Item 5.02. | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
Board Resignation
On June 12, 2024 (the “Effective Date”), after the conclusion of the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of TScan Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”), Timothy Barberich, a member and Chairman of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company, tendered his resignation from the Board and Chairman position thereof, effective immediately. Current member of the Board, Stephen Biggar, M.D., Ph.D., assumed the role of Chairman of the Board, effective as of the Effective Date. Mr. Barberich’s resignation was not the result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices. The Company thanks Mr. Barberich for his years of service as a director.
Director Appointment
On June 12, 2024, the Board appointed Garry Nicholson to the Board, effective as of the Effective Date . Mr. Nicholson will serve as a Class I director until the date of the annual meeting of stockholders following the year ending December 31, 2024, or until his earlier death, resignation or removal. The Board has determined that Mr. Nicholson qualifies as an independent director under the listing standards of the Nasdaq Global Market.
As a non-employee director, Mr. Nicholson will receive cash and equity compensation paid by the Company pursuant to its non-employee director compensation policy. There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Nicholson and any other person pursuant to which Mr. Nicholson was selected as a director, and there are no transactions between Mr. Nicholson and the Company that would require disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Pursuant to the Company’s non-employee director compensation policy, the Board granted Mr. Nicholson certain options to purchase an aggregate of 71,250 shares of the Company’s voting common stock at an exercise price equal to the closing market price per share of the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market on June 12, 2024. Of the aggregate shares granted, 47,500 options will vest in full upon the earlier to occur of the first anniversary of the grant date or the date of the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company, and 23,750 will vest with respect to one-third of the shares on June 12, 2025, with the balance vesting thereafter in 24 equal monthly installments, with vesting of both grants subject to Mr. Nicholson’ continued service on the Board.
The Company will enter into an indemnification agreement with Mr. Nicholson in connection with his appointment to the Board which is in substantially the same form as that entered into with the other directors of the Company, filed as Exhibit 10.19 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 6, 2024.
A copy of the Company’s press release announcing the appointment of Mr. Nicholson is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Board Committees
Effective as of the Effective Date, the Board appointed Stephen Biggar to serve as Chairman of the Board. Effective as of the Effective Date, Dr. Biggar will no longer serve on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, but he will continue in his positions as a Class I director of the Board and Chairman of the Compensation Committee of the Board. Mr. Nicholson will serve on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board and on the Research and Clinical Development Committee of the Board. Effective as of the Effective Date, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board is composed of Katina Dorton, Gabriela Gruia and Garry Nicholson and the Research and Clinical Development Committee of the Board is composed of Barbara Klencke, Gabriela Gruia, Stephen Biggar and Garry Nicholson. The compositions of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee of the Board remain unchanged.
Amended and Restated 2021 Equity Incentive Plan and Awards
As described below, on June 12, 2024, at the Annual Meeting, the stockholders of the Company approved the Amended and Restated TScan Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Amended and Restated 2021 Plan”). The Amended and Restated 2021 Plan amends the evergreen provision in the current TScan Therapeutics,