TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS
Related-Person Transactions policy and Procedures
We have adopted a written related-person transactions policy that sets forth our policies and procedures regarding the identification, review, consideration and oversight of “related-person transactions.” For purposes of our policy only, a “related-person transaction” is a transaction, arrangement or relationship (or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships) in which we and any “related person” are participants involving an amount that exceeds $120,000. Transactions involving compensation for services provided to us as an employee, consultant or director are not considered related-person transactions under this policy. A related person is any executive officer, director, nominee to become a director or a holder of more than five percent of our common stock, including any of their immediate family members and affiliates, including entities owned or controlled by such persons.
Under the policy, where a transaction has been identified as a related-person transaction, management must present information regarding the proposed related-person transaction to our Audit Committee (or, where review by our Audit Committee would be inappropriate, to another independent body of our Board of Directors) for review. The presentation must include a description of, among other things, all of the parties thereto, the direct and indirect interests of the related persons, the purpose of the transaction, the material facts, the benefits of the transaction to us and whether any alternative transactions are available, an assessment of whether the terms are comparable to the terms available from unrelated third parties and management’s recommendation. To identify related-person transactions in advance, we rely on information supplied by our executive officers, directors and certain significant stockholders. In considering related-person transactions, our Audit Committee or another independent body of our Board of Directors takes into account the relevant available facts and circumstances including, but not limited to:
• | the risks, costs and benefits to us; |
• | the impact on a director’s independence in the event the related person is a director, immediate family member of a director or an entity with which a director is affiliated; |
• | the terms of the transaction; |
• | the availability of other sources for comparable services or products; and |
• | the terms available to or from, as the case may be, unrelated third parties. |
In the event a director has an interest in the proposed transaction, the director must recuse himself or herself from the deliberations and approval.
Certain Relationships and Related-Person Transactions
The following sections summarize transactions since January 1, 2021 to which we have been a party, in which the amount involved in the transaction exceeded $120,000 and in which any of our directors, executive officers or, to our knowledge, beneficial owners of more than 5% of our capital stock, including any of their immediate family members and affiliates, including entities owned or controlled by such persons, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than equity and other compensation, termination, change in control and other arrangements, which are described under “Executive Compensation” and “Director Compensation.”
In December 2017, we entered into a consulting agreement with Two River. Joshua Kazam and David Tanen, each a member of our Board of Directors, are each partners of Two River. Pursuant to the consulting agreement, Two River provides strategic, financial, business development and other consulting services and is compensated for such services rendered at a rate $25,000 per month. In June 2019, the consulting agreement was amended to change Two River’s compensation under the agreement to $90,000 per month. Dr. Belldegrun serves as the Chairman of Two River but does not receive any salary, commission or other fees for serving in such capacity. The agreement was amended on December 31, 2021 to limit the scope of the consulting services to accounting support and managerial services at approximately $8,000 per month.
In May 2019 we entered into a consulting agreement with Bellco. Arie Belldegrun, M.D., FACS, the Chairman of our Board of Directors, and Rebecka Belldegrun, M.D., a member of our Board of Directors until January 25, 2021, own and control Bellco. Pursuant to the consulting agreement, Bellco provides certain services for us,