SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[X] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
[ ] Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only
(as Permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
Endorex Corp.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
______________________________________________________________________________
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, If Other Than Registrant)
Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
______________________________________________________________________________
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transactions applies:
______________________________________________________________________________
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which
the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
______________________________________________________________________________
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
______________________________________________________________________________
(5) Total fee paid:
______________________________________________________________________________
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
______________________________________________________________________________
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
______________________________________________________________________________
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
______________________________________________________________________________
(3) Filing Party:
______________________________________________________________________________
(4) Date Filed:
<PAGE>
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
July 16, 1997
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS:
The annual meeting of stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") of
Endorex Corp. (the "Company") will be held at the offices of Brobeck Phleger
& Harrison LLP, 1633 Broadway, 47th Floor, New York, New York 10019, telephone
number (212) 581-1600 on July 16, 1997, at 10:30 A.M. (daylight savings time)
for the following purposes, each as more fully described herein:
(1) To elect six directors to serve until the next Annual
Meeting or until their respective successors shall have been
duly elected and qualified;
(2) To ratify the appointment of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. as
independent public accountants for the year ending December
31, 1997.
(3) To ratify a private placement of the sale of up to 60 units
("Units") of the Company's securities for a purchase price
of $100,000 per Unit; and
(4) To transact such other business as may properly come before
the Annual Meeting.
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on June 6,
1997 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. A list of
stockholders eligible to vote at the meeting will be available for inspection
at the meeting and for a period of ten days prior to the meeting during
regular business hours at the corporate headquarters at the address above.
Whether or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting, your proxy
vote is important. To assure your representation at the Annual Meeting,
please sign and date the enclosed proxy card and return it promptly in the
enclosed envelope, which requires no additional postage if mailed in the
United States.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Michael S. Rosen
Chief Executive Officer and President
Lake Bluff, Illinois
June 16, 1997
______________________________________________________________________________
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD
BE COMPLETED AND RETURNED PROMPTLY
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.
<PAGE>
ENDOREX CORP.
PROXY STATEMENT FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
July 16, 1997
INTRODUCTION
This Proxy Statement is furnished to stockholders of record of
Endorex Corp. (the "Company") as of the close of business on June 6, 1997 in
connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of the
Company (the "Board of Directors" or "Board") for use at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders to be held on July 16, 1997 (the "Annual Meeting").
Shares cannot be voted at the meeting unless the owner is present
in person or by proxy. All properly executed and unrevoked proxies in the
accompanying form that are received in time for the meeting will be voted at
the meeting or any adjournment thereof in accordance with instructions
thereon, or if no instructions are given, will be voted "FOR" the election of
the named nominees as Directors of the Company, FOR the ratification of
Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. as independent public accountants for the year ending
December 31, 1997, and "FOR" the ratification of a private placement of up to 60
units of the Company's securities and will be voted in accordance with the
best judgment of the persons appointed as proxies with respect to other
matters which properly come before the Annual Meeting. Any person giving a
proxy may revoke it by written notice to the Company at any time prior to
exercise of the proxy. In addition, although mere attendance at the Annual
Meeting will not revoke the proxy, a stockholder who attends the meeting may
withdraw his or her proxy and vote in person. Abstentions and broker non-
votes will be counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a
quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions
will be counted in tabulations of the votes cast on each of the proposals
presented at the Annual Meeting, whereas broker non-votes will not be counted
for purposes of determining whether a proposal has been approved.
The Annual Report of the Company (which does not form a part of
the proxy solicitation materials), including the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB
(the "Form 10-KSB") with the financial statements of the Company for the
eleven months ended December 31, 1996, is being distributed concurrently
herewith to stockholders.
On June 11, 1997, the Company effected a one-for-fifteen reverse
stock split (the "Reverse Stock Split") of its common stock, par value $0.001
per share (the "Common Stock"). Unless otherwise indicated, all information
in this Proxy Statement gives effect to the Reverse Stock Split. All
information in the Form 10-KSB does not reflect the Reverse Stock Split.
The mailing address of the principal executive offices of the
Company is 900 North Shore Drive, Lake Bluff, IL 60044 This Proxy Statement
and the accompanying form of proxy are being mailed to the stockholders of the
Company on or about June 29, 1997.
VOTING SECURITIES
The Company has only one class of voting securities, its Common
Stock. At the Annual Meeting, each stockholder of record at the close of
business on June 6, 1997 will be entitled to one vote for each share of Common
Stock owned on that date as to each matter presented at the Annual Meeting.
On June 6, 1997, prior to the Reverse Stock Split, 16,318,870 shares of Common
Stock were outstanding (had the Reverse Stock Split been effected on June 6,
1997, 1,087,925 shares of common Stock would have been outstanding). A list
of stockholders eligible to vote at the Annual Meeting will be available for
inspection at the Annual Meeting and for a period of ten days prior to the
Annual Meeting during regular business hours at the principal executive
offices of the Company at the address specified above.
<PAGE>
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Unless otherwise directed, the persons appointed in the
accompanying form of proxy intend to vote at the Annual Meeting for the
election of the four nominees named below as Directors of the Company to serve
until the next Annual Meeting or until their successors are duly elected and
qualified. If any nominee is unable to be a candidate when the election takes
place, the shares represented by valid proxies will be voted in favor of the
remaining nominees. The Board of Directors does not currently anticipate that
any nominee will be unable to be a candidate for election.
The Board of Directors currently has six members, four of whom are
nominees for re-election. Each nominee shall serve until the next Annual
Meeting or until their respective successors shall have been duly elected and
qualified. Carl Gilbert, Steve Kanzer, Michael Rosen and Gerald Vosika were
elected to the Board of Directors by the stockholders at the 1996 annual
stockholders meeting. Kenneth Tempero was appointed by the Board of Directors
to the Board of Directors in September 1996 and Leonard Jacob was appointed by
the Board of Directors to the Board of Directors in November 1996. Carl
Gilbert and Leonard Jacob have declined to stand for re-election. The Board
intends to appoint new Directors to fill these vacancies in the next couple
months.
The affirmative vote of a plurality of the Company's outstanding
Common Stock represented and voting at the Annual Meeting is required to elect
the Directors.
Nominees for Election as Directors
The following information with respect to the principal occupation
or employment, other affiliations and business experience of each nominee
during the last five years has been furnished to the Company by such nominee.
Except as indicated, each of the nominees has had the same principal
occupation for the last five years.
Michael S. Rosen, M.B.A., 44, has served as President, Chief
Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors since August 1996.
>From January 1995 until August 1996, he was President and Chief Executive
Officer of PharmaMar, S.A., a European biotech company. From June 1991 until
January 1995, Mr. Rosen was General Manager of the northern Latin American
businesses for Monsanto Company, a multinational chemical/ pharmaceutical
company. Mr. Rosen received a B.A. in Sociology/ International Relations from
Beloit College and an M.B.A. in International Business from the University of
Miami. He has undertaken post-graduate courses at Northwestern University and
Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan.
Gerald J. Vosika, M.D., 54, founded the Company in February 1985.
He was President of the Company from inception until August 1996 when he was
elected Chairman of the Board. He currently continues to serve as Scientific
Director, Chairman and a member of the Board of Directors of the Company. He
has been a practicing physician and an investigator of immunotherapeutic
agents for the past 21 years. Dr. Vosika was employed by the United States
Veteran's Administration from July 1980 until May 1987. He was a part-time
employee of the University of North Dakota from July 1980 to March 1993 and a
part-time employee of the United States Veterans Administration from December
1990 to March 1993. Dr. Vosika received his M.D. from University of Minnesota.
<PAGE>
Steve H. Kanzer, C.P.A., Esq., 33, has served as a member of the
Board of Directors since his election in June 1996. Mr. Kanzer is also a
Senior Managing Director of Paramount Capital, Inc., a biotechnology
investment bank, and Paramount Capital Investments, LLC, a biotechnology
venture capital and merchant banking group. Mr. Kanzer is a founder and
currently a director of Boston Life Sciences, Inc., a biotech company, and
Atlantic Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotech company, and is currently Chairman
of the Board of Directors of Discovery Laboratories, Inc. He has been a
founder and director of several other public and private biotechnology
companies, including Avigen, Inc., Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Xenometrix,
Inc. Prior to 1995, Mr. Kanzer was General Counsel of The Castle Group Ltd.
Before joining Paramount Capital, Inc. and The Castle Group Ltd., Mr. Kanzer
was an attorney at the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Meagher, Slate & Flom. Mr.
Kanzer received his J.D. from New York University School of Law and a B.B.A.
in Accounting from Baruch College.
Kenneth Tempero, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., 57, has served as a member
of the Board of Directors since September 1996. Prior thereto, he served as
Chairman and Chief Executive officer of MGI Pharma, Inc., a company that
focuses on the development and sale of cancer therapeutics and related
products. From 1983 to 1987, Dr. Tempero held various positions with G.D.
Searle & Co., a pharmaceutical company, most recently as Senior Vice President
of Research and Development. Dr. Tempero holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in
Pharmacology from Northwestern University, an M.D. in Medicine and Surgery
from Northwestern University and an M.B.A. in Pharmaceutical Marketing from
Fairleigh Dickinson University. Dr. Tempero, who has more than 60 scientific
publications to his credit, currently serves on the Board of Directors of
Empi, Inc. and SPRI Medical and Rehab. He is also a scientific consultant to
a number of other companies. He is also a member of the American College of
Physicians and American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
Committees of the Board of Directors
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors reviews, acts on and
reports to the Board of Directors with respect to various auditing and
accounting matters, including the selection of the Company's auditors, the
scope of the annual audits, fees to be paid to the auditors, the performance
of the Company's auditors and the accounting practices of the Company. Mr.
Kanzer, chairman of the Committee, and Dr. Tempero are the only members of the
Audit Committee.
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors determines
the salaries and incentive compensation of the officers of the Company and
provides recommendations for the salaries and incentive compensation of the
other employees and the consultants of the Company. The Compensation Committee
also administers various incentive compensation, stock and benefit plans. Dr.
Jacob, chairman of the Committee, and Dr. Gilbert are the only members of the
Compensation Committee.
The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors acts on such
matters as are referred to it by the full Board of Directors. Dr. Jacob and
Messrs. Kanzer and Rosen are the only members of the Executive Committee.
<PAGE>
Attendance at Board and Committee Meetings
During the Company's last fiscal year, which was comprised of
eleven months ended December 31, 1996, the Board of Directors held seven
formal meetings. During this period, each incumbent Director attended at
least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board of Directors and
the total number of meetings held by all Committees on which he served. In
addition to formal meetings, the Board of Directors and the Audit and
Compensation Committees meet frequently on an informal basis.
Compensation of Directors
Cash Compensation. Directors do not receive a fee for attending
Board of Directors or committee meetings, but are reimbursed for expenses
incurred in connection with performing their respective duties as Directors of
the Company.
Stock Option Grant. The Board has granted each non-employee Director
an option for 30,000 shares of Common Stock on the date of his or her
election or appointment to the Board of Directors. Each option granted
has an exercise price equal to 100% of the fair market value of the
Common Stock on the grant date and a maximum term of ten years, subject
to earlier termination upon the optionee's cessation of Board of Director
service. Each option is exercisable to the extent of 10,000 shares at the
end of each year of Board service.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
_______________________________________________________________________________
Executive Officers
The names of the Company's current executive officers and certain
information about them are set forth below.
Name Age Position
___________________________ ___ ___________________________________
<S> <C> <C>
Michael S. Rosen 44 President, Chief Executive Officer
and Director
Gerald J. Vosika, M.D. 54 Chairman of the Board and
Scientific Director
Robert N. Brey, Ph.D. 47 Vice President, Vaccine
Development
David G. Franckowiak, CPA 34 Controller/Treasurer
_______________________________________________________________________________
</TABLE>
Information regarding executive officers who are not Directors is
as follows:
Robert N. Brey, Ph.D. has served as Vice President, Vaccine
Development of the Company since December 1996. From 1994 to 1996, he served
as Principal of Vaccine Design Group, a consulting practice focused on
research and development strategies in vaccines and immunological therapies.
>From 1992 to 1994, Dr. Brey served as Director of Research at Vaxcel, Inc., a
company involved in vaccine delivery technology. From 1986 to 1992, he held a
variety of positions at Lederle-Praxis Biologicals, where he managed the
Molecular Biology and Oral Vaccine Development areas. Dr. Brey received a
B.S. in Biology from Trinity College and a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the
University of Virginia School of Medicine. He also served as a Postdoctoral
Fellow in biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Brey has
written numerous publications and filed several patents in the area of
vaccines.
David G. Franckowiak, C.P.A., C.M.A., M.Acc. became
Controller/Treasurer of the Company on April 1, 1997. From 1985 to March,
1997, Mr. Franckowiak held several positions with a Big Six public accounting
firm, the last of which was audit manager. Mr. Franckowiak received his B.S.
in Commerce, Accountancy and a Master of Accountancy at DePaul University. He
is also a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant.
He currently serves as the President of the board of directors of the non-
profit organization, Community Support Services, Inc., which position he has
held since July 1996, and from March 1994 to July 1996, he was the Treasurer
of such organization. Mr. Franckowiak is also a member of the Illinois CPA
Society.
<PAGE>
Director and Officer Securities Reports
The Federal securities laws require the Company's Directors and
executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of
the Company's equity securities to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of
any equity securities of the Company. Copies of such reports are required to
be furnished to the Company. To the Company's knowledge, based solely on
review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company, all of such
persons subject to these reporting requirements filed the required reports on
a timely basis with respect to the Company's most recent fiscal year.
Executive Compensation
All information regarding securities of the Company is presented
as of the December 31, 1996 and does not reflect the Reverse Stock Split.
The following table sets forth information concerning the
compensation paid during the Company's transition period ended December 31,
1996 and the two fiscal years ended January 31, 1996 and 1995 to (i) the
Company's Chief Executive Officer and (ii) all of the other executive officers
whose base salary during the transition period was in excess of $100,000
(collectively, "the Named Executive Officers"). No other executive officer
who would otherwise have been included in such table resigned or terminated
employment during 1996.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
_______________________________________________________________________________
Summary Compensation Table
Annual Compensation Long-Term Compensation
Name and Securities Underlying All Other
Principal Position Year Salary ($) Options (#) Compensation ($)
__________________ ____ __________ ______________________ ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Michael S. Rosen (1) 12/31/96 73,536 700,000 4,600
President & CEO 01/31/96 - - -
01/31/95 - - -
Gerald Vosika
Chairman & 12/31/96 234,471 2,000,000 0
Scientific Officer 01/31/96 213,560 0 0
01/31/95 197,600 75,000 0
Robert N. Brey (2)
Vice President 12/31/96 8,180 100,000 0
Vaccine Development 01/31/96 - - -
01/31/95 - - -
_______________________________________________________________________________
</TABLE>
(1) Mr. Rosen joined the Company on August 19, 1996. Mr. Rosen's annual
salary is $200,000.
(2) Dr. Brey joined the Company on December 1, 1996. Dr. Brey's annual
salary is $100,000.
<PAGE>
The following table sets forth certain information concerning
options granted to the Named Executive Officers during the transition period
ended December 31, 1996. No SARs were granted during that period:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
Number of Securities Percentage
Underlying Options of Total Exercise Expiration
Name Granted Options Granted(1) Price Date
___________________ _________________ __________________ __________ ___________
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Michael S. Rosen (2) 700,000 24.65% $1.250 08/19/03
Gerald J.Vosika (3) 2,000,000 70.42% $0.065 03/21/06
Robert N. Brey (4) 100,000 3.52% $0.875 12/01/03
______________________________________________________________________________________________
</TABLE>
(1) Based on an aggregate of 2,840,000 options granted to employees in the
period ended December 31, 1996, including options granted to the Named
Executive Officers.
(2) The option was granted on July 16, 1996. The option may be exercised
with respect to 100,000 shares after August 19, 1996; a cumulative
additional 25,000 shares each quarter through June 30, 1997 and a
cumulative additional 37,500 shares each quarter until vested. The
exercise price may be paid in cash or by delivery of common stock.
(3) The option was granted on March 21, 1996 and may be exercised for all
the option shares at any time prior to March 21, 2006. The exercise
price may be paid in cash or by delivery of common stock.
(4) The option was granted on December 1, 1996 and may be exercised with
respect to 6,250 shares on the grant date and a cumulative additional
6,250 shares quarterly thereafter.
The following table sets forth certain information concerning
exercisable and unexercisable stock options held as of December 31, 1996 by
each of the Named Executive Officers. No SARs were granted during 1996 and no
SARs are outstanding at December 31, 1996:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Aggregate Option Exercises in Last fiscal Year and Fiscal Year-end Option Values
Shares
Acquired on Value Number of Exercisable Options In-the-Money Options
Exercise Realized Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
______________ ______________ ______________ ________________ ______________ _______________
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Michael S. Rosen - - 125,000 575,000 - -
Gerald J. Vosika 2,100,000 $2,363,550 125,000 50,000 $88,906(1) $35,563(1)
Robert N. Brey - - 6,250 93,750 - -
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
</TABLE>
(1) Difference between the bid price on December 31, 1996 (25/32) and
exercise price.
<PAGE>
Employment Agreements
On June 1, 1996, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement
with Gerald Vosika, M.D., which agreement was amended by a letter agreement
dated June 25, 1996, to serve as the Chairman of the Board and Scientific
Director of the Company. Dr. Vosika's employment with the Company terminates
on May 31, 1999. Dr. Vosika's initial salary pursuant to the agreement is
$225,000. The agreement provides that if Dr. Vosika terminates his employment
for Good Reason (as defined therein), or if the Company terminates Dr.
Vosika's employment other than for Cause (as defined therein) or because of
disability, Dr. Vosika shall receive his full salary through the date of
termination and severance pay equal to Dr. Vosika's annual salary as of the
date of termination, multiplied by the number of years remaining in his term
of employment. If Dr. Vosika's health becomes impaired or he becomes disabled
for a period of time, Dr. Vosika is entitled to receive his full salary for a
minimum of thirteen months, such amount to be reduced by any payments made to
Dr. Vosika under disability benefit plans of the Company. Dr. Vosika's spouse
or his estate is also entitled to six months of this salary upon his death.
Unless Dr. Vosika's employment is terminated for Cause, the Company must
continue to provide benefits to Dr. Vosika for the greater of the number of
years remaining in his term of employment or three. The agreement also
contains a provision restricting the ability of Dr. Vosika to sell or
otherwise dispose of any shares of equity securities for a period of twenty-
four months from June 25, 1996 without the prior written consent of Aries
Financial Services, Inc., except that Dr. Vosika may sell 25% of any equity
securities owned by him on such date twelve months from such date.
On July 25, 1996, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement
with Michael S. Rosen to serve as the President, Chief Executive Officer, and
a Director of the Company. Mr. Rosen's employment with the Company commenced
on August 19, 1996 and terminates on August 30, 2000. Mr. Rosen's initial
salary pursuant to the agreement is $200,000. Mr. Rosen was elected a
Director of the Company on August 22, 1996. Mr. Rosen was also granted a
seven-year option to purchase 700,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock,
which vests in quarterly increments. If Mr. Rosen's employment terminates
prior to December 31, 2000 the option shall be exercisable thereafter only to
the extent exercisable on the date of termination. The agreement contains
other provisions, including, among others, a covenant restricting Mr. Rosen's
ability to engage in activities competitive with the Company for the term of
the agreement and for 18 months thereafter.
On December 1, 1996, the Company entered into an Employment
Agreement with Robert N. Brey to serve as Vice President-Vaccine Development.
Dr. Brey's employment with the Company commenced on December 1, 1996 and
terminates on November 30, 2000. Dr. Brey's initial salary pursuant to the
agreement is $100,000. Dr. Brey was also granted a seven-year option to
purchase 100,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, which vests in
quarterly increments. If Dr. Brey's employment terminates before such option
is fully vested, the option shall be exercisable thereafter only to the extent
exercisable on the date of termination. The agreement contains other
provisions, including, among others, a covenant restricting Dr. Brey's
ability to engage in activities competitive with the Company for the term of
the agreement and for 18 months thereafter.
Limitation of Liability and Indemnification Matters
The Company's Certificate of Incorporation provides that, except
to the extent prohibited by the Delaware General Corporation Law, its
directors shall not be personally liable to the Company or its stockholders
for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as directors of the
Company. Under Delaware law, the directors have a fiduciary duty to the
Company which is not eliminated by this provision of the Certificate of
Incorporation and, in appropriate circumstances, equitable remedies such as
injunctive or other forms of non-monetary relief will remain available. In
addition, each director will continue to be subject to liability under
Delaware law for breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Company for
acts or omissions which are found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct, for knowing violations
of law, for actions leading to improper personal benefit to the director, and
for payment of dividends or approval of stock repurchases or redemptions that
are prohibited by Delaware law. This provision also does not affect the
directors' responsibilities under any other laws, such as the Federal
securities laws or state or Federal environmental laws. In addition the
Company has obtained liability insurance for its officers and directors.
<PAGE>
The Certificate of Incorporation also provides that the Company
shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law, all of its present and former officers and
directors, and any party agreeing to serve as an officer, director or trustee
of any entity at the Company's request, in connection with any civil or
criminal proceeding threatened or instituted against such party by reason of
actions or omissions while serving in such capacity. Indemnification by the
Company includes payment of expenses in defense of the indemnified party in
advance of any proceeding or final disposition thereof. The rights to
indemnification provided in this provision do not preclude the exercise of any
other indemnification rights by any party pursuant to any law, agreement or
vote of the stockholders or the disinterested directors of the Company.
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law generally
allows the Company to indemnify the parties described in the preceding
paragraph for all expenses, judgments, fines and amounts in settlement
actually paid and reasonably incurred in connection with any proceedings so
long as such party acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to
be in or not opposed to the Company's best interests and, with respect to any
criminal proceedings, if such party had no reasonable cause to believe his or
her conduct to be unlawful. Indemnification may only be made by the Company if
the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 145 has been met by
the indemnified party upon a determination made (1) by the Board of Directors
by a majority vote of a quorum of directors who are not parties to such
proceedings, or (2) if such a quorum is not obtainable or if directed by a
quorum of disinterested directors, by independent legal counsel in a written
opinion, or (3) by the stockholders.
<PAGE>
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors advises the
Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors on matters of the Company's
compensation philosophy and the compensation of executive officers and other
individuals compensated by the Company. The Compensation Committee also is
responsible for the administration of the Company's option plans under which
option grants may be made. The Compensation Committee has reviewed and is in
accord with the compensation paid to executive officers in fiscal year 1996.
General Compensation Policy. The fundamental policy of the
Compensation Committee is to provide the Company's executive officers with
competitive compensation opportunities based upon their contribution to the
development and financial success of the Company and their personal
performance. It is the Compensation Committee's objective to have a portion
of each executive officer's compensation contingent upon the Company's
performance as well as upon such executive officer's own level of performance.
Accordingly, the compensation package for each executive officer is comprised
of two elements: (i) base salary and annual bonus which reflect individual
performance and is designed primarily to be competitive with salary levels in
the industry and (ii) long-term stock-based incentive awards which strengthen
the mutuality of interests between the executive officers and the Company's
stockholders.
Factors. The principal factors which the Compensation Committee
considered with respect to each executive officer's compensation package for
fiscal year 1996 are summarized below. The Compensation Committee may,
however, in its discretion apply entirely different factors in advising the
Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors with respect to executive
compensation for future years.
Base Salary. The suggested base salary for each executive
officer is determined on the basis of the following factors: experience,
personal performance, the salary levels in effect for comparable positions
within and without the industry and internal base salary comparability
considerations. The weight given to each of these factors differs from
individual to individual, as the Compensation Committee deems appropriate.
From time to time, the Compensation Committee may advocate cash
bonuses when such bonuses are deemed to be in the best interest of the
Company.
Long-Term Incentive Compensation. Long-term incentives are
provided through grants of stock options. The grants are designed to align
the interests of each executive officer with those of the stockholders and to
provide each individual with a significant incentive to manage the Company
from the perspective of an owner with an equity stake in the Company. Each
option grant allows the individual to acquire shares of the Company's Common
Stock at a fixed price per share (generally, the market price on the grant
date) over a specified period of time (up to ten years). Each option
generally becomes exercisable in installments over a four-year period,
contingent upon the executive officer's continued employment with the Company.
Accordingly, the option grant will provide a return to the executive officer
only if the executive officer remains employed by the Company during the
vesting period, and then only if the market price of the underlying shares
appreciates.
The number of shares subject to each option grant is set at a
level intended to create a meaningful opportunity for stock ownership based on
the executive officer's current position with the Company, the base salary
associated with that position, the size of comparable awards made to
individuals in similar positions within the industry, the individual's
potential for increased responsibility and promotion over the option term and
the individual's personal performance in recent periods. The Compensation
Committee also considers the number of unvested options held by the executive
officer in order to maintain an appropriate level of equity incentive for that
individual. However, the Compensation Committee does not adhere to any
specific guidelines as to the relative option holdings of the Company's
executive officers.
<PAGE>
CEO Compensation. In advising the Board of Directors with respect
to the compensation payable to the Company's Chief Executive Officer, the
Compensation Committee seeks to achieve two objectives: (i) establish a level
of base salary competitive with that paid by companies within the industry
which are of comparable size to the Company and by companies outside of the
industry with which the Company competes for executive talent and (ii) to make
a significant percentage of the total compensation package contingent upon the
Company's performance and stock price appreciation.
The suggested base salary established for Mr. Rosen on the basis
of the foregoing criteria was intended to provide a level of stability and
certainty each year. Accordingly, this element of compensation was not
affected to any significant degree by Company performance factors. At the end
of the first year of employment, Mr. Rosen shall be entitled to a bonus of up
to $100,000 based on mutually agreed milestones. In addition, at the
discretion of the Board of Directors, Mr. Rosen shall also be eligible for a
bonus of up to $100,000. Upon his employment by the Company, Mr. Rosen was
granted options to purchase 46,667 shares of Common Stock. Such options
vested 6,667 on August 19, 1996 and 1,667 on September 30, 1996 and each
quarter thereafter. All options and vesting are adjusted for the Reverse
Stock Split.
Compliance with Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m). As a result
of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which was
enacted into law in 1993, the Company will not be allowed a federal income tax
deduction for compensation paid to certain executive officers, to the extent
that compensation exceeds $1 million per officer in any one year. This
limitation will apply to all compensation paid to the covered executive
officers which is not considered to be performance based. Compensation which
does qualify as performance-based compensation will not have to be taken into
account for purposes of this limitation.
The Compensation Committee does not expect that the compensation to be
paid to the Company's executive officers for the 1997 fiscal year will exceed
the $1 million limit per officer. Because it is very unlikely that the cash
compensation payable to any of the Company's executive officers in the
foreseeable future will approach the $1 million limit, the Compensation
Committee has decided at this time not to take any other action to limit or
restructure the elements of cash compensation payable to the Company's
executive officers. The Compensation Committee will reconsider this decision
should the individual compensation of any executive officer ever approach the
$1 million level.
THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Dr. Carl Gilbert
Dr. Leonard Jacob
June 11, 1997
<PAGE>
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The following table sets forth, as of June 11, 1997, certain
information with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock
of: (i) each person who is known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of
more than five percent of the Company's Common Stock, (ii) each Director of
the Company and each Named Executive Officer, and (iii) all directors and
executive officers of the Company as a group. As of June 11, 1997, the
Company had 1,087,925 shares of Common Stock outstanding.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
________________________________________________________________________________
No. of Shares Percent
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner Beneficially Owned (1) of Class
____________________________________ ______________________ _________
<S> <C> <C>
The Aries Trust (2)(3) 509,234 45.01%
c/o Paramount Capital Asset
Management, Inc.
787 Seventh Avenue,
New York, NY 10019
Aries Domestic Fund (2)(4) 180,568 16.25%
MeesPierson (Cayman) Limited
P.O.Box 2003, British American Centre
Phase 3, Dr. Roy's Drive
George Town, Grand Cayman
Gerald J. Vosika, M.D. (5) 151,234 13.80%
3505 Riverview Circle
Moorhead, MN 56560
Michael S. Rosen, MBA (6)(7) 13,334 1.21%
Steve H. Kanzer, Esq. (2)(8) 13,334 1.21%
c/o Paramount Capital Investments, LLC
787 Seventh Avenue,
New York, NY 10019
Carl Gilbert, Ph.D.(9) 2,600 **
4655 Oakleigh Manor Drive
Powder Springs, GA 30073
Leonard S. Jacob, M.D., Ph.D. 0 **
405 Caranel Circle
Penn Valley, PA 19072
Kenneth Tempero, M.D., Ph.D., MBA 0 **
1290 French Creek Drive
Wayzata, MN 55391
Robert N. Brey (6)(10) 1,667 **
All Directors and Officers as a group 182,583 16.78%
________________________________________________________________________________
</TABLE>
** Represents less than 1% of outstanding Common Stock or voting power.
<PAGE>
(1) Shares of the Company's Common Stock which any person set forth in this
table has a right to acquire, pursuant to the exercise of options or
warrants, are deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the
percentage ownership of such person, but are not deemed outstanding for
the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any such person.
(2) Lindsay A. Rosenwald, M.D., is the President and sole stockholder of
Paramount Capital Asset Management, Inc., the Investment Manager and
General Partner of the Aries Trust and Aries Domestic Fund, L.P.,
respectively. Dr. Rosenwald disclaims beneficial ownership of the
shares owned by Aries Funds except to the extent of his pecuniary
interest therein, if any.
(3) Includes 43,334 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants that are
exercisable within the 60-day period following June 11, 1997.
(4) Includes 23,334 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants that are
exercisable within the 60-day period following June 11, 1997.
(5) Includes 13,334 shares issuable upon exercise of options held that are
exercisable within the 60-day period following June 11, 1997.
(6) The address of Messrs. Rosen and Brey is c/o Endorex Corp., 900 North
Shore Drive, Lake Bluff, IL 60044.
(7) Consists of 13,334 shares issuable upon exercise of options held that
are exercisable within the 60-day period following June 11, 1997.
(8) Consists of 13,334 shares issuable upon exercise of options held that
are exercisable within the 60-day period following June 11, 1997.
(9) Consists of 533 shares issuable upon exercise of options held that are
exercisable within the 60-day period following June 11, 1997.
(10) Consists of 1,667 shares issuable upon exercise of options held that are
exercisable within the 60-day period following June 11, 1997.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
Each of the transactions described under this heading, except the
Bridge Loan, occurred prior to June 1997 do not reflect the Reverse Stock
Split.
On March 22, 1996, the Board of Directors granted to Dr. Vosika a
ten-year option to purchase 2,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock at
an exercise price of $.065 per share. Dr. Vosika exercised such options on
July 31, 1996.
On March 1, 1996, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase
Agreement with Dominion pursuant to which Dominion agreed to purchase and the
Company agreed to sell 5,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock at a
purchase price per share of $.065. Such shares are to be sold in three
approximately equal installments at closings held or to be held on March 18,
April 15, and May 15, 1996.
On June 13, 1996, Dominion entered into an agreement with Aries
Fund, a Cayman Island Trust, and the Aries Domestic Fund, L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership (collectively, "Aries"), with the Company a party to the
agreement, whereby Dominion sold and Aries purchased an aggregate of 4,000,000
shares of the Company's Common Stock at a price of $.10 per share. The
purchase price was paid from Aries' general funds. As part of the
transaction, Dominion transferred to Aries certain of its rights under the
March 1, 1996 agreement including, among others, the right to designate a
Director of the Company and rights to have the shares registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Upon completion of the sale of the
4,000,000 shares, Mr. Steve Kanzer was elected a Director of the Company as
the designee of Aries. Also concurrently with the completion of the
transaction, the Company redeemed its outstanding rights under the
Stockholders Rights Agreement dated as of September 23, 1994. On June 26,
1996, Aries purchased from the Company an additional 5,000,000 shares of the
Company's Common Stock at a price of $.20 per share or an aggregate of
$1,000,000. The purchase price was paid from Aries' general funds. The
purchase agreement relating to such shares contains various representations
and warranties concerning the Company and its activities and also various
affirmative and negative covenants. The purchase agreement grants to Aries
the right to have registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
shares sold to Aries to enable the public offer and sale of those shares. The
agreement restricts the Company from entering into mergers, acquisitions, or
sales of its assets without the prior approval of Aries.
<PAGE>
On July 25, 1996, Michael S. Rosen, President, Chief Executive
Officer, and a Director of the Company was granted a seven-year option to
purchase 700,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock at an exercise price of
$1.25 per share.
Paramount Capital, Inc. is the Placement Agent for the Company's
proposed private placement of securities (the "Private Placement"). Paramount
Capital Asset Management, Inc. ("PCAM") is the investment manager of Aries.
Lindsay A. Rosenwald, M.D. is the sole stockholder of Paramount Capital, Inc.
and of PCAM. Mr. Kanzer is an employee of Placement Agent and became a member
of the Board of Directors in connection with the initial investment by Aries.
The Company has entered into a senior line of credit agreement
with Aries pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to $500,000 (the
"Bridge Loan"). The Bridge Loan accrues interest at the rate of 12% per annum
and becomes due and payable upon the earlier of August 19, 1997 and the final
closing date of the Private Placement. In consideration of the Bridge Loan,
the Company has granted to Aries warrants (the "Bridge Loan Warrants") to
purchase an aggregate of 66,668 shares of Common Stock at an initial exercise
price equal to the Offering Price (as hereinafter defined). The exercise
price of the Bridge Loan Warrants and the number of shares of Common Stock
purchasable thereunder are subject to adjustment in certain circumstances.
Such warrants are exercisable from May 19, 1997 until May 19, 2002. In
addition, under the terms of the Bridge Loan, the Company may request up to an
additional $500,000 on substantially the same terms and conditions. As
consideration for any additional borrowing under the Bridge Loan, the Company
will grant to Aries additional Bridge Loan Warrants to purchase an aggregate
of 66,667 shares of Common Stock.
<PAGE>
PROPOSAL 2
SELECTION OF AN INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT AND AUDITOR
Upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board of
Directors appointed Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., independent public accountants
and auditors of the Company, as auditors of the Company to serve for the year
ending December 31, 1997, subject to the ratification of such appointment by
the stockholders at the Annual Meeting. The affirmative vote of a plurality
of the Company's outstanding Common Stock present in person or by proxy is
required to ratify the appointment of the auditors. Unless otherwise
instructed, the proxy holders will vote the proxies received by them "FOR" the
ratification of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. to serve as the Company's auditors
for the year ending December 31, 1997.
<PAGE>
PROPOSAL 3
RATIFICATION OF PRIVATE PLACEMENT
The Board of Directors has unanimously approved and recommends
stockholder ratification of the Private Placement of up to 60 units ("Units")
of the Company's securities at an offering price of $100,000 per Unit. The
Board of Directors believes that this additional capital necessary and prudent
for the implementation of the Company's future plans. The Private Placement
is not subject to stockholder approval. As a matter of good corporate
practice, the Board of Directors has decided to disclose the terms of the
Private Placement and seek stockholder ratification therefor.
Each Unit consists of (a) the number of shares of Common Stock
determined by dividing 100,000 by the lesser of (i) $4.75 and (ii) 75% of the
average closing bid price of the Common Stock on the OTC Bulletin Board for
the 20 consecutive trading days immediately preceding (1) the initial closing
date, (2) any interim closing date and (3) the final closing date (the "Final
Closing Date") of the Private Placement, whichever is lowest (the "Offering
Price"), and (b) Class D Warrants ("Class D Warrants") to purchase at any time
prior to the fifth anniversary of the Final Closing Date 3,333 shares of
Common Stock. The Company has retained Paramount Capital, Inc. (the
"Placement Agent") as the exclusive agent in connection with the Private
Placement on a "best efforts" basis. The minimum offering is 10 Units and the
maximum offering is 60 Units (the "Maximum Offering"), and the Company has
granted the Placement Agent an over-allotment option to sale up to an
additional 30 Units. Assuming the case of the Maximum Offering, a closing bid
price of $4.75 per share for the purposes of calculating the number of shares of
Common Stock included in a Unit and excluding securities issuable pursuant
to the exercise of the Placement Options (as described below) up to 1,684,211
shares of Common Stock may be issued and 200,000 Class D Warrants, exercisable
initially for 200,000 shares of Common Stock, may be issued in the Private
Placement.
Each subscriber for Units will be required to a execute a Subscription
Agreement (the "Subscription Agreement"). The Units will be sold only to
"accredited investors" as such term is defined in rule 501(a) under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Assuming that all 60 Units are sold, the Company will receive net
proceeds of approximately $5,120,000 which will be used to pay certain debt,
including the Bridge Loan, for working capital purposes, for other capital
transactions and to fund planned capital expenditures.
The Company has agreed to pay the Placement Agent for its services,
compensation in the form of (i) cash commissions equal 9% of the gross
proceeds from the sale of all Units, and (ii) a non-accountable expense
allowance equal to 4% of the gross proceeds from the sale of all Units. In
addition, upon closing of the sale of the Units being offered, the Company
will sell to the Placement Agent and/or its designees, for $.001 per option,
options (the "Placement Options") to acquire a number of newly issued Units
equal to 10% of the Units issue in the Private Placement, exercisable for a
period of 5 years commencing 6 months after the Final Closing Date, at an
exercise price equal to 110% of the offering price of the Units. The Company
will also pay the Placement Agent a commission of 5% upon the exercise of any
of the Class D Warrants.
Certain provisions of the Subscription Agreement are briefly summarized below:
Registration
Rights: Within 60 days after the Final Closing Date, the
Company will use its best efforts to file a
registration statement (the "Shelf Registration
Statement") with respect to the Common Stock included
in the Units and issuable upon exercise of the Class D
Warrants and in certain circumstances (as described
below) (the "Registrable Securities").
Lock-Up: 75% of each holder's Registrable Securities shall be
subject to a "lock-up" for the first three months
following the effective date (the "Effective Date") of
the Shelf Registration Statement. Thereafter, 50% of
such securities will be subject to such a "lock-up"
until six months following the Effective Date and the
remaining 25% of such securities will be "locked-up"
until nine months following the Effective Date.
<PAGE>
Certain contractual rights (the "Contractual Rights") to be granted to
subscribers for Units, or of their permitted assignees (the "Rights Holders"),
are briefly described below:
Semi-Annual,
Dilution and
Reset Issuances: The Rights Holders will be entitled to receive
additional shares of Common Stock in certain
circumstances including: (i) if the Company sells or
issues shares of Common Stock at less than the
"Dilution Value," which is initially equal to the
Offering Price ("Dilution Issuances"), (ii) if the
Dilution Value is reset ("Reset Issuances") and (iii)
on each 6 month anniversary of the Reset Date (as
defined below). The Dilution Value may be reset on
the date that is 12 months after the Final Closing
Date (the "Reset Date") if the average closing bid
price of the Common Stock on the OTC Bulletin Board
for the 20 consecutive trading days ending on the
trading date immediately prior to the date as of which
it is being determined is less than 130% of the
applicable Dilution Value and may be adjusted in
certain other circumstances.
Liquidation Put: Upon a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, a sale or
other disposition of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company or any consolidation, merger,
combination, reorganization or other transaction in
which the Company is not the surviving entity or
shares of Common Stock constituting more than 50% of
the voting power of the Company are exchanged for or
changed into stock or securities of another entity,
cash and/or property, after payment or provision for
payment of the debts and liabilities of the Company,
the Rights Holders may require the Company to
repurchase the Common Stock acquired in the Private
Placement and any Common Stock acquired as a result of
Semi-Annual Issuances, Dilution Issuances and Reset
Issuances for 130% of the Dilution Value of such
shares.
Mandatory
Termination: At any time 12 months after the Final Closing Date the
Company may cause the Rights Holders' Contractual
Rights to be terminated if the market price of the
stock, as determined in accordance with terms of the
Subscription Agreement, exceeds 200% of the then
applicable Dilution Value.
Placement Agent
Approval Rights: So long as 50% of the shares of Common Stock
included in the Units remain outstanding, the prior
written consent of the Placement Agent is acquired to
approve (i) the issuance of or the increase of the
authorized amount, or the alteration of any of the
terms of any securities of the Company senior to, or
on parity with, the Common Stock included in the Units
with respect to voting, liquidation and dividends and
(ii) any alteration of the Company's charter documents
that would adversely affect the relative rights,
preferences, qualifications, limitations or
restrictions of the Common Stock included in the Units
or of the Contractual Rights relating thereto.
<PAGE>
Certain provisions of the Class D Warrants are summarized briefly below:
Exercise Price
and Terms: Each Class D Warrant entitles the holder thereof
to purchase one share of Common Stock at an exercise
price equal to the Offering Price. The Class D
Warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the Class
D Warrant certificate prior to the fifth anniversary
of the Final Closing Date. No fractional shares will
be issued upon exercise of the Class D Warrants, and
the Company will pay cash in lieu of fractional
shares. On the fifth anniversary of the Final Closing
Date, the Class D Warrants will become void and of no
value. If a market for the Class D Warrants develops,
the holder may sell the Class D Warrants instead of
exercising them.
Adjustments The exercise price and the number of shares of Common
Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Class D
Warrants are subject to adjustment upon the occurrence
of certain events, such as below market or conversion
price issuances or stock dividends or stock splits of
the Common Stock. Additionally, an adjustment would
be made in the case of the reclassification or
exchange of the Common Stock, consolidation or merger
of the Company with or into another corporation or
sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company, in order to enable warrantholders to acquire
the kind and number of shares of Common Stock that
might otherwise have been acquired upon the exercise
of the Class D Warrants. No adjustment to the
exercise price of the shares subject to the Class D
Warrants will be made for dividends (other than
dividends in the form of stock), if any, paid on the
Common Stock.
Redemption The Class D Warrants are subject to redemption by the Company
at $.75 per warrant on 60 days prior written notice provided
that the closing bid price for the Common Stock exceeds 200%
of the exercise price per share for 20 consecutive trading
days ending three days prior to the date of notice of
redemption, except that the Class D Warrants are not
redeemable on or prior to the first anniversary of the Final
Closing Date.
Voting Rights The Class D Warrants do not confer upon holders thereof any
voting or any other rights of a stockholder of the Company.
<PAGE>
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
In accordance with regulations issued by the Securities and Exchange
Commission, stockholder proposals intended for presentation at the 1998 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders must be received by the Secretary of the Company no
later than January 1, 1998 if such proposals are to be considered for
inclusion in the Company's Proxy Statement.
OTHER MATTERS
Management knows of no matters that are to be presented for action at
the meeting other than those set forth above. If any other matters properly
come before the meeting, the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy will
vote the shares represented by proxies in accordance with their best judgment
on such matters.
Proxies will be solicited by mail and may also be solicited in person or
by telephone by some regular employees of the Company. The Company may also
consider the engagement of a proxy solicitation firm. Costs of the
solicitation will be borne by the Company.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Michael S. Rosen
Chief Executive Officer and Secretary
Lake Bluff, Illinois
June 16, 1997
<PAGE>
