined that in order to best meet these objectives, our executive compensation program should balance fixed and bonus compensation, as well as cash and equity compensation. Historically, there has been no pre-established policy or target for the allocation between either cash and non-cash or short-term and long-term incentive compensation for our executive officers.

 

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Summary Compensation Table

 

The table below sets forth the compensation earned by our named executive officers for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

 

Name and Principal Position  Year  

Salary

($)

   Bonus
($)
  

Stock

Awards

($)(1)

  

Option

Awards

($)(1)

  

All Other

Compensation

($)

  

Total

($)

 
Marvin Slosman   2023    470,000(2)   324,300(3)   1,839,464    536,026    49,531(4)   3,219,321 
President and Chief Executive Officer   2022    432,500    233,550(3)   -    -    30,759(4)   696,809 
                                    
Craig Shore   2023    305,426(5)   171,512(3)(5)   919,741    268,013    136,548(6)   1,801,240 
Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer   2022    319,524    164,698(3)(5)   -    -    141,013(6)   625,235 
                                    
Shane Gleason   2023    274,275    125,841(3)   516,359    150,511    41,213(7)   1,108,199 
Chief Commercial Officer   2022    -    -    -    -    -    - 

 

(1) For awards of stock, the aggregate grant date fair value is computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Fair value is based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model using the fair value of the underlying shares at the measurement date.
   
(2) Effective as of January 1, 2023, Mr. Slosman’s annual base salary was increased to $470,000.
   
(3) Cash bonus awards for the 2022 calendar year were approved by the compensation committee in January 2023. Cash bonus awards for the 2023 calendar year were approved by the compensation committee in January 2024.
   
(4) Mr. Slosman’s other compensation for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 consisted of benefits related to health insurance.

 

(5) Effective as of January 1, 2023, Mr. Shore’s annualized base salary was increased to NIS 1,126,944. Compensation amounts received in non-U.S. currency have been converted into U.S. dollars using the average exchange rate for the applicable period, except for bonus amounts which have been converted into U.S. dollars using 3.627 NIS per dollar which was the exchange rate as of December 31, 2023. The average exchange rate for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were 3.690 NIS per dollar and 3.359 NIS per dollar, respectively.
   
(6) Mr. Shore’s other compensation consisted solely of benefits in the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. In each of the periods reported, Mr. Shore’s benefits included our contributions to his severance, pension, vocational studies and disability funds, an annual recreation payment, a company car or car allowance, cell phone and a daily food allowance.
   
(7)

Mr. Gleason’s other compensation for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, consisted of benefits related to health insurance.

 

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Agreements with Named Executive Officers

 

Marvin Slosman

 

On December 9, 2019, we entered into an Employment Agreement with Marvin Slosman, which was subsequently amended on December 31, 2019, November 8, 2021, January 5, 2023 and April 1, 2024 (as amended, the “Slosman Employment Agreement”), pursuant to which Mr. Slosman was appointed as our new chief executive officer and president. Mr. Slosman’s term of employment commenced on January 1, 2020, was to remain in effect for three years (the “Initial Employment Term”), unless earlier terminated, and was to be automatically renewed for successive one-year terms after the Initial Employment Term. We subsequently amended Mr. Shore’s employment agreement to remove that certain definitive term of his employment such that his employment agreement shall expire if and when terminated by either party pursuant to the terms thereof. Mr. Slosman was also appointed as a Class 3 director, effective January 1, 2020, with a term expiring on the 2020 annual meeting of our stockholders.

 

As consideration for his services as chief executive officer, Mr. Slosman is entitled to receive an annual base salary, which as of January 1, 2024 was increased to $550,000, less applicable payroll deductions and tax (“Base Salary”), which will be reviewed by the Board on an annual basis for increase. In addition, Mr. Slosman is also entitled to annual performance bonuses in an amount up to 75% percent of the Base Salary, as may be in effect from time to time, for each calendar year during his employment with us based on the extent to which performance criteria/financial results for the applicable year have been met.

 

In the event Mr. Slosman voluntarily resigns without good reason, we may, in our sole discretion, shorten the notice period and determine the date of termination without any obligation to pay Mr. Slosman any additional compensation other than the accrued obligations and without triggering a termination of Mr. Slosman’s employment without cause. In the event we terminate Mr. Slosman’s employment for cause or Mr. Slosman voluntarily resigns without good reason, we shall have no further liability or obligation to Mr. Slosman under the Slosman Employment Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that this the Slosman Employment Agreement terminates, we shall, subject to the execution and timely return by Mr. Slosman of a release of claims, pay Mr. Slosman cash payments totalling $100,000 in the aggregate, payable in equal instalments on our regular pay dates that occur during the period commencing on 60th day following his employment termination date and ending on the last day of the Restricted Period (as defined below); provided, however, that if, at any time within the period commencing on the date that is 3 months prior to the termination of his employment agreement , we and a third party execute a definitive, written, and binding agreement (a “Sale Agreement”) to enter into certain transactions described therein that, if consummated, would constitute a change in control in us, then Mr. Slosman’s termination shall be deemed a termination by us without cause or for good reason, as of the date such Sale Agreement is executed, provided further that any amounts payable to Mr. Slosman pursuant to such termination shall be reduced by any amounts previously paid to him upon expiration of the Slosman Employment Agreement, termination by us for cause or voluntary resignation by Mr. Slosman without good reason.

 

If Mr. Slosman’s employment is terminated (i) by us without cause or (ii) by Mr. Slosman for good reason, then we must pay Mr. Slosman, (a) a severance pay in an amount equal to twelve months of his then-current base salary, (b) his entire performance bonus for any calendar year for which Mr. Slosman has already worked the entire year but the bonus has yet to be paid, (c) a pro-rated performance bonus in an amount equal to the target annual performance bonus to which Mr. Slosman may have been entitled for the year in which the termination occurs that he would have received had his employment not been terminated during such year. In addition, 50% of all unvested stock options, shares of restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, or similar stock-based rights granted to Mr. Slosman shall vest and, if applicable, be immediately exercisable and any risk of forfeiture included in such restricted or other stock grants previously made to Mr. Slosman shall immediately lapse, and Mr. Slosman may exercise any outstanding stock options or stock appreciation rights until the earlier of (x) the last date on which such stock options or stock appreciation rights could have been exercised pursuant to the terms of the applicable award agreement, irrespective of Mr. Slosman’s termination of employment; and (y) the date that is two years following his employment termination date.

 

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In addition, following a change in control, in the event of (i) a termination without cause or (ii) the Slosman Employment Agreement is not renewed, during the three month period before or within twelve months following a change in control, subject to certain conditions, Mr. Slosman shall be entitled to (1) severance pay equal to Mr. Slosman’s base salary for twenty-four months, (2) the equivalent of two times Mr. Slosman’s entire performance bonus based on achievement of the applicable performance criteria/financial results in the year prior to the year of termination, (3) an additional bonus amount calculated as the product of (A) the performance bonus that Mr. Slosman would have received had his employment not been terminated during such year and (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days Mr. Slosman was employed by us during the year of termination and the denominator of which is the number of days in such year, and (4) exercise any outstanding stock options or stock appreciation rights until the earlier of (A) the last date on which such stock options or stock appreciation rights could have been exercised pursuant to the terms of the applicable award agreement, irrespective of Mr. Slosman’s termination of employment; and (B) the date that is two years following his employment termination date ((i) – (v) collectively, the “Slosman Change of Control Severance Payments”).

 

In addition to the Slosman Change of Control Severance Payments, in the event of a change of control, to the fullest extent permitted by our then-current benefit plans, Mr. Slosman shall be entitled to continuation of health, dental, vision and life insurance coverage, (but not pension, retirement, profit-sharing, severance or similar compensatory benefits), for Mr. Slosman and his eligible dependents substantially similar to coverage they were receiving or which they were entitled to immediately prior to the termination of Mr. Slosman’s employment for the lesser of twenty-four months after termination or until Mr. Slosman secures coverage from new employment.

 

Craig Shore

 

We have been a party to an employment agreement with Craig Shore since November 28, 2010. On May 5, 2014, we entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with Mr. Shore, which was amended on January 5, 2015, July 25, 2016, March 25, 2019, August 14, 2020, November 4, 2021, January 17, 2022, January 15, 2023 and April 1, 2024 (as amended, the “Shore Employment Agreement”). The Shore Employment Agreement had an initial term that originally was to end on December 31, 2020, and was to automatically renew for additional one-year periods on January 1st thereafter unless either party gave the other party written notice of its election not to extend such employment at least six months prior to the next January 1st renewal date. We subsequently amended the Shore Employment Agreement to remove that certain definitive term of his employment such that his employment agreement shall expire if and when terminated by either party pursuant to the terms thereof.

 

Under the terms of the Shore Employment Agreement, Mr. Shore is entitled to an annual base salary, which as of January 1, 2024 was increased to NIS 98,608 per month (NIS 1,183,296 and approximately USD 319,000 on an annualized basis). Such amount may be reduced only as part of an overall cost reduction program that affects all of our senior executives and does not disproportionately affect Mr. Shore, so long as such reduction does not reduce the base salary to a rate that is less than 90% of the amount set forth above (or 90% of the amount to which it has been increased). The base salary will be reviewed annually by our chief executive officer for increase (but not decrease, except as permitted as part of an overall cost reduction program) as part of our annual compensation review. Mr. Shore is also eligible to receive an annual bonus in an amount equal to 60% of his then-annual salary upon the achievement of reasonable target objectives and performance goals, to be determined by the board of directors in consultation with Mr. Shore. Mr. Shore is eligible to receive the percentage of his annual bonus corresponding to the percentage of his achievement of such target objectives and performance goals. The annual bonus will be reviewed annually by our chief executive officer for increase in the amount of the percentage of his then-base salary (but not decrease), as well as the criteria and the goals, as part of our annual compensation review. In addition, Mr. Shore is eligible to receive such additional bonus or incentive compensation as the board may establish from time to time in its sole discretion. Mr. Shore will also be considered for grants of equity awards each year as part of the board’s annual compensation review, which will be made at the sole discretion of the board of directors. Each grant will, with respect to any awards that are options, have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of our common stock as of the date of grant, and will be subject to a three-year vesting period subject to Mr. Shore’s continued service with us, with one-third of each additional grant vesting equally on the first, second, and third anniversary of the date of grant for such awards.

 

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If Mr. Shore’s employment is terminated upon his death or disability, by us without cause (as such term is defined in the Shore Employment Agreement), or upon his resignation for “good reason” (as such term is defined in the Shore Employment Agreement), Mr. Shore will be entitled to receive, in addition to any amounts he is entitled to receive under the manager’s insurance policy: (i) any unpaid base salary and accrued unpaid vacation or earned incentive compensation and the pro rata amount of any bonus plan incentive compensation for the fiscal year of such termination (based on the number of business days he was actually employed by us during the fiscal year of such termination and based on the percentage of the goals that he actually achieved under the bonus plan) that he would have received had his employment not been terminated; (ii) a one-time lump sum severance payment equal to 100% of his base salary, provided that he executes a release relating to employment matters and the circumstances surrounding his termination in favor of us, our subsidiaries and our officers, directors and related parties and agents, in a form reasonably acceptable to us at the time of such termination; (iii) vesting of all unvested stock options, stock appreciation rights or similar stock-based rights granted to him and immediate lapse of any risk of forfeiture included in restricted or other stock grants previously made to Mr. Shore; (iv) an extension of the exercise period of all vested stock options granted to Mr. Shore until the earlier of (a) two years from the date of termination or (b) the latest date that each stock option would otherwise expire by its original terms; (v) to the fullest extent permitted by our then-current benefit plans, continuation of health, dental, vision and life insurance coverage for the lesser of 12 months after termination or until Mr. Shore obtains coverage from a new employer; and (vi) reimbursement of up to $30,000 for executive outplacement services, subject to certain restrictions. The severance payment described in (ii) of the foregoing sentence upon Mr. Shore’s death or disability will be reduced by any payments received by Mr. Shore pursuant to any of our employee welfare benefit plans providing for payments in the event of death or disability. If the Shore Employment Agreement is terminated by us for cause or by Mr. Shore voluntarily, Mr. Shore will only be entitled to unpaid amounts owed to him (e.g., base salary, accrued vacation and earned incentive compensation through the date of such termination) and whatever rights, if any, are available to him pursuant to our stock-based compensation plan or any award documents related to any stock-based compensation.

 

Mr. Shore may terminate his employment for good reason by delivering a notice of termination to us 30 days in advance of the date of termination; provided, however, that Mr. Shore agreed to not terminate his employment for good reason until he has given us at least 30 days’ notice from which to cure the circumstances set forth in the notice of termination constituting good reason, and if such circumstances are not cured by the 30th day, Mr. Shore’s employment shall terminate on such date.

 

Pursuant to terms contained in Mr. Shore’s stock option and restricted stock award agreements, in the event of a change of control of our company, the stock options and restricted stock granted to Mr. Shore that were unvested will vest immediately upon such change of control, in the case of stock options, if such stock options are not assumed or substituted by the surviving company.

 

If we terminate Mr. Shore’s employment without cause, Mr. Shore will be entitled, under Israeli law, to severance payments equal to his last month’s salary multiplied by the number of years Mr. Shore has been employed with us. In order to finance this obligation, we make monthly contributions equal to 8.33% of Mr. Shore’s salary to a severance payment fund. The total amount accumulated in Mr. Shore’s severance payment fund as of December 31, 2023 was $273,000, as adjusted for conversion from New Israeli Shekels to U.S. Dollars. However, if Mr. Shore’s employment is terminated without cause, on account of a disability or upon his death, as of December 31, 2023, Mr. Shore would have been entitled to receive $339,000 in severance under Israeli law, thereby requiring us to pay Mr. Shore $66,000, in addition to releasing the $273,000 in Mr. Shore’s severance payment fund. On the other hand, pursuant to the Shore Employment Agreement, Mr. Shore is entitled to the total amount contributed to and accumulated in his severance payment fund in the event of the termination of his employment as a result of his voluntary resignation. In addition, Mr. Shore would be entitled to receive his full severance payment under Israeli law, including the total amount contributed to and accumulated in his severance payment fund, if he retires from our company at or after age 67.

 

We are entitled to terminate Mr. Shore’s employment immediately at any time for “cause” (as such term is defined in the agreement and the Israeli Severance Payment Act 1963), upon which, after meeting certain requirements under the applicable law and recent Israeli Labor court requirements, we believe we will have no further obligation to compensate Mr. Shore.

 

Also, upon termination of Mr. Shore’s employment for any reason, we will compensate him for all unused or previously uncompensated vacation days accrued.

 

The employment agreement also contains certain standard noncompetition, non-solicitation, confidentiality, and assignment of inventions requirements for Mr. Shore.

 

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Mr. Shore is also entitled to participate in or receive benefits under our social insurance and benefits plans, including but not limited to our manager’s insurance policy and education fund, which are customary benefits provided to executive employees in Israel. A management insurance policy is a combination of severance savings (in accordance with Israeli law), defined contribution tax-qualified pension savings and disability pension payments. An education fund is a savings fund of pre-tax contributions to be used after a specified period of time for advanced educational training and other permitted purposes, as set forth in the by-laws of the education fund. We will make periodic contributions to these insurance and social benefits plans based on certain percentages of Mr. Shore’s base salary, including (i) 7.5% to the education fund and (ii) 15.83% to the manager’s insurance policy, of which 8.33% will be allocated to severance pay, 5.5% to pension fund payments and up to 2.5% to disability pension payments. Upon the termination of Mr. Shore’s employment for any reason other than for cause, Mr. Shore will be entitled to receive the total amount contributed to and accumulated in his manager insurance policy fund.

 

In addition, following a change in control, in the event of (i) a termination without cause or (ii) the Shore Employment Agreement is not renewed, during the three month period before or within twelve months following a change in control, subject to certain conditions, Mr. Shore shall be entitled to (1) severance pay equal to Mr. Shore’s base salary for twelve months, (2) the equivalent of Mr. Shore’s entire annual bonus based on achievement of the applicable performance criteria/financial results in the year prior to the year of termination, (3) an additional bonus amount calculated as the product of (A) the annual bonus that Mr. Shore would have received had his employment not been terminated during such year and (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days Mr. Shore was employed by us during the year of termination and the denominator of which is the number of days in such year, and (4) exercise any future stock options or stock appreciation rights until the earlier of (A) the last date on which such stock options or stock appreciation rights could have been exercised pursuant to the terms of the applicable award agreement, irrespective of Mr. Shore’s termination of employment; and (B) the date that is one year following his employment termination date ((i) – (v) collectively, the “Shore Change of Control Severance Payments”).

 

In addition, the Shore Change of Control Severance Payments (i) shall be paid in addition to payments related to any and all social, pension, retirement, profit-sharing, severance or similar compensatory benefits owed to and/or previously deposited into the relevant accounts of or for the benefit of, Mr. Shore as of the date of termination plus (A) a car allowance and (B) payments related to any and all social, pension, retirement, profit-sharing, severance or similar compensatory benefits that the Company would have been obligated to pay had Mr. Shore remained employed in the same position and at the same base salary for the 12 months immediately following the date of termination, as were in effect for the 12 months immediately preceding the date of termination and (ii) are in addition to (but without duplication of) Mr. Shore’s severance benefits that would be triggered by terminations without a change in control. Further, in the event of a Change of Control, to the fullest extent permitted by our then-current benefit plans, Mr. Shore shall be entitled to continuation of health, dental, vision and life insurance coverage, (but not pension, retirement, profit-sharing, severance or similar compensatory benefits), for Mr. Shore and his eligible dependents substantially similar to coverage they were receiving or which they were entitled to immediately prior to the termination of Mr. Shore’s employment for the lesser of twelve months after termination or until Mr. Shore secures coverage from new employment.

 

Shane Gleason

 

We entered into terms of employment with Mr. Shane Gleason since February 7, 2023 (the “Gleason Agreement”). Mr. Gleason served as our General Manager of North America and VP of Global Marketing since February 2023 until his promotion to Chief Commercial Officer in August 2023. Mr. Gleason is be entitled to receive an annual base salary, which as of January 1, 2024 was increased to $334,000, less applicable payroll deductions and tax. In addition, Mr. Gleason is entitled to a yearly gross bonus of 50% of his base salary, which will be based on the Board’s assessment of Mr. Gleason individual performance and the overall performance of the Company. In addition, Mr. Gleason was entitled to receive equity awards that represent in the aggregate 1% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock follow the Private Placement Offering in May 2023. Following the determination of such equity award, Mr. Gleason was granted 256,450 shares of restricted stock and stock options to purchase 85,480 shares of our common stock, outside of our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan and subject to terms and conditions of the award agreements entered by Mr. Gleason. The Gleason Agreement was entered into for an indefinite period, and it may be terminated at any time by the Company or upon thirty days’ notice by Mr. Gleason. The Gleason Agreement further provides for standard benefits, such as participation in the Company’s employee benefit plans and programs. The Gleason Agreement also contains certain standard confidentiality requirements.

 

Change of Control Agreements

 

Pursuant to our forms of our restricted stock award agreement, stock option agreement, or restricted stock unit award agreement pursuant to our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, in the event of a change of control, any unvested awards shall become immediately vested.

 

We do not currently have any plans providing for the payment of retirement benefits to our officers or directors, other than as described above and under “Agreements with Executive Officers” above.

 

We do not currently have any change-of-control or severance agreements with any of our executive officers or directors, other than as described under “Agreements with Executive Officers” above. In the event of the termination of employment of the named executive officers, any and all unexercised stock options shall expire and no longer be exercisable after a specified time following the date of the termination, other than as described under “Agreements with Executive Officers” above.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2023

 

The following table shows information concerning unexercised options and unvested shares of restricted stock outstanding as of December 31, 2023 for each of our named executive officers.

 

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Option Awards  Stock Awards 
Name  Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options (#)
exercisable
   Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options (#)
unexercisable
   Option
exercise
price ($)
   Option
expiration
date
  Number of
shares of
stock that
have not
vested (#)
   Market value
of shares of
stock that
have not
vested ($)
 
Marvin Slosman   4,053    -    16.50     1/2/2030          
                      -    - 
    26,118    -    5.85     8/31/2030          
                      -    - 
    26,667      13,333(1)   6.90     4/19/2031          
    32,570      16,285(2)   4.12     10/13/2031          
                      48,856(3)   137,284 
                             
    -    348,380(4)   1.76   5/17/2033   1,045,150(5)   2,936,872 
                           
                             
Craig Shore   1    -    124,687.50     07/25/2026          
    15,086    -    5.85     8/31/2030          
    4,445      2,222 (1)    6.90     4/19/2031          
    16,217      8,109 (6)    4.09     11/10/2031          
                      24,326(7)   68,356 
    -    174,190 (4)    1.76   5/17/2033          
                      522,580(8)   1,468,450 
                             
Shane Gleason      -    85,480 (4)    1.76   5/17/2033      256,450(8)   720,625 
    -    6,430(9)   3.37   8/28/2033          

 

(1) These options vest annually, with one vesting remaining on April 19, 2024.
   
(2) These options vest annually, with one vesting remaining on October 13, 2024.
   
(3)

These RSUs vest annually, with one vesting remaining on October 13, 2024.

   
(4) These options vest annually, with one- third vesting on each of May 17, 2024, May 17, 2025, and May 17, 2026.
   
(5) These RSUs vest annually, with one-third vesting on each of May 17, 2024, May 17, 2025, and May 17, 2026.
   
(6) These options vest annually, with one vesting remaining on November 10, 2024.
   
(7) These shares of restricted stock vest annually, with one vesting remaining on November 10, 2024.
   
(8) These shares of restricted stock vest annually, with one-third vesting on each of May 17, 2024, May 17, 2025, and May 17, 2026.
   
(9) These options vest annually, with one- third vesting on each of August 28, 2024, August 28, 2025, and August 28, 2026.

 

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Option Exercises and Stock Vested

 

There were no stock options exercised by our named executive officers during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023.

 

2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

On December 16, 2013, our stockholders approved the InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan, which was adopted by our board of directors on October 25, 2013.

 

The purpose of the InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan is to provide an incentive to attract and retain employees, officers, consultants, directors, and service providers whose services are considered valuable, to encourage a sense of proprietorship and to stimulate an active interest of such persons in our development and financial success. The InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan provides for the granting of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance awards, dividend equivalent rights, and other awards, which may be granted singly, in combination, or in tandem. The InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan is administered by our compensation committee.

 

The InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan is intended to serve as an “umbrella” plan for us and our subsidiaries worldwide. Therefore, if so required, appendices may be added to the InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan in order to accommodate local regulations that do not correspond to the scope of the InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan. Attached as Appendix A to the InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan is the InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Employee Stock Incentive Plan, for the purpose of making grants of stock options, restricted stock, and other stock incentive awards pursuant to Sections 102 and 3(i) of the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance (New Version), 1961 to Israeli employees and officers and any other service providers or control holders of us who are subject to Israeli Income Tax.

 

When the InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan was adopted, a total of 11 shares of common stock were reserved for awards under the InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan.

 

On September 9, 2015, our stockholders approved an amendment to the InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock available for issuance pursuant to awards under the InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan by 11 shares of common stock, to a total of 22 shares of common stock.

 

On May 24, 2016, our stockholders approved the second amendment to the InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock available for issuance pursuant to awards under the InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan by 229 shares of common stock, to a total of 251 shares of common stock.

 

On September 28, 2016, our stockholders approved the third amendment to the InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock available for issuance pursuant to awards under the InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan by 144 shares of common stock, to a total of 395 shares of common stock.

 

On October 24, 2018, our stockholders approved the fourth amendment to the InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan to (i) increase the number of shares of common stock available for issuance pursuant to awards under such InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan by 178,000 shares, to a total of 178,395 shares of common stock, and (ii) remove the cap on the number of shares of common stock with respect to which stock options or stock appreciation rights may be granted to certain executive officers of the Company during any calendar year.

 

32
 

 

On March 21, 2019, our stockholders approved the fifth amendment to the InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan to increase the total number of shares of common stock issuable under the InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan by 500,000 shares to a total of 678,395 shares of common stock

 

On August 31, 2020, our stockholders approved the sixth amendment to the InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan to increase the total number of shares of common stock issuable under the InspireMD, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan by 6,500,000 shares to a total of 7,178,395 shares of common stock.

 

As of April 18, 2024, we had 397,511 shares of common stock underlying outstanding options, restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards under our 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan.

 

Our 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan expired in December 2023. We are no long granting awards under our 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan.

 

2021 Equity Incentive Plan

 

On September 30, 2021, at our 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, our stockholders approved our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

The purpose of the InspireMD, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan is to provide an incentive to attract and retain employees, officers, consultants, directors, and service providers whose services are considered valuable, to encourage a sense of proprietorship and to stimulate an active interest of such persons in our development and financial success. The InspireMD, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan provides for the granting of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance awards, dividend equivalent rights, and other awards, which may be granted singly, in combination, or in tandem. The InspireMD, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan is administered by our compensation committee.

 

As of December 31, 2023, we had 7,731,618 shares of common stock available for future issuance under our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

As of April 18, 2024, we had 5,811,469 shares of common stock available for future issuance under our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The following table provides certain information as of December 31, 2023, with respect to our equity compensation plans under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance:

 

Plan Category  Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights   Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights   Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) 
   (a)   (b)   (c) 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders   2,029,217    2.36    7,811,300 
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders   142,148(1)   2.83    - 
Total   2,171,365    2.39    7,811,300 

 

(1) Comprised of awards made to individuals outside the InspireMD, Inc. 2011 UMBRELLA Option Plan, 2013 Long Term Incentive Plan and 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, as described below:

 

On January, 2020, we issued to Mr. Marvin Slosman, our Chief Executive Officer, President and Director, 12,159 shares of restricted stock and 4,053 shares of common stock, as inducement awards outside the Company’s 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
   
On November 3, 2020, we issued to Mr. Andrea Tommasoli, our chief operating officer, options to purchase 6,035 shares of our common stock, as inducement awards outside the Company’s 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
   
On May 17, 2023, we issued to Mr. Shane Gleason, our Chief Commercial Officer to purchase 85,480 shares of our common stock, as inducement awards outside the Company’s 2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
   
On October 2, 2023, we issued to Mr. Patrick Verta, our Executive V.P., Clinical and Medical Affairs, options to purchase 46,580 shares of our common stock, as inducement awards outside the Company’s 2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan.

 

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Pay Versus Performance

 

We are required by SEC rules to disclose the following information regarding compensation paid to our Principal Executive Officer (the “PEO”) and our other named executive officers (collectively, the “Non-PEO NEOs”). The amounts set forth below under the headings “Compensation Actually Paid to PEO” and “Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs” have been calculated in a manner prescribed by the SEC rules and do not necessarily align with how we or the compensation committee views the link between our performance and pay of our named executive officers. The footnotes below set forth the adjustments from the total compensation for each of our NEOs reported in the Summary Compensation Table above. As permitted under the rules applicable to smaller reporting companies, we are including two years of data and are not including a peer group total shareholder return or company-selected measure, as contemplated under Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K.

 

The following table sets forth additional compensation information of our PEO and Non-PEO NEOs, along with total shareholder return, and net loss results for the years ended December 31,2023, 2022 and 2021:

 

Year(1)  Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO(2)   Compensation Actually Paid to PEO(3)   Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs(4)   Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs(3)   Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on Total Shareholder Return(5)  

Net Loss

(in 000s)(6)

 
2023  $3,219,321   $5,866,582   $1,454,720   $2,068,455   $55   $(19,916)
2022   696,809    115,272    492,252    257,664    17    (18,491)
2021   1,636,144    1,087,129    862,675    687,393    59    (14,918)

 

 

(1) Marvin Slosman served as our Chief Executive Officer for the entirety of 2023, 2022 and 2021. The Non-PEO NEOs for 2023 were Craig Shore and Shane Gleason . The Non-PEO NEOs for 2022 and 2021 were Craig Shore and Andrea Tommasoli.

 

(2) The dollar amounts reported herein represent the amount of total compensation reported for each covered fiscal year in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table for each applicable year.

 

(3) The dollar amounts reported below represent the amount of “compensation actually paid” to our PEO and Non-PEO NEOs (as an average) as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, for each covered fiscal year. The dollar amounts do not reflect the actual amount of compensation earned or received by or paid to the PEOs and Non-PEO NEOs during the applicable fiscal year. For purposes of the equity award adjustments shown below, no equity awards were cancelled due to a failure to meet vesting conditions and no dividends or other earnings paid on stock or option awards in the covered fiscal year prior to the vesting date were not otherwise included in the total compensation for the covered fiscal year. In calculating the “compensation actually paid” amounts reflected in these columns, the fair value or change in fair value, as applicable, of the equity award adjustments included in such calculations was computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The valuation assumptions used to calculate such fair values did not materially differ from those disclosed at the time of grant. The following table details the applicable adjustments that were made to the determine “compensation actually paid” (all amounts are averages for Non-PEO NEOs).

 

34
 

 

   PEO   Non-PEO NEO Average 
   2023   2022   2023   2022 
Summary Compensation Table Total  $3,219,321   $696,809   $1,454,720   $492,252 
- Grant date fair value of awards granted during the covered fiscal year   (2,375,490)       (927,312)    
+ Fair value as of the end of the covered fiscal year of all awards granted during the covered fiscal year that are outstanding and unvested at the end of the covered year   3,789,300        1,446,802     
+/- Change in fair value as of the end of the covered fiscal year (from the end of the prior fiscal year) of any awards granted in any prior fiscal year that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the covered fiscal year   986,502    (420,775)   30,696    (159,890)
+/- Change in fair value as of the vesting date (from the end of the prior fiscal year) of any awards granted in any prior fiscal year for which all applicable vesting conditions were satisfied at the end of or during the covered fiscal year   246,949    (160,762)   63,550    (74,697)
Compensation Actually Paid  $5,866,582   $115,272   $2,068,455   $257,664 

 

(4) The dollar amounts reported herein represent the average of the amounts of total compensation reported for our Non-PEO NEOs as a group for each covered fiscal year in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table for each applicable year.

 

(5) Cumulative total stockholder return (“TSR”) assumes $100 was invested on December 31, 2020 and is calculated by dividing the sum of the cumulative amount of dividends for the measurement period, assuming dividend reinvestment, and the difference between our stock price at the end and the beginning of the measurement period (December 31, 2020) by our stock price at the beginning of the measurement period. At December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the per share closing prices for our common stock were $2.81, $0.86 and $3.02, respectively. No dividends were paid on stock or option awards for all periods presented.

 

(6) Net loss is reflected as reported in our audited consolidated financial statements for the applicable fiscal year.

 

Pay Versus Performance Comparative Disclosure

 

Our executive compensation program reflects a variable pay-for-performance philosophy. While we utilize several performance measures to align executive compensation our performance, all of those measures are not presented in the PVP table. Moreover, we generally seek to incentivize long-term performance, and therefore do not specifically align our performance measures with CAP (as computed in accordance with SEC rules) for a particular year. In accordance with SEC rules, we are providing the following narrative disclosure regarding the relationships between information presented in the PVP table.

 

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Compensation Actually Paid and Company TSR

 

During fiscal 2021 2022 and 2023, compensation actually paid to our PEO decreased from $1,087,129 in fiscal 2021 to $115,272 in fiscal 2022 and increased to $5,866,582 in fiscal 2023. Average compensation actually paid to our Non-PEO NEOs decreased from $687,393 in fiscal 2021 to $257,664 in fiscal 2022 and increased to $2,068,455 in fiscal 2023. Over the same period, the value of an investment of $100 in our common stock on the last trading day of 2020 decreased by $41 to $59 during fiscal 2021, further decreased by $42 to $17 during fiscal 2022 and increased by $38 to $55 during fiscal 2023 for a total decrease over fiscal 2021, 2022 and 2023 of $45.

 

Compensation Actually Paid and Net Loss

 

During fiscal 2021, 2022 and 2023, compensation actually paid to our PEO decreased from $1,087,129 in fiscal 2021 to $115,272 in fiscal 2022 and increased to $5,866,582 in fiscal 2023. Average compensation actually paid to our Non-PEO NEOs decreased from $687,393 in fiscal 2021 to $257,664 in fiscal 2022 and increased to $2,068,455 in fiscal 2023. Over the same period, our net loss increased by $3,573,000 during fiscal 2022 (from a net loss in fiscal 2021 of $14,918,000 to a net loss in fiscal 2022 of $18,491,000), and increased by $1,425,000 during fiscal 2023 (from a net loss in fiscal 2022 of $18,491,000 to a net loss in fiscal 2023 of $19,916,000).

 

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

The following table shows information concerning our directors during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023.

 

Name  Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)   Stock Awards ($)   Option Awards ($)   All Other Compensation ($)   Total
($)
 
Paul Stuka   62,000(1)   397,197    115,735    -    574,932 
Michael Berman   41,000(2)   262,698    76,547    -    380,245 
Thomas Kester   46,000(3)   262,698    76,547    -    385,245 
Gary Roubin, M.D.   35,000(4)   262,698    76,547    -    374,245 
Kathryn Arnold   36,000(5)   262,698    76,547         375,245 

 

(1) Consists of cash fee of $62,000

(2) Consists of stock award in lieu of cash in the value of $41,000

(3) Consists of (i) cash fee of $11,500 and (ii) stock award in lieu of cash in the value of $34,500.

(4) Consists of stock award in lieu of cash in the value of $35,000

(5) Consists of (i) cash fee of $18,000 and (ii) stock award in lieu of cash in the value of $18,000.

 

For the 2023 calendar year, our board approved the following compensation for our independent directors: (i) a $48,000 stipend, payable quarterly to the chairman of the board; (ii) a $30,000 stipend, payable quarterly to the other directors; (iii) annual committee chair compensation of $12,000 for the chairman of the audit committee, $8,000 for the chairman of the compensation committee and $5,000 for the chairmen of the nominating and corporate governance committee and the research and development committee; and (iv) annual committee membership compensation of $4,000 for members of the audit committee and the compensation committee and $2,000 for members of the nominating and corporate governance committee and the research and development committee.

 

Beginning on January 1, 2023, we implemented a plan whereby our directors may elect to receive all or a portion of their cash retainer amount in shares of our common stock under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Equity in Lieu of Cash Plan”). If a director makes that election, a stock award under the 2021 Plan will be paid quarterly on the first day of each quarter (“Grant Dates”) and will become fully vested on the Grant Dates. The stock award will be determined by dividing (x) the product of the cash retainer amount and percentage of the cash retainer amount elected to be taken in shares by (y) the “Fair Market Value” (as defined in the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan of a share on the Grant Dates. If a director’s service on the board terminates for any reasons prior to a Grant Date, he/she will receive a pro rata portion of shares or cash based on the number of days served on the board during the relevant quarter. In January 2024, we terminated the Equity in Lieu of Cash Plan.

 

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Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance

 

We currently have directors’ and officers’ liability insurance insuring our directors and officers against liability for acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers, subject to certain exclusions. Such insurance also insures us against losses which we may incur in indemnifying our officers and directors. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with key officers and directors and such persons shall also have indemnification rights under applicable laws, and our certificate of incorporation and bylaws.

 

PROPOSAL 2: APPROVAL OF COMPENSATION AWARDED TO NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

As required by the SEC’s proxy rules, we are seeking an advisory, non-binding stockholder vote with respect to compensation awarded to our named executive officers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. The Company holds an advisory vote on executive compensation once every three years at the annual meeting of stockholders.

 

Our executive compensation program and compensation paid to our named executive officers are described in the section entitled “Executive Compensation.” Our compensation programs are overseen by the compensation committee and reflect our philosophy to pay all of our employees, including our named executive officers, in ways that support our primary business objectives.

 

The Company is asking its stockholders to indicate their support for the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers. This proposal is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of the company’s named executive officers and the philosophy, policies and practices described in this proxy statement. Accordingly, the Company is asking its stockholders to vote FOR the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:

 

“RESOLVED, that the Company’s stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers, as disclosed in the Company’s proxy statement for the 2024 Annual Meeting pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC.”

 

The vote on executive compensation is advisory, and therefore not binding; however, our compensation committee will consider the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation arrangements.

 

Vote Required

 

The vote on executive compensation as described in the Say on Pay Proposal is advisory, and therefore not binding; however, our compensation committee will consider the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation arrangements.

 

Board Recommendation

 

The board of directors recommends a vote FOR the approval of the executive compensation that is described in the Say on Pay Proposal at the Meeting.

 

PROPOSAL 3: DETERMINE FREQUENCY OF STOCKHOLDER ADVISORY VOTE REGARDING COMPENSATION AWARDED TO NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

As required by the SEC’s proxy rules, we are seeking an advisory, non-binding stockholder vote about how often we should present stockholders with the opportunity to vote on compensation awarded to our named executive officers. You may elect to have the vote held every year, every two years, or every three years, or you may abstain. We recommend that this advisory vote be held once every three years, but stockholders are not voting to approve or disapprove of that recommendation. We believe that a triennial voting frequency will provide our stockholders with sufficient time to evaluate the effectiveness of our overall compensation philosophy, policies, and practices in the context of our long-term business results for the corresponding period, while avoiding over-emphasis on short-term variations in compensation and business results. We also believe that a three-year timeframe provides a better opportunity to observe and evaluate the impact of any changes to our executive compensation policies and practices that have occurred since the last advisory vote.

 

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The Company is asking its stockholders to indicate their support for the holding a stockholder advisory vote regarding the compensation awarded to named executive officers every third year. Accordingly, the Company is asking its stockholders to vote FOR the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:

 

“RESOLVED, that the Company’s stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, a vote for a frequency of once every three years for the stockholder advisory vote on compensation to the Company’s named executive officers.”

 

The vote on frequency of a stockholder advisory vote regarding the compensation awarded to named executive officers is advisory, and therefore not binding; however, our compensation committee will consider the outcome of the vote when considering the frequency of a stockholder advisory vote regarding the compensation awarded to named executive officers.

 

Vote Required

 

The vote on frequency of a stockholder advisory vote regarding the compensation awarded to named executive officers as described in the Frequency of Say on Pay Proposal is advisory, and therefore not binding; however, our compensation committee will consider the outcome of the vote when considering the frequency of a stockholder advisory vote regarding the compensation awarded to named executive officers.

 

Board Recommendation

 

The board of directors recommends a vote FOR the approval of holding an advisory vote every three years regarding approval of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers in the Frequency of Say on Pay Proposal at the Meeting.

 

PROPOSAL 4: RATIFICATION OF RE-APPOINTMENT OF KESSELMAN & KESSELMAN, CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS, A MEMBER OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

The audit committee of our board of directors has re-appointed Kesselman & Kesselman, Certified Public Accountants, a member of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited (“Kesselman”), a member of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, as the independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2024, subject to stockholder ratification pursuant to the Auditor Reappointment Proposal (Proposal 4) at the annual meeting.

 

Kesselman served as our independent registered public accounting firm since 2010. Representatives of Kesselman will not be present at the annual meeting, will not have the opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will not be available to respond to appropriate questions.

 

The fees billed for professional services provided to us by Kesselman for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 are described below.

 

Fee category  2023   2022 
Audit Fees  $188,000   $188,000 
Audit – related fees   22,900   $25,900 
Tax fees   40,282   $40,282 
All other fees   -   $- 
Total fees  $251,182   $254,182 

 

Audit Fees

 

Kesselman billed us audit fees in the aggregate amount of $188,000 and $188,000 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. These fees relate to the audit of our annual financial statements and the review of our interim quarterly financial statements.

 

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Audit-Related Fees

 

Kesselman billed us audit-related fees in the aggregate amount of $22,900 and $25,900 for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The fees for the year ended December 31, 2023 mostly related to registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC in May 2023.

 

The fees for the year ended December 31, 2022 mostly related to registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC in June 2022.

 

Tax Fees

 

Kesselman billed us tax fees in the aggregate amount of $40,282 and $40,282 for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. These fees relate to professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.

 

All Other Fees

 

Kesselman did not bill us for any other fees for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

 

Pre-Approval of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees and Services Policy

 

Our audit committee pre-approves all auditing services, internal control-related services and permitted non-audit services (including the fees and terms thereof) to be performed for us by our independent auditor, except for de minimis non-audit services that are approved by the audit committee prior to the completion of the audit. The audit committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees consisting of one or more members when appropriate, including the authority to grant pre-approvals of audit and permitted non-audit services, provided that decisions of such subcommittee to grant pre-approvals is presented to the full audit committee at its next scheduled meeting. The Audit Committee pre-approved all of the fees set forth above.

 

Approval of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Services and Fees

 

The board of directors requests that stockholders ratify the re-appointment of Kesselman as the independent registered public accounting firm to conduct the audit of our financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2023. In the event that the stockholders fail to ratify the selection, the audit committee will reconsider whether or not to continue to retain that firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the audit committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the fiscal year if the audit committee determines that such a change could be in the best interest of our stockholders.

 

Vote Required

 

The affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast at the Annual Meeting is required to adopt the proposal to ratify the re-appointment of Kesselman as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2024.

 

Board Recommendation

 

The board of directors recommends a vote FOR the ratification of the re-appointment of Kesselman & Kesselman, Certified Public Accountants, a member of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, pursuant to the Auditor Reappointment Proposal at the Meeting.

 

OTHER BUSINESS

 

The board of directors knows of no other business to be brought before the Annual Meeting. If, however, any other business should properly come before the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the accompanying proxy will vote the proxy in accordance with applicable law and as they may deem appropriate in their discretion, unless directed by the proxy to do otherwise.

 

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SUBMISSION OF FUTURE STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

 

Pursuant to rules of the SEC, a stockholder who intends to present a proposal at our next annual meeting of stockholders and who wishes the proposal to be included in the proxy statement for that meeting must submit the proposal to us in writing to the attention of the Secretary at InspireMD, Inc., 4 Menorat Hamaor St., Tel Aviv, Israel 6744832. The proposal must be received no later than December 19, 2024, after which date such stockholder proposal will be considered untimely. In the event that the date of the 2025 annual meeting has been changed more than 30 days from the one year anniversary of the date of the 2024 annual meeting, then the deadline for receipt of a proposal by a stockholder is within a reasonable time before we begin to print and send our proxy materials, in order to be eligible for inclusion in our proxy statement relating to that 2025 meeting.

 

Stockholders wishing to submit nominations of persons for election to the board of directors or proposals of business to be presented directly at the annual meeting instead of for inclusion in next year’s proxy statement must follow the submission criteria and deadlines set forth in our amended and restated bylaws. To be timely in connection with our next annual meeting, such a stockholder nomination or proposal must be received by our Secretary at our principal executive offices between February 2, 2025 and March 4, 2025.

 

In addition to satisfying the foregoing requirements under our amended and restated bylaws, to comply with the universal proxy rules, stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company’s nominees must provide notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act.

 

A copy of InspireMD, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, is available without charge (except for exhibits, which are available upon payment of a reasonable fee) upon written request to InspireMD, Inc., 4 Menorat Hamaor St., Tel Aviv, Israel 6744832.

 

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